Your Patriarchal Blessing: A Liahona of Light
President Thomas S. Monson
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts cleaning out the attic of their mountain cabin and finding historical and sentimental items, including a story in Life magazine about a bomber lost in the Sahara Desert during World War II.
Have you ever cleaned an attic or rummaged through an old storeroom? One discovers a bit of history and a whole lot of sentiment. A few weeks ago we emptied the attic of our mountain cabin. Seventy years of treasures, each with its own special memory, passed in review. Leading the parade was an old high chair with metal wheels. This was followed by glass milk bottles that once had pasteboard caps and by a copy of Life magazine with a story from World War II.
Featured in the magazine was an accou ... (continued)
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Your Patriarchal Blessing: A Liahona of Light
President Thomas S. Monson
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a scriptural story about Lehi's family being guided in the desert by the Liahona, a compass provided by the Lord.
Centuries earlier, a righteous and loving father by the name of Lehi took his beloved family into desert wasteland. He journeyed in response to the voice of the Lord. But the Lord did not decree that such a "flight" be undertaken without heavenly help. The words of Nephi describe the gift provided on the morning of the historic trek:
"And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of ... (continued)
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Your Patriarchal Blessing: A Liahona of Light
President Thomas S. Monson
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a personal experience of being guided by the Lord to call Cecil B. Kenner as a patriarch, after finding a note with his name that had been written and forgotten nine years earlier.
Many years back I had been assigned to name a patriarch for a stake in Logan, Utah. I found such a man, wrote his name on a slip of paper, and placed the note inside my scriptures. My further review revealed that another worthy patriarch had moved to this same area, making unnecessary the naming of a new patriarch. None was named.
Nine years later I was again assigned a stake conference in Logan. Once more a patriarch was needed for the stake I was to visit. I had been using a new set of scriptu ... (continued)
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Your Patriarchal Blessing: A Liahona of Light
President Thomas S. Monson
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
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📖 general conference
The speaker tells the story of Patriarch Percy K. Fetzer, who was troubled by having promised unattainable blessings to a family in Poland, only to see those blessings fulfilled years later when the family moved to West Germany.
One afternoon Percy K. Fetzer, a righteous patriarch, came to my office by appointment. He was weeping as we visited together. He explained that he had just returned from the land of Poland, where he had been privileged to give patriarchal blessings to our worthy members there. After a long pause, the patriarch revealed that he had been impressed to promise to members of a German-speaking family by the name of Konietz declarations which could not be fulfilled. He had promised missions. He had pr ... (continued)
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Your Personal Checklist for a Successful Eternal Flight
Elder Hugh W. Pinnock
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a personal story of washing the family car and having a disagreement with his father, which led to a mutual understanding of their respective roles and learning experiences within the family.
One day when I was seventeen years old, I was washing the family car in anticipation of going on a date that evening. My father came out of the house to observe what I was doing. He criticized me to the extent that I felt as if I was doing nothing right. Finally I said something like, 'Dad, get off my case. Don’t you understand this is the first time I have ever been a teenager?' He looked at me and said, 'Pal, don’t you know this is the first time I have ever been a father?' I gre ... (continued)
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Your Personal Checklist for a Successful Eternal Flight
Elder Hugh W. Pinnock
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The speaker shares an experience of feeding foxes in England, which led to an infestation and compares it to the consequences of breaking commandments.
Live the commandments. Never feed the foxes! What does that mean? Breaking commandments is like feeding foxes. In England where we live, my wife and I had heard that foxes were right in town. We wanted to see a fox. A neighbor told us that if we left food for the foxes we probably would see one. Our butcher gave us some bones. Each night we would place some bones out in the backyard. Soon a fox came to eat. Then a few more. Now we have at least five foxes racing through our flower garden, diggin ... (continued)
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Your Personal Checklist for a Successful Eternal Flight
Elder Hugh W. Pinnock
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The speaker relates a conversation with a non-Mormon military leader who admired the Mormon practice of sending young men on missions, recognizing the personal growth and strength it brings.
A mission. While serving as an aide-de-camp to a major general in an army reserve unit, I found myself in many conversations with that remarkable military leader. He was not of our faith. 'Pinnock,' he once said, 'do you know how fortunate you Mormons are?' I replied by saying something like, 'Yes, sir, but what are you thinking about?' He said, 'A mission, Pinnock, that’s what it’s all about. Your young men are encouraged to go to serve others. They become stronger, more wise, and ... (continued)
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Your Personal Influence
President Thomas S. Monson
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
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📖 general conference
President David O. McKay counseled the speaker about the importance of personal influence when he was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
More than 40 years ago, when President David O. McKay extended to me a call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, he warmly welcomed me with a heartfelt smile and a tender embrace. Among the sacred counsel he extended was the declaration, "There is one responsibility that no one can evade. That is the effect of one"™s personal influence."
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Your Personal Influence
President Thomas S. Monson
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
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📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the story of Lucy Gertsch, a Sunday School teacher who positively influenced her class and taught them the joy of giving.
When I was a boy, our family lived in the Sixth-Seventh Ward of the Pioneer Stake. The ward population was rather transient, which resulted in an accelerated rate of turnover with respect to the teachers in the Sunday School. As boys and girls we would just become acquainted with a particular teacher and grow to appreciate him or her when the Sunday School superintendent would visit the class and introduce a new teacher. Disappointment filled each heart, and a breakdown of discipline resulted. P ... (continued)
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Your Personal Influence
President Thomas S. Monson
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
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📖 general conference
President Spencer W. Kimball's personal influence led to acts of service, such as inviting a Navajo widow to Relief Society and integrating two Samoan boys into the speaker's ward.
A General Authority whose personal influence was felt far and wide was the late President Spencer W. Kimball. He really made a difference in the lives of countless individuals. When I was a bishop, the telephone rang one day, and the caller identified himself as Elder Spencer W. Kimball. He said, "Bishop Monson, in your ward is a trailer court, and in a little trailer in that court"”the smallest trailer of all"”is a sweet Navajo widow, Margaret Bird. Would you have your Relief Society presid ... (continued)
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Your Personal Influence
President Thomas S. Monson
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
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📖 general conference
Elizabeth Keachie's dedication to her assignment of increasing Relief Society Magazine subscriptions led to the discovery and reactivation of two less-active members, Charles and William Ringwood.
When I was first called as a bishop, I discovered that our record for subscriptions to theRelief Society Magazinein the Sixth-Seventh Ward had been at a low ebb. Prayerfully we analyzed the names of individuals whom we could call to be magazine representative. The inspiration dictated that Elizabeth Keachie should be given the assignment. As her bishop, I approached her with the task. She responded, "Bishop Monson, I"™ll do it." Elizabeth Keachie was of Scottish descent, and when she replied ... (continued)
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Your Potential, Your Privilege
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
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📖 general conference
A man saves money for a Mediterranean cruise, brings his own food to avoid extra expenses, and misses out on inclusive amenities, only to learn at the end that everything was included in his ticket price.
There once was a man whose lifelong dream was to board a cruise ship and sail the Mediterranean Sea. He dreamed of walking the streets of Rome, Athens, and Istanbul. He saved every penny until he had enough for his passage. Since money was tight, he brought an extra suitcase filled with cans of beans, boxes of crackers, and bags of powdered lemonade, and that is what he lived on every day.
He would have loved to take part in the many activities offered on the ship"”working out in the gym, play ... (continued)
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Your Potential, Your Privilege
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
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📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the role of priesthood holders, emphasizing the importance of understanding and utilizing the power and blessings of the priesthood beyond just knowing its definition.
The question this parable raises is, Are we as priesthood holders living below our privileges when it comes to the sacred power, gifts, and blessings that are our opportunity and right as bearers of God"™s priesthood?
We all know that the priesthood is much more than just a name or title. The Prophet Joseph taught that "the Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity "¦ to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years."1[Teachings of Presidents of the Ch ... (continued)
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Your Potential, Your Privilege
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
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📖 general conference
The speaker compares the priesthood to an advanced computer, emphasizing the need to learn and use it to its full potential.
If you owned the world"™s most advanced and expensive computer, would you use it merely as a desk ornament? The computer may look impressive. It may have all kinds of potential. But it is only when you study the owner"™s manual, learn how to use the software, and turn on the power that you can access its full potential.
The holy priesthood of God also has an owner"™s manual. Let us commit to reading the scriptures and handbooks with more purpose and more focus. Let us begin by rereading se ... (continued)
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Your Potential, Your Privilege
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
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📖 general conference
The speaker recounts his experience as a check and training captain for pilots, comparing the joy and awe some pilots feel to the joy that should be felt in priesthood service.
During my career as an airline pilot, I had the opportunity to be a check and training captain. Part of this job was to train and test experienced pilots to ensure that they had the necessary knowledge and skills to safely and efficiently operate those magnificent big jets.
I found that there were pilots who, even after many years of flying professionally, never lost the thrill of climbing into the atmosphere, having "slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered win ... (continued)
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Your Priesthood Playbook
By Elder Gary E. Stevenson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The story of David and Goliath is used as an example of someone who, relying on the Lord and having a plan, achieved victory against a formidable opponent.
What greater example is there than David stepping onto the battlefield against a frightening opponent, Goliath? Relying on the Lord, with a plan, David saved not only himself but the army of Israel!5[See1Â Samuel 17] Know that the Lord will be with you as you summon your courage to be on His side. "If God be for us, who can be against us?"6Romans 8:31
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Your Priesthood Playbook
By Elder Gary E. Stevenson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
A story about the recent change in Church policy that allowed 11-year-old boys to start attending Aaronic Priesthood quorums and passing the sacrament as newly ordained deacons, surprising both the deacons and their parents.
Last December, the First Presidency issued a statement announcing that 11-year-old boys would "begin attending "¦ Aaronic Priesthood quorums "¦ at the beginning of January in the year they turn 12."1["Age-Group Progression for Children and Youth," First Presidency letter, Dec. 14, 2018.] As a result, during the first part of this year, there were quite a few startled 11-year-olds who had assumed they would be staying in Primary until their next birthday but were now passing the sacram ... (continued)
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Your Priesthood Playbook
By Elder Gary E. Stevenson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
A personal story shared by one of the Twelve about a time in high school when he courageously refused to see a movie he knew he shouldn't, setting an example for his friends.
One of the Twelve recently shared a story that illustrates this principle. As a priest in high school, he was hanging out with his friends. After they got something to eat, they were driving around when someone suggested they should go to a certain movie. The problem was he knew it was a movie he shouldn"™t see. Although he immediately felt pressure and anxiety about the situation, he had planned for this. This was a page straight out of his priesthood playbook. Taking a deep breath and summon ... (continued)
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Your Priesthood Playbook
By Elder Gary E. Stevenson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
Testimonies and experiences of various professional athletes who are also priesthood holders, emphasizing their identities as sons of God and their efforts to live the gospel.
I also communicated with the athletes whose pictures we viewed earlier. I found it interesting that they do not identify themselves only by what theydo,as professional athletes, but also by who theyare,as sons of a loving Heavenly Father and holders of the priesthood of God. Now let"™s listen to their thoughts: Jimmer Fredette, here as a deacon learning to tie his tie, says: "I have learned to lean heavily on my knowledge and faith of the truthfulness of the gospel. This has guided me to be "� ... (continued)
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Your Sacred Duty to Minister
David L. Beck
- Young Men General President
📅 0
📖 general conference
A high school girl named Chy Johnson was bullied, and after her mother reached out to Carson Jones, an Aaronic Priesthood holder and football quarterback, he and his teammates began to minister to her by inviting her to sit with them and ensuring her safety, leading to a positive change in the school environment.
Do you know what it means to minister? Think about this question while I tell you about a girl named Chy Johnson. When Chy started high school last year, she became the victim of cruel and thoughtless bullying. She was mistreated, shoved, and taunted as she walked to class"”some students even threw garbage at her. You have probably seen people mistreated like this in your school too. For too many people, the teenage years are a time of loneliness and fear. It doesn"™t have to be this way. Fo ... (continued)
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