Sunday morning session: Summaries from Latter-day Saint general conference
by KSL.com Staff · KSL.comEstimated read time: Less than a minute
SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is holding its 194th Semiannual General Conference Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6. This blog summarizes the key points from the Sunday morning session.
Follow along with our blog updates below, or watch each session live here.
Here is a glossary of the Latter-day Saint terminology used in this blog.
Sunday, 12:15 pm
President Henry B. Eyring — Simple is the doctrine of Jesus Christ
President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, said all church members have family "being tempted and tried by the seemingly constant forces of Satan." He encouraged them to teach the simple doctrine of Jesus Christ.
"As we teach these principles to those we love, the Holy Ghost will help us know the truth," he said.
Simplicity, he said, allows parents to teach children early. He encouraged them to take advantage of every opportunity.
"The words you share today could be the ones they carry with them, and today will soon pass," he said.
President Eyring said his great-grandmother continued teaching Christ's gospel in Berlin even when it was illegal. When she was arrested, she wrote a letter to the judge bearing witness of Christ, and he dropped her charges.
"Her belief that even a new convert could teach the doctrine of Jesus Christ has ensured that her descendants will be strengthened in their own battles," he said.
President Eyring said those they love may still not respond, but he encouraged them not to give in to doubts, and to turn to God.
"If you pray, if you talk to God, and if you plead for his help for your loved one, and if you thank him not only for help but for the patience and gentleness that come from not receiving all you desire right away, or perhaps ever, then I promise you that you will draw closer to him," he said
He said multiple people in the Book of Mormon remembered the words of their parents in moments of crisis.
"Remembering saved them. Your teaching of that sacred doctrine will be remembered," President Eyring said.
— Emily Ashcraft
Sunday, 12:00 pm
Brother Bradley R. Wilcox — 'O youth of the noble birthright'
Brother Bradley R. Wilcox, first counselor in the Young Men general presidency, offered a talk geared to the youth and a common question he hears from them about being part of the church.
"From Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to Thomas, Idaho, the question is the same: 'Why? Why must Latter-day Saints live so differently from others?'" Brother Wilcox said. "I know it's hard to be different — especially when you are young and want so badly for other people to like you."
Being "children of the covenant" with God, though, "sets us apart," he said.
"We are talking about the inheritance you receive as a joint heir with Christ because of the covenant relationship you have chosen to enter with him and your Father in Heaven. Is it too much for God to expect you to live differently than his other children so you can better lead and serve them? Not when you consider the blessings — both temporal and spiritual — that you have been given," Brother Wilcox said.
He likened the covenant relationship with God to a "birthright" and said it underscores God's trust.
"Does your birthright mean you are better than others? No, but it does mean you are expected to help others be better. Does your birthright mean you are chosen? Yes, but not chosen to rule over others; you are chosen to serve them. Is your birthright evidence of God's love? Yes, but more important, it is evidence of his trust," Brother Wilcox said.
God loves all his children, and Brother Wilcox likened youth to the crew members of a cruise ship. "Think of it! Of all the people on the earth, God trusts you, the children of the covenant — his crew members — to help with his work of bringing all his children safely home to him," he said.
— Tim Vandenack
Sunday, 11:30 am
Elder Gary E. Stevenson — Days never to be forgotten
Elder Gary E. Stevenson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, highlighted President Russell M. Nelson's landmark 100th birthday in September. Elder Stevenson then called attention to other significant events over the next 10 years.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will celebrate the bicentennial of the organization of the church. The Salt Lake Temple will be rededicated. The Winter Olympic Games will be staged in Salt Lake City in 2034.
Elder Stevenson then called upon members of the church to use these moments to spread the message of Jesus Christ by joyfully living Christ's gospel.
Elder Stevenson also called upon the youth of the church to "have the strength and capacity to be disciples of Christ in an unprecedented way."
"For you personally, this will be a decade never to be forgotten. But it will be doubly so if you actively strive to become a light unto the world of how the glad tidings of the gospel of Jesus Christ can enrich and enhance not only your lives but those of your family, friends and social media followers," Elder Stevenson said.
He suggested four ways the church members can share the glad tidings of Christ's gospel.
- Living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Caring for those in need.
- Inviting all to receive the gospel.
- Uniting families for eternity.
"Let the people you serve know that your concern for them is rooted in your love of God and your desire to treat your neighbor as yourself," Elder Stevenson said.
— Matt Brooks
Sunday, 11:26 am
Bishop L. Todd Budge — Seek him with all your heart
Bishop L. Todd Budge, of the Presiding Bishopric, encouraged taking time to be still.
He said the Japanese word for busy, "isogashii," is made up of characters that mean "spirit" and "death" — suggesting being too busy can lead to spiritual death.
"The Lord knew, in this fast-paced world, full of distractions and in commotion, that making quality time for him would be one of the major challenges of our day," he said.
Bishop Budge said salvation depends on resting from the cares of the world and returning to Christ.
"It requires letting go of our doubtful and fearful thoughts and focusing our hearts and minds on him," he said.
The Japanese word for be still, "mui," is a combination of "nothing" and "do" — Bishop Budge said to him this is a reminder "to slow down and to live with greater spiritual awareness."
He said approaching God with "heartfelt devotion" makes worship an expression of love for him. However, he said God does not force people to come to him.
"The gospel of Jesus Christ gives us opportunities to return to him often. … What if we were to take these sacred opportunities off our 'to-do' lists and put them on our 'non-doing' lists," he said.
He said it does not necessarily take more time to be still but more awareness during the time already spent. He said focusing on covenant connections with God will enrich sacred moments and give members guidance.
"I testify that as we return often to the Lord with full purpose of heart, we will in quietness and confidence come to know him and feel his infinite covenantal love for us," Bishop Budge said.
— Emily Ashcraft
Sunday, 11:22 am
Elder Brook P. Hales — Mortality works!
Elder Brook P. Hales, general authority seventy, addressed the mortality of earthly life and its role in the immortality of the spirit.
"Brothers and sisters, mortality works! It is designed to work! Despite the challenges, heartaches, and difficulties we all face, our loving, wise and perfect Heavenly Father has designed the Plan of Happiness such that we are not destined to fail. His plan provides a way for us to rise above our mortal failures," he said.
However, effort is required, and the process of dealing with mortal challenges can be tough, wrought with "hard times," even.
"Nonetheless, if we are to be the beneficiaries of the Lord's 'work and glory,' even 'immortality and eternal life,' we must expect to be schooled and taught, and to pass through the refiner's fire — sometimes to our utter limits. To completely avoid the problems, challenges and difficulties of this world would be to sidestep the process that is truly necessary for mortality to work."
This life, he said, "is a testing ground," and he cited his own challenges as a youth — "great emotional pain and shame that came as the result of the unrighteous actions of another."
The Savior, he went on, helped him overcome his "feelings of unworthiness and to extend sincere forgiveness to the offender."
Life's experience, good and bad, "can teach us important lessons. I now know and bear testimony that mortality works!"
Finally, he cited the example of his mother. "My mother did not have an easy journey through mortality," he said.
He had "a dream I have never forgotten" after her death, though, which gave him assurance that "she is happy and healed. … I know that for Mom, mortality worked — and it works for us, too."
— Tim Vandenack
Sunday, 11:03 am
Sister Tracy Y. Browning — Seeking answers to spiritual questions
Sister Tracy Y. Browning, the second counselor in the Primary General Presidency, taught about how to pursue spiritual knowledge. She said that God the Father and his son Jesus Christ are "the source of all truth and share Their wisdom liberally."
She explained that the pursuit of spiritual knowledge requires obedience to God.
"God's laws and commandments are not designed to be an obstacle in our life, but a powerful gateway to personal revelation and spiritual education," Sister Browning taught.
God the Father said his son Jesus Christ is the model for obeying God and keeping his commandments.
"God's plan is merciful toward the limitations of our humanity, provides us with our Savior, Jesus Christ, to be our Good Shepherd, and inspires us to use our agency to choose him," Sister Browning said.
In addition to pursuing spiritual knowledge, faithful obedience opens the way for us to receive healing and strength, she said.
"Our obedience to God's laws and commandments can open the way for our Savior to provide the understanding and healing he knows we need, according to his prescribed treatment plan for us," Sister Browning said.
— Matt Brooks
Sunday, 10:56 am
President Jeffrey R. Holland — 'I am he'
At the beginning of his talk, President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke about Jesus Christ being confronted by soldiers during the last week of his life.
He said one of the "most stirring lines" of scripture is when Christ said "I am he" and the soldiers "went backward, and fell to the ground."
"It tells me straightforwardly that just being in the presence of the Son of God … is enough to send antagonists stumbling into retreat," he said.
President Holland said because Christ's character and love have "unreachable depth" humans have simplified and trivialized their image of him.
"We must beware of any such simplistic versions of him that conveniently ignore teachings we find uncomfortable," President Holland said.
Specifically, he spoke about two phrases with "absolutely essential" qualifiers — "if ye love me, keep my commandments" and "love one another; as I have loved you."
"Christ's charity — evident in complete loyalty to his divine will — persisted and continues to persist … not just through the easy and comfortable days but especially through the darkest and most difficult ones," he said.
He said modern prophets will "lead a generation" to see Christ returning, and he will stretch his arms out in love and say, "I am he.'"
"When we stand before him and see the wounds in his hands and feet, we will begin to comprehend what it meant for him to bear our sins and be acquainted with grief, to be completely obedient to the will of his father — all out of pure love for us," President Holland said.
— Emily Ashcraft
Sunday, 10:00 am
Sunday morning general conference session begins
Join us as the KSL.com team keeps you up to date with the latest talk summaries, announcements and events during the October general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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KSL.com Staff