April 2014 General Conference: I Have Given You an Example

Elder Richard G. Scott spoke of the examples he has followed in his life.

"For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."  (John 13:15)

When he was growing up, Elder Scott remembers his grandmother, visiting her grandsons, concerned that the boys not baptized.  She facilitated that event.  Elder Scott benefited from continued support from faithful grandma throughout his formative years. Her example changed the course of his life.

Elder Scott also found motivation for missionary service from girl he was dating at one time.  She said, “When I marry, it will be to a faithful returned missionary in the temple.”

These people and the example they set helped Elder Scott to choose the correct path for his future.  They knew he could do more with God's help than he could on his own.

We love those we want to help.  Giving help through your love can help others find help from God's love.

Our example must be grounded in principle and doctrine in the Gospel. We must understand the Plan of Salvation. To help those we love, we ask them questions that make them think.

The challenge is to help your loved ones to want to obey.  As we seek to strengthen families, it may take a long time, and we must be patient.

As companion to love, trust.

Keep your sharing of the Gospel simple.  The Savior is the perfect pattern for everyone in life.

April 2014 General Conference: Let Your Faith Show

Elder Russel M. Nelson offered counsel regarding our personal faith.  As he was travelling, the plane lighted the "fasten seat belt" warning. Seated near him, a hysterical woman was terrified and agitated by the turbulence they encountered.

Because faith is the antidote for fear, Elder Nelson said, "I wished that I could have strengthened her faith." After arrival, the woman's husband apologized for her.  He said the best reassurance he could offer was, "Elder Nelson is on this flight, so you don't need to worry."

In the challenges to our faith in the modern world, religion is the tie back to God.  Are we securely tied to God or something else?  Where is our faith?  Celebrities can fade.  Faith is always safe in Christ.  We need to let our faith show.

In his career, Elder Nelson faced medical challenges against his religion.  Medical associates asserted that he should not combine his medical practice and his religious faith.  Elder Nelson observed that truth is not divisible.  All truth emanates from God.  All truth is part of the Gospel.

He did not comply with the associates demands.  He let his faith show.

Full freedom cannot be experienced if it is constrained by men.  We experience problems as a result of putting priorities ahead of God. Danger lurks when we try to divide ourselves with expressions such as “my private life” or even “my best behavior.”

Evil, error, and darkness will never be truth, even if popular. A scriptural warning so declares: 

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.

Public opinion polls are informative, but cannot be grounds for violating God's commands, even if popular.  Notwithstanding the wisdom of the popular WWII song, 50 million Frenchmen CAN be wrong.

In 1986, President Thomas S. Monson said:

Of course we will face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. … Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with [faith] have courage as well.

Increase your faith, proclaim your faith, let your faith show!

April 2014 General Conference: A Priceless Heritage of Hope

President Eyring addressed his remarks to those who have chosen to return to placing the covenants they have made with God back in the center of their lives.

When you are on the path to eternal life, you leave an inheritance of hope to those who follow.  These are family bonds that continue forever.

He referred to the example of Heinrich Eyring, a faithful ancestor.  “I name this in my history that my children may imitate my example and never neglect this … important duty [to assemble] with the Saints.”

For all of us, as they were for Heinrich, our duties are sometimes simple but are often difficult.  But remember, the duties must sometimes be difficult because their purpose is to move us along the path to live forever with Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in families.

And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever. (Abraham 3:24-26)

Keeping our second estate depends on our making covenants with God.

The blessings of Atonement bring us universal inheritance from Jesus Christ.

Parents sorrow over children who have chosen to break their covenants.  But there are miraculous examples from the scriptures to give hope, even when they resist his invitation.  Every parent shares in the desire for righteousness for their children.
God makes it attractive to choose the right by letting us feel the effects of our choices. If we choose the right, we will find happiness—in time. If we choose evil, there comes sorrow and regret—in time.  Those effects are sure.  Yet they are often delayed for a purpose.

We take both the short and the long view as we try to give the inheritance of hope to our family. In the short run, there will be troubles and Satan will roar. And there are things to wait for patiently, in faith, knowing that the Lord acts in His own time and in His own way.

They will remember.  Memories may bring them back.

We rely on faith, hope, and charity to guide us as we look at the long view.

Church leaders share a spirit of optimism - "Oh, things will work out".

April 2014 General Conference: Spiritual Whirlwinds

Elder Neil L. Anderson warned that the world will not glide calmly toward the Second Coming.  All things shall be in commotion, there will be spiritual whirlwinds.

Sin has always been part of the world, but it has never been so accessible, insatiable, and acceptable. The powerful force of repentance will subdue the whirlwinds of sin.

Not all whirlwinds of our making. Some come because of the wrong choices of others, and some come just because this is mortality.

Prepare for your whirlwinds.  President Monson said a chasm ever stands between standards of the Church and the world, but it is grows wider than ever before.

In a recent message to Church leaders, the First Presidency wrote,

Changes in the civil law do not, indeed cannot, change the moral law that God has established. God expects us to uphold and keep His commandments regardless of divergent opinions or trends in society. His law of chastity is clear: sexual relations are proper only between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded as husband and wife. We urge you to review … the doctrine contained in ‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World.’

President Monson said,

The Savior of mankind described Himself as being in the world but not of the world. We also can be in the world but not of the world as we reject false concepts and false teachings and remain true to that which God has commanded.

Defending traditional marriage is derided, sometimes you will have to stand alone.

In the same-sex attraction whirlwind, we are challenged to love those who disagree.  But beware of self-righteousness.  There is no place in the Gospel for bigotry. But everyone, independent of his or her decisions and beliefs, deserves our kindness and consideration.  God will dispel the powers of darkness.

We are called to stand in holy places.  To strengthen us, we are afforded greater access to Temple.  We find the peace of the Savior in the Temple.  The way you feel in the temple is a pattern for how you want to feel in your life.

Don't let the whirlwind drag you down. These are your days to stand strong as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

April 2014 General Conference: Protection from Pornography—a Christ-Focused Home

Linda S. Reeves asks, "What do I want my grandchildren to know?"  Church leaders are worried about the damage pornography is causing families.

Many are drawn back to images of pornography until it becomes an addiction.  Pornography has become more vile, evil, and graphic than ever before.

How do we protect ourselves?  Filters are great tools, but the greatest filter is a deep abiding testimony.

The challenges for parents can be overwhelming.  Someone told her, "When you ask the sisters to read the scriptures and pray more, it stresses them out. They already feel like they have too much to do.”

In reaction, Sister Reeves reports that their family set new priorities.  As they prayed about how to act, the answer that came was clear: “It is OK if the house is a mess and the children are still in their pajamas and some responsibilities are left undone. The only things that really need to be accomplished in the home are daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening.”

They were trying to do these things, but not always as the priority and, amidst the chaos, sometimes neglected. They changed focus to not to worry about the less-important things. The new focus became to talk, rejoice, preach, and testify of Christ by striving to daily pray and study the scriptures and have weekly family home evening.

If our children refuse to join us, we can start with ourselves.

What do I want my grandchildren to know? I want them and you to know that I know the Savior lives and loves us. He has paid the price for our sins, but we must kneel before our Father in Heaven, in deep humility, confessing our sins, and plead with Him for forgiveness. We must want to change our hearts and our desires and be humble enough to seek the help and forgiveness of those we may have hurt or forsaken.

April 2014 General Conference: Christ the Redeemer

Elder Carlos H. Amado gave testimony regarding the sacrifice and atonement of Jesus Christ.

Jesus never received honors from the people of his day.  Even though he performed miracles and gave his disciples power, he was not recognized in his time.

He held authority and power over life and death, as seen in the incident with Mary and Martha, and Lazarus.  Jesus promised, "...I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."  His works bore irrefutable evidence of his power.

In Gethsemane, Jesus took upon him our infirmities, then was raised up on the cross, in the crucifixion.

He was resurrected as witness to his power.

April 2014 General Confernce: Welcome to Conference

President Monson made the welcoming remarks at the Sunday morning session.  He attended the dedication of the Gilbert Arizona Temple, the 142nd operating temple in the Church.

Monson indicated that other temple projects are scheduled for completion and dedication, and when all are dedication there will be 170 operating temples.  Church leaders continue assessing needs for additional temples, and finding potential locations.  He characterized our temple-related efforts.
 

  We are a temple-building and a temple-attending people.

April 2014 General Conference

I regret that I missed putting up reviews of the Conference talks last time.

The sessions of this Conference were filled with inspired counsel and instruction.

Online video coverage of the Conference procedings is found at this Church web page.

As the talks are transcribed and become available online, I will make a review of them on Snail Hollow Gazette.