What Is Truth?
Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Nicodemus, a community and religious leader, came to Jesus by night to inquire about His teachings, risking his reputation.
Nicodemus had to come to the Savior by night because his position in the community and in his church would have been seriously threatened had his contemporaries known of his inquiry in the right place. (SeeJohn 3:1"“21)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What Is Truth?
Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
King Lamoni asked Ammon questions about God, leading to an explanation of the plan of salvation, which Lamoni could understand because he was open-minded and receptive to the Spirit.
King Lamoni asked the right questions of Ammon when he said, "Who are you? How do you know these things? Where is God? Are you sent from him?" Then Ammon explained the plan of salvation to him, and he was able to understand because he opened his mind to knowledge and his heart to the Spirit. (SeeAlma 18:18"“40)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What Is Truth?
Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Alma taught the Zoramites that even a desire to believe can open the door to receive the truth by the Spirit.
The prophet Alma, in his great discourse to the Zoramites, said, "But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words."Alma 32:27He explained to them that we open the door to receive by the Spirit with just a desire to believe.
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What Is Truth?
Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
On the day of Pentecost, Peter and John's powerful preaching by the Spirit led people to be pricked in their hearts and ask what they should do.
On the day of Pentecost, when Peter and John obviously were speaking with great power and by the Spirit, the men were pricked in their hearts and asked the question, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"Acts 2:37
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What Is Truth?
Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A friend visited the speaker, claiming the Book of Mormon was not true and Joseph Smith was not a prophet, citing anti-Church literature. The speaker disagreed, suggesting the friend also explore positive sources, but the friend's mind was already made up.
A few months ago, a friend came to our home under the pretext that he had some questions about the Church he needed help in answering. He said he had discovered the Book of Mormon was not the word of God and that Joseph Smith was not a prophet of God. He then proceeded to quote articles and books which were written by enemies of the Church. As he listed his sources, I replied that I also had read them and others, and they had only served to confirm my faith in the Book of Mormon and the Prophet ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What Is Truth?
Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
King Benjamin urged his listeners to open their ears and hearts to understand the mysteries of God, emphasizing the importance of a sincere desire to know the truth.
King Benjamin taught, "My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I havenotcommanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view."Mosiah 2:9italics added.)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What Is Truth?
Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon received a vision of the kingdom of God as they pondered the state of man after this life.
What a blessing it is for us that the Prophet Joseph Smith asked the right questions in the right places for the right reason. As he and Sidney Rigdon pondered the question of the state of man"™s existence after this life, the Lord touched the eyes of their understanding, and they were opened to a vision of the kingdom of God. In recording this vision they said: "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What Is Your Destination?
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on a train journey in England where the conductor's questions about destinations lead him to consider life's true destinations beyond physical stops.
A few weeks ago while in England, I had the opportunity to do some traveling by train. Weather and time schedules indicated this to be the most satisfactory method of transportation.
One day as the train rolled from Manchester to Leicester, after about an hour and a half of reading, I put down my books, looked out the window, and wondered if we were getting close to the station. A few minutes later the door to the compartment opened and the conductor entered. He greeted me with, "What is your de ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What Is Your Destination?
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the story of a missionary, Elder Dennis Dean, who served a full-time mission despite being wheelchair-bound, demonstrating purpose and courage.
Let me tell you about a friend of mine who presently is traveling the true road with purpose and courage. I was visiting in the mission field when Elder Dennis Dean reached the Arizona Mission. His arrival in one of our first meetings created an electrifying influence on all present when he guided himself in his wheelchair down the aisle of the chapel. An expression of humble confidence covered his face.
His associates soon learned why he had been found worthy and able to serve a full-time missi ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What Is Your Destination?
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares contrasting stories of two individuals from a prison: one with clear plans and goals for his life after release, and another with no plans beyond wanting to get out.
As we continue our thinking along the lines of plans, destinations, goals, arrivals, and commitments, we can learn from two more of my friends. Some of my friends are unusual. They come from unusual places. Last Tuesday evening, as I was clearing my desk prior to leaving for home, the telephone rang: "Brother Ashton, I have permission from the prison authorities to come and visit with you. Will you wait until I get there?"
Frank came. We talked. In response to the questions, "Now that you are ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What It Means To Be a Christian
President Stephen L Richards
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a radio address by a minister who argued that one cannot be a true Christian without belonging to a Christian church.
Some time ago I heard over the radio a minister begin his address with the following question: "Can a man be a Christian without belonging to a Christian church?" His discussion of the subject was very interesting. If I correctly interpreted his argument, his answer was, "No—a man cannot truly be a Christian without belonging to a Christian church."
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What It Means To Be a Christian
President Stephen L Richards
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a scripture from modern revelation that emphasizes the importance of receiving the gospel to truly receive Christ.
At this point I must introduce to my friends—my fellow members of the Church are well acquainted with it—a scripture from modern revelation, which brings clarity to our thinking. These are the words of the Lord to his Prophet: "And verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth my gospel receiveth me; and he that receiveth not my gospel receiveth not me" D&C 39:5
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What It Means To Be a Christian
President Stephen L Richards
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker concludes by inviting all to become truly Christian by entering into the kingdom of God through the restored Church.
Therefore, if you would be truly Christian, if you would be classified as a disciple of our dear Savior, I hold out to you the one sure way of achieving that great distinction. Come into his kingdom through the door which is open to all who will abide his law and his gospel. Come to participate in blessings and high privileges which surpass even the vision of your highest hopes and ambitions.
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What It Means To Be a Christian
President Stephen L Richards
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker explains the nature and importance of priesthood authority and how it must be conferred by someone with the power to do so.
Now if gospel ordinances are essential they must be administered, and in logical sequence it follows that they must be administered by those having a delegation of authority to do so. So it follows also that the delegation of authority must come from one source only—the Author of the gospel plan, the Christ, who derived his authority from the Eternal Father. Those who held and exercised such authority in ancient Israel, as in the Meridian of Time, were endowed with what is called "priesth ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What It Means To Be a Christian
President Stephen L Richards
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker cites a modern revelation that describes the righteous principles upon which priesthood authority must be exercised.
Here is a divine endowment, a marvelous gift to man, which may be lost by failure to exercise the power in its true meaning and spirit. It has been lost, my brothers and sisters and friends, to men of old as in modern times by failure both to understand its true nature and to exercise its functions in a manner compatible with the spirit and essence of the power itself. Listen to these lovely words further defining the nature of this holy power: "No power or influence can or ought to be maintaine ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What It Means To Be a Christian
President Stephen L Richards
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker gives his personal testimony of the divine authenticity of the Holy Priesthood and its restoration in modern times.
The powers of the priesthood may never be assumed. They must always be conferred, and of course by someone having the power to confer. My friends I wish you to know—and I hope you will not regard it as presumptuous in me to inform you—that the powers of the Holy Priesthood have been conferred authentically in modern times. Time will not permit me to detail all the circumstances attendant upon this bestowal of divine power, but I give it to you as my considered judgment and my firm ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What It Means To Be a Christian
President Stephen L Richards
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the nature of God's kingdom as not a democracy but a kingdom with a king who prescribes the rules for membership.
What then is the standing of a so-called Christian with reference to the kingdom of God? Is he rightly classified as Christian unless he has taken the steps necessary to receive the gospel of our Lord and enter into his kingdom? I believe, my friends, that a careful survey of all pertinent scriptures, as well as the whole history of Christ's work among men, will demonstrate that only by the complete acceptance of the Christ as our Lord, and subscribing to all the conditions and requirements of h ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What It Means To Be a Christian
President Stephen L Richards
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker discusses the fulfillment of ancient prophecies with the setting up of the kingdom of God on Earth in modern times.
First I must take you back to an ancient prophecy with which many are familiar. You will remember that when Daniel was asked to interpret the king's dream of the great image whose head was of gold, whose breast and arms were of silver, whose belly and thighs were of brass, with legs of iron and feet of clay, he uttered these portentous words: "Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces." "Then ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What It Means to Be a Daughter of God
President James E. Faust
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
A young woman feels comforted by her Heavenly Father as she leaves for college, reflecting on a blessing from her earthly father.
One young woman became much more aware of the wonderful relationship we have to our Heavenly Father when she left home for the first time to go to college. Her father gave her a blessing and expressed his love. Then she writes:
"I clung to his words of love and support as I said a painful good-bye to my family. I felt alone and scared in those uncharted waters. Before I left the apartment that morning, I knelt down to ask for help. Desperately I pleaded with my Heavenly Father for strength to be ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
What It Means to Be a Daughter of God
President James E. Faust
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
A young piano student's performance is augmented by the great Paderewski, illustrating how the Master helps us in our lives.
The answer to those questions may best be given by relating the story of a young piano student. His mother, wishing to encourage him, "bought tickets for a performance of the great Polish pianist, Paderewski. The night of the concert arrived and the mother and son found their seats near the front of the concert hall. While the mother visited with friends, the boy slipped quietly away.
"Suddenly, it was time for the performance to begin and a single spotlight cut through the darkness of the conce ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →