What It Means to Be a Daughter of God
President James E. Faust
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
A sister feels the presence of her deceased parents while performing temple ordinances on their behalf.
A few years ago, after attending the temple for the first time, a sister wrote:
"What a glorious blessing to be inside that house! My eyes, ears, and heart opened wide to absorb its teachings. I felt the reality of each covenant I made within every fiber and bone of my body. I felt I was standing right in front of the Lord each time I made covenants with him. The influence of the Lord was so great that I had no desire to leave the temple after the session was over. It became real to me then that ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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What It Means to Be a Saint
Elder Wm. Grant Bangerter
- Of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A speaker humorously asks if anyone in his congregation is perfect, and one man stands up as a proxy for his wife's first husband.
Another question: Are we perfect? As a response to that question, I repeat a story about the speaker who said to his congregation, 'If there is anyone here who is perfect, will he please stand.' One man stood, and the speaker inquired, 'Sir, do you really believe that you are perfect?'
The man responded, 'Oh, no. I am not standing for myself. I stand as proxy for my wife's first husband.'
Forgiveness
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What It Means to Be a Saint
Elder Wm. Grant Bangerter
- Of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
President Spencer W. Kimball reflects on personal improvement after a general conference.
At the conclusion of the October 1975 general conference, President Spencer W. Kimball said: 'While sitting here, I have made up my mind that when I go home from this conference this night there are many, many areas in my life that I can perfect. I have made a mental list of them, and I expect to go to work as soon as we get through with conference' (Ensign, Nov. 1975, p. 111).
Forgiveness
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What It Means to Be a Saint
Elder Wm. Grant Bangerter
- Of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Brother Carmen Bria, a converted member, discusses salvation with a minister whose son is studying Mormon doctrine in prison.
Brother Carmen Bria, a neighbor of ours converted from another church, was assisting prisoners as a social worker. A certain young prisoner became interested in the gospel. His father, a minister from another church, visited the boy and was very upset that his son was studying Mormon doctrine, even more than he was by the fact that his son was in prison.
Brother Bria approached the father and asked why he was so distressed. The father replied, 'You are not saved.'
'Why do you say that?' asked Br ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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What It Means to Be a Saint
Elder Wm. Grant Bangerter
- Of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Elder Spencer W. Kimball recounts a friend's pride in his possessions and the realization of their temporary nature at the friend's death.
In this second estate, is our perspective short-range or is it eternal? Elder Spencer W. Kimball, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, drew this to our attention in 1968: 'One day,' he said, 'a friend took me to his ranch. He unlocked the door of a large new automobile, slid under the wheel, and said proudly, 'How do you like my new car?' We rode in luxurious comfort ... to a beautiful new landscaped home, and he said with no little pride, 'This is my home.'
'He drove to a grassy knoll. Th ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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What Lack I Yet?
Elder Larry R. Lawrence
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
A young man seeking the right partner asked what was keeping him from being the right man and was prompted to clean up his language.
A humble young man who couldn"™t seem to find the right young woman went to the Lord for help: "What is keeping me from being the right man?" he asked. This answer came into his mind and heart: "Clean up your language." At that moment, he realized that several crude expressions had become part of his vocabulary, and he committed to change.
Forgiveness
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What Lack I Yet?
Elder Larry R. Lawrence
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
A single sister asked what she needed to change and was told not to interrupt people when they are talking.
A single sister bravely asked the question: "What do I need to change?" and the Spirit whispered to her, "Don"™t interrupt people when they are talking." The Holy Ghost really does give customized counsel. He is a completely honest companion and will tell us things that no one else knows or has the courage to say.
Forgiveness
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What Lack I Yet?
Elder Larry R. Lawrence
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The speaker recounts his amazement at learning the doctrine of eternal progression after joining the Church and how the Sermon on the Mount echoed this truth.
When I was a young adult, I began investigating the Church. At first I was drawn to the gospel by the examples of my Latter-day Saint friends, but eventually I was attracted to the unique doctrine. When I learned that faithful men and women could keep progressing and ultimately become like our heavenly parents, I was frankly amazed. I loved the concept; it rang true to me.
Soon after my baptism, I was studying the Sermon on the Mount, and I recognized that Jesus taught this same truth about eter ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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What Lack I Yet?
Elder Larry R. Lawrence
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The speaker shares the story of the rich young ruler from the New Testament who asked Jesus how to achieve eternal life and was told to sell his possessions and follow Christ, but he was unable to follow this counsel.
Let"™s consider the New Testament account of the rich young ruler. He was a righteous young man who was already keeping the Ten Commandments, but he wanted to become better. His goal was eternal life.
When he met the Savior, he asked, "What lack I yet?"3Matthew 19:20
Jesus answered immediately, giving counsel that was intended specifically for the rich young man. "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and "¦ come and follow me." ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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What Lack I Yet?
Elder Larry R. Lawrence
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A faithful mother asked what was keeping her from progressing and received the unexpected answer to stop complaining, which led her to count her blessings instead.
I knew a faithful mother who humbled herself and asked, "What is keeping me from progressing?" In her case, the response from the Spirit came immediately: "Stop complaining." This answer surprised her; she had never thought of herself as a complainer. However, the message from the Holy Ghost was very clear. In the days that followed, she became conscious of her habit of complaining. Grateful for the prompting to improve, she determined to count her blessings instead of her challenges. Within ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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What Lack I Yet?
Elder Larry R. Lawrence
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
A returned missionary stressed with a heavy schedule asked how to find peace and was impressed to more carefully observe the Sabbath day.
One returned missionary found himself stressed with a very heavy schedule. He was trying to find time for work, studies, family, and a Church calling. He asked the Lord for counsel: "How can I feel at peace with all that I need to do?" The answer was not what he expected;Â he received the impression that he should more carefully observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy. He decided to dedicate Sunday to God"™s service"”to lay aside his school courses on that day and study the gospel ins ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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What Lack I Yet?
Elder Larry R. Lawrence
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
A college girl struggling with her life asked how to improve it and was prompted to clean her room, which led to a spiritual uplift.
Years ago I read in a Church magazine the story of a girl who was living away from home and going to college. She was behind in her classes, her social life was not what she had hoped for, and she was generally unhappy. Finally one day she fell to her knees and cried out, "What can I do to improve my life?" The Holy Ghost whispered, "Get up and clean your room." This prompting came as a complete surprise, but it was just the start she needed. After taking time to organize and put things in o ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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What Lack I Yet?
Elder Larry R. Lawrence
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares personal examples of messages from the Spirit on how to improve, such as not raising his voice, organizing daily tasks, eating healthier, increasing temple attendance, pondering before prayer, seeking his wife's counsel, and being patient while driving.
Like you, I have received many messages from the Spirit over the years showing me how I could improve. Let me share a few personal examples of messages that I took to heart. These promptings have included:
Don"™t raise your voice.
Organize yourself; create a daily list of things to do.
Take better care of your body by eating more fruits and vegetables.
Increase your temple attendance.
Take time to ponder before you pray.
Ask your wife for her counsel.
And be patient when driving; don"™t exce ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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What Makes a Latter-day Saint?
Elder Eldred G. Smith
- Patriarch to the Church
📅 0
📖 general conference
Elder Matthew Cowley emphasized the importance of forgiveness, suggesting that we should let God judge and focus on forgiving others.
Elder Matthew Cowley once said: 'We ought to say in our hearts let God judge between me and thee, but as for me I will forgive' D&C 64:11 That means to say in our hearts, not just lip service. We must be willing to forgive and forget.
Forgiveness
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What Makes a Latter-day Saint?
Elder Eldred G. Smith
- Patriarch to the Church
📅 0
📖 general conference
Jesus taught about limitless forgiveness when Peter asked how often he should forgive his brother, suggesting forgiveness should be extended seventy times seven times.
Peter asked Jesus: 'Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 'Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, until seventy times seven' Matt. 18:21-22
Forgiveness
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What Makes a Latter-day Saint?
Elder Eldred G. Smith
- Patriarch to the Church
📅 0
📖 general conference
Jesus showed compassion and forgiveness to an adulteress who was about to be stoned, telling her to go and sin no more instead of condemning her.
When the adulteress was brought before Christ to be stoned, according to the law, he said: 'He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.' They all then slipped away, leaving the woman alone with Jesus. No accusers left, Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.' Thus giving the woman the opportunity to repent and be forgiven John 8:6-11
Forgiveness
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What Makes a Latter-day Saint?
Elder Eldred G. Smith
- Patriarch to the Church
📅 0
📖 general conference
On the cross, Jesus exemplified ultimate forgiveness by asking His Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him.
Then, finally, in his agony on the cross, showing the supreme example of forgiveness, he cried out to his Father in heaven: 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do' Luke 23:34
Forgiveness
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What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?
Elder Lynn G. Robbins
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker discusses the importance of being and doing as interdependent doctrines, illustrating the point with the Savior's denouncement of hypocrites who honor Him with their lips while their hearts are far from Him.
The Savior often denounced those who did without being—calling them hypocrites: 'This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me' Mark 7:6 To do without to be is hypocrisy, or feigning to be what one is not—a pretender.
Forgiveness
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What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?
Elder Lynn G. Robbins
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker tells a story about how parents' unseen love and faith are revealed through their actions, such as helping a child learn to walk, which demonstrates the unseen 'be's of patience and diligence.
When parents help a child learn to walk, for example, we see parents doing things like steadying and praising their child. These do’s reveal the unseen love in their hearts and the unseen faith and hope in their child’s potential. Day after day their efforts continue—evidence of the unseen be’s of patience and diligence.
Forgiveness
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What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?
Elder Lynn G. Robbins
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker narrates how Alma found that preaching the word was more effective than the sword in changing people's nature, emphasizing the power of doctrine to change one's very nature.
Alma discovered this same principle, that 'the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword' Alma 31:5 emphasis added). Why? Because the sword focused only on punishing behavior—or do—while preaching the word changed people’s very nature—who they were or could become.
Forgiveness
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