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Short talk from TSM. I think it stinks that the longer you are in the church, the longer you have to watch these men get old and frail right before your eyes.
I like Pres. Monson’s short talks. I wish all the talks were like that. Imagine a one hour conference session and 40 minute sacrament meetings! 
Sis. Bonnie Oscarson: Eternal families – Do you really believe it? I knew it, but did I really believe it?
Do we sometimes become so accustomed to our blessings that we fail to comprehend the majesty of discipleship, particularly eternal life?
The Church is more than just a lot of good things. List of unique beliefs, focused on ordinances and universality of eternal blessings.
This part is a straightforward testimony of exclusive authority. It won’t resonate with many here.
We need to get the Gospel from our heads into our hearts. Activity alone is not enough. We need our hearts and natures to be changed, over a period of time. (This concept should resonate with all of us here, even if the substance of how we see it differs from hers.)
Reference to staying in the boat.
Standard, orthodox talk. There are good aspects, but most here won’t love it.
I wish we would say “we are the mosttrue church” and not “we are the onlytrue church.” I don’t think the exclusivity rhetoric is helpful. I did like that Sister Oscarson gave a talk that’s relevant to all church membership and not just the YW. Sometimes we need a reminder that women can speak to the entire church just as capably as men can.
Bro. Christopher Waddell (Presiding Bishopric): Story of energetic young boy. “Sometimes, it’s just hard to think about Jesus.”
We all experience sorrow; no one is exempt. Our peace depends, to a degree, about whether we can think about Jesus. We have been promised peace, no matter our issues, if we hold to faith in Christ.
Quote:Learn of me, listen to my words, and walk in the meekness of my spirit.
Eternal families is a wonderful teaching, no matter if it is literal or not.
Classic description of prophetic authority, bordering on infallibility. This part will not resonate with most people here. (Two straight references to the great and spacious building and those who mock from it. I love the story / vision, but I wonder how many members realize they fit that description too often when they talk about others.)
Walk with Jesus. Accompany him to Gethsemane, to the cross, to the tomb. Repent and grasp his outstretched arm. This brings peace.
There is good in this talk, if you can ignore other parts.
“Rejoice the Lord is King” is one of my favorite hymns, dating all the way back to childhood. We never sing it in my ward. DTC says fatherhood is a man’s highest calling. We always hear this said about women/motherhood. I like hearing the same thing said to men. He quoted from a non-LDS book. Nice. I love the Joseph gets a mention. He did do a great job, just like Mary. DTC: No shame in fathers who struggle to provide for their family. My husband was out of work several times during the recession. Sometimes I was working and he wasn’t. He felt PLENTY of shame for that, at least partly due to church culture. Kudos to DTC for calling it out.
I like this talk in general, but his delivery is very dry.
Elder Todd Christofferson (Q12): The good that men can do as husbands and fathers – Fatherhood has been diminished greatly recently.
Spouses are obligated to help each other as equal partners. Fatherhood is much more than social or evolutionary. It is those, but it is more. It is a model of the divine role of God, the Eternal Father.
Fathers need to lay down their lives for their families, daily, and teach their children to be close to God.
Original FP was chastised for neglecting their families, especially instruction of their children.
Informal conversations are important elements of teaching.
In discipline, fathers must NEVER be abusive. Increase of love citation. Discipline is not primarily about punishment. Work is a consecrated activity. Neglect of family for career is not justified. There is no shame in unemployment, under-employment, disability, etc.
Men must love their wives, and show it.
We salute foster fathers. God entrusted his son to a foster father.
Young men can break patterns of absent fathers. Education is critical. Learn how to establish solid relationships.
Wherever you rank your own father, honor him and your mother by your own lives.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Think first of the happiness and well-being of others.
Touching story of a hardworking father praying for his son.
Elder Quentin Cook: Temples – Another recitation of visitations surrounding Kirtland Temple dedication. Description of announcement of Thailand Temple reaction.
Quote:“See yourself in the temple.”
Slight twist on something he said: When you have attended the temple, you have received all the Church can offer. I would add, after that, the focus, theologically, is helping others receive all the Church can offer. I think that summarizes our temple theology quite succinctly. The rest of the talks is details.
Don’t focus on our weaknesses and sins. Repentance is powerful and bpnecessary.
Members self-certify their worthiness to attend the temple. It is good to hear an apostle say that.
God is no respect or of persons, and all are equal in the temple. (There is more power in that statement than we currently understand and practice, and I hope we see that in the upcoming years.)
Having a place of tranquility and peace is important, especially from the storms of life.
Story of dedications of the Fiji Temple.
DFU starts out with war stories. I’m in. ETA: it actually took me a while to realize he was talking about Dresden because I’m used to hearing it pronounced by native English speakers (ie., wrong).
Pres. Dieter Uchtdorf (FP): [This is one of the best talks I have heard in my entire life.]Haunting childhood memory of air raid sirens and propellers. Running to bomb shelter. 4 year old witness to a world at war. (My daughter served in Dresden.)
The world appeared hopeless and without future. 70 years later, Dresden once again is a jewel box of a city. Church of Our Lady destroyed, then rebuilt. The scarred blocks are a monument to hope.
Surely, if man can take the ruins, rubble and remains of a broken city and rebuild it, how much more capable is our Almighty Father to rebuild his children!
Every sheep is worthy of being saved simply because it is loved. Period.
What must we do? Turn to Him; trust in Him; have hope and desire; that is enough.
Obedience is critical and central to eternal growth, but we can’t beat people into shape by pounding them with the commandments. YES!!
I am going to listen and not take notes. This is powerful and stunning, and I am in tears.
God sees us as we really are, and he sees us as worthy of rescue, and he will carry us home.
OK, DFU did it. He brought tears.
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