This was a very good talk about hope. Elder Andersen also referred to the early pioneers and the Saints in Haiti following the earthquake this winter. Concerning the early Saints:
These early Saints were indeed homeless, but they were not hopeless. Their hearts were broken, but their spirits were strong. They had learned that hope, with its attendant blessings of peace and joy, does not depend upon circumstance. The true source of hope is faith - faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His infinite Atonement, the one sure foundation upon which to build our lives.
Then about the Haitian Saints: The faithful Haitian Saints . . . are teaching us that hope and happiness and joy are not products of circumstance but of faith in the Lord.
Then, speaking to the rest of us, Elder Andersen had these thoughts:
Some who at this very moment feel desperate or discouraged may wonder how they can possibly regain hope. If you are one of those, remember that hope comes as a result of faith. If we would build our hope, we must build our faith. Faith in the Savior requires more than mere belief. True faith requires work. Faith grows by keeping the commandments.
When we strive to keep the commandments of God, repenting of our sins and promising our best efforts to follow the Savior, we begin to grow in confidence that through the Atonement everything will be all right. Those feelings are confirmed by the Holy Ghost, who drives from us what our pioneer mothers and fathers called "our useless cares." In spite of our trials, we are filled with a sense of well-being and feel to sing with them that indeed "all is well."
Near the end of his talk, Elder Andersen cites a scripture in Helaman that I hadn't really thought of in this context - that, despite everything going on around us, we should have hope:
"Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall bear upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: The Blessing of Scripture
Elder Christofferson starts with the story of William Tyndale and his sacrifices (and ultimate execution) in bringing forth an English version of the Bible for all to read. Then he had this counsel:
The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our premortal life.
Those who either don't have or ignore the recorded word of God eventually cease to believe in Him and forget the purpose of their existence. This is a very important reason to read scriptures regularly.
Today the Bible and other scripture are readily at hand, yet there is a growing scriptural illiteracy because people will not open the books. Consequently they have forgotten things their grandparents knew. This could probably go back to all of those 'distractions' that are talked about at this conference - many more distractions than in previous generations. I am glad that we make time each day to read and study the scriptures as a family.
Many today would dispute . . . the seriousness of immorality. They have imagined a Jesus who wants people to work for social justice but who makes no demands upon their personal life and behavior.
Scripture tutors us in principles and moral values essential to maintaining civil society, including integrity, responsibility, selflessness, fidelity, and charity. This is a great list of moral values for society.
The central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ - faith that They exist; faith in the Father's plan for our immortality and eternal life; faith in the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which animates this plan of happiness; faith to make the gospel of Jesus Christ our way of life; and faith to come to know "the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent" (John 17:3). This too, is a great list. A list of things we can have faith in.
Faith comes by the witness of the Holy Spirit to our souls, Spirit to spirit, as we hear or read the word of God.
Being in the scriptures is one way we receive the Holy Ghost. Study the scriptures carefully, deliberately. Ponder and pray over them. Scriptures are revelation, and they will bring added revelation.
Never in history has a people been blessed with such a quantity of holy writ. Surely with this blessing the Lord is telling us that our need for constant recourse to the scriptures is greater than in any previous time.
The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our premortal life.
Those who either don't have or ignore the recorded word of God eventually cease to believe in Him and forget the purpose of their existence. This is a very important reason to read scriptures regularly.
Today the Bible and other scripture are readily at hand, yet there is a growing scriptural illiteracy because people will not open the books. Consequently they have forgotten things their grandparents knew. This could probably go back to all of those 'distractions' that are talked about at this conference - many more distractions than in previous generations. I am glad that we make time each day to read and study the scriptures as a family.
Many today would dispute . . . the seriousness of immorality. They have imagined a Jesus who wants people to work for social justice but who makes no demands upon their personal life and behavior.
Scripture tutors us in principles and moral values essential to maintaining civil society, including integrity, responsibility, selflessness, fidelity, and charity. This is a great list of moral values for society.
The central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ - faith that They exist; faith in the Father's plan for our immortality and eternal life; faith in the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which animates this plan of happiness; faith to make the gospel of Jesus Christ our way of life; and faith to come to know "the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent" (John 17:3). This too, is a great list. A list of things we can have faith in.
Faith comes by the witness of the Holy Spirit to our souls, Spirit to spirit, as we hear or read the word of God.
Being in the scriptures is one way we receive the Holy Ghost. Study the scriptures carefully, deliberately. Ponder and pray over them. Scriptures are revelation, and they will bring added revelation.
Never in history has a people been blessed with such a quantity of holy writ. Surely with this blessing the Lord is telling us that our need for constant recourse to the scriptures is greater than in any previous time.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: "You Are My Hands"
This is a great talk about service and how we should act as followers of Christ.
President Uchtdorf started off with a story from World War II. This is one of the topics that he frequently uses to illustrate points. It is interesting to me to hear his stories because he seems so young to be a survivor (even as a child) of the war. After the story (about a statue of Christ being damaged in the war and not having the hands replaced) he said:
There is a profound lesson in this story. When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation. That is what He did during his mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
As we emulate His perfect example, our hands can become His hands; our eyes, His eyes; our heart, His heart.
I hope that we welcome and love all of God's children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift those around us. Let us extend a welcoming hand. Let us bestow upon our brothers and sisters in the Church a special measure of humanity, compassion, and charity so that they feel, at long last, they have finally found home. I feel that this is one area I really need to work on both at church and at school.
When we are tempted to judge, let us think of the Savior, who "loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him . . .
"[And] he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, . . . [for] all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden." (2 Nephi 26:24-25, 28)
It seems only right and proper that we extend to others that which we so earnestly desire for ourselves. I am not suggesting that we accept sin or overlook evil, in our personal life or in the world. Nevertheless, in our zeal, we sometimes confuse sin with sinner, and we condemn too quickly and with too little compassion. Every person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father. Once we understand that, we can begin to understand how we should treat our fellowmen.
That was some excellent counsel about how we should treat others. President Uchtdorf then adds counsel on how we can serve others.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn. We are commanded "to mourn with those who mourn" and "comfort those that stand in need of comfort." (Mosiah 18:9)
It is unworthy of us as Christians to think that those who suffer deserve their suffering.
True love requires action. We can speak of love all day long - we can write notes or poems that proclaim it, sing songs that praise it, and preach sermons that encourage it - but until we manifest that love in action, our words are nothing but "sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." (1 Corinthians 13:1)
Christ did not just speak about love; He showed it each day of His life. He did not remove Himself from the crowd. Being amidst the people, Jesus reached out to the one. He rescued the lost. He didn't just teach a class about reaching out in love and then delegate the actual work to others. He not only taught but also showed us how to "succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees." (D&C 81:5)
If we are His hands, should we not do the same?
The Savior revealed the perfect priorities for our lives, our homes, our wards, our communities, and our nations when he spoke of love as the great commandment upon which "hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:40) We can spend our days obsessing about the finest details of life, the law, long lists of things to do; but should we neglect the great commandments, we are missing the point and we are clouds without water, drifting in the winds, and trees without fruit. (see Jude 1:12)
Without this love for God the Father and our fellowmen we are only the form of His Church - without the substance. What good is our teachings without love? What good is missionary, temple, or welfare work without love?
As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. That is a great promise.
This entire talk, and especially the last part, is good counsel for leaders.
President Uchtdorf started off with a story from World War II. This is one of the topics that he frequently uses to illustrate points. It is interesting to me to hear his stories because he seems so young to be a survivor (even as a child) of the war. After the story (about a statue of Christ being damaged in the war and not having the hands replaced) he said:
There is a profound lesson in this story. When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation. That is what He did during his mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
As we emulate His perfect example, our hands can become His hands; our eyes, His eyes; our heart, His heart.
I hope that we welcome and love all of God's children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift those around us. Let us extend a welcoming hand. Let us bestow upon our brothers and sisters in the Church a special measure of humanity, compassion, and charity so that they feel, at long last, they have finally found home. I feel that this is one area I really need to work on both at church and at school.
When we are tempted to judge, let us think of the Savior, who "loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him . . .
"[And] he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, . . . [for] all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden." (2 Nephi 26:24-25, 28)
It seems only right and proper that we extend to others that which we so earnestly desire for ourselves. I am not suggesting that we accept sin or overlook evil, in our personal life or in the world. Nevertheless, in our zeal, we sometimes confuse sin with sinner, and we condemn too quickly and with too little compassion. Every person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father. Once we understand that, we can begin to understand how we should treat our fellowmen.
That was some excellent counsel about how we should treat others. President Uchtdorf then adds counsel on how we can serve others.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn. We are commanded "to mourn with those who mourn" and "comfort those that stand in need of comfort." (Mosiah 18:9)
It is unworthy of us as Christians to think that those who suffer deserve their suffering.
True love requires action. We can speak of love all day long - we can write notes or poems that proclaim it, sing songs that praise it, and preach sermons that encourage it - but until we manifest that love in action, our words are nothing but "sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." (1 Corinthians 13:1)
Christ did not just speak about love; He showed it each day of His life. He did not remove Himself from the crowd. Being amidst the people, Jesus reached out to the one. He rescued the lost. He didn't just teach a class about reaching out in love and then delegate the actual work to others. He not only taught but also showed us how to "succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees." (D&C 81:5)
If we are His hands, should we not do the same?
The Savior revealed the perfect priorities for our lives, our homes, our wards, our communities, and our nations when he spoke of love as the great commandment upon which "hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:40) We can spend our days obsessing about the finest details of life, the law, long lists of things to do; but should we neglect the great commandments, we are missing the point and we are clouds without water, drifting in the winds, and trees without fruit. (see Jude 1:12)
Without this love for God the Father and our fellowmen we are only the form of His Church - without the substance. What good is our teachings without love? What good is missionary, temple, or welfare work without love?
As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. That is a great promise.
This entire talk, and especially the last part, is good counsel for leaders.
Elder Richard G. Scott: He Lives! All Glory to His Name!
The Sunday sessions of conference fell on Easter this year. This talk by Elder Scott was about the Resurrection and the Atonement.
This Easter, as you remember the Resurrection and the price paid and the gift given through the Atonement, ponder what the scriptures teach of those sacred events. Your personal witness of their reality will be strengthened.
Jesus Christ lives. He gave His life to break the bonds of death. His Atonement made fully active the plan of happiness of His Father in Heaven.
Elder Scott said that to understand the Atonement one needs to understand what was required of the Father and the Son: Three of the challenges the Savior faced were:
This Easter, as you remember the Resurrection and the price paid and the gift given through the Atonement, ponder what the scriptures teach of those sacred events. Your personal witness of their reality will be strengthened.
Jesus Christ lives. He gave His life to break the bonds of death. His Atonement made fully active the plan of happiness of His Father in Heaven.
Elder Scott said that to understand the Atonement one needs to understand what was required of the Father and the Son: Three of the challenges the Savior faced were:
- First, an enormous sense of responsibility, for He realized that except it be done perfectly, not one of His Father's children could return to Him.
- Second, in His absolutely pure mind and heart, He had to personally feel the consequences of all that mankind would ever encounter, even the most depraved, despicable sins.
- Third, He had to endure the vicious attack of Satan's hordes while physically and emotionally pressed to the limit.
As the world becomes more devoid of foundational standards and as honor, virtue, and purity are increasingly cast aside in the pursuit of appetite, our understanding of and faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ will provide strength and capacity needed for a successful life. It will also bring confidence in times of trial and peace in moments of turmoil.
I energetically encourage you to establish a personal study plan to better understand and appreciate the incomparable, eternal, infinite consequences of Jesus Christ's perfect fulfillment of His divinely appointed calling as our Savior and Redeemer. Profound personal pondering of the scriptures accompanied by searching, heartfelt prayer will fortify your understanding of and appreciation for His priceless Atonement. Another powerful way to learn of Jesus Christ and His Atonement is through consistent temple attendance.
Use the Church as a righteous tool to strengthen the home, but recognize that as parents we have the fundamental responsibility and privilege to be guided by the Lord in the upbringing of the spirit children He has entrusted to our care.
As you ponder - not just read but ponder and meditate - on scriptural passages, the power of the Holy Ghost will distill truths in your mind and heart as a secure foundation in this uncertain time in which we live.
This Easter, resolve to make the Lord Jesus Christ the living center of your home. Be sure that every decision you make, whether it be of a spiritual or physical nature, be guided by the thought, "What would the Lord Jesus Christ have me do?" When the Savior is the center of you home, it is filled with peace and serenity. There is a spirit of calm assurance that pervades the home that is felt by the children and adults alike.
That is wonderful counsel and wonderful promises that I want for our home.
Elder Donald L. Hallstrom: Turn to the Lord
Elder Hallstrom started with two stories of adversity and how the parties handled it. The first, did not go well, was very sad, and had an on-going negative four generations. The second, from his own family, was sad but ended positively and had a positive affect on four generations. He discussed the role of adversity in our lives and the plan of happiness.
Throughout the world and among the membership of the Church, there is great joy and great pain. Both are part of the plan. Without one, we cannot know the other.
No matter the size of the issue, how we respond can reset the course of our life.
Elder Hallstrom related part of the story of Joseph Smith in Liberty jail and the revelation found in Doctrine and Covenants section 122. Great counsel for us is found in verse 9: "Therefore, hold on thy way, and . . . fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever."
Elder Hallstrom continued: If you feel you have been wronged - by anyone or anything - deal with the matter directly and with all the strength you have. "Hold on thy way (D&C 122:9); giving up is not an option. And, without delay, turn to the Lord. Exercise all of the faith you have in Him. Let Him share your burden. Allow His grace to lighten your load.
Throughout the world and among the membership of the Church, there is great joy and great pain. Both are part of the plan. Without one, we cannot know the other.
No matter the size of the issue, how we respond can reset the course of our life.
Elder Hallstrom related part of the story of Joseph Smith in Liberty jail and the revelation found in Doctrine and Covenants section 122. Great counsel for us is found in verse 9: "Therefore, hold on thy way, and . . . fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever."
Elder Hallstrom continued: If you feel you have been wronged - by anyone or anything - deal with the matter directly and with all the strength you have. "Hold on thy way (D&C 122:9); giving up is not an option. And, without delay, turn to the Lord. Exercise all of the faith you have in Him. Let Him share your burden. Allow His grace to lighten your load.
Sister Cheryl C. Lant: That Our Children Might See the Face of the Savior
Sister Lant gave a very nice talk on the importance of teaching our children about Jesus. She also offered some suggestions on how to do it.
Christ's invitation to seek Him is an invitation to know who He is, what He has done for us, and what He has asked us to do. Coming to Christ, and eventually seeing His face, comes only as we draw close to Him through our faith and our actions. It comes through a lifetime of effort.
It is our sacred responsibility as parents and leaders of this rising generation of children to bring them to the Savior so that they might wee His face and the face of our Father in Heaven as well. As we do so, we also bring ourselves.
Again the question, how do we do this, especially in a world that is full of distractions? Again I see this theme of distractions. Many of the speakers at the conference have talked about the fact that there are things 'distracting' us more and more and we need to aware and counteract that.
Sister Lant quotes a passage of scripture about what Christ asks parents to do:
"All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children." (3 Nephi 22:13)
Now, I would ask you to look around you at those you love. This is what matters most - our families.
The account in 3 Nephi can help us bring our children to Him because it gives us a pattern to follow.
Christ's invitation to seek Him is an invitation to know who He is, what He has done for us, and what He has asked us to do. Coming to Christ, and eventually seeing His face, comes only as we draw close to Him through our faith and our actions. It comes through a lifetime of effort.
It is our sacred responsibility as parents and leaders of this rising generation of children to bring them to the Savior so that they might wee His face and the face of our Father in Heaven as well. As we do so, we also bring ourselves.
Again the question, how do we do this, especially in a world that is full of distractions? Again I see this theme of distractions. Many of the speakers at the conference have talked about the fact that there are things 'distracting' us more and more and we need to aware and counteract that.
Sister Lant quotes a passage of scripture about what Christ asks parents to do:
"All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children." (3 Nephi 22:13)
Now, I would ask you to look around you at those you love. This is what matters most - our families.
The account in 3 Nephi can help us bring our children to Him because it gives us a pattern to follow.
- First, we must learn how to love the Lord and our families. This takes time, experience, and faith. It requires selfless service. Then, as we are filled with the love of the Lord, we can love.
- Second, we must become worthy examples. This is also a process. If we want our children to come to Christ so that they might see His face, it is important that we seek to see it as well. We must put our own lives in order so that the children can look to us and follow.
- And third, . . . teaching [our children] the truths of the gospel from the scriptures and the prophets and by helping them to feel and recognize the Spirit. They love the scriptures, and they love the prophet. They intuitively want to be good. It is up to us to help them keep that connection to heaven open. It is up to us to protect them from influences that detract from the Spirit. We can help them find the joy of living the gospel. This will build a firm foundation of faith and obedience in their lives that will strengthen them.
While Sister Lant was discussing her second item above, she asked an interesting question and had some excellent counsel:
"What do my children see when they look at my face? Do they see the image of the Savior in my countenance because of how I live my life?"
Now remember, none of us will be the perfect example for our children, but we all can become worthy parents and leaders. Our striving to be worthy is an example in itself. I like that comparison between 'perfect' (which is basically unattainable in this life) and 'worthy' (which is well within the capacity of each of us.)
Elder Quentin L. Cook: We Follow Jesus Christ
Anyone reading this talk should know that we believe in Jesus Christ; that we are Christians. Members of the Church who read the talk will get a reminder of what it means and looks like to be a follower of Christ. Elder Cook uses the events of the last two days of the Saviors life to help us understand what it means to follow Christ. We can learn much from those last two days.
Ordinances and doctrines of great importance were initiated at the Last Supper. I will mention just three.
Ordinances and doctrines of great importance were initiated at the Last Supper. I will mention just three.
- . . . the Savior introduced the ordinance of the sacrament. He took bread, broke it, prayed over it, and passed it to His disciples, saying, "This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me." In this manner He instituted the sacrament.
- . . . His overwhelming emphasis was on doctrines teaching love as a preeminent principle. He taught, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
- . . . through Christ's intercession or direction, "the Holy Ghost was promised to the apostles as another Comforter.
In talking about Easter and the Atonement, Elder Cook quotes the Prophet Joseph Smith: "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it."
Elder Cook then goes on to elaborate on the three "ordinances and doctrines" from the Last Supper (mentioned above.)
As we ponder what it means to be Christians today, think about what our path of discipleship will require of us. I suggest that we contemplate and in appropriate ways emulate what the Savior did in those last two days of His mortal life.
First, consider the Savior's introduction of the sacrament. Sacrament meeting is the most sacred and holy of all the meetings in the Church. If we are to be His disciples and to be committed members of His Church, we must remember and reverence the sacrament. It allows each of us to express with broken hearts and contrite spirits our willingness to follow the Savior, to repent, and to become a Saint through the Atonement of Christ. The sacrament allows us to witness to God that we will remember His Son and keep His commandments as we renew our baptismal covenant. This increases our love and appreciation for both the Father and the Son. [This is why Sacrament meeting is so important.]
The Savior also emphasized love and unity and declared that we would be known as His disciples if we have love one to another. We manifest our love for God when we keep His commandments and serve His children. We don't fully comprehend the Atonement, but we can spend our lives trying to be more loving and kind, regardless of the adversity we face.
How we relate and interact with each other is a measure of our willingness to follow Jesus Christ. Many in this world are afraid and angry with one another. While we understand these feelings, we need to be civil in our discourse and respectful in our interactions. This is especially true when we disagree. The Savior taught us to love even our enemies. I found these comments comforting given the growing coarseness of our [un]civil public conversations.
I invite each one of us individually to recognize that how we disagree is a real measure of who we are and whether we truly follow the Savior. It is appropriate to disagree, but it is not appropriate to be disagreeable. Violence and vandalism are not the answer to our disagreements. If we show love and respect even in adverse circumstances, we become more like Christ. [I suppose this applies to any followers of Christ who are talk show hosts too!]
For yet another time, a speaker at this conference talked about how noisy and distracting our world is. Elder Cook continues: We live in a noisy, contentious world, where it is possible to be viewing or listening to information, music, or even pure nonsense virtually every waking hour. If we want to have the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, we must find time to slow down, ponder, pray, and live so we are worthy to receive and act upon His promptings. We will avoid major mistakes if we heed His warnings. It is our privilege as members to receive light and knowledge form Him even to the perfect day.
Elder Cook concluded with a story from Samoa following the recent tsunami there. He said, As we met with the families in Samoa, the significance of spiritually going to the higher ground, living a better life, and clinging to saving ordinances was abundantly clear. As I have pondered . . . the current condition of the world, I have felt an urgency to counsel each of us to seek the higher ground - the refuge and eternal protection of the temple.
Elder Cook then goes on to elaborate on the three "ordinances and doctrines" from the Last Supper (mentioned above.)
As we ponder what it means to be Christians today, think about what our path of discipleship will require of us. I suggest that we contemplate and in appropriate ways emulate what the Savior did in those last two days of His mortal life.
First, consider the Savior's introduction of the sacrament. Sacrament meeting is the most sacred and holy of all the meetings in the Church. If we are to be His disciples and to be committed members of His Church, we must remember and reverence the sacrament. It allows each of us to express with broken hearts and contrite spirits our willingness to follow the Savior, to repent, and to become a Saint through the Atonement of Christ. The sacrament allows us to witness to God that we will remember His Son and keep His commandments as we renew our baptismal covenant. This increases our love and appreciation for both the Father and the Son. [This is why Sacrament meeting is so important.]
The Savior also emphasized love and unity and declared that we would be known as His disciples if we have love one to another. We manifest our love for God when we keep His commandments and serve His children. We don't fully comprehend the Atonement, but we can spend our lives trying to be more loving and kind, regardless of the adversity we face.
How we relate and interact with each other is a measure of our willingness to follow Jesus Christ. Many in this world are afraid and angry with one another. While we understand these feelings, we need to be civil in our discourse and respectful in our interactions. This is especially true when we disagree. The Savior taught us to love even our enemies. I found these comments comforting given the growing coarseness of our [un]civil public conversations.
I invite each one of us individually to recognize that how we disagree is a real measure of who we are and whether we truly follow the Savior. It is appropriate to disagree, but it is not appropriate to be disagreeable. Violence and vandalism are not the answer to our disagreements. If we show love and respect even in adverse circumstances, we become more like Christ. [I suppose this applies to any followers of Christ who are talk show hosts too!]
For yet another time, a speaker at this conference talked about how noisy and distracting our world is. Elder Cook continues: We live in a noisy, contentious world, where it is possible to be viewing or listening to information, music, or even pure nonsense virtually every waking hour. If we want to have the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, we must find time to slow down, ponder, pray, and live so we are worthy to receive and act upon His promptings. We will avoid major mistakes if we heed His warnings. It is our privilege as members to receive light and knowledge form Him even to the perfect day.
Elder Cook concluded with a story from Samoa following the recent tsunami there. He said, As we met with the families in Samoa, the significance of spiritually going to the higher ground, living a better life, and clinging to saving ordinances was abundantly clear. As I have pondered . . . the current condition of the world, I have felt an urgency to counsel each of us to seek the higher ground - the refuge and eternal protection of the temple.
President Thomas S. Monson: He Is Risen!
President Monson gave a wonderful 'Easter' talk and bore his testimony about the resurrection of the Savior, Jesus Christ. After talking about man's timeless question of what happens after death, President Monson taught about the Plan of Salvation, particularly the purpose of our earth life:
To understand the meaning of death, we must appreciate the purpose of life. The dim light of belief must yield to the noonday sun of revelation, by which we know that we lived before our birth into mortality. In our premortal state, we were doubtless among the sons and daughters of God who shouted for joy because of the opportunity to come to this challenging yet necessary mortal existence. We knew that our purpose was to gain a physical body; to overcome trials, and to prove that we would keep the commandments of God.
President Monson then talked about the earthly life of Christ and the final trials before his crucifixtion - then His resurrection. He then added his testimony:
Our Savior lived again. The most glorious, comforting, and reassuring of all events of human history had taken place - the victory over death. To all within the sound of my voice, I declare, If a man die, he shall live again. We know, for we have the light of revealed truth.
The darkness of death can always be dispelled by the light of revealed truth.
A wonderful testimony by the prophet.
To understand the meaning of death, we must appreciate the purpose of life. The dim light of belief must yield to the noonday sun of revelation, by which we know that we lived before our birth into mortality. In our premortal state, we were doubtless among the sons and daughters of God who shouted for joy because of the opportunity to come to this challenging yet necessary mortal existence. We knew that our purpose was to gain a physical body; to overcome trials, and to prove that we would keep the commandments of God.
President Monson then talked about the earthly life of Christ and the final trials before his crucifixtion - then His resurrection. He then added his testimony:
Our Savior lived again. The most glorious, comforting, and reassuring of all events of human history had taken place - the victory over death. To all within the sound of my voice, I declare, If a man die, he shall live again. We know, for we have the light of revealed truth.
The darkness of death can always be dispelled by the light of revealed truth.
A wonderful testimony by the prophet.
Elder Bradley D. Foster: Mother Told Me
Early in his talk, Elder Foster told a story about rounding up his cattle in Idaho and herding them to trucks to be moved. Once again, a conference talk that points out distractions in the world.
Because it was so hot, the little calves kept running off into the trees to find shade. My thoughts turned to the youth of the Church who are sometimes distracted from the strait and narrow path. I also thought about those who have left the Church or who may feel that the Church has left their hearts while they were distracted. I thought to myself that a distraction doesn't have to be evil to be effective - sometimes it can just be shade.
In a world where every one is granted agency, some of our loved ones may stray for a season. But we can never give up. We must always go back for them - we must never stop trying.
We never know when a heart may be turned. We never know when a soul may be weary and worn out by the world.
Great things to remember for Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching.
Because it was so hot, the little calves kept running off into the trees to find shade. My thoughts turned to the youth of the Church who are sometimes distracted from the strait and narrow path. I also thought about those who have left the Church or who may feel that the Church has left their hearts while they were distracted. I thought to myself that a distraction doesn't have to be evil to be effective - sometimes it can just be shade.
In a world where every one is granted agency, some of our loved ones may stray for a season. But we can never give up. We must always go back for them - we must never stop trying.
We never know when a heart may be turned. We never know when a soul may be weary and worn out by the world.
Great things to remember for Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching.
Elder James B. Martino: All Things Work Together for Good
A very good talk on trials and tests.
Each of us will face trials and tests, . . . it is how we react to those difficulties that will determine our success and happiness. Each of us will face adversity no matter where we are. We are taught in the scriptures that there "must needs be . . . an opposition in all things." We will each face times of difficulty, and the question is not when we will face them but how we will face them.
Our Heavenly Father who loves us completely and perfectly, permits us to have experiences that will allow us to develop the traits and attributes we need to become more Christlike. Our trials come in many forms, but each will allow us to become more like the Savior as we learn to recognize the good that comes from each experience. As we understand this doctrine, we gain greater assurance of our Father's love. We may never know in this life why we face what we do, but we can feel confident that we can grow from the experience.
The challenge is to gain that eternal perspective while we are going through our tests. To some, our trials may not seem great, but to each of us who are passing through these experiences, the trials are real and require us to humble ourselves before God and learn from Him.
Elder Martino the talks about five things that we can learn from those last hours of the Savior's life on earth that can help us to face our own trials.
First, He sought not to do His will but only the will of His Father. I ask a question to you mothers: "Would you ever do something that would cause pain and bring tears to your children when they have done nothing wrong?" Of course you would! When mothers take young children to the doctor to receive immunizations, almost every child leaves the doctor's office in tears. Why do you do that? Because you know that a small amount of pain now will protect them from possible pain and suffering in the future. Our Father in Heaven knows the end from the beginning. We need to follow the example of the Savior and trust in Him.
Second, when we are faced with trials, we must learn to not complain or murmur. We must always attempt to correct the problem and overcome the trial, but instead of asking "Why me?" or "What did I do to deserve this?" maybe the question should be "What am I to do? What can I learn from this experience? What am I to change?" This is excellent advice and counsel.
Third, when we face our challenges, we must seek greater help from God. We must remember that often the answers from our Heavenly Father do not remove the trial from us, but instead He helps strengthen us as we pass through the experience. (Another excellent point.) In our trials, let us not become bitter or uncommitted, but let us follow the Savior's example of becoming more earnest, more sincere, and more faithful.
Fourth, learn to serve and think of others even in our times of trial. President Monson stated, "I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish - and in effect save their lives."
Fifth, forgive others and do not seek to pass the blame of our situation to them. There is a tendency for the natural man to pass blame to someone else so as not to be accountable for his or her actions.
As we pass through the trials of life, let us keep an eternal perspective, let us not complain, let us become ever more prayerful, let us serve others, and let us forgive one another. (Good summary)
Each of us will face trials and tests, . . . it is how we react to those difficulties that will determine our success and happiness. Each of us will face adversity no matter where we are. We are taught in the scriptures that there "must needs be . . . an opposition in all things." We will each face times of difficulty, and the question is not when we will face them but how we will face them.
Our Heavenly Father who loves us completely and perfectly, permits us to have experiences that will allow us to develop the traits and attributes we need to become more Christlike. Our trials come in many forms, but each will allow us to become more like the Savior as we learn to recognize the good that comes from each experience. As we understand this doctrine, we gain greater assurance of our Father's love. We may never know in this life why we face what we do, but we can feel confident that we can grow from the experience.
The challenge is to gain that eternal perspective while we are going through our tests. To some, our trials may not seem great, but to each of us who are passing through these experiences, the trials are real and require us to humble ourselves before God and learn from Him.
Elder Martino the talks about five things that we can learn from those last hours of the Savior's life on earth that can help us to face our own trials.
First, He sought not to do His will but only the will of His Father. I ask a question to you mothers: "Would you ever do something that would cause pain and bring tears to your children when they have done nothing wrong?" Of course you would! When mothers take young children to the doctor to receive immunizations, almost every child leaves the doctor's office in tears. Why do you do that? Because you know that a small amount of pain now will protect them from possible pain and suffering in the future. Our Father in Heaven knows the end from the beginning. We need to follow the example of the Savior and trust in Him.
Second, when we are faced with trials, we must learn to not complain or murmur. We must always attempt to correct the problem and overcome the trial, but instead of asking "Why me?" or "What did I do to deserve this?" maybe the question should be "What am I to do? What can I learn from this experience? What am I to change?" This is excellent advice and counsel.
Third, when we face our challenges, we must seek greater help from God. We must remember that often the answers from our Heavenly Father do not remove the trial from us, but instead He helps strengthen us as we pass through the experience. (Another excellent point.) In our trials, let us not become bitter or uncommitted, but let us follow the Savior's example of becoming more earnest, more sincere, and more faithful.
Fourth, learn to serve and think of others even in our times of trial. President Monson stated, "I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish - and in effect save their lives."
Fifth, forgive others and do not seek to pass the blame of our situation to them. There is a tendency for the natural man to pass blame to someone else so as not to be accountable for his or her actions.
As we pass through the trials of life, let us keep an eternal perspective, let us not complain, let us become ever more prayerful, let us serve others, and let us forgive one another. (Good summary)
Elder Neil L. Andersen: Tell Me the Stories of Jesus
Elder Andersen started is talk with his testimony of General Conference. After having studied all of the talks in the conference I would agree and add my testimony to what he says here so eloquently:
When you are assigned to speak at the end of the final session of general conference, you listen to every word, wondering which parts of you talk will be given before your turn comes. There are no assigned subjects, no collaboration of themes. The Lord's way, or course, is always the best way. He takes the individual prayerful efforts of each speaker and orchestrates a spiritual symphony full of revelation and power. Repeated themes, principle building upon principle, prophetic warnings, uplifting promises - the divine harmony is a miracle! I testify that in this conference we have heard and felt the mind and will of the Lord.
The next part of Elder Andersen's talk was about preparing our children for the challenges ahead. This is one of many talks about families and especially, parents teaching their children.
We hold in our arms the rising generation. They come to this earth with important responsibilities and great spiritual capacities. We cannot be casual in how we prepare them. Our challenge as parents and teachers is not to create a spiritual core in their souls but rather to fan the flame of their spiritual core already aglow with the fire of their premortal faith.
The theme of Elder Andersen's talk is the Primary song "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus". He quoted part of the song: "Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear, things I would ask him to tell me if he were here." He then continued with some excellent teaching strategy based on formative assessment questions for both them and for us as their parents and teachers.
Are the life and teachings of Jesus Christ embedded in the minds and souls of our children? Do they think about the Savior's life when they wonder what to do in their own lives? This will be more and more important in the years ahead.
Have our children visualized the premortal council, where Jesus - the greatest of all - declared, "Here am I, send me"? Do they see their own willingness to serve as following His example?
Do they think about His humble birth, the Savior of the world lying in a manger? Do His circumstances help them better understand the proper place of material possessions?
Elder Anderson continues with more questions. Those struck me as a sort of checklist of questions that we as parents can ask ourselves about how we are doing with our children. The responses to those questions will give us a picture of how our children are doing. These are great formative assessment questions. I have put the questions I thought we especially interesting in bold font.
Do they know that Jesus often talk, "Ask, and ye shall receive"? Do His prayers of thankfulness and His pleadings to His Father flow through our children's minds as they kneel in prayer with their own concerns?
Have we told them of the love Jesus has for children, how He held them in His arms, prayed for them, and wept? Do our children know that Jesus stands ready "with open arms to receive [them]"?
Do they take strength in the stories of Jesus fasting - as we teach them the law of the fast?
In their own loneliness, do our children know the loneliness the Savior felt as His friends deserted Him and as He asked His apostles, "Will ye also go away?"
Have our children felt the power of the Savior's miracles? Jesus healed the leper, gave sight to the blind. He fed the 5,000, calmed the sea, and raised Lazarus from the dead. Do our children believe that "it is by faith that miracles are wrought," and do they pray for miracles in their own lives?
Have our children taken courage from the Savior's words to the ruler of the synagogue: "Be not afraid, only believe"?
Do our children know about His perfect life, His selfless ministry, His betrayal and cruel Crucifixion? Have we testified to them of the certainty of His Resurrection, of His visit to the Nephites in the Americas, of His appearance to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove?
Do they anticipate His majestic return, when all will be made right and every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ?
Do our children say, "Tell me the stories of Jesus, I love to hear"?
The next piece of counsel was for the youth as well as the children:
Live up to your important responsibilities and great spiritual capacities. Seek to know more about Jesus; open the scriptures. One idea would be to read again the book of John and then discuss it with your parents, teachers, and each other.
To those of us who are older, Elder Andersen said:
To fathers and mothers, to grandfathers and grandmothers, and to those without children of their own who lovingly nurture children and youth, my counsel is to speak more frequently about Jesus Christ. In His holy name is great spiritual power.
If a child is not listening, don't despair. Time and truth are on your side. At the right moment, your words will return as if from heaven itself. You testimony will never leave your children.
As your reverently speak about he Savior - in the car, on the bus, at the dinner table, as you kneel in prayer, during scripture study, or in late-night conversations - the Spirit of the Lord will accompany your words.
When you are assigned to speak at the end of the final session of general conference, you listen to every word, wondering which parts of you talk will be given before your turn comes. There are no assigned subjects, no collaboration of themes. The Lord's way, or course, is always the best way. He takes the individual prayerful efforts of each speaker and orchestrates a spiritual symphony full of revelation and power. Repeated themes, principle building upon principle, prophetic warnings, uplifting promises - the divine harmony is a miracle! I testify that in this conference we have heard and felt the mind and will of the Lord.
The next part of Elder Andersen's talk was about preparing our children for the challenges ahead. This is one of many talks about families and especially, parents teaching their children.
We hold in our arms the rising generation. They come to this earth with important responsibilities and great spiritual capacities. We cannot be casual in how we prepare them. Our challenge as parents and teachers is not to create a spiritual core in their souls but rather to fan the flame of their spiritual core already aglow with the fire of their premortal faith.
The theme of Elder Andersen's talk is the Primary song "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus". He quoted part of the song: "Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear, things I would ask him to tell me if he were here." He then continued with some excellent teaching strategy based on formative assessment questions for both them and for us as their parents and teachers.
Are the life and teachings of Jesus Christ embedded in the minds and souls of our children? Do they think about the Savior's life when they wonder what to do in their own lives? This will be more and more important in the years ahead.
Have our children visualized the premortal council, where Jesus - the greatest of all - declared, "Here am I, send me"? Do they see their own willingness to serve as following His example?
Do they think about His humble birth, the Savior of the world lying in a manger? Do His circumstances help them better understand the proper place of material possessions?
Elder Anderson continues with more questions. Those struck me as a sort of checklist of questions that we as parents can ask ourselves about how we are doing with our children. The responses to those questions will give us a picture of how our children are doing. These are great formative assessment questions. I have put the questions I thought we especially interesting in bold font.
Do they know that Jesus often talk, "Ask, and ye shall receive"? Do His prayers of thankfulness and His pleadings to His Father flow through our children's minds as they kneel in prayer with their own concerns?
Have we told them of the love Jesus has for children, how He held them in His arms, prayed for them, and wept? Do our children know that Jesus stands ready "with open arms to receive [them]"?
Do they take strength in the stories of Jesus fasting - as we teach them the law of the fast?
In their own loneliness, do our children know the loneliness the Savior felt as His friends deserted Him and as He asked His apostles, "Will ye also go away?"
Have our children felt the power of the Savior's miracles? Jesus healed the leper, gave sight to the blind. He fed the 5,000, calmed the sea, and raised Lazarus from the dead. Do our children believe that "it is by faith that miracles are wrought," and do they pray for miracles in their own lives?
Have our children taken courage from the Savior's words to the ruler of the synagogue: "Be not afraid, only believe"?
Do our children know about His perfect life, His selfless ministry, His betrayal and cruel Crucifixion? Have we testified to them of the certainty of His Resurrection, of His visit to the Nephites in the Americas, of His appearance to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove?
Do they anticipate His majestic return, when all will be made right and every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ?
Do our children say, "Tell me the stories of Jesus, I love to hear"?
The next piece of counsel was for the youth as well as the children:
Live up to your important responsibilities and great spiritual capacities. Seek to know more about Jesus; open the scriptures. One idea would be to read again the book of John and then discuss it with your parents, teachers, and each other.
To those of us who are older, Elder Andersen said:
To fathers and mothers, to grandfathers and grandmothers, and to those without children of their own who lovingly nurture children and youth, my counsel is to speak more frequently about Jesus Christ. In His holy name is great spiritual power.
If a child is not listening, don't despair. Time and truth are on your side. At the right moment, your words will return as if from heaven itself. You testimony will never leave your children.
As your reverently speak about he Savior - in the car, on the bus, at the dinner table, as you kneel in prayer, during scripture study, or in late-night conversations - the Spirit of the Lord will accompany your words.
Elder Robert D. Hales: Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son Jesus Christ
Part of Elder Hales' talk was about all the things we know about God that are from the scriptures (modern and ancient):
The strength and peace that come from knowing God and having the comforting companionship of His Spirit will make your efforts eternally worthwhile.
- Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, have a physical presence (Acts 7:56)
- The Father and the Son have voices (Moses 4:14 and Genesis 3:8)
- The Father and the Son have faces, They stand, and They converse (Moses 7:4)
- God and His Son have bodies, in form and parts like ours (Ether 3:6 & 3:16)
- The Father and the Son have feelings for us (Moses 7:28)
- God and His Son, Jesus Christ, are immortal, glorified, and perfected beings (D&C 110:3)
The strength and peace that come from knowing God and having the comforting companionship of His Spirit will make your efforts eternally worthwhile.
Elder Kent D. Watson: Being Temperate in All Things
This was a very interesting talk about being "temperate." That is a word I have seen used before in various forms, but have not really thought about its meaning. I mostly associate it with the temperance movement (anti-drinking) of the 19th- and 20th-century. Elder Watson gives some very good insights and definitions:
What is temperance, and why would the Lord want us to be temperate? A narrow definition might be "exercise restraint when it comes to food and drink."
Sometimes temperance might be defined as "refraining from anger or not losing one's temper."
In a spiritual sense, temperance is a divine attribute of Jesus Christ.
Learning to be temperate in all things is a spiritual gift available through the Holy Ghost.
Being temperate is to use moderation in all things or to exercise self-control.
Being temperate means to carefully examine our expectations and desires, to be diligent and patient in seeking righteous goals.
Elder Watson related an experience where a stray tire on the freeway smashed into his car windshield. The windshield shattered but he was not injured because the windshield was made of tempered glass.
Tempered glass, like tempered steel, undergoes a well-controlled heating process which increases strength. Thus, when tempered glass is under stress, it will not easily burst into jagged shards that can injure.
Likewise, a temperate soul-one who is humble and full of love-is also a person of increased spiritual strength. With increased spiritual strength, we are able to develop self-mastery and to live with moderation. We learn to control, or temper, our anger, vanity, and pride. With increased spiritual strength, we can protect ourselves from the dangerous excesses and destructive addictions of today's world.
Security for our families comes from learning self-control, avoiding the excesses of this world, and being temperate in all things. Peace of mind comes from strengthened faith in Jesus Christ. Happiness comes from being diligent in keeping covenants made at baptism and in the holy temples of the Lord.
What is temperance, and why would the Lord want us to be temperate? A narrow definition might be "exercise restraint when it comes to food and drink."
Sometimes temperance might be defined as "refraining from anger or not losing one's temper."
In a spiritual sense, temperance is a divine attribute of Jesus Christ.
Learning to be temperate in all things is a spiritual gift available through the Holy Ghost.
Being temperate is to use moderation in all things or to exercise self-control.
Being temperate means to carefully examine our expectations and desires, to be diligent and patient in seeking righteous goals.
Elder Watson related an experience where a stray tire on the freeway smashed into his car windshield. The windshield shattered but he was not injured because the windshield was made of tempered glass.
Tempered glass, like tempered steel, undergoes a well-controlled heating process which increases strength. Thus, when tempered glass is under stress, it will not easily burst into jagged shards that can injure.
Likewise, a temperate soul-one who is humble and full of love-is also a person of increased spiritual strength. With increased spiritual strength, we are able to develop self-mastery and to live with moderation. We learn to control, or temper, our anger, vanity, and pride. With increased spiritual strength, we can protect ourselves from the dangerous excesses and destructive addictions of today's world.
Security for our families comes from learning self-control, avoiding the excesses of this world, and being temperate in all things. Peace of mind comes from strengthened faith in Jesus Christ. Happiness comes from being diligent in keeping covenants made at baptism and in the holy temples of the Lord.
President Henry B. Eyring: Our Perfect Example
I was assigned this talk as the 4th Sunday lesson in High Priest's Group for January. It is a great talk with a number of very good quotes.
For all, the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can and must expect to become better as long as we live.
If we think of "getting better" as, improving on a long checklist of commandments, then that counsel can get pretty discouraging. Fortunately, the message of this talk, and one of the themes of this conference is "Love." It can all be summed up in that quality. So, "we can and must expect to become better" at love, "as long as we live."
If we work on following Christ's example of love, we will accomplish many of the things President Erying mentioned early in the talk (from Moroni 7:48)
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."
Any believing Latter-day Saint is an optimist about what lies ahead for him or her, however difficult the present may be. We believe that through living the gospel of Jesus Christ we can become like the Savior, who is perfect.
President Eyring talked about attending a Primary class where the children sang "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" and how they sang like they really believed it, and that they expected to be able to do it. For the lesson I played the song as sung by some children from tthe Sunset Hills Ward Primary for the Cedar Mill Stake Primary Program in 2007.
One of the key statements from the whole talk was this:
It is love of God that will lead us to keep His commandments. And love of others is at the heart of our capacity to obey.
President Eyring then talked about how we can practice love:
He has offered us the family as an example of an ideal setting in which we can learn how to love as He loves. [the family is a sort of laboratory for practicing love, because] The greatest joys and the greatest sorrows we experience are in family relationships. The joys come from putting the welfare of others above our own. That is what love is. And the sorrow comes primarily from selfishness, which is the absence of love.
The ideal God holds for us is to form families in the way most likely to lead to happiness and away from sorrow. That is very profound. That is one reason we have families and the main thing we are to do with them.
He then gave counsel to three groups: husbands and wives; parents of a wandering child; and children.
He concludes with this advice and counsel:
I hope you will go out today looking for opportunities to do as He did and to love as He loves. I can promise you the peace that you felt as a child will come to you often and it will linger with you.
None of us is perfect yet. But we can have frequent assurance that we are following along the way. He leads us, and He beckons for us to follow Him.
For all, the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can and must expect to become better as long as we live.
If we think of "getting better" as, improving on a long checklist of commandments, then that counsel can get pretty discouraging. Fortunately, the message of this talk, and one of the themes of this conference is "Love." It can all be summed up in that quality. So, "we can and must expect to become better" at love, "as long as we live."
If we work on following Christ's example of love, we will accomplish many of the things President Erying mentioned early in the talk (from Moroni 7:48)
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."
Any believing Latter-day Saint is an optimist about what lies ahead for him or her, however difficult the present may be. We believe that through living the gospel of Jesus Christ we can become like the Savior, who is perfect.
President Eyring talked about attending a Primary class where the children sang "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" and how they sang like they really believed it, and that they expected to be able to do it. For the lesson I played the song as sung by some children from tthe Sunset Hills Ward Primary for the Cedar Mill Stake Primary Program in 2007.
One of the key statements from the whole talk was this:
It is love of God that will lead us to keep His commandments. And love of others is at the heart of our capacity to obey.
President Eyring then talked about how we can practice love:
He has offered us the family as an example of an ideal setting in which we can learn how to love as He loves. [the family is a sort of laboratory for practicing love, because] The greatest joys and the greatest sorrows we experience are in family relationships. The joys come from putting the welfare of others above our own. That is what love is. And the sorrow comes primarily from selfishness, which is the absence of love.
The ideal God holds for us is to form families in the way most likely to lead to happiness and away from sorrow. That is very profound. That is one reason we have families and the main thing we are to do with them.
He then gave counsel to three groups: husbands and wives; parents of a wandering child; and children.
He concludes with this advice and counsel:
I hope you will go out today looking for opportunities to do as He did and to love as He loves. I can promise you the peace that you felt as a child will come to you often and it will linger with you.
None of us is perfect yet. But we can have frequent assurance that we are following along the way. He leads us, and He beckons for us to follow Him.
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