From the conference center
in Salt Lake City, Utah, this is the Sunday afternoon session of the 192nd annual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, with speakers selected from
leaders of the church. Music for this session is provided by
the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. This broadcast is furnished as a public service by Bonneville
Distribution. Any reproduction, recording, transcription or other use of this
program without written consent is prohibited. President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First
Presidency of the Church, will conduct this session. Brothers and sisters, we welcome you
to the Sunday afternoon session of the 192nd annual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. President Russell M. Nelson, who
presides at the conference, has asked me to conduct this session. We extend our greetings to
members of the Church and friends everywhere who are
participating in these proceedings by radio, television, the internet,
or satellite transmission. The music for this session
will be provided by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, under the direction of Mack Wilberg and
Ryan Murphy, with Andrew Unsworth and Richard Elliott at the organ. The choir will open this meeting
by singing “In Hymns of Praise.” The invocation will then be offered by
Elder Evan A. Schmutz of the Seventy, after which the choir will sing
“I Love to See the Temple.” [Singing by choir:
In Hymns of Praise] Our dear holy Father in Heaven. As we begin the concluding session
of this marvelous conference, we are grateful indeed. Our hearts
are filled with gratitude for a living prophet, even President
Russell M. Nelson, and for those whom we sustain as
prophets, seers, and revelators. We are grateful for the words we
have received from Thee through the mouths of those who have spoken
at these sessions and who will yet speak today. And we
pray Thy blessings to be upon those who provide music
that so inspires our souls and upon those who will speak.
We thank Thee, Father in Heaven, for thy wonderful Son, the Holy One of
Israel. We are grateful for Thy gift. We’re thankful, Father in Heaven, for
the opportunity that we have as we hear the messages of this
conference to reflect upon our individual lives that we might
receive of Thy spirit, gladly receive invitations,
and make commitments. We ask, Father in Heaven, that Thou will
help us individually and collectively, that we might fit the pattern shown
to Nephi of those upon whom the power of God descends
in these latter days, the Saints of the Church of the lamb,
the covenant people of the Lord, that we may be armed with power in
great glory as we seek to do the work of thy Son throughout all
the world, as we are scattered, listening to the voices of prophets. And we offer this prayer humbly now and
do so in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. [Singing by choir:
I Love to See the Temple] We will now be pleased to hear
from President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in
the First Presidency. He will be followed by Elders Adeyinka
A. Ojediran and Jörg Klebingat of the Seventy. Brother Mark L. Pace,
Sunday School General President, will then address us. The gospel plan shows our Heavenly
Father’s love for all His children. To understand this, we must seek
to understand His plan and His commandments. He
loves His children so much that He gave His Only
Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Savior and Redeemer, to suffer and die for us. In the restored Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, We have a unique understanding of
our Heavenly Father's plan. This gives us a different way of viewing
the purpose of mortal life, the divine judgment that follows it, and the ultimate glorious destiny
of all of God's children. I love you, my brothers and sisters.
I love all of God's children. When Jesus was asked, “Which is the
great commandment in the law?” He taught that loving God
and neighbors are the first of God's great commandments. These commands are first because they
invite us to grow spiritually by seeking to imitate God's love for us. I wish we all had a better understanding
of the loving doctrine and policies that our Heavenly Father
and His Son, Jesus Christ, have established in The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. What I say here seeks to clarify how
God's love explains that doctrine and the Church’s inspired policies. A common misunderstanding of the judgment that ultimately follows
mortal life is that good people go to a place called heaven, and bad people go
to an everlasting place called hell. This erroneous assumption of only two
ultimate destinations implies that those who cannot keep all the
commandments required for heaven will necessarily be
forever destined for hell. A loving Heavenly Father has a
better plan for His children. The veiled doctrine of the restored
Church of Jesus Christ teaches that all the children of God, with exceptions
too limited to consider here, will finally wind up in
a kingdom of glory. “In my father’s house are many
mansions,” Jesus taught. From modern revelation, we know that
those mansions are in three different kingdoms of glory. In
the final judgment, each of us will be judged according to
our deeds and the desires of our hearts. Before that, we will need to suffer
for our unrepented sins. The scriptures are clear on that. Then our righteous judge will grant us
residence in one of those kingdoms of glory. Thus, as we know from
modern revelation, quote, “All shall be judged and every man shall
receive according to his own works, his own dominion in the mansions,
which are prepared,” end of quote. The Lord has chosen to reveal
comparatively little about two of these kingdoms of glory. In contrast, the Lord has revealed much about
the highest kingdom of glory, which the Bible describes
as the glory of the sun. In the celestial glory there are
three degrees or levels. The highest of these is exaltation
in the celestial kingdom, wherein we may become like our Father
and His Son, Jesus Christ. To help us develop the
godly attributes and the change in nature necessary to
realize our divine potential, the Lord has revealed doctrine and
established commandments based on eternal law. This
is what we teach in The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, because the purpose of the doctrine and policies of this restored church
is to prepare God's children for salvation in the celestial glory,
and more particularly, for exaltation in its highest degree. The covenants made and the blessings
promised to the faithful in the temples of God are the key. This explains our worldwide building
of temples, about which the choir has sung so beautifully. Some
are puzzled at this emphasis. Not that understanding that the
covenants and ordinances of the temple guide us toward
achieving exaltation. This can only be understood
in the context of the revealed truth of three
degrees of glory. Because of our Heavenly Father’s great
love for all His children, He has provided other kingdoms of glory. As Elder Quentin L. Cook
explained yesterday, all of these are more wonderful
than we can comprehend. The Atonement of Jesus Christ
makes all of this possible. He has revealed that He, quote, “glorifies the Father and saves all the
works of His hands,” end of quote. That salvation is granted in different
kingdoms of glory. We know from modern revelation
that all kingdoms have a law given. Significantly, quote, “he who is not able
to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot
abide a celestial glory. And he who cannot abide the law of a
terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory. And he who
cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide
a telestial glory,” end of quote. In other words, the kingdom
of glory we receive in the final judgment is determined by the laws we chose to abide in our
Heavenly Father’s loving plan. Under that plan, there
are multiple kingdoms, so that all of his children
can be assigned to a kingdom where they can abide. The teachings and policies of the Lord’s restored church apply
these eternal truths in a way that can be fully
understood only in the context of our Heavenly Father’s
loving plan for all of His children. Thus, we honor individual agency. Most are aware of this church's great
efforts to promote religious freedom. These efforts are in furtherance
of our Heavenly Father's plan. We seek to help all of His children,
not just our own members, enjoy the precious freedom to choose. Similarly, we are sometimes asked why we
send missionaries to so many nations, even among Christian populations. We are also asked why we give enormous
humanitarian aid to persons who are not members of our Church without
linking this to our missionary efforts. We do this because the Lord has taught
us to esteem all of His children as our brothers and sisters, and we want to share our spiritual and
temporal abundance with everyone. Eternal doctrine also provides a
distinctive perspective on children. Through this perspective, we see the bearing and nurturing of
children as part of the divine plan. It is a joyful and sacred
duty of those given the power to participate in it. Therefore, we are commanded to teach
and contend for principles and practices that provide the best
conditions for the development and happiness of children
under God's plan. Finally, The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints is properly known as a family-centered church. But not well understood is the reality that our family-centeredness
is not limited to mortal relationships. Eternal relationships are
also fundamental to our theology. The mission of the restored Church is to
help all the children of God qualify for what God desires as their
ultimate destiny. By the redemption provided through
the Atonement of Christ, all may attain eternal life (exaltation
in the celestial kingdom), which Mother Eve declared, “God
giveth unto all the obedient.” This is more than salvation. President Russell M. Nelson has reminded
us that, “In God’s eternal plan, salvation is an individual matter, but
exaltation is a family matter.” Fundamental to us is God's revelation
that exaltation can only be attained through faithfulness to the covenants
of an eternal marriage between a man and a woman. That divine doctrine
is why we teach that gender is an essential characteristic
of individual, premortal, mortal, and eternal identity
and purpose. That is also why the Lord has required
His restored Church to oppose social and legal pressures to retreat from His
doctrine of marriage between a man and a woman, to oppose changes that
homogenize the differences between men and women, or to confuse
or alter gender. The restored Church’s positions on these fundamentals frequently
provide—provoke opposition. We understand that. Our Heavenly
Father’s plan allows for opposition in all things, and Satan's most strenuous opposition
is directed at whatever is most important to that plan. Consequently, he seeks to oppose progress toward
exaltation by distorting marriage, discouraging childbearing,
or confusing gender. However, we know that in the long run, the divine purpose and plan of our
loving Heavenly Father will not be changed. Personal circumstances
may change. And God's plan assures
that in the long run, the faithful who keep their covenants
will have the opportunity to qualify for every promised blessing. A uniquely valuable teaching to help
us prepare for eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God, is
the 1995 Proclamation on the Family. Its declarations are, of course,
different from some current laws, practices, and advocacy, such as
cohabitation and same-sex marriage. Those who do not fully understand
the Father’s loving plan for His children may consider this
Family Proclamation no more than a changeable statement of policy. In contrast, we affirm that The
Family Proclamation, founded on unchangeable doctrine, defines the
kind of family relationships where the most important part of our eternal
development can occur. That is the context for the unique
doctrine and policies of the restored Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. In many relationships and circumstances
in mortal life, each of us must live with differences. As followers of Christ, who should
love our fellow man, we should live peacefully with those
who do not believe as we do. We are all children of a
loving Heavenly Father. For all of us, He has destined life
after death and ultimately a kingdom of glory. God desires
all of us to strive for His greatest possible blessings by
keeping His highest commandments, covenants, and ordinances, all of which culminate in His holy
temples being built throughout the world. We must seek to share these
truths of eternity with others. But with the love we owe to
all of our neighbors, we always accept their decisions. As a Book of Mormon prophet taught, we must press forward having “a
love of God and of all men.” As President Russell M. Nelson declared
in our last conference, quote, “There has never been a time
in the history of the world when knowledge of our Savior
is more personally vital and relevant to every human soul . . .
The pure doctrine of Christ is powerful. It changes the life of everyone
who understands it and seeks to implement it in his
or her life,” end of quote. May we all implement that sacred
doctrine in our own lives, I pray in the name of
Jesus Christ, amen. A powerful king desired for his son
to rule over one of his kingdoms. The prince had to learn and grow
in wisdom to sit on the throne. One day the king met with the
prince and shared his plan. They agreed the prince will go to a
different town and gain experiences. He would face challenges as well as
enjoy many good things there. The king then sent him
to the town where the prince was expected to prove
his faithfulness to the king and demonstrate that he was fit
to receive the privileges and responsibilities the King
had in store for him. The prince was given liberty to choose
to receive these privileges and responsibilities or not, depending
on his desires and his faithfulness. I am sure you want to know what
happened to the prince. Did he return to inherit the kingdom?
Dear brothers and sisters, each of us is a prince and princess. We have been sent to mortality by a
loving Heavenly Father to enjoy the blessing of a body that would become
immortal through the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are expected to prepare to return to
God's presence by proving that we will do all things whatsoever the Lord, our God, shall command
us. To help us, the Savior came to redeem us and
show the path to return to God. God's children are invited to come to
the Savior and be perfected in Him. In the scriptures, we find the
invitation for us to come to the Lord, repeated over 90 times, and more than half of these are
personal invitations from the Lord Himself. Accepting the Savior’s invitation means
partaking of His ordinances and keeping our covenants with Him. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and
the life and invites us all to come unto Him and partake of His goodness.
And he denieth none that come unto Him. Gospel learning and teaching deepen
our conversion to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and help us
become more like Them. Even though not all things have been
revealed concerning the precise time and manner in which the blessings
of exaltation will be bestowed, we are nonetheless assured of them. Alma, the high priest teaching
in the land of Zarahemla, recounted a profound invitation
by Jesus Christ that “behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all
men, for the hands of mercy are extend towards them. And he saith,
Repent, and I will receive you here. He saith, Come unto me and you
shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life.” The Savior himself
invites us to come unto Him and take His yoke upon us that we may
have rest in this tumultuous world. We’ve come unto Christ by exercising
faith in him, repenting daily, making covenants with God as we receive
the ordinances of salvation and exaltation, and enduring to the
end by keeping those covenants. The path to perfection
is the covenant path, and Jesus Christ is the center of
all ordinances and covenants. King Benjamin thought that because
of the covenant we make, we become sons and daughters of Christ
who has spiritually begotten us, and under His head are we made free, for “there is no other name given
whereby salvation cometh.” We are saved as we endure to the end by
following the example of the Son of the living God. Nephi counseled that all
is not done by merely getting into the “strait and narrow path.” We “must press forward with the
steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope,
and a love of God and of all men.” The doctrine of Christ helps us find
and stay on the covenant path, and the gospel is so arranged that the Lord's promised blessings are
received through sacred ordinances and covenants. God’s prophet, President
Russell M. Nelson admonished us in his January 16, 2018, telecast to, quote,
“Keep on the covenant path. your commitments to follow the Savior
by making covenant with him and then keeping [those] covenants
with hope on the door to every spiritual blessing
and privilege available to men, women and children everywhere . . . The end for which each of us strives
is to be endowed with power in a house of the Lord. Sealed as
families, faithful to covenants made in a temple that qualify us
for the greatest gift of God, that of eternal life.” Close quotes. God will not abandon His
relationship with or withhold His promised blessings of
eternal life from every faithful covenant keeper. And as we
honor sacred covenants, we are drawn closer to the Savior. Elder David A. Bednar
taught us yesterday the gospel covenants and ordinances
operate in our lives like a compass, to give us
cardinal direction, to come unto Christ and
become more like Him. The ordinances, covenants mark
the path back to God, the ordinances of baptism and
receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, priesthood, ordination, and the sacrament
lead us to the Lord’s temple to partake of
His ordinances of exaltation. I would like to mention two things our
Savior emphasized to help us faithfully keep covenants. One, the Holy
Ghost can teach us, remind us of the Savior's teachings,
and abide with us forever. He can be our constant companion
to guide us on the path, on the covenant path, President Russell
M. Herb Nelson taught, quote, “In coming days, it will not be possible
to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting
and constant influence of the Holy Ghost,” close quote. Two, the
Savior instituted the ordinance of the sacrament that we may always
remember Him and have His Spirit to be with us. Baptism opens
the gate to eternal life, and the sacrament helps us to
steadfastly press forward along the covenant path. As we partake,
as we take the sacrament. it shall be a testimony to the Father that we do always remember
his Son, and as we always remember Him and keep His commandments, we
shall have His Spirit to be with us. How did to this promise the Lord renews
the promised remission of sin as we humbly repent of our sins. In
staying faithful to our covenants, we shall endeavor to always
have the Spirit, to prepare us to worthily partake
of the sacrament. And likewise, we regularly partake
of the sacrament to always have the Spirit with us. When our daughter
was five years old, she had a battery-powered motorcar and
loved to drive it around the house. One evening, she came to me and said,
“Daddy, my car no longer drives. Could we get some gas from your car to
put in it so it can drive again? Perhaps it needs gas like
your car to drive.” I later observed that the
battery power was down. So I said, “We will get it to
drive in about an hour.” With so much excitement, she said, “Yes,
we will take it to the gas station.” I simply connected the battery to
an electric source to charge. And after an hour, she was able
to drive the car, powered by the charged battery. She thereafter
learned that it is important to always recharge the battery by connecting
it to an electric source. As our daughter learned the relationship
between the battery and power to drive our toy car, so
we learn about Jesus Christ, the sacrament, and the Spirit. We need the Spirit to help us
navigate through mortality as we faithfully keep covenants and the sacrament to energize
our spiritual being. Renewing our baptismal covenant
and partaking of the sacrament drives faithfulness
to all other covenants. A happy ending is assured as we
prayerfully study and honor the Savior’s invitation and enjoy
his promised blessings. He said, “And that thou mayest more fully keep
thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer
and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day.” I testify that
covenant keepers are promised peace in this world and eternal life
in the world to come. I bear witness that as you regularly
partake of the Savior's emblem through the sacrament, you will have the Spirit
to guide you on the covenant path and stay faithful to your covenant. In
the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Moral agency is God’s precious
gift to His children. We're free to choose liberty
and eternal life through the Great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death
according to the captivity and power of the devil. God won't force
us to do good, and the devil can’t force us to do evil. Though some may think that mortality
is a contest between God and the adversary, a word from the Savior
and Satan is silenced and banished. It is our strength that is
being tested, not God's. In the end, we will therefore reap what
our lifelong choices have sown. So what does the sum total
of our thoughts, desires, words, and works say about our love for
the Savior, His chosen servants, and His restored church? Do
our baptismal, priesthood, and temple covenants mean more to us
than the praise of the world or the number of likes on social media? Is our love for the Lord and His
commandment stronger than our love for anything or anyone
else in this life? The adversary and his followers
have always sought to destroy the works of Christ and His prophets. The Savior’s commandments, if
not ignored altogether, have been rationalized into
meaninglessness by many in today's world. Messengers of God who teach
“inconvenient” truths are often dismissed. Even the Savior Himself was called
“a man gluttonous, and a winebibber,” accused of disturbing public sentiment
and being divisive. Weak and conniving souls “took counsel
how they might entangle Him in His talk,” and His “sect” of early
Christians was “every where . . . spoken against.” The Savior
and His early followers dealt with serious internal
and external opposition, and we experience the same. Today, it is almost impossible to
courageously live our faith without occasionally attracting a few actual
and virtual fingers of scorn from the worldly. Confidently following
the Savior is rewarding. But at times, we may get caught in the
crosshairs of those advocating an “eat, drink, and be merry”
philosophy, where faith in Christ, obedience, and repentance
are substituted by the illusion that God will justify
a little sin because He loves us so much. Speaking “by [His] own voice
or by the voice of [His] servants,” did the Savior not say
about our day that “the time will come when they will
not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they
heap to themselves teachers,” and that many “shall turn away their
ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables”? Did He not lament that
“In vain do they worship me, teaching the doctrines—for doctrines,
the commandments of men”? Did he not warn that “of your
own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things,
to draw away disciples after them”? Did He not foresee that “evil
[would be called] good, and good evil,” and that “a man’s foes shall be they of
his own household”? So what about us? Should we be intimidated or afraid? Should we live our religion
at periscope depth? Surely not. With faith in Christ, we need not fear the reproach of men
or be afraid of their revilings? With the Savior at the helm and
living prophets to lead and guide us, “who can be against us”? Let us be confident, not apologetic;
valiant, not timid; faithful, not fearful as we hold up the Lord's
light in these last days. The Savior made clear that “whosoever
therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also
before my Father, but whosoever shall deny me before men
him will I also deny before my Father.” Consequently, while some would prefer a
God who comes without commandments, let us boldly testify in the words
of Elder D. Todd Christofferson that “a God who makes no demands is
the functional equivalent of a God who does not exist.” While some would prefer to be selective
in the commandments they follow, let us joyfully accept the Savior’s
invitation to “live by every word which proceeded forth out of the
mouth of God.” While many believe the Lord and His Church should condone doing
“whatsoever [our] heart desireth,” let us valiantly proclaim that it is
wrong to “follow a multitude to do evil,” because “crowds cannot make right what
God has declared to be wrong.” “O remember, remember, how strict
[yet liberating] are the commandments of God.” Teaching them
clearly may at times be seen as an act of intolerance. Let us therefore
respectfully demonstrate that it is not only possible, but
essential to love a child of God who embraces beliefs
different from our own. We can accept and respect others
without endorsing their beliefs or actions that do not align
with the Lord's will. There is no need to sacrifice truth
on the altar of agreeableness or social desirability. Zion and
Babylon are incompatible. “No man can serve two masters.” Let’s all remember the Savior’s
penetrating question, “Why call you me, Lord, Lord, and
do not the things which I say?” Let us demonstrate our love for
the Lord through wholehearted, voluntary obedience. If you feel caught
between your discipleship and the world, please remember that your
loving Savior “sendeth an invitation for the arms of mercy
are extended to [you], and he saith, Repent and
I will receive you.” President Nelson taught that
Jesus Christ “will perform some of his mightiest works between now and
when He comes again.” But he also taught that
“those who choose the Lord’s sway will likely endure
persecution.” Being “counted worthy to suffer shame for his name”
may at times be our lot as we allow His voice to take
priority over any other. “Blessed is he,” the Savior said,
“whosoever shall not be offended in me.” Elsewhere we learn that “great peace have they which love thy law; and
nothing shall offend them.” Nothing. So let’s ask ourselves, Am
I enduring for a while, but when tribulation or persecution
arise because of the word, by and by am I offended? Am I firmly built on the rock of Jesus Christ
and His servants? Moral relativists advocate that truth
is merely a social construct, that there are no moral absolutes. What they’re really saying
is that there is no sin, that “whatsoever a man [does is]
no crime,” a philosophy for which the adversary
is claiming proud authorship. Let us therefore beware of wolves in
sheep’s clothing, who are always recruiting and “often use their
intellectual reservations to cover their [own] behavior lapses.” If we really want to be valiant
disciples of Christ, we will find a way. Otherwise, the adversary offers enticing
alternatives. But as faithful disciples, “we need not apologize for our beliefs nor back down from that which
we know to be true.” In conclusion, a word about the 15
servants of God seated behind me. While the worldly “say to the seers, See
not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not,” the faithful are “crowned with
blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and
with revelations in their time.” Not surprisingly, these men frequently
become the lightning rods for those unhappy with the Word of
God as the prophets proclaim it. They don’t realize that “no prophecy of the scripture is [to be] of any private
interpretation” or the result of the will of man “but [that] holy men of
God [speak now] as they [are] moved by the Holy Ghost.” Like Paul, these men of God are “not ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord” and are His “prisoner[s],”
in the sense that the doctrine they teach is not theirs,
but His that called them. Like Peter, they “cannot but speak to
things which [they] have seen and heard.” I testify that the First Presidency
and the Quorum of the Twelve are good and honest men who love God and His
children and who are loved by Him. Their words we should receive, as
if from the Lord's own mouth, “in all patience and faith. For
by doing these things, the gates of hell shall not
prevail against [us], and the Lord God will disperse the
powers of darkness from before [us].” “No unhallowed hand, can stop
the work from progressing”; It will march on triumphantly,
with or without you or me. So “choose you this day
whom you will serve.” Don't be fooled or intimidated by the loud adversarial noises emanating
from the great and spacious building. Their desperate decibels are no match
for the serene influence of the still, small voice upon broken
hearts and contrite spirits. I testify that Christ lives, that
He is our Savior and Redeemer, and that He leads His Church through the
First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, thus assuring that
we are not “tossed to and fro and carried about with every
wind of doctrine.” “True disciples of Jesus Christ,”
President Nelson taught, “are willing to stand out, speak up, and be different from the
people of the world. They are undaunted, devoted, and
courageous.” Brothers and sisters, it’s a good day to be good. In the
sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen. For just over three years now, we have been on a journey together
as members of the Lord's Church. It was October 2018 when the First
Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles invited us to learn
of Jesus Christ by studying the scriptures in a new and
inspiring fashion with the “Come, Follow Me” resource
as our guide. On any journey, it's good to pause
occasionally to assess our progress and to make sure we're still
moving toward our goal. Consider this profound statement from
the introduction to “Come, Follow Me”: “The aim of all gospel learning and teaching is to deepen our conversion
to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ…The kind of gospel
learning that strengthens our faith and leads to the miracle of conversion
doesn't happen all at once. It extends beyond our classroom, into
our hearts, and into our homes. It requires consistent daily efforts
to understand and live the gospel. Gospel learning that leads to true
conversion requires the influence of the Holy Ghost.” That is the miracle
we seek when one person has an experience in the scriptures, and that experience is blessed by
the influence of the Holy Ghost. Such experiences are precious foundation
stones for our conversion to the Savior. And as President Russell
M. Nelson recently reminded us, spiritual foundations must
be constantly reinforced. Long-lasting conversion
is a lifelong process. Conversion is our goal.
To be most effective, your experiences with the scriptures
must be your own. Reading or hearing about another
person's experiences and insights can be helpful, but that
won't bring the same converting power. There is no substitute for the time you
spend in the scriptures hearing the Holy Ghost speak directly to you. Each week when I open my
“Come, Follow Me” manual, I write this question at
the top of the page. “What is the Holy Ghost teaching me this
week as I read these chapters?” As I study the scriptures, I ponder that question over and
over again, and without fail, spiritual impressions come and I
make note of them in my manual. Now, how do I know when the
Holy Ghost is teaching me? Well, it usually happens in
small and simple ways. Sometimes the passage of scripture
will seem to jump off the page to my attention. At other times, I feel like my
mind is enlightened with a broader understanding
of a gospel principle. I also feel the influence
of the Holy Ghost when my wife, Anne Marie, and I talk
about what we’re reading. Her perspectives always
invite the Spirit. This year we are studying the Old Testament, sacred scripture
that fills our souls with light. While reading the Old Testament, it feels like I’m spending time with
trusted guides: Adam, Eve, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and so many others. This week, while studying
Exodus chapters 7–13, we learn how the Lord freed the children of Israel from centuries
of captivity in Egypt. We read about nine plagues, nine impressive manifestations of God's
power that Pharaoh witnessed without softening his heart. Then the Lord told
his prophet Moses about a 10th plague and how each family in Israel could
prepare for it. As part of a ritual they would call the Passover, the Israelites were to sacrifice a
male lamb, one without blemish. Then they were to mark the door frames
of their homes with the blood of the lamb. The Lord promised that all
the homes that were marked with the blood would be protected from the terrible plague that
was about to come. The scriptures say, “And the children of
Israel…did as the Lord…commanded Moses.” There’s something very powerful in that
simple statement of obedience. Because the children of Israel
followed the counsel of Moses and acted in faith, they were
saved from the plague and, in time, freed from
their captivity. So what did the Holy Ghost teach
me in these chapters this week? Here are a few thoughts that
have rested on my mind. The Lord works through His Prophet
to protect and save His people. The faith and humility to follow
the prophet preceded the miracle of protection
and deliverance. The blood on the doorframe was an outward sign of inward faith in
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. I am impressed with the parallel
between the way the Lord blessed His people in this
Old Testament account and the way He’s also blessing
His people today. When the Lord’s living prophet
President Nelson, introduced us to “Come, Follow Me” as a
means of studying the scriptures, he invited us to transform our homes
into sanctuaries of faith and centers of gospel learning. Then he
promised four specific blessings. One, your Sabbath days will be
a delight. Two, your children will be excited to learn and live
the Savior's teachings. Three, the influence of the
adversary in your life and in your home will decrease, and four, these changes in your family
will be dramatic and sustaining. Now, we don't have any journal entries
from those who experience the Passover with Moses in Egypt. However, we do have many testimonials
from Saints who with equal faith, are following President Nelson's
counsel today and receiving the promised blessings. Here are
a few such testimonials. A mother of a young family said, “We talk of Christ and we rejoice
in Christ in our home. To me, that is the greatest blessing
that my children can grow up with these gospel conversations in the home that
bring them closer to the Savior.” A senior brother called his study of the
scriptures through “Come, Follow Me” “a conduit filled with divine light that
helps us see gospel doctrine that is necessary for our spiritual
well-being.” A young wife described the blessings
in her marriage. “I have been able to know my husband’s
heart more deeply, and I have been able to open my heart
more to him as we study together.” A mother of a large family, noticed how
her efforts to teach her family changed. She mentioned, looking back, “it was like I was playing the
piano with snow gloves on. I was going through the motions, but
the music wasn't quite right. Now the gloves are off, and while
my music still isn't perfect, I hear the difference. “Come, Follow Me” has given me vision, ability,
focus, and purpose.” A young husband said, “My most important
priorities at home have become more clear since I’ve made “Come, Follow Me”
a regular part of my mornings. Studying leads me to think more about
the things that matter most to me, like the temple, my relationship
with my wife, my calling. And I’m grateful that my home is a
sanctuary where God comes first.” A sister shared, “My daily experiences
with “Come, Follow Me” are rarely noteworthy, but over time I can see how
I am being changed by such a constant, focused study of the Scriptures. That kind of study humbles me, teaches
me and changes me a little at a time.” A returned missionary reported, “The “Come, Follow Me” program
has gotten me closer to the level of scripture study
that I did on my mission, and I have been able to move from a checklist mentality of scripture study
to truly enriching sessions of getting to know God.” A brother said, “I feel the Holy Ghost welcomed
more into my life and feel God's revelatory guidance
in making decisions. I have more profound conversations
regarding the beauty in the simple doctrine of Christ
and His Atonement.” A seven-year-old child shared, “I’m getting baptized soon, and “Come,
Follow Me” is getting me ready. My family and I talk about baptism and I don’t feel nervous about getting
baptized. Now “Come, Follow Me” helps me and the Holy Ghost
come into my heart. And I feel warm when I
read the scriptures.” And then finally, from a mother
of several children, “As we study the word of God, He has helped our family move
from concern to power, from trial and challenge to deliverance, and from contention and criticism
to love and peace, and from the adversary’s influence
to God’s influence.” These and many other faithful followers
of Christ have symbolically placed the blood of the Lamb of God on
the entrance to their homes. They are demonstrating their inward
commitment to follow the Savior. Their faith precedes the miracle. It’s the miracle of one person having
an experience in the scriptures and that experience being blessed by
the influence of the Holy Ghost. When we study the scriptures, there is
no spiritual famine in the land. As Nephi said, “Whoso would hearken
to the word of God and would hold fast unto it,
they would never perish; neither could the temptations
and the fiery darts of the adversary overpowered them unto
blindness to lead them away to destruction.” In ancient times, as the children of Israel followed the
Lord's direction given through the prophet Moses, they were blessed
with safety and freedom. Today, as we follow the Lord's direction
given through our living prophet, President Nelson, we are equally blessed with
conversion in our hearts and protection in our homes. I testified
that Jesus Christ lives. This is His church, restored through
the Prophet Joseph Smith. Russell M. Nelson is the Lord’s
prophet today. I love and sustain him in the name
of Jesus Christ, amen. Amen. On a signal from the conductor. We will
stand and join the choir in singing “We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet.” After the singing, we will hear from
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He will be followed
by Elder Randy D. Funk of the Seventy. After his remarks, the choir
will sing “The Iron Rod.” We will then be pleased to hear from
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. [Singing by the choir:
We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet] This is the Sunday afternoon session of the 192nd annual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. [Singing by the choir:
We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet] I have a dear friend who is a brilliant, retired university professor, prolific
author, and above all, a committed disciple of Jesus Christ. He has visited the Holy Land dozens of
times to participate in conferences, conduct academic research,
and lead tours. According to him, every time he visits
the land where Jesus walked, he marvels because he undoubtedly
learned something new, astonishing, and fascinating about
the Savior, His mortal ministry, and His beloved homeland. The awe my friend shows when he talks
about all that he learns in the Holy Land is contagious. And this amazement has been fundamental
in his great achievements and academic pursuits in his life. As I have listened to his experiences
and felt of his enthusiasm, I have reflected on how much more
spiritual wonder, so to speak, that we can and should feel for
the gospel of Jesus Christ and the difference it can make
in our discipleship and in our journey toward eternal life. The wonder I refer to is the
sensation of emotion, awe, or amazement common to all who
wholeheartedly centered their lives on the Savior and His teachings, and humbly recognize His presence
in their lives. Such a feeling of wonder, inspired by
the influence of the Holy Ghost, stimulates the enthusiasm to joyfully
live the doctrine of Christ. The scriptures contain several examples
of how this sensation is manifest. The prophet Isaiah, for example, expressed the depth of
his gratitude for the Lord through his rejoicing in Him. Those who heard Jesus preaching in the synagogue at Capernaum were
astonished at His doctrine and the strength with which
He taught. It was the same feeling that penetrated every
fiber of young Joseph Smith's heart as he read from the Bible the first
chapter of James, leading him to seek the wisdom of God. My brothers
and sisters, when we truly are in awe of Jesus Christ
and His gospel, we are happier. We have more enthusiasm for God’s
work, and we recognize the Lord's hand in all things. Additionally, our study of God's
words is more meaningful, our prayers more intentional,
our worship more reverent, our service in God's kingdom
more diligent. All of these actions contribute to the Holy Spirit's influence being
more frequent in our lives. Thus, our testimony of the Savior and
His gospel will be strengthened. We will keep Christ alive in us, and we will leave our lives rooted and
built up in Him and established in the faith abounding therein with thanksgiving. When
we live in this way, we become more spiritually resilient
and protected against falling into the trap of spiritual apathy. Such apathy is characterized by the gradual loss of our excitement to
engage fully in the Lord’s gospel. It generally begins when we are feeling
that we have already attained all the necessary knowledge and blessings
for our happiness in this life. This complacency, so to speak, causes us to take the gospel
gifts for granted. And from then on, we run
the risk of neglect, neglecting both our regular immersion
in the essentials of the gospel of Jesus Christ and
the covenants we have made. Consequently, we gradually distance
ourselves from the Lord, weakening our ability to hear Him,
becoming indifferent and insensitive to the greatness of His work. Doubt, regarding the truths
we have already received, may enter our mind and heart, making us
vulnerable to the enemy’s temptations. Pastor Aiden Wilson Tozer, a renowned
writer and valiant Christian, wrote. “Complacency is a deadly foe
of all spiritual growth.” Wasn't this exactly what happened to
the people of Nephi shortly after the birth of Christ? They “began to
be less and less astonished at a sign or wonder from heaven,” “[disbelieving]
all which they had heard and seen.” Thus did Satan, “blind their eyes and
lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was
a foolish and vain thing.” My beloved brothers and sisters, in
His perfect and infinite love and knowing our human nature, the Savior has established the way
for us to avoid falling into the trap of spiritual apathy. The Savior’s invitation gives us a
broader perspective, especially considering the complex
world in which we live: “Learn of me and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit,
and you shall have peace in me.” As we accept the Savior’s invitation,
we demonstrate our humility, our desire to be teachable, and our
hope to become more like Him. This invitation also includes
serving Him and ministering to God’s children with
all our heart, might, mind, and strength. At the core of our effort in
this journey is, of course, the two great commandments:
to love the Lord our God, and love our neighbor as ourselves. This type of behavior is part
of Jesus’s divine character and was evident in everything He did
during His earthly ministry. Therefore, when we intentionally and truly dedicate ourselves
to look unto Him and learn from His perfect example,
we come to know Him better. We grow in enthusiasm and desire
to incorporate into our lives the ultimate standard of how we should
leave, the example we should set, and the commandments we should follow. We also gain additional understanding,
wisdom, divine character, and grace toward God and our neighbors. I can assure you that our ability
to feel the Savior’s influence and love will be intensified in our
lives, magnifying our faith, our desire to act righteously, and the
motivation to serve him and others. In addition, our gratitude
for the blessings and challenges we experience in mortality will solidify and become
part of our true worship. My dear friends, all these things
strengthen our spiritual wonder of the gospel and move us to joyfully keep
the covenants we make with the Lord, even in the midst of the trials
and challenges we experience. Of course, for these outcomes to happen, we need to immerse ourselves with
faith and real intent in the Savior’s teachings, striving to
incorporate His attributes into our way of being. In addition, we need to draw
nearer to Him through our repentance, seeking His forgiveness and His
redeeming power in our lives, and keeping His commandments. The Lord Himself promised that He would
direct our paths if we would trust in Him with our hearts, acknowledging
him in all our ways and not leaning on our own understanding. A man I met recently whose name
is Wes and who is attending the conference today, accepted Christ’s
invitation to learn of Him and of His gospel and
began to experience the awe of His love after 27 years
of distancing himself from the covenant path. He told me that one
day, he was contacted via Facebook by a missionary, Elder Jones, who was temporarily assigned to Wes’s
area before going to his originally assigned mission in Panama. When Elder Jones came
across Wes’s profile, not even knowing beforehand that he was
already a member of the Church, he felt the guidance of the Holy Ghost
and knew that he should immediately contact Wes. He quickly
acted on this impression. West was amazed by this unexpected
contact and began to realize that the Lord was aware of him, despite the
distance from the covenant path. From them on Wes and the missionaries
began to communicate frequently. Elder Jones and his
companion provided weekly acts of service and a spiritual message that
helped Wes to recover his awe of the Savior and His gospel. It rekindled the flame of his testimony
of the truth and of the Savior's love for him. Wes felt the peace that comes
from the Comforter and gained the strength he needed to
return to the fold. He told me that this experience
brought him spiritually and emotionally back to life
and helped him to eliminate the feelings of bitterness accumulated
over the years because of the difficult experiences
he had been through. As my aforementioned thoughtful
professor friend has observed, there is always something wonderful and fascinating to learn about
Jesus Christ and His gospel. The Lord has made wonderful promises
that are extended to all those, including us, who seek to learn of Him and incorporate His words
into their lives. To Enoch, he said, “Behold my
spirit [shall be] upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the river shall turn
from their course; and thou shalt abide in me,
and I in you.” Through His servant, King Benjamin,
He declared. “Ye shall be called the children of
Christ, His sons and His daughters; for behold, this day He hath
spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed
through faith on His name; therefore ye are born of him and have
become His sons and His daughters.” Therefore, as we genuinely and
continually strive to learn of the Savior and follow His example, I promise you in His name that His
Divine Attributes will be written in our minds and hearts, that we
will become more like Him, and that we will walk with Him. My beloved brothers and sisters, I pray that we will ever stand in awe
of Jesus Christ and His complete, infinite, and perfect love. May the remembrance of
what our eyes have seen and our hearts have felt increase
our amazement at the Savior’s atoning sacrifice, which
can heal us of our spiritual and emotional wounds and helps
us to draw closer to Him. May we marvel at the great promises
that the Father has in His hands and that He has prepared for
those who are faithful: “The kingdom is yours and the blessings
thereof are yours, and the reaches of eternity are yours. And he who receiveth all things with
thankfulness shall be made glorious.” Jesus is the Redeemer of the world,
and this is His Church. I bear witness of these truths in the
awe-inspired, sacred, and sublime name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen. As young parents, Brother and Sister Samad learned the gospel of Jesus Christ
in their simple two-room home in Semarang, Indonesia. Seated
around a small table, with a dim light that seemed to provide
more mosquitos than illumination, two young missionaries taught them
eternal truths. Through sincere prayer and the guidance of the Holy Ghost, they came to believe what they were
taught and chose to be baptized and become members of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That decision and their pattern of
living since has blessed Brother and Sister Samad and their family
in every aspect of their lives. They are among the early pioneer
saints in Indonesia. Later, they received the ordinances of
the temple and Brother Samad served as the branch president and
then district president, driving throughout central Java to
fulfill his responsibilities. For the past decade, he has served
as the first patriarch of the Surakarta Indonesia Stake. As
one of the missionaries in that humble, faith-filled
home 49 years ago, I have witnessed in them what King
Benjamin taught in the Book of Mormon: “I would desire that ye should
consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the
commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things,
both temporal and spiritual.” The blessings that flow into the lives
of those who follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ, who choose to be counted among
His disciples, are numerous, joyful, and eternal. Alma’s baptismal
covenant invitation to those gathered at the waters of Mormon begins
with this phrase: “Now, as you are desirous to come
into the fold of God.” A fold or a sheepfold is
a large enclosure, often constructed with stone walls,
where the sheep are protected at night. It has only one opening. At the end of
the day, the shepherd calls the sheep. They know his voice, and through the
gate, they enter the safety of the fold. The people of Alma would have
known that shepherds stand at the narrow opening of the fold
so that when the sheep enter, they are numbered, and their wounds
and ailments noted and cared for one by one. The safety and
well-being of the sheep depend on their willingness to come into
the fold and to stay in the fold. Among us, there may be some
who feel they are at the edge of the flock, perhaps thinking they
are less needed or valued, or that they don't belong in the fold. And as in the sheepfold,
in the fold of God, we sometimes step on one another's toes
and need to repent or forgive. But the Good Shepherd, our true
shepherd, is always good. Within the fold of God, we
experience His watchful, nurturing care and are blessed
to feel His redeeming love. He said, “I have graven thee upon
the palms of my hands. Thy walls are continually before me.” Our Savior has graven upon His palms,
our sins, pains, afflictions, and all that is unfair in life. All are welcome to receive these
blessings, as they are desirous to come and choose to be in the fold. The gift of agency is not simply
the right to choose. It is the opportunity to choose
the right. And the walls of the fold
are not a constraint, but a source of spiritual safety. Jesus taught that there is one
fold and one shepherd. He said: “He that interest in by the
door is the shepherd of the sheep… and the sheep hear his voice…
and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” Jesus then
stated, “I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved,” teaching clearly that there is only
one way into the fold of God, and only one way to be saved. It
is by and through Jesus Christ. We learn how to come into the
fold from the word of God, which is the doctrine taught by
Jesus Christ and His prophets. When we follow the doctrine
of Christ and come into the fold through faith in Jesus Christ,
repentance, baptism and confirmation and
continuing faithfulness, Alma promised four specific
personal blessings. You may (1) “be redeemed of God,”
(2) “be numbered with those of the first resurrection,” (3)
“have eternal life,” and (4) the Lord will “pour out His
Spirit more abundantly upon you.” After Alma taught about
these blessings, the people clapped their hands
for joy. Here's why. First, to redeem means to pay
off a debt or obligation, or to free from what distresses
or harms. No amount of personal improvement on
our part can make us clean from the sins we have committed or whole from
the wounds we have suffered without the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
He is our Redeemer. Second, because of Christ’s
Resurrection, all will be resurrected. After our
spirits depart our mortal bodies, we will undoubtedly look forward
to when we can again with a resurrected body, embrace
those we love. We will eagerly look forward to being
among those of the First Resurrection. Third, eternal life means
to live with God and as He lives. It is the greatest of
all the gifts of God and will bring a fullness of joy. It is the ultimate
purpose and objective of our lives. Fourth, the companionship of
a member of the Godhead. The Holy Ghost provides
much needed guidance and comfort during this mortal life.
Consider some causes of unhappiness. Misery comes from sin, sadness
and loneliness from the death of a loved one, and fear from the uncertainty
of what happens when we die. But when we enter the fold of God
and keep our covenants with Him, we feel the peace of knowing and trusting that Christ will
redeem us from our sins, that the separation of our body and
spirit will end more quickly, and that we will live eternally with
God in a most glorious manner. Brothers and sisters, the scriptures
are filled with examples of the Savior’s majestic power and
His compassionate mercy and grace. During His earthly ministry, His blessings of healing came to those
who trusted Him and acted in faith. For example, the infirm man at
the pool of Bethesda walked when, with faith, he followed the
Savior’s command to “rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” Those who were sick or afflicted
in any manner in the land of Bountiful were healed when with one accord they “did go
forth.” Similarly to receive the marvelous blessings promised
to those who come into the fold of God requires
us to do just that. We need to choose to come.
Alma the younger taught, “And now I say into you that the good
shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken onto his voice,
he will bring you into his fold.” Several years ago, a dear friend
passed away from cancer. When his wife, Sharon, first wrote
about his diagnosis, she said, “We choose faith. Faith in our Savior,
Jesus Christ. Faith in our Heavenly Father’s plan. And faith that He knows our needs
and fulfills His promises.” I have met many Latter-day
Saints like Sharon, who feel the inward peace of being
securely within the fold of God, especially when temptation, opposition,
or adversity comes. They have chosen to have faith in Jesus
Christ and to follow His prophet. Our dear prophet President Russell M
Nelson has taught, “Everything good in life, every potential blessing of
eternal significance begins with faith.” My great-great-great grandfather, James
Sawyer Holman, came to Utah in 1847. But he wasn't among those to arrive
in July with Brigham Young. He came later that year and, according
to Family Records, was responsible to bring the sheep. He didn't reach the Salt Lake
Valley until October, but he and the sheep made it.
Figuratively speaking, some of us are still on the plains. Not
everyone arrives in the first group. My dear friends, please
continue the journey and help others to come fully
into the fold of God. The blessings of the gospel of
Jesus Christ are immeasurable, because they are eternal. I am profoundly grateful
to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. I bear witness of the love of our
Heavenly Father and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and of the peace
that comes only from them, the inner peace and the blessings
found in the fold of God. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. [Singing by choir: The Iron Rod] Thank you, choir. Thank you so much, choir, and thank you, President Nelson, for this wonderful and great conference.
We look forward to hear more of you today. Just days before
He gave His life for us, Jesus Christ was at the
temple in Jerusalem, watching people make donations
to the temple treasury. Many that were rich cast in much, but then, along came a poor widow,
and she threw in two mites. It was such a small amount it would
hardly be worth recalling. And yet, this seemingly inconsequential
donation caught the Savior’s attention. In fact, it impressed Him so deeply
that He called unto His disciples and said unto them, “Verily, I say unto you that this poor widow
hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the Treasury. For all
they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did
cast in all that she had, even all her living. With this
simple observation, the Savior taught us how offerings
are measured in His kingdom. And it's quite different from the way we
usually measure things to the Lord. The value of the donation was measured
not by the effect it had on the treasury, but by the effect
it had on the donor. In praising this faithful widow, the Savior gave us a standard to measure
our discipleship in all of its many expressions. Jesus taught that our
offering may be large or may be small, but either way it must
be our heartfelt all. This principle is echoed in the plea of
the Book of Mormon prophet Amaleki: “Come unto Christ, who is the
holy one of Israel, and partake of his salvationa and
the power of his redemption. Yea, come onto him, and offer your whole
souls as an offering unto him.” But how is this possible? To many of us, such a standard of whole-
souled commitment seems out of reach. We are already stretched so thin. How can we balance the many demands of
life with our desires to offer our whole souls to the Lord? Perhaps our
challenge is that we think balance means dividing our time evenly
among competing interests. Viewed in this way, our commitment to
Jesus Christ would be one of many things we need to fit into
our busy schedules. But perhaps there's another
way to look at it. My wife, Harriet, and I love to
go bicycle riding together. It’s a wonderful way to get
some exercise while also spending time together. We wait—while we are riding, and I’m
not huffing and puffing too much, we enjoy the beautiful world around
us and even engage in a pleasant conversation. Rarely do we
have to pay much attention to keeping our balance on our bicycles. We've been riding long enough that
we don't even think about that. It has become normal and natural for us. But whenever I watch someone learning
to ride a bike for the first time, I'm reminded that it's not
easy balancing yourself on those two narrow wheels. It takes
time. It takes practice. It takes patience. It even takes
falling down a time or two. Most of all, those who succeed
in balancing on a bicycle learned these important tips:
Don’t look at your feet. Look ahead. Keep your eyes on the road
in front of you. Focus on your destination,
and get pedaling. Staying balanced is all
about moving forward. Similar principles apply when it comes
to finding balance in our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. To distribute your time and energy among
your many important tasks will vary from person to person and from
one season of life to another. But our common overall objective
is to follow the way of our Master, Jesus
Christ, and return to the presence of our beloved
Father in Heaven. This objective must remain
constant and consistent, whoever we are and whatever else
is happening in our lives. Now, for those who are avid bicyclists
comparing discipleship to riding a bike may be a helpful analogy.
For those who are not, don’t worry. I have another analogy. I’m sure every man, every woman, and every child will be able to relate
to. Discipleship, like most things in life, can also be compared
to flying an airplane. Have you ever stopped to think
how amazing it is that a huge passenger jet can actually
get off the ground and fly? What is it that keeps these flying
machines soaring elegantly through the sky, crossing oceans and continents? Put simply, an aircraft flies only when
air is moving over its wings. That movement creates differences in air
pressure that gives the plane lift. And how to get—how do you get
enough air moving over the wings to create lift? How is that
done? The answer is forward thrust. The airplane gains no altitude sitting
on the runway. Even on a windy day, enough lift isn’t created unless
the airplane is moving forward with enough thrust to counteract the
forces holding it back. Just as forward momentum keeps
a bicycle balanced upright, moving forward helps an aircraft
overcome the pull of gravity and drag. What does this mean for us as
disciples of Jesus Christ? It means that if we want to
find balance in life, and if we want the Savior
to lift us heavenward, then our commitment to Him and His
gospel can’t be casual or occasional. Like the widow at Jerusalem, we must
offer Him our whole souls. Our offering may be small, but it must
come from our heart and soul. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is
not just one of many things we do. The Savior is the motivating power
behind all that we do. He is not a rest stop in our journey. He's not a scenic byway or
even a major landmark. He is “the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father but by [Jesus Christ].” That is the way
and our ultimate destination. Balance and lift come as
we “press forward with the steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope
and a love of God and of all men.” And what about the many tasks and the responsibilities that
make our lives so busy? Spending time with loved ones, going to
school or preparing for an occupation, earning a living, caring for family,
serving in the community— where does it all fit in?
The Savior reassures us: “Your Heavenly Father knows that you
have need of all these things, but seek first the Kingdom of
God and His righteousness, and all these things shall
be added unto you.” But that doesn't mean it's easy.
It requires both sacrifice and consecration. It requires
letting some things go and letting other things grow. Sacrifice and consecration are two
heavenly laws that we covenant to obey in the holy temple. These two laws
are similar but not identical. To sacrifice means to give something up
in favor of something more valuable. Anciently, God’s people sacrifice
the firstlings of the flocks in honor of
the coming Messiah. Throughout history, faithful Saints
have sacrificed personal desires, comforts, and even their
lives for the Savior. We all have things large and small we
need to sacrifice in order to follow Jesus Christ more completely. Our
sacrifices show what we truly value. Sacrifices are sacred and
honored by the Lord. Consecration is different from sacrifice
in at least one important way. When we consecrate something, we don't
leave it to be consumed upon the altar. Rather, we put it to use
in the Lord's service. We dedicate it to Him and
His holy purposes. We receive the talents that
the Lord has given us and strive to increase them manifold to
become even more helpful in building the Lord’s kingdom. Very few of us will
ever be asked to sacrifice our lives for the Savior, but we are all invited
to consecrate our lives to Him as we seek to purify our lives and look
unto Christ in every thought. Everything else begins to align. Life no longer feels—
no longer feels like a long list of separate efforts
held in tenuous balance. Over time, it all becomes one work,
one joy, one holy purpose. It is the work of loving
and serving God. It is loving and serving God's children. When we look at our lives and
see a hundred things to do, we feel overwhelmed. When
we see one thing— loving and serving God and His children
in a hundred different ways— then we can work on those
things with joy. This is how we offer our whole souls—by
sacrificing anything that’s holding us back and consecrating the rest
to the Lord and His purposes. There will be times, my dear brothers
and sisters and my dear friends, when you wish you could do more. Your loving Father in Heaven
knows your heart. He knows that you can’t do everything
your heart wants you to do. But you can love and serve God. You can
do your best to keep His commandments. You can love and serve His children. And your efforts are purifying your
heart and preparing you for a glorious future. This
is what the widow at the Temple Treasury seemed
to understand. She surely knew that her offering would
not change the fortunes of Israel, but it could change and bless her,
because, though small, it was her all. So my dear friends and beloved fellow
disciples of Jesus Christ, let us not be
“weary in well-doing,” for we are laying the foundation
of a great work and out of small things will proceed
that which is great. I testify that this is true, as I also
testify that Jesus Christ is our Master, our Redeemer, and He’s the only
way and the one way back to our beloved Father in Heaven.
In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, aamen. As we conclude the conference, we express sincere appreciation
to all who have worked so diligently to prepare
for these services. We thank those who have spoken
and those who have provided an uplifting music. The
concluding speaker for this session will be our beloved
prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. Following his remarks, the choir will
close this conference by singing “Our Prayer to Thee.” The benediction
will then be offered by Elder Vern P. Stanfill of the Seventy,
and the conference will be adjourned. My dear brothers and sisters,
this conference has been historic in many ways. We have been blessed by the prayers,
messages, and music. We have been inspired by
servants of the Lord. We've received important direction
for the future. My prayer is that the Spirit has spoken
to you directly about things the Lord would have you do. The future
is always uncertain. Weather changes. Economic cycles are unpredictable.
Disasters, wars, and accidents, Illness can change life quickly.
These actions are largely beyond our control, but there
are some things we can control, including how we spend
our time each day. I like this poem by Henry
Van Dyke, posted on a sundial at Wells College in New York. It reads: “The shadow by my finger cast
Divides the future from the past: Before it, sleeps the unborn hour, In
darkness, and beyond thy power. Behind its unreturning line,
The vanished hour, no longer thine: One hour alone is in thy hands. The
NOW on which the shadow stands.” Yes, we should learn from the past. Yes,
we should prepare for the future. But only now can we do. Now
is the time we can learn. Now is the time we can repent.
Now is the time. We can bless others and “lift up
the hands which hang down.” As Mormon counseled his son Moroni, “Let us labor diligently, for we have a labor to perform [while] in this
tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness,
and rest our souls in the Kingdom of God.” The adversary never sleeps. There will
always be opposition to the truth. I repeat my urging from this morning to do those things that
will increase your positive spiritual momentum, that lift
that President Uchtdorf was talking about. That’ll keep
you moving forward through whatever challenges and opportunities come. Positive spiritual momentum increases
as we worship in the temple and grow in our understanding of the
magnificent breadth and depth of the blessings we receive there. I plead with you to counter worldly
ways by focusing on the eternal blessings of the temple. Your time there brings blessings
for eternity. As the Church grows, we strive to keep
pace by building more temples. 44 new temples are presently under
construction. More are being renewed. I pray for the skilled people who work
on those projects across the world. In the spirit of prayerful gratitude, I am pleased to announce our plans
to build a new temple in each of the following locations: Wellington,
New Zealand. Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
Barcelona, Spain. Birmingham, United Kingdom. Cusco, Perú. Maceió, Brazil. Santos, Brazil. San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Mexico City
Benemérito, Mexico. Tampa, Florida. Knoxville, Tennessee. Cleveland, Ohio. Wichita, Kansas. Austin, Texas. Missoula, Montana. Montpelier, Idaho.
Modesto, California. These 17 temples will bless countless
lives on both sides of the veil. I love you, my dear brothers
and sisters. And more importantly, the Lord loves
you. He’s your Savior and your Redeemer. He leads and guides His Church. May we be a people worthy
of the Lord who said, “Ye shall be my people, and I will
be your God.” For this. I pray in the sacred name
of Jesus Christ, amen. [Singing by choir: Our Prayer to Thee] Our Heavenly Father, we
are grateful this day, grateful for prophets, seers, and
revelators and inspired leaders, for the messages that
they have given us. We pray, Father, that Thou might
bless us with the wisdom and courage to heed their counsel. Heavenly Father, we are grateful for
temples throughout the earth. Help us, Father, to fill these sacred places
with those who are prepared to bind themselves unto
Thee through sacred ordinances and covenants. Heavenly Father, we pray that we might be forgiven of our
trespasses and that that might help us to repent. We pray that we will accept the
invitation of our dear prophet to cast out all feelings of ill will, divisiveness, or contention
from our hearts, that the mercy and grace of Thy
beautiful Son might fill our souls. Heavenly Father, we know that many
suffer throughout the world. We pray that that might help us to
rush to their aid, to feed them, to clothe them, to teach them and to
comfort them, and to provide them hope through the sacrifice of Thy Son. Heavenly Father, we love Thee and
we love Thy Son and are grateful for His sacrifice for us. In the
name of Jesus Christ, amen. This has been a broadcast of the
Sunday afternoon session of the 192nd annual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. Speakers were selected from
leaders of the Church. Music was provided by the Tabernacle
Choir at Temple Square. This broadcast has been furnished as a public service by Bonneville
Distribution. Any reproduction, recording, transcription, or other use of this
program without written consent is prohibited.
