Notes from General Conference Saturday afternoon session

President Ucthdorf conducts.

Family choir from several stakes in Utah.

Choir sing: “On This Day of Joy and Gladness.”

Invocation: Paul E. Johnson of the Seventy

President Eyring handles sustaining.

Choir sings “I Know that My Savior Loves Me.”

President Packer

Safe place to raise children: in a Gospel-centered home.

In the last days, perilous times will come. Paul’s warning.

These verses serve as a warning. All can be checked off against the prevailing evidence.

Moroni also warned of our day: “awful situation.” The descriptions that Paul and Moroni give of our day are accurate. For many, it may be discouraging. Still, Pres. Packer is optimistic.

Read the scriptures. All scripture is given by inspiration of God.

Told the story of Joseph F. Smith and his dream about being clean.

To be clean, it is important to repent, see your bishop and return to activity in the Church. The Lord remembers your sins no more when you repent. Quotes Isaiah.

The healing power of Jesus Christ.

Elder Christofferson

The moral foundation provided by women has contributed to the common good. Often underappreciated.

Women have special qualities of faith.

Tells the story of Ana Danes, a loyal Church member in New Jersey where Elder C grew up.

Praises his grandmother, who urged him to memorize the Sacrament prayers.

Praises mothers and relates a wonderful quotation about the power of women to bring peace to the world.

Women, your moral authority is vital, and perhaps we have taken it for granted.

Potential problems:

1)Devaluation of marriage and homemaking. Feminists complain women are being exploited. They diminish the mommy track. This is not right. There is not a higher good than motherhood and fatherhood. There is not a higher career.

2)Attitudes towards sexuality. Abortion destroys a woman’s moral authority. Also revealing dress. A woman’s sexuality is not what defines her. Women and girls are encouraged by society to be promiscuous. Sexual relations without conscience. Fatherless families. Promiscuity robs women and degrades society. Men are liberated and women and children suffer most.

3)Equality: erases differences between men and women. Women become violent and confrontational. Female violence in movies. The world has enough women who are tough. We need women who are tender. In blurring the feminine and masculine difference, we lose the complementary nature of women and men.

Keep clean language. Modesty, not vanity. Purity, not promiscuity. Cannot lift to virtue if you are entertaining vice.

The relationship with God must come first. Don’t misunderstand: men and boys are not excused. Their responsibility to serve and sacrifice is important. We must stand with women, share their burdens and cultivate their moral authority.

S. Gifford Nielsen of the Seventy

What would you do if the prophet of the Lord really called you? He has. He has called you to an important work. Members and missionaries should work together.

Hasten the work. That time is now.

1)Pray to bring somebody closer to the Gospel this day.

2)Pray for the missionaries and their investigators by name every day.

3)Invite a friend to an activity.

Choir: “Press Forward Saints.”

Arnulfo Valenzuela of the Seventy

At Mexico City MTC. Elders and Sisters learned new language skills. I reflected on the words of Alma: keep a history of his people as part of the records. By small things are great things brought to pass.

The innocence and youth of our missionaries exemplifies the Lord’s way. Through small and simple things, we may convince many of the errors of their ways and help bring people to the knowledge of their God.

Teach simple lessons about the Sabbath. One investigator said: “All I needed was one person to come and give me an abrazo (hug).”

One woman wanted to go inactive. They sang a hymn. The Spirit filled the room. The woman’s heart began to soften. The feelings of her heart confirmed that the Gospel is true.

Story of Naman and leprosy. Simple acts cured him. Elisha cured him.

Pres. Monson has asked us to rescue our brothers and sisters. There are souls to save. People are there waiting for us. Let us reach out to others with faith and with love.

Timothy J. Dyches of the Seventy

Jesus healing at the pool of Bethesda. Lepers healed.

Jesus heals body, mind and spirit. His healing begins with faith. How can we be healed? Come unto Jesus. Take his yoke upon you. Become a new creature. Be made whole again.

The vicissitudes of life help engrave Jesus’ visage on us. We are healed by abandoning the habit of hardened hearts and stiffened necks. We are no longer blinded by the secular world. As we repent, we become whole.

Faith in Christ. Told of a Holocaust victim who was a Christian. But she could not forgive a prison guard. She prayed to Jesus: “Jesus, I could not forgive him. Give me your forgiveness.” She then was able to touch him and felt Jesus supporting her.

All that is unfair about life can be made right through the atonement of Christ. Be not afraid, but only believe.

Elder Holland

Compassion. I wish to speak to those who suffer from some form of mental illness or mental disorder.

There should be no more shame in dealing with mental illness than in dealing with high blood pressure or a tumor.

A savior was promised. Our faith will lift us over the tests and trials.

Major Depressive Disorder. Depression. Not just anxiety. He is speaking of something more serious, an affliction so severe that you cannot function. A crater in the mind. Dark night of the mind. New mothers, people suffering a loss, military vets, grandmothers, young fathers trying to provide for families.

I once terrifyingly saw it in myself. (Elder Holland). Took a financial blow. He continues to feel a deep sympathy for people with depression. We have all taken courage from those who searched and contemplated the darkness abyss. Lincoln, Churchill, George Albert Smith — all suffered depression.

Never lose faith in Father in Heaven. God’s love is simply always there.

Cherish priesthood blessings. Take the sacrament every week. Believe in miracles — “I have seen so many. They came when every indication was that hope was lost.”

Watch for the stress indicators in yourself and in others you may be able to help. Take time to be well. Seek the advice of people with training and good values. Fix what you can, not everything. Be patient. Be still and wait. Patiently enduring some things is part of our mortal education.

Offer prayers and give long unfeigned. Charity never faith.

Remember there is still in life to be hopeful about. Told the story of Stephanie Clark Nielsen. They were in a plane crash. She was scarred horribly. Almost no chance she could live. She was in a coma for five months. All the scarring, depression. She did not want her children to see her. Fought her way back from the abyss. Her divine purpose in life is to be a mom and to cherish every day she has been given with them.

One day the dawn will break brightly and the shadows of morality will flee. Broken minds can be healed the way broken hearts can be healed. We can help by being merciful, non-judgemental and kind.

Elder Ballard

Went to five countries in Europe. Met with missionaries. They cannot do their work alone.

Urgency for each one of us to be engaged in sharing the Gospel.

The greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel.

Give the world its chance to hear and accept the Gospel. Commands to teach the Gospel.

Was Toronto, Canada mission president. Pres. Kimball wondered if people were doing all that they could. Lengthen stride, quicken pace. Pres. Monson said: now is the time for members and missionaries to come together to labor in the vineyard. Be anxiously engaged.

The Lord is hastening his work. Lds.org: hastening the work of salvation. Two reasons for not sharing the Gospel: 1)fear. 2)misunderstanding of what missionary work is.

Follow the Lord to bring souls unto him. All members should pray and reach out to just one person between now and Christmas. Millions will feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When you introduce somebody to Jesus Christ, you will feel how deeply the Savior loves you and the person whose hand you hold.

Choir: “Love at Home.”

Benediction: Sister Carol F. McConkie

This entry was posted in General by Geoff B.. Bookmark the permalink.

About Geoff B.

Geoff B graduated from Stanford University (class of 1985) and worked in journalism for several years until about 1992, when he took up his second career in telecommunications sales. He has held many callings in the Church, but his favorite calling is father and husband. Geoff is active in martial arts and loves hiking and skiing. Geoff has five children and lives in Colorado.

7 thoughts on “Notes from General Conference Saturday afternoon session

  1. 2)Attitudes towards sexuality. Abortion destroys a woman’s moral authority. Also revealing dress. A woman’s sexuality is not what defines her. Women and girls are *NOT* encouraged to be promiscuous.

  2. Pingback: General Conference October 2013 | Junior Ganymede

Comments are closed.