President Nelson fell 2 days after his 99th birthday and is watching conference in his home. Elder Holland is also watching from home. He and his wife had Covid and his wife passed away in July.
Saturday Morning
Elder Bednar: Pioneers and Stalwart Souls "They of the Last Wagon"
People who serve without ever being seen or acknowledged
Great things are prepared for those who wait upon God
Be stalwart
Sister Amy Wright: Spiritual Preparedness, parable of 10 virgins
Be prepared
Peace amidst a cancer diagnosis. Everything will be OK
Elder Daines: Face blindness
See God and know that He sees us
See God by learning about Him, to serve in this church is to stand in the river of God's love for his children
Elder Godoy: Taxi driver picked up Elder Godoy. Cab driver was less active member who came back to church because of their interaction.
He felt his children would be happier in life with the influence of the Gospel
Our decisions today will impact future generations
Reshape your path, if needed, for the sake of your posterity
Be faithful
Elder Christofferson: Gathering of Israel, the most important thing happening today on the earth
Sealing powers are crucial for gathering
Divorce only breaks one link in the chain, but the chain can be repaired
All temple blessings await the faithful
READ THIS ONE FIRST!
Elder Ardern: Experiences and things he saw in Uganda - poverty and sickness
Good Samaritan "Love thy neighbor"
Compassion is an attribute of Christ
5 loaves and 2 fishes made all the difference
Do what I can do and the Lord will make up the difference
Praise for church humanitarian efforts
Bear one another's burdens, bind up the broken hearts, love thy neighbor
President Oaks: Proclamation on the Family and Plan of Happiness
We get to choose where we will dwell in the eternities
We will dwell where we are most comfortable
Salvation is an individual matter; exaltation is a family matter
Blessings of sealed relationship will be available to all who keep covenants
Saturday Afternoon
While sustaining and releasing area 70's, they instructed us to find their names on the church website. That was new and interesting.
Elder Andersen: tithing, "Prove me now, herewith..." only stated once in the scriptures
Blessings always come
Being honest in our tithes is one way we can show that we put the Lord first
Trust in the Lord and the blessings will follow
Don't compare what you have with others and be careful about wanting more. Paying tithing will help us know that we have enough.
Elder Newman: Jesus blesses the children in America and weeps. Those children grew up to build a society of love and unity that lasted decades.
Bring our little ones to Jesus.
The wise man dug deep to build the foundation for his house on a rock. We need to dig deep. Keep digging until we find Him.
The spirit can bring about a mighty change
Covenants that parents make are often not carried on by their children.
Sometimes children don't believe "the traditions of their fathers."
How can we instill in the hearts of our children the desire to make and keep sacred covenants?
Talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, keep the voice of covenant people alive, Christ is not a Sunday only topic
Learn from each other in parent - teacher council meetings
We are doing better than we think
Children may forget the Savior for a season, but He will never forget them. I know my parents are just, for they taught me in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Elder Costa: Faith in Jesus Christ
Sometimes we feel we don't have the energy to have faith, but faith gives us the energy.
Wake up and say a prayer and read a scripture - helps us to always remember Him.
Elder Stevenson: Spiritual gifts
constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is vital spiritual gift
recognize and follow promptings of HG
Stand in holy places - BYU is dedicated. It is a holy place
Stand with holy people
Testify of truths when I can
Listen to the Holy Spirit - sometimes we are too busy to hear the quiet impressions - find quiet places
Elder Choi: Want to be happy? Make and keep covenants
We have access go eternal power when we stay on the covenant path
When God speaks and we obey, we will always be right
When we keep the commandments, our lives are less complicated and challenges are easier to bear
Serve in the church, no matter how difficult a calling or no matter how insignificant a calling
Elder Phillips: Our divine identity and God's love for His children
Joy at being reunited with 5-year-old son who didn't get in car after stop at service station on road trip
Religion is not only about our relationship with God, but it is also about our relationship with others
Judge less; love more!
We are not and do not need to do things alone - take His yoke upon me
He is the refuge from the storms
To Gen Z and Gen Alpha, faith takes work. Prayers are answered and answers can be felt.
Turn to God in spiritual dissonance. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Ask if He is really there and if He knows you. Ask how He feels about you and listen.
THIS IS PERFECT FOR MY 215 STUDENTS!
Elder Rasband: Gathering of Israel
Nothing else compares to it in importance! To gather Israel, we need missionaries.
Message is to senior missionaries who could be serving all over the world
He that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together
Sunday Morning
Elder Ballard: Gratitude for Joseph Smith
(He did not read a prepared talk because his eyesight is too poor. These remarks were from his heart.)
We thank the Lord for Joseph Smith and for his courage to go to the grove of trees and pray
Think of all the things we know and the understanding we have because of Joseph Smith
We know who we are, we know who God is, we know who the Savior is because of Joseph
Gratitude for those who sustained Joseph Smith in his youth
His mother believed him from the beginning
His father and his brothers and sisters sustained him in his tremendous responsibility
May we be better because of our attendance at General Conference. May we feel the power of heaven as we worship together.
NOTE: Elder Ballard was called as an apostle when I was a BYU student. His first speaking assignment as an apostle was to a missionary prep fireside held in the then Provo Tabernacle. He is now 95 years old.
Emily Belle Freeman: Walking the Jesus Trail "broken"
Walk with me!
5 finger promise: i am with you, i will keep you safe, i will bring you home again, i will not leave you, i will keep my promise to you
Blessings come in God's time and in His way
Jesus will meet us where we are and how we are
Staying where we are doesn't work. We need to ascend with His help
What degree of relationship do I want with Jesus Christ? It's up to me...garments, temple and church attendance, service, kindness, love, etc.
Elder Parrella: Take upon us the name of Jesus Christ by bearing testimony in word and deed
Use correct name of church to testify of Christ
Elder Cook: Peaceable followers of Christ face trials and tribulation
People die, people leave the covenant path, health challenges
We mourn and strive to bear one another's burdens
Bad things happen to good people - fires in Hawaii, Chile, Canada
Fear not little flock, do good. Look unto me in every thought. Doubt not. Fear not.
Why do bad things happen to good people? Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail
Heavenly Father knows and loves us perfectly. He knows our trials perfectly.
Come unto me and He gives us rest, strength, joy, peace, and consolation
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal
Thinking of Debbie and Mark during this talk as they navigate Mark's recent terminal cancer diagnosis.
Elder Uchtdorf: The greatest short story every told - the Prodigal Son
The son must have felt freedom to make own choices without influence of parents and guilt
Live life on his own terms
The son who remained, worked with, and comforted the father
This story is about us
Bishop Waddell: Handcart rescue
Go and bring in those people on the plains. 2 days after Brigham Young's call in conference, the first rescuers left
Ephraim Hanks had a dream that he was to go rescue. He went alone and travelled quickly, passing other rescuers. He was a hero to the handcart pioneers.
Be careful of hero worship
Jesus Christ is our hero
President Eyring: the Lord speaks to us personally through the Holy Ghost
Pray and heed the Spirit's promptings to receive guidance through increasingly difficult days ahead
It won't be possible to survive spiritually without the guidance of the Holy Ghost
Letter to Elder Eyring's descendants to help them navigate the exciting days ahead
We do and say things that offend the Spirit
It is important to remember the promise each week as we partake of the sacrament - I can always have His Spirit to be with me
Feeling the Spirit is testament that the atonement is working in my life
Pray for companionship of the Holy Ghost
I must want it for the right purpose - for the Lord's purposes
The most important thing is that the Holy Ghost testifies that Jesus is the Christ
Sunday Afternoon
Elder Renlund: Search for King Tut's tomb. They almost gave up. ONE more season of excavation. Searched in the ground under their camp. The tomb was there.
Overlooked what was literally under their feet
Looking beyond the mark = not recognizing what is right here
Despise plainness
To receive the guidance of the Holy ghost, attend sacrament meeting and focus on the Savior during the administration of the sacrament
Seek the simple guidance from prophets and apostles - look no further
Elder Pingree: How to recognize and understand truth today
Truth is absolute and fixed, it can guide our actions and make us free, leading us to eternal life
God reveals truth through revelatory network: God, Holy Ghost, us, prophets
Doctrine (doesn't change) vs. policy (can change because it's due to circumstances and needs of church members)
Elder Cordon: Parenting lessons found in the scriptures and teachings of living prophets
Parenting requires Heavenly help
Make the gospel culture the predominant culture in our families
Home should be center of gospel learning
Teach freely. Teach early and generously
Spend meaningful time with children
Model discipleship
Set aside worldly distractions and keep the Sabbath Day holy
Invite to act - encourage children to use their agency to choose the right, to take charge of their testimony (as admonished by President Nelson)
Elder Kimo Clark: Missionary work and temple worship
Temples can heal political wounds
Bind in heaven what is bound on earth
Elder Gong: "Love is Spoken Here"
575 documented languages spoken in the church
Language of warmth and reverence - how do you know your parents love you? Warm respect in conversation with others
Language of service and sacrifice - gather at church, serve in our callings
Serving in the church helps us feel God's love and helps us love others
We can build new and meaningful relationships at church - ward activities
Language of covenant belonging - helps us get away from "I choose me." Lose your life for Christ's sake to find it.
Elder Giraud-Carrier: Be careful of hearsay. Look for the truth. Look past the surface.
Lord sees us for who we are and ministers as needed
Try to see as the Lord sees
Labels divide us and restrict us
Labels lead to judging
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the great equalizer
If you don't walk like most people do, some people walk away from you, but I won't. I won't. ...
Love others because it is the right thing to do, not because they are doing the right thing.
President Nelson: more than 100 conference addresses standing - this one is pre-recorded as he sits
Each new day brings wonderful and challenging surprises
What have I learned in nearly a century of living?
Heavenly Father's plan for us is fabulous.
What we do in this life really matters.
The Savior's atonement is what makes the Plan possible
Savior suffered pains, temptations, and afflictions so He can comfort us in times of need
He trembled because of pain and bled at every pore
President Nelson's injury has made him think of the Savior
"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die" is an absurd lie
Think celestial!
Be spiritually-minded
Mortality is a master class in learning to choose things of greatest importance
Too many people live this life as if there is nothing else
We get to choose: where you will live, what kind of body you will have, with whom you will live
Make the celestial kingdom my eternal goal
Don't let prayers sound like a shopping list
Prayers will be answered when we are honest and open. We'll be surprised.
Obsessions become gods. Watch addictions. Seek professional and spiritual help so you can follow God's fabulous plan.
Few things will complicate your life more quickly than violating the Law of Chastity. Immorality is one of the quickest ways to lose one's testimony.
Come unto Christ and seek forgiveness
View trials and opposition in a new light when thinking celestial
Don't question my testimony just because someone else is questioning!
There is no end to the adversaries deception - be prepared - seek guidance from the Holy Ghost and prophets, seers, and revelators
Do the spiritual work to increase capacity to receive personal revelation
20 temples announced, including Luanda, Angola (Jenny's mission), and Roanoke, Virginia (Kristen's mission)
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| Jenny sent this photo shortly after the announcement |
