Robert D. Hales
The greatest blessings of General Conference often come after conference is over when we go home and ponder the messages that were shared.
At this conference 97% of the members of the church can hear the messages in their own language.
Have personal interviews with your children to strengthen them.
If you pray with sincere desire to hear His voice through the messages of this conference, you will recognize how He has reached you through the messages.
Elder Ulises S. Soares
Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit, so it can most easily be obtained by living worthily of the Spirit.
We must change our character to be more like Him every day!
Christ-like attributes are gifts from God. With a desire to please God we need to recognize our weaknesses and ask for strength to overcome them.
Through the process of time we develop Christ-like attributes. It needs to be a constant goal day by day, minute by minute.
Being meek means learning how to control our temper! We need to convey our feelings with patience and calmness to keep the spirit in our homes.
Only those who are humble can recognize the Lord's answers to their prayers and help others as well.
It is possible to change our attitudes, strengthen our weaknesses, and reject evil influences in our lives through the power of the Savior.
Sister Carole M. Stephens
Every person who has been baptized into the church of God has the right to receive the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and the personal revelation that follows.
Our H.F. is gracious with His power and we all have access to it. We must cultivate reverence for this power and respect for members of the opposite sex.
Daughters of God, do we respect and embrace our roles as stated in the Proclamation?
Sons of God, do we respect daughters of God and understand the power that we hold as priesthood holders?
God will keep His promises to you as you honor your covenants to Him.
Edward Dube
Never look back, look at what we still have to do!
The covenant that we made at baptism is a life-long journey. It never ends!
In the service of the Lord it is not where you serve, but how.
The past is to be learned from, but not lived in. When we have learned what we need to learn, then we look ahead and let our faith point us to the future.
It is much more about where we are willing to go to serve the Lord rather than what we have done previously.
Elder David A. Bednar
#1 Significant but subtle blessings of tithing:
As we live the law of tithing we often received significant, subtle blessings that would normally go unnoticed unless constantly looking at our lives with gratitude and spiritually attentive and observant.
Spiritual light is poured into our lives upon paying tithing. A grateful person is rich in contentment, an ungrateful person suffers in the poverty of discontentment.
Act and change our own circumstances rather than waiting for someone else to change them.
We can often do more with less as we pay our tithing.
Assurance peace, faith and hope are some of the blessings we can receive.
Sometimes we plead for prosperity and we receive increased perspective and patience.
#2 The Simplicity of the Lord's Way
D&C 119, 120 describes financial counsel of the Lord's church and it's members. Read it!
The temporal affairs of the church are managed in simplicity:
-Live within the means received and don't spend more.
-A portion of tithes is set aside for unforeseen needs.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
The church doesn't require anything of the members, but the Lord asks that we consecrate all.
Our church has reached more than 15 million members now. Why?
Because this church was restored by Jesus Christ Himself. Here is where you find His power to perform all the necessary ordinances of salvation.
Because the church provides opportunities for doing good and allows us to help others.
Because walking the path of discipleship leads to precious blessings both on Earth and Heaven.
Why would anyone want to leave the church they once loved?
We respect those who honestly search for truth, but we honor their right to worship God how where and when they may like we do.
Sometimes questions arise
God is perfect and His gospel is pure, but we are imperfect and make mistakes, so sometimes we do things that can shake the faith of others.
God will not allow His church to lead you astray or stray from its course.
It is natural to have questions, but doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.
The diversity of persons and peoples around the globe is a strength of this church.
We are all hypocrites, none of us are as Christ-like as we know we should be.
If you expect to find perfect here, you will be disappointed. But if you seek to find people seeking out truth and faith, you will find them.
Come, join with us! There's room for you here!
Elder Boyd K. Packer
In a gospel centered home is the safest place to raise children.
The scriptures hold the keys to spiritual safety.
Making reading the scriptures a part of your daily routine and the blessings will follow.
Righteousness is more powerful than wickedness.
Children taught in righteousness will stay the course, and even if they stray, they will have the ability to come back to the gospel.
Joseph Fielding Smith was called on a mission at age 15!!!
Stay on the course and keep your covenants! The cure for most mistakes can be found by seeking forgiveness through personal prayer.
D. Todd Christofferson
Women have the moral influence to do great things in the world and absolutely in the home
By the power of example, mothers can teach their daughters to be virtuous, sons to respect women and be kind.
We must experience a physical birth and a spiritual re-birth to reach exaltation. Women play a vital role in both of those births.
Some feminist thinkers view homemaking as degrading, but that is completely untrue. There is no superior career than motherhood, fatherhood, and marriage.
Attitudes on social norms debase women's moral authority. Immodesty, abortion,
Equal opportunity sexual promescuity
In the name of "equality" women want to erase all differences between men and women. In blurring the feminine and masculine differences, we lose the ability to form partnerships that strengthen both.
You must always but your devotion to God first! Strive to be that kind of disciple and your influence will never fade.
Brethren, let us stand with women, and together use our moral influence for good.
S. Gifford Nielsen
What would you do if the prophet really called you?
The Lord said He would hasten His work in His time, and that time is now!
We need to be engaged in this work more than ever before!
Pray to bring someone closer to the Savior every day.
Pray for the missionaries serving in your area and their investigators by name every day.
"Until you know someone's name and face, you can't know their heart."
Invite a friend to an activity, in or out of your home.
There are 65 passages with exclamation points and dealing with missionary work! Find them.
This the testimony last of all which we give of him, that He lives! Exclamation Point!
During the intermediate hymn, I just had this overwhelming feeling that this is an amazing time to be alive! The gospel is restored in its fullness and we can be sealed forever!
Arnulfo Valenzuela
By small means, great things come to pass. (I've heard that many times today. I need to study out what small things Christ wants me to do to bring about great things)
Timothy J. Dyches
Christ heals body, mind, and spirit. His healing begins with faith.
Opposition in all things is not a flaw in the plan of salvation.
We become agents unto ourselves when we put down our weapons of opposition.
Be not afraid...only believe.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Disciples of Jesus Christ are to have love unto one another.
It is only an appreciation on God's divine love that can help us overcome our depression.
So how do you go on through deep depression (yourself or those you love).
Never lose faith in your Father in Heaven. Believe in miracles. Hope is never lost. If the bitter cup does not pass, drink it.
Be alert to things that may lead to depression. Fatigue is a common ailment. If we don't take to be well, we will definitely take time later to be ill.
Try not to be overwhelmed and don't assume you can fix everything
Use all the marvelous gifts H.F. has given us (priesthood blessings, and getting the best medical care possible).
There is still much in life to be hopeful for.
Do not vote against the preciousness of life by ending it. Know that one day the dawn will break even brighter than you can imagine.
Broken minds can be healed, just as bones and tissues can.
Those of us who are healthy can help others by being charitable, patient, and kind.
Show compassion, hold fast to hope, and trust in faith.
Elder M. Russell Ballard
Now is the time for members and missionaries to labor to bring souls unto Him together!
The Lord is hastening His work! This can only be done if all the members reach out to those around us in love to share His gospel.
Make the decision to do what Jesus Christ has asked us to do.
Fear will be replaced by faith and confidence when we kneel in prayer to have missionary experiences.
Just be positive and those with whom you speak will feel your love for them and the Savior.
It's impossible for us to fail when we try to do our best on the Lord's errand.
Trust the Lord. He knows His sheep and He will help us know them.
Pray personally and in your family for missionary opportunities.
Nothing happens in missionary work until we find someone to teach! Open your mouth!
President Henry B. Eyring
How can I make choices that will lead to happiness in marriage? Follow the words of the Savior to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And the 2nd is like unto it: love thy neighbor as thyself.
While serving others, we are more likely to plea for the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
It is only with the companionship of the Holy Ghost that we can hope to be equally yolked in a happy marriage.
HF has perfect foresight. He knows what difficulties we would pass through and sent His Son to suffer with us so He would know how to succor us.
We must expect that it will take time and the aid of Heaven to become what God wants us to be.
There is not one of us that God does not desire to save and that He has not prepared a way to save.
He has given His angels, beings of immense power, charge over us to help us return to Him.
The way for God's servants will not be easy in these last days, but He will help us and let us feel His love for His children.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks (Loved this talk!)
The meaning of jealous is possessing sensitive and deep feelings in Hebrew. So when in the commandment to not bow down before other idols He says He is a jealous God it means we deeply offend Him by putting other priorities first.
Are we serving priorities that are not in accordance with the covenants we made at baptism.
If we do not establish our priorities in accordance with the plan of salvation, we are in danger of serving other gods.
The marriage of a man and a woman is necessary for God's plan. We consider it a sacred duty for all God's children to raise a family.
The traditional family is becoming an exception rather than the rule. Women are postponing child bearing in favor of pursuing careers. The role of father's is being diminished and seen as less important and necessary as we know it to be.
Our understanding of God's plan doesn't allow us to make allowances for what is becoming the "norm" in the countries where we live.
Man's laws cannot make moral what God's laws have declared immoral!
Let us have the courage to defy the consensus. Live decently. A moral coward is one who refuses to do what's right because their afraid others with laugh or reject us.
Don't aspire so much to the praise of men that we forget our divine course and the plan God has for us.
Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson
True conversion is more than knowing about gospel principles. It means we are acting on what we believe and living the principles of the gospel and sacrificing.
You have the primary responsibility for your own conversion. It comes as we live pure and virtuous lives and enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
Your personal conversion will helps you in the tasks you face everyday.
When thou are converted, strengthen your brethren.
A person who has been truly converted experiences the blessings of the Atonement and then reaches out to help others experience those blessings also.
Elder Richard J. Maynes
Our ability to endure to the end is directly proportionate to the strength of our testimonies and depth of our conversion.
Being physically able to endure comes at dedication, perseverance and self discipline. Spiritual endurance requires the same price.
We need to study and learn the fundamental principles of the gospel and then live them.
When we face adversity in life, it is essential to be spiritually prepared.
Because we face challenges everyday, we must work on our spiritual stamina everyday.
Elder Richard G. Scott
A testimony of the Atonement gives us personal strength to do those things that are hard.
It is a fundamental truth that thru the Atonement we can be cleansed, but sometimes because of our choices, those sins may cause long-term consequences. Satan can use feelings of our previous guilt to lure us back under his control.
We're all in desperate need of the redemptive power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Many of us have allowed weakness to develop in our character. But we can build spiritual protections around ourselves with the help of the Savior. We must start with sincere, complete, and total repentance. Repentance is not punishment, it is the hope-filled path to a more glorious future.
Be a real friend to those you visit teach. Serve the members of your own family. Make strengthening their testimonies a priority. Fill your life with service to others! As you lose your life in service, Satan loses influence over you.
President Thomas S. Monson
When the pathway of life takes a cruel turn, there is the temptation to ask "Why Me?' We feel encompassed by despair and shattered dreams. We feel abandoned and view our own difficulties thru the distorted prism of pessimism. The difficulties of life are the times we test our endurance. Shall we falter or shall we finish?
Whenever we're inclined to feel burdened down, let us remember that others have passed the same way before and endured and remained steadfast. the reason? They had made the gospel of Jesus Christ the center of their lives.
We will still face difficult times, but we can face them head-on with faith.
Sadness and suffering are universal. Do not feel alone.
We should make it our goal to become more spiritually strong thru the joys and trials we pass.
"Good timber doesn't grow with ease..." Find that poem
In the best of times and worst of times, He is always with us! He always loves us!
We shouldn't need difficulties to bring us closer to Him. We must pray to Him and listen to Him everyday!
Elder Niel L. Andersen
Thru the ordinances of the temple we all receive strength and peace to endure.
When we speak of the priesthood, there are many things we know and we also know that gender is an essential characteristic of our identity. Specific duties are given to each gender and the priesthood falls to the men.
We know that worthiness is necessary for receiving and administering priesthood ordinances.
If one is unworthy, he should withdraw from administering in priesthood ordinances.
Seeing thru the lens of mortality does not always help when looking at the things of God.
We do not determine the callings we receive. Sometimes we feel underwhelmed by our callings and wish we could do more. But we must wait upon the Lord to understand why we are placed where we are and what he wants us to do.
The power of God's priesthood is found in this church!
Whatever your situation, your home will be blessed by priesthood power.
Elder David M. McConkie
Our message to the world is that "God Speaks". He spoke to prophets before, He spoke to Joseph Smith, and He will speak to you. This is what sets you apart from all other teachers in the world.
The Lord has provided a way for all of us to teach in his way.
Our biggest responsibility as teachers is to have the Holy Ghost with us at all times. With it, we can be sure that what we are saying is what the Lord would have us say.
Elder
Revelation and testimony come by attending our Sunday church meetings. Sacrament mtg provides the opportunity to partake of the sacrament. Sunday school allows us to learn together doctrines of the gospel. RS mtg serves to strengthen the sisters in their sisterhood.
May we choose to be diligent and choose to grasp tightly the iron rod.
Elder Adrian Ochoa
If you ever come across anything that causes you to question your testimony, look to God rather than continuing to question.
The companionship of the Holy Ghost is essential for your spiritual survival.
Elder Terrence M. Vinson
Members of this church are entitled to receive spiritual witnesses of truths.
Is Christ the center of the thoughts and intents of our hearts?
Do we take seriously the covenant we renew every week during the sacrament?
For us to be like God is His goal and also His work.
Elder Russell M. Nelson
Decisions determine destiny. The freedom to make your own choices is critical for your progression.
We are eternal beings and children of God. Not one of us can stop being a child of God.
You were chosen to come forth at this specific time!
Self mastery=ability to choose responsibility over appetite.
When we master our appetites, we can enjoy longer life, stronger love, and supernal joy.
Permanent change can only come thru the power of Jesus Christ.
Obey eagerly, earnestly, and exactly
Sin is still sin in the eyes of God even if legalized by man. We cannot change His doctrine! It is not ours to change.
Though we should show compassion and love for others we cannot change God's eternal truths.
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