October 2022 General Conference Summary

1. Judging
1. Don't misjudge
2. Judge the "good works" of others using God's test
3. Forgive
2. Repent 
1. of all your sins, daily - there are "layers" - keep working on it
2. Don't condone sin
3. Revelation;
1. Be guided by truth from God. Embrace it wherever it is found.
2. Let the scriptures, commandments, continuing revelation be your framework for personal revelation
4. Jesus Christ: 
1. Love Him more than anyone or anything else. 
2. Focus on Him
3. Let Him be the source of your daily power. He is the "door".
4. He is the answer to every question and problem
5. He is coming back. Accept the invitation to join Him
6. Spend extra time with the Lord.
5. Prepare 
1. to be a "pioneer" in every sense of the word
2. to teach the gospel to everyone and turn the wounded to Jesus.
3. for the coming "earthquakes" in your life.
4. These will be your best lessons
6. Testimony:
1. Know what your defining moments are
2. Expect more at unexpected times
3. Don't be ashamed of it
4. Know what it consists of (Father, Son, JS, Restoration, Prophet)
5. Acquire a witness of the Holy ghost
6. Make it a priority
7. Holy Ghost. 
1. Receive it
2. You won't survive without it
3. Pay attention to promptings, even from others
4. The heavens are open
8. Faith:
1. Do your works by faith
2. Make your life a symbol of your faith
3. Meekness is evidence of faith
4. Show your faith
5. Will help you find joy and peace no matter the circumstance  
6. Respond with faith to tests and compensatory blessings will come
7. Face the impossible with faith
8. Don't give up and hide. Act. Let Jesus "see" your faith. He will ask you to prove your faith.
9. Turn your heart to God and lean in with your faith as you participate in your daily holy habits and rituals.
10. Strengthen your faith. 
9. Temple
1.  It will help heal intergenerational conflict
2.  Spend more time there for added strength, power and protection.
3.  Learn about the special kind of "rest" the Lord has for you
10. Pray
1. For charity. Without it you are nothing
2. To be Born Again. This is how you "experience" His love.  The "fire of the covenant" will help you make it through hard times.
3. To not be deceived
4. To have Jesus "finish your faith"
5. Pray for eyes to see and ears to hear
6. For wisdom and meekness
7. Watch and pray continually. Wait upon the Lord and trust Him. Miracles will come.
8. Fast
11. Church:
1. Power comes with unity. Don't let Satan divide us
2. Stay firmly planted
3. Be meek and humble; one of the "few humble followers of Christ"
4. Go to church and find belonging there
12. Truth:
1. ask, seek, knock
2. spiritually prepare to receive
3. Stand for truth and righteousness in all things, in all place and at all times
13. Minister
1. Be a Good Shepherd 
2. Love deeper. in person, and one by one
3. As a representative of the Lord
4. Ascend to higher, holier more mature ways
5. Invite others to come to Christ
6. Share your testimony and what you have learned
7. Acknowledge and ask questions
8. Be anxiously engaged in relieving the suffering of the poor and distressed
14. Missionary Work:
1. Share the word of God with everyone
2. It is urgently needed to change minds and hearts, lead people to do right, illuminate souls and cut through the snares of the devil
3. Thousands are yet to be converted - Prepare to teach them
4. Protect and care for your family
15. Book of Mormon/Scriptures
1. Read it
2. Love it
3. Share it
4. It's our survival guide
5. It will help you make better decisions, open the windows of heaven, protect you
6. Learn God's patterns
7. Find Jesus and Hear Him
8. Know Him
9. Feast on the scriptures
10. Learn truth from the source
11. Know the scriptures
16. Our Day:
1. Wake up! We are in prophesied dark and times of turmoil
2. It's going to get darker. Don't fail, falter flinch or flee. It was all prophesied
3. Look forward to Zion and the Millennium
4. Don't become casual. These are unprecedented and perilous times. 
5. Separate yourself from the world - be distinct, uncommon and special without isolating yourself.
6. Beware of deception.
7. Take up your cross - deny ungodliness, sacrifice, be willing to suffer
8. Learn from your losses
9. You will be taken out of your comfort zone
10. Beware of the precepts of men
11. Bridle anger and lust
12. Don't fear
13. Be aware there are "tares" among us.
14. Question what you think you see.
15. Know the signs of the Second Coming
16. Choose to be chosen
17. Prepare for persecution
18. Accept what you cannot change
19. Get rid of pride
20. How do you plan to leave this earth?
21. Take care of the earth and all living things under God's guidance

Summary Sunday Afternoon Session Oct 2022

Pres. Eyring - Legacy of Encouragement

Let others feel your faith and love. Put Jesus Christ first. Be determined to qualify to return to Him. Accept the trials and tests coming and the opposition of Satan. You can pass these test through faith in Jesus Christ. Keep Him close. He is the "door" to eternal life. Meekness is evidence of your faith and is required to be one of His people. Know you are dependent on Christ. Let hope through the Atonement of Christ and of eternal life sustain you and keep you from pride. The gift of charity is coming. You will be filled with the pure love of Christ if you stay meek, have faith and hope. This gift will sustain and guide you in your struggles. It will change you.  Pray with all then energy of your heart to be filled with this love. It is given by the Father if you are a true follower of His Son. Spend time in person when you minister. You represent the Lord. Accept this invitation to repent, come unto Christ, receive His love and then offer it to others. 

Elder Olsen - The Answer is Jesus
Do what Jesus asks you to do and He will call you "friend". Find unity with others by keeping covenants because you love the Savior.  The Lord depends on you and has confidence in you.  He is no respecter of persons and is calling you as you are, telling you that you belong to Him.  Pray for a pure heart. The answer to every question and problem is "Jesus". Know Him better, remember Him more often, serve Him more valiantly individually and with others.  Teach the doctrine of Christ: faith, repentance, baptism, receive the Holy Ghost, endure to the end. It's all going to be OK because this is His work.  Let Jesus help you. Pray to know how to minister but begin with acknowledging and asking questions. You are good enough to do and become what He needs. Know the difference between the voice of the Adversary and Christ.  It is urgent that we preach the gospel to everyone. Make serving others about Christ. This is His church. Pray to have Jesus "finish your faith"

Elder Schmitt - That They Might Know Thee
Be a Good Shepherd: bring others to Christ. Minister in person. Go into the "wilderness" to bring them back. Know Christ will see to it that good things will come before, during and after the trials. Look forward to Zion and the Millennium - it's coming! Know the scriptures and have faith in what God can and will do. Be faithful and consistent in daily gospel living. The Spirit of the Lord will be poured upon us and those who repent. Go to the temple. Make your home and life holy. Be faithful and True. Trust Jesus, not man. Show your faith and stay no matter how hard it gets. Help others to stay. Study John 17

Elder Eddy - The Virtue of the Word
Share the word of God. it will change minds and hearts, lead people to do right, bring blessings, wake people up, illuminate souls, cut through the snares of the devil, and lead you across the gulf of misery. Experience the virtue of the word daily. Read the Book of Mormon: it is our survival guide and will help you make better decisions, open the windows of heaven, give you answer to questions and direction protect you from the evils of our day. Know the scriptures and hold fast to them. It will remind you God has delivered others. Thousands are yet to be converted. Learn as much as you can from the direct sources.  Pray to possess wisdom and meekness. Experience the mighty change through the virtue of the word.

Elder Stevenson - Nourishing and Bearing Your Testimony
Know what the defining moments of your testimony are. More are coming and when you least expect it. Do not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Have courage to act on prompting to share your testimony. The Spirit will come. Bear testimony of Joseph Smith if you don't know what to say.  Acquire a witness of the Holy Ghost if you don't have one. Be able to bear testimony that: God is your Father and loves you, that you are His child; that Jesus is His Son and lives and is your Savior and Redeemer; that Joseph Smith is a prophet and restored Christ's church on the earth and that church is led by a prophet today. Stand as a witness at all times, in all things, and in all places. Make it one of your highest priorities to nourish your testimony. Feast on God's word. pray. Obey the commandments.  Take the sacrament weekly. Learn to hear Him better. Spend more time in the temple and family history work.  

Elder Morrison - We Can Do Hard Things through Him
Expect the challenges that are coming. Glorify God in your response. These will be your best lessons. Make sure your family life includes holy habits and routines. Pay attention to the promptings of others, even if you didn't receive one. Learn from your losses. Minster to others by sharing what you have learned. Focus on Christ in your pain. You can endure all things through Christ. You can feel joy and peace no matter your circumstances by focusing on the Atonement of Christ. The scriptures will help you endure well the pain, sickness and trails coming. You will be taken out of your comfort zone but it will prepare you for Zion. Cheerfully respond with faith in the Lord. It will make you a greater disciple and bless you with compensatory blessings in ways you won't expect. 

Elder Cook - Be True to God and His Work
Read about early church history, leaders, and teachings and share it with the younger generation. The Church will again oversee the evacuation of the Saints to places of refuge and then Zion. The coming adversity will allow you to show you are true to God and His Work.  Have a knowledge of the truth of this Work for yourself and cleave to it or you will fall.  Live right and call upon the Lord until you attain it. You will have to be guided by the light within yourself.  The precepts of men are turning people away from God. Trust that God will support you in your trials.  Bridle your anger and lust. Refuse to participate in family violence, contention, and verbal abuse. Lead a pure moral life. Teach the seriousness of sin and how to repent.  Seek to prevent then repent if necessary.  Daily repent - there are "layers" to your sins. Keep working on it. This will bring purity and that will bring power.  Ponder the doctrine of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Don't let past, repented sins trouble you, only the thought of future sin.  Healing is available to all. 

Pres. Nelson - Focus on the Temple
The heavens are open if you will take the time to hear, through the Spirit, what has been said in these 5 sessions.  Record your impressions and follow them. Seek the help of the Father and the Son. They will respond. Jesus is coming.  There will be much darkness and destruction first, but return to Him, repent, be converted and fully Come to Christ.  Know that the scriptures will ALL be fulfilled. There will be great miracles and it will be worth every trial to be with Christ when He returns.  Christ can manifest Himself to you in His Holy House. The temple is filled with power.  Focus on the temple in ways you never have before. Be spiritually refined by spending more time there. It will bless your life in ways nothing else can.  Grow closer to Christ every day.  Do not lose sight of what the Lord is doing for you right now! 

President Nelson Oct 2022

 I promise that increased time in the temple will bless your life in ways nothing else can.

Dear brothers and sisters, during these five magnificent sessions of general conference, we have once again experienced that the heavens are open! I pray that you have recorded your impressions and will follow through with them. Our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, stand ready to help you. I urge you to increase your efforts to seek Their help.

Recently, Sister Nelson and I had the opportunity to preview the new season 4 of the Book of Mormon Videos series.¹ We were inspired by them! May I show you a brief excerpt from the scene depicting the Savior’s appearance to the Nephites.

I think it is significant that the excerpt he chose to show begins with the destruction before the appearance of Christ. We must remember these people had this event prophesied to them hundreds of years earlier. Perhaps they thought it would not be in their lifetime as it was not in so very many before them. Surely it will be in "someone else's day". But it was in their day. Many lost their lives. It must have been so traumatic for all, especially the little children. The Lord told those who had survived that they were spared because they were "more righteous" than the others and had not stoned the prophets. There is much for us to learn from this! They were told to return to Him and repent and be converted and He would heal them. We must know when it is our turn that the most amazing of miracles came after this and it was worth every moment of what had happened before. But we must repent and come to Him!

It is significant that the Savior chose to appear to the people at the temple. It is His house. It is filled with His power. Let us never lose sight of what the Lord is doing for us now. He is making His temples more accessible. He is accelerating the pace at which we are building temples. He is increasing our ability to help gather Israel. He is also making it easier for each of us to become spiritually refined. I promise that increased time in the temple will bless your life in ways nothing else can.

We currently have 168 operating temples and 53 new temples under construction and another 54 in the preconstruction design phase!² I am pleased to announce our plans to build a new temple in each of the following locations: Busan, Korea; Naga, Philippines; Santiago, Philippines; Eket, Nigeria; Chiclayo, Peru; Buenos Aires City Center, Argentina; Londrina, Brazil; Ribeirão Prêto, Brazil; Huehuetenango, Guatemala; Jacksonville, Florida; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Prosper, Texas; Lone Mountain, Nevada; and Tacoma, Washington.

We are also planning to build multiple temples in selected large metropolitan areas where travel time to an existing temple is a major challenge. Therefore, I am pleased to announce four additional locations near Mexico City where new temples will be built in Cuernavaca, Pachuca, Toluca, and Tula.

My dear brothers and sisters, may you focus on the temple in ways you never have before. I bless you to grow closer to God and Jesus Christ every day. I love you. May God be with you until we meet again, I pray in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Lessons Learned:     

1. The heavens are open! Learn what God has for you in these words you have been given

2. Record your own impressions and follow them

3. The Father and Son are going to help you but you must seek their help

4. Jesus is coming. There will be much darkness and destruction first

5. Return to Him, repent, be converted. Fully come to Him

6. Know the scriptures WILL be fulfilled

7. There will be great miracles and it will be worth every trial to be with Him when He returns

8. The Savior appeared  to the Nephites at the temple. He can manifest Himself to you there as well. 

9. The temple is His house and is filled with power.

10. Do not lose sight of what the Lord is doing for you right now!

11. Be spiritually refined by increasing your time in the temple. It will bless your life in ways nothing else can.

12. Focus on the temple in ways you never have before

13. Grow closer to Christ every day

Elder Cook Oct 2022

 We all need to seek our own testimony of Jesus Christ, bridle our passions, repent of our sins, and be true to God and His work.

Last October, I was assigned, along with President M. Russell Ballard and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, to visit the United Kingdom, where all three of us served as young missionaries. We had the privilege of teaching and testifying, as well as reliving early Church history in the British Isles, where my great-great-grandfather Heber C. Kimball and his associates were the first missionaries.¹

President Russell M. Nelson, teasing us about this assignment, noted that it was unusual to assign three Apostles to visit the area where they had served as missionaries in their youth. He acknowledged that all desire to be assigned to visit their original mission. With a big smile on his face, he succinctly explained the precedent that if there is another set of three Apostles who served in the same mission over 60 years ago, then they also may receive a similar assignment.

In preparation for that assignment, I reread the Life of Heber C. Kimball, written by his grandson Orson F. Whitney, who later was called to the apostleship. This volume was given to me by my precious mother when I was almost seven years old. We were preparing to attend the dedication of the This Is the Place Monument on July 24, 1947, by President George Albert Smith.² She wanted me to know more about my ancestor Heber C. Kimball.

This book contains a profound statement attributed to President Kimball that has significance for our day. Before sharing the statement, let me provide a little background.

While the Prophet Joseph Smith was incarcerated in Liberty Jail, Apostles Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball had the responsibility, under terribly adverse circumstances, of overseeing the evacuation of the Saints from Missouri. The evacuation was required in large part because of the extermination order issued by Governor Lilburn W. Boggs.³ Footnote: Between 8,000 and 10,000 Latter-day Saints fled Missouri in early 1839 to escape violent acts of vigilantes and mobs. Under the direction of Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, a committee was formed to collect supplies, assess needs, and establish routes for the grueling 200-mile (320-km) winter exodus to Illinois. Compassionate residents of the town of Quincy provided temporary refuge for the suffering Saints by way of shelter and food.

Almost 30 years later Heber C. Kimball, then in the First Presidency, reflecting on this history with a new generation, taught, “Let me say to you, that many of you will see the time when you will have all the trouble, trial and persecution that you can stand, and plenty of opportunities to show that you are true to God and His work.”⁴

Heber continued: “To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not [until] you [attain] it. If you do not you will not stand. … The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light within himself. … If you don’t have it you will not stand; therefore seek for the testimony of Jesus and cleave to it, that when the trying time comes you may not stumble and fall.”⁵

We each need a personal testimony of God’s work⁶ and the seminal role of Jesus Christ. The 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants refers to the three degrees of glory and compares the celestial glory to the sun. It then compares the terrestrial kingdom to the moon.⁷

It is interesting that the sun has its own light, but the moon is reflected light or “borrowed light.” Speaking of the terrestrial kingdom, verse 79 states, “These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus.” We cannot obtain the celestial kingdom and live with God the Father on borrowed light; we need our own testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel.

We live in a world where iniquity abounds⁸ and hearts turn from God because of the precepts of men.⁹ One of the most compelling examples in the scriptures of Heber C. Kimball’s concerns about seeking a testimony of God’s work and Jesus Christ is set forth in Alma’s counsel to his three sons—Helaman, Shiblon, and Corianton.¹⁰ Two of his sons had been true to God and His work. But one son had made some bad decisions. To me the greatest significance of Alma’s counsel is that he was imparting it as a father for the benefit of his own children.

Alma’s first concern, like Heber C. Kimball’s, was that each have a testimony of Jesus Christ and be true to God and His work.

In Alma’s remarkable teaching to his son Helaman, he makes a profound promise that those who “put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.”¹¹

While Alma had received a manifestation where he saw an angel, this is rare. Impressions made by the Holy Ghost are more typical. These impressions can be equally as important as angelic manifestations. President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: “Impressions on the soul that come from the Holy Ghost are far more significant than a vision. When Spirit speaks to spirit, the imprint upon the soul is far more difficult to erase.”¹²

This leads us to Alma’s counsel to his second son, Shiblon. Shiblon was righteous, like his brother Helaman. The counsel I want to emphasize is Alma 38:12, which reads in part, “See that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love.”

Bridle is an interesting word. When we ride a horse, we use the bridle to guide it. A good synonym might be to direct, control, or restrain. The Old Testament tells us we shouted for joy when we learned we would have physical bodies.¹³ The body is not evil—it is beautiful and essential—but some passions, if not used properly and appropriately bridled, can separate us from God and His work and adversely impact our testimony.

Let’s talk about two passions in particular—first, anger, and second, lust.¹⁴ It is interesting that both left unbridled or uncontrolled can cause great heartache, diminish the influence of the Spirit, and separate us from God and His work. The adversary takes every opportunity to fill our lives with images of violence and immorality.

In some families, it is not uncommon for an angry husband or wife to hit a spouse or a child. In July, I participated in a United Kingdom All-Party Parliamentary forum in London.¹⁵ Violence against women and youth was highlighted as a significant worldwide problem. In addition to violence, others have engaged in verbal abuse. The proclamation on the family tells us those “who abuse spouse or offspring … will one day stand accountable before God.”¹⁶

President Nelson strongly emphasized this yesterday morning.¹⁷ Please make up your mind that regardless of whether your parents did or did not abuse you, you will not physically or verbally or emotionally abuse your spouse or children.

In our day one of the most significant challenges is contention and verbal abuse related to societal issues. In many cases anger and abusive language have replaced reason, discussion, and civility. Many have abandoned the admonition of the Savior’s senior Apostle, Peter, to seek Christlike qualities such as temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity.¹⁸ They have also abandoned the Christlike quality of humility.

In addition to controlling anger and bridling other passions, we need to lead pure moral lives by controlling our thoughts, language, and actions. We need to avoid pornography, evaluate the appropriateness of what we are streaming in our homes, and avoid every form of sinful conduct.

This brings us to Alma’s counsel to his son Corianton. Unlike his brothers, Helaman and Shiblon, Corianton engaged in moral transgression.

Because Corianton had engaged in immorality, it was necessary for Alma to teach him about repentance. He had to teach him the seriousness of sin and then how to repent.¹⁹

So Alma’s preventive counsel was to bridle passions, but his counsel for those who have transgressed was to repent. President Nelson gave members profound counsel on repentance at the April 2019 general conference. He made it clear that daily repentance is integral to our lives. “Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind,” he taught. “Daily repentance is the pathway to purity, and purity brings power.”²⁰ If Corianton had done what President Nelson counseled, he would have repented as soon as he had begun to entertain impure thoughts. Major transgressions would not have occurred.

The concluding counsel that Alma gave to his sons is some of the most important doctrine in all the scriptures. It relates to the Atonement wrought by Jesus Christ.

Alma testified that Christ would take away sin.²¹ Without the Savior’s Atonement, the eternal principle of justice would require punishment.²² Because of the Savior’s Atonement, mercy can prevail for those who have repented, and it can allow them to return to the presence of God. We would do well to ponder this wonderful doctrine.

None can return to God by his or her own good works alone; we all need the benefit of the Savior’s sacrifice. All have sinned, and it is only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we can obtain mercy and live with God.²³

Alma also gave wonderful counsel to Corianton for all of us who have gone through or will go through the repentance process, regardless of whether the sins are small or as severe as those committed by Corianton. Verse 29 of Alma 42 reads, “And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.”

Corianton heeded Alma’s counsel and both repented and served honorably. Because of the Savior’s Atonement, healing is available to all.

In Alma’s day, in Heber’s day, and certainly in our day, we all need to seek our own testimony of Jesus Christ, bridle our passions, repent of our sins, and find peace through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and be true to God and His work.

In a recent talk and again this morning, President Russell M. Nelson said it this way: “I plead with you to take charge of your testimony of Jesus Christ. Work for it. Own it. Care for it. Nurture it so that it will grow. Then watch for miracles to happen in your life.”²⁴

I am grateful that we will now hear from President Nelson. I testify that President Nelson is the Lord’s prophet for our day. I love and treasure the marvelous inspiration and guidance we receive through him.

As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I bear my sure witness of the Savior’s divinity and the reality of His Atonement in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Lessons Learned:     

1. Read about Joseph Smith

2. The Church will again oversee the evacuation of the Saints - this time to places of refuge and then Zion

3. The circumstances will be terribly adverse and our lives are in the balance

4. Teach the history of the church to the children/youth

5. All our adversity will give us opportunity to show we are true to God and His Work

6. We must have a knowledge of the truth of this work for ourselves or we will fall

7. Live right and call upon the Lord and cease not until you attain it

8. You will have to guided by the light within yourself

9. Seek the testimony of Jesus and then cleave to it when the trying time comes

10. We cannot obtain the celestial kingdom on borrowed light.

11. Iniquity abounds because the precepts of men turn our hearts from God

12. Counsel your children

13. Put your trust in God. He will support you in your trials

14. Impressions of the Holy Ghost can be even more significant than a vision

15. Bridle anger and lust that ye may be filled with love or your passions will separate you from God and His work and hurt your testimony

16. Recognize how Satan is trying to fill your life with images of violence and immorality.

17. Family violence and verbal abuse is a significant worldwide problem - stop it!

18. Contention and verbal abuse in discussing societal issues is a significant challenge - stop it!

19. Discuss your opinions with temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity and humility

20. Lead a pure moral life. Control your thoughts, language and actions. No porn; watch what comes into your home. Avoid every form of sinful conduct.

21. Teach the seriousness of sin and then how to repent.

22. Seek to prevent first and then repent if necessary

23. Daily repent - there are layers to your sins - keep working on it.

24. Repent at the first temptation and you’ll avoid greater sins

25. Repentance brings purity and that brings power

26.  Without the Atonement of Christ there would only be justice and no mercy.

27. Ponder this doctrine

28. We are ALL saved through Christ. None are saved without Him

29. If you have repented, don’t let it trouble you, only let the thought of future sin trouble you

30. Healing is available to all