President M. Russell Ballard on faith in God's help as we serve

President M. Russell Ballard (born October 8, 1928) was called as a Seventy in 1976, and has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1985. He became acting president of the Twelve in January 2018.

"Given the reality of our human weaknesses and shortcomings, how do we move forward in supporting and sustaining each other? It begins with faith—real, sincere faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith in the Savior is the first principle of the doctrine and gospel of Christ....

"If we have faith as small as a mustard seed, the Lord can help us remove the mountains of discouragement and doubt in the tasks ahead of us as we serve with God’s children, including family members, Church members, and those who are not yet members of the Church.

"Brothers and sisters, life can be filled with faith, joy, happiness, hope, and love when we exercise the smallest amount of real faith in Christ—even a mustard seed of faith."

- M. Russell Ballard, "Precious Gifts from God," General Conference April 2018
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

President Ballard's talk was the first one given after the sustainings at the beginning of conference on Saturday morning, well before Sunday's announcements of the emphasis on "ministering." But the theme of service to others and reaching out in love was strong in his message too in anticipation of that coming change. President Ballard described our innate weakness and hesitancy to do all we should, but emphasized the power that can come to do good as we exercise faith in Jesus Christ:

The key is not that faith makes the tasks easier or makes them go away; but that He can "remove the mountains of discouragement and doubt" that prevent us from serving well. That's a greater need, and a greater blessing, than we sometimes realize! The resulting promise of "faith, joy, happiness, hope, and love" that can fill our life is a remarkable one. We would be wise to find, develop, and expand that kind of faith in our lives.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Henry B. Eyring on seeking the companionship of the Holy Ghost

President Henry B. Eyring (born May 31, 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.

"We have the priceless promise of the Holy Ghost as a companion, and we also have true directions on how to claim that gift. These words are said by the Lord’s authorized servant with his hands on our head: 'Receive the Holy Ghost.' At that moment you and I have the assurance He will be sent. But our obligation is to choose to open our hearts to receive the ministration of the Spirit over a lifetime....

"The Prophet Joseph set an example for us of how to receive continual spiritual direction and comfort through the Holy Ghost.

"The first choice he made was to be humble before God.

"The second was to pray with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

"The third was to obey exactly. Obedience may mean to move quickly. It may mean to prepare. Or it may mean to wait in patience for further inspiration.

"And the fourth is to pray to know the needs and hearts of others and how to help them for the Lord."

- Henry B. Eyring, "His Spirit to Be with You," General Conference April 2018
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

When we are offered a gift, it's important to know the conditions by which the gift can be received. President Eyring reminds us that we have to choose to accept and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost:

I was impressed by President Eyring's use of Joseph Smith as an example of the principles of receiving the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Commitment to humility, faithful prayer, careful obedience, and eager service will open the doors of heaven for us and invite the precious guidance and closeness with the Spirit that we so badly need in our time.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Dallin H. Oaks on the impact of consistent small decisions

President Dallin H. Oaks (born August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and also 1st Counselor in the First Presidency in January 2018.

"President Brigham Young was reported as saying: 'Our lives are made up of little, simple circumstances that amount to a great deal when they are brought together, and sum up the whole life of the man or woman.' (Deseret News, Oct. 17, 1877, 578. 

"We are surrounded by media influences and cultural deteriorations that will carry us downstream in our values if we are not continually resisting. To move upstream toward our eternal goal, we must constantly keep paddling. It helps if we are part of a team that is paddling together, like a rowing crew in action. To extend that example even further, the cultural currents are so strong that if we ever stop paddling, we will be carried downstream toward a destination we do not seek but which becomes inevitable if we do not constantly try to move forward."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Small and Simple Things," General Conference, April 2018
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President Oaks discussed the concept of small and simple things in this talk, acknowledging it is a concept that has been discussed various times in the past but feeling it was worth another review. The quote from Brigham Young is a good summation: "the whole life of the man or woman" is a product of the "simple circumstances" that combine to produce the result, and so we must take care how we create and respond to those circumstances. We have many choices:

So the message is that we must take control of our own destiny, carefully and deliberately choosing which "currents" we will follow and which we must resist. It's interesting to ponder the "cultural deteriorations" that threaten to carry us away. As we come to recognize and identify them, we will find inspiration to know how best to paddle against the currents that would take us to destinations we don't desire.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Russell M. Nelson on the importance of studying conference messages

President Russell M. Nelson (born Sept 9, 1924) was an internationally-renowned heart surgeon when he was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became president of that quorum on July 15, 2015. Following the death of President Monson, he was set apart as president of the Church on January 14, 2018.

"I exhort you to study the messages of this conference frequently—even repeatedly—during the next six months. Conscientiously look for ways to incorporate these messages in your family home evenings, your gospel teaching, your conversations with family and friends, and even your discussions with those not of our faith. Many good people will respond to the truths taught in this conference when offered in love. And your desire to obey will be enhanced as you remember and reflect upon what you have felt these past two days."

- Russell M. Nelson, "Let Us All Press On," General Conference April 2018
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

We live in a time of miracles. One manifestation of that fact is the rapid availability of general conference addresses following the meetings. The videos are online almost immediately, and now the transcripts are also available for reading and studying. When I worked for the Church over 20 years ago, in the early days of general conference broadcasts and postings on the Internet, it used to take us many, many days to accomplish what is done so quickly now. And even further back, before Internet availability, we would wait impatiently for weeks to get our "conference edition" of the Church magazines. How blessed we are today!

And so how do we respond to that miracle? It's easy to take it for granted; but President Nelson gives us this wonderful suggestion:

We now have the opportunity to begin the frequent and repeated study of the conference messages for the next six months. President Nelson teaches us that we need to do more than just read and study; we need to "incorporate these messages" in our interactions, our teaching, our conversations. We should truly appreciate the the promise of increased desire to be obedient that will come from our efforts to remember the conference messages.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Ulisses Soares on developing Christlike meekness

Elder Ulisses Soares (born October 2, 1958) has served as a Seventy since April 2005, and as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy since January 2013. He was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles on April 1, 2018.

"Meekness is the quality of those who are 'Godfearing, righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering' (Guide to the Scriptures, s.v. 'Meek, Meekness'). Those who possess this attribute are willing to follow Jesus Christ, and their temperament is calm, docile, tolerant, and submissive.

"The Apostle Paul taught that meekness is a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). Therefore, it can most easily be attained if we 'live in the Spirit' (Galatians 5:25). And to live in the Spirit, our lifestyle must reflect righteousness before the Lord.

"As we take Christ’s name upon us, it is expected that we strive to emulate His attributes and change our character to become more like Him each day....

"'Christlike attributes are gifts from God. [These attributes] come as [we] use [our] agency righteously. …With a desire to please God, [we have to] recognize [our] weaknesses and be willing and anxious to improve.' (Preach My Gospel 115)

"Meekness is vital for us to become more Christlike. Without it we won’t be able to develop other important virtues. Being meek does not mean weakness, but it does mean behaving with goodness and kindness, showing strength, serenity, healthy self-worth, and self-control.

"Meekness was one of the most abundant attributes in the Savior’s life. He Himself taught His disciples, 'Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart' (Matthew 11:29).

"We are blessed to be born with the seed of meekness in our hearts. We need to understand that it is not possible to grow and develop that seed in the twinkling of an eye but rather through the process of time. Christ asks us to 'take up [our] cross daily' (Luke 9:23), meaning that it must be a constant focus and desire."

- Ulisses Soares, "Be Meek and Lowly of Heart," General Conference, October 2013
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

This talk was given shortly after Elder Soares was called to the presidency of the Seventy. His summary of the characteristics and qualities of meekness was interesting and helpful. The idea of our temperament being "calm, docile, tolerant, and submissive" seems like a distant goal at times, but is certainly one to aspire to and work toward. Elder Soares suggests that we obtain meekness as a "fruit of the spirit" through a righteous lifestyle, and through our efforts to emulate the Savior in our daily activities.

Developing qualities of meekness leads us to be more Christlike, one of the best goals we could have. It's especially important to note that we are "born with the seed of meekness in our hearts" but that the full development of the quality of meekness, like the growth of a plant from a seed, requires time and continuing nurturing. How important it is for us to continue that nurturing in our personal lives!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Gerrit Gong on the eternal power of the love of God

Elder Gerrit W. Gong (born December 23, 1953) was called as a Seventy in April 2010, then to the Presidency of the Seventy in October 2015. He was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in April 2018.

These remarks were shared when he was serving as a Seventy, before his call to the apostleship:

"From the councils in heaven, our Savior sought only to do His Father’s will. This pattern of Father and Son can help explain the paradox 'He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it' (Matthew 10:39). The world pursues enlightened self-interest. Yet the power is not in us to save ourselves. But it is in Him. Infinite and eternal (see Alma 34:14), only our Savior’s Atonement transcends time and space to swallow up death, anger, bitterness, unfairness, loneliness, and heartbreak.

"Sometimes things go wrong even though we have done our very best. A Lamb innocent and pure, our Savior weeps with and for us. When we always remember Him (see D&C 20:77, 79), He can stand with us 'at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in' (Mosiah 18:9). His 'faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death' (D&C 121:44). In drawing us to Him, our Savior also draws us to our Father in Heaven. While some things are imperfect on earth, we can trust our Heavenly Father to complete 'redemption’s grand design, where justice, love, and mercy meet in harmony divine!' ('How Great the Wisdom and the Love,' Hymns, no. 195.)"

- Gerrit W. Gong, "Temple Mirrors of Eternity: A Testimony of Family," General Conference, October 2010
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

In this talk offered soon after he was sustained as a general authority, Elder Gong taught about the eternal vision of the gospel plan and how it impacts us—if we choose to participate. We can learn much from the pattern exhibited in the loving relationship between the Father and the Son that applies to our lives. There is infinite power in Their love for us as expressed in the Savior's Atonement, which can "swallow up death, anger, bitterness, unfairness, loneliness, and heartbreak."

The key lies in that request that we "always remember Him." That opens the door for Him to stand with us always, in our needs and in our times of learning. He is the "Lamb innocent and pure" who "weeps with us and for us." How blessed we are to know that we need never be alone!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Russell M. Nelson on the sublime message of Easter

President Russell M. Nelson (born Sept 9, 1924) was an internationally-renowned heart surgeon when he was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became president of that quorum on July 15, 2015. Following the death of President Monson, he was set apart as president of the Church on January 14, 2018.

"We are part of His divine purpose: 'My work and my glory,' He said, is 'to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man' (Moses 1:39).  In order to achieve those objectives, 'God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life' (John 3:16). That act was a supernal manifestation of God’s love. 'For [He] sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved' (John 3:17).

"Central to God’s eternal plan is the mission of His Son, Jesus Christ. He came to redeem God’s children. Because of the Lord’s Atonement, resurrection (or immortality) became a reality. Because of the Atonement, eternal life became a possibility for all who would qualify. Jesus so explained:

"'I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

"'And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.' (John 11:25–26.)

"For the Atonement of the Lord and His gift of resurrection—for this sublime message of Easter—thanks be to God! ...

"God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but we are not. Each day, ours is the challenge to access the power of the Atonement so that we can truly change, become more Christlike, and qualify for the gift of exaltation and live eternally with God, Jesus Christ, and our families. For these powers, privileges, and gospel gifts, thanks be to God!"

- Russell M. Nelson, "Thanks Be to God," General Conference April 2012
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

I love President Nelson's spirit of joyful gratitude. In acknowledging the "sublime message of Easter" and the supreme gifts given to us through the Atonement of the Savior, he reminds us first of the "supernal manifestation of God's love" on our behalf as He gave His Son to offer salvation, and the dual gifts of immortality and eternal life.

But the ongoing challenge and opportunity for us is expressed in these powerful words:

As we "access the power of the Atonement" of Jesus Christ in our daily lives, we find the ability to change and grow, to "become more Christlike" and thus to receive the fullness of what He offers to us. As President Nelson says with rejoicing, "Thanks be to God" for these manifestations of His love for us, and for the joy and peace that comes to us as we fully accept His gifts!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)