Pres. Eyring - Covenant Women in Partnership with God

Becoming a covenant woman in partnership with God is how great and good daughters of God have always mothered, led, and ministered.

I am grateful for the blessing of addressing you, the covenant daughters of God. Tonight, my purpose is to encourage you in the great service to which you are called. Yes, every daughter of God listening to my voice has received a call from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Your call began when you were placed into mortality, in a place and time chosen for you by a God who knows you perfectly and loves you as His daughter. In the spirit world, He knew you and taught you and placed you where you would have the opportunity, rare in the history of the world, to be invited into a baptismal font. There, you would hear these words spoken by a called servant of Jesus Christ: “Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”¹

1. I was placed here on earth in place and time chosen for me.
2. I was known and taught by God
3. I was given the rare opportunity to be baptized

When you came out of the water, you had accepted another call to serve. As a new covenant daughter of God, you made a promise and received an assignment in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which you were then confirmed a member. You covenanted with God to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ, to keep His commandments, and to serve Him.

For each one who makes these covenants, the service that the Lord calls him or her to do will be suited perfectly to that person. The covenant daughters and sons of God, however, all share one important and joyful call. It is to serve others for Him.
4. With that covenant I promised to accept the assignment to serve others for Him.
5. I have an assignment within the Church, of which I was confirmed a member.
6. I covenanted to take upon myself the name of Jesus Christ; to keep His commandments, and to serve Him.
7. The service He calls me to do is perfectly suited to me.

Speaking to sisters, President Russell M. Nelson gave a wonderful summary of the Lord’s call to you to join Him in His work. President Nelson described your call in this way: “The Lord said, ‘My work and my glory [is] to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.’ (Moses 1:39.) So His devoted daughter-disciple may truly say, ‘My work and my glory is to help my loved ones reach that heavenly goal.’
8. My work and glory is to help my loved ones (friends, family...ultimately everyone if I keep the 2nd Great Commandment) to receive immortality and eternal life.

“To help another human being reach one’s celestial potential is part of the divine mission of woman. As mother, teacher, or nurturing Saint, she molds living clay to the shape of her hopes. In partnership with God, her divine mission is to help spirits live and souls be lifted. This is the measure of her creation. It is ennobling, edifying, and exalting.”² 

My divine mission is:
- to mold others to the shape of my hopes
- to partner with God and help others live and be lifted
fulfilling this mission ennobles, edifys and exalts me

You cannot know when, or for what length of time, your personal mission will be focused on service in calls such as mother, leader, or ministering sister. The Lord, out of love, does not leave us the choice of the timing, duration, or sequence of our assignments. Yet you know from scripture and living prophets that all of these assignments will come, either in this life or in the next, to every daughter of God. And all of them are preparation for eternal life in loving families—“the greatest of all the gifts of God.”³

Sometime I will be a mother, leader and ministering sister, according to the timing, duration and sequence of God.
These assignments prepare me for eternal life in a loving family - the greatest gift of God

You will be wise to bend every effort to prepare now with the end in mind. That task is made simpler because each of these assignments requires much of the same preparation.
Be wise! Prepare now with the end (eternal life in families) in mind.

Let’s start with the assignment to be a ministering sister. Whether you have that assignment as a 10-year-old daughter in a family where the father has died, or as a Relief Society president whose town was recently affected by fire, or when you are in a hospital recovering from surgery—you have a chance to fulfill your call from the Lord to be His ministering daughter.

Those appear to be very different ministering assignments. Yet they all require the preparation of a powerful, loving heart, a fearless faith that the Lord gives no command save He prepares a way, and a desire to go and do for Him.⁴

Because she was prepared, the 10-year-old daughter put her arms around her widowed mother and prayed to know how to help her family. And she keeps at it.

The Relief Society president had prepared to minister before the unexpected fire in her area. She had come to know and love the people. Her faith in Jesus Christ had grown over the years from having received answers to her prayers for the Lord to help her in small services for Him. Because of her long preparation, she was ready and eager to organize her sisters to minister to people and families in distress.

A sister recovering in a hospital from surgery was prepared to minister to her fellow patients. She had spent a lifetime ministering for the Lord to every stranger as if he or she was a neighbor and a friend. When she felt in her heart the call to minister in the hospital, she served others so bravely and with such love that the other patients began to hope she wouldn’t recover too soon.

In the same way that you prepare to minister, you can and must prepare for your call to be a leader for the Lord when it comes. It will require faith in Jesus Christ, rooted in your deep love of the scriptures, to lead people and to teach His word without fear. Then you will be prepared to have the Holy Ghost as your constant companion. You will be eager to say, “I will,” when your counselor in the Young Women presidency says, with panic in her voice, “Sister Alvarez is sick today. Who will teach her class?”

It takes much the same preparation for the wonderful day when the Lord calls you to an assignment as a mother. But it will also take an even more loving heart than you needed earlier. It will take faith in Jesus Christ beyond what has ever before been in your heart. And it will take a capacity to pray for the influence, direction, and comfort of the Holy Ghost beyond what you may have felt was even possible.

You might reasonably ask how a man of any age can know what mothers need. It’s a valid question. Men can’t know everything, but we can learn some lessons by revelation from God. And we can also learn much by observation, when we take the opportunity to seek the Spirit to help us understand what we observe.

I have been observing Kathleen Johnson Eyring for the 57 years we have been married. She is the mother of four boys and two girls. To date, she has accepted the call to be a mothering influence on more than a hundred direct family members and hundreds more whom she has adopted into her mother heart.

You remember President Nelson’s perfect description of a woman’s divine mission—including her mission of mothering: “As mother, teacher, or nurturing Saint, she molds living clay to the shape of her hopes. In partnership with God, her divine mission is to help spirits live and souls be lifted. This is the measure of her creation.”⁵

As nearly as I can discern, my wife, Kathleen, has followed that charge, given to our Father’s daughters. The key appears to me to be the words “she molds living clay to the shape of her hopes … in partnership with God.” She did not force. She molded. And she had a template for her hopes, and to which she tried to mold those she loved and mothered. Her template was the gospel of Jesus Christ—as I could see through prayerful observation over the years.

Becoming a covenant woman in partnership with God is how great and good daughters of God have always mothered, led, and ministered, serving in whatever way and place He has prepared for them. I promise that you will find joy in your journey to your heavenly home as you return to Him as a covenant-keeping daughter of God.

I testify that God the Father lives and He loves you. He will answer your prayers. His Beloved Son leads, in every detail, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President Russell M. Nelson is His living prophet. And Joseph Smith saw and spoke with God the Father and Jesus Christ in a grove of trees in Palmyra, New York. I know that is true. I also testify that Jesus Christ is your Savior; He loves you. And through His Atonement, you can be purified and lifted to the high and holy callings which will come to you. I so testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Spiritual Capacity - Michelle Craig

President Russell M. Nelson has extended a simple, powerful invitation: “My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. … Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.”

1. Be Intentional about Creating Time and Space to Hear God’s Voice

• Pick a time and place, and listen for God’s voice every day. And keep this sacred appointment with exactness, for so very much depends on it!

2. Act without Delay

•  When you receive promptings... act with intention... The more you act, the more familiar the voice of the Spirit becomes. You will increasingly recognize God’s guidance...

3. Get Your Errand from the Lord

•  The prayer Heavenly Father seems eager to answer is our plea to be led to someone who needs our help...seek revelation by asking God who we can help for Him.

  (He may ask you to "break the Sabbath" to find a lost sheep. Love is higher than the law. The law does not exalt us...love does. That does not mean you do not believe the law or preach the law or obey the law otherwise, it just means that you are obeying God still - even if He asks you to set down another law for a moment. You are still following Him and His prophet when you obey in this way.) 

  • "Do we miss or dismiss personal errands from the Lord because He has prepared “a way” different from the one we expect?

    My grandpa was led to an unusual place—in a suit, on a rooftop, on a Sunday. Trust God to lead you, even if that way looks different than you expected or is different from others."
    
    

4. Believe and Trust

• “And Aaron said unto the king: Behold, the Spirit of the Lord has called him another way.” 

  (This comforts me when I do not receive the prompting to help someone. I trust the Lord has called me "another way". It also comforts when I am tempted to be hurt because someone doesn't come to my aid. Perhaps the Lord as called them "another way".)

• No matter who you are or what you’re dealing with, you are invited to the Lord’s table.¹³ 

   

  The Church’s new program for children and youth is built on the foundation of learning to seek revelation, discovering what the Lord would have us do, and then acting on that direction. Each one of us, regardless of age or circumstance, can strive to seek, receive, and act. As you follow this eternal pattern ordained for our day, you will draw nearer to Jesus Christ—His love, His light, His direction, His peace, and His healing and enabling power. And you will increase your spiritual capacity to become an everyday instrument of His hands in accomplishing His great work. 

October 2019 General Conference

Thoughts while listening to the General Conference Talks:

Elder Holland:

1. I am the "blind" man in the story. The "spiritually sensitive" people in the crowd are the prophet and apostles pointing the way to and witnessing of Christ. 

2. I gather with others to General Conference to beg for mercy that I might have my own sight restored. "Jesus, thou Son of David, Have mercy on me!"

3. Between now and the 200th anniversary of the Sacred Grove experience, strive to create a similar environment of "religious ferver" in preparation for the Father and the Son to reveal themselves to ME!

4. Don't get distracted by all the "clamor" that surrounds our church activity and schedules and traditions. Keep my focus on Jesus, the meaning and purpose of it all. Even God the Father turned Joseph's attention and focus to Jesus. "This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him."

5. Remind others that "self reliance supplies" are a continuing part of our religious practice.

6. Have a YW lesson where you put Jesus in the center and all the doctrines in a circle around Him. Put a string from each doctrine to Christ. Have a discussion where we tie each doctrine back to Christ.

7. Retreat to the "solitude" of the temple. Let it be my "sacred grove" to cut through the "darkness and confusion" around me. There I may receive a "gift of sight unimagined and unanticipated".  I can come to "see" and "hear" God and His Son. 

8. He bore apostolic witness of Joseph's experience. The most thrilling sight and sound in life is that of Jesus coming to us, stopping beside us and making His abode with us.

9. See Christ at the center of my life, my faith, and my service. THAT is where true meaning lies.

10. "I promise with apostolic ferver and prophetic conviction that He will hear you and will say, soon or late, "Receive thy sight. Thy faith hath saved thee."

General Conference April 2019 Summary

1. The talks we are to choose to study in RS/EQ are to be Christ-centered so we can invite others to "Come and See"
2. Acting on what we heard will help us become a Zion people, prepared to receive the Lord

Elder Soares - (Seek to Learn and Understand) "How Can I Understand"When we earnestly, heartily, firmly, and sincerely seek to learn the gospel of Jesus Christ and teach it to one another, these teachings may transform hearts.Make REAL effort to learn of Jesus, testify, and be changed. ZION!

• You will hear the voice of Jesus Christ through this conference-and the needs of our day
• Seek to learn and teach one another the gospel
• Increased faith  and conversion will lead you to follow Jesus which will transform you (Zion!)Old things (habits/traditions/false beliefs must pass away. Become new creatures!)
• Moses taught the laws and covenants to his children and the importance of God in their life - we must do the same Moses is a type for our entering our promised Millennial land. Moses taught it would "prolong their days". We need this promise as well. We cannot leave the raising of our children to the world. WE must teach them the ways of the Lord. We do this in our Home-Centered Church. 
• Must have a life rooted in Christ and endure in faith
• Come and See; Abide in Him; immerse yourself in the scriptures then live what you learn
• The influence of the Holy Ghost will bring truth and bear witness if you make Christ the center of your life
• Show your beliefs
• Delight in them
• Never reject or misjudge those who leave - just love them
• Hope is an important part of the gospel plan
• Discuss the gospel and share your testimony
• How did you see the hand of the Lord today?

Sister Becky Craven (2nd C YW) - Careful or Casual?

• Careful is intentional
• Happiness is in carefully living the gospel and striving to be like Jesus
• Story of the train headed for a car on the tracks: train is us; rails are the covenant path towards our eternal destination; car is obstacles on our path; woman in judgement are the wisdom of men; 
• casualness takes us away from the covenant path
• the river in Lehi's dream ran along the path but only came near the tree, not to it
• Distractions lead to casualness - to forbidden paths or the filthy river
• Careful obedience leads us to the tree
• If you are saying "however, but, or except" you are justifying your actions
• There is not a right way to do the wrong thing
• If you love God - you will keep His commandments
• Are you casual or careful in your:
• sabbath day and worship
• prepare for the sacrament, not just show up
• prayers
• scripture study
• Come Follow Me
• Temple
• Covenants
• Appearance; modesty
• minstering
• callings
• media
• language
• For the Strenth of Youth - standards do not expire with age
• Elevate others instead of lowering your standards to make them feel more comfortable
• We are all in the process of growth, so stay your judgment
• Mark yourself for Jesus. You were not meant to blend in!

Brook P Hales - Prayers are Answered

• God loves you and is in the details of your life
• God knows what mistakes you will make and has prepared a way for you around it
• He prepares every needful thing
• Joseph Smith felt abandoned in Liberty Jail in his righteous desire, but God had a better outcome
• Keep your sight on the next life - "This too shall pass"
• Faith includes trustin in God's timing

Elder Uchtdorf - Come and See; Come and Help; Come and Stay

• Paul was an "early day Saint". We are "latter day Saints"
• The early saints knew much sacrifice, the early pioneer saints did too
• There are 7 1/2 billion people vs 16 million saints. We are still a very small flock
• Claim the blessings of regular church participation
• Share the Good News!
• Gather Israel
• Draw close to God - believe, love, trust
• When you feel His love, the joy will shine in you and others will ask
• Fill you heart with love for others; see them as children of God; minister with compassion
• Follow the disciples path - scriptures, prophets; apply/follow/practice daily
• Grace for grace
• It will become normal to talk with others about your faith
• Share what is in your heart
• Witness at all times
• Let your light shine
• Let your good works glorify God
• Be kind; testify online, have simple conversations
• Invite others to "come and see" - study the NT with you
• Why is Jesus and the church so important to you?
• Pray daily that YOU will find those who need to Come and See; help; stay
• Trust the Lord will work HIS miracles. It's not your job to convert (Holy Ghost). Yours is to SHARE and LIVE
• Believe, Love, Do and the Lord will work miracles to bless HIS children.

W. Christopher Waddell (2nd C Presiding Bishopric - Ministering is more than friendship; It's never too late!

• Brother comes back 50 years after he left; cancer humbles him
• It's been a year since we were asked to minister in a higher and holier way
• First a friend, then inspired ways to deepen conversion to become more like the Savior
• Your good heart will lead you to minister to temporal needs which will lead you to minister to spiritual needs
• Seek the help of the spirit and then act
• If  you feel inadequate, trust the Lord will magnify your efforts and abilities
• Extend the invitation

Pres. Eyring - Never was there a Happier People

• Qualify for the Spirit and then find ways to invite it to last longer
• 4th Nephi - There was no contention BECAUSE of the LOVE OF GOD; Never a happier people, Lord blessed and prospered 110 years!
• Symptoms of spiritual decline among the GOOD people - pride; stopped sharing; classes' fain in Jesus decreased; hate; sin
• A decline in faith was the PIVOT point
• Wise parents see the pattern and the influence of Satan. If it continues they lose the Spirit.
• KEY is faith in Jesus which leads one to repent so humble and grateful
• Faith has a greater effect than preaching
• Lead by example - see that your own faith is increasing
• CFM - use it. It's inspired. Resolve to ponder and pray
• Your kids will remember your faith
• Pray as a family to make your home a sacred place. That influence can reach across the world wherever your family may be
• The family that prays together IS together
• In the Book of Mormon - they willingly faced years of hardship, reject and danger to offer the gospel to their enemies.
• Make your home the main MTC
• Testify to your family what the temple means to you

Elder Ballard - Keep It Simple and Pure

• Live the true, simple, pure gospel; you'll have more peace
• Love God and your neighbor (see above) is the doctrinal foundation of ALL changes
• This will make more time to visit the widow, poor, sick, etc
• CFM will renew the spirit in our home and is the way to happiness and peace
• Do it cheerfully and thankfully
• Greet EVERYONE at church; sing the hymns; pay attention to the sacrament prayer
• It's a test of faith to keep the gospel simple. Don't add more to it
• Find your ancestors and do their temple work
• Gather Israel through conversion/activation/retention

Mathias Held (70) - Learn in Mind and Heart

• He is a convert of 31 years from Columbia and Germany
• Discern the truth in your mind (Is it rational) and discern the truth in your heart (by the Spirit)
• Trust in God who's helping you become a true disciple
• The Holy Spirit can give you guidance in your mind and declares the truth of all things
• See with the eye of faith

Elder Andersion - What is Truth?

• Jesus said "My kingdom is not of this world"
• The world is on information and opinion overload
• The world speaks of "what is true for you" may be different than "what is true for me"
• Some things are eternal for ALL
• Truth looks backwards and forward
• Truth is only through Christ
• Our mortal quest is to strengthen our faith to choose Jesus and God over evil
• Satan always counterfeits and distracts
• It takes the Holy Ghost to know truth as you seek spiritually through the eye of faith
• See the Proclamation on the Family through the eye of faith - it warns of the deception in the world
• Our premortal life influenced who we are here on earth
• It's direct about the sanctity of life; speak in defense of the unborn
• don't place too much importance on the perspective of here and now
• Be settled with patience and the eye of faith
• Prophets see ahead the harrowing dangers and the grand possibility and privileges that await those who listen with the intent to change.
• Don't walk away from the boundaries the Lord has set  - where will you go?
• If your life doesn't fit in the Proclamation:
• stay true to your covenants
• God calls us to be "not of this world"
• focus on what you DO have, and service
• Blessed to lift burdens
• The Lord will give you eternal friends, the opportunity to serve, the Holy Ghost and His approval
• No choice that would deny us the companionship of the Holy Ghost is worthy of our consideration.

Takash Wada (70) - Feasting on the Words of Christ

• Increase your spiritual capacity through the scriptures
• The will lead you to do what is just
• Try the virtue of the word
• Know who you are
• Lift the lives of others as you share the gospel
• Feast and break bread with Christ - it will bring life-sustaining revelation.

David P Homer (70) - Which Voice Will You Trust?

• Story of the flight "pull up now"
• At critical moments you will hear multiple voices that compete for you attention
• It is VITAL to listen to the right ones
• Which voice will you trust? 
• crowd source - majority (not always reliable)
• Convenient (says it doesn't really matter)
• Don't choose (is to be lukewarm)
• Single Issue (makes it hard to really see)
• your own ability to think (hper intellectual, brings a stupor of thought)
• Mountains at 8000 ft are in the "Death zone" because there's not enough oxygen
• Spending too much time in faithless places is like being at 8000 feet with little spiritual oxygen
• Korihor said "I always knew"
• The Devil doesn't support his children at the last day
• The Holy Ghost teaches and shows all things
• Stills the soul
• impressions press upon our feelings
• in the bosom
• fill the soul with joy
• speaks peace to the heart
• Answers sometimes come slow; or are not needed; He trusts us
• Find the voice of the Master in a gospel centered life.

Elder Holland - Behold the Lamb of God

• Lamb of God is the one title John the Baptist chose
• The sacrificial lamb in the law of Moses was the symbol for Christ since Adam and Eve
• Adam and Eve opened the door for mortality for us but closed the door for them through their conscious choice
• Repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore 
• Christ was slain from the foundation of the world (premortal promise)
• Come to understand and depend on the Atonement
• The sacrament becomes more personal than the sacrificial lamb
• We sacrifice a broken heart and contrite spirit which leads to the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost
• Repent and Be Saved
• Even though we are a Home Centered Church, still go to take the Sacrament
• We have a shorter schedule to give more emphasis on the Sacrament as the focal point of our weeks worship
• Christ died from a broken heart by shouldering our sins. The fact we contributed to that demands our respect
• Come to church early, reverent and dressed in Sunday Best (restore that tradition)
• If you ox is in the mire too much, sell the ox or fill the mire
• Reduce the clamor before church (apostolic plea) Heaven would be shocked at how we act
• The chapel is a space dedicated for worship
• The setting is prayer, revelation, hymns, peace
• Eliminate unnecessary announcements that detract from the spirit of worship
• This hour is ordained of the Lord and is the most sacred hour of our week
• We are commanded to be there in memory of Christ
• The cup did not pass from Him for our sake. It is a symbol. The cup is coming our way...
• When the Sacred Hour comes:
• be mindful of the broken hearts around you
• give a crust of comfort and a cup of compassion
• There is no shortage of suffering around you
• Bring more tears for his sorrow
• Bring more pain at His grief
• More patience in suffering
• More praise for relief
• See it as the Bread of forgiveness and the Holy Wine of Redemption

Elder Stevenson - Your Prieshood Playbook

• Have a game plan for temptation (I'm not interested in that movie - just drop me off at home)
• Pray for greater light and a testimony of Jesus
• Avoid immoral media
• Use the family search app
• serve and love others
• lean on your faith and knowledge
• Have offensive strategies - prayer, scripture study...
• Have defensive strategies - plans to resist temptation
• A commitment to hold to the iron rod will transform you into the eternal being God intended you to be
• The weak things of the world can bread down the mighty. Don't be afraid of being a "weak thing"
• Rescue, support and love those who aren't in the game
• Bless you with the ability/desire to execute your playbook everyday

Carl B Cook (70) - Reach out Lift Up

• Quorum Presidencies - Pay special attention to new members
• Support if not doing Home Center church
• There are "long shots" and "underdogs" all around us
• All for one and one for all
• Place of belonging, gathering, that grows in numbers

Kim B Clark (70) - Doubt Not, Fear Not

• The woman who touched the Savior was "immediately healed"
• Declare faith in Jesus Christ
• The work of Salvation rests squarely on the shoulders of the Elders of Israel
• Gather Israel
• Minister
• Home Centered Gospel Learning
• Prepare the World for the Second Coming
• Look to Christ in every thought
• Jesus gave His heart to the Father; His will. We should do the same
• Turn from the world. Trust completely. Surrender your will.
• God will bless us to be His Elders if we are humble, meek, submissive, and full of love
• Have your focus RIVITED on the Savior. It is mentally vigorous and not easy
• Fasten yourself to Him; Hold firmly - by living your covenants: prayer, scriptures, repentance, the sacrament, Sabbath Day worship, temple, exercise your priesthood
• Line upon line your nature will change and your covenants will come alive
• Covenants are principles not rules
• I promise if you do these things you will be trusted servants now and in a coming day will be the mighty Elders of Israel!
• Your not alone. The Father is with you.
• He'll bless you with all the things needed to accomplish His purposes. 
• see as Jesus saw
• love those you serve
• help them see the Savior
• Use your priesthood power to bless others
• Jesus is with you. When you do it - HE does it.
• It will happen!

Pres. Eyring - Trust the Servants of God

• The Lord appreciates you sustaining His servants in His Church
• Sustain others as well
• Jehovah sustained the Plan while Lucifer rebelled.
• We all exercise faith to sustain the Father and Jesus
• We sustain by letting His servants do the work and by accepting callings by those we sustained.
• These are imperfect human beings, as are you. Keeping your promises will take unshakable faith that the Lord called them. Keeping those promises will also bring eternal happiness. Not keeping them will bring sorrow to you and to those you love—and even losses beyond your power to imagine.
• Ask yourself if you carefully and prayerfully sustain them. Do you thoughts, words, deeds sustain them?
• Promise God you will sustain His servants
• The Lord will interview you
• Do you speak of human weakness to others?
• Do you look for evidence the Lord is leading them?
• Do you follow their leadership?
• Do you speak of the evidence you see to others?
• Do you pray for them by name with love?
• Warning! These are God's chosen servants. He will condemn them if needed. The Spirit will withdraw if you condemn them, so be careful!
• Suggestions to act upon from this conference;
• Identify specific actions to take and carry them out today. This increases our power to sustain them.
• Pray as they speak that the Holy Ghost will carry the message to specific people. 
• Specifically pray for speakers  to be magnified. Look for that to happen. Faith increased.
• Listen for answers to prayers.
• Home and Family - Sustain the Father. Have faith that "everything will work out"
• In the priesthood quorum and in the family, increased faith to sustain each other is the way we build the Zion the Lord wants us to create. With His help, we can and we will. It will take learning to love the Lord with all our heart, might, mind, and strength and to love each other as we love ourselves.

President Oaks - Think About the Future

• Restoration of the gospel encompasses thinking about the future
• Think about where your current decision will lead
• Story - kids watching a dog prey on a squirrel. PARABLE FOR US!!!
• eyes riveted on the event
• became increasingly obvious what would happen
• anyone could have warned the squirrel anytime
• no one asked - "where will this lead?"
• the predicted occurred and it was too late
• We see threats creeping up. Do we speak or stay silent?
• Must sound the appropriate warning the whole time.
• More common are the questions of good vs evil and good vs good - where does it lead?
• Opportunity cost - time spent in one thing is time lost in another
• Good/Better/Best - "Good" is not reason alone to do something
• How do you label or think of yourself?
• Labels are temporary or trivial
• The Lord counsels us because He loves us
• The Plan of Happiness is for your happiness
• You can live as directed by the Holy Ghost because He testifies of all truth.
• Make a present sacrifice for an important future goal
• One woman's sacrifice to be sealed in temple changed the way she saw the temple and her covenants (5 day/night bus ride) (Expect the Lord to ask you to make sacrifices. He knows it will help you adjust your perspective. Be grateful)
• Begin with the end in mind. Covenant Path ---- TEMPLE ----- Eternal Life. 

Pres. Nelson - REPENT!

• You are the Lord's Battalion - His mighty force for good!
• Say nothing but Repentance!
• Repentance is not punishment or to be avoided
• Satan block us from Jesus who stands always with open arms to heal, purify, sanctify and cleanse
• Invitation to change your mind, knowledge, spirit, love, think, serve, spend your time, teach, body
• Nothing is more crucial the regular, daily repentance. It's not an event, it's a process
• It is the key to happiness and peace
• With faith, it opens our access to the Atonement
• The Savior transforms us
• We receive the joy of Redemption in Christ
• We need to do and be better in the battle with sin
• Satan has quadrupled his efforts in arming his minions with weapons - (so what should we be doing?)
• Repentance is the key to avoiding misery and the only way to stay spiritually safe in the days ahead.
• We can expect to become increasingly pure through daily repentance. It brings POWER
• It empowers us to gather Israel
• The rights of the priesthood lead to the powers of heaven but only through increasing righteousness
• Ask in prayer what stops you from repenting
• Do and see better than ever before
• BODY - many temptations - abuse of the body of self and others. It is your personal temple. Take care of it. It's important!
• Dress to please God. It is a direct message to God about how you feel about this gift of a body.
• Honor women; become one; partners; make it easy for her to be yours
• Pray with your heart attuned to your spouse; seek to bring her joy and counsel with her; her input will improve your output
• Get off the couch, wake up from your spiritual slumber
• Fell the armour of God
• Reap with all your might
• Can't sleep through this battle
• Call forth your premortal valor. You are the finest that have ever come. Stan know this and know what must be done before the Savior returns.;

Elder Renland - Blessings

• Do you want specific blessings?
• act in faith; it is power
• receive blessings in God's time and according to His will
• Blessings are predicated upon obedience to law
• obedience "qualifies" you, but does not "earn" them for you
• Pray to secure blessings that are conditioned upon asking for them
• Stand in faith and wait. Blessings are "time insensitive"
• Home Centered Church will help us survive spiritually
• Claim the blessings by opening, searching, discussing
• Light the fire to release the energy

Sister Eubanks - The Light of Jesus

• Stay connected to the source of light and power - Jesus 
• Christ heals, is rest, reaches out to ALL kinds of people
• Turn "windows of stone" to "light" through increased fait
• Repent - Jesus can turn scarlet sins to white
• Make Christ the CENTER of your life
• The Light of Jesus will NEVER go dark
• Help others turn the light back on in their lives
• Your little light, combined with others, will attract millions to the House of the Lord
• God is with us!
• Will die spiritually if we aren't connected to Christ
• Mortal life, not supposed to have all the answers. Here to develop faith
• Darkness can never put out light
• If we draw near to Christ - He draws near to us
• If we seek Him - He will be found!

Elder Cook - Charity in the Work of God

• We need charity to do missionary, temple and Home Church
• Our love for the Savior is our motive to minister
• Preach My Gospel - Chapter 6
• Make simple invitations to others
• Our home is the church's primary Family History Center
• The world is increasingly evil - the work of gathering Israel will protect us
• Pres. Nelson is receiving "profoundly important" revelation on temples and family history
• Men and women can equally receive revelation for their family
• If couples work together their decisions will be "heaven blest"
• Seek to know the will of the Lord
• Let humility and love be your hallmark
• Make your home a refuge from the world and a sanctuary of faith (Temporal and Spiritual)
• We are in a unique and pivotal time in the history of the world - the LAST dispensation
• Satan is warring us for the souls of our children IN OUR HOMES!

Elder Christofferson - Prepare for the 2nd Coming

• We must continue to minister to those in temporal need until the Lord comes and removes all those needs
• It's extremely important to prepare the world for the 2nd Coming of the Lord
• Devote yourself to the preparation needed for His coming
• It will be a day of redemption and judgment
• We are uniquely empowered and commissioned to prepare the world for His coming
• The church was restored for this purpose and we are intent on accomplishing it
• Gather all things together in Christ - Israel on both sides of the veil
• Know the Lord
• See eye to eye with others
• Zion - the pure in heart where there are no poor
• Zion - occurs in tumultuous times; adversity comes "as a whirlwind"
• Zion above will join us (the Zion below) This will be the climax of our preparations
• Building Zion will hasten the day of His return
• All who are baptized are "the covenant people (Israel) of the Lord"
• Gather all  in love, in simple and natural ways
• We are "permitted" to labor with "Him". HE is hastening HIS work. HE is doing it. We are just working with HIM. Not He with us.

Elder Callister - The Atonement is Infinite and Individual

• The Atonement of Jesus Christ gives hope and purpose to our lives
• It's a series of events, motivated by incomprehensible love
• Makes it possible for us to return to God, to become like Him, to receive a fullness of joy
• Overcomes death, sin, infirmities, weakness and imperfection
• The Law of Justice - no way around it; can't stop it; no mercy; can't reason with; no compassion; no exceptions
• Saved only by Mercy of Christ's Atonement. It's our "parachute" but we must pull the cord to receive His saving power through faith and repentance.
• If you feel the Spirit you have been forgiven or the cleansing power has begun
• We remember our sins to protect us from repeating them. Spiritual stop sign
• To be born of God we must repent and become a "new person" - not the one who committed the prior sins
• Have an eternal perspective
• Grace enables us to become more like Him through
• saving ordinances - "the power of godliness is unleashed through"
• the gifts of the spirit - seek them, you are eligible for them through the gift of the Holy Ghost
• each attribute you seek can become your through a spiritual gift
• if you have been baptized you are not justified in staying as you are because of the gift of the Holy Ghost

Pres. Nelson - The End of Life - Where is my family?

• Begins by saying "my wife and I rejoice to be with you" - (stands as a prophet with his wife, not only the apostles)
• "His arms are outstretched still" (think on the cross) - to ALL, no matter their sins
• Families have been bound together through ordinances since the beginning of time
• Adam had the same covenants and ordinances that we have
• Don't settle for 2nd best in the world to come
• Pay the price through fervent study and sincere prayer to know the truth and to have it abide in you
• Pray to see the hand of God in your life
• Pray to know how God feels about you
• Do it now
• Time is running out! (your life may end sooner than you think; adversity is coming;)
• Love is NOT all you need! You need saving ordinances and covenants
• Salvation is individual. Exaltation is a family matter
• We need to be sealed "by the Holy Spirit of Promise"
• See them as "the enabling laws of the Lord"
• He questions the efficacy of ordinances for the dead for those who consciously reject them in this life if they had knowledge, opportunity and choice

Pres. Oaks - Law - Atonement - Repentance

• Message of hope (even if excommunicated)
• Christ redeems
• The Atonement/Redemption is REAL
• Come unto Jesus. His love will find you (Gathering)
• Repentance is not easy but is worth the price 
• is never-ending
• is a privilege, not a burden
• We're here to prove we will be obedient to God's plan
• We are accountable to God AND His chosen mortal servants
• Final judgment is for God. Will we have achieved a mighty change of heart to desire only good?
• Repent BEFORE the judgment day
• In the resurrection our works will be restored to us, good or bad
• It's easier to serve the Lord when you have a spirit and body united
• The resurrection perfects physical deformities not unperfected character
• The same spirit that possessed us here (the Lord's or the devil's) will have power to possess us after death
• Come to Jesus and you will receive mercy
• Must have faith in Jesus, that He can take away our sins and redeem us
• Adam taught this to his children. We must teach it to ours.
• God can forgive even serious sin that man's law does not pardon
• Mercy is given when we offer a broken heart and contrite spirit
• Alma warned the church to repent of pride, unbelief, vanity and worldliness
• We are warned to repent of the same. 
• Repent of ALL your sins - actions, inaction, thoughts, feelings (even our thoughts will condemn us)
• Confess them to God and forsake them
• We Come Unto Christ through REPENTANCE to deny self of all ungodliness. 

Juan Pablo Villar (70) - Spiritual Gifts

• Recognize the blessing of your body
• Analogy of muscles - must use the to grow
• Spiritual gifts - we must use them to grow
• Faith is a spiritual gift, but we must exercise it for it to grow
• Do the things that will strengthen your spiritual gifts/muscles - PRACTICE
• This is not a Spirit, but a marathon 

Elder Gong - The Lord is My Shepherd

• Must not slumber or go our own way
• We need to heal, seek the lost, bind up the broken
• "I will pay for the groceries" - story of the robber. She offered the gift just to save him. She didn't know him and he didn't do anything to merit her help. Jesus atoned without needing anything from us first. He just offered it. We must receive it.
• Jesus calls us in His voice by His own name (our name is "Christ" through baptism. Think of as a last name/family name
• He gathers us into His one fold
• Invite others to find love, healing, covenants, and commandments
• Minister in love. Christ went to the people. We must go to them as well
• Be careful of wolves in sheeps clothing
• Abraham established covenant blessings for all the nations of the earth
• Have our names written in the LAMBS book of life
• Be invited to the supper of the LAMB
• Called by His NAME

Elder Bednar - Implications of the Ongoing Adjustments - Learn, Live, Become

• More changes will come; eat your vitamins, get your rest, it's exciting!
• Home church - ask in church "what did you learn about the Savior at home this week?"
• Don't expect the church to teach/tell you everything you need to know and do
• Have an individual responsibility to learn and live
• Personal responsibility to learn what you need to learn, live as you should and become as you should become.
• Home is the ultimate setting to learn, lve, become
• Joseph Smith "I have learned for myself" - we need to say the same
• The purpose of the plan is to become like God through the opportunity to progress
• The world is in commotion; confused; ever more wicked
• Need to Stand in the "evil day"
• Respond with strength and stamina - our own responsibility
• If all we know is based on what others tell us, even of we love and trust them, and even if it's all true, we are still built upon sand and will fall
• Need to know for yourself why YOU came into the world. 
• You can know through ordinances set forth for that purpose
• Make your home a sanctuary - ESSENTIAL in these latter days and even MORE VITAL in the future
• Temple -
• Can say - speak reverently; basic purpose of; special feelings about; church resources on; words in Bible dictionary (anoint, temple, covenant, sacrifice); Laws of obedience, Sacrifice, Law of the Gospel, Chastity; Consecration
• Ex 26-29; Lev 8; Moses, Abraham
• Can't say - not tell/describe the symbols or specific promises you promised not to reveal

• Enabling blessings will flow into and be evident in your life; the light will shine; your capacity and ability to preserve will increase; ability to be patient; compensating blessings
• Obtain "every needful thing"

Kyle S McKay (70) - The Immediate Goodness of God

• "Soon" to a parent can seen like "forever" to a child - same with God and us
• Some blessings come immediately; some later
• God will ultimately deliver us from all that robs us of our joy
• Patience is key - need to develop faith
• pray with real intent and full purpose of heart
• The immediate goodness of God comes even when we have to wait for the ultimate blessing we seek
• "My kindness shall not depart from thee"
• Sin separates us from the Spirit of God, but not from His love

Elder Rasband - Go Ye Unto Your Home and Ponder

• The devil rages in the hearts of men and stirs them up to anger
• We need a fortress with a guard tower and watchmen
• Home is our fortress against the evil of the world
• Come Follow Me - deepens our conversion to become a "new creature"
• We need strength to deflect the assaults of the adversary
• The Holy Ghost will guide us to truth
• The home is only as powerful as the spiritual strength of each individual in the home
• In a coming day - we will not survive spiritually without the Holy Ghost
• The prophet sees the advancement of the enemy - WE ARE AT WAR
• The time is growing shorter - Satan will not win!
• We must not let him penetrate our fortress. We must protect our very soul
• Satan sneaks into the mind and heart trough praise and ease, justifying our sins until we are past feeling. He leads us carefully down to hell
• The Lamanites were astonished by the preparations of the Nephites and the Lamanites lost
• We must have faith on the inside and a fortress on the outside
• We must fortify in these troubled times:
• obey willingly
• sanctify ourselves
• stand for truth
• Sacrament - take His name, follow Him, Shoulder our responsibilities in His work
• Temple
• Be sober and vigilant
• Have integrity
• Discernment through the Holy Ghost
• Satan is a liar and a deceiver
• The testimony of Jesus is your personal fortress
• Have confidence in the Lord and His gospel and help lead those who stumble to the fortress of spirituality and protection through repentance. 

Pres. Nelson - Conclusion

• This has been an historic conference (Why?)
• Seek to study and learn from the talks what the Lord is trying to teach you
• Make your home a true sanctuary of faith
• Make God's objective YOUR objective
• 162 dedicated temples through sacrifice
• Our pioneer temples need major restoration and renewal and refreshing and then will be rededicated
• Revelation will continue
• Renovate, and rededicate your life (like the temples. Make the sacrifice. You have a sacred duty to preserve what Jesus created for you)

MUSIC

Saturday Morning:

• Now Let Us Rejoice
• Press Forward Saints
• There is Sunshine in My Soul Today
• Redeemer of Israel
• Dearest Children, God Is Near You
• I Am a Child of God
• Rejoice the Lord is King

Messages - rejoice! Internal joy (not pompous or showy); "we know He is coming to gather His sheep and lead them to Zion in love; God delights to own and bless you; teach you by His Spirit's voice; Quickly heed; teach me all that I must do to live with Him someday

Saturday Afternoon:

• Come Rejoice
• Come O Thou King of Kings
• I Stand All Amazed
• Praise to the Lord the Almighty
• Jesus Once of Humble Birth
• Jesus Lover of My Soul (Pres. Eyeing emotional as announced)

Priesthood Session

• Guide Us O Thou Great Jehovah
• Count your Blessings
• Hope of Israel
• Beautiful Savior

Sunday Morning

• Sing Praise to Him
• How Firm a Foundation
• I Feel My Savior's Love
• Come Ye Children of the Lord
• O Thou Rock of Our Salvation (Gather round the Standard Bearer)
• Come Follow Me

Sunday Afternoon

• Our Savior's Love
• Sweet is the Work
• Come Unto Jesus (Gathering from every isle of the sea)
• Hark All Ye Nations
• I Know that My Savior Loves Me
• I Need Thee Every Hour