D. Todd Christofferson on the blessing of correction

Elder D. Todd Christofferson (b. January 24, 1945) was called to the Seventy in 1993, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2008.

"If we sincerely desire and strive to measure up to the high expectations of our Heavenly Father, He will ensure that we receive all the help we need, whether it be comforting, strengthening, or chastening. If we are open to it, needed correction will come in many forms and from many sources. It may come in the course of our prayers as God speaks to our mind and heart through the Holy Ghost (see D&C 8:2). It may come in the form of prayers that are answered no or differently than we had expected. Chastening may come as we study the scriptures and are reminded of deficiencies, disobedience, or simply matters neglected.

"Correction can come through others, especially those who are God-inspired to promote our happiness. Apostles, prophets, patriarchs, bishops, and others have been put into the Church today, just as anciently, 'for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ' (Ephesians 4:12)....

"All of us can meet God's high expectations, however great or small our capacity and talent may be. Moroni affirms, 'If ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is [God's] grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ' (Moroni 10:32). It is a diligent, devoted effort on our part that calls forth this empowering and enabling grace, an effort that certainly includes submission to God's chastening hand and sincere, unqualified repentance. Let us pray for His love-inspired correction."

- D. Todd Christofferson, "As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten," Ensign, May 2011, pp. 97-100
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It's an unusual person in today's world who is eager for correction. But it's perhaps a real sign of spiritual maturity. We believe that "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth" (Heb. 12:6) since that is a step in learning, repentance, and growth. We truly should be eager for those experiences, knowing the good they can bring to us!

The truly humble and sincere disciple will be praying for "His love-inspired correction" and will respond whole-heartedly by making changes and seeking to do better. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6).

Quentin L. Cook on strengthening families in difficult times

Elder Quentin L. Cook (b. 1940) was called as a Seventy in 1996, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2007.

"We live in a precarious time. The world is in desperate need of the fresh springwater, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. We should listen intently to the prophet as we make choices....

"I know that many of you are concerned about raising your children during these difficult times and increasing their faith. When my wife and I were starting our family in the San Francisco Bay Area, we had that same concern. At a critical point our stake members were advised by Elder Harold B. Lee, then a member of the Twelve, that we could raise our families in righteousness if we would:

"1. Follow the prophet.

"2. Create the true spirit of the gospel in our hearts and homes.

"3. Be a light to those among whom we live.

"4. Focus on the ordinances and principles taught in the temple. (See D&C 115:5; Harold B. Lee, 'Your Light to Be a Standard unto the Nations,' Ensign, Aug. 1973, 3-4.)

"As we followed this counsel, our faith increased and our fears decreased. I believe we can raise righteous children anywhere in the world if they are taught religious principles in the home."

- Quentin L. Cook, "Live By Faith and Not By Fear," Ensign, November 2007, pp. 70-73
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Speaking as a new member of the Quorum of Twelve, Elder Cook pondered about the "precarious times" we are now living in and the "desperate need" for sources of help and nourishment. As he shared thoughts about raising children and protecting our families in these times, he recalled apostolic counsel he had received when he himself was a young parent:

These are wise and inspired recommendations. I see, perhaps, some of the reasons each of these four recommendations would contribute to accomplishing the goal of keeping families strong and protected:

1. We follow inspired leaders, trusting that God can give direction to us through them. We have faith in their counsel because we have faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Putting the gospel into active practice in our lives is the only way to reap the benefits of the Savior's teachings. That gospel spirit must be predominant not just in our hearts but in our actions and activities.
3. As we live the gospel principles, their light shines through us to encourage and bless those around us and we share in His work of salvation.
4. The temple provides a further source of learning and inspiration, as well as critical ordinances that aid in our progress. When we "focus" on the temple and its blessings, we will reap the benefits the Lord intends for us.

It's not hard to see why President Lee could promise blessings that would come to any family who followed those guidelines. Elder Cook was grateful to testify that they worked for him, and will work for us as well.

David A. Bednar on receiving guidance from the Holy Ghost

Elder David A. Bednar (b. 1952) was serving as the president of BYU–Idaho when he was called and sustained as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2004.

"As we each press forward along the pathway of life, we receive direction from the Holy Ghost just as Lehi was directed through the Liahona. 'For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do' (2 Ne. 32:5).

"The Holy Ghost operates in our lives precisely as the Liahona did for Lehi and his family, according to our faith and diligence and heed....

"The Spirit of the Lord can be our guide and will bless us with direction, instruction, and spiritual protection during our mortal journey. We invite the Holy Ghost into our lives through meaningful personal and family prayer, feasting upon the words of Christ, diligent and exacting obedience, faithfulness and honoring of covenants, and through virtue, humility, and service. And we steadfastly should avoid things that are immodest, coarse, crude, sinful, or evil that cause us to withdraw ourselves from the Holy Ghost."

- David A. Bednar, "That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us," Ensign, May 2006, pp. 28-31
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Elder Bednar discusses what is, to me, one of the most hopeful promises of the Book of Mormon. Lehi received life-saving guidance from the marvelous gift of the Liahona; the parallel for us is the gift of the Holy Ghost, which will "show unto you all things what ye should do."

I appreciated Elder Bednar's list of suggestions about how to "invite the Holy Ghost into our lives":

• meaningful personal and family prayer
• feasting upon the words of Christ
• diligent and exacting obedience
• faithfulness and honoring of covenants
• virtue, humility, and service

That's a great list of things to focus on in our lives, along with the caution to avoid the "things that are immodest, coarse, crude, sinful, or evil that cause us to withdraw ourselves from the Holy Ghost."

Robert D. Hales on walking in light

Elder Robert D. Hales (1932- ) served as a Seventy from 1976 to 1985, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

"Living the commandments brings us into harmony with Deity; we become one in purpose with the Father and the Son. When we are one with God, we walk with spiritual light. Our diligence in keeping the commandments allows the Holy Ghost to dwell within us. We are given the gift of personal revelation. This is a spiritual light that protects us and serves as a beacon, guiding us in righteous ways. It dispels the darkness of the adversary. So powerful is this light that it can reach us even when we are drawn into a black hole of sin so deep and so dark that we believe no spiritual light could ever penetrate.

"Do you remember being afraid of the dark when you were a child? When you became frightened, you probably turned on the light or lit a candle—in fact, you lit every light in the house! When your parents came home later in the evening, they would ask, 'Why is every light in the house on?' And then they would proceed to give you a lecture, I am sure, about the family budget and the cost of electricity.

"You have learned, however, that by turning on an electric light or by lighting a candle, there was no more darkness, no more fear. You learned a simple law of nature, which is also a spiritual law: Light and darkness cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Satan and his disciples cannot tolerate the spiritual light of the gospel; they must immediately depart. Satan cannot command you to do anything. With the priesthood, you can command him to depart in your thoughts and in your actions.

"When we live the commandments, our countenance is surrounded by gospel light. With this spiritual light, we no longer wander in the strange and darkened paths of the adversary, becoming lost, discouraged, depressed, and fearful. Walking in the light of the gospel, we will not lose sight of our eternal goals."

- Robert D. Hales, "If Thou Wilt Enter into Life, Keep the Commandments," Ensign, May 1996, pp. 35-37
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One of our beautiful Primary songs includes the petition, "Teach me to walk in the light of His love." Elder Hales answers that petition as he discusses the blessings of living in Gospel light in an increasingly dark and challenging world. The key is in the statement, "Our diligence in keeping the commandments allows the Holy Ghost to dwell within us." Obedience brings blessings, including greater light from above.

Elder Hales describes the blessing of having gospel light "surround our countenance" as we grow closer to God through obedience. That's a beautiful promise.

Jeffrey R. Holland on the blessings of General Conference

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (1940- ) served as Church Commissioner of Education from 1976-1980, as the president of BYU from 1980-1989, as a Seventy from 1989-1994, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1994.

"I think it is safe to say that the prayer all the brethren and sisters have had as they have spoken this weekend is that general conference will have been as uplifting, and if needful as life-changing for each of us... who semi-annually respond to our LDS hymn, 'Come, listen to a prophet's voice, and hear the word of God' (Hymns, no. 21).

"In my own expression of testimony and gratitude for the messages and meaning of general conference, may I suggest three things these twice-yearly gatherings declare to all the world.

"First, they declare eagerly and unequivocally that there is again a living prophet on the earth speaking in the name of the Lord. And how we need such guidance! Our times are turbulent and difficult. We see wars internationally and distress domestically. Neighbors all around us face personal heartaches and family sorrows. Legions know fear and troubles of a hundred kinds....

"Secondly, each of these conferences marks a call to action not only in our own lives but also on behalf of others around us, those who are of our own family and faith and those who are not....

"Lastly, a general conference of the Church is a declaration to all the world that Jesus is the Christ....

"To all of you who think you are lost or without hope, or who think you have done too much that was too wrong for too long, to every one of you who worry that you are stranded somewhere on the wintry plains of life and have wrecked your handcart in the process, this conference calls out Jehovah's unrelenting refrain, '[My] hand is stretched out still' (see Isaiah 5:25; 9:17, 21). 'I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them,' He said, '[and even if they] deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, ... if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts' (2 Nephi 28:32). His mercy endureth forever, and His hand is stretched out still. His is the pure love of Christ, the charity that never faileth, that compassion which endures even when all other strength disappears (see Moroni 7:46-47)."

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "Prophets in the Land Again," Ensign, November 2006, pp. 104-7
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It's hard to over-state the importance and blessing of general conferences in the Church. I can only imagine the feeling of those assigned to speak in these settings, as they long for their words to be "uplifting, and if needful as life-changing for each of us" as possible. I appreciated Elder Holland's analysis of the power and importance of the meetings, and how they declare important truth to all the world:

But perhaps more important than what conference says to the whole world, is what is says to me, as a single individual, and to each and every person who listens with humility and sincerity. Particularly for those times when we feel hopeless, lost, or discouraged, Elder Holland testifies that general conference is one of the ways that God reaches His open hands out to us, inviting us into His embrace of comfort, peace, and guidance. If I am willing, general conference is so much more than a series of talks on familiar Gospel topics.

Neal A. Maxwell on the importance of following the prophet with faith

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) served as a Seventy from 1976-1981, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve until his death from cancer in 2004.

"Now we are entering times wherein there will be for all of us as Church members, in my judgment, some special challenges which will require of us that we follow the Brethren. All the easy things that the Church has had to do have been done. From now on, it's high adventure, and followership is going to be tested in some interesting ways....

"Let us consider also the episode recorded in 2 Kings, chapter 6. The young man who serves Elisha wakes up and sees that Israel is surrounded, and he goes to Elisha in fear and says, 'Alas, my master! how shall we do?' And Elisha answers, 'Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.' (Vss. 15–16.) In 2 Kings 6:17, we read, 'And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire.' The prophet will often see where we do not see. We may on occasion be privileged to see what he sees, but, in either event, we are to follow the prophet. And these powerful Old Testament stories provide a great way to illustrate that vital principle.

"The episode in which Elijah, in a time of famine and drought, wakes up and says that he hears the sound of abundant rain is also relevant. Nobody else hears it, and it is some hours before his servant reports that he sees a little black cloud the size of a man's hand. Then the skies darken and it rains in torrents. The prophet heard the sound of abundant rain in the middle of a clear sky! (See 1 Kings 18:41-46.) We know that prophets are seers, and we sustain them as such. These are great episodes to teach those essential points."

- Neal A. Maxwell, "The Old Testament: Relevancy within Antiquity," in CES Symposium on the Old Testament, BYU, 16 August 1979, p. 12
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Prophetic insights are so fascinating. Elder Maxwell's words were spoken almost 37 years ago. He felt that there was a transition occurring; "we are now entering times" when challenges would increase and the need for prophetic leadership would be dramatically changed. The word "followership" is not commonly used, but its meaning can be inferred as a parallel to "leadership." It describes the role that all of us have, to some extent, in these crucial times.

I love how Elder Maxwell expresses this: "All the easy things that the Church has had to do have been done." That's an astonishing claim, considering some of the challenges the Church went through in its first 150 years of existence. There must be some pretty interesting things to come. "From now on, it's high adventure" says Elder Maxwell. And the tests will determine our willingness to follow prophetic vision and counsel.

The examples he then gives from the Old Testament record are illustrative of this principle. Elijah was a great example of one who could see, with his prophetic mantle and gift, things that those around him could not. Elder Maxwell's assertion is that today's prophets also have that gift; and the great call to all of us will be to listen and heed, trusting with faith in God that they have the blessings of God to provide guidance in the "special challenges" we are now facing. I love the deep faith implied in this declaration: "The prophet will often see where we do not see. We may on occasion be privileged to see what he sees, but, in either event, we are to follow the prophet."

Henry B. Eyring on the power and blessing of repetitive counsel from prophets

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.

"In our own time we have been warned with counsel on where to find safety from sin and from sorrow. One of the keys to recognizing those warnings is that they are repeated. For instance, more than once in general conferences, you have heard our prophet say that he would quote a preceding prophet and would therefore be a second witness and sometimes even a third....

"The Apostle Paul wrote, 'In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established' (2 Corinthians 13:1). One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude to live in such a blessed time."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Safety in Counsel," Ensign, Jun 2008, pp. 4-9
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I have come to love and treasure the counsel of "the words of prophets." I truly believe it is a source of "safety from sin and from sorrow." This insight from one of them was, to me, profound and inspired. We can recognize important warnings by noting their repetition. Rather than be bored or annoyed when counsel seems repetitive, we should be actively seeking for those confirming witnesses; repetition should "rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude."

As we are alert and pondering, we will note underlying themes and repeated emphases in the counsel we are given; and we can find in that a great key as to what the Lord would have us really focus on!