We Never Walk Alone
President Thomas S. Monson
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares the story of Tiffany, who was struggling with depression and felt abandoned by God until a near-stranger was prompted by the Spirit to deliver homemade bread to her, which was the very thing she desired.
May I share with you the account of how our Heavenly Father answered the prayers and pleadings of one woman and provided her the peace and assurance she so desperately sought?
Tiffany"™s difficulties began last year when she had guests at her home for Thanksgiving and then again for Christmas. Her husband had been in medical school and was now in the second year of his medical residency. Because of the long work hours required of him, he was not able to help her as much as they both would hav ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Owe Allegiance to Sovereignty
Elder Howard W. Hunter
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The Pharisees and Herodians attempted to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar, trying to force him to take a side that would either alienate his followers or be considered treasonous by Rome.
Bearing on this very point, an interesting occurrence took place during the ministry of the Master. It is recorded in three separate books of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and concerns a controversy over a tax assessment. Judea was under Roman mandate, and the authority of the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish council, had been curtailed under the Roman rule. The council was charged with the levy of taxes, but it did not have the power to decree capital punishment. This power was veste ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Proclaim the Gospel
Elder M. Russell Ballard
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The story of the branch president in England who invited his community to fast for Ethiopia, leading to the baptism of a family.
From England:
"In my calling as branch president, I decided one day to invite our whole community to join us in fasting [and giving a fast offering] for the people of Ethiopia. I had 4,000 leaflets produced, which we distributed to homes in our area.
"One of the leaflets was delivered to a nonmember, and he and his wife felt impressed to take part. It was the name of the Church on the leaflet which first impressed them.
"The husband came to the chapel with the fast offering as invited, and I met ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Proclaim the Gospel
Elder M. Russell Ballard
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The account of a member in Oregon who set a date to find someone to teach the gospel, eventually baptizing an old school friend.
From Oregon:
"I set a date of just under two months and proceeded to ask for divine guidance in all of my daily prayers, and to fast for strength not to lose sight of my goal.
"My date came and went, with a few pangs of guilt. However, I received a message one week later that an old friend of mine that I had gone to school with wanted me to call. I gave him a call and invited him over that night. My friend went with me to pick up some pizza. As we drove into town, I told him that I was a member ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Proclaim the Gospel
Elder M. Russell Ballard
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
A story from Florida where a prayer to share the gospel led to a neighbor's baptism.
From Florida:
"As I knelt in prayer, I expressed a sincere desire to share the gospel with someone and asked my Heavenly Father to please send someone to me.
"The very next morning there was a knock on my door, and it was a neighbor wanting to borrow a pan. Although she had lived by us for some time, we had not had much contact. Two days later both she and her husband came over to visit with us. During our conversation she mentioned that they had been looking for a church. I told her how my husb ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Proclaim the Gospel
Elder M. Russell Ballard
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
An anecdote from Buenos Aires about a family including nonmembers in their prayers, leading to conversions.
Then, from far-off Buenos Aires:
"In our family prayers we began to include the names of nonmembers who had not yet joined the Church. My children prayed for them. Our prayers were different. We were changing our attitude toward missionary work from waiting for opportunities to share the gospel to asking the Lord to prepare specific people, by name, to receive the lessons.
"We have seen one person come into the Church who is now fully active. Three other families, chosen with the Lord"™s help, ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Proclaim the Gospel
Elder M. Russell Ballard
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
Elder LeGrand Richards' concern about finding his wife in the afterlife, and the speaker's assurance of his impact on many people.
Shortly after the death of Sister LeGrand Richards, I was assigned to be Elder Richards"™ junior companion to assist him in creating the Atlanta Georgia Stake. As we were flying toward his beloved Southern States Mission, he said to me, "Brother Ballard, I am not afraid to die; the only thing I worry about is, will I be able to find Mommy over there."
I was impressed to say to Elder Richards that in his case that could be a real problem. Immediately, I had his full attention. He looked me di ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Serve That Which We Love
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The taxi driver moved his parents from New Mexico to San Francisco to improve his mother's health through the power of love and proximity to family.
His parents, he told us, had remained in New Mexico, but liked to visit him and his brother whenever they could afford it because they loved being with their children and grandchildren. In New Mexico his mother"™s health was rather poor, but whenever she was in San Francisco, she seemed to feel much better. This discerning son had said to his brother, "I know just exactly what mother needs." He said, "I found a large truck. My brother and I drove to New Mexico, loaded our parents and all the ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Serve That Which We Love
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The taxi driver teaches his children the value of work and education, demonstrating his love by helping his son get a job at a bank and ensuring he is there to bring him home.
The second incident related by this humble but wise man was also significant. He said, "I teach all my children to work. I want them to have schooling, but they must learn to work to get it. I just finished helping my sixteen-year-old son get a part-time job at a bank. While he is going to school, he only works two hours a day, but he is learning to work. He knows I love him because I do my part, too. Due to the uncertainty of my driving hours, I can"™t always take him to work, but I"™m alwa ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Serve That Which We Love
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The taxi driver manages his finances responsibly, avoiding wasteful spending, which allows him to support his family and help friends in need.
One other important point was made by this unusual taxi operator. He told us that some of his unmarried friends who are also taxi drivers are often out of money. They come to him to borrow. He indicated that he is generally able to help them over tight money spots. When his companions asked how he is able to support his family on his salary when they can"™t even keep themselves, he said, "I tell them I don"™t waste money at the races or on liquor or tobacco. My wife fixes our meals at home, ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Serve That Which We Love
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
A new convert to the Church traded his food for a week to borrow the Book of Mormon, which led to his conversion and a new way of life.
A new convert to the Church recently shared this story. "I was in and out of enforced confinement most of my teen years. It wasn"™t so bad being there because the food was pretty good, and we were treated all right. But it did get boring, so when anyone had any reading material, funny books, magazines, or anything, we would trade our food for a chance to borrow those items. One day I saw a fellow with a nice, thick book. I knew it would take a long time to read, so I offered him my pork chops, ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Serve That Which We Love
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The story of Jesus and the woman taken in adultery illustrates the proper way to show love through service and sacrifice.
While Jesus was on earth, He taught us ways to use love correctly. We recall the situation when the scribes and Pharisees brought before the Savior a woman taken in adultery. Their purpose was not to show love for either the woman or the Savior, but to embarrass and trick Jesus. They quoted the Law of Moses which said, "Such should be stoned," and asked of the Master, "What sayest thou?" The accusers walked away one by one when Jesus encouraged the one without sin to cast the first stone. We ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Walk by Faith
President Gordon B. Hinckley
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📖 general conference
The speaker compares the journey of faith to an engineer driving a steam locomotive through the night, focusing only on the illuminated path ahead.
Long ago I worked for one of our railroads whose tracks threaded the passes through these western mountains. I frequently rode the trains. It was in the days when there were steam locomotives. Those great monsters of the rails were huge and fast and dangerous. I often wondered how the engineer dared the long journey through the night. Then I came to realize that it was not one long journey, but rather a constant continuation of a short journey. The engine had a powerful headlight that made brigh ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Walk by Faith
President Gordon B. Hinckley
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📖 general conference
A man initially rude to missionaries later learns to pray and gradually embraces the faith, eventually becoming a stake president.
Let me tell you of a man I know. I will not mention his name lest he feel embarrassed. His wife felt there was something missing in their lives. She spoke with a relative one day who was a member of the Church. The relative suggested that she call the missionaries. She did so. But the husband was rude to them and told them not to come again.
Months passed. One day another missionary, finding the record of this visit, decided that he and his companion would try again. He was a tall elder from Ca ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Walk by Faith
President Gordon B. Hinckley
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📖 general conference
A woman in São Paulo, Brazil, chooses to pay tithing over her university fees and is miraculously provided for by her employer.
Let me give you a story of a woman in São Paulo, Brazil. She worked while going to school to provide for her family. I use her own words in telling this story. She says:
"The university in which I studied had a regulation that prohibited the students that were in debt from taking tests. For this reason, when I received my salary I would first separate the money for tithing and offerings, and the remainder was allotted for the payment of the school and other expenses.
"I remember a time ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Will Not Yield, We Cannot Yield
Elder W. Craig Zwick
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
Joseph Smith was persecuted for telling the truth about his vision in the grove, with ridicule used as a weapon against him.
When young Joseph Smith told the truth about his sacred experience in the grove, he was persecuted and mistreated. The adversary used ridicule as a weapon against him. "I was an obscure boy, "¦ yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution."1Joseph Smith"”History 1:22
Forgiveness
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We Will Not Yield, We Cannot Yield
Elder W. Craig Zwick
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
Despite enemies, Joseph Smith maintained his patience, temperance, and faith, believing that no force could stop the progress of the work he was engaged in.
Joseph grew in patience, temperance, and faith, notwithstanding the presence of enemies on every front. In Joseph"™s own words: "Evil and designing men have combined to destroy the innocent, "¦ yet the glorious Gospel in its fullness is spreading."2[History of the Church,2:22.]"No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing."3[History of the Church,4:540.]
Forgiveness
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We Will Not Yield, We Cannot Yield
Elder W. Craig Zwick
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Ethan, a young man, is trying to navigate the challenges of adolescence and peer pressure, and asks his mother if he should lower his standards to keep his friends.
Ethan, a young friend of mine, approached his mother with a weighty question. Like most teenagers, Ethan wants to be independent, self-sufficient, and surrounded by good friends. He is trying to make good choices on his own. He is exceedingly valiant, works hard on his grades, and studies the scriptures daily. Like all young people, Ethan faces tremendous temptations. It comes in the halls of his school, on the Internet, in the movies and music. It can be heard in bad language and seen in provoc ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Will Not Yield, We Cannot Yield
Elder W. Craig Zwick
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
Nephi recounts his father's dream of the tree of life and the great and spacious building, illustrating the mockery from those in the building towards those partaking of the fruit, and Nephi's principle of ignoring such scorn.
Nephi taught us a powerfully simple principle in recounting his father"™s dream of the tree of life. He described a strait and narrow path leading to a tree and a great and spacious building. This building was filled with people who were dressed in exceedingly fine and fashionable clothing. They were all in an attitude of mocking and pointing fingers toward those who were partaking of the fruit. They were trying to get people off the path and into the building. From all appearances, the people ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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We Will Not Yield, We Cannot Yield
Elder W. Craig Zwick
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Abinadi, a Nephite prophet, displayed unwavering courage by standing for truth and refusing to deny his testimony even when faced with death.
Abinadi, a Nephite prophet, as recorded in just a few powerful pages in Mosiah, teaches us timeless lessons that perfectly meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Abinadi was a man of unwavering courage who stood for truth when it was unpopular to do so. As he courageously called the people to repentance, he knew his own life was in jeopardy. In your mind"™s eye, you can see the riveting scene of Abinadi, who has just had the death sentence pronounced upon him. He had an opportunity to save h ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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