We Can Do Hard Things through Him
By Elder Isaac K. Morrison
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts how Jesus healed a man born blind, teaching that challenges can be opportunities for growth.
During the Savior"™s earthly ministry, He noticed a man who was blind. Jesus"™s disciples asked, "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?"
The Savior"™s firm, loving, and sincere answer reassures us that He is mindful of our struggles: "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."1[John 9:2"“3]
While some challenges may come because of willful disobedience, we know that many of life"™s chall ... (continued)
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We Can Do Hard Things through Him
By Elder Isaac K. Morrison
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares his personal story of desiring a large family, facing the medical impossibility of more children after their third son, and finding joy in practicing the teachings of 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World' with their three children.
Our family has not been spared the adversities of life. Growing up, I admired large families. Such families felt appealing to me, especially when I found the Church in my teens through my maternal uncle, Sarfo, and his wife in Takoradi, Ghana.
When Hannah and I were married, we desired the fulfillment of our patriarchal blessings, which indicated that we would be blessed with many children. However, prior to the birth of our third boy, it became medically clear that Hannah would not be able to h ... (continued)
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We Can Do Hard Things through Him
By Elder Isaac K. Morrison
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the tragic story of losing their 18-month-old son, Kenneth, to a drowning accident, the bitterness and questioning that followed, and the life-changing lessons and growth in faith that emerged from the experience.
However, one weekend during my service as a stake president, we experienced perhaps the worst trial parents can face. Our family returned from a Church activity and gathered for lunch. Then our three boys went out within our compound to play.
My wife felt repeated impressions that something might be wrong. She asked me to check on the children while we were washing the dishes. I felt they were safe since we could hear their voices of excitement from their play.
When we both finally went to check ... (continued)
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We Can"™t Do It Alone
Elder Robert D. Hales
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts his experience as a lieutenant in the air force, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and the dangers of being a 'loner' out of formation.
When I was a lieutenant in the air force, our squadron selected as its motto "Return with Honor." ... We all knew and were taught from bitter experience that a "loner" out of formation was unprotected and would surely be destroyed.
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We Can"™t Do It Alone
Elder Robert D. Hales
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker tells a childhood memory of a robin teaching her young to fly and how it saddened him to find a young bird that tried to 'do it alone' and failed.
When I was a young boy in Long Island, New York, a robin built her nest every year on the roof of our home. ... It brought me great sorrow each year when I would find a young bird that tried to "do it alone." Often he would be found dead in the rock garden below among the lilies of the valley.
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We Can"™t Do It Alone
Elder Robert D. Hales
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the phrase 'We can't do it alone' and emphasizes the need for help from others in life's missions, such as birth, baptism, marriage, and during illness.
Spend a few thoughtful moments with me, if you would, discussing the phrase "We can"™t do it alone." ... The many missions which we have in life cannot be embarked upon successfully without the help of others. Birth requires earthly parents. Our blessing as a child, our baptism, our receiving the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, our receiving membership in his church, ordination to the priesthood, going on a mission, being married, having children of our own, blessings duri ... (continued)
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We Can"™t Do It Alone
Elder Robert D. Hales
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a story about Thomas Moore, a poet who wrote a song for his wife after she contracted smallpox and felt she had lost her beauty, to reassure her of his enduring love.
The principle of helping one in need is well expressed in the touching love story of Thomas Moore, a famous nineteenth century Irish poet, who, when he returned from a business trip found his wife had locked herself in her upstairs bedroom and had asked to see no one. ... Moore did go. He went downstairs and spent the rest of the night in prayerful writing. ... As daylight broke, Moore returned to his wife"™s darkened room. ... Thomas Moore sang to his wife the song that still lives today. ... ... (continued)
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We Did This for You
Elaine S. Dalton
- Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker visited Nauvoo with her husband, searching for the grave of an ancestor, Zina Baker Huntington, and reflected on the sacrifices made by early Church members.
A little over a year ago, my husband and I visited Nauvoo. As we walked through the Old Pioneer Cemetery searching for the grave of an ancestor, Zina Baker Huntington, I was touched by the peaceful solitude and spirit I felt. I walked through the trees and read the names on the gravestones, many of them children and families. I wept as my heart was turned to our forefathers, many of whom had joined the Church and come to Nauvoo. In my mind I asked many questions: Why did they leave their comfort ... (continued)
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We Did This for You
Elaine S. Dalton
- Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
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📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the sacrifices of the Saints in building the Kirtland Temple and the restoration of priesthood keys by heavenly messengers.
Prior to coming to Nauvoo, the Saints sacrificed greatly to build the first temple of this dispensation in Kirtland, Ohio. It was there that the Lord Himself appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Three other heavenly messengers also appeared there. One of these was Elijah the prophet, who restored, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, keys pertaining to the restoration of the priesthood and the "great work to be done in the temples of the Lord."1D&C 138:48see alsoD&C 27:9D&C 110:14"“16D& ... (continued)
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We Did This for You
Elaine S. Dalton
- Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a personal story from her youth about her grandfather Martin teaching her that temples would dot the earth, which she later confirmed by looking at the Church's website.
When I was young, my grandfather Martin taught me that in the latter days, temples would literally dot the earth. At the time my grandfather expressed this thought to me, I could hardly imagine it. But I was raised with this knowledge and feeling in my heart. Recently I looked on the Church"™s Web site under "temples," and I could plainly see that the temples, designated by red dots, are starting to spread over much of the earth.8[See www.lds.org; see also "Temples throughout the World,"Fr ... (continued)
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We Did This for You
Elaine S. Dalton
- Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker describes her experience at the Salt Lake Temple baptistry, witnessing the dedication of youth to temple work.
The Salt Lake Temple baptistry is a thrilling place to be on Saturday mornings! I was there early one morning to be baptized for some of my ancestors. As I sat waiting on the bench in the baptismal area, I noticed that the young woman on my left was reading her patriarchal blessing. The girl on my right was reading her scriptures. I asked her if she had come here with a group. Her reply was: "No, I come with my friend every Saturday. It makes my whole week go better." These young women, along ... (continued)
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We Each Have a Story
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Gerrit Walter Gong recounts visiting his ancestral village in China and the recognition of his return by the villagers.
Born AD 837, my 30th great-grandfather, First Dragon Gong, started our family village in southern China. The first time I visited Gong village, the people said, "Wenhan huilaile" ("Gerrit has returned").
Forgiveness
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We Each Have a Story
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Gerrit Walter Gong tells a story of a young woman who found a nurturing Church family despite her troubled family life.
Sometimes unwavering commitment to abiding family relationships helps us accomplish hard things. In some cases, community becomes family. A remarkable young woman whose troubled family moved frequently found a loving Church family wherever she was to nurture and give her place. Genetics and family patterns influence but do not determine us.
Forgiveness
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We Each Have a Story
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Gerrit Walter Gong reflects on his unique name and heritage, and shares his personal experiences of connecting with people around the world.
My name is Gerrit Walter Gong. Gerrit is a Dutch name, Walter (my father"™s name) is an American name, and Gong of course is a Chinese name.
Experts estimate some 70"“110 billion people have lived on the earth. Perhaps only one has been named Gerrit Walter Gong.
We each have a story. I love "the rain on my face [and] the wind as it rushes by."1["My Heavenly Father Loves Me,"Children"™s Songbook, 228.]I wobble-waddle with penguins in Antarctica. I give orphans in Guatemala, street kids ... (continued)
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We Each Have a Story
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Gerrit Walter Gong shares stories of families connecting across generations, including a family visit to Winnipeg, a great-grandmother's life lessons becoming a family book, and a young man creating a 'Dad journal' to know his deceased father.
A family I know connected five family generations when they visited their old home in Winnipeg, Canada. There the grandfather told his grandsons about the day two missionaries (he called them angels from heaven) brought the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, changing their family forever.
A mother I know invited her children and their cousins to ask their great-grandmother about her childhood experiences. Great-Grandma"™s adventures and life lessons are now a treasured family book uniting genera ... (continued)
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We Each Have a Story
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Gerrit Walter Gong discusses the importance of remembering ancestors and the ways in which people honor their heritage, including his own experience in Devonshire, England.
Still very much alive, our ancestors deserve to be remembered.12[1 Nephi 9:51 Nephi 19:3Words of Mormon 1:6"“7andAlma 37:2speak of keeping records and remembering "for a wise purpose," including to bless future generations.]We remember our heritage through oral histories, clan records and family stories, memorials or places of remembrance, and celebrations with photos, foods, or items which remind us of loved ones.
Think of where you live"”isn"™t it wonderful how your country and com ... (continued)
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We Each Have a Story
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Gerrit Walter Gong encourages individuals to discover their family history, connect with ancestors, and perform temple ordinances, emphasizing the eternal nature of family relationships.
Each of our stories is a journey still in progress, as we discover, create, and become with possibilities beyond imagination.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of"”a power which records or binds on earth and binds in heaven."20[Doctrine and Covenants 128:9]The sociality we create here can exist with eternal glory there.21[SeeDoctrine and Covenants 130:2]Indeed, "we without [our family members] cannot be made perfect; neither can they ... (continued)
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We Follow Jesus Christ
Elder Quentin L. Cook
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
After a tsunami in Samoa, a sister expressed her family's goal to prepare for temple ordinances to be together eternally, having lost a daughter in the disaster.
As I shook hands with the members after our meeting, one sister told me her family had not been to the temple and they had lost a daughter. She tearfully said their goal now was to prepare themselves for the sacred ordinances of the temple so they can be together eternally.
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We Follow Jesus Christ
Elder Quentin L. Cook
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Stake President Sonny Purcell saved his daughter and mother from a tsunami in Samoa by warning others, rescuing his daughter, and then his mother, who was clinging to a tree.
The stake president, Sonny Purcell, was driving his car when he saw the enormous wave coming far out at sea. He honked his horn and stopped children on the road walking to school and warned them to run for higher ground and safety as fast as they could. The children followed his instruction. He frantically drove, reached his four-year-old daughter, put her in the car, and then tried to get to his mother. Before he could reach his mother, the wall of water picked up his car and swept it over 100 ... (continued)
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We Have a Work to Do
President Gordon B. Hinckley
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on a recent Young Women conference, noting the focus on scripture reading and the inspiration they felt from the young attendees' commitment to faith.
A week ago a conference of the young women was held in this tabernacle. It was an inspiration to look into their faces, thousands of them. One could not do so without a feeling of peace and certitude concerning the future of this work. The theme of the conference was an appeal to the young women to read the scriptures.
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