President Joseph Fielding Smith on the power and importance of prophetic teachings

Joseph Fielding Smith (1876-1972) was the son of Joseph F. Smith, 6th president of the Church, and grandson of Hyrum Smith, brother of the Prophet Joseph. He was called as an apostle in 1910, and served as the 10th president of the Church from 1970 until his death in 1972 at age 95.

“When one of the brethren stands before a congregation of the people today, and the inspiration of the Lord is upon him, he speaks that which the Lord would have him speak. It is just as much scripture as anything you will find written in any of these records, and yet we call these the standard works of the Church. We depend, of course, upon the guidance of the brethren who are entitled to inspiration.

“There is only one man in the Church at a time who has the right to give revelation for the Church, and that is the President of the Church. But that does not bar any other member in this Church from speaking the word of the Lord, as indicated here in this revelation, section 68 [see D&C 68:2–6], but a revelation that is to be given as these revelations are given in this book, to the Church, will come through the presiding officer of the Church; yet, the word of the Lord, as spoken by other servants at the general conferences and stake conferences, or wherever they may be when they speak that which the Lord has put into their mouths, is just as much the word of the Lord as the writings and the words of other prophets in other dispensations.”

- Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:186

A truly inspired leader always "speaks that which the Lord would have him speak." And likewise, and inspired listener will then hear what the Lord would have him hear, and learn what the Lord would have him learn. It's a powerful process, one that can bless our lives so richly as we properly follow it:

President Smith emphasized that there is only one head or spokesman, responsible for receiving and sharing revelation for the entire Church. But the inspired word of the Lord can come in many ways and many settings, and through many voices, as we are receptive to it. How eager we should be to seek that counsel, and to follow it!

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

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf on hearing the Lord's voice in general conference

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf (born November 6, 1940) served as a Seventy from 1994-2004, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve.  He served as second counselor in the First Presidency from 2008 to 2018.

"On long-range flights, the shortwave radio frequencies are often crowded and static distorts the messages. The same is true for our lives. Everybody wants to get their message across. We have to train and condition ourselves to hear the still, small voice, never to be distracted or stop listening because of too much static on that sacred frequency. This can best be done by internalizing and acting according to the moral and ethical standards we receive from the scriptures and the living prophets.

"From the Prophet Joseph Smith to President Howard W. Hunter [and today to President Russell M. Nelson], we are receiving updated sacred guidance according to our needs and readiness. The general conference messages by our prophets, seers, and revelators are given to us by the Lord in his own time, in his own way, and for a very special purpose."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Only True And Valid Basis," General Conference, October 1994
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

This address, the first conference talk given by Elder Uchtdorf when was a newly-called Seventy in the church leadership, underscores his testimony and loyalty to the Lord's chosen prophets. It was our first chance to hear him give a lesson based on an aviation analogy. His counsel was to learn to "filter" the many messages that are jamming our "listening frequencies" so that we can identify the ones that truly matter most. We can learn to distinguish and choose appropriately as we follow the previous counsel given to us in scriptures and prophetic teachings.

General Conference is a time to fine-tune our listening abilities in order to receive instruction from the Lord that will bless our lives each day. What a sacred opportunity to listen to those "prophets, seers, and revelators"!

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

President Gordon B. Hinckley on the blessing of prophetic leadership

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1961. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1981-1995, then as Church President until his death in 2008.
[Note - these remarks were shared in October 1973, when Elder Hinckley was serving as a member of the Quorum of Twelve and Harold B. Lee was Church President.]

"How thankful we ought to be, my brethren and sisters, how thankful we are, for a prophet to counsel us in words of divine wisdom as we walk our paths in these complex and difficult times. The solid assurance we carry in our hearts, the conviction that God will make his will known to his children through his recognized servant is the real basis of our faith and activity. We either have a prophet or we have nothing; and having a prophet, we have everything....

"Could any people have a greater blessing than to have standing at their head one who receives and teaches the will of God concerning them? We need not look far in the world to know that 'the wisdom of the wise has perished and that the understanding of the prudent has come to naught.' That wisdom for which the world should seek is the wisdom which comes from God. The only understanding that will save the world is divine understanding....

"As one to whom the spirit has borne witness, I testify of his prophetic calling, and add my voice to the voices of our people over the earth, 'We thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us in these latter days.' I am grateful. I am satisfied that the peace and the progress and the prosperity of this people lie in doing the will of the Lord as that will is articulated by him who shall speak to us as we close this great conference. If we fail to observe his counsel, we repudiate his sacred calling. If we abide his counsel, we shall be blessed of God."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet," General Conference October 1973
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

A relatively young Elder Gordon B. Hinckley offered this heartfelt testimony of the blessings of having a living prophet at the head of the Church, not knowing that he would one day fill that role. His recognition of the power in heeding prophetic counsel prepared him to grow in preparation for the day when he would assume that sacred responsibility himself.

Do we sometimes take for granted the blessing of a living oracle who shares God's will with us? Elder Hinckley reminds us how precious that gift is:

Elder Hinckley went on to share his personal witness of the prophetic calling of Harold B. Lee, and to testify of the blessings that come from heeding the counsel offered by the prophet. We might well remember that message as we have the chance to receive counsel from the man chosen to lead the Lord's kingdom on earth in our day.

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

President George Q. Cannon on preparation for conference meetings

President George Q. Cannon (1827-1901) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1860. He served as counselor in the First Presidency to Brigham Young beginning in 1873, and then to the next three presidents, until his death in 1901.

"I should enter that assembly with my mind entirely free from all influence that would prevent the operation of the Spirit of God upon me. I should go in a prayerful spirit, asking God to write upon my heart His will; not with my own will already prepared, and determined to carry out my will... regardless of everyone else's views.

"If I were to go, and all the rest were to go, with this spirit, then the Spirit of God would be felt in our midst, and that which we would decide upon would be the mind and will of God, because God would reveal it to us. We would see light in the direction where we should go, and we would behold darkness in the direction we should not go."

- George Q. Cannon, "Seeking the Pure Love of Christ," Deseret Semi-Weekly News, 30 Sept. 1890, p. 2; see Stuy, Collected Discourses, 2:90-91

President Cannon reminds us of the difference that can occur when we come to meetings with the right mental and spiritual preparation. One of the great challenges is to have our "mind entirely free" from the external and distracting influences. The second reminder is to come with a humble and prayerful spirit, demonstrating an eagerness to learn.

One of the interesting insights of the quote is President Cannon's belief about the blessings that could come to us, individually and collectively, as we approach out meetings in this spirit—feeling greater influence of the Lord's spirit and receiving the guidance and inspiration that would bless our lives.

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

Elder Gerrit W. Gong on the temple's vision of eternity

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.

"I recently stood in a house of the Lord with a worthy couple there to receive blessings by covenant. I invited them to make their first honeymoon last 50 years, then after 50 years to begin their second honeymoon.

"I found myself looking with this beautiful couple into the temple mirrors—one mirror on this side, one mirror on that side. Together the temple mirrors reflect back and forth images that stretch seemingly into eternity.

"Temple mirrors of eternity remind us that each human being has 'divine nature and destiny”; that “sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally' (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102); and that, growing together in love and faithfulness, we can give children roots and wings."

- 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

The example of reflective facing mirrors is a classic one, giving a visual perspective of something that can be perceived as stretching into the infinite future and the infinite past. Elder Gong uses this example to remind us of the sacred, eternal nature of families::

The perspective of "roots and wings" is another useful image, indicating that we have a heritage from the past that keeps us well-grounded in the things that will give us strength and consistency; but also that we have the ability to move freely into a future where we can choose and define our course.

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

Elder Ulisses Soares on realizing our divine potential

Elder Ulisses Soares (born October 2, 1958 in Brazil) 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.

"Each of us was born with the potential to become like our Heavenly Father. Through our experiences and by properly using our agency, we can turn our lives in the direction of God and become like Him. Or we can be distracted by the world and fail to achieve our potential as it was promised to us. Figuratively, we all have the potential to become beautiful works of art in the Lord’s hands. In this sense, He is the sculptor and He uses a hammer and chisel to mold us through our experiences day by day. If we allow the Lord to shape us, the result will be wonderful.

"But without question, this world offers many distractions that can pull our focus away from the primary reason we are living here on this earth. These distractions can turn into detours in our lives that prevent us from being transformed into works of art."

- Ulisses Soares, "Becoming a Work of Art," BYU devotional, Nov. 5, 2013
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

We believe in a Father in Heaven who is literally our Father; we believe He knows us, loves us, and wants to help us in this life. Elder Soares, in this message given while he was serving as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, reminds us that we need to remember Him and "turn our lives in [His] direction" in order to avoid being distracted by the world.

The image of a sculptor working a block of marble is so appropriate. God will "mold us through our experiences day by day" as we allow Him to shape us, trusting in His wisdom even when we don't fully understand the process. The key, Elder Soares warns us, is not to allow ourselves to become distracted from our focus on God.

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

President David O. McKay on the sermons we preach by actions

President David O. McKay (1873-1970) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1906.  He served as a counselor in the First Presidency to Heber J. Grant and George Albert Smith beginning in 1945, then then as the president of the Church from 1951 to his death in 1970 at age 96.

"Remember, fellow parents, that children are quick to detect insincerity, and they resent in their feelings false pretension. Parents, of all people on earth, should be honest with their children. Keep your promises to them and speak the truth always. Children are more influenced by sermons you act than by sermons you preach. It is the consistent parent who gains the trust of his child. When children feel that you reciprocate their trust, they will not violate your confidence nor bring dishonor to your name."

- David O. McKay, "Righteousness Key to World Peace," Conference Report, Apr. 1955, 26

I loved President McKay's approach to teaching and his focus on strengthening family relationships. In this excerpt, he counsels parents to live sincere and authentic lives; it's not possible to effectively teach principles to children unless our lives reflect those principles. I think the same concept applies to any interaction with others; it's impossible to understate how important "the sermons [we] act" are.

Consistency in our lives is the key President McKay emphasizes. I suppose that is part of the concept we call enduring to the end; it means that we are faithful and obedient, filled with honor and integrity, under any conditions.

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