Saturday morning:
Pres. Thomas S. Monson, As We Gather Once Again-
Some of you may be seeking answers to questions and challenges you are
experiencing in your life. Some are struggling with disappointments or
losses. Each can be enlightened and uplifted and comforted as the Spirit
of the Lord is felt.
May we continue to oppose evil wherever it is found.
I thank you for your prayers in my behalf. I have felt those prayers and
am most grateful for them.
Our Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us and our needs.
Pres. Boyd K. Packer, And A Little Child Shall Lead Them-
The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is to see a husband and
his wife and their children happy at home, protected by the principles
and laws of the gospel, sealed safely in the covenants of the
everlasting priesthood. Husbands and wives should understand that their
first calling—from which they will never be released—is to one another
and then to their children.
Family time is sacred time and should be protected and respected. We
urge our members to show devotion to their families.
Cheryl A. Esplin- Teaching our Children to Understand-
In a latter-day revelation through the Prophet
Joseph Smith, the Lord
instructs parents to teach their children to
understand the
doctrine of repentance, faith in
Christ,
baptism, and the
gift of the Holy Ghost. Notice the Lord doesn’t just say we are to
“teach the doctrine”; His instructions are to teach our children to “
understand
the doctrine.”
Our role as parents is to do all we can to create an atmosphere where
our children can feel the influence of the Spirit and then help them
recognize what they are feeling.
Sometimes the most powerful way to teach our children to understand a
doctrine is to teach in the context of what they are experiencing right
at that moment. These moments are spontaneous and unplanned and happen
in the normal flow of
family
life. They come and go quickly, so we need to be alert and recognize a
teaching moment when our children come to us with a question or worry,
when they have problems getting along with siblings or friends, when
they need to control their anger, when they make a mistake, or when they
need to make a decision.
Elder Donald L. Hallstrom "Converted to His Gospel Through His Church"
The purpose of the Church is to help us live the Gospel.
Elder Paul E. Koelliker- He Truly Loves Us
“He that trembleth under my power shall be made strong, and shall bring
forth fruits of praise and wisdom, according to the revelations and
truths which I have given you” (D&C
52:17).
It is when we yield to God’s will and live His pattern that His Spirit
is felt. The Savior taught, “By this shall all men know that ye are my
disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John
13:35). This principle of having love one to another and developing
our ability to be Christ centered in how we think,
speak, and act is fundamental in becoming disciples of Christ and
teachers of His gospel.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks- Sacrifice:
Our lives of service and sacrifice are the most appropriate expressions
of our commitment to serve the Master and our fellowmen.
Just as the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ is at the center of the
plan of salvation, we followers of Christ must make our own sacrifices
to prepare for the destiny that plan provides for us.
Pres. Henry B. Eyring- Mountains to Climb
...the ground must be carefully prepared for our foundation of faith to
withstand the storms that will come into every life. That solid basis
for a foundation of faith is personal integrity.
Our
choosing the right consistently whenever the choice is placed before us
creates the solid ground under our faith.
Those choices, hundreds in most days, prepare the solid ground on which
our edifice of faith is built. The metal framework around which the
substance of our faith is poured is the gospel of
Jesus Christ,
with all its covenants, ordinances, and principles.
It
is never too late to strengthen the foundation of faith. There is
always time. With faith in the Savior, you can repent and plead for
forgiveness.
There is someone you can forgive. There is someone you can thank. There
is someone you can serve and lift. You can do it wherever you are and
however alone and deserted you may feel.
I
have visited with a woman who received the miracle of sufficient
strength to endure unimaginable losses with just the simple capacity to
repeat endlessly the words “I know that my Redeemer lives.
The Savior has promised angels on our left and our right to bear us up.
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And He always keeps His word.
Saturday afternoon session
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland- The Laborers in the Vineyard:
“
Why should you
be jealous because I
choose to be kind?”
Brothers and sisters, there are going to be times in our lives when
someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special
recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to
feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not
diminished when someone else is added upon.
I do not know who in this vast audience today may need to hear the
message of forgiveness inherent in this parable, but however late you
think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however
many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t
have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have
traveled, I testify that you have
not traveled beyond the reach
of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the
infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.
Elder Robert D. Hales- Coming to Ourselves: The Sacrament, the Temple, and Sacrifice in Service
Throughout our lives, whether in times of darkness, challenge, sorrow,
or sin, we may feel the Holy Ghost reminding us that we are truly sons
and daughters of a caring Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we may
hunger for the sacred blessings that only He can provide. At these times
we should strive to come to ourselves and come back into the light of our Savior’s love.
We become converted and spiritually self-reliant as we prayerfully live
our covenants—through worthily partaking of the sacrament, being worthy
of a temple recommend, and sacrificing to serve others.
To worthily partake of the sacrament, we remember that we are renewing the covenant we made at baptism. For the sacrament to be a spiritually cleansing experience each week, we need to prepare ourselves before
coming to sacrament meeting. We do this by deliberately leaving behind
our daily work and recreation and letting go of worldly thoughts and
concerns. As we do, we make room in our minds and hearts for the Holy
Ghost.
Worthiness to hold a temple recommend gives us the strength to keep our temple covenants.
We are on the right path when we can say, “I worthily partake of the
sacrament each week, I am worthy to hold a temple recommend and go to
the temple, and I sacrifice to serve and bless others.”
Whether we are young or old, what we do today determines the service we will be able to render and enjoy tomorrow.
Elder David S. Baxter- Faith, Fortitude, Fulfillment: A Message to Single Parents
Although you may at times have asked, why me? it is through the
hardships of life that we grow toward godhood as our character is shaped
in the crucible of affliction, as the events of life take place while
God respects the agency of man. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell commented, we
cannot do all the sums or make it all add up because “we do not have all
the numbers.”
Elder Ulisses Soares- Abide in the Lord's Territory!
Elder Quentin L. Cook- In Tune With the Music of Life
Our doctrine is clear; we are to be positive and of good cheer. We
emphasize our faith, not our fears. We rejoice in the Lord’s assurance
that He will stand by us and give us guidance and direction.
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The Holy Ghost testifies to our hearts that we have a loving Father in
Heaven, whose merciful plan for our redemption will be fulfilled in
every aspect because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Elder Richard G. Scott- How to Receive Revelation and Inspiration for your Personal Life
The Holy Ghost communicates important information that we need to guide
us in our mortal journey. When it is crisp and clear and essential, it
warrants the title of revelation. When it is a series of promptings we
often have to guide us step by step to a worthy objective, for the
purpose of this message, it is inspiration.
Two indicators that a feeling or prompting comes from God are that it produces peace in your heart and a quiet, warm feeling.
Sunday Morning
Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf- The Merciful Obtain Mercy
We all depend on the Savior; none of us can be saved without Him.
Christ’s Atonement is infinite and eternal.
Forgiveness for
our sins comes with conditions. We must repent, and we must be willing to forgive others.
This
topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon.
When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding
grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:
Stop it!
The pure love of Christ can remove the scales of resentment and wrath
from our eyes, allowing us to see others the way our Heavenly Father
sees us: as flawed and imperfect mortals who have potential and worth
far beyond our capacity to imagine. Because God loves us so much, we too
must love and forgive each other.
We are not perfect. The people around us are not perfect. People do things that annoy, disappoint, and anger. In this mortal life it will always be that way. Nevertheless, we must let go of our grievances. Part of the purpose of mortality is to learn how to let go of such things. That is the Lord’s way. Remember, heaven is filled with those who have this in common:
They are forgiven. And they forgive.
Elder Russell M. Nelson- Thanks Be to God
I thought of some people I know who are ... oblivious to their Creator and their true “bread of life.” They live from day to day without an awareness of God and His goodness unto them.
How much better it would be if all could be more aware of God’s providence and love and express that gratitude to Him.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband- Special Lessons
Put simply, this life is training for eternal exaltation, and that
process means tests and trials. It has always been so, and no one is
spared.
Trusting in God’s will is central to our mortality. With faith in Him, we draw upon the power of
Christ’s Atonement at those times when questions abound and answers are few.
Elder M. Russell Ballard- That the Lost May Be Found
Now, brothers and sisters, we have available to us a tool even more
remarkable than the best GPS. Everyone loses his or her way at some
point, to some degree. It is through the promptings of the Holy Ghost
that we can be brought safely back onto the right path, and it is the
atoning sacrifice of the Savior that can return us home.
When people make family and religious commitments to gospel principles,
they begin to do better spiritually and often temporally as well.
Brothers and sisters, the most important cause of our lifetime is
our families. If we will devote ourselves to this cause, we will
improve every other aspect of our lives and will become, as a people and
as a church, an example and a beacon for all peoples of the earth.
The Church stands as an example of heart turning and as a catalyst for
good in the world. Among Church members who are married in the temple
and who regularly attend Sunday meetings, the divorce rate is
significantly less than that of the world, and families remain closer
and are in more frequent communication. The health in our families is
better, and we live several years longer than the population average. We
contribute more financial resources and more service per capita to
those in need, and we are more likely to seek higher education. I point
out these things not to boast but to testify that life is better (and
much happier) as hearts turn toward family and as families live in the
light of the gospel of Christ.
So what can we do to not become lost? First, may I suggest that we prioritize. Put everything you do outside the home in subjection to and in support of what happens inside your home.
Organize your personal lives to provide time for prayer and scriptures
and family activity. Give your children responsibilities in the home
that will teach them how to work. Teach them that living the gospel will
lead them away from the filth, promiscuity, and violence of the
Internet, media, and video games.
Second, we need to do things in the right order! Marriage first and then family.
Third, husbands and wives, you should be equal partners in your marriage.
Here the Savior tells of the effort of a shepherd searching for his lost
sheep, of a woman searching for a lost coin, and of the welcome
received by the prodigal son returning home. Why did Jesus teach these
parables? He wanted us to know that none of us will ever be so lost that
we cannot find our way again through His Atonement and His teachings.
Elder O. Vincent Haleck- Having the Vision to Do
As we put into action the teachings of our leaders, we gain a deeper
understanding of our Savior’s vision for us. Throughout this conference
we have received inspired counsel from prophets and apostles. Study
their teachings and ponder them in your hearts while seeking the Spirit
of the Holy Ghost to help you catch a vision of these teachings in your
life. With that vision, exercise your faith in acting upon their
counsel.
We experience hard things in our lives that can sometimes diminish our
vision and faith to do the things we should. We become so busy that we
often feel overwhelmed and unable to do any more. While each of us is
different, I humbly submit that we must focus our vision on the Savior
and His teachings.
Elder Larry Y. Wilson- Only Upon the Principles of Righteousness
As
you can see, helping children exercise their agency properly requires
teaching them how to pray and receive answers to their prayers. There
must also be teaching about the value and purpose of obedience as well
as about all other essential principles of the gospel.
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In
raising our family, we decided that our most important goal would be to
help our children establish their own connection to heaven. We knew
that ultimately they would need to depend on the Lord, not on us.
Brigham Young said, “Were I to draw a distinction in all the duties that
are required of the children of men, … I would place first and foremost
the duty of seeking unto the Lord our God until we open the path of
communication from heaven to earth—from God to our own souls.”
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