Robert D. Hales

(black text is the original talk; all yellow highlights are things I am commenting on;All blue text are my thoughts and are my opinions only and do not represent the official position of the speaker or the church.)
General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony

By Elder Robert D. Hales
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Oh, how we need general conference! This will be abundantly clear by the time you are done studying this talk:)Through conferences our faith is fortified and our testimonies deepened.A "seer" just told you that you need to fortify your faith and deepen your testimony. These two words "fortify" and "deepen" suggest a coming "attack" and "strong winds" of adversity. Take heed! He just said we will "need" to do this!

Thank you, President Monson, for your teaching and example of Christlike service and your charge for all of us to be missionaries. We ever pray for thee. He acknowledges first, the appointed President of the Church. By following his example, you will be well on the road to keeping the two greatest commandments. Also, he made it very clear we are to all be personally involved in missionary work.

In our dispensation, the Savior Jesus Christ referred to a gathering of Saints as “my general conference.”¹

This is not the General Conference of the church, or the prophet... it is the General Conference of Jesus Christ and we are to treat it as if He were personally present.

Wherever we are in this world, however we receive these proceedings, I testify that we are gathered in His conference. I also testify that we will hear His word, "testify" is a word used when what we are saying, we mean to establish as fact, not opinion. He speaks as an ordained apostle of Jesus Christ for He has said, “Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”²

Put on "these" glasses. Look through them as you listen/read/watch/study these messages. It will change what you hear and how you will act afterward. Think about it... it is the SAME....
Conferences have always been part of the true Church of Jesus Christ.Now he will establish this truth by giving you four witnesses: Adam gathered his posterity Do you gather your posterity and speak of "things to come"? and prophesied of things to come.Do you know what he prophesied?  Moses gathered the children of Israel and taught them the commandments Teach your children the commandments he had received. The Savior taught multitudes gathered both in the Holy Land and on the American continent. Peter gathered believers in Jerusalem. The first general conference in these latter days was convened just two months after the Church was organized, and conferences have continued to this very day.This truly is a church restored!

These conferences are always under the direction of the Lord, guided by His Spirit.³ always....We are not assigned specific topics. I suppose they could be assigned...but how beautiful that the Lord trusts his servants to pay the price to receive his word; and how encouraged we should be that God reveals his will to all that seek and ask... Over weeks and months, often through sleepless nights, we wait upon the Lord. Do not be discouraged if your answers require you to "wait" as well...Through fasting, praying, studying, and pondering, we learn the message that He wants us to give.Do you need answers? Then fast, pray, study, ponder...and sometimes...wait...

Some might ask, “Why doesn’t the inspiration come more easily and quickly?” I have asked this...The Lord taught Oliver Cowdery, “You must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right.”⁴ You can trust that each speaker has done this...studied and also received confirmation. I have heard stories of talks being prepared, then rewritten at the last minute...Conference messages come to us after prayerful preparation, through the Holy Ghost.That is a promise...but notice the order....we must prayerfully prepare to receive the messages of Conference. Just because it is "over" doesn't mean you can't prayerfully prepare as you study them again.

This principle is true for all members of the Church as we prepare to participate in ward, stake, and general conferences. I think he is saying it applies to both those who speak and those who listen We study out in our minds what we need and desire from Heavenly Father, and we pray to understand and apply that which we are taught. Do you do this before your ward and stake conference? What a wonderful act of faith; to expect to hear answers to your prayers when your ward and stake leaders speak to you; to expect that they have made prayerful preparation As the time for conference arrives, we sacrifice other activities, I was always disappointed that all the Saturday sports continue right on through General Conference. Why should we sacrifice these "other activities" when we can read/hear it later? “lay[ing] aside the things of this world, [to] seek for the things of a better.”⁵ Remember the hymn "More...holiness give me"? How can we pray to have "more" if we don't give "more". In other words, believe if you give "more" that you will receive "more"...Then we gather our families to hear the word of the Lord, there is a great spirit present when you listen to Conference as a family - even when they are married as King Benjamin’s people did.⁶

Children and youth love to be included. Conference Bingo!  We make a serious mistake if we assume that the conference is above their intellect and spiritual sensitivity. This is one of those warnings we need to accept at face value, even if we do not see the consequences now To the young members of the Church, I promise that if you will listen, you will feel the Spirit well up within you. The Lord will tell you what He wants you to do with your life.He did not make an age distinction for what is "young", but he did make a distinction between "children" and "youth" so I assume the promise is to those between 12 and 18. Certainly there are those in that age group who come to conference with the question, "What should I do with my life?" 

In conferences we can receive the word of the Lord meant just for us. I have seen this time and time again...One member testified: “As I listened to your address, I was astounded. … Your talk was personal revelation for me...usually accompanied by tears directly from the Lord to my family. I have never experienced such a strong manifestation of the Spirit in my life as those minutes when the Holy Ghost spoke directly to me.” It can be brief. If you are distracted even for a few minutes, you may miss what was prepared just for you!

Another said, “I have never before felt so profoundly that a talk was being given to me.” Two examples of messages being received as personal answers to prayer. ... word established....(a third one follows)

This is possible because the Holy Ghost carries the word of the Lord unto our hearts in terms we can understand.⁷ How is this done...When I take notes at conference, I do not always write down exactly what the speaker is saying; I note the personalized direction the Spirit is giving me. Do not discount the thoughts and impressions that come to you as you listen. Write them down. Star them. This is not you being distracted...it's you being taught. Note: it is "personalized" so it may not apply in practice to someone else...but the principles are universal.

What is said is not as important as what we hear and what we feel.⁸ This is an explanation of why I study the way I do....these are the things that I hear and feel when I listen to/read what is said. They are my impressions only and I do not mean to imply that you must hear them the same way...but I hope in sharing that you are encouraged to do your own pondering and hearing and feeling.That is why we make an effort this implies that you might have to make some sacrifices or think about it ahead of time to experience do you see conference as an "experience"? We are to be affected by what we hear...conference in a setting where the still, small voice of the Spirit can be clearly heard, felt, and understood. Key words: "still", "small", "clearly", "felt", "understood". Listening to conference while you are doing something else (working in the yard, cleaning the house, watching a soccer game, texting, etc...and I'm going to go out on a limb here and even suggest how you dress...) may prevent you from receiving all that you might have if you gave all your attention to what you were hearing; the same as you would if Jesus himself were talking to you...yes...for 10 hours...We pray and plead for help and divine intervention in our lives and then are we too casual about how those answers come?...

Oh, how we need general conference! Are you convinced yet? Through conferences our faith is fortified and our testimonies deepened. Is your faith being fortified? ("made strong"; "protected from an attack") Is your testimony deeper? (so you are not "blown about by every wind of doctrine")  And when we are converted,See Elder Bendar's talk on this... we strengthen each other to stand strong amid the fiery darts of these last days.⁹ If you look at the footnote, it says verses 31 and 32. Verse 32 is the one that says "when thou are converted". So why include 31? This is an example of further learning that comes from studying the conference talks. Verse 31 "for Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith fail not".  Is he teaching us that the "fiery darts" are Satan and his minions? This is your "why" for general conference...Satan desires to have you! Notice it is "faith" that is the weapon against the fiery darts. Clearly we are being told that the fiery darts are here and that it will take stronger faith to withstand them. But, what or who are these "fiery darts"? Here is an interesting blog post addressing this.

In recent decades the Church has largely been spared the terrible misunderstandings and persecutions We have all read the stories... experienced by the early Saints. It will not always be so.  Remember...we are being taught in advance of things that we WILL experience. Do not discount what is being said here because you are not suffering at this moment in time. It is coming! You don't prepare for an attack when the shots are being fired...it will be too late. You must prepare in advance to protect yourself. Listen carefully to how we are being taught to prepare! Then prepare!  If you don't...you will likely fall...   The world is moving away from the Lord faster and farther than ever before.Than EVER before...think about THAT one...The adversary has been loosed upon the earth.In 2006 Elder Hales made this statement: "We are living in the latter days, brothers and sisters, in the fulness of times. We must remember that we have control over who we are no matter how difficult the world becomes. Like those in 1 Nephi, the true and faithful will be able to withstand the fiery darts of the adversary when he is loosed upon this earth." Now he is saying he HAS been loosed upon the earth. We must be the True and Faithful. Fortify your FAITH. How? By doing the following IN faith.   We watch, hear, read, study, and share the words of prophets to be forewarned and protected. This blog is my humble attempt to do the "sharing" part of my "watch, hear, read, and study" part. And why do I do it? Because I want to recognize the warnings and be protected from the fiery darts all around me. I want others to be forewarned and protected too. For example,of being "forewarned" -  “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” was given long before we experienced the challenges now facing the family. “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” was prepared in advance of when we will need it most.The proclamation was given in Sept 1995. That was 18 years ago. According to Elder Hales, 18 years can be expressed as "long before". Then he states that the testimony of the Apostles was also prepared in advance of when we WILL need it most, suggesting that perhaps that "when" is not quite here. The Living Christ was given January 1, 2000. That was almost 14 years ago. Is Elder Hales telling us that we will "need it most" within the next four years? What is in that document? (Here is one expression of it that I love)How will it protect you? Here are some flashcards if you want to memorize it...

We may not know all the reasons why the prophets and conference speakers address us with certain topics in conference, but the Lord does.It goes back to faith. Faith is not knowing all the reasons why, but trusting and obeying anyway. It is not "blind" faith, it is "believing" faith borne of testimony. President Harold B. Lee taught:Ok...I'll give you one reason why... “The only safety we've been talking about protection, specifically from fiery darts, and persecution we have as members of this church is to … give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through His prophet. "heed" means "to pay careful attention to" "to not ignore". He makes a distinction between words and commandments. Do not discount the "words" because they do not sound like one of the familiar "commandments". He reminds us again that these are the "words and commandments" of the Lord, not of the prophet himself. Now the warnings: There will be some things that take patience and faith. It may take time; you may not think you need to do it...You may not like I will suggest a few examples...what comes from the authority of the Church. dress...moral conduct...It may contradict your [personal] views. Sabbath day worship...It may contradict your social views. gender issues...It may interfere with some of your social life. Saturday General Conference... But even with all that... if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord Himself,PUT THESE GLASSES ON... with patience and faith,here is the phrase again..."patience and faith"...suggests a period of time that we may have to suffer...the promise is that might want to memorize this so you can recite it while you are waiting with patience...‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; … and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory’ (D&C 21:6).”¹⁰

How did President Lee know what we would be facing in our day? He is telling us that all the challenges to hearing and following what we are being told are happening RIGHT NOW. Recognize them in yourself. He knew because he was a prophet, seer, and revelator. And if we listen and obey the prophets now, including those who will speak in this very conference, we will be strengthened and protected. Notice he says, "including those".  What I hear is...past prophets should be listened to as well, for they spoke of things we are experiencing now. If you missed their forewarnings you can go back and read them and heed them. The second thing he said was "and those" prophets...meaning their are 15 men who are "prophets, seers, and revelators" that will speak the words of the Lord. Don't think you can just read Pres. Monson's address and you are done hearing "the word of the Lord". Again we are given the promise of strengthened faith and testimony and protection!

The greatest blessings of general conference come to us after the conference is over. At first I thought this meant great blessings come from "studying" the talks...but I really think he means, the greatest blessings come from "living" or "acting" on what you hear. That's the only way the Lord can really bless you anyway...Remember the pattern recorded frequently so you won't miss it...in scripture: we gather to hear the words of the Lord, and we return to our homes to live them. There....he just confirmed how we experience the greatest blessings of conference...we live the words of the Lord.

After King Benjamin taught his people, “he dismissed the multitude, and they returned, every one, according to their families, to their own houses.”^{11 "This reference states that part of the purpose of General Conference is to "stir (us) up in remembrance of the oath (covenants) which (we have) made"} which goes back to the RS meeting...keep your covenants! King Limhi did the same.¹² After teaching and ministering to the people at the temple in Bountiful, the Savior entreated the people, “Go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.”¹³ The pattern: gather, listen, go home, ponder, ask for understanding, live, come up with more questions, gather again to hear answers and receive moreWe accept the Savior’s invitation when we ponder and pray to understand what we have been taught and then go forward and do His will. Will you accept his invitation? Remember President Spencer W. Kimball’s words: “I have made up my mind that when I go home from this [general] conference … there are many, many areas in my life that I can perfect. I have made a mental list of them, and I expect to go to work as soon as we get through.”¹⁴ President Monson recently said: “I encourage you to read the talks … and to ponder the messages contained therein. I have found in my own life that I gain even more from these inspired sermons when I study them in greater depth.”¹⁵ Here are two prophets of God setting the example; "He that is ordained of God and sent forth, the same is appointed to be the greatest, notwithstanding he is the least and the servant of all." (D&C 50:26) What is their example? "go home; evaluate the areas in your life you can perfect; go to work on them; ponder and study the messages in greater depth"
In addition to inviting us to hold personal and family scripture study, a reminder...this is not new...Heavenly Father wants us to regularly study and apply what we have learned in conference. Ok...I was called to repentance here. I had set aside my scripture study to study conference; considering it "scripture" as well. But clearly, I am to study both...continually...I testify that those who put their trust in the Lord and heed this counsel in faithWhat are you trusting and having faith in? That the counsel to regularly study and apply BOTH the scriptures and what you learn in conference will bring this promise: will gain great strength to bless themselves and their families for generations to come. me...me...I need great strength for today AND for what is coming. I want those blessing for my family as well...blood family and family of God. If your children are blessed to live 'til the Savior comes...they WILL be here for generations...and what a blessing that WILL be!

Heavenly Father has provided the way. Here are the specifics...At this conference, 97 percent of the Church can hear these messages in their own language. Millions of members in 197 countries will watch this conference in 95 languages. In just two or three days the messages will appear on LDS.org in English, and within one week they will begin to be available in 52 languages. Now we receive the printed Church magazines within three weeks of the general conference. No longer do we have to wait months for the talks to arrive by mail. On a computer, phone, or other electronic device, we can read, listen to, watch, and share the teachings of the prophets. Anytime, anywhere, we can enlarge our knowledge, strengthen our faith and testimony, protect our families, and lead them safely home.Could it possibly be any easier? any more accessible? Are we being left without any possible excuse? Notice "protect" was used again. Remember...you don't have to know "why"...just have faith the Lord knows and that he revealed his "will" to the conference speakers...

The messages of this conference will also be woven into the online youth curriculum. Parents, you may access youth lessons for yourself on LDS.org. Find out what your children are learning, and make it the subject of your own study, family discussions, family home evenings, family councils, and personal interviews Gentle reminder that we should be having these things...with each of your children concerning what they need to be taught individually.Be prayerful about EACH of your children, individually.

I encourage all members no one left out...to use the resources on the Church’s websites and mobile apps. They are continually being refined so that they are easier to use and more relevant to our lives. They really are amazing! On LDS.org you will find resources to help you study the gospel, strengthen your home and family, and serve in your calling. Again...it's implied that you ARE studying the gospel, wanting to strengthen your home and family PROACTIVELY, and improve in your calling. You can also find your ancestors who need temple ordinances and resources to support you in the work of salvation, Three-fold mission of the church: Perfect the Saints, Proclaim the Gospel, Redeem the Dead - all the resources are online... including sharing the gospel. Parents can take the lead in preparing their children for baptism, the priesthood, full-time missions, and the temple. Emphasis..."take the lead". You are not a support to the auxiliaries of the church...they are a support to you. They should assume YOU are taking the lead in the spiritual teaching of your children.They can help us walk the strait and narrow path of temple ordinances and covenants and qualify for the blessing of eternal life.What runs along the "strait and narrow path" in Lehi's dream? It's the "word of God"...that is what you are receiving in General Conference and the resources you need to study, teach, and apply it are there for you 24/7. They will help you "keep your covenants."

In last April’s conference, in the general priesthood meeting, I told about my father drawing a picture of a knight in armor to teach me about putting on the whole armor of God and the spiritual protection it brings. Remember...it is "protection" we are seeking...from the fiery darts and persecution....Do you have your armor on?

After that session was over, a father reported to his family what he had learned. Inspired, their young son Jason searched LDS.org to hear the message for himself. A few days later he appeared in family home evening to share the lesson with his brothers and sisters. Here he is.

A simple conference message, inspired of the Lord, received by a child, was taught to a family in a personal, powerful way.The message here: do not discount the messages "because of the easiness of the way"; trust them - they are inspired of the Lord; Receive the messages and review them well enough that you can share them with someone else; the Spirit will carry the messages to others in personal and powerful ways. A child can do this...so can you:) I love his breastplate of righteousness. I love his shield of faith to thwart the fiery darts of the adversary. These are the blessings of conference. Put on your breastplate of righteousness; carry with you your shield of faith - BECAUSE it is your protection from the fiery darts!  (mentioned again!) What are the blessings of conference? Increased righteousness and and faith for PROTECTION!

My brothers and sisters, I bear my special witness that the Lord Jesus Christ lives This is my testimony as well...and stands at the head of this Church. He leads through his prophet(s)This is His general conference. Please do not take it lightly...I promise it's a promise... you do your part and you get the blessing. Period. you in His name He has the authority to make the promise...that if you pray with a sincere desire to hear your Heavenly Father’s voice in the messages of this conference, you will discover that He has spoken to you to help you, to strengthen you, and to lead you home into His presence. So what do you have to do? Pray, with a sincere desire to hear the messages meant for you as if from Heavenly Father or the Savior personally. (meaning you intend to act) In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. You will be strengthened and guided safely Home.

 

Notes

 1. Doctrine and Covenants 124:88; emphasis added.
 2. Doctrine and Covenants 1:38.
 3. See Doctrine and Covenants 46:2.
 4. Doctrine and Covenants 9:8.
 5. Doctrine and Covenants 25:10.
 6. See Mosiah 2:5.
 7. See 2 Nephi 33:1.
 8. See Spencer W. Kimball, in Conference Report, Tonga Area Conference 1976, 27.
 9. See Luke 22:31–32.
 10. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee (2000), 84–85.
 11. Mosiah 6:3.
 12. See Mosiah 8:4.
 13. 3 Nephi 17:3.
 14. Spencer W. Kimball, “Spoken from Their Hearts,” Ensign, Nov. 1975, 111.
 15. Thomas S. Monson, “God Be with You Till We Meet Again,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 110.

 

IMPERATIVES

• Give Christ-like Service
• Every member a missionary
• Pray for the prophet always
• When seeking personal revelation
• "wait" upon the Lord; it can take weeks or months; there may be many sleepless nights
• fast
• ponder 
• study it out in your mind
• ask the Lord if what you are thinking is "right"
• be prayerful
• Prepare for Ward, Stake & General Conference by:
• study out in your mind what you need and want from Heavenly Father
• pray to understand and apply what you will be taught
• sacrifice other activities; "lay aside the things of the world"
• gather with your family to hear what you are taught as if from the Lord himself
• Take notes of the personalized direction you receive from the Holy Ghost 
• Make an effort to experience conference
• Experience conference in a setting where the still, small voice of the Spirit can be clearly heard, felt, and understood
• Fortify your faith
• Deepen your testimony
• Become converted then strengthen others
• Stand strong amid the fiery darts of these last days
• Study the Proclamation on the Family: it was prepared for this very time
• Study The Living Christ: it was prepared for what is shortly coming
• Watch, hear, read, study, and share the words of the prophets to be forewarned and know how to protect yourself from what is coming
• Listen to conference as if from the mouth of the Lord Himself
• Listen with patience and faith
• Listen and obey prophets both past and present
• Reap the greatest blessings of conference by following this pattern:
• Gather to hear the words of the Lord
• Return to your home to live them
• Ponder what has been said
• Ask for understanding
• Prepare your mind for the next conference
• Return for more
• Accept the Savior's invitation to ponder and pray to understand what has been said.
• Go forward and do His will
• Recognize the many, many areas in your life you can work on perfecting and get working on it
• Study the talks in greater depth
• In addition to personal and family scripture study; regularly study and apply what you have learned in conference
• Trust in the Lord and heed this counsel in faith
• Regularly study and apply the teachings of General Conference to:
• Enlarge your knowledge
• strengthen your faith
• strengthen your testimony 
• protect your family 
• lead them safely home
• Use the means provided by Heavenly Father to follow this counsel:
• hear it "live" on the radio
• watch it "live" on television or the internet
• review it on lds.org
• review it in the Ensign magazine
• review it and share it on your phone, computer or other electronic device
• Parents: access youth lessons online
• find out what your children are learning
• make it a subject of your own study
• discuss it as a family
• discuss it in family home evening
• discuss it in family council
• discuss it in your personal interviews with each of your children according to their individual needs
• Parents: (see above list) - 
• talk as a family; teach them of:
• things to come
• the commandments
• what the Savior taught
• have family home evening
• have family council
• have personal interviews with each of your children
• also: take the lead in - 
• preparing your children for baptism
• preparing your children for the priesthood
• preparing your children for full-time missions
• preparing your children for the temple
• Use lds.org to:
• study the gospel
• strengthen your home and family
• serve in your calling
• find your ancestors who need temple ordinances
• participate in the work of salvation (including missionary work)
• Put on the whole Armor of God for spiritual protection by studying and acting on the messages of General Conference
  

DOCTRINAL INSIGHT

• Jesus Christ lives; He stands at the head of this church; that is why He calls it "my General Conference"; You will hear His word
• Conferences have always been a part of the true church: Adam, Moses,  Jesus Christ, Paul, Joseph Smith, our day
• Conference is always under the direction of the Lord and guided by His Spirit - topics are not assigned; speakers receive direction through the Spirit
• Answers you seek come after prayerful preparation through the Holy Ghost 
• What is said in conference is not as important as what we hear and what we feel.
• "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" was given long before we experienced the challenges now facing the family.
• "The Living Christ: Testimony of the Apostles" was prepared in advance of when we will need it most
• The Lord knows all the reasons why the prophets and certain conference speakers choose certain topics
• Past prophets knew what we would be facing today; Present prophets know what we will be facing tomorrow - for they are all "prophets, seers, and revelators"
• A simple conference message, inspired of the Lord can be received by a child/as a child and be taught to others in personal and powerful ways.

PROMISES

• Young people: "I promise that if you will listen, you will feel the Spirit well up within you.  The Lord will tell you what He want you to do with your life."
• In conference, you can receive the word of the Lord, meant just for you as the Holy Ghost gives you direct, personal revelation
• Conference messages come to us after prayerful preparation through the Holy Ghost
• The Holy Ghost carries the word of the lord unto our hearts in terms we can understand.
• If you listen to (conference) as if from the mouth of the Lord Himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against you;...and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good and his name's glory.'"
• If you will listen to and obey prophets past and present you will be strengthened and protected.
• The greatest blessings of conference come to us after it is over as we study the conference talks
• I testify that those who put their trust in the Lord and heed this counsel in faith will gain great strength to bless themselves and their families for generations to come
• The resources of the church can help you walk the strait and narrow path of temple ordinances and covenants and qualify for the blessing of eternal life
• General Conference blesses you by helping you to you put on the breastplate of righteousness and the shield of faith to thwart the fiery darts of the adversary
• I promise you in His name that if you pray with a sincere desire to hear your Heavenly Father's voice in the messages of this conference, you will discover that He has spoken to you to help you, to strengthen you, and to lead you home into His presence.

WARNINGS 

• You make a serious mistake if you assume that conference is above the intellect and spiritual sensitivity of your children.
• Oh, how we need general conference to fortify our faith and deepen our testimonies so that we can be more converted and strengthen each other to stand strong amid the fiery darts of these last days.
• Though the Church has largely been spared the terrible misunderstandings and persecutions experienced by the early Saints; it will not always be so.
• The world is moving away from the Lord faster and father than ever before.
• The adversary has been loosed upon the earth.
• Watch, hear, read, study, and share the words of the prophets.
• You have been forewarned as to how to be protected.
• "The Living Christ" The Testimony of the Apostles" was prepared in advance of when you will need it most.
• "The only safety we have as members of this church is to...give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through His prophet."
• There will be some things that take patience and faith.
• You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church.
• It may contradict your (personal) views.
• It may contradict your social views.
• It may interfere with some of your social life.