You Matter to Him
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the awe-inspiring vastness of the universe and the number of stars, relating it to the words of ancient prophets.
The more we learn about the universe, the more we understand"”at least in a small part"”what Moses knew. The universe is so large, mysterious, and glorious that it is incomprehensible to the human mind. "Worlds without number have I created," God said to Moses.3Moses 1:33The wonders of the night sky are a beautiful testimony of that truth.
There are few things that have filled me with such breathless awe as flying in the black of night across oceans and continents and looking out my cockpi ... (continued)
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You Matter to Him
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
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📖 general conference
The speaker recounts his personal experience of feeling insignificant during pilot training in the United States Air Force, yet never doubting God's awareness of him.
Let me share with you a personal experience that may be of some help to those who feel insignificant, forgotten, or alone.
Many years ago I attended pilot training in the United States Air Force. I was far away from my home, a young West German soldier, born in Czechoslovakia, who had grown up in East Germany and spoke English only with great difficulty. I clearly remember my journey to our training base in Texas. I was on a plane, sitting next to a passenger who spoke with a heavy Southern acce ... (continued)
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You Matter to Him
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
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📖 general conference
The speaker tells the story of a humble couple who, despite not being of much worldly importance, exemplified Christlike love and service.
One such couple, parents of a friend of mine, exemplify this principle for me. The husband worked at a steel mill in Utah. At lunch he would pull out his scriptures or a Church magazine and read. When the other workers saw this, they ridiculed him and challenged his beliefs. Whenever they did, he spoke to them with kindness and confidence. He did not allow their disrespect to make him angry or upset.
Years later one of the more vocal mockers became very ill. Before he died, he requested that thi ... (continued)
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You Never Know Who You May Save
Elder Jacob de Jager
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a story from his native Holland about a young man named Hans who volunteers to rescue a sailor during a severe storm, despite his mother's fears, and discovers that the sailor he saved is his missing brother Pete.
On one occasion during a severe storm, a ship was in distress, and a rowboat went out to rescue the crew of the fishing boat. The waves were enormous, and each of the men at the oars had to give all his strength and energy to reach the unfortunate sailors in the grim darkness of the night and the heavy rainstorm.
The trip to the wrecked ship was successful, but the rowboat was too small to take the whole crew in one rescue operation. One man had to stay behind on board because there simply was ... (continued)
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You Shall Receive the Spirit
President Hartman Rector, Jr.
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The story of the Lamanite striplings from the Book of Mormon illustrates the blessings that come from precise obedience to commandments.
The account of the Lamanite striplings in the Book of Mormon as mentioned by Elder Monson is an excellent illustration of the blessings that flow from precise obedience. Helaman had formed them into an army of 2,060 young men who fought on the side of the Nephites, and when they were fighting for the Nephites, the Nephites could not lose.
At one time 200 of them were so badly wounded that they fainted from the loss of blood. When they were carried from the battlefield, it was thought they were d ... (continued)
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You Shall Receive the Spirit
President Hartman Rector, Jr.
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
President Harold B. Lee, when asked about his goals as the president of the Church, emphasized the importance of being led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand what to do.
Our living prophet, President Harold B. Lee, made a significant statement on this subject and clearly illustrated the correct philosophy of a servant of the Lord. He did so shortly after he was ordained to the office.
The new First Presidency held a news conference in the administration building with many members of the press in attendance. One reporter asked President Lee if he would mind explaining what his goals were. He asked:
"What do you expect to accomplish during your administration as p ... (continued)
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You Shall Receive the Spirit
President Hartman Rector, Jr.
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The story of Sir Launfal's quest for the Holy Grail teaches the importance of loving the people we serve. Sir Launfal finally finds the Grail when he serves a beggar with love, rather than with disdain.
In "The Vision of Sir Launfal," an interesting story is told of a young knight who rode out into the world in search of the Holy Grail (the cup which the Master supposedly drank from at the Last Supper). He had dedicated his life to the quest. He was young, handsome, and strong, clothed in bright and shining armor, mounted on a gallant white charger. As he crossed the drawbridge riding out into the world, a beggar (who was a leper) put up his hand to him, begging alms. The young knight reached ... (continued)
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You, Too, Must Know
Elder Marion D. Hanks
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
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📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the importance of parents teaching their children through example and shares how Alma's teachings to his sons in the scriptures have been significant to him, especially since he did not know his own father.
Those familiar with the scriptures are aware that many of the most powerful and personally helpful teachings of the sacred records are from parents to their own children, often from fathers to sons.
It has been particularly vital to me, since I did not have the blessing of knowing my own father before he died in my infancy, to discover what it was that parents, fathers especially, were anxious to have their sons learn, to feel the deep intensity of their desire to make known in thought and feeli ... (continued)
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You, Too, Must Know
Elder Marion D. Hanks
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
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📖 general conference
Alma teaches his son Helaman about the importance of trust in God, sharing his personal experiences of trials and the peace he found through Jesus Christ.
One powerful and motivating example of a father"™s instructions to his children is the series of chapters in which Alma shares with his sons the profoundest lessons of his own life. From his experiences, good and bad (for he had both, like the rest of us), there were certain crucial convictions which he was anxious to teach. Of three such matters this humble man speaks in a strong and tender testimony to his son HelamanAlma 36and repeats the witness to his other children.
"My son," he said, ... (continued)
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You, Too, Must Know
Elder Marion D. Hanks
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
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📖 general conference
Alma shares his dedication to bringing souls to repentance and the joy he finds in seeing others born of God and filled with the Holy Ghost.
There is a second matter of which Alma testified to his son"”that from the time of his own witness from the Lord, he said, "I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of that exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
""¦ my son, the Lord doth give me exceeding great joy in the fruit of my labors;
"For because of the word which he has imparted unto me "¦ many have ... (continued)
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You, Too, Must Know
Elder Marion D. Hanks
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
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📖 general conference
Alma emphasizes the importance of his son also knowing the truths he has shared, reflecting the universal desire of loving fathers for their children to have the same knowledge and witness.
But this was not enough for Alma, as indeed it is not for any man who has a witness by the Spirit and loves someone very much. Thus, he had a third vital message to deliver:
"But behold, my son, this is not all; for ye ought to know as I do know."Alma 36:30
Of course! It is not enough for any loving father that he has the witness himself, nor enough that he has helped others to gain a knowledge of true principles. He cannot be truly content unless those he loves best also know. It is with ever ... (continued)
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You, Too, Must Know
Elder Marion D. Hanks
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
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📖 general conference
The speaker shares Alma's past of rebellion and unbelief, his repentance, and the transformation that led him and his friends to become strong in the knowledge of the truth and effective teachers of the word of God.
Alma understood in a special, personal way the marvelous blessing of the forgiveness of God. It is recorded that in his youth there was in the land a climate of unbelief of spiritual darkness: "Many of the rising generation "¦ did not believe the tradition of their fathers.
"They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ.
"And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and th ... (continued)
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Young Men"”Holders of Keys
Elder Monte J. Brough
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
Joseph Smith recounts the significant event of receiving the Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist, who appeared to him and Oliver Cowdery.
One of the most significant events of the Restoration is that of the Aaronic Priesthood in May 1829. John the Baptist appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.
Joseph recounts: "While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us, saying:
"Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering o ... (continued)
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Young Men"”Holders of Keys
Elder Monte J. Brough
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The prophet Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet to the nations even though he felt he was too young and inexperienced.
First, the prophet Jeremiah:
"Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
"Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
"But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. "¦
"Then the Lord put forth his hand, and t ... (continued)
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Young Men"”Holders of Keys
Elder Monte J. Brough
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
Timothy, a young man, was a faithful missionary companion to the Apostle Paul and was recognized for his early knowledge of the scriptures and his holy calling.
Another young man, Timothy, was a missionary companion to the Apostle Paul. The epistles from Paul to Timothy are tributes to the faith and testimony of this very young man. Let me read a few extracts from those epistles:
"Wherefore "¦ stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. "¦
"[Christ] hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling."32 Tim. 1:6, 9
"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise."42 Tim. 3:15
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Young Men"”Holders of Keys
Elder Monte J. Brough
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
Mormon, at a very young age, was entrusted with the sacred records and later became the leader of the Nephite armies.
One of the greatest examples of a very young man making a contribution of monumental significance is that of Mormon. Let"™s read just part of his account:
"And now I, Mormon, make a record of the things which I have both seen and heard, and call it the Book of Mormon.
"And about the time that Ammaron hid up the records unto the Lord, he came unto me, (I being about ten years of age, and I began to be learned somewhat after the manner of the learning of my people) and Ammaron said unto me: I pe ... (continued)
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Young Men"”Holders of Keys
Elder Monte J. Brough
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The speaker recalls his own experience as a 12-year-old, when he was visited by his deacons quorum presidency after being injured in a horse accident.
In June of the year I was 12 years old, I was injured in a horse accident while delivering newspapers in my old hometown of Randolph, Utah. I was placed in a wheelchair for six months, until I first walked on Christmas Day. I remember the members of my deacons quorum presidency coming to my home to visit me"”Dale Rex, Doug McKinnon, and others who were 13-year-old leaders in the deacons quorum presidency. They seemed to understand their responsibility to me as a member of their quorum.
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Young Men"”Holders of Keys
Elder Monte J. Brough
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
Alice Gomez, a former classmate of the speaker, reveals she was never invited to join the Church during their school years, highlighting a missed opportunity by the speaker's quorum.
I recently was standing at the luggage retrieval at the Salt Lake City International Airport when a woman came to me and asked my name. I recognized her as a former South Rich High School classmate from years ago. She had changed since I had last seen her. You all know how you feel at the old dreaded high school reunion. She had added some gray hair and a few wrinkles. (Of course, I hadn"™t changed.) It was obvious that she was meeting her missionary child, who was returning from a mission. It ... (continued)
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Young Men"”Holders of Keys
Elder Monte J. Brough
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
A young priests quorum in Jamaica successfully found more referrals for the missionaries than they could handle, and a quorum in Kaysville, Utah, committed to not losing any members by taking their Sunday lessons to less-active members' homes.
Recently reported to me was the story of a young priests quorum in Jamaica who decided they would help the missionaries with their work. So this quorum of young men went knocking on doors, trying to find appointments for the missionaries. They soon found more referrals than the missionaries could handle.
A priests quorum in Kaysville, Utah, decided they would not lose one member of their quorum. The whole quorum would go to a less-active member"™s home and have their Sunday lesson sitting arou ... (continued)
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Young People Away from Home
Elder S. Dilworth Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The speaker recounts his experience as a young man working away from home, where he felt isolated due to his different values and was not sought out by local church members.
I remember the first time I ever went away from home"”I mean to work. I was thrown into the company of a crowd of men and boys my own age. If one didn't smoke with this particular crowd one was considered to be a sissy. During the daytime hours while we worked, the air was filled with blasphemous remarks concerning the Father and the Son and derogatory remarks concerning one's own personal ancestry and the illegitimacy of it. On weekends they got drunk. They didn't just drink, they got drunk. ... (continued)
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