When the Lord Commands
Elder Bruce A. Carlson
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Nephi's faith and obedience in retrieving the brass plates leads to the preservation of a nation and its language.
Following the Lord"™s command, the prophet Lehi led his family into the wilderness. During the first few days of the journey, Lehi instructed his son Lemuel to be "firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!"141 Nephi 2:10
However, when the prophetic requirement came to return to Jerusalem to retrieve the brass plates, containing a "record of the Jews,"151 Nephi 3:3the two oldest boys rebelled, saying, "It is a hard thing."161 Nephi 3:5
Despite his ol ... (continued)
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When the Lord Commands
Elder Bruce A. Carlson
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Joseph Smith learns a painful lesson about obedience when he allows Martin Harris to take the manuscript of the Book of Lehi, which is subsequently lost.
The Prophet Joseph Smith petitioned the Lord on two occasions, asking if a prominent friend, Martin Harris, could take the first 116 handwritten pages of translated material from the book of Lehi from Harmony, Pennsylvania, back to Palmyra. Each time, the Lord counseled Joseph to avoid entrusting the manuscript to Mr. Harris.
Martin was seeking to use the translated material as evidence to stop his associates from spreading rumors about his friendship with Joseph Smith. On the third request the ... (continued)
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When the Lord Commands, Do It
Elder Henry D. Taylor
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The Savior, Jesus Christ, exemplified obedience to divine law, even through suffering, becoming the author of eternal salvation.
'He learned obedience'
The Savior, on the other hand, subscribed to the principle of obedience to divine law. In referring to him the Apostle Paul observed: 'Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
'And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him'Heb. 5:8-9Should we not follow the Lord's example?
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When the Lord Commands, Do It
Elder Henry D. Taylor
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Adam and Eve obediently offered sacrifices to the Lord without understanding why, as an example of faith-based obedience.
One of the beautiful incidents found in the scriptures relates to our first parents, Adam and Eve. After being driven from the Garden of Eden they began to till the soil and to have dominion over the beasts of the field and to eat their bread by the sweat of their faces. They called upon the name of the Lord and heard his voice speaking to them from the way toward the Garden of Eden, but they did not see him, as they were now shut out from his presence. The Lord gave them commandments that they ... (continued)
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When the Lord Commands, Do It
Elder Henry D. Taylor
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Nephi demonstrated faith and obedience by building a ship to cross the waters despite his brothers' skepticism.
Marvelous deeds can be accomplished through faith and obedience. While in the wilderness the prophet Nephi was instructed by the Lord to construct a vessel in which to cross the mighty waters. To his doubting brothers this appeared to be an impossible task. But Nephi knew that it could be done and began fashioning tools and accumulating materials for his important assignment. When he advised his brothers of his purpose, they murmured and scoffed, saying: 'Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh t ... (continued)
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When the Lord Commands, Do It
Elder Henry D. Taylor
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Abraham showed unwavering faith and obedience by preparing to sacrifice his son Isaac as commanded by the Lord.
Another soul-stirring incident that is recorded in holy writ teaches a forceful lesson from which we may profit. As a devoted and loving father, Abraham's heart must have been heavy when he was commanded to take his beloved son, Isaac, upon a mountain and offer him as a sacrifice. Yet with unwavering faith and implicit trust in the Lord, he responded to the charge. He was dutifully obedient. Mercifully, however, he was relieved of the severe challenge the Lord had imposed upon him. But he had be ... (continued)
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When the Spirit Speaks
Elder Seymour Dilworth Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
Nephi rebukes his brothers for their murderous intent and reminds them that they have been unable to feel the words of the Holy Spirit due to their hardened hearts.
Nephi was rebuking his two brothers who were intent upon killing him as they journeyed toward the Promised Land. He reminded them that they thought to murder his father, but also their intent was to murder him, and therefore in their hearts they were murderers. Then he reminded them of the times which the Lord had tried to impress them in these words: 'Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, ... (continued)
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When the Spirit Speaks
Elder Seymour Dilworth Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the importance of 'feeling' the words of the Spirit, as opposed to hearing them with ears, and how this feeling guides members of the Church to truth.
I used to wonder why Nephi didn't say 'hear his words.' Now I know that one doesn't hear them with his ears, as Brother Romney said. But into a person's mind there come words. These seem to be his own words, but with the Spirit upon him, are not his words. With these words comes a feeling. One actually feels the words, just as Nephi said. These brothers had lost that feeling, and therefore could not detect words given by the Spirit as apart from their own thoughts.
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When the Spirit Speaks
Elder Seymour Dilworth Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares his belief that the majority of Church members come to know the truth of the gospel through the feelings of the Spirit, as exemplified by converts and the Prophet Joseph Smith.
This 'feeling' comes to all who will hear. One's first experience in this likely is akin to those of all converts to the Church when they read what Moroni said. He told them that after they had heard these things, if they would ask God they would know of their truth Moro. 10:4 I believe that James was referring to this fundamental truth when he wrote these words, 'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God' James 1:5 The Prophet Joseph, reading, was impressed to go to the woods and pray. Anyb ... (continued)
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When the Spirit Speaks
Elder Seymour Dilworth Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker testifies of his knowledge that Joseph Smith received revelations through the Spirit and that President McKay is a prophet, and he encourages others to reflect on whether they felt the Spirit during the conference.
By that Spirit which whispers in my soul, and which I feel with my heart and my feelings at the same time, the knowledge of which rings constantly in my whole being, I know that Joseph Smith received many of his revelations by that means. By that whispered feeling, too, I know that he was a prophet of the Living God and that President McKay is likewise a prophet of the Living God. I would ask only one thing, that each of us as we leave this conference ask ourselves if during any of these meeting ... (continued)
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When Thou Art Converted
Elder D. Todd Christofferson
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A stake president recalls a man who confessed a transgression, revealing a lack of true conversion despite years of Church activity.
Years ago when I served as a stake president, a man came to confess a transgression. His confession surprised me. He had been an active member of the Church for years. I wondered how a person with his experience could have committed the sin that he did. After some pondering, it came to me that this brother had never become truly converted. Despite his Church activity, the gospel had not penetrated his heart. It was only an external influence in his life. When he was in wholesome environments, he ... (continued)
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When Thou Art Converted
Elder D. Todd Christofferson
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Two sister missionaries in Croatia were protected from menacing men and guided by an unseen woman to safety.
In 1992 two sister missionaries in Zagreb, Croatia, were returning to their apartment one evening. Their last teaching appointment had been some distance away, and it was getting dark. Several men on the trolley made crude comments and became rather menacing. Feeling threatened, the sisters got off the trolley at the next stop just as the doors closed so no one could follow them. Having avoided that problem, they realized they were in a place unknown to either of them. As they turned to look for ... (continued)
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When to Receive Your Patriarchal Blessing
By Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts how he always visits with the stake patriarch and his spouse during stake conferences and learns about the youngest and oldest individuals who have received patriarchal blessings.
As I go to stake conferences, I always visit with the stake patriarch and his spouse. Patriarchs are gentle, obedient, and incredible leaders called of God. They tell me many wonderful spiritual experiences. I ask them the age of the youngest and the oldest person to whom they have given a blessing. So far the youngest was 11, and the oldest was 93.
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When to Receive Your Patriarchal Blessing
By Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares his personal experience of receiving his patriarchal blessing at age 19 from a patriarch who was a pioneer of the Church in Japan.
I received my patriarchal blessing as a new member of the Church, at age 19, two years after I was baptized. My patriarch was incredibly old. He joined the Church in 1916 and was a pioneer of the Church in Japan. It was my great honor to receive my patriarchal blessing from that remarkable disciple of the Lord. His Japanese was a bit difficult for me to understand, but it was powerful.
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When to Receive Your Patriarchal Blessing
By Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker expresses sadness upon learning that his mother-in-law, a very active church member, passed away at 91 without ever receiving a patriarchal blessing.
My mother-in-law was a very active Church member, serving as a Relief Society teacher until she passed away at age 91. I was sad to learn that she did not receive a patriarchal blessing. She experienced many difficulties in her life, and because she did not have a priesthood holder in the home, she did not receive many priesthood blessings. A patriarchal blessing may have given her comfort when she needed it most.
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When to Receive Your Patriarchal Blessing
By Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker talks about his own introduction to patriarchal blessings by his bishop after he joined the Church and encourages new members to seek their own blessings.
New members of the Church, have you heard of patriarchal blessings? I didn"™t know about the opportunity to receive one when I joined the Church, but my beloved bishop told me about patriarchal blessings and encouraged me to prepare to receive mine after I was baptized. My dear new members, you can receive a patriarchal blessing as well. The Lord will help you prepare for this sacred opportunity.
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When to Receive Your Patriarchal Blessing
By Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on how he frequently reads his patriarchal blessing for encouragement and guidance, and how its meaning has changed for him over time.
I frequently and prayerfully read my patriarchal blessing; it always gives me encouragement. I recognize what the Lord expects of me, and it has helped me to repent and be humble. When I read and ponder it, I desire to live worthy of receiving its promised blessings. Just as scriptures we have read many times have new meaning to us later, our patriarchal blessing will have a different meaning to us at different times. Mine has a different meaning now than it did when I was 30 and when I was 50. ... (continued)
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When Ye Are Prepared, Ye Shall Not Fear
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A high priest group in southern Wyoming organizes a service project to assist a widow in maintaining her farm after her husband's death.
This summer I had the opportunity of attending a high priest group meeting in a small community in southern Wyoming. The lesson that week was on justification and sanctification. It was evident as the lesson was beginning that the teacher was well prepared to instruct his brethren. Then a question prompted a response which changed the whole course of the lesson. In response to the question, the comment of one of the brethren was, “I have listened with great interest to the lesson material. ... (continued)
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When Ye Are Prepared, Ye Shall Not Fear
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
An adviser to a priests quorum helps reintegrate a struggling member named Bill by holding a quorum meeting in his bedroom after he repeatedly missed meetings.
Many years ago I was called to be the adviser to a priests quorum. It was during a time when the Church had instituted a standard quorum award program. The program was designed to encourage the full quorum to have an interest in each member. An award was given for the achievement of the total quorum, not for individual accomplishment.
This was a quorum of high-spirited, devoted young men. They fulfilled their quorum responsibilities almost 100 percent, with the exception of one member. Bill had ... (continued)
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When Ye Are Prepared, Ye Shall Not Fear
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
President Joseph F. Smith recalls a memory from his childhood where the Prophet Joseph Smith warmly greets a disheveled man who had sacrificed much for him.
President Joseph F. Smith once told of an instance he remembered from his boyhood. He said that when he was very young he was attending a party in the Mansion House given by his uncle, the Prophet Joseph Smith. A large company was present, engaging in the festivities of the occasion. Suddenly the door opened and a man entered, dressed in ragged, shabby clothes. He was dirty, and his hair and beard were long and unkempt. He looked like a tramp. The Prophet at the time was on the other side of the ... (continued)
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