L. Tom Perry on the eternal importance of families

Elder L. Tom Perry (1922- ) has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1974.

"The restored gospel centers on marriage and family. It is also on marriage and family where we can unite most with other faiths. It is around marriage and family where we will find our greatest commonality with the rest of the world. It is around marriage and family that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the greatest opportunity to be a light on the hill.

"Let me close by bearing witness (and my nine decades on this earth fully qualify me to say this) that the older I get, the more I realize that family is the center of life and is the key to eternal happiness."

- L. Tom Perry, "Why Marriage and Family Matter—Everywhere in the World," General Conference, April 2015, Saturday morning session
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Elder Perry spoke of a "colloquium on marriage and family" he attended last fall in Rome, Italy. The gathering brought together representatives of 14 different faiths from around the world. He was impressed how leaders from such different backgrounds and beliefs could find such general agreement on the "sanctity of the institution of marriage and the importance of families as the basic unit of society." It was interesting to hear him share impressions from the gatherings, including both things the participants had in common, as well as differences.

Elder Perry will reach his 93rd birthday in August.  He is the oldest living general authority, though still seems among the more energetic and vibrant of the leading brethren. From his life of experience and devotion, he bears a powerful witness of the Gospel and its principles. His closing testimony was particularly well expressed.

Boyd K. Packer on repentance, forgiveness, and Atonement

President Boyd K. Packer (1924- ) served as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve (a position that no longer exists) from 1961 to 1970, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He currently serves as the president of that Quorum.

"Our physical bodies, when harmed, are able to repair themselves, sometimes with the help of a physician. If the damage is extensive, however, often a scar will remain as a reminder of the injury.

"With our spiritual bodies it is another matter. Our spirits are damaged when we make mistakes and commit sins. But unlike the case of our mortal bodies, when the repentance process is complete, no scars remain because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The promise is: 'Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more' (D&C 58:42)....

"The Atonement, which can reclaim each one of us, bears no scars. That means that no matter what we have done or where we have been or how something happened, if we truly repent, He has promised that He would atone. And when He atoned, that settled that. There are so many of us who are thrashing around, as it were, with feelings of guilt, not knowing quite how to escape. You escape by accepting the Atonement of Christ, and all that was heartache can turn to beauty and love and eternity."

- Boyd K. Packer, "The Plan of Happiness," General Conference, April 2015, Saturday morning session
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President Packer is not the oldest of the current apostles chronologically, but he seems to be the one who is the most advanced physically. Each conference, I wonder if we might have heard his last public address. That was the case again this time. He spoke of a theme that has been very important to him: the happiness that comes in following God's plan for marriage and families.  He mentioned his love and appreciation for his companion of nearly 70 years, Donna Smith Packer, now that they were "toward the end of our mortal days together."

But he also talked about a secondary theme that has been vital through his ministry: the power of the Lord to forgive through the glorious Atonement, which has the power to heal the wounds and scars of mortality:

And this glorious promise follows:

Dieter F. Uchtdorf on the grace of the Savior

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (1940- ) served as a Seventy from 1994-2004, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve.  He has served as second counselor in the First Presidency since 2008.

"The Savior's Atonement cannot become commonplace in our teaching, in our conversation, or in our hearts. It is sacred and holy, for it was through this 'great and last sacrifice' that Jesus the Christ brought 'salvation to all those who shall believe on his name' (Alma 34:10, 15).

"I marvel to think that the Son of God would condescend to save us, as imperfect, impure, mistake-prone, and ungrateful as we often are. I have tried to understand the Savior's Atonement with my finite mind, and the only explanation I can come up with is this: God loves us deeply, perfectly, and everlastingly. I cannot even begin to estimate 'the breadth, and length, and depth, and height... [of] the love of Christ' (Ephesians 3:18–19).

"A powerful expression of that love is what the scriptures often call the grace of God--the divine assistance and endowment of strength by which we grow from the flawed and limited beings we are now into exalted beings of 'truth and light, until [we are] glorified in truth and [know] all things' (D&C 93:28)."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Gift of Grace," General Conference, May 2015, Sunday morning session
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President Uchtdorf's talk on the Atonement and the Grace of the Savior was one of his finest ever. I appreciated his analogies and the clarity of his teachings. It is one we should all review regularly, in order to ensure that the Atonement truly does not become "commonplace" or neglected in our thoughts and our lives.

When we even begin to comprehend that love, we're never the same again.

Henry B. Eyring on the power of the Comforter in our lives

President Henry B. Eyring (1933- ) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007.

"Many are praying to Heavenly Father for relief, for help in carrying their burdens of grief, loneliness, and fear. Heavenly Father hears those prayers and understands their needs. He and His Beloved Son, the resurrected Jesus Christ, have promised help....

"The burdens His faithful servants must carry in life are made lighter by His Atonement. The burden of sin can be taken away, but the trials of mortal life for good people can still be heavy burdens....

"We lighten the loads of others best by helping the Lord strengthen them. That is why the Lord included in our charge to comfort others the command to be His witnesses at all times and in all places....

"That is part of the great plan of happiness the Father gave us. He allowed His Son to provide, by His atoning sacrifice, the hope that comforts us no matter how hard the way home to Him may be.

"The Father and the Son send the Holy Ghost to comfort and strengthen disciples of the Master in their journey....

"I can know only partially how much He feels joy each time you, as His disciple, help Him bring a moment of peace and joy to a child of our Heavenly Father.

"I bear my witness that the Lord has asked each of us, His disciples, to help bear one another’s burdens. We have promised to do it. I bear my testimony that the Lord, through His Atonement and Resurrection, has broken the power of death. I give my witness that the living Christ sends the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, to those we are pledged to help Him comfort."

- Henry B. Eyring, "The Comforter," April 2015 General Conference, Women's Session
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One of the beautiful phrases from the instructions Alma gave to those who in his day were desirous to follow the Gospel plan was that they should "comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places" (see Mosiah 18:9). In this tender address given to the women of the Church during the recent General Conference, President Eyring expounds upon that charge, encouraging us all to understand and act upon the invitation.

Often the best way to provide help and comfort in a time of need is to help bring awareness or remembrance of the reality and power of the Atonement to the one who needs it, truly standing as a witness of Him.

The remarkable part of President Eyring's talk to me is the suggestion that the promise of the help of the Comforter applies not just to the one who is struggling or challenged, but also to the faithful disciple who is their to help bear the burden. As we act as His agents, divine assistance will surely be there.

Thomas S. Monson on the blessings of the temple

President Thomas S. Monson (1927- ) was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1963.  He served as a counselor in the First Presidency with Presidents Benson, Hunter, and Hinckley until becoming Church president in 2008.

"As I think of temples, my thoughts turn to the many blessings we receive therein. As we enter through the doors of the temple, we leave behind us the distractions and confusion of the world. Inside this sacred sanctuary, we find beauty and order. There is rest for our souls and a respite from the cares of our lives.

"As we attend the temple, there can come to us a dimension of spirituality and a feeling of peace which will transcend any other feeling which could come into the human heart....

"Such peace can permeate any heart—hearts that are troubled, hearts that are burdened down with grief, hearts that feel confusion, hearts that plead for help....

"In our lives we will have temptations; we will have trials and challenges. As we go to the temple, as we remember the covenants we make there, we will be better able to overcome those temptations and to bear our trials. In the temple we can find peace."

- Thomas S. Monson, "Blessings of the Temple," General Conference, April 2015, Sunday morning session
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President Monson is continuing the great work of building temples and teaching about their importance, established by his predecessor, President Gordon B. Hinckley. In the most recent general conference, he shared these beautiful thoughts as part of a talk about the blessings that come from service and worship in the temples.

Among the promised blessings of temple service and worship is the peace that comes to our hearts. President Monson described his own peace after the passing of his lifelong companion Frances. And he invites us to feel that strength and help in our own lives:

David A. Bednar on prayers of gratitude

Elder David A. Bednar (1952- ) was sustained as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2004.

"The most meaningful and spiritual prayers I have experienced contained many expressions of thanks and few, if any, requests. As I am blessed now to pray with apostles and prophets, I find among these modern-day leaders of the Savior's Church the same characteristic that describes Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon: these are men whose hearts swell with thanksgiving to God for the many privileges and blessings which He bestows upon His people (see Alma 48:12). Also, they do not multiply many words, for it is given unto them what they should pray, and they are filled with desire (see 3 Nephi 19:24). The prayers of prophets are childlike in their simplicity and powerful because of their sincerity.

"As we strive to make our prayers more meaningful, we should remember that 'in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments' (D&C 59:21). Let me recommend that periodically you and I offer a prayer in which we only give thanks and express gratitude. Ask for nothing; simply let our souls rejoice and strive to communicate appreciation with all the energy of our hearts."

- David A. Bednar, "Pray Always", Ensign, Nov. 2008, p. 41
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Elder Bednar refers to the beautiful description of Captain Moroni as "a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people" (Alma 48:12). Moroni had more than his share of difficulties and frustrations in his life; but he was humble enough and wise enough to see beyond that and acknowledge the goodness of God in all things. The expression his "heart did swell with thanksgiving" is beautiful! What a marvelous quality to emulate.

And then in describing the prayers of contemporary leaders, Elder Bednar notes that they are "childlike in their simplicity and powerful because of their sincerity." That is equally insightful.

It's a wonderful reminder that we truly do have much to be thankful for, regardless of the situation or challenges of our life.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf on the hope of a new spring

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (1940- ) served as a Seventy from 1994-2004, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve.  He has served as second counselor in the First Presidency since 2008.

"I have seen enough ups and downs throughout my life to know that winter will surely give way to the warmth and hope of a new spring. I am optimistic about the future.... for our part, we must remain steadfast in hope, work with all our strength, and trust in God....

"I know this for a certainty: it is often in the trial of adversity that we learn those most critical lessons that form our character and shape our destiny.

"I pray that during the coming months and years we can fill our hours and days with righteous work. I pray that we will seek to learn and improve our minds and hearts by drinking deeply from the pure fountains of truth."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Two Principles for Any Economy", Ensign, Nov. 2009, pp. 55-58
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One of the most glorious messages of the Lord's Gospel is that "winter will surely give way to the warmth and hope of a new spring." We call that principle hope — the assurance that there are better things to come, that the trials and adversities are temporary, and that it will all be "all right" in the end.

Our responsibility is to "remain steadfast in home, work with all our strength, and trust in God." I like the word steadfast; its origins imply standing firm or being stable and immovable. To be steadfast in hope is to never lose sight of the fact that spring is not far away in the midst of winter, that peace and comfort will follow adversity. That gives us the courage to "work with all our strength" in obeying and serving God, as we trust in His immutable promises. We "fill our hours and days with righteous work" and we "drink deeply from the pure fountains of truth" in order to keep that hope resolute and unwavering.