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President Eyring. A person in need call you in a time of need. It was an unforeseen urgent call.
You had promised to help your wife with projects that day.
You had promised to spend time with your children.
The other members of the quorum are likely in the same time-bind.
The story of the good Samaritan could be called the parable of overloaded priesthood holders.
Remember you are the samaritan, not the priest or levite that passed by. Remember the inn-keeper also helped.
God will provide the compassion you need to help those in need.
Quorum presidents should be willing to ask others to be like the inn-keeper and help.
The Lord will recompense those who help people in need.
Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnrgn (this is where I fell asleep on my keyboard last night… it was 2:30am!)
The priesthood leader will be blessed with the inspiration to know whether on that particular day whether you can say yes to the person in need and ask your wife/children to do without you. Or, you may be inspired to say no because your family needs you more.
Also promised leaders the ability to have courage to delegate where needed. Use inn keepers.
(Wow – I’m impressed. Independent choice of fulfilling two conflicting needs. Both worthy causes, up to you to seek guidance on prioritising them).
Talked of experiences serving with Bishop going on visits with him as a priest. “We can’t change the tragedy of their lives yet, but we can help them feel the love of the Lord.”
He cannot promise answers to those who seek questions or who doubt the truth of the Book of Mormon. You can get assurance of truth of the Book of Mormon by treasuring it.
President Monson Family trips in the car. Seeing sheep guided dogs. Shepherd at the back on his horse. Dozing in his saddle because the horse knew the way.
Contrast to being in Germany and seeing a shepherd who lead his sheep from the front. Jesus is the good shepherd and teaches what a true shepherd should be.
We have a way of being shepherds too: Home Teaching.
Home Teaching is an urgent opportunity. It is a divine service and call. It is our duty to carry the spirit into every home and heart.
Home teaching is more successful when an appointment is made: Story of President Hinkley hosting President Monson and others at a dinner. A single home teacher knocked on the door. He had no appointment or companion. He was invited into the living room to instruct 3 apostles and their wives. The home teacher did his best and made a hurried exit. Another story of HT who left the car running while trying to visit President Romney in a rush. We can do better than that.
If you would win a man to a cause first convince him you are his sincere friend. Be a genuine friend to the families you teach. A friend does more than visit and count numbers. A friend listens, cares, reaches out.
Ours is the sacred privilege to lighten the load and touch the lives of others. There’s one teacher who is greater than all others. He lived not to be served but to serve. Not to receive but to give. His laws were not on stone but human hearts. The master teacher, Jesus Christ.
(My comment: I’m torn on this. Often Home Teaching is one of the most mundane and ‘Mormon Cultural’ things I dislike. It irks me that a man’s worthiness is measured by a percentage of visits. But maybe it’s ‘Pure religion’ if we embrace is as an opportunity to love and care for a group of people. I think that in God’s wisdom he’s given Home Teaching to a group of people to drive structured service that they might otherwise never get around to doing.).
Quote:It irks me that a man’s worthiness is measured by a percentage of visits. But maybe it’s ‘Pure religion’ if we embrace is as an opportunity to love and care for a group of people.
I Home Teach three single sisters, one of whom is elderly and one of whom sees nobody but her HT and VT regularly. I try not to “do my Home Teaching”; rather, I try to Home Teach. There is a difference, and the prevalence of “do your Home Teaching” references bothers me.
Having said that, I’m a good Home Teacher now, but I’ve sucked at it in the past. It only was when I started visiting the single, sick and the elderly that I finally understood better the pure religion aspect of it.
I will be able to summarize this session, but I will be at the church with my family for the one this afternoon. If someone else can take care of that session, I would appreciate it. Sunday Morning Session:Pres. Uchtdorf presiding; Sister Esplin saying opening prayer. (Once again, a woman has offered an opening and closing prayer. It’s good that it didn’t hit as a big deal this time.)
Pres. Eyring: What choices could I make that will lead me to happiness or unhappiness? Heavenly Father has made each of us unique; no two families are alike. Thus, advice is hard to give. The Plan of Happiness is to follow the commandments of God – especially one over-arching commandment. It applies to all relationships.
That commandment is love.(Quoted verses about the great commandment.) What choices have led me to loving the Lord? To put myself where I felt the joy of forgiveness through the Atonement. Baptism experience as a missionary. “I’m clean; I’m clean!!” From an apostle: “The Lord will give you the assurance of His forgiveness in His own time and in His own way.”
Go to the Savior for relief that only He can give. Pressures can tempt us to reject opportunities to serve others, including church callings. A former Mission President serving as a Teacher’s Quorum advisor.
Plead for the help of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost helps us be equally yoked in marriage. Becoming one requires the help of heaven. My parents were very different – and artist and a scientist. Funny example of a concert experience. Touching and humorous experience of her mother’s sacrifice living away from family. She said, “You were supposed to remember.” (I really like this part of the talk. It highlights the humanity of someone as wonderful as his father.)
The redemption is the greatest act of love in all creation.
Life and families will test us – where we will experience great joy and great sorrow. God cares for all and has devised means to save all. We are not insignificant nor comtemptible to God.
We can be God’s angels who help save people. Friend’s experience: “Why do I have this tragedy?” “I gave him to you because I knew you could and would love him, no matter what he did.”
Agency cannot be forced, but the Savior paid the price of all sins.
My message to my grandchildren and all is that joy is guaranteed for the faithful, since God will love them forever.
Elder Oaks: The Ten Commandments are fundamental to Christianity and Judaism. First two are about our worship and priorities. Which is the great commandment? Love of God. Second follows naturally: Thou shalt not bow down to or serve them graven images.
Jealous means “possessing sensitive or deep feelings”. What priorities are being put above God? Cultural or family traditions, political correctness (Grrr), material things, prestige, etc. The principle is more important than specific examples. Is God our ultimate priority? Have we forgotten to love and follow God?
God’s commandments are based on and inseparable from the Plan of Salvation. Review of the Plan of Salvation. Our priorities need to be in accordance with this plan.
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Some of you might want to skip the next part.It is not an attack on gay marriage, exclusively, as much as it is a statement about what is happening statistically to marriage, specifically in heterosexual ones – but it includes direct statements against gay marriage.) Marriage and family is central to our theology, since it begins with Heavenly Parents and ends in a condition of Heavenly Parenthood. Focus on heterosexual marriage as sacred duty for those given that opportunity. We grieve at the sharply declining number of marriages and children in Christian countries. Birth rates now are below the level necessary to maintain population in many countries. (Not going to try to type the stats he is giving. His stats are correct, but It’s too hard to type them.)
God’s plan is for all of his children, not just those who marry and have children. Salvation is free for all; none are forbidden. We are responsible to be compassionate and loving – and respectful of all religious beliefs, including agnosticism and atheism.
God has established Law of Chastity as defined in the temple. Review of that historically, in light of its purpose in the Plan of Salvation. Some agree with us; some disagree.
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I’m skipping much of what’s next. I just don’t like the policy statements and their implications – almost all of them.) There is an ironic aspect of talking about moral courage to live as one feels is right, but it is a principle that can be used by people who disagree with Elder Oaks about some things he said. In other words, we can follow that principle in calmly living according to the dictates of our own conscience, even when that differs from his.
Sister Oscarson: “Choose you this day whom you will serve.” Be true to our covenants. Description of an ancestor, Agnes Hogan – an immigrant from Scotland. It was a very touching story.
The decisions we make have eternal consequences – in the here and now. Gain a personal testimony now, without delay. True conversion is more than a knowledge and testimony; it means we are acting on what we believe and are being changed by it. Conversion is a process, not an event.
Sometimes, we try to gain conversion backwards. We ask to know without living and exercising faith first.
Experience as a young woman in the 60’s, often being excluded from social events due to believing and living the Word of Wisdom. Conversion occurred after those experiences and what she learned as a result. “Ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”
The main purpose of the new youth curriculum is conversion, which is your responsibility. Conversion comes by acting on what we believe and through the companionship of the Holy Ghost – and through acknowledging Jesus as the Savior and Redeemer. Conversion brings a desire to share with and strengthen others.
We are God’s greatest work. Others should be our greatest work, as well.
Quote:
There is an ironic aspect of talking about moral courage to live as one feels is right, but it is a principle that can be used by people who disagree with Elder Oaks about some things he said. In other words, we can follow that principle in calmly living according to the dictates of our own conscience, even when that differs from his.Brilliant Ray. I walked through the living room and heard that portion of the talk. My sense was similar — anyone, can justify any moral position using his argument. It is not a position based on reason, but on character.
Of the morning so far, I’d advise most of us skip Elder Oaks and Sister Oscarson. I left the room on the latter. Elder Maynes: We all face challenges every day. Many can be solved and overcome, but others can be difficult to understand and impossible to overcome. It is important to develop spiritual strength to help us with our struggles.
Example of Joseph Smith’s life – in Liberty Jail. Quoted from D&C the Lord’s response. Life is a test of our character. (I like that framing.) You are free to act for yourself, which leads to incorrect choices, as well. Atonement is necessary; repentance and endurance are key.
2 Nephi 31 about pressing forward after baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost. Depth of conversion is key, as is following inspiration of the Holy Ghost.
Experience of effort required to endure: College basketball requirements of coach. Conditioning comes at a price, both physical and spiritual – and the cost is the same. Our spirits need to be in shape to succeed spiritually, just as our bodies need to be in shape to succeed physically. Adversity can cause spiritual conditioning, but only if we are spiritually prepared and “in shape”. That requires daily exercise.
“You must become the rock the river cannot wash away.”
Family history story of endurance. Ancestor who died as a missionary and his wife raising eight children without him. From the funeral: This is what the Gospel gives us: Not immunity from death, but hope to overcome it.
“Let us run with patience the (endurance) race that is set before us.” We need to pay the price for the blessings we desire.
Whatever challenges you wake up to each morning, at the end of the race you will be able to enjoy the Apostle Paul’s confidence.
Elder Scott: What is the most important thing I should be doing right now? Recognize the power of the Atonement in your life and the strength you can gain from it.
Example of Ammon and the Anti-Lehi-Nephites. (I really like the way he is framing this story and the grief of the fathers having to allow their children to fight for them.) The fathers had been forgiven, so why couldn’t they defend their families? Sometimes, bad choices leave us with short- and long-term consequences. Don’t let guilt over past actions weaken resolve to sin no more, especially when you have been forgiven for those past actions.
Used fortification of cities during war as an example of avoiding past sinful actions – particularly of fortifying weak areas.
Joyful news is that the Lord sees weaknesses differently than he sees rebellion. When the Lord speaks of weaknesses, it is always with mercy.
The Atonement not only cleans from sin, but it also protects from weakness and gives strength. Repentance was better than war for the fathers of the Sons of Helaman. (We talk about the sons so much that we sometimes forget the fathers and mothers.)
We need to repent of rebellion, however it is manifested in our lives. The Atonement can strength and clean us, if we strive to fortify ourselves, as well. How do we do this?
1) Sincere, thorough, complete repentance. Repentance is not punishment; it is a hope-filled path to the future.
Make covenants and receive ordinances for yourself. Share the Gospel. Serve in church callings, especially HT and VT. Reach out to each person; get to know them personally; be a real friend. Serve the members of your own family, and prioritize their spiritual development. Give freely of your time and attention.
Common theme:
Fill your life with service to others.Many of you have felt the burden of poor choices; each of you can feel the power of the Atonement.
Thank you Ray and Mackay for summing up conference and highlighting both the positive and negative. I had a goal to watch conference today and I’m finding I’m just not ready for it. It’s not healthy at all for me at this time, which makes me sad because I honestly wanted to make it work. But you’re allowing me to see a balanced, healthy perspective of each talk and this is so helpful. I appreciate your words so much. :clap: Pres. Monson: Everything has been of the most spiritual nature. (I don’t agree, but I still love the man as a prophet.)
Talk of his wife dying shortly after the last General Conference session. Tomorrow would have been their 65th anniversary. “She was the love of my life and my closest friend.” This conference marks 50 years since ordination as an apostle. Countless are the sacrifices she made so I could fulfill the responsibilities of my callings. I wish to express my thanks and deep gratitude for the outpouring of love since her passing. Of most comfort to me has been my testimony of the Gospel and my knowledge that my dear Frances lives still and that our separation is temporary.
This is knowledge that sustains me. No person has ever lived completely free of sorrow and suffering. We are tempted to ask, “Why me?” (I can’t type all of this beautiful section, especially so soon after my father’s death. Please read and watch it.)
Shall I falter, or shall I finish? To finish involves enduring to the very end of life itself. Cites Job. “Behold, my witness is in heaven.”
Whenever we are inclined to feel burdened down, let us remember that others have passed the same way. The history of the Church is replete with such experiences. The reason is that they have made the Gospel of Jesus Christ the center of their lives.
From the bed of pain, from the pillow wet with tears, we are lifted heavenward by, “I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.”
Sadness and suffering are universal. I can’t begin to measure all that I have witnessed, but one example from my childhood – Brother Brimms. (This is a very touching story.) He was always deeply grateful for his many blessings.
Heavenly Father gives us so much to delight in. We will experience heart-breaking sorrow and grieve, but we can be different than what we were – better, more understanding, more empathetic. This should be our purpose – to endure but also to be be better people. Progress toward eternal life is our goal. A poem: “The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.”
Only the Master knows the depth of our trials and asks, “Come unto me.” (I like phrasing that as a request, not a command.) May we have a commitment to Heavenly Father that does not ebb and flow. Pray to Him, and listen to Him. We truly need him every hour, whether of sunshine or rain.
I’ve said this more than once, but I actually am glad we have apostles with different views, since I think it’s a GREAT example of the type of diversity Pres. Uchtdorf described. If the top leadership counsel can include people who differ so radically in their views, the membership ought to allow that same diversity.
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