From the Conference
Center in Salt Lake City,
this is the Saturday morning
session of the 185th Semiannual
General Conference of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints.
Speakers are selected from
the General Authorities
and general officers
of the Church.
Music for this
session is provided
by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Members and officers
of the Church
gather from all
areas of the world
to receive counsel and
instruction from their Church
leaders.
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, First Counselor
in the First Presidency
of the Church,
will conduct this session.
[MUSIC PLAYING - "PRESS FORWARD,
SAINTS"]
Brothers and sisters,
we welcome you
to the Saturday morning session
of the 185th Semiannual General
Conference of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints.
As we open this
session of conference,
we note the passing of President
Boyd K. Packer, Elder L. Tom
Perry, and, most
recently, Elder Richard G.
Scott of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles.
We miss them.
Each of these Brethren gave his
all in the service of the Lord
and is undoubtedly
engaged in this great work
on the other side of the veil.
We express our love and
heartfelt condolences
to the Packer, Perry,
and Scott families.
You are in our prayers.
This morning we
welcome and acknowledge
the General Authorities
and the general officers
who will be in attendance
throughout the conference,
and likewise express gratitude
to members and friends
participating in the conference
throughout the world.
The music for this session will
be by the Mormon Tabernacle
Choir under the direction of
Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy,
with Clay Christiansen
at the organ.
The choir opened this meeting
with "Press Forward, Saints"
and will now favor us with
"Guide Us, O Thou Great
Jehovah."
The invocation will then be
offered by Sister Mary R.
Durham, second counselor in
the Primary general presidency,
after which the choir
will sing "I Know
That My Savior Loves Me."
[MUSIC PLAYING - "GUIDE US, O
THOU GREAT JEHOVAH"]
Our dear, kind
Father in Heaven, we
are so grateful to be gathered
this day all over the world
as we strive to be
true followers of Jesus
Christ, our Savior
and Redeemer, who
shows us the way, the
truth, and the light.
We are so grateful for our
prophet, Thomas S. Monson.
We pray that our
hearts and our minds
might be opened to
the Holy Ghost that
will teach us all things
that we must know and do.
We pray that we will
be united as one
to take the gospel of Jesus
Christ throughout the world,
that all may receive the
ordinances and covenants that
lead us back to Thee.
We say these things
most humbly in the name
of Jesus Christ, amen
[MUSIC PLAYING - "I KNOW THAT MY
SAVIOR LOVES ME"]
We will now be pleased to
hear from President Dieter F.
Uchtdorf, Second Counselor
in the First Presidency.
He will be followed by Elder M.
Russell Ballard of the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles.
Elder Richard J. Maynes of
the Presidency of the Seventy
will then address us.
My beloved brothers and
sisters, my dear friends,
it's a joy to be with you today.
We are saddened by the
sight of three empty places
here on the stand.
We do miss President Packer,
Elder Perry, and Elder Scott.
We love them, and we
pray for the well-being
of their families.
During this
conference weekend, we
will be privileged
to sustain three
who have been called
by the Lord to take
their place among the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles.
Your prayers, our
prayers on their behalf
will strengthen them as
they bear the sacred mantle
of apostleship.
Not long ago I saw a quote
that made me stop and think.
It went like this:
"Tell a man there
are trillions of
stars in the universe,
and he'll believe you.
Tell him there's wet
paint on the wall,
and he'll touch it
just to be sure."
[LAUGHTER]
Aren't we all a
little bit like this?
After a recent
medical procedure,
my very capable doctors
explained what I
needed to do to heal properly.
But first I had to relearn
something about myself
I should have known for a
long time: as a patient,
I'm not very patient.
Consequently I decided to
expedite the healing process
by undertaking my
own Internet search.
I suppose I expected
to discover truth
of which my doctors were unaware
or had tried to keep from me.
[LAUGHTER]
It took me a little
while before I realized
the irony of what I was doing.
Of course, researching
these things for ourselves
is not a bad idea.
But I was disregarding
truth I could rely on
and instead found
myself being drawn
to the often-outlandish
claims of Internet lore.
Sometimes, the truth may just
seem too straightforward,
too plain, and too simple
for us to fully appreciate
its great value.
So we set aside what
we have experienced
and know to be true
in pursuit of more
mysterious or
complicated information.
Hopefully we will
learn quickly that when
we chase after shadows, we
are pursuing matters that have
little substance and value.
When it comes to
spiritual truth,
how can we know that we
are on the right path?
One way is by asking the right
questions--the kind that help
us ponder our progress and
evaluate how things are working
for us.
Questions like:
"Does my life have meaning?"
"Do I believe in God?"
"Do I believe that God knows
and loves me?"
"Do I believe that God hears
and answers my prayers?"
"Am I truly happy?"
"Are my efforts leading me to
the highest spiritual goals
and values in life?"
Profound questions regarding
the purpose of life
have led many individuals and
families throughout the world
to search for truth.
Often that search has
led them to The Church
of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints
and to the restored gospel.
I wonder if we as Church
members might also
benefit from asking
ourselves from time to time:
"Is my experience in the
Church working for me?
Is it bringing me
closer to Christ?
Is it blessing me and my
family with peace and joy
as promised in the gospel?"
Alma posed similar
questions to Church members
in Zarahemla when
he asked: "Have ye
experienced this mighty
change in your hearts?
...
[And] can [you] feel [it] now?"
Such contemplation may help
us to refocus or realign
our daily efforts with the
divine plan of salvation.
Many members will
answer with great warmth
that their experience as
a member of the Church
is working exceptionally
well for them.
They will testify that
whether during times
of poverty or prosperity,
whether things
are pleasant or painful, they
find great meaning, peace,
and joy because of their
commitment to the Lord
and their dedicated
service in the Church.
Every day I meet
Church members who
are filled with a
radiant joy and who
demonstrate in word and in
deed that their lives are
immeasurably enriched
by the restored
gospel of Jesus Christ.
But I also recognize that
there are some who have
a less-than-fulfilling
experience--who feel that
their membership in the Church
sometimes isn't quite what they
had hoped for.
This saddens me, because I know
firsthand how the gospel can
invigorate and renew one's
spirit--how it can fill
our hearts with hope and
our minds with light.
I know for myself how the fruits
of the gospel of Jesus Christ
can transform lives from
the ordinary and dreary
to the extraordinary
and sublime.
But why does it
seem to work better
for some than for others?
What is the difference
between those
whose experience in the Church
fills their souls with songs
of redeeming love and those who
feel that something is lacking?
As I have pondered these
questions, a flood of thoughts
came to mind.
Today, I'd like to share two.
First: are we making our
discipleship too complicated?
This beautiful gospel is so
simple a child can grasp it,
yet so profound and complex that
it will take a lifetime--even
an eternity--of study and
discovery to fully understand
it.
But sometimes we take the
beautiful lily of God's truth
and gild it with layers upon
layers of man-made good ideas,
programs, and expectations.
Each one, by itself, might
be helpful and appropriate
for a certain time
and circumstance,
but when they are laid
on top of each other,
they can create a
mountain of sediment
that becomes so thick
and heavy that we
risk losing sight of that
precious flower we once
loved so dearly.
Therefore, as leaders
we must strictly
protect the Church
and the gospel
in its purity and
plainness and avoid
putting unnecessary
burdens on our members.
And all of us, as
members of the Church,
we need to make a
conscientious effort
to devote our energy and time
to the things that truly matter,
while uplifting our
fellowmen and building
the kingdom of God.
One lovely sister, a
Relief Society instructor,
was known for preparing
flawless lessons.
One time she decided to
create a beautiful quilt that
would serve as the
perfect backdrop
to the theme of her lesson.
But life intervened--there
were children to pick up from
school, a neighbor who
needed help moving,
a husband with a fever, and
a friend who felt lonely.
So the day of the
lesson approached,
and the quilt was not completed.
Finally, the night
before her lesson,
she did not sleep much as she
worked all night on the quilt.
The next day she was
exhausted and barely
able to organize her
thoughts, but she bravely
stood and delivered
her perfect lesson.
And the quilt was stunning--the
stitches were perfect,
the colors vibrant,
the design intricate.
And at the center of it
all was a single word
that triumphantly
echoed the theme
of her lesson: "Simplify."
[LAUGHTER]
Brothers and sisters,
living the gospel
doesn't need to be complicated.
It is really straightforward.
It could be described like this:
Hearing the word of
God with earnest intent
leads us to believe in God
and to trust His promises.
The more we trust God,
the more our hearts
are filled with love for
Him and for each other.
Because of our love
for God, we desire
to follow Him and
bring our actions
in alignment with His word.
Because we love God,
we want to serve Him;
we want to bless
the lives of others
and help the poor and the needy.
The more we walk in this
path of discipleship,
the more we desire to
learn the word of God.
And so it goes, each
step leading to the next
and filling us with
ever-increasing faith, hope,
and charity.
It is beautifully simple,
and it works beautifully.
Brothers and
sisters, if you ever
think that the gospel isn't
working so well for you,
I invite you to step
back, look at your life
from a higher plane, and
simplify your approach
to discipleship.
Focus on the basic doctrines,
principles, and applications
of the gospel.
I promise that God will
guide and bless you
on your path to a
fulfilling life,
and the gospel will definitely
work better for you.
My second suggestion
is: start where you are.
Sometimes we feel discouraged
because we are not "more"
of something--more
spiritual, more respected,
more intelligent, healthy,
more rich, more friendly,
or capable.
Naturally, there is nothing
wrong with wanting to improve.
God created us to
grow and progress.
But remember, our
weaknesses can help
us to be humble and turn us
to Christ, who will "make
weak things become strong."
Satan, on the other hand, uses
our weaknesses to the point
that we are discouraged
from even trying.
I learned in my
life that we don't
need to be "more" of anything to
start to become the person God
intended us to become.
God will take you as you
are at this very moment
and begin to work with you.
All you need is really a willing
heart, a desire to believe,
and trust in the Lord.
Gideon saw himself as a
poor farmer, the least
of his father's house.
But God saw him as a
mighty man of valor.
When Samuel chose
Saul to be king,
Saul tried to talk
him out of it.
Saul was from one
of the smallest
tribes of the house of Israel.
How could he be king?
But God saw him as
"a choice young man."
Even the great prophet
Moses felt so overwhelmed
and discouraged at
one point that he
wanted to give up and die.
But God did not
give up on Moses.
My dear brothers and sisters,
if we look at us only
through our mortal
eyes, we may not
see ourselves as good enough.
But our Heavenly Father
sees us as who we truly are
and who we can become.
He sees us as His
sons and daughters,
as beings of eternal light
with an everlasting potential
and with a divine destiny.
The Savior's sacrifice
opened the door of salvation
for all to return to God.
His "grace is
sufficient for all [who]
humble themselves before [God]."
His grace is the
enabling power that
allows access into God's
kingdoms of salvation.
Because of His grace, we will
all be resurrected and saved
in a kingdom of glory.
Even the lowest kingdom
of glory--the telestial
kingdom--"surpasses
all understanding,"
and numberless people will
inherit this salvation.
But the Savior's grace
can do much more for us.
As members of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, we aspire to something
unimaginably greater.
It is exaltation in
the celestial kingdom.
It is life eternal
in the presence
of our Father in Heaven.
It is the greatest gift of God.
In the celestial kingdom,
we "receive of his fulness,
and of his glory."
Indeed, all that the Father
hath shall be given unto us.
Exaltation is our goal;
discipleship is our journey.
As you exercise a little
faith and begin your walk
as a peaceable follower
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
your heart will change.
Your whole being will
be filled with light.
God will help you
become something greater
than you ever thought possible.
And you will discover that
the gospel of Jesus Christ
is indeed working in your life.
It works!
Brothers and sisters,
dear friends,
I pray that we will focus
on "the simplicity that
is in Christ" and allow His
grace to lift and carry us
during our journey from
here, where we are right now,
to our glorious destiny
in our Father's presence.
As we do so, and
someone will ask us,
"How is being a member
of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day
Saints working for you?"
we will be able to say with
pride, and in all humility
and with great joy, "It works.
It works wonderfully!
Thank you for asking!
Would you like to know more?"
This is my hope, my
prayer, my testimony,
and my blessing in the
name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Last general
conference in October,
I invited the listeners to
follow Brigham Young's counsel
and stay on the Old
Ship Zion, which
is The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints,
and to hold on with both hands.
Since then, I am happy to
know that some of my family
and others were listening
and have asked me
this question: "What's
in the Old Ship Zion
that we can hang on to?"
I reminded them of what
President Young said:
"We are on the old ship Zion.
... [God] is at the helm
and will stay there.
...
He dictates, guides and directs.
If the people will have implicit
confidence in their God,
never forsake their
covenants nor their God,
He will guide us right."
Clearly, our Heavenly Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
have outfitted the Old Ship
Zion with clear and simple
eternal truths that
will help us stay
the course through the
troubled waters of mortal life.
Here are just a few.
The Church of Jesus
Christ has always
been led by living
prophets and apostles.
Though mortal and subject
to human imperfection,
the Lord's servants are inspired
to help us avoid obstacles that
are spiritually life threatening
and to help us pass safely
through mortality to our final,
ultimate, heavenly destination.
During my nearly 40 years
of close association,
I have been a personal witness
as both quiet inspiration
and profound revelation
have moved to action
the prophets and apostles,
the General Authorities,
and the auxiliary leaders.
While neither perfect
nor infallible,
these good men and
women have been
perfectly dedicated to
leading the work of the Lord
forward as He has directed.
And make no mistake
about it: the Lord
directs His Church through
living prophets and apostles.
This is the way He has
always done His work.
Indeed, the Savior
taught, "Verily, verily, I
say unto you, He that
receiveth whomsoever
I send receiveth me."
We cannot separate
Christ from His servants.
Without His first
Apostles, we would not
have an eyewitness account
of many of His teachings,
His ministry, His suffering
in the Garden of Gethsemane,
and His death on the cross.
Without their
testimonies, we would not
have an apostolic
witness of the empty tomb
and the Resurrection.
He commanded those
first Apostles:
"Go ye therefore, ...
teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and ... the Son,
and ... the Holy Ghost:
"Teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I
have commanded you."
This commission has been
renewed in our own day
when the Lord called Joseph
Smith to restore the Church,
with ordained Apostles
to declare His gospel
one last time before
He will come again.
It has always been a
challenge for the world
to accept living
prophets and apostles,
but it is so essential
to do so in order
to fully understand the
Atonement and the teachings
of Jesus Christ and
to receive a fulness
of the blessings of
the priesthood that
follow those He has called.
Too many people think Church
leaders and members should
be perfect or nearly perfect.
They forget that
the Lord's grace
is sufficient to accomplish
His work through mortals.
Our leaders have
the best intentions,
but sometimes we make mistakes.
This is not unique to Church
leadership or relationships,
as the same thing occurs in our
relationships among friends,
neighbors, and
workplace associates
and even between
spouses and in families.
Looking for human weakness
in others is rather easy.
However, we make
a serious mistake
by noticing only the human
nature of one another
and then failing to
see God's hand working
through those He has called.
Focusing on how the Lord
inspires His chosen leaders
and how He moves the Saints to
do remarkable and extraordinary
things despite their
humanity is one way
that we hold on to the
gospel of Jesus Christ
and stay safely aboard
the Old Ship Zion.
A second truth is the doctrine
of the plan of salvation.
Through the Prophet
Joseph Smith,
God gave the Book of Mormon,
the Doctrine and Covenants,
and many additional
teachings to the Church.
These include a knowledge of
the plan of salvation, which
is a map of where we came from,
our purpose here on earth,
and where we are
going when we die.
The plan also provides us with
a unique, eternal perspective
that we are God's
spirit children.
By understanding who
our Heavenly Father is
and our relationship to Him
and to His Beloved Son, Jesus
Christ, we will accept
Their commandments
and make covenants with
Them that will lead us back
into Their eternal presence.
Every time I hold a newborn
child, I find myself wondering,
"Who are you, little one?
What will you become through
the Atonement of Christ?"
We ask similar reflective
questions when someone we love
dies: "Where are they?
What are they seeing
and experiencing?
Does life continue?
What will be the nature of our
most cherished relationships
in the great world of
the spirits of the dead?"
In that world, our family
has two granddaughters,
Sara and Emily, and
a grandson, Nathan.
With each child's
passing, we as a family
held on to the gospel
truths with both hands.
Our questions were answered
with comfort and assurance
through the Atonement
of the Savior.
Although we miss
our grandchildren,
we know they live, and we
know we will see them again.
How grateful we are for
this spiritual understanding
in times of personal
and familial turbulence.
Another key truth
in the Church is
that Heavenly Father
created Adam and Eve
for a lofty purpose.
It was their charge--and
subsequently,
the charge of their
posterity--to create mortal
bodies for God's spirit children
so they could experience
mortality.
By this process, Heavenly
Father sends His spirit children
to earth to learn and grow
through the experiences
of earth life.
Because He loves
His children, God
sends heavenly
messengers and Apostles
to teach them about Christ's
central role as our Savior.
Through the centuries, prophets
have fulfilled their duties
when they warned people of
the dangers before them.
The Lord's Apostles
are duty bound
to watch, warn, and reach out
to help those seeking answers
to life's questions.
Twenty years ago,
the First Presidency
and the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles
issued "The Family: A
Proclamation to the World."
In that inspired
document, we concluded
with the following
words: "We warn
that individuals who violate
covenants of chastity, who
abuse spouse or
offspring, or who
fail to fulfill family
responsibilities
will one day stand
accountable before God.
Further, we warn that the
disintegration of the family
will bring upon individuals,
communities, and nations
the calamities foretold by
ancient and modern prophets."
As Apostles today, we
reaffirm this solemn warning.
Please remember that
commandments and covenants
are priceless truths and
doctrines found in the Old Ship
Zion, where God is at the helm.
Another important doctrine
that we should cling to
is to observe the Sabbath day.
This helps us remain
unspotted from the world,
provides us with physical
rest, and gives each of us
the spiritual refreshment
of worshipping the Father
and the Son every Sunday.
When we delight in
the Sabbath day,
it is a sign of
our love for Them.
As part of our efforts to
make the Sabbath a delight,
we have asked local
leaders and Church members
to remember that
sacrament meeting is
the Lord's and should be rooted
and grounded in His teachings.
The presentation of the
ordinance of the sacrament
is when we renew our covenants
and reconfirm our love
for the Savior and remember His
sacrifice and His Atonement.
This same spirit
of worship should
permeate our monthly fast
and testimony meetings.
This sacrament
meeting is for members
to briefly express gratitude,
love, and appreciation
for our Heavenly Father, Jesus
Christ, and the restored gospel
and to bear personal
witness of these things.
Fast and testimony
meeting is a time
to share brief
inspirational thoughts
and bear solemn testimony.
It is not a time
to give a speech.
Young children should practice
sharing their testimonies
in Primary and with their
parents in family home
evening until they understand
the important meaning
of a testimony.
The recent emphasis of
making the Sabbath a delight
is a direct result of
inspiration from the Lord
through the leaders
of the Church.
Ward council members
should assist
the bishopric several
weeks in advance
by reviewing music and topics
that have been recommended
for each sacrament meeting.
All of us are blessed
when the Sabbath
is filled with love for the
Lord at home and at church.
When our children are taught
in the ways of the Lord,
they learn to feel and
to respond to His Spirit.
We will all desire
to attend each Sunday
to partake of the sacrament when
we feel the Spirit of the Lord.
And all, young and old, who
are carrying heavy burdens
will feel the spiritual
uplift and comfort
that comes from a Sabbath
day of devoted contemplation
of our Heavenly Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thankfully, Christ is always
near, waiting and willing
to help us when we pray for
help and are willing to repent
and come unto Him.
Now, as we ponder just
these few truths that
exist within the Old Ship
Zion, let us stay on board
and remember that, by
definition, a ship is
a vehicle, that the
purpose of a vehicle
is to take us to a destination.
Our ship's destination is the
full blessings of the gospel,
the kingdom of heaven,
the celestial glory,
and the presence of God!
God's plan is in place.
He is at the helm, and His
great and powerful ship
flows toward salvation
and exaltation.
Remember we cannot reach there
by jumping out of the boat
and trying to swim
there by ourselves.
Exaltation is the goal
of this mortal journey,
and no one gets there
without the means
of the gospel of Jesus Christ,
His Atonement, the ordinances,
and the guiding
doctrine and principles
that are found in the Church.
It is the Church wherein
we learn the works of God
and accept the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ that saves us.
It is within the Church that we
form commitments and covenants
of eternal families that become
our passport to exaltation.
It is the Church that is
powered by the priesthood
to propel us through
the unpredictable waters
of mortality.
Let us be grateful for the
beautiful Old Ship Zion,
for without it we are cast
adrift, alone and powerless,
swept along without
rudder or oar,
swirling with the strong
currents of the adversary's
wind and waves.
Hold tight, brothers
and sisters,
and sail on within
the glorious ship
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints,
and we will reach our
eternal destination.
This is my testimony and prayer
for all of us in the name of He
for whom the Old
Ship Zion is named,
even our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ, amen.
The world in which we live
is putting great pressure
on good people everywhere
to lower or even abandon
their standards of
righteous living.
However, despite the
evils and temptations
that surround us each
day, we can and will
find true joy today in living
a Christ-centered life.
Centering our lives in
Jesus Christ and His gospel
will bring stability and
happiness to our lives,
as the following
examples illustrate.
Elder Taiichi Aoba
of the Seventy,
who resides in a small mountain
village in Shikoku, Japan,
was asked to teach a class
at a youth conference.
"Stand Ye in Holy
Places" was selected
as the theme of the conference.
After considering the
theme and what to teach,
Elder Aoba decided to use his
vocation as a teaching tool.
His work is making pottery.
Elder Aoba relates that
his classroom of youth
really sprang to life when they
saw how he was able to almost
magically transform the shape
of the clay in his hands
to plates, bowls, and cups.
After his demonstration, he
asked them if any of them
would like to give it a try.
They all raised their hands.
Elder Aoba had several
of the youth come forward
to try out their new interest.
They assumed,
after watching him,
that this would be quite simple.
However, none of them were
successful in their attempts
to make even a simple bowl.
They proclaimed, "I can't do
this!" "Why is this so hard?"
"This is so difficult."
These comments took place as the
clay flew all around the room.
He asked the youth why they
were having such difficulty
making pottery.
They responded with
various answers:
"I don't have any experience,"
"I have never been trained,"
or "I have no talent."
Based on the result, what
they said was all true;
however, the most important
reason for their failure
was due to the clay not
being centered on the wheel.
The youth had thought they had
placed the clay in the center,
but from a professional's
perspective,
it wasn't in the exact center.
He then told them, "Let's
try this one more time."
This time Elder
Aoba placed the clay
in the exact center of
the wheel and then started
to turn the wheel, making a
hole in the middle of the clay.
Several of the
youth tried again.
This time everyone
starting clapping
when they said, "Wow, it's
not shaking," "I can do this,"
or "I did it!"
Of course the shapes
weren't perfect,
but the outcome was
totally different
than the first attempt.
The reason for their success was
because the clay was perfectly
centered on the wheel.
The world in which we live
is similar to the potter's
spinning wheel, and the speed
of that wheel is increasing.
Like the clay on
the potter's wheel,
we must be centered as well.
Our core, the
center of our lives,
must be Jesus Christ
and His gospel.
Living a Christ-centered
life means
we learn about Jesus
Christ and His gospel
and then we follow His example
and keep His commandments
with exactness.
The ancient prophet Isaiah
stated, "But now, O Lord, thou
art our father; we are the
clay, and thou our potter;
and we all are the
work of thy hand."
If our lives are
centered in Jesus Christ,
He can successfully
mold us into who
we need to be in order to return
to His and Heavenly Father's
presence in the
celestial kingdom.
The joy we experience
in this life
will be in direct proportion to
how well our lives are centered
on the teachings, example,
and atoning sacrifice of Jesus
Christ.
Brothers and sisters, I was born
into a multigenerational LDS
family, so the blessings and joy
of having the gospel of Jesus
Christ as the basis
of our family culture
were woven into
our everyday life.
It wasn't until my full-time
mission as a young man
that I realized the
incredibly positive impact
the fulness of the gospel
of Jesus Christ has
on those who never
previously experienced
its blessings in their lives.
This verse in Matthew
reflects the process
that people who are converted
to the gospel of Jesus Christ
experience: "The
kingdom of heaven
is like treasure hidden in
a field, which a man found
and covered up; then in his
joy he goes and sells all
that he has and
buys that field."
Let me share with you an
example from the Book of Mormon
that illustrates
what one convert
was willing to pay in order
to receive the joy associated
with finding the treasure
spoken of by Jesus
in the parable of the
treasure hid in the field.
Remember in the book
of Alma, chapter 20,
Ammon and Lamoni were traveling
to the city of Middoni
for the purpose of finding
and delivering Ammon's brother
Aaron out of prison.
During their journey they
encountered Lamoni's father,
who was the Lamanite
king over all the land.
The king was very upset that
his son Lamoni was traveling
with Ammon, a
Nephite missionary,
whom he considered an enemy.
He felt his son
should have attended
a great feast he had sponsored
for his sons and his people.
The Lamanite king was so upset
that he commanded his son
Lamoni to slay Ammon
with his sword.
When Lamoni refused, the
king drew his own sword
to slay his son
for disobedience;
however, Ammon interceded
to save Lamoni's life.
He ultimately overpowered the
king and could have killed him.
This is what the king said
to Ammon finding himself
in this life-and-death
situation:
"If thou wilt spare me
I will grant unto thee
whatsoever thou wilt ask,
even to half of the kingdom."
So the king was willing to
pay the price of one-half
his kingdom in order
to spare his own life.
The king must have
been astonished
when Ammon requested only
that he release his brother
Aaron and his
associates from prison
and that his son Lamoni
retain his kingdom.
Later on, due to this
encounter, Ammon's brother
Aaron was released from
the Middoni prison.
After his release
he was inspired
to travel where the Lamanite
king ruled over the land.
Aaron was introduced to the
king and had the privilege
of teaching him the principles
of the gospel of Jesus Christ,
including the great
plan of redemption.
The teachings of Aaron
inspired the king deeply.
The king's response
to Aaron's teaching
is found in verse 15
of Alma chapter 22:
"And it came to pass that
after Aaron had expounded
these things unto him,
the king said: What shall
I do that I may have
this eternal life
of which thou hast spoken?
Yea, what shall I do that I
may be born of God, having
this wicked spirit
rooted out of my breast,
and receive his Spirit, that
I may be filled with joy,
that I may not be cast
off at the last day?
Behold, said he, I will give
up all that I possess, yea,
I will forsake my kingdom, that
I may receive this great joy."
Amazingly enough, in contrast to
giving up one-half his kingdom
to spare his life,
the Lamanite king
was now willing to give
up his entire kingdom
that he might
receive the joy that
comes from understanding,
accepting, and living
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
My wife, Nancy, is also
a convert to the Church.
She has mentioned to me many
times over the years the joy
she has felt in her life since
finding, accepting, and living
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What follows is a
reflection from Sister
Maynes on her experience:
"As a young adult in
my early twenties,
I was at a point
in my life when I
knew I needed to change
something in order
to be a happier person.
I felt like I was adrift with
no real purpose and direction,
and I didn't know
where to go to find it.
I had always known that Heavenly
Father existed and occasionally
through my life
had said prayers,
feeling that He listened.
"As I began my
search, I attended
several different
churches but would always
fall back into the same
feelings and discouragement.
I feel very blessed because
my prayer for direction
and purpose in life was
ultimately answered,
and the fulness of the
gospel of Jesus Christ
was brought into my life.
For the first time I felt
like I had a purpose,
and the plan of happiness
brought real joy into my life."
Another experience
from the Book of Mormon
clearly illustrates how
living a Christ-centered life
can fill us with great
happiness even when surrounded
with incredible hardships.
After the prophet
Lehi and his family
left Jerusalem in 600 B.C., they
wandered approximately eight
years in the wilderness until
they finally arrived in a land
they called Bountiful,
which was near the seashore.
Nephi describes their life of
tribulation in the wilderness
this way: "We had suffered
many afflictions and much
difficulty, ...
even so much that we
cannot write them all."
While living in Bountiful,
Nephi was charged by the Lord
with the responsibility
to build the ship which
would take them across the
sea to the promised land.
After arriving in
the promised land,
great conflicts
continued to arise
between the people who
centered their lives in Christ
and the nonbelievers, who
followed the examples of Laman
and Lemuel.
Ultimately, the risk of
violence between the two groups
was so great that
Nephi and those
who followed the
teachings of the Lord
separated themselves and fled
into the wilderness for safety.
At this point in time, some 30
years after Lehi and his family
left Jerusalem, Nephi makes a
well-documented and somewhat
surprising statement,
especially after recording
in the scriptures the many
afflictions and tribulations
they had faced for so long.
These are his words: "And it
came to pass that we [did live]
after the manner of happiness."
Despite their
hardships, they were
able to live after the
manner of happiness
because they were centered
in Christ and His gospel.
Brothers and sisters, like the
clay on the potter's wheel,
our lives must be centered
with exactness in Christ
if we are to find true joy
and peace in this life.
The examples of
the Lamanite king;
my wife, Nancy; and
the Nephite people
all support this true principle.
I bear you my witness
today that we too
can find that peace, that
happiness, that true joy if we
choose to live
Christ-centered lives,
in the name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
On a signal from the
conductor, the congregation
will stand and join the choir in
singing "We Thank Thee, O God,
for a Prophet."
After the singing, we will
hear from Sister Neill F.
Marriott, second counselor
in the Young Women
general presidency.
She will be followed by Elders
Larry R. Lawrence and Francisco
J. Vinas of the Seventy.
Following their
remarks, the choir
will sing "Precious
Savior, Dear Redeemer."
This is the 185th Semiannual
General Conference
of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[MUSIC PLAYING - "WE THANK THEE,
O GOD, FOR A PROPHET"]
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in
April general conference,
spoke of the need "to
reform our personal lives."
I submit that personal
reformation begins with
a change of heart--no
matter your life experiences
or your place of birth.
I come from the Deep South
of the United States,
and in my youth the words of
old Protestant hymns taught me
of a true disciple's heart--a
heart that had been changed.
Consider these
lyrics, so dear to me:
"Have Thine own way, Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter;
I am the clay.
Mould me and make me
After Thy will,
While I am waiting,
Yielded and still."
How do we--a modern, busy,
competitive people--become
yielded and still?
How do we make the
Lord's ways our ways?
I believe we begin
by learning of Him
and praying for understanding.
As our trust in Him
grows, we open our hearts
and seek to do His will
and wait for answers
that will help us understand.
My own change of heart started
when, as a 12-year-old,
I began to search for God.
Other than saying
the Lord's Prayer,
I didn't really
know how to pray.
I remember kneeling, hoping
I could feel His love,
and asking, "Where are
You, Heavenly Father?
I know You must be out
there somewhere, but where?"
All through my teen
years, I asked.
I did have glimpses of the
reality of Jesus Christ,
but Heavenly Father
let me, in His wisdom,
seek and wait for 10 years.
In 1970, when the
missionaries taught me
about the Father's
plan of salvation
and of the Savior's
Atonement, my waiting ended.
I embraced these truths
and was baptized.
Based on this knowledge of
the Lord's mercy and power,
my husband, children, and
I chose this family motto:
"It will all work out."
Yet how can we say those
words to one another
when deep troubles
come and answers
aren't readily available?
When our delightful, worthy
21-year-old daughter, Georgia,
was hospitalized in critical
condition following a bike
accident, our family said,
"It will all work out."
As I flew immediately
from our mission in Brazil
to Indianapolis,
Indiana, to be with her,
I clung to our family motto.
However, our lovely daughter
passed into the spirit world
just hours before
my plane landed.
With grief and shock
running like a current
through our family, how could
we look at one another and still
say, "It will all work out"?
Following Georgia's mortal
death, our feelings were raw,
we struggled, and still today
we have moments of great sorrow,
but we hold to the understanding
that no one ever really dies.
Despite our anguish when
Georgia's physical body stopped
functioning, we had
faith that she went right
on living as a
spirit, and we believe
we will live with
her eternally if we
adhere to our temple covenants.
Faith in our Redeemer
and His Resurrection,
faith in His priesthood power,
and faith in eternal sealings
let us state our
motto with conviction.
President Gordon B. Hinckley
said: "If you do your best,
it will all work out.
Put your trust in God. ...
The Lord will not forsake us."
Our family motto doesn't say,
"It will all work out now."
It speaks of our hope in
the eternal outcome--not
necessarily of present results.
Scripture says, "Search
diligently, pray always,
and be believing, and all
things shall work together
for your good."
This doesn't mean
all things are good,
but for the meek and faithful,
things--both positive
and negative--work
together for good;
and the timing is the Lord's.
We wait on Him, sometimes
like Job in his suffering,
knowing that God "maketh
sore, and bindeth up:
he woundeth, and his
hands make whole."
A meek heart accepts the
trial and the waiting
for that time of healing
and wholeness to come.
When we open ourselves to the
Spirit, we learn God's way
and feel His will.
During the sacrament, which I
call the heart of the Sabbath,
I have found that after praying
for forgiveness of sins,
it is instructive for me
to ask Heavenly Father,
"Father, is there more?"
When we are yielded and still,
our minds can be directed
to something more we may need
to change--something limiting
our capacity to receive
spiritual guidance or even
healing and help.
For example, perhaps I have a
carefully guarded resentment
toward someone.
When I ask if there
is more to confess,
that "secret" comes
clearly to my memory.
In essence, the Holy
Ghost is whispering,
"You honestly asked if there
were more, and here it is.
Your resentment diminishes
your progress and damages
your ability to have
healthy relationships.
You can let this go."
Oh, it is hard work--we
may feel quite justified
in our animosity--but yielding
to the Lord's way is the only
way to lasting happiness.
In time and by degrees, we
receive His gracious strength
and direction--perhaps leading
us to frequent the temple
or to study more deeply
the Savior's Atonement,
or to consult with
a friend, a bishop,
a professional counselor,
or even a doctor.
The healing of our
heart begins when
we submit to and worship God.
True worship begins
when our hearts
are right before the
Father and the Son.
What is our heart
condition today?
Paradoxically, in order to have
a healed and faithful heart,
we must first allow it
to break before the Lord.
"Ye shall offer for
a sacrifice unto
me a broken heart and a contrite
spirit," the Lord declares.
The result of sacrificing our
heart, or our will, to the Lord
is that we receive the
spiritual guidance we need.
With a growing understanding
of the Lord's grace and mercy,
we will find that our
self-willed hearts
begin to crack and
break in gratitude.
Then we reach for Him,
yearning to yoke ourselves
to the Only Begotten Son of God.
In our brokenhearted
reaching and yoking,
we receive new hope
and fresh guidance
through the Holy Ghost.
I have struggled to
banish the mortal desire
to have things my way,
eventually realizing
that my way is oh
so lacking, limited,
and inferior to the
way of Jesus Christ.
"His way is the path
that leads to happiness
in this life and eternal
life in the world to come."
Can we love Jesus
Christ and His way
more than we love ourselves
and our own agenda?
Some may think they have
failed too many times
and feel too weak
to change sinful
acts or worldly
desires of the heart.
However, as covenant Israel,
we don't just try and try
on our own to change.
If we earnestly appeal to God,
He takes us as we are--and
makes us more than
we ever imagined.
Noted theologian
Robert L. Millet
writes of "a healthy
longing to improve,"
balanced with the
spiritual assurance
that in and through Jesus
Christ we are going to make it.
With such an understanding,
we can honestly
say to Heavenly Father:
"So trusting my all
to thy tender care,
And knowing thou lovest me,
I'll do thy will
with a heart sincere:
I'll be what you want me to be."
When we offer our broken
heart to Jesus Christ,
He accepts our offering.
He takes us back.
No matter what losses,
wounds, and rejection
we may have suffered,
His grace and healing
are mightier than all.
Truly, yoked to the Savior,
we can say with confidence,
"It will all work out."
In the name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
When I was a young adult, I
began investigating the Church.
At first I was
drawn to the gospel
by the examples of my
Latter-day Saint friends,
but eventually I was attracted
to the unique doctrine.
When I learned that
faithful men and women could
keep progressing and
ultimately become
like our heavenly parents,
I was frankly amazed.
I loved the concept;
it rang true to me.
Soon after my baptism,
I was studying
the Sermon on the
Mount, and I recognized
that Jesus taught this same
truth about eternal progression
in the Bible.
He said, "Be ye
therefore perfect,
even as your Father which
is in heaven is perfect."
I have been a member
now for over 40 years,
and whenever I read
this verse of scripture,
I am reminded of our
purpose here on earth.
We came to learn and
improve until we gradually
become sanctified or
perfected in Christ.
The journey of discipleship
is not an easy one.
It has been called a "course
of steady improvement."
As we travel along the
strait and narrow path,
the Spirit continually
challenges us to be better
and to climb higher.
The Holy Ghost makes an
ideal traveling companion.
If we are humble and teachable,
He will take us by the hand
and lead us home.
However, we need to ask the Lord
for directions along the way.
We have to ask some difficult
questions--questions like "What
do I need to change?"
"How can I improve?"
"What weakness needs
strengthening?"
Let's consider the
New Testament account
of the rich young ruler.
He was a righteous young
man who was already
keeping the Ten Commandments,
but he wanted to become better.
His goal was eternal life.
When he met the Savior, he
asked, "What lack I yet?"
Jesus answered
immediately, giving
counsel that was
intended specifically
for the rich young man.
"Jesus said unto him,
If thou wilt be perfect,
go and sell that thou hast,
and give to the poor, and ...
come and follow me."
The young man was
stunned; he had never
considered such a sacrifice.
He was humble enough
to ask the Lord,
but not faithful enough to
follow the divine counsel he
was given.
We must be willing to act
when we receive an answer.
President Harold B. Lee
taught, "Every one of us,
if we would reach perfection,
must [at] one time ask
ourselves this question,
'What lack I yet?'"
I knew a faithful mother
who humbled herself
and asked, "What is keeping
me from progressing?"
In her case, the
response from the Spirit
came immediately:
"Stop complaining."
This answer surprised her; she
had never thought of herself
as a complainer.
However, the message from the
Holy Ghost was very clear.
In the days that followed,
she became conscious
of her habit of complaining.
Grateful for the
prompting to improve,
she determined to count
her blessings instead
of her challenges.
Within days, she felt the
warm approval of the Spirit.
A humble young man who couldn't
seem to find the right girl
went to the Lord for help:
"What is keeping me from being
the right man?" he asked.
This answer came into
his heart and his mind:
"Clean up your language."
At that moment, he realized
that several crude expressions
had become a part
of his vocabulary,
and he committed to change.
A single sister asked
the question, "What do I
need to change?" and the
Spirit whispered to her,
"Don't interrupt people
when they are talking."
The Holy Ghost really does
give customized counsel.
He is a completely
honest companion
and will tell us things
that no one else knows
or has the courage to say.
One returned missionary
found himself stressed
with a very heavy schedule.
He was trying to find time
for work, studies, family,
and a Church calling.
He asked the Lord for
counsel: "How can I
feel at peace with all
that I need to do?"
The answer was not
what he expected.
He received the impression
that he should more carefully
observe the Sabbath
day and keep it holy.
He decided to dedicate
Sunday to God's service
and to lay aside his
school courses on that day
and study the gospel instead.
This small adjustment
brought the peace and balance
that he was seeking.
Years ago, I read
in a Church magazine
the story of a girl who
was living away from home
and going to college.
She was behind in her
classes, her social life
was not what she had hoped for,
and she was generally unhappy.
Finally one day, she
fell to her knees
and cried out, "What can
I do to improve my life?"
The Holy Ghost whispered,
"Get up and clean your room."
This prompting came as
a complete surprise,
but it was just the
start she needed.
After taking time to organize
and put things in order,
she felt the Spirit fill
the room and lift her heart.
The Holy Ghost doesn't tell us
to improve everything at once.
If He did, we would become
discouraged and give up.
The Spirit works with us at our
own speed, one step at a time,
or as the Lord has
taught, "line upon line,
precept upon precept, ...
and blessed are those who
hearken unto my precepts, ...
for unto him that receiveth
I will give more."
For example, if the Holy Ghost
has been prompting you to say
"thank you" more often, and
you respond to that prompting,
then He may feel it's time for
you to move on to something
more challenging--like
learning to say, "I'm sorry;
that was my fault."
A perfect time to ask,
"What lack I yet?"
is when we take the sacrament.
The Apostle Paul taught that
this is a time for each of us
to examine ourselves.
In this reverent
atmosphere, as our thoughts
are turned heavenward, the
Lord can gently tell us
what we need to work on next.
Like you, I have
received many messages
from the Spirit over the years
showing me how I could improve.
Let me share a few personal
examples of messages
that I took to heart.
These promptings have included:
Don't raise your voice.
Organize yourself--create a
daily list of things to do.
Take better care of
your body by eating
more fruits and vegetables.
Increase your temple attendance.
Take time to ponder
before you pray.
Ask your wife for her counsel.
And be patient when
driving--don't exceed the speed
limit.
(I'm still working
on that last one.)
The atoning sacrifice
of the Savior
is what makes perfection
or sanctification possible.
We could never do it on
our own, but God's grace
is sufficient to help us.
As Elder David A. Bednar
once observed: "Most of us
clearly understand that
the Atonement [of Christ]
is for sinners.
I am not so sure, however, that
we know and understand that
the Atonement is also for
saints--for good men and women
who are obedient, worthy,
and conscientious and who are
striving to become better."
I would like to suggest
that each of you
participate in a
spiritual exercise
sometime soon,
perhaps even tonight
while saying your prayers.
Humbly ask the Lord
the following question:
"What is keeping me
from progressing?"
In other words:
"What lack I yet?"
Then wait quietly
for a response.
If you are sincere, the
answer will soon become clear.
It will be revelation
intended just for you.
Perhaps the Spirit
will tell you that you
need to forgive someone.
Or you may receive
a message to be
more selective about
the movies you watch
or the music you listen to.
You may feel impressed to be
more honest in your business
dealings or more generous
in your fast offerings.
The possibilities are endless.
The Spirit can show
us our weaknesses,
but He is also able to
show us our strengths.
Sometimes we need
to ask what we are
doing right so that the Lord
can lift and encourage us.
When we read our
patriarchal blessings,
we are reminded that
our Heavenly Father
knows our divine potential.
He rejoices every time
we take a step forward.
To Him, our direction is ever
more important than our speed.
Be persistent,
brothers and sisters,
but never be discouraged.
We will have to go
beyond the grave
before we actually
reach perfection,
but here in mortality we
can lay the foundation.
"It is our duty to be better
today than we were yesterday,
and better tomorrow
than we are today."
If spiritual growth is not
a priority in our lives,
if we are not on a course
of steady improvement,
we will miss out on the
important experiences
that God wants to give us.
Years ago I read these words
of President Spencer W.
Kimball, which had a
lasting impact on me.
He said: "I have learned that
where there is a prayerful
heart, a hungering
after righteousness,
a forsaking of sins, and
obedience to the commandments
of God, the Lord pours out more
and more light until there is
finally power to pierce
the heavenly veil. ...
A person of such righteousness
has the priceless promise
that one day he shall
see the Lord's face
and know that he is."
It is my prayer that
this ultimate experience
can be ours someday as we allow
the Holy Ghost to lead us home.
In the name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
Many of us who are meeting to
participate in this conference
have come "to hear
the pleasing word
of God, yea, the word which
healeth the wounded soul."
That word can be found in the
scriptures and in the messages
from our leaders, bringing
us hope and comfort
in the darkness of affliction.
Through our experience in life,
we learn that joy in this world
is not full, but in Jesus
Christ our joy is full.
He will give us
strength so we will not
have to suffer any
manner of afflictions
save they are swallowed
up in His joy.
Our hearts can be
filled with anguish
when we see a loved
one suffer the pains
of a horrible disease.
The death of someone we love
can leave an empty place
in our soul.
When some of our children
stray from the gospel path,
we may feel guilt
and uncertainty
about their eternal destiny.
The hope of achieving
a celestial marriage
and establishing a
family in this life
can begin to fade
as time goes by.
Abuse by those who are
supposed to love us
can leave deeply painful
marks in our soul.
The infidelity of a spouse
can destroy a relationship
that we hoped would be eternal.
These and many other
afflictions inherent
to this probationary
state sometimes
cause us to ask ourselves the
same question that the Prophet
Joseph Smith asked: "O
God, where art thou?"
In those difficult
moments in our lives,
the pleasing word of God
that heals the wounded soul
brings the following message of
comfort to our heart and mind:
"Peace be unto thy soul; thine
adversity and thine afflictions
shall be but a small moment;
"And then, if thou
endure it well,
God shall exalt thee on high."
The pleasing word of
God fills us with hope,
knowing that those who are
faithful in tribulation
will have the greater reward in
the kingdom of heaven and that
"after much tribulation
come the blessings."
The pleasing word of God, as
spoken through the prophets,
gives us the security that
our eternal sealing, sustained
by our faithfulness
to the divine promises
that we were given for
our valiant service
in the cause of truth, will
bless us and our posterity.
They also give us the
security that after we
have lived a faithful
life, we will not
lose any blessing
for not having done
certain things if we were
never given the opportunity
to do them.
If we have lived faithful
until the time of our death,
we "will have all the
blessings, exaltation, and glory
that any man or woman
[who has had that opportunity]
will have."
Now, it is important to
understand that some suffering
and affliction can also
enter our lives if we fail
to truly repent of our sins.
President Marion
G. Romney taught:
"The suffering and distress
endured by people of this earth
is the result of unrepented
and unremitted sin. ...
Just as suffering and
sorrow attend sin,
so happiness and joy attend
forgiveness of sins."
Why does lack of repentance
cause suffering and pain?
One of the possible answers
is that "a punishment [was]
affixed, and a just law
given, which brought [about]
remorse of conscience."
The Prophet Joseph
Smith taught that we
are the ones who
condemn ourselves
and that it is the torment
of disappointment in our mind
that makes it as
intense as a burning
lake of fire and brimstone.
If we attempt to
appease our conscience
by trying to "excuse [ourselves]
in the least point because
of [our] sins" or by
trying to hide them,
the only thing we
will accomplish
is to offend the Spirit
and delay our repentance.
This type of relief,
besides being temporary,
will ultimately bring more
pain and grief into our lives
and will diminish our
possibility of receiving
a remission of our sins.
For this type of suffering,
the pleasing word of God
also brings comfort
and hope; it tells us
that there is relief
from the pain caused
by the effects of sin.
This relief comes from
the atoning sacrifice
of Jesus Christ and takes
effect if we exercise faith
in Him, repent, and are
obedient to His commandments.
It is important that we realize
that just like the remission
of sins, repentance is a process
and not something that happens
at one particular moment.
It requires consistency
in each of its steps.
For example, when we
partake of the sacrament,
we show the Lord
that we are going
to remember Him always
and keep His commandments.
That is an expression
of our sincere intent.
The moment that we begin to
remember Him and keep His
commandments every day--and
not just on the Sabbath day--is
when the remission of our sins
begins to gradually take effect
and His promise of having His
Spirit with us begins to be
fulfilled.
Without the proper obedience
that must accompany our intent,
the effect of remission
may disappear before long
and the companionship of the
Spirit begins to withdraw.
We will run the risk of
honoring Him with our lips
while removing our
hearts from Him.
In addition to comfort,
the pleasing word of God
warns us that this
process of receiving
a remission of our
sins can be interrupted
when we become entangled "in
the vanities of the world,"
and it can be resumed
through faith if we sincerely
repent and humble ourselves.
What might be some
of those vanities
that can interfere in
the process of receiving
a remission of our sins and
that are associated with keeping
the Sabbath day holy?
Some examples include arriving
late for sacrament meeting
without a valid
reason; arriving,
without previously having
examined ourselves,
to eat the bread and drink
from the cup unworthily;
and arriving without first
having confessed our sins
and having asked God for
forgiveness for them.
Other examples: being irreverent
by exchanging messages
on our electronic devices,
leaving the meeting
after partaking
of the sacrament,
and engaging in
activities in our homes
that are inappropriate
for that sacred day.
What might be one
of the reasons why
we, knowing all these
things, often fail
to keep the Sabbath day holy?
In the book of Isaiah,
we can find an answer
that, though related
to the Sabbath,
also applies to
other commandments
that we must keep: "If thou turn
away thy foot from the sabbath,
from doing thy pleasure
on my holy day."
The key words are "turn away
... from doing thy pleasure,"
or in other words,
doing God's will.
Oftentimes, our will--shaped
by the desires, appetites,
and passions of the natural
man--conflicts with the will
of God.
The prophet Brigham Young taught
that "when the will, passions,
and feelings of a person are
perfectly submissive to God
and his requirements, that
person is sanctified.--It is,
for my will to be swallowed
up in the will of God,
that will lead me into all good,
and crown me ultimately with
immortality and eternal lives."
The pleasing word of God
invites us to use the power
of the Atonement of Christ
to apply it to ourselves
and become reconciled with His
will--and not with the will
of the devil and the flesh--so
we, through His grace,
can be saved.
The pleasing word of
God that we share today
shows us the need of continuous
repentance in our lives
so we can keep the
influence of the Holy Ghost
for as long as possible.
Having the companionship
of the Spirit
will make us better people.
"It will whisper peace and
joy to [our] souls, ...
it will take malice,
hatred, envying, strife,
and all evil from [our] hearts;
and [our] whole desire will be
to do good, bring
forth righteousness,
and build up the
kingdom of God."
With the influence of the Holy
Ghost, we will not be offended,
nor will we offend others;
we will feel happier,
and our minds will be cleaner.
Our love for others
will increase.
We will be more willing to
forgive and spread happiness
to those around us.
We will feel grateful to
see how others progress,
and we will seek
the good in others.
It is my prayer that we
may experience the joy that
comes from striving to
live in righteousness
and that we may keep
the companionship
of the Holy Ghost in our lives
through sincere and continuous
repentance.
We will become better
people, and our families
will be blessed.
Of these principles I
testify in the sacred name
of Jesus Christ, amen.
[MUSIC PLAYING - "PRECIOUS
SAVIOR, DEAR REDEEMER"]
We express gratitude to
the Mormon Tabernacle
Choir for the
beautiful music they
have provided this morning.
Our concluding speaker
for this session
will be Elder Quentin L. Cook
of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles.
Following his remarks, the
choir will close this meeting
by singing "Come,
Come, Ye Saints."
The benediction will then
be offered by Elder Adrian
Ochoa of the Seventy.
The prophet Lehi declared,
"If there be no righteousness
there be no happiness."
The adversary has been
successful in planting
a great myth in the
minds of many people.
He and his emissaries declare
that the real choice we have
is between happiness
and pleasure
now in this life and
happiness in a life to come
(which the adversary
asserts may not exist).
This myth is a false choice,
but it is very seductive.
The ultimate noble purpose
of God's plan of happiness
is for righteous disciples
and covenant families
to be united in love, harmony,
and peace in this life
and attain celestial glory
in the eternities with God
the Father, our
Creator; and His Beloved
Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior.
When I was a young missionary
assigned to the British
Mission, my first area
of labor was in what
was then the Bristol District.
One of the local Church
leaders emphasized
that missionaries
serving in that area
needed to be "shipshape
and Bristol fashion."
Initially I didn't understand
the point he was making.
I soon learned the history of
the nautical phrase "shipshape
and Bristol fashion."
At one time Bristol was
the second busiest port
in the United Kingdom.
It had a very high tidal range
of 43 feet, the second highest
in the world.
At low tide, when
the water receded,
the old ships would hit bottom
and fall on their sides,
and if the ships were not well
built, they would be damaged.
In addition, everything that
was not carefully stowed away
or tied down would be thrown
in a chaotic fashion and ruined
or spoiled.
After I understood
what that phrase meant,
it was clear that this
leader was telling us
that, as missionaries, we
must be righteous, follow
rules, and be prepared
for difficult situations.
This same challenge is
applicable to each of us.
I would describe being
"shipshape and Bristol fashion"
as being temple worthy--in
good times and in bad times.
While the fluctuation of the
tide in the Bristol Channel
is somewhat predictable
and can be prepared for,
the storms and
temptations of this life
are often unpredictable.
But this we know:
they will come!
In order to overcome the
challenges and temptations
that each of us
inevitably face, it
will require
righteous preparation
and the use of divinely
provided protections.
We must determine
to be temple worthy
regardless of what befalls us.
If we are prepared,
we shall not fear.
Happiness in this life and
happiness in the life to come
are interconnected
by righteousness.
Even in the period between
death and the resurrection,
"the spirits of those
who are righteous
are received into a
state of happiness,
which is called paradise,
a state of rest,
a state of peace."
At the commencement of the
Savior's earthly ministry
in Israel and later
among the Nephites,
the Savior addressed the issue
of happiness both in this life
and in eternity.
He stressed ordinances, but
He also placed great emphasis
on moral behavior.
For example, disciples
would be blessed
if they would hunger and
thirst after righteousness,
be merciful, be pure in heart,
be peacemakers, and follow
other basic moral principles.
Clearly, as a foundational
doctrinal message,
our Lord Jesus Christ emphasized
both righteous attitudes
and conduct in
day-to-day living.
His teachings not only replaced
and transcended elements
of the law of
Moses but also were
a rejection of the false
philosophies of men.
For many centuries the
gospel of Jesus Christ
has inspired beliefs and
established standards
of conduct as to what is
righteous, desirable, and moral
and results in happiness,
felicity, and joy.
However, the principles
and basic morality
the Savior taught are
under serious attack
in today's world.
Christianity is under attack.
Many believe that what is
moral has basically changed.
We live in difficult times.
There is an increased
tendency to "call
evil good, and good evil."
A world that emphasizes
self-aggrandizement
and secularism is cause
for great concern.
One prominent writer, not of
our faith, has put it this way:
"Unfortunately I see little
evidence that people are
actually happier in the
emerging dispensation,
or that their children
are better off,
or that the cause of social
justice is well-served,
or that declining marriage rates
and thinning family trees ...
promise anything save greater
loneliness for the majority,
and stagnation overall."
As disciples of
the Savior, we are
expected to plan and prepare.
In the plan of
happiness, moral agency
is a central organizing
principle and our choices
matter.
The Savior emphasized this
throughout His ministry,
including His parables
of the foolish virgins
and the talents.
In each of these,
the Lord commended
preparation and action and
condemned procrastination
and idleness.
I recognize that, despite the
overwhelming happiness embodied
in God's divine plan,
sometimes it can feel far away
and disconnected from our
current circumstances.
It may feel beyond our reach
as struggling disciples.
From our limited perspective,
current temptations
and distractions
can seem attractive.
The rewards for resisting those
temptations, on the other hand,
can feel distant
and unattainable.
But a true understanding
of the Father's plan
reveals that the
rewards of righteousness
are available right now.
Wickedness, such
as immoral conduct,
is never part of the answer.
Alma said it clearly to his
son Corianton: "Behold, I
say unto you, wickedness
never was happiness."
Our doctrine is clearly stated
by Amulek in Alma 34:32:
"Behold, this life
is the time for men
to prepare to meet God; yea,
behold the day of this life
is the day for men to
perform their labors."
How then, do we prepare
in such a difficult time?
In addition to
being temple worthy,
there are many principles that
contribute to righteousness.
I will emphasize three.
First: righteous
self-control and conduct.
I believe that sometimes
our loving Father in Heaven
must view us with
the amusement we
feel when we watch our
own small children as they
learn and grow.
We all stumble and fall
as we gain experience.
I appreciated the
conference address
President Dieter F.
Uchtdorf gave in 2010
about the famous marshmallow
experiment conducted
at Stanford University
in the 1960s.
You will remember that
four-year-olds were
given a single marshmallow.
If they could wait for 15 or
20 minutes without eating it,
they would receive a
second marshmallow.
Videos have been produced
showing the contortions
that many children used to
avoid eating the marshmallow.
Some did not succeed.
Last year the
professor who conducted
the original experiment,
Dr. Walter Mischel,
wrote a book in which
he said the study
grew in part out of his
concerns about self-control
and his own
addiction to smoking.
He was particularly concerned
after the U.S. Surgeon
General's report of 1964
concluded that smoking
caused lung cancer.
Based on years of study, one
of his professional colleagues
reported that "self-control
is like a muscle:
the more you use it,
the stronger it gets.
Avoiding something
tempting once will
help you develop the ability
to resist other temptations
in the future."
A principle of
eternal progression
is that exercising self-control
and living righteously
strengthens our ability
to resist temptation.
This is true both in
the spiritual realm
and in temporal matters.
Our missionaries are
an excellent example.
They develop Christlike
attributes and emphasize
obedience and spirituality.
They are expected to adhere
to a rigorous schedule
and spend their days in
the service of others.
They have a modest,
conservative appearance
instead of the casual
or immodest manner
of dress so prevalent today.
Their conduct and
appearance convey
a moral, serious message.
We have approximately
230,000 young people
who are currently
serving as missionaries
or who have returned
from missionary service
in the last five years.
They have developed
remarkable spiritual strength
and self-discipline that needs
to be continually exercised
or these qualities
will atrophy just
like the muscles
that are not used.
All of us need to
develop and demonstrate
conduct and appearance
that declare we
are true followers of Christ.
Those who abandon
either righteous conduct
or a wholesome,
modest appearance
expose themselves to lifestyles
that bring neither joy
nor happiness.
The restored gospel
gives us the blueprint
of the plan of happiness
and an incentive
to understand and exercise
self-control and avoid
temptation.
It also teaches us how to repent
when violations have occurred.
Second: honoring
the Sabbath will
increase righteousness and be
a protection for the family.
The early Christian
Church changed observance
of the Sabbath from
Saturday to Sunday
to commemorate the
Lord's Resurrection.
Other basic, sacred purposes of
the Sabbath remained unchanged.
For Jews and
Christians, the Sabbath
symbolizes the
mighty works of God.
My wife and I, and two of my
colleagues and their wives,
recently participated
in a Jewish Shabbat
at the invitation of
a dear friend, Robert
Abrams and his wife, Diane,
in their New York home.
It commenced at the beginning
of the Jewish Sabbath
on a Friday evening.
The focus was honoring
God as the Creator.
It began by blessing the
family and a Sabbath hymn.
We joined in the ceremonial
washing of hands,
the blessing of the bread,
the prayers, the kosher meal,
the recitation of scripture,
and singing Sabbath
songs in a celebratory mood.
We listened to the
Hebrew words, following
along with English translations.
The most poignant scriptures
read from the Old Testament,
which are also dear to us,
were from Isaiah, declaring
the Sabbath a delight,
and from Ezekiel,
that the Sabbath "shall be
a sign between me and you,
that ye may know that I
am the Lord your God."
The overwhelming impression
from this wonderful evening
was of family love, devotion,
and accountability to God.
As I thought about
this event, I reflected
on the extreme persecution
that the Jews have
experienced over centuries.
Clearly, honoring
the Sabbath has
been "a perpetual covenant,"
preserving and blessing
the Jewish people in
fulfillment of scripture.
It has also contributed to
the extraordinary family life
and happiness that is
evident in the lives
of many Jewish people.
For members of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, honoring the Sabbath
is a form of righteousness that
will bless and
strengthen families,
connect us with our Creator,
and increase happiness.
The Sabbath can help separate
us from that which is frivolous,
inappropriate, or immoral.
It allows us to be in the
world but not of the world.
In the last six months,
a most remarkable change
has occurred in the Church.
This has been in the
response of the members
to renewed emphasis on the
Sabbath by the First Presidency
and the Quorum of the Twelve
and to President Russell M.
Nelson's challenge to make
the Sabbath a delight.
Many members understand that
truly keeping the Sabbath day
holy is a refuge from
the storms of this life.
It is also a sign
of our devotion
to our Father in
Heaven and an increased
understanding of the sacredness
of sacrament meeting.
Still, we have a long
way to go, but we
have a wonderful beginning.
I challenge all
of us to continue
to embrace this counsel and
improve our Sabbath worship.
Third: divine protections are
provided when we are righteous.
As part of God's
divine plan, we are
blessed with the gift
of the Holy Ghost.
The gift is the "right to
have, whenever one is worthy,
the companionship
of the Holy Ghost."
This member of the Godhead
serves as a cleansing agent
if the gospel is
first in our lives.
He also is a voice of warning
against evil and a voice
of protection against danger.
As we navigate the seas of
life, following the impressions
of the Holy Ghost is essential.
The Spirit will help us avoid
temptations and dangers,
and comfort and lead
us through challenges.
"The fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith."
Adherence to sacred
gospel principles
will allow us to
be temple worthy,
find happiness in this
life, and lead us back
to our heavenly home.
My dear brothers and
sisters, life is not easy,
nor was it meant to be.
It is a time of
testing and trial.
Like the old ships
in Bristol Harbor,
there will be times
when the tide goes out
and it seems as if everything
in this world keeping us afloat
disappears.
We may hit the bottom and even
be tipped over on our sides.
Amid such trials, I promise
you that living and maintaining
temple-worthy lives
will hold together
all that really matters.
The sweet blessings of
peace, happiness, and joy,
along with the blessings of
eternal life and celestial
glory with our Heavenly Father
and His Son, Jesus Christ,
will be realized.
I so testify in the name
of Jesus Christ, amen.
[MUSIC PLAYING - "COME, COME, YE
SAINTS"]
Our dear and beloved
Heavenly Father,
we love Thee and
we love Thy Son,
Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.
Our hearts are full of joy
because of this beautiful music
and because of words of
wisdom and redemption
that we receive with full
hearts and gratitude.
We implore, Heavenly
Father, that we
might apply those
words in our lives
and become better
children of Thine.
We pray that we can share
the gospel of Thy Son, Jesus
Christ, with those
that we love, and we
pray for these things
humbly in the name
of Thy Son, our Redeemer,
Jesus Christ, amen.
This has been a broadcast of
the 185th Semiannual General
Conference of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints.
Speakers were selected from
the General Authorities
and general officers
of the Church.
Music was provided by the
Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
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.