In our church, every six months we get the opportunity to hear amazing speakers present truths. This year I decided to challenge myself to take notes on each one and write down the things that stood out to me. If you are in need of some new truths to think about, here are my notes from the last two days. No matter what your faith or religion, I know these talks can help you on your journey to healing from trauma and overcoming fears. It was incredible to hear each person, for two days, testify of Christ, the role He can and does play in our lives, and the purpose of His life and mission and what it can teach us about our own.
General
Conference
Henry B. Eyring
Heavenly Father’s
plan. Christ would offer himself as a sacrifice to rescue us from sin and
death. Our task is to accept the Saviors sacrifice—and rejoice in it. We were
not sent here in the dark. We were sent with the light of Christ—we can sense
in our hearts what is right and wrong.
Some take
opposition as evidence that there is no God, or that he determines in advance
who will make it through. But we know that Heavenly Father wants us all to make
it—God loves us all.
Learning about
your past—the history of your ancestors—can teach you a lot about yourself. Doing
work for your ancestors can help you feel closer to your families and closer to
Jesus Christ.
Joseph Brough
Obedience to our
parents. Heavenly Father will guide us, lead us, and walk beside us. He knows
our needs, and has developed a personal care package for each one of us. It
includes His Son, families, the Holy Ghost, and leaders. All to help us along
the way. When we do what God commands us to do, we will be safe and full of
peace.
Praying for
answers doesn’t always happen right away. Sometimes it comes as a prompting to
do it another way. Sometimes he uses another person to assist him. He will
stretch forth His hand in His own time and in His own way.
Weatherford Clayton
We are all
brothers and sisters and children of our Heavenly Father. We must repent. Sin
requires us to suffer. Because Christ atoned for our sins, He never leaves us
alone. When someone dies, they are not gone . . . but have returned home.
Moments when time stand still and seems unfair, we can find comfort in knowing
Christ is there.
“Live for the
moments when time stands still”
Daryl G. Renland
The Savior’s
compassion in our struggles draws us near Him. Mercy and empathy help us change.
How does Jesus react when faced with our sins? The Savior loves all of us . . .
even all of us sinners. Compassion and mercy is what the Savior uses to help us
change. The Savior will not save us in our sins
. . . but from our sins. He cannot save us in our sins. We must first
abide the conditions of repentance.
Bullying can
happen on all levels—including not allowing others to believe contrary to what
we do. Everyone has the right to express their opinions in the public square.
How sad would it be if we were to treat others as we have been treated?
Ulisses Soares
How do we use the
atonement—grace—so we do not waver in our day? Mortal life is a period of
testing to prove that we can do all things that the Lord commands us. Knowing
and trusting that God will provide for our needs. Jesus lived a sinless life,
and then suffered terrible pain beyond any description—but He stands ready to
help us with every burden. His mission is to help us find peace on earth.
He that keeps the
commandments is he that loveth me. Faith is living with divine purpose and
eternal perspective. We need to be willing to do anything that Christ and the
Father ask of us.
In moments of
trial, the adversity is always on the lookout. He tries to convince us that it
is useless to keep the commandments. Satan is your enemy and fights against
light continually. If we are steadfast and not wavering in our faith, we will
have the capacity to overcome all obstacles in our way. Place your trust in God
and the teachings of the prophets.
Mark A. Bragg
Even in the most
difficult and darkest of times, there is light and goodness around us. That
which is of God is light. The light grows brighter and brighter until the
perfect day. Receiving light is what we were created to do. Seeking the light
is in our spiritual DNA.
There is light
available to us.
1. Light of the
church.
Seeking after it
will quality us for even more light. The light of the church will shine
brighter and brighter.
2. Light of the
gospel.
Families can
resolve misunderstandings and challenges. Can be healed through forgiveness and
repentance.
3. Light of
Christ.
The light of the
world brings light to the world. Helps us see others through the Saviors eyes.
Help us see how we all fit in to that great loving plan.
Russell M. Nelson
It was foretold
that the advisory would stir up anger in the hearts of men. And lead them
astray. Heavenly Father sent His Son so we would have access to the power of
the grace. The power of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.
We learn about
His ministry and mission, the more we know the more we can see that He has the
power we need in our lives. We can call upon the Atonement for our healing—so
we may live with hope in this life. When we use His grace, our doubts and fears
flee. Faith motivates us to action.
We increase the
Saviors power in our life when we keep our covenants with precision. Reach up
with diligent focused effort. Spiritual stretching. When we draw His power into our lives, both
He and we will rejoice.
Saturday afternoon
Robert D. Hales
Where is your
intention? When we strengthen our attributes like Christ… the other qualities
are strengthened and we help those around us. Power in Him. What am I
supposed to learn from this experience? Endure with patience. Fathers who are
patient teach children to be patient. Greatest of these is charity. Cannot be
part time disciples. Stand strong in these last days.
Jeffery R. Holland
The songs we all
must sing.
Some days are
difficult. Days that show us a lack in us, others, and life. Whatever reasons
they rob us of the songs we sing. Draw strength from the splendor of the music
around us. Sometimes those who can’t “sing” for a time have to get close to
someone who has the notes. Jesus has the perfect pitch. Stereotypes driven by a
consumerist culture . . . we lose our purpose. We must sing in our own voice.
Not someone else’s. Don’t abandon your role in the chorus.
It is hard to be
upbeat when we see so many suffer. Guns and fighting are not the way to deal
with human conflict. The more excellent way will always be the gospel of grace
and Christ.
We live in a
world where too many songs we cannot or will not sing, but we have to stay in
the choir and savor the most precious song of redeeming love.
Christ has room
for all of us. Room for those who once questioned their faith—and those who
still do.
Gary B. Sabin
“If I didn’t roll
out my sleeping bag I wouldn’t have to roll it back up again”
Spiritually cold.
Give head to the words of eternal life. Out of sync with God’s will . . . out
of sink with happiness. No peace to the wicked.
Punching bag man
kept coming back up. “He is standing up on the inside” How can we stand up on
the inside? If walking isn’t working . . . maybe we need to run. Let go of the
world so we can hang on to eternity. Follow the creator… not the crowd.
Don’t fear. Just
live right. It will work out in the end.
Valeri V. Cordon
Language loss.
Eternal language. Never lost if we preserve it.
1. Be diligent at
home
Parents need to
spend time teaching their children. Parent’s who make a conscious effort will
succeed. Daily family prayer and scripture study. Words mean nothing, unless
our actions are the same. The son can do nothing but what he sees the father
do.
Traditions. As
families we need to avoid traditions that keep us from keeping the Sabbath day
holy. Make traditions that use the
scriptures. Help them find their identity their purpose and their relationship
with the Savior. Imperfect people trying to learn a perfect language.
Neil L. Anderson
Receive the
Savior. Put your trust in Him. I don’t want your time or your money or work… I
want you. Christ wants us. Asking for forgiveness and pledging to remember Him.
Church opens the door to a week full of time to apply the lessons we have
learned. Turning ourselves outward. Happiness of spouse is above our own
pleasure.
The world, “Look
at me, look at all that is mine. Look at me”
Overcoming the
world will always mean we have some beliefs that are ridiculed. If it hates
you. You know it hated Christ first.
Overcoming the
world is becoming less concerned with our online connections and more concerned
with our connection to God. I knew that God knew that I knew I have been
blessed. Overcoming the world doesn’t mean we have a protected life.
M. Russell Ballard
Knowing where you
are going and how you expect to get there can bring accomplishment to life.
Goal is a destination. Plan is the route in which you get there.
Goal setting is
where you want to go. But first you have to find out which of them really
matter. Heavenly Father’s plan gives us a way to become more like Him. Focus on
the eternal path. Goals and plans for our careers, education and golf.
Marriages, families church counsels and callings. But our greatest and most
over riding goal should fit into Heavenly Father’s plan. Experts say the
simpler and straightforward a goal is—the more power it will have.
Return and
receive. Return to his presence. Receive his blessings. Rely on His merits.
Satan tried to modify our Fathers plan. Satan can neither return nor receive.
He uses every possible enticement and temptation to bring us down and make us
miserable. He uses deceit and small voices. He uses the world to bring darkness
into our life so we get distracted from our goals of eternity. They seek to
destroy our faith and divert us from the path.
How am I
doing? Who knows you better than you
know yourself? Find time to review your life goals and plans. Make sure they
align with God’s plan. Prayerfully think about what adjustments are needed to
help you keep your eye single to the glory of God.
Christ is the
center of our plans.
Come unto me all
ye who are heavy laden. I will give ye rest.
Sunday morning session
Thomas S. Monson
How to apply his
teaching in our lives. Sin and evil in the world today. We will be protected by
a testimony of Jesus Christ. Read the book of Mormon with a sincere desire to
know its truth. Get your testimony now, to be prepared for difficult times. The
testimonies of others will only carry you so far. We will hear the voice of the
spirit.
Joy D. Jones
Resilient
children. Understand their identify and feel God’s love. Children who struggle
to stand stead fast. Need reinforcement and support. Rage a war against sin.
Mighty conflict. We are at war. Fatal casualties. The war continues and touches
all of us. Opposing forces causes a need in us to learn new strategies. The
Lord has asked parents to teach children faith, repentance, baptism, gift of
the holy ghost, pray, walk uprightly.
Universal
guidelines to live by. Understand our—and their—divine purpose. Help them know
they are sons and daughters of God. Understand repentance and resisitance to
sin. Becoming sin resistance comes from constantly resisting sin. True at all
times—keep the commandments of God. WE go to war carrying Christlike qualities.
Courage is needed every single day. Our children put on personal armor as they
learn daily discipleship. Start early and be steady. Begin at early ages. Articles
of faith. Primary songs, hymns and our own personal testimonies.
Integrity. Make
and keep sacred covenants. Heart and soul of our purpose of mortality. Satan
knows this… so he obscures the concept of covenant making. How do we prepare
our children to make and keep sacred covenants….by helping them be honest and
behave appropriately. Help them keep promises. Keep promises longer and longer.
“I kept my promise because I said I would”. Consistent practice of keeping
promises prepares children to keep covenants as adults.
WE help children
taste success in small bites. Rewards come by keeping promises. Hold your
little ones close, show them what it looks like to live promises and covenants.
They are watching you. Example is the best teacher.
Christ atoned for
the sins of the world…because he said he would.
Yoon Hwan Choi
Come unto Christ.
Linking ancestors. All of us are in the middle of an eternal family. Our role
can change it in negative or positive ways. How can you be sure you will be a
strong link in your eternal family?
The gospel is
perfect…but members are not yet. Do not lose your faith, because of the people
around you. Build your relationship with Jesus Christ. Look unto Him in every
thought. Doubt not, fear not.
Go out in the
rain, look up to heaven. Open your mouth, drink it. Look up when you face
challenges.
Children are
blessed through parents faithful work and diligence. We see inconvenience,
loss, and loneliness. It is harder to see blessings and light. Look up. Look to
Christ. If you choose to leave the gospel of Christ, what will you do? What
will you lose?
It is never too
late to look up. Repent, make right your wrongs. Change… and look up. He hasn’t
forgotten you.
Ronald A. Rasband
The spirit of the
Lord teaches truths. Father. Son. Holy Ghost.
Father knew we
would face challenges, disappoinemtns, turmoil. He provided the Holy
spirit—that binds us to the Lord. He promised He would bind us to Him. Peace in
heartache, courage in fear. We may always have His spirit to be with us.
1. Live worthy of
the spirit.
Spirit does not
dwell in unholy temple. He will dwell in your heart.
2. Listen to the
spirit
Their hearts were
open, they did understand in their hearts. Voice is still and small. The Lord
is not in the wind, the fire, the boom. He comes after, in the still small
voice.
3. Do the work of
the Lord
Be about your
fathers business
4. Act on the
first prompting.
Be lead by the
spirit. Go and do. You will get it right nine times out of ten. Do not expect
fire works and celebrations because you listened. Family and friends in particular
need you to follow those promtings. To teach, to help, to comfort, to support,
and to rescue. First responder.
Let the Lord know
in our morning prayers that we are ready. He will call on us time and time
again. We will become spiritual first responders. Pay attention to the
promptings that come to you, you will grow and receive more direction. It will
lead you to do good. He leads us by the Holy Ghost. Act upon the first
promptings, they come from God.
L. Whitney Clayton
With God nothing
is impossible. Do what God asked. Mary committed before she knew why. She
accepted God’s word unconditionally and in advance. At first she felt
inadequate…but did His will.
When we decide to
align our mission with God’s will we pray with real intent and follow what He
asks of us. Simple habbits of belief transform into great faith. Rooted in
Christ, brings steadfastness to our souls.
Sacrifices…I know
not, save the Lord commanded me. Obeying the Lord without knowing why. God will
always bless us for our steadfast obedience, but he rarely shows us the whole
picture in advance. Faith, hope and trusting in the Lord comes in. No easy
answers or quick fixes in heaven. Perfect love and perfect timing in the Lord.
Stay true to daily practices of faith. We choose who we will serve every day.
The Lord promises to direct our paths, but for Him to do that we have to walk.
When we trust and follow him. He knows
the way, because He is the way.
Dallin H. Oaks
First vision
Joseph Smith saw two beings. God the Father and His Son—two different beings.
Nature of God, and our relationship to Him is the key to this life. Life
eternal, that we might know Him.
It will be a
while after you pass through the veil before you know all of the knowledge of
exaltation. Three members of the Godhead are separate and distinct beings. Holy
Ghost is a personage of spirit… or else it could not dwell in us. Our
relationship to the Godhead comes from the plan of salvation. It is all
answered there.
Spiritual death
is being cut off from the presence of God. Knowing the purpose of God’s great
plan, we consider the roles of the 3 in the Godhead in that plan. Love of God
the Father, the mission of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost.
God. Father’s
supreme position, our relationship to Him, and His role in the creation. God
and Father of Christ, as well as all of us. The first fundamental truth from
Christ: above and overall there is God of heaven and earth. We learn of the
Father as we learn from Christ. His mission was to reveal to mortals what God
is like and reveal the true nature of our Father in Heaven. Jesus was the
express image of the Father. We are His children and He loves us. All He does
is for our eternal benefit. His plan achieves His purposes.
Christ. First
born of all the children of God. Create worlds without number. Save the
children of God of death by his resurrection. Jesus’s mission was to bring to
pass the imortaily and eternal life of all of Father’s children.
Holy Ghost.
Teaches all things. Guides us. Protects us. Comforts us. Blesses us.
Our relationship
to the Godhead gives us the ultimate road map and assurance through our journey
through mortality. We know who makes it possible.
Essential to the
plan of salvation is our Savior Jesus Christ. Don’t just believe in Him and His
mission. We have to work and live them. Receive His saving ordinances. Only by believing and living
truth can we be eternally
saved.
Deiter F. Ucthdorf
Falling for
manipulation. Or using manipulation. Fear to motivate others, including
ourselves.
Fear. Determining
our actions and behavior. But it only has the power to be temporary. Never
transform us into people who want to do what it is right. Angry, resentful.
Leads to mistrust. Defiance, even rebellion. Condemn in others but they cannot
see it in themselves. They become the exception of the rules, but they condemn
others who do the same. They become
harsh, thinking it is for the good of others—but they do not realize that their
anger will not do anything but create more fear in others.
Father’s love for
us, His children, surpasses anything we comprehend, but that does not mean He
does not want us to change. He wants us to change our hearts, take firm hold of
our fears and bravely step forward and upwards along the straight and narrow
path. He wants this change, because He loves us. This is the way to happiness.
He sent His Son
to show us the right way. He motivates us through love unfained. He trusts us
to learn from our missteps and make correct choices.
Satan wants us to
manipulate others. Man’s inhumanity. Corruption is unique and alarming. Satan
wants us to fear there is no good at this time on earth. But that is not the
truth either.
Prepare ourselves
to receive the Savior. Do it with confidence and humility. Never looking down
on another person. Study the word of God, heed the voice of the spirit. Don’t
be ignorant of the challenges in the world, do not burden yourself or others
with constant fear. Focus on the
infinite goodness and power of God. Trust Him. Prepare with a joyful heart. We
need not be paralyzed by fear because bad things might happen. As we approach
the challenges—and opportunities ahead. He will be with you. He will not fail
you. He will fight for you. You shall hold your peace. In the face of fear, let
us find our courage and faith. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be
of good cheer. He has overcome the world. God has promised all things shall
work together for your good. If you walk uprightly. Set aside your fears and
live with joy, humility and hope and confidence that the Lord is with us.
Living in fear
and anxiety or causing fear in others . . . we may become liberated from this
fear by the pure love of Christ. Perfect love casteth out fear. Christ’s love
allows us to walk with confidence, humility, and faith to press through our
fears and place our complete trust in our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus
Christ. Let us replace fear with Christ’s perfect love. Replace burdens with
blessings.
Be not afraid,
only believe. Abide in Christ’s perfect love.
Sunday Afternoon
D. Todd Christopherson
Watchman. Hear
the word and warn them. The warning is to turn away from sin. If you don’t warn
them, they will die in sin. If you warn them, and they chose not to do…you have
delivered thy soul, by doing your part. If you trust your own righteousness,
and not in God . . . all your righteousness shall pass away. Wicked find
strength in the Lord, and the righteous must continue in trust in the Lord.
Wickedness never was and never will be happiness. Desire to share truth with
others to help them learn how to live eternally.
Parental duty is
to warn… and share joy of walking in obedience. Conversion doesn’t just come by
warning…it comes by sharing joy. Jesus warned. Not just any path leads to
heaven. Enter in the straight gate. Love demands warning people about what can
hurt them. Shame culture. In a guilt culture your conscious leads you. In a
guilt culture you know you are good and bad by what your culture tells you you
are. Guilt culture can be harsh. Shame culture is unmerciful for those who
disagree and those who don’t fit in.
We cannot be
neutral. Warning voice is a joyful noise. Disservice is staying silent.
Practice what we preach. Preach what we practice. Help your fellow men embrace
those truths. Great is your reward in Heaven.
Repent now. Watch
and pray continually. Be lead by the Holy Spirit. Have faith in the Lord. Love
of God in your hearts. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart. I have
declared faithfulness and salvation.
Joaquin E. Costa
Lessons on the
path to baptism. Meeting the missionaries. Go to church. Read the Book of Mormon. Alma Chapter 42. Pray to
God. Remember spiritual feelings. Experience Repentance.
Nothing draws you
closer to Christ, than a desire to change.
S. Mark Palmer
Expectations. “I
just don’t like people” Mark Chapter 10. How do we change the hearts of those
who don’t want to be obedient? Jesus loved him. Because of this love, and with
this love…Jesus asked more of him. It is our heart as well that needs
changing…not just the ones who are troubling us. How can I be filled with
Christlike love for those who aren’t meeting my expectations? See them with all
the love Christ has for them. Because I love you I care about who you become. I
invite you to change the things that are hard for you and become the person God
wants you to be. Pray with fervent faith before each interaction with them.
1. As we learn to
see others as the Lord sees them, our love for them will grow. So will our
desire to help them. We see potential they might not see in themselves. Perfect
love casteth off fear. Those hardest to love need it the most.
2. No teaching or
learning will happen when done in anger. No change will occur when anger is
present. Atmosphere of trust.
3. Love should
never be withdrawn. When expectations are not met. Jesus still loved them
perfectly.
4. Because He
loves us, the Lord expects much of us. If we are humble we will repent,
sacrifice and serve as evidence of His perfect love for us. Invitation to
repent is the same as an invitation for peace and love.
When we are asked
to do something hard. Put aside worldly pursuits, forgive, put God first, He
loves you. Let it go and follow Him. Thank Him for loving you enough for
inviting you to do more.
Gary E. Stevenson
How can the Holy
Ghost help you? “How did you know the snake was there?” The Holy Ghost helps
us. Third member of the Godhead. We have the gift of the Holy Ghost after
baptism. Unexpected events cause sadness pain and disappointment. The Holy
Ghost offers peace and comfort. He is called the Comforter. Peace and comfort
comes at our greatest time of need. Forgiveness, love, and healing come through
the comfort of the Holy Ghost. The spirit feels our heart and comforts and
reminds us of the truth that we know. Testifies and bears witness of the Father
and Son and all truth.
The comfort of
the truth can bring peace and comfort we are desperately seeking after trauma
and fear. Listen the Holy Ghost will whisper. Listen to the still small voice.
C. Scott Grow
God so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten Son. Begin to know God through prayer.
Pray with faith, you will feel God’s love as it speaks to your soul. God knows
you personally. As you pray, you will come to know Him. Scripture study,
personally and with family. Teach your children to live with faith. Worthiness
is essential to becoming like Christ. We start with repentance and forgiveness
and He cleanses our souls. As we strive to become like God, He could make of
us, more than we could ever make ourselves.
Benjamin De Hoyos
The Lord speaks
to prophets to give us a standard to follow. The Lord reveals His will to us,
but in His own timing. I love you Mom. Love Tytus
Light grows and
becomes visible when we return home with the feeling of forgiveness. It comes
as we partake of the sacrament. We feel a greater love and appreiciation for
the Savior. Keep the Sabbath Day holy. Shine as an ensign. Teach as the Savior
taught.
Quinten L. Cook
One layer at a
time. First steps. Physical development….baby steps. To obtain our ultimate
physical stature. Ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve “world
class expert” title in anything. Less emphasis is placed on spiritual growth.
There is no substitute for individual spiritual growth. Faith to heal. Personal
prayers can bring blessings into our lives beyond anything we can comprehend. Adversity
should not be viewed as a withdrawal from the love of the Savior. We will all
receive challenges that will refine and define us. Give us experience and be
for our good. Fear not what man can do… for God should be with you forever and
ever.
We receive
strength according to our faith in Christ. #princeofpeace
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