From the Conference Center
at Temple Square in Salt Lake
City, this is the
Sunday afternoon session
of the 185th Semiannual
General Conference
of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints,
with speakers selected
from the General
Authorities and general
officers of the Church.
Music for this
session is provided
by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
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.
Brothers and sisters,
we welcome you
to the Sunday afternoon session
of the 185th Semiannual General
Conference of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints.
President Thomas S. Monson,
who presides at the conference,
has asked that I
conduct this session.
The music for this session
will be provided by the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir
under the direction
of Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy,
with Bonnie Goodliffe and Linda
Margetts at the organ.
The choir will open this meeting
by singing "Praise the Lord
with Heart and Voice."
The invocation will then be
offered by Elder Jorg Klebingat
of the Seventy, and
the choir will sing
"Our God is a God of Love."
[MUSIC PLAYING - "PRAISE THE
LORD WITH HEART AND VOICE"]
Dear Father in
Heaven, we are still
marveling about the manner
in which we saw the vacancies
in the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles filled yesterday,
the quiet dignity that
surrounded these proceedings.
And we ask, where
else does it happen
in the way it happens
in Thy true Church?
Dear Father, we're so grateful
for these three wonderful men
whom Thou hast prepared.
And those of us, of
course, who know them
know that Thou
hast chosen wisely.
And we pray humbly
for Thy blessings
to be with them
and their families
and for the hearts of the
membership of the Church
the world over to be
touched, that they may also
know that these are Thy
newly chosen Apostles.
Father, we also give thanks
for our beloved prophet,
President Thomas
S. Monson, who has
been wearing out his life for
decades now on Thy errand.
Wilt Thou please
bless and sustain him.
We know there cannot be true
worship or even true religion
without communication from Thee,
and therefore we're so grateful
that we sit at the feet of
apostles and prophets in these
latter days.
Bless us with the wisdom
to keep our eyes first
on our Savior, Jesus Christ,
and then on His chosen servants
so that we may know Thy
voice and where to go.
Father, we ask Thy
blessings upon the speakers
and a blessing of Thy
Spirit upon all of us.
May we feel Thy Spirit,
and may we then go forth
with the determination to close
the gap between what we know
and what we feel and what we're
actually doing and becoming,
that we may do all of that and
willingly endure to the end,
but more importantly,
enjoy to the end in this,
Thy wonderful gospel.
And this we humbly pray
in the name of Thy holy
Son, Jesus Christ, amen.
[MUSIC PLAYING - "OUR GOD IS A
GOD OF LOVE"]
We will now be pleased to
hear from Elder D. Todd
Christofferson of the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles.
He will be followed by
Brother Devin G. Durrant, who
was sustained yesterday as first
counselor in the Sunday School
general presidency.
Following Brother
Durrant, we will
hear from Elder Von G.
Keetch of the Seventy
and Sister Carole M. Stephens,
first counselor in the Relief
Society general presidency.
Throughout my life, general
conferences of the Church
have been exhilarating
spiritual events, and the Church
itself has been a place
to come to know the Lord.
I realize that
there are those who
consider themselves
religious or spiritual
and yet reject
participation in a church
or even the need for
such an institution.
Religious practice is
for them purely personal.
Yet the Church is the creation
of Him in whom our spirituality
is centered--Jesus Christ.
It is worth pausing to
consider why He chooses to use
a church--His Church, The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints--to carry out His and His
Father's work "to bring to pass
the immortality and
eternal life of man."
Beginning with Adam, the gospel
of Jesus Christ was preached,
and the essential ordinances
of salvation, such as baptism,
were administered through a
family-based priesthood order.
As societies grew more complex
than simply extended families,
God also called other prophets,
messengers, and teachers.
In Moses's time, we read
of a more formal structure,
including elders,
priests, and judges.
In Book of Mormon history,
Alma established a church
with priests and teachers.
Then, in the meridian of
time, Jesus organized His work
in such a way that
the gospel could
be established simultaneously
in multiple nations
and among diverse peoples.
That organization, the
Church of Jesus Christ,
was founded on
"apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ himself being
the chief corner stone."
It included additional officers
such as seventies, elders,
bishops, priests,
teachers, and deacons.
Jesus similarly
established the Church
in the Western Hemisphere
after His Resurrection.
Following the apostasy and
disintegration of the Church
He had organized
while on the earth,
the Lord reestablished
the Church of Jesus Christ
once again through the
Prophet Joseph Smith.
The ancient purpose
remains; that is,
to preach the good news of
the gospel of Jesus Christ
and administer the ordinances
of salvation--in other words,
to bring people to Christ.
And now, through
the instrumentality
of this restored Church,
the promise of redemption
is placed within reach even
of the spirits of the dead who
in their mortal lifetime
knew little or nothing
of the Savior's grace.
How does His Church accomplish
the Lord's purposes?
It is important to recognize
that God's ultimate purpose is
our progress.
His desire is that we
continue "from grace to grace,
until [we receive] a
fulness" of all He can give.
That requires more than
simply being nice or feeling
spiritual.
It requires faith in
Jesus Christ, repentance,
baptism of water
and of the Spirit,
and enduring in
faith to the end.
One cannot fully achieve
this in isolation,
so a major reason the Lord has a
Church is to create a community
of Saints that will sustain
one another in the "strait
and narrow path that
leads to eternal life."
"And [Christ] gave some,
apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers;
"...
For the work of the
ministry, for the edifying
of the body of Christ:
"Till we all come in
the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge
of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man, unto
the measure of the stature
of the fulness of Christ."
Jesus Christ is "the author and
the finisher of [our] faith."
Uniting ourselves to the body
of Christ--the Church--is
an important part of
taking His name upon us.
We are told that the ancient
Church "did meet together oft,
to fast and to pray,
and to speak one
with another concerning
the welfare of their souls"
"and to hear the
word of the Lord."
So it is in the Church today.
Joined in faith, we teach
and edify one another
and strive to approach the
full measure of discipleship,
"the measure of the stature
of the fulness of Christ."
We strive to help one another
come to "the knowledge
of the Son of God" until that
day when "they shall teach no
more every man his neighbour,
... saying, Know the Lord:
for they shall all know me,
from the least of them unto
the greatest of them,
saith the Lord."
In the Church we not only
learn divine doctrine;
we experience its application.
As the body of Christ,
the members of the Church
minister to one another in the
reality of day-to-day life.
All of us are imperfect; we
may offend or be offended.
We often test one another with
our personal idiosyncrasies--or
as President Packer put it, our
personal "idiot-syncrasies."
In the body of Christ, we
have to go beyond concepts
and exalted words and have
a real hands-on experience
as we "live together in love."
This religion is not
concerned only with self;
rather, we are all
called to serve.
We are the eyes,
hands, head, feet,
and other members of
the body of Christ,
and even "those members ...
which seem to be more feeble,
are necessary."
We need these callings,
and we need to serve.
One of the men in
my ward grew up
not only without
parental support
but with parental opposition
to his activity in the Church.
He made this observation
in a sacrament meeting:
"My father cannot understand why
anyone would go to church when
they could go skiing, but I
really like going to church.
In the Church, we are
all on the same journey,
and I am inspired in that
journey by strong youth,
pure children, and what I see
and learn from other adults.
I am strengthened
by the association
and excited with the joy
of living the gospel."
The wards and branches of the
Church offer a weekly gathering
of respite and renewal, a time
and a place to leave the world
behind--the Sabbath.
It is a day to "delight
thyself in the Lord,"
to experience the
spiritual healing that
comes with the sacrament, and
to receive the renewed promise
of His Spirit to be with us.
One of the greatest
blessings of being
part of the body of
Christ, though it may not
seem like a blessing
in the moment,
is being reproved
of sin and error.
We are prone to excuse and
rationalize our faults,
and sometimes we simply do not
know where we should improve
or how to do it.
Without those who can reprove
us "betimes with sharpness,
when moved upon by
the Holy Ghost,"
we might lack the courage
to change and more
perfectly follow the Master.
Repentance is individual, but
fellowship on that sometimes
painful path is in the Church.
In this discussion of the
Church as the body of Christ,
we must always bear
in mind two things.
One, we do not strive for
conversion to the Church
but to Christ and His
gospel, a conversion
that is facilitated
by the Church.
The Book of Mormon
expresses it best
when it says that the people
"were converted unto the Lord,
and were united unto
the church of Christ."
Two, we must remember
that in the beginning,
the Church was the
family, and even today
as separate institutions, the
family and the Church serve
and strengthen one another.
Neither supplants the other,
and certainly the Church,
even at its best, cannot
substitute for parents.
The point of gospel teaching
and priesthood ordinances
administered by the
Church is that families
may qualify for eternal life.
There is a second major reason
the Savior works through
a church, His Church, and that
is to achieve needful things
that cannot be accomplished by
individuals or smaller groups.
One clear example is
dealing with poverty.
It is true that as
individuals and families
we look after the
physical needs of others,
"imparting to one another both
temporally and spiritually
according to their
needs and their wants."
But together in the
Church, the ability
to care for the poor
and needy is multiplied
to meet the broader need,
and hoped-for self-reliance
is made a reality for very many.
Further, the Church,
its Relief Societies,
and its priesthood
quorums have the capacity
to provide relief to many
people in many places affected
by natural disasters,
war, and persecution.
Without the capabilities
of His Church in place,
the Savior's commission to take
the gospel to all the world
would not, could
not be realized.
There would not be the
apostolic keys, the structure,
the financial means,
and the devotion
and sacrifice of thousands
upon thousands of missionaries
needed to carry out the work.
Remember, "this
Gospel of the Kingdom
[must] be preached
in all the world,
for a witness unto all nations,
and then shall the end come."
The Church can build and operate
temples, houses of the Lord,
where vital ordinances and
covenants may be administered.
Joseph Smith stated that
God's objective in gathering
His people in any age is
"to build unto the Lord
a house whereby He [can] reveal
unto His people the ordinances
of His house and the
glories of His kingdom,
and teach the people
the way of salvation;
for there are certain
ordinances and principles
that, when they are
taught and practiced,
must be done in a place or
house built for that purpose."
If one believes that
all roads lead to heaven
or that there are no particular
requirements for salvation,
he or she will see no need
for proclaiming the gospel
or for ordinances and
covenants in redeeming
either the living or the dead.
But we speak not
just of immortality
but also of eternal life,
and for that, the gospel
path and gospel
covenants are essential.
And the Savior needs
a Church to make
them available to all
of God's children,
both the living and the dead.
The final reason I will
mention for the Lord to have
established His Church is the
most unique--the Church is,
after all, the kingdom
of God on the earth.
As The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints
was being established
in the 1830s,
the Lord said to the
Prophet Joseph Smith,
"Lift up your hearts and
rejoice, for unto you
the kingdom, or in other
words, the keys of the church
have been given."
In the authority of
these keys, the Church's
priesthood officers preserve the
purity of the Savior's doctrine
and the integrity of
His saving ordinances.
They help prepare those who
wish to receive them, judge
the qualification and
worthiness of those who apply,
and then perform them.
With the keys of the
kingdom, the Lord's servants
can identify both truth and
falsehood, and once again
authoritatively state,
"Thus saith the Lord."
Regrettably, some
resent the Church
because they want to
define their own truth,
but in reality it is
a surpassing blessing
to receive a "knowledge of
things as they [truly] are,
and as they were, and as
they are to come" insofar
as the Lord wills to reveal it.
The Church safeguards
and publishes
God's revelations
which constitute
the canon of scripture.
When Daniel interpreted the
dream of Babylonian King
Nebuchadnezzar, making
known to the king "what
shall be in the latter
days," he declared
that "the God of heaven
[shall] set up a kingdom, which
shall never be destroyed:
and the kingdom shall not
be left to other people,
but it shall break in pieces
and consume all
[other] kingdoms,
and it shall stand for ever."
The Church is that prophesied
latter-day kingdom,
not created by man but set
up by the God of heaven
and rolling forth as a stone
"cut out of the mountain
without hands" to
fill the earth.
Its destiny is to establish
Zion in preparation
for the return and millennial
rule of Jesus Christ.
Before that day, it will not
be a kingdom in any political
sense--as the Savior said, "My
kingdom is not of this world."
Rather, it is the repository
of His authority in the earth,
the administrator of
His holy covenants,
the custodian of His temples,
the protector and proclaimer
of His truth, the gathering
place for scattered Israel,
and "a defense, and ...
a refuge from the storm,
and from wrath when it shall be
poured out without mixture upon
the whole earth."
I end with the Prophet's
plea and prayer:
"Call upon the Lord, that
his kingdom may go forth
upon the earth, that
the inhabitants thereof
may receive it, and be
prepared for the days to come,
in the which the Son
of Man shall come down
in heaven, clothed in the
brightness of his glory,
to meet the kingdom of God
which is set up on the earth.
"Wherefore, may
the kingdom of God
go forth, that the kingdom
of heaven may come,
that thou, O God, mayest
be glorified in heaven so
on earth, that thine
enemies may be subdued;
for thine is the honor, power
and glory, forever and ever."
In the name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
By profession, I am an investor.
By faith, I am a disciple of
Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
In my business
practices, I embrace
sound financial principles.
As I live my faith,
I strive to follow
spiritual principles that
will help me become more
like the Savior.
Many of the personal rewards
I have received in life
have come as a result
of someone inviting
me to do a difficult task.
In that spirit, I
would like to extend
to each of you two invitations.
The first has
financial implications.
With the second invitation,
the implications are spiritual.
Both invitations,
if accepted, will
require a disciplined effort
over an extended period of time
to reap the rewards.
The first invitation
is simple: I invite
you to save money each week.
The amount you save is not
particularly significant;
that is up to you.
As you develop a
habit of saving,
you will benefit personally.
And you may also
have opportunities
to assist others financially
as a result of your diligence.
Imagine the positive outcome
of saving money weekly
for six months, a year,
10 years, or more.
Small efforts
sustained over time
can produce significant results.
My second invitation is quite
different from and much more
important than the first.
It is this: I invite
you to "ponderize" one
verse of scripture each week.
The word ponderize is not
found in the dictionary,
but it has found a
place in my heart.
So what does it
mean to ponderize?
I like to say it's a combination
of 80 percent extended
pondering and 20
percent memorization.
There are two simple steps:
First, choose a verse
of scripture each week
and place it where you
will see it every day.
Second, read or think of the
verse several times each day
and ponder the
meaning of its words
and key phrases
throughout the week.
Imagine the uplifting
results of doing this weekly
for six months, a year,
10 years, or more.
As you make this
effort, you will feel
an increase in spirituality.
You will also be able
to teach and lift
those you love in
more meaningful ways.
If you choose to
ponderize weekly,
you may feel a bit
like a person who
has enjoyed
snorkeling in the past
but has now decided
to try scuba diving.
With that decision, a
deeper understanding
of gospel principles
will be yours
and new spiritual perspectives
will bless your life.
As you reflect on your
selected verse each week,
words and phrases will
be written on your heart.
Words and phrases will also
be written on your mind.
In other words,
memorization will take place
easily and naturally.
But the primary goal of
ponderizing is to provide
an uplifting place for your
thoughts to go--a place that
keeps you close to the
Spirit of the Lord.
The Savior said,
"Treasure up in your minds
continually the words of life."
Ponderizing is a simple and
edifying way to do just that.
I believe Nephi
was a ponderizer.
He said, "My soul delighteth
in the scriptures,
and my heart pondereth
them [continually],
and writeth them
for the learning
and the profit of my children."
He was mindful of his
children as he pondered
and wrote the scriptures.
How might your family
benefit as you continually
strive to fill your
mind with God's words?
Recently I ponderized Alma 5:16.
It reads, "I say
unto you, can you
imagine to yourselves that ye
hear the voice of the Lord,
saying unto you, in that
day: Come unto me ye blessed,
for behold, your works have
been the works of righteousness
upon the face of the earth?"
At the end of the
week, this is what
ended up being
written on my mind:
Imagine hearing the voice of
the Lord saying, "Come unto
me ye blessed, for
behold, your works have
been the works of
righteousness" (Alma 5:16).
As you can see, I didn't
memorize the entire verse word
for word.
However, I pondered
time and time
again the key elements of the
verse and where to find it.
But the best part
of the process was
I had a higher place
for my thoughts to go.
Throughout the week,
I pictured the Savior
saying encouraging words to me.
That image touched
my heart and served
to inspire me to want to do
"works of righteousness."
That is what can happen
when we "look unto [Christ]
in every thought."
You might ask, "Why
should I do this?"
I would answer
that we are living
in a time of
ever-spreading evil.
We cannot just accept the
status quo and be fed ugly words
and sinful visuals almost
everywhere we turn and do
nothing in response.
We must fight back.
When our minds are filled with
uplifting thoughts and images,
when we "always
remember him," there
is no room left for
filth and trash.
In the Book of
Mormon, Jesus Christ
invites all to "ponder upon the
things which [He has] said."
Look at ponderizing as an add-on
to your personal and family
scripture study, but never
let it be a replacement.
Ponderizing is
somewhat like adding
a new time-release vitamin to
your current spiritual diet.
You might say, "Ponderizing
sounds too hard for me."
Don't be deterred.
Hard can be good.
Christ invites us to
do many hard things
because He knows
we will be blessed
as a result of our efforts.
A young neighbor of ours found
a simple way to ponderize.
He puts his weekly scripture on
the home screen of his phone.
Another idea you might
try is sharing your verse
with a sibling, a
child, or a friend.
My wife, Julie, and
I help each other.
We choose our
verses each Sunday.
She puts hers on our fridge.
I place mine in my truck.
We then share thoughts about
our verses throughout the week.
We also like to discuss our
verses with our children.
And as we do, it seems to make
it more comfortable for them
to share their thoughts with
us about the word of God.
Julie and I are also part of
an online group in which family
members, friends,
and missionaries can
share their scripture each
week and occasionally include
a related thought or testimony.
My high school daughter
and a group of her friends
use social media and text
messaging to share scriptures
with each other.
Please don't hesitate to
include people of other faiths
in your groups.
They are also looking for
ways to elevate their thoughts
and to feel closer to God.
So what are the benefits?
Julie and I have been
ponderizing a verse a week
for more than three years now.
Initially, we set
a 20-year goal.
She told me recently:
"When you first
invited me to ponderize
a scripture every week
for 20 years, I wondered if
I could do it for a month.
I don't have those
doubts anymore.
I can't believe
how fun it has been
to put a scripture on
the fridge each week,
and just by ponderizing
it each time I see it,
it lifts my spirit."
After ponderizing for six
weeks, a sister from Texas said:
"My testimony has
been strengthened, ...
and I have felt closer to
my Heavenly Father. ...
I love how the word of God is
changing me for the better."
A teenage friend
wrote: "I've really
enjoyed being able to
[ponderize] because [it's]
helped me to focus on things
that are actually important."
One of our missionaries
shared this:
"I have been ponderizing a verse
every week since June 2014,
and I love it. ...
These scriptures have
become like friends
that I can rely on
in times of need."
In my case, I feel
the Spirit more fully
as I ponderize weekly.
My love of the
scriptures has also
increased as a result of
striving to "let virtue garnish
[my] thoughts unceasingly."
Consider this invitation
and supreme blessing
shared by Nephi: "If ye
shall press forward, feasting
upon the word of Christ, and
endure to the end, behold,
thus saith the Father: Ye
shall have eternal life."
In the spirit of "feasting
upon the word of Christ,"
ponderizing is like taking
a bite of delicious food
and then chewing very,
very slowly in order
to enjoy it to its fullest.
Will you ponderize
a verse of scripture
each week for the
rest of this month?
For the rest of this year?
Longer maybe?
Julie and I invited all
our valiant Texas Dallas
missionaries to ponderize
with us for 20 years.
We'll cross the finish line
together in 17 short years.
Then we'll set a new goal
to elevate our thoughts
and bring us closer to Christ.
You can check on us by
asking, "What's your verse?"
But if you do, be prepared to
share your scripture in return.
Each of us will be uplifted
as a result of our exchange.
Can you imagine how your
life and your family's life
will be changed if you write
a new verse of scripture
on your heart and mind every
week for the next few months
or few years or longer?
Jesus Christ must have developed
a love for the scriptures
at an early age.
He must have been
reading and pondering
the scriptures as a
young child in order
to have meaningful discussions
with the wise doctors
in the temple at age 12.
He began his mission
at age 30, and He
referenced the scriptures
early and often
throughout His ministry.
Can we not safely say that
Jesus spent at least 20 years
studying and pondering
the scriptures as part
of His mission preparation?
Is there something you
need to be doing today
to prepare yourself spiritually
for future opportunities
to teach and bless
your family and others?
In review, I hope you will
decide to save money each week.
Exercise your faith,
discipline yourself, and do it.
I also sincerely
pray you will choose
to ponder God's words in an
extended and deeper manner
on a weekly basis.
Exercise your faith,
discipline yourself, and do it.
Unlike my first
money-saving invitation,
all the benefits of my second
soul-saving invitation will be
yours to keep forever--free
from the moths and rust of this
world.
Elder D. Todd
Christofferson offered
this clear counsel and
promise: "Study the scriptures
carefully, deliberately.
Ponder and pray over them.
Scriptures are
revelation, and they
will bring added revelation."
I promise you will not regret
writing a verse of scripture
on your mind and
heart each week.
You will experience a feeling
of perpetual spiritual purpose,
protection, and power.
Remember the words of
Jesus Christ when He said,
"Do the things which
ye have seen me do."
May we fully apply His
words in our lives,
I so pray in the name
of Jesus Christ, amen.
Some time ago while
visiting Australia,
I traveled to a
beautiful horseshoe
bay renowned for its surfing.
As I walked along
the beach, I was
enthralled by the magnificence
of the large crashing waves
breaking just outside the bay
and the smaller waves rolling
in closer to the shore.
As I continued my
stroll, I encountered
a group of American surfers.
They were obviously
upset about something,
talking loudly and
gesturing towards the sea.
When I asked them
what was wrong,
they pointed to
just outside the bay
where the big waves
were breaking.
"Look out there," one
of them angrily told me.
"Can you see the barrier?"
Looking more closely now, I
could indeed see a barrier
stretching across the
entire mouth of the bay,
right where the large,
enticing waves were breaking.
The barrier appeared to
be made of a heavy mesh
and was supported by
floats on top of the water.
According to the surfers,
it dropped all the way down
to the ocean floor.
The American surfer
continued, "We are here
on a once-in-a-lifetime trip
to surf these big waves.
We can surf the smaller ones
breaking within the bay itself,
but the barrier
makes it impossible
for us to surf the big ones.
We have no idea why
the barrier is there.
All we know is that it has
totally spoiled our trip."
As the American surfers
became more animated,
my attention was drawn to
another nearby surfer--an older
man and obviously a local.
He seemed to be
growing impatient
as he listened to the
ever-increasing complaints
about the barrier.
Finally he rose and
walked over to the group.
Without saying anything, he
pulled a pair of binoculars
from his backpack and handed
them to one of the surfers,
pointing out toward the barrier.
Each of the surfers looked
through the binoculars.
When my turn came, with
the help of magnification,
I could see something that I
had not been able to see before:
dorsal fins--large sharks
feeding near the reef
on the other side
of the barrier.
The group quickly
became subdued.
The old surfer
retrieved his binoculars
and turned to walk away.
As he did, he said words
I will never forget:
"Don't be too critical
of the barrier," he said.
"It's the only thing
that's keeping you
from being devoured."
Standing on that
beautiful beach,
our perspective had
suddenly changed.
A barrier that had seemed
rigid and restrictive,
that seemed to curtail the
fun and excitement of riding
the really big waves, had
become something very different.
With our new understanding of
the danger that lurked just
below the surface,
the barrier now
offered protection,
safety, and peace.
As you and I walk the paths
of life and pursue our dreams,
God's commands and
standards, like the barrier,
can sometimes be
difficult to understand.
They may appear
rigid and unyielding,
blocking a path that
looks fun and exciting
and that is being followed
by so many others.
As the Apostle Paul described,
"We see through a glass,
darkly," with such a limited
perspective that we often
cannot comprehend the great
dangers hidden just below
the surface.
But He who "comprehend"comprehend[s]
all things"
knows exactly where
those dangers lie.
He gives us divine direction,
through His commands and loving
guidance, so that we
may avoid the dangers,
so that we may set a
course in our lives
that is protected from spiritual
predators and the gaping jaws
of sin.
We show our love for
God and our faith in Him
by doing our very best every
day to follow the course that He
has laid out for us and by
keeping the commandments
that He has given to us.
We especially manifest
that faith and love
in situations where
we don't fully
understand the reason
for God's command
or the particular path
He is telling us to take.
It is relatively easy to follow
a course inside the barrier
once we know that there
are sharp-toothed predators
swarming just outside of it.
It is more difficult to keep
our course within the barrier
when all we can see are
thrilling and tantalizing
waves on the other side.
And yet it is in those
times--times when we choose
to exercise our faith,
put our trust in God,
and show our love to Him--that
we grow and gain the most.
In the New Testament,
Ananias could not comprehend
the Lord's command to seek
out and bless Saul--a man who
literally had a license
to imprison the believers
of Christ.
Yet because he
obeyed God's command,
Ananias was instrumental in the
spiritual birth of the Apostle
Paul.
As we trust in the Lord,
exercise our faith,
obey His commandments,
and follow
the course He has
charted for us,
we become more the person
the Lord wants us to become.
It is this "becoming"--this
conversion of the heart--that
is all-important.
As Elder Dallin H.
Oaks has taught us:
"It is not enough for anyone
just to go through the motions.
The commandments, ordinances,
and covenants of the gospel
are not a list of
deposits required to be
made in some heavenly account.
The gospel of Jesus
Christ is a plan
that shows us how to become
what our Heavenly Father desires
us to become."
True obedience, therefore,
is giving ourselves entirely
to Him and allowing Him to chart
our course both in calm waters
and in troubled
ones, understanding
that He can make more
of us than we could ever
make of ourselves.
As we submit
ourselves to His will,
we increase in
peace and happiness.
King Benjamin taught that those
who keep the commands of God
are "blessed and happy
... in all things,
both temporal and spiritual."
God wants us to have joy.
He wants us to have peace.
He wants us to succeed.
He wants us to be safe
and to be protected
from the worldly
influences all around us.
Put another way,
the Lord's commands
do not constitute some grueling
underwater maze of barriers
that we must learn to
grudgingly endure in this life
so that we might be
exalted in the next.
Rather, the barriers
established by the Lord
create for us a safe harbor
from the evil and destructive
influences that would
otherwise drag us down
to the depths of despair.
The Lord's commandments are
given out of love and caring;
they are intended for
our joy in this life
just as much as they
are intended for our joy
and exaltation in the next.
They mark the way
that we should act,
and more importantly,
they illuminate
who we should become.
As in all things good
and true, Jesus Christ
stands as the best example.
The greatest act of
obedience in all of eternity
occurred when the
Son submitted Himself
to the will of the Father.
Asking in deepest humility that
the cup might be removed--that
He might travel some other
course than the one that had
been marked for Him--Christ
submitted Himself to the path
that His Father
wanted Him to take.
It was a path that led through
Gethsemane and Golgotha,
where He endured unimaginable
agony and suffering,
and where He was totally
forsaken as His Father's Spirit
withdrew.
But that same path culminated in
an empty tomb on the third day,
with cries of "He is risen!"
ringing in the ears and hearts
of those who loved Him.
It included unimaginable
joy and comfort centered
in His Atonement for
all of God's children
throughout eternity.
By allowing His will
to be swallowed up
by the Father's, Christ gave us
the prospect of eternal peace,
eternal joy, and eternal life.
I testify that we are
children of a loving God.
I witness that He wants us to
be happy and safe and blessed.
To that end, He has charted
for us a course leading back
to Him, and He has
established barriers that
will protect us along the way.
As we do our best to
follow that course,
we find true safety,
happiness, and peace.
And as we submit to
His will, we become
what He wants us to become.
In the name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
When our oldest daughter, Jen,
brought her third daughter home
from the hospital, I
went to her home to help.
After getting her oldest
daughter off to school,
we decided what Jen
needed most was rest.
So the best help I could give
was to take her daughter Chloe
home with me so her mom
and new baby sister could
have some quiet time.
I buckled Chloe into her car
seat, secured my own seat belt,
and drove out of their driveway.
However, before we reached
the end of the street,
Chloe had unbuckled
her seat belt
and was standing up,
looking over my shoulder,
and talking to me!
I pulled the car over
to the side of the road,
got out, and buckled
her back into her seat.
We started again but had only
gone a short distance when
she was out of her seat again.
I repeated the same
steps, but this time
before I could even
get back into the car
and fasten my own seat belt,
Chloe was already standing up!
I found myself sitting in a car,
parked on the side of the road,
having a power struggle
with a three-year-old.
And she was winning!
I used every idea
I could think of
to convince her that remaining
fastened in her car seat
was a good idea.
She was not convinced.
I finally decided to try
the if-then approach.
I said, "Chloe, if you will
stay buckled in your car seat,
then as soon as we get
to grandma's house,
we can play with Play-Doh."
No response.
"Chloe, if you will stay
buckled in your seat belt,
then we can make bread when
we get to grandma's house."
No response.
I tried again.
"Chloe, if you will stay
buckled in your seat,
then we can stop at the
market for a treat!"
After three attempts, I realized
this was a futile exercise.
She was determined, and
no amount of if-then
was enough to convince her to
remain fastened in her seat.
We couldn't spend
the day sitting
on the edge of the
road, but I wanted
to be obedient to
the law, and it
wasn't safe to drive
with Chloe standing up.
I offered a silent prayer
and heard the Spirit whisper,
"Teach her."
I turned to face her and pulled
my seat belt away from my body
so she could see it.
I said, "Chloe, I am
wearing this seat belt
because it will protect me.
But you aren't wearing your seat
belt, and you won't be safe.
And I will be so sad
if you get hurt."
She looked at me; I could almost
see the little wheels spinning
in her mind as I waited
anxiously for her response.
Finally, her big
blue eyes brightened,
and she said, "Grandma, you
want me to wear my seat belt
because you love me!"
The Spirit filled the car
as I expressed my love
for this precious little girl.
I didn't want to
lose that feeling,
but I knew I had an opportunity,
so I got out and secured her
in her car seat again.
Then I asked, "Chloe, will you
please stay in your car seat?"
And she did--all the way
to the market for a treat!
And she stayed buckled all the
way from the market to my home,
where we made bread and played
with Play-Doh because Chloe
did not forget!
As I drove back onto
the road that day,
a scripture filled my
mind: "If ye love me,
keep my commandments."
We have rules to teach,
guide, and protect children.
Why?
Because of the great
love we have for them.
But until Chloe understood
that my desire for her
to remain securely
fastened in her car seat
was because of my
love for her, she
was unwilling to submit to what
she considered a restriction.
She felt her seat belt
limited her freedom.
Like Chloe, we can choose to
see commandments as limitations.
We may feel at times
that God's laws restrict
our personal freedom,
take from us our agency,
and limit our growth.
But as we seek for
greater understanding,
as we allow our
Father to teach us,
we will begin to see
that His laws are
a manifestation of His love for
us, and obedience to His laws
is an expression of
our love for Him.
If you find yourself
figuratively
parked on the side of the road,
can I suggest a few principles
that, if followed, will
help you get safely
back on the road of
faith and obedience?
First, trust God.
Trust in His eternal
plan for you.
Each of you is "a beloved
spirit son or daughter
of heavenly parents."
Their love for us is
apparent in commandments.
Commandments are
vital instructions
to teach, guide,
and protect us as we
"gain earthly experience."
In the "premortal realm"
we used our agency
to accept God's
plan, and we learned
that obedience to
God's eternal law
was vital to our
success in His plan.
Scriptures teach, "There is
a law, irrevocably decreed
in heaven before the
foundations of this world,
upon which all blessings
are predicated."
If we obey the law, we
receive the blessings.
Even with all of the mistakes,
opposition, and learning
that accompany our
mortal experience,
God never loses sight of
our eternal potential,
even when we do.
We can trust Him "because
God wants His children back."
And He has provided a
way through the Atonement
of His Son, Jesus Christ.
The Atonement "is the core
of the plan of salvation."
Second, trust Jesus.
The ultimate expression
of obedience and love
is the Atonement
of Jesus Christ.
Submitting Himself
to the Father's will,
He gave His life for us.
He said, "If ye keep
my commandments,
ye shall abide in
my love; even as I
have kept the
Father's commandments,
and abide in His love."
Jesus also taught:
"Love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind.
"This is the first
and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself."
Each Sunday, we
have the opportunity
to ponder and remember
our Savior's pure love
as we partake of the emblems
of His infinite Atonement.
During the sacrament, I
watch as hands and arms
extend to pass the
bread and the water.
And as I extend
my arm to partake,
I covenant that I
am willing to take
His name upon me, to always
remember Him, and keep
His commandments.
And He promises "that [we]
may always have his Spirit
to be with [us]."
Third, trust the
whisperings of the Spirit.
Remember during my
experience with Chloe
that the Spirit whispered
a scripture to me?
It is in John 14:15: "If ye
love me, keep my commandments."
And these important
verses follow:
"I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you
another Comforter, that he
may abide with you for ever;
"Even the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive,
because it seeth him
not, neither knoweth him:
but ye know him; for he dwelleth
with you, and shall be in you."
Every worthy, confirmed
member of The Church
of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints
has the right to
the companionship
of the Holy Ghost.
Fasting, prayer, scripture
study, and obedience greatly
enhance our ability
to hear and feel
the promptings of the Spirit.
When your mind is filled
with doubt and confusion,
the Father and the Son
will send the Holy Ghost
to warn you and guide you
safely through the dangers
of this mortal journey.
He will help you remember,
comfort you, and fill you
"with hope and perfect love."
Fourth, trust the counsel
of living prophets.
Our Father has provided a
way for us to hear His word
and know His law
through His prophets.
The Lord declared, "My word
shall ... all be fulfilled,
whether by mine own voice or
by the voice of my servants,
it is the same."
Recently, living
prophets have counseled
us to "remember the sabbath
day, to keep it holy,"
and to live the law of the fast.
Obedience to this prophetic
counsel provides a way for us
to be obedient to
God's commandment
to love Him and our neighbor as
we increase our faith in Jesus
Christ and extend our hand
to love and care for others.
There is safety in following
the word of the Lord
through His prophets.
God called President Thomas
S. Monson, the counselors
in the First Presidency,
and the members
of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles
as prophets, seers,
and revelators.
In this world of increasing
fear, distraction, adversity,
and anger, we can
look to them to see
how disciples of Jesus Christ
filled with charity look,
sound, and react to issues
that could be divisive.
They testify of Jesus
Christ and respond
with charity, the pure
love of Jesus Christ, whose
witnesses they are.
After my experience with Chloe,
I searched the scriptures
for verses that mentioned
commandments and love.
I found many.
His commandments
are a manifestation
of His love for us, and
obedience to His commandments
is an expression of
our love for Him.
I testify that as we trust
God, our Eternal Father;
trust His Son, Jesus Christ, and
exercise faith in His infinite
Atonement; trust the
whisperings of the Spirit;
and trust the counsel
of living prophets,
we will find our way off the
edge of the road and continue
safely--not just enduring but
finding joy in our journey
home.
In the name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
On a signal from the
conductor, the congregation
will stand and join the choir
in singing "Rejoice, the Lord Is
King!"
We will then be pleased to
hear from Elders Allen D.
Haynie, Kim B. Clark, and
Koichi Aoyagi of the Seventy.
We acknowledge with
appreciation Elder Aoyagi,
who was released from serving
as a member of the Seventy
yesterday afternoon.
Following their
remarks, the choir
will sing "Put Your
Shoulder to the Wheel,"
and Elder David A. Bednar of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
will be our concluding speaker.
This is the 185th Semiannual
General Conference
of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[MUSIC PLAYING - "REJOICE, THE
LORD IS KING!"]
When I was nine years
old, my white-haired,
four-foot-eleven-inch maternal
grandmother came to spend a few
weeks with us at our home.
One afternoon while
she was there,
my two older brothers
and I decided
to dig a hole in a field across
the street from our house.
I don't know why we did it;
sometimes boys dig holes.
We got a little
dirty but nothing
that would get us
into too much trouble.
Other boys in the
neighborhood saw
just how exciting it was to
dig a hole and started to help.
Then we all got
dirtier together.
The ground was hard, so we
dragged a garden hose over
and put a little water
in the bottom of the hole
to soften up the ground.
We got some mud on us as we dug,
but the hole did get deeper.
Someone in our group
decided we should
turn our hole into
a swimming pool,
so we filled it up with water.
And being the youngest
and wanting to fit in,
I was persuaded to
jump in and try it out.
Now I was really dirty.
I didn't start out planning
to be covered in mud,
but that's where I ended up.
When it started to get
cold, I crossed the street,
intending to walk into my house.
My grandmother met
me at the front door
and refused to let me in.
She told me that
if she let me in,
I would track mud into the
house that she had just cleaned.
So I did what any
nine-year-old would
do under the circumstances
and ran to the back door,
but she was quicker
than I thought.
I got mad, stomped
my feet, and demanded
to come into the house, but
the door remained closed.
I was wet, muddy, cold, and,
in my childhood imagination,
thought I might die
in my own backyard.
Finally, I asked her what I had
to do to come into the house.
And before I knew it, I found
myself standing in the backyard
while my grandmother
sprayed me off with a hose.
After what seemed
like an eternity,
my grandmother
pronounced me clean
and let me come into the house.
It was warm in the
house, and I was
able to put on
dry, clean clothes.
With that real-life
parable of sorts in mind,
please consider
the following words
of Jesus Christ: "And no
unclean thing can enter
into his kingdom; therefore
nothing entereth into his rest
save it be those who have washed
their garments in my blood,
because of their faith, and the
repentance of all their sins,
and their faithfulness
unto the end."
Standing outside of my
house being sprayed off
by my grandmother was
unpleasant and uncomfortable.
Being denied the
opportunity to return and be
with our Father in Heaven
because we chose to remain in
or dirtied by a mud hole of
sin would be eternally tragic.
We should not deceive
ourselves about what
it takes to return and remain
in the presence of our Father
in Heaven.
We have to be clean.
Before we came to this
earth, we participated
as spirit sons and daughters
of God in a grand council.
Each of us was paying attention,
and none of us fell asleep.
In that council, our Father
in Heaven presented a plan.
And because the plan
preserved our agency
and required that we learn from
our own experience and not just
from His, He knew
we would commit sin.
He also knew that
sin would cause
us to become unclean and unable
to return to His presence
because where He lives is even
cleaner than a house cleaned
by my grandmother.
Because our Father in Heaven
loves us and has as His purpose
"to bring to pass [our]
immortality and eternal life,"
His plan included the role of a
Savior--someone who could help
us become clean no matter
how dirty we have become.
When our Father in
Heaven announced the need
for a Savior, I
believe all of us
turned and looked at Jesus
Christ, the Firstborn
in the Spirit, the
one who had progressed
to the point of becoming
like the Father.
I believe all of us
knew it had to be Him,
that none of the rest of us
could do it, but that He could
and that He would.
In the Garden of Gethsemane
and on the cross at Golgotha,
Jesus Christ suffered both body
and spirit, trembled because
of pain, pled with His
Father to take away
the bitter cup from Him,
and yet He still partook.
Why did He do it?
In His words, He wanted
to glorify His Father
and finish His "preparations
unto the children of men."
He wanted to keep His covenant
and make possible our return
home.
What does He ask
us to do in return?
He simply pleads with
us to confess our sins
and repent so that we will
not have to suffer as He did.
He invites us to become
clean so that we are not
left outside of our
Father in Heaven's house.
Although avoidance of sin is
the preferred pattern in life,
as far as the efficacy of
the Atonement of Jesus Christ
is concerned, it matters not
what sins we have committed
or how deep we have sunk
into that proverbial pit.
It matters not that we are
ashamed or embarrassed because
of the sins that, as
the prophet Nephi said,
"so easily beset" us.
It matters not that once upon
a time we traded our birthright
for a mess of pottage.
What does matter is that
Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
suffered "pains and afflictions
and temptations of every kind"
so "that he may know
according to the flesh
how to succor his people."
What does matter is that He
was willing to condescend,
to come to this earth and
descend "below all things"
and suffer "more powerful
contradictions than any man"
ever could.
What does matter is that Christ
is pleading our case before
the Father, "saying: Father,
behold the sufferings and death
of him who did no sin, in whom
thou wast well pleased; ...
wherefore, Father,
spare these my brethren
that believe on my name,
that they may come unto me
and have everlasting life."
That is what really matters
and what should give all of us
renewed hope and a determination
to try one more time,
because He has not forgotten us.
I testify that the
Savior will never
turn away from us when we humbly
seek Him in order to repent.
He will never consider us to be
a lost cause; will never say,
"Oh no, not you
again"; will never
reject us because of a
failure to understand
how hard it is to avoid sin.
He understands it all
perfectly, including the sense
of sorrow, shame,
and frustration that
is the inevitable
consequence of sin.
Repentance is real and it works.
It is not a fictional
experience or the product
"of a frenzied mind."
It has the power to lift burdens
and replace them with hope.
It can lead to a
mighty change of heart
that results in our having "no
more disposition to do evil,
but to do good continually."
Repentance, of
necessity, is not easy.
Things of eternal
significance rarely are.
But the result is worth it.
As President Boyd K. Packer
testified in his last address
to the Seventy of the
Church: "The thought
is this: the
[Savior's] Atonement
leaves no tracks, no traces.
What it fixes is fixed.
...
The [Savior's] Atonement
leaves no traces, no tracks.
It just heals, and what
it heals stays healed."
And so it is that our hope
to live again with the Father
depends on the Atonement
of Jesus Christ,
upon the willingness of
the one sinless Being
to take upon Himself, in
stark contrast to the demands
of justice, the collective
weight of the transgressions
of all mankind, including
those sins that some sons
and daughters
unnecessarily choose
to suffer for on their own.
As members of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, we attribute
greater power
to the Savior's Atonement
than most other people
because we know that if we
make covenants, continually
repent, and endure
to the end, He
will make us joint heirs
with Him and, like Him,
we will receive all
that the Father hath.
That is an earth-shattering
doctrine, and yet it is true.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ
makes the Savior's invitation
to "be ye therefore perfect,
even as your Father which
is in heaven is perfect"
perfectly possible
rather than frustratingly
out of reach.
The scriptures teach
that every individual
must "be judged according to
the holy judgment of God."
On that day there
will be no opportunity
to hide among a
larger group or point
to others as an excuse
for our being unclean.
Gratefully, the
scriptures also teach
that Jesus Christ, He who
suffered for our sins, who
is our Advocate with the Father,
who calls us His friends, who
loves us unto the end, He
ultimately will be our judge.
One of the often overlooked
blessings of the Atonement
of Jesus Christ is
that "the Father ...
hath committed all
judgment unto the Son."
Brothers and sisters, if you
feel discouraged or wonder
if you can ever get out
of the spiritual hole
that you have dug
or stumbled into,
please remember who
stands "betwixt [us]
and justice," who is
"filled with compassion
towards the children
of men," and who
has taken upon Himself our
iniquities and transgressions
and "satisfied the
demands of justice."
In other words, as Nephi did
in his moment of self-doubt,
simply remember "in whom
[you] have trusted,"
even Jesus Christ, and then
repent and experience yet again
a "perfect brightness of hope."
In the name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
In His mortal ministry, Jesus
worked such mighty miracles
of healing and taught with
such authority and power that
the scripture says, "His fame
went throughout all Syria ...
and there followed him
great multitudes of people."
Some who saw Him heal and
heard Him teach rejected Him.
Others followed Him
for a season but then
walked with Him no more.
The Lord Jesus Christ was
there in front of them,
but they did not see
who He really was.
They were blind, and
they chose to turn away.
Of them, Jesus said:
"I came unto my own, and
my own received me not."
"Their ears are dull of
hearing, and their eyes
they have closed."
However, there were
many men and women,
including His
faithful Apostles, who
centered their lives on Him.
Though they struggled
with worldly distractions,
with confusion about what He
taught, and even with fear,
they believed in Him, loved
Him, and followed Him.
Of them, Jesus said, "Blessed
are your eyes, for they see:
and your ears, for they hear."
Just before His
suffering in Gethsemane
and on Calvary, Jesus
made His disciples
this remarkable promise: "He
that believeth on me, the works
that I do shall he do also;
and greater works than these
shall he do; because
I go unto my Father."
Jesus fulfilled that
promise: beginning
with the day of
Pentecost, the disciples
were blessed with the baptism
of fire and of the Holy Ghost.
Through faith in Christ,
repentance, and obedience,
the Holy Ghost became
their companion,
changed their hearts, and
blessed them with an abiding
witness of the truth.
These gifts and
blessings strengthened
the Lord's disciples.
Although the times they lived
in were dangerous and confusing,
they received the spiritual
gift of eyes to see
and ears to hear.
By the power of the
Holy Ghost, they
began to see the truth of things
as they really are, especially
of the Lord Jesus Christ
and His work among them.
The Holy Ghost enlightened
their understanding,
and they heard the voice
of the Lord more clearly.
The gospel of Jesus Christ
sunk deep into their hearts.
They were steadfast
and obedient.
They preached the gospel
with boldness and power
and built up the kingdom of God.
They had joy in the
Lord Jesus Christ.
We have much in common
with those faithful
men and women in the
meridian of time.
We too live in a time
when the Lord Jesus Christ
works miracles among us,
including healing the sick,
cleansing us from sin,
changing our hearts,
and opening salvation
to God's children
on both sides of the veil.
In our time we also have
living prophets and apostles,
priesthood power,
spiritual gifts,
and the supernal blessings of
the ordinances of salvation.
Our time is a dangerous
time--a time of great evil
and temptation, a time of
confusion and commotion.
In these perilous times,
the Lord's prophet
on the earth, President
Thomas S. Monson,
has called us to rescue
the wounded in spirit,
to stand for truth with
courage, and to build
the kingdom of God.
Whatever level of spirituality
or faith or obedience
we now have, it will not be
sufficient for the work that
lies ahead.
We need greater spiritual
light and power.
We need eyes to see more clearly
the Savior working in our lives
and ears to hear His voice
more deeply in our hearts.
This marvelous blessing
comes when we open our hearts
and receive--truly
receive--the Lord Jesus Christ,
His doctrine, and His
Church into our lives.
We do not have to be
perfect, but we need
to be good and getting better.
We need to strive to live
the plain and simple truths
of the gospel.
If we take upon us the name of
Christ, act with faith in Him
to repent of our sins,
keep His commandments,
and always remember Him, we
will receive the companionship
of the Holy Ghost through
the mercy and grace
of Jesus Christ.
Simple obedience brings
the Spirit into our hearts.
In our homes, we pray in
faith, search the scriptures,
and keep the Sabbath day holy.
In our chapels, we
partake of the sacrament
and make sacred promises
to our Heavenly Father
in the name of Christ.
In holy temples, we participate
in sacred ordinances
on behalf of our
brothers and sisters
on the other side of the veil.
In our families and in our
assignments from the Lord,
we reach out to others,
lifting their burdens
and inviting them
to come unto Christ.
Brothers and sisters,
I know that if we
will do these things,
the Holy Ghost will come!
We will grow spiritually
and gain experience
with the Holy Ghost, and
He will be our companion.
If we will look to Christ and
open our eyes and our ears,
the Holy Ghost will bless
us to see the Lord Jesus
Christ working in our lives,
strengthening our faith in Him
with assurance and evidence.
We increasingly will see all
of our brothers and sisters
the way God sees them--with
love and compassion.
We will hear the Savior's
voice in the scriptures,
in the whisperings
of the Spirit,
and in the words of
the living prophets.
We will see the power of
God resting upon His prophet
and all the leaders of His
true and living Church,
and we will know with a surety
that this is God's holy work.
We will see and understand
ourselves and the world
around us the way
the Savior does.
We will come to have what
the Apostle Paul called
"the mind of Christ."
We will have eyes to
see and ears to hear,
and we will build
the kingdom of God.
Life may get hard, confusing,
painful, and discouraging.
I bear you my witness that
through the companionship
of the Holy Ghost, the light
of the gospel of Jesus Christ
will cut through the confusion,
the pain, and the darkness.
Whether it comes in a remarkable
burst or in a gentle flow,
that glorious
spiritual power will
infuse healing love and comfort
into the repentant, wounded
soul; dispel darkness
with the light of truth;
and cast out discouragement
with hope in Christ.
We will see these
blessings come,
and we will know by the
witness of the Spirit
that it is the Lord Jesus
Christ working in our lives.
Our burdens truly
will be "swallowed up
in the joy of [our Redeemer]."
An experience my mother and
father had many years ago
illustrates the importance
and power of eyes to see
and ears to hear.
In 1982 my parents were called
to serve in the Philippines
Davao Mission.
When my mother opened the letter
and saw where they were called,
she exclaimed to my father, "No!
You've got to call
them and tell them
we can't go to the Philippines.
They know you have asthma."
My father had suffered
with asthma for many years,
and my mother was very
worried about him.
A few nights later my
mother woke up my dad
at about 2:30 a.m.
She said, "Merlin, did
you hear that voice?"
"No, I didn't hear any voice."
"Well, I have heard the
same voice three times
tonight, saying,
'Why are you worried?
Don't you know that
I know he has asthma?
I will take care of him,
and I will take care of you.
Get yourself ready to
serve in the Philippines.'"
My mother and father
served in the Philippines
and had a marvelous experience.
The Holy Ghost was
their companion,
and they were blessed
and protected.
My father never had any
problems with his asthma.
He served as the first counselor
in the mission presidency,
and he and my mother trained
hundreds of missionaries
and thousands of
faithful Latter-day
Saints in preparation for the
coming of wards and stakes
on the island of Mindanao.
They were blessed with eyes
to see and ears to hear.
Brothers and sisters, I bear
witness of Jesus Christ.
I know He lives.
He is our Savior and Redeemer.
I know that if we receive
Him into our lives
and live the plain and
simple truths of His gospel,
we will enjoy the companionship
of the Holy Ghost.
We will have the precious
gift of eyes to see
and ears to hear.
I so testify in the sacred
name of Jesus Christ, amen.
On March 11, 2011,
I was standing
on a platform in the Tokyo
Shinagawa train station
to visit the Japan Kobe Mission.
At approximately 2:46 p.m.,
a 9.0-magnitude massive
earthquake struck.
I was not able to stand
because of the intense shaking,
and I held tightly
to a stair rail.
Lights on nearby ceilings
began falling to the floor.
All of Tokyo was in a panic.
Fortunately, I was not
injured, and four hours later I
was relieved to learn that
my entire family was safe.
On television there
was a stream of
terrifying, shocking footage.
A massive tsunami surged
into the Sendai mission area,
sweeping away
everything in its path:
cars, houses,
factories, and fields.
I was stunned by the
tragic images, and I wept.
And I fervently prayed that our
Heavenly Father's protection
and assistance would be upon
the people living in this region
that I so dearly love.
Later it was confirmed that
all the missionaries and Church
members were safe.
However, many members
were affected,
losing their family
members, homes,
and household possessions.
Over 20,000 people perished,
communities were destroyed,
and many people
were forced to leave
their homes as a result of the
nuclear power plant accident.
Disasters such as this
are wreaking havoc
in many parts of
the world today,
causing much loss of life.
We are warned that
disasters, wars,
and countless difficulties
in the world will occur.
When trials such as these
suddenly come upon us,
we may question, "Why do
these things happen to me?"
or "Why do I have to suffer?"
For a long period after I
converted to the gospel,
I didn't have a clear answer
to the question, "Why am I
given trials?"
I understood the part
of the plan of salvation
that we will be tested.
However, in reality, when
it came to this question,
I did not have a conviction
that was powerful enough
to adequately answer it.
But there came a time
in my life when I too
experienced a major trial.
When I was 30 years old, I was
visiting the Nagoya mission
as part of my work.
After the meeting,
the mission president
kindly arranged for the elders
to drive me to the airport.
However, as we reached
the intersection
at the bottom of a long
hill, a large truck
came barreling down from
behind us at great speed.
It rammed into the
rear of our car
and propelled it forward
more than 70 feet.
The terrifying part of all of
this was there was no driver.
The rear of our
car was compacted
to half its original size.
Fortunately, both the
elders and I survived.
However, on the following
day I began experiencing pain
in my neck and shoulders and
developed a severe headache.
From that day, I
couldn't sleep, and I
was forced to live each day with
both physical and mental pain.
I prayed to God to
please heal my pain,
but these symptoms lingered
on for about 10 years.
At this time,
feelings of doubt also
began creeping into my mind,
and I wondered, "Why do I
have to suffer this much pain?"
However, even though the
kind of healing I sought
was not granted, I
strove to be faithful
in keeping God's commandments.
I continued to pray
that I would be
able to resolve the questions
I had about my trials.
There came a time
when I found myself
struggling with a new,
additional personal issue,
and I was agitated
because I did not know how
to cope with this new trial.
I was praying for an answer,
but I didn't receive an answer
right away.
So I went and talked with
a trusted Church leader.
As we were talking,
with love in his voice,
he said, "Brother Aoyagi,
isn't your purpose
for being on this earth
to experience this trial?
Isn't it enough to
accept all the trials
of this life for what they
are and then leave the rest up
to the Lord?
Don't you think that this
problem will be resolved
when we are resurrected?"
When I heard these words, I
felt the Spirit of the Lord
very strongly.
I had heard this
doctrine countless times,
but the eyes of my
understanding had never
been opened to the extent
they were at this time.
I understood this was the
answer that I had been seeking
from the Lord in my prayers.
I was able to clearly
comprehend our Heavenly Father's
plan of salvation,
and I understood anew
this important principle.
In Abraham, the
Lord God declared,
"And we will prove
them herewith,
to see if they will do all
things whatsoever the Lord
their God shall command them."
It is that the God who created
the heavens and the earth knows
the grand design of this earth,
and that He has dominion over
all things in the
heavens and the earth,
and that in order to bring to
pass the plan of salvation,
He provides us with many
different experiences--that is
to say, trials--while
we are on this earth.
And the Lord said the
following to Joseph Smith:
"Know thou, my son,
that all these things
shall give thee experience,
and shall be for thy good.
...
"Therefore, hold on thy way,
... for God shall be with you
forever and ever."
The trials of this
earth--including illness
and death--are a part of the
plan of salvation and are
inevitable experiences.
It is necessary for us
to "hold on thy way"
and accept our
trials with faith.
However, the
purpose of our lives
is not merely to endure trials.
Heavenly Father sent His
Beloved Son, Jesus Christ,
as our Savior and Redeemer
so we could overcome
the trials we face on this
earth; in other words,
He makes our weak
things become strong,
He atones for our sins
and our imperfections,
and He makes it possible
for us to obtain
immortality and eternal life.
President Henry
B. Eyring stated:
"But the test a
loving God has set
before us is not to see if
we can endure difficulty.
It is to see if we
can endure it well.
We pass the test
by showing that we
[remember] Him and the
commandments He gave us."
"Hold on thy way" is a key
choice during times of trial.
Turn one's heart to God,
especially when we face trials.
Humbly obey the
commandments of God.
Show faith to reconcile one's
wishes with the will of God.
Let's now consider that
rear-end collision in Nagoya.
I could have died
in that accident.
Nevertheless, through the Lord's
grace, I miraculously survived.
And I know that my sufferings
were for my learning
and for my growth.
Heavenly Father schooled
me to temper my patience,
to develop empathy,
and to comfort
those who are suffering.
Realizing this, my
heart was filled
with feelings of thankfulness
toward my Heavenly Father
for this trial.
Put God first, regardless
of the trials you face.
Love God.
Have faith in
Christ, and entrust
yourself to Him in all things.
Moroni makes the following
promise to such people:
"And if ye shall deny
yourselves of all ungodliness,
and love God with
all your might,
mind and strength, then is
his grace sufficient for you,
that by his grace ye may
be perfect in Christ."
I sincerely testify that God
the Father and His Beloved
Son, Jesus Christ, live
and that God's promises
to those who "hold on thy way"
and love Him will be fulfilled
even in the midst of trials.
In the sacred name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
[MUSIC PLAYING - "PUT YOUR
SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL"]
In 1996, President
Gordon B. Hinckley
appeared on the
national television news
program 60 Minutes.
Mike Wallace, an experienced
and tenacious journalist,
interviewed President
Hinckley about a number
of important topics.
Near the end of
their conversation,
Mr. Wallace remarked,
"There are those who
say, 'This is a gerontocracy.
This is a church
run by old men.'"
President Hinckley
responded cheerfully
and without hesitation,
"Isn't it wonderful
to have a man of maturity at
the head, a man of judgment who
is not blown about by
every wind of doctrine?"
My purpose is to explain why
indeed it is wonderful to have
older men of great spiritual
maturity and judgment serving
in the senior leadership
positions of the restored
Church of Jesus Christ and why
we should "hear" and "hearken"
to the teachings of these
men whom the Lord has "chosen
to bear testimony
of [His] name ...
among all nations, kindreds,
tongues, and people."
I pray we may all be
instructed by the Holy Ghost
as we consider together
this significant subject.
I speak about this topic
from a decidedly distinctive
perspective.
For the last 11
years, I have been
the youngest member
of the Twelve
in terms of chronological age.
During my years of service, the
average age of the men serving
in the First Presidency and the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
has been 77 years--the oldest
average age of the Apostles
over an 11-year interval
in this dispensation.
I have been blessed by the
collective apostolic, personal,
and professional experience and
insight of the quorum members
with whom I serve.
An example from my association
with Elder Robert D. Hales
highlights the
remarkable opportunities
I have to learn from and
serve with these leaders.
Several years ago I
spent a Sunday afternoon
with Elder Hales in his
home as he was recovering
from a serious illness.
We discussed our families,
our quorum responsibilities,
and important experiences.
At one point I
asked, "Elder Hales,
you have been a successful
husband, father, athlete,
pilot, business executive,
and Church leader.
What lessons have you learned
as you have grown older
and been constrained by
decreased physical capacity?"
Elder Hales paused for
a moment and responded,
"When you cannot do what
you have always done,
then you only do
what matters most."
I was struck by the simplicity
and comprehensiveness
of his answer.
My beloved apostolic associate
shared with me a lesson
of a lifetime--a lesson
learned through the crucible
of physical suffering
and spiritual searching.
The limitations that are
the natural consequence
of advancing age
can in fact become
remarkable sources of
spiritual learning and insight.
The very factors
many may believe
limit the effectiveness
of these servants
can become some of their
greatest strengths.
Physical restrictions
can expand vision.
Limited stamina can
clarify priorities.
Inability to do many
things can direct focus
to a few things of
greatest importance.
Some people have suggested
younger, more vigorous leaders
are needed in the Church
to address effectively
the serious challenges
of our modern world.
But the Lord does not use
contemporary philosophies
and practices of leadership
to accomplish His purposes.
We can expect the President
and other senior leaders
of the Church will be older
and spiritually seasoned men.
The Lord's revealed
pattern of governance
by councils in His Church
provides for and attenuates
the impact of human frailties.
Interestingly, the mortal
limitations of these men
actually affirm
the divine source
of the revelations that
come to and through them.
Truly these men are
called of God by prophecy.
I have observed in my Brethren
at least a part of the Lord's
purpose for having older
men of maturity and judgment
serve in senior leadership
positions of the Church.
These men have had a sustained
season of tutoring by the Lord,
whom they represent,
serve, and love.
They have learned to
understand the divine language
of the Holy Spirit and
the Lord's patterns
for receiving revelation.
These ordinary men have
undergone a most extraordinary
developmental process that
has sharpened their vision,
informed their insight,
engendered love for people
from all nations
and circumstances,
and affirmed the reality
of the Restoration.
I have witnessed repeatedly my
Brethren striving diligently
to fulfill and magnify
their responsibilities
while struggling with
serious physical problems.
These men are not
spared from affliction.
Rather, they are
blessed and strengthened
to press forward
valiantly while suffering
in and with affliction.
Serving with these
representatives of the Lord,
I have come to know
their greatest desire is
to discern and do the
will of our Heavenly
Father and His Beloved Son.
Counseling with my Brethren,
inspiration has been received
and decisions have been made
that reflect a degree of light
and truth far beyond human
intelligence, reasoning,
and experience.
Working together in unity
on perplexing problems,
our collective
understanding of an issue
has been enlarged
in marvelous ways
by the power of the Holy Ghost.
I am blessed to observe
on a daily basis
the individual
personalities, capacities,
and noble characters
of these leaders.
Some people find the
human shortcomings
of the Brethren troubling
and faith-diminishing.
For me those imperfections
are encouraging and
faith-promoting.
I have now witnessed
six of my Brethren
receive a transfer
through physical death
to new responsibilities
in the spirit world:
President James E. Faust,
President Gordon B. Hinckley,
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, Elder
L. Tom Perry, President Boyd K.
Packer, and Elder
Richard G. Scott.
These valiant Brethren
devoted their "whole souls"
to testifying of the name of
Jesus Christ in all the world.
The totality of their
teachings is priceless.
These servants shared with
us in the concluding years
of their mortal ministries
powerful spiritual summaries
of lessons learned through
decades of consecrated service.
These leaders imparted
truths of great worth
at a time when some may believe
they had the least to give.
Consider the final
teachings of great prophets
in the scriptures.
For example, Nephi concluded
his record with these words:
"For thus hath the Lord
commanded me, and I must obey."
Near the end of his
life, Jacob admonished:
"Repent ye, and enter
in at the strait gate,
and continue in the way
which is narrow, until ye
shall obtain eternal life.
"O be wise; what
can I say more?"
Moroni completed his work
of preparing the plates
with a hopeful anticipation
of the resurrection:
"I soon go to rest in
the paradise of God,
until my spirit and body
shall again reunite,
and I am brought forth
triumphant through the air,
to meet you before
the pleasing bar
of the great
Jehovah, the Eternal
Judge of both quick and dead."
Brothers and sisters,
you and I are
blessed to learn from
the benedictory teachings
and testimonies of latter-day
prophets and apostles.
The names today are not
Nephi, Jacob, and Moroni,
but President Faust, President
Hinckley, Elder Wirthlin,
Elder Perry, President
Packer, and Elder Scott.
I am not suggesting
the final messages
of these beloved
men necessarily were
the most noteworthy or
important of their ministries.
However, the sum of their
spiritual learning and life
experiences enabled
these leaders
to emphasize eternal truths
with absolute authenticity
and great penetrating power.
In his last general conference
address in April of 2007,
President Faust declared:
"The Savior has
offered to all of us
a precious peace
through His Atonement,
but this can come only as
we are willing to cast out
negative feelings of
anger, spite, or revenge.
...
"Let us remember that we need
to forgive to be forgiven.
...
With all my heart and soul, I
believe in the healing power
that can come to us as we
follow the counsel of the Savior
'to forgive all men.'"
President Faust's message
is a powerful lesson
of a lifetime from a man I love
and one of the most forgiving
men I have known.
President Hinckley testified
in his last general conference
in October of 2007.
He said: "I affirm my witness
of the calling of the Prophet
Joseph, of his works, of
the sealing of his testimony
with his blood as a martyr
to the eternal truth.
...
You and I are faced
with the stark question
of accepting the truth
of the First Vision
and that which followed it.
On the question of its
reality lies the very validity
of this Church.
If it is the truth, and I
testify that it is, then
the work in which we are engaged
is the most important work
on the earth."
President Hinckley's
witness affirms
a powerful lesson of a lifetime
from a man I love and know
was a prophet of God.
Elder Wirthlin delivered
his final general conference
message in October of 2008.
He said: "I still remember [my
mother's] advice given to me
long ago on that day when my
team lost a football game:
'Come what may, and love it.'
"...
Adversity, if handled correctly,
can be a blessing in our lives.
...
"As we look for humor, seek
for the eternal perspective,
understand the principle
of compensation,
and draw near to
our Heavenly Father,
we can endure
hardship and trial.
We can say, as did my mother,
'Come what may, and love it.'"
Elder Wirthlin's message
is a powerful lesson
of a lifetime from
a man I love and who
was a living sermon of
overcoming difficulties
through faith in the Savior.
Elder Perry stood at this
pulpit just six months ago.
At that time we could
not have imagined
his testimony would be his
last in a general conference.
Can you hear his voice?
"Let me close by bearing
witness (and my nine
decades on this earth fully
qualify me to say this)
that the older I get,
the more I realize
that family is
the center of life
and is the key to
eternal happiness.
"I give thanks for my
wife, for my children,
for my grandchildren and
my great-grandchildren,
and for ... extended family
who make my own life so rich
and, yes, even eternal.
Of this eternal truth
I bear my strongest
and most sacred witness."
Elder Perry's message
is a powerful lesson
of a lifetime from
a man I love and who
understood through
vast experience
the essential relationship
between family
and eternal happiness.
President Packer emphasized
in general conference
six months ago the
Father's plan of happiness,
the Savior's Atonement,
and eternal families.
Said he:
"I bear witness that
Jesus is the Christ
and the Son of the living God.
He stands at the
head of the Church.
Through His Atonement and
the power of the priesthood,
families which are
begun in mortality
can be together
through the eternities.
...
I am so grateful for ... the
Atonement which can wash clean
every stain no matter how
difficult or how long or how
many times repeated.
The Atonement can
put you free again
to move forward,
cleanly and worthily."
President Packer's final message
is a lesson of a lifetime from
a man I love and who
emphatically and repeatedly
declared that the purpose "of
all activity in the Church is
to see that a man and a woman
with their children are happy
at home, sealed together for
time and ... all eternity."
Elder Scott proclaimed in his
last general conference talk
in October 2014,
he taught: "We came
to mortal life precisely to
grow from trials and testing.
Challenges help us become more
like our Father in Heaven,
and the Atonement
of Jesus Christ
makes it possible to
endure those challenges.
I testify that as we
actively come unto Him,
we can endure every
temptation, every heartache,
every challenge we face."
Elder Scott's message
is a powerful lesson
of a lifetime from a man I love
and a beloved special witness
of the name of Christ
in all the world.
Brothers and sisters,
the Savior declared,
"Whether by mine own voice or
by the voice of my servants,
it is the same."
May we hear and heed
the eternal truths
taught by the Lord's
authorized representatives.
As we do so, I promise our
faith in Heavenly Father
and Jesus Christ
will be fortified,
and we will receive spiritual
guidance and protection
for our specific
circumstances and needs.
With all the energy
of my soul, I
witness the
resurrected and living
Christ directs the affairs of
His restored and living Church
through His servants
who have been chosen
to bear testimony of His name.
I so testify in the sacred
name of Jesus Christ, amen.
At the conclusion
of the conference,
we express gratitude to our
Heavenly Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ for the
outpouring of the Spirit which
we have felt, for all that
has been said and done.
We express sincere
appreciation to all
who have worked so diligently
to prepare for these services.
We thank all those
who have spoken
and those who have provided
the uplifting music.
The choir will now
close this conference
by singing "Love One Another."
The benediction will then
be offered by Elder Scott D.
Whiting of the Seventy.
Thank you, brothers and sisters,
for your faithful and righteous
lives.
May the Lord bless
and sustain you.
[MUSIC PLAYING - "LOVE ONE
ANOTHER"]
Our dear Father in Heaven, we
love Thee and we love Thy Son.
We come before Thee at the close
of this, the 185th Semiannual
General Conference,
with great gratitude
in our hearts, Father,
for the opportunity
that we've had to sit at
the feet of prophets, seers,
and revelators.
We are grateful for
the health and strength
of President Monson, for
his prophetic mantle.
We're grateful
for the revelation
that we have seen as three new
special witnesses of the name
of Thy Son have
been called, and we
pray a blessing to be upon them
and their families and also
upon the families of the quorum
members whom they will now
associate with.
We are mindful of those
who have departed.
We love them.
We pray a blessing of
comfort and strength
to be upon their families.
Father, this is Thy holy day.
This is Thy Sabbath.
It has been a delight
unto us, and we
pray that this conference
and our worship
here will be received
as a sign of our love
to Thee and our desire
to hear Thy words
and to return home to Thee.
Bless us that we will
have placed in our hearts
the desire to review the
words which we have heard
in the coming weeks and months
and that we will reflect
upon them again and again.
Father, we love Thee,
and we say these things
in the name of Thy Son,
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.