Elder Neil L. Andersen on recognizing our divine potential

Elder Neil L. Andersen (born August 9, 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 1993, and was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2009.

The following report of a talk he gave to a group of Seminary students includes direct quotes and summaries; a full transcript is not available.

"You are a child of God with eternal possibilities available to you, and one of the greatest things you can do with your life is to accept who you are, where you came from, and where you are going," he said. "Now, with a monarch butterfly it is very innate. We as sons and daughters of God feel this is true, but we must confirm it and believe it."

Sharing a story of his young grandson singing the Primary song "I Am a Child of God," Elder Andersen said that youth today need to believe those sacred words.

"Come to believe it," he said. "Sometimes when you feel like you are a caterpillar and say to yourself: 'I’m not smart, I’m not very coordinated, I’m different, I don’t have this, I don’t have that'—keep in mind who you are. We don’t all have to be the same. We come in different sizes, different shapes, different colors. Some have some talents, some have others; we don’t have to be exactly like someone else." ...

Individuals must look on their potential and think, "One day I will fly," Elder Andersen taught.

- Neil L. Andersen, "Lessons Learned from a Butterfly," address to seminary students in Bountiful, Utah 1/6/2012
Click here to read a report of the address

According to this report published in the Church News, Elder Andersen was speaking to a group of Seminary students in Bountiful, Utah. Using imagery of caterpillars and butterflies, he shard "four spiritual lessons individuals can learn from the monarch butterfly." These included:

1. You are a child of God with eternal possibilities available to you.
2. To become who God would have you become, you will need the gifts of the Savior and your own correct choices.
3. Your spiritual senses are refined and delicate and are protected by honesty and obedience.
4. As you see beyond yourself, you begin to see who the Lord would have you become.

There are good insights in Elder Andersen's comments, worth reviewing and pondering.

When we struggle, when we know we have many shortcomings and much to learn and experience, Elder Andersen counsels us to remember: "One day I will fly," Profound advice!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

Elder D. Todd Christofferson on Satan's traps in our lives

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

"In the premortal world, Lucifer rebelled against God and His plan, and his opposition only grows in intensity. He fights to discourage marriage and the formation of families, and where marriages and families are formed, he does what he can to disrupt them. He attacks everything that is sacred about human sexuality, tearing it from the context of marriage with a seemingly infinite array of immoral thoughts and acts. He seeks to convince men and women that marriage and family priorities can be ignored or abandoned, or at least made subservient to careers, other achievements, and the quest for self-fulfillment and individual autonomy. Certainly the adversary is pleased when parents neglect to teach and train their children to have faith in Christ and be spiritually born again. Brothers and sisters, many things are good, many are important, but only a few are essential."

- D. Todd Christofferson, "Why Marriage, Why Family," General Conference, April 2015
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Elder Christofferson reminds us of an important perspective in our existence. When we understand the eternal plan of God and the broader perspective of our eternal lives, we recognize how critical it is for us to be aware and cautious in this life. Satan's rebellion against God in the premortal world set the stage for the battle that continues into this life. Satan now "fights to discourage marriage and the formation of families." There is an active force behind many of the trends we see in society, and Elder Christofferson explains how subtle Satan's influence can be in how society manipulates the thought processes that turn into actions. Satan rejoices when we fall into those traps, and particularly when we fail to set priorities in our family lives and our teaching of children. And that leads to this most important point:

We must be constantly on guard to focus on the essential things first, and the most important ones; and to we aware and wary of the many traps that are set for us.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

Elder Quentin L. Cook on gratitude for our blessings

Elder Quentin L. Cook (born September 8, 1940) was called as a Seventy in 1996, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2007.

"I hope you will be grateful for your blessings – especially your heritage. Gratitude and humility are closely intertwined. We live in a very self-centered age. Social media, in particular, can easily be used for self-promotion. It has never been more important to be grateful and humble. Those who possess these attributes express appreciation for their blessings as they follow the Savior’s example....

"I would suggest that we need to be especially grateful for our heritage. I know that your parents and families are very pleased with what is transpiring today. I hope you are appreciative of them. When we are blessed with goodly parents, we should be grateful. This is the debt each of us owes for our heritage. An old Chinese proverb reads: 'When you drink the water, don’t forget the well from whence it came.' It is clear from the scriptures that we are to honor our parents. Proverbs reads, 'My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother…' Ephesians teaches us to 'honor thy father and mother;' The great German philosopher, Goethe, put it this way, 'What from your father’s heritage is lent, earn it anew to really possess it.' It is clear that we need to be grateful for our parents and take positive action to acquire that which they would hope to bestow upon us."

- Quentin L. Cook, "The Good Life," BYU-Idaho graduation address, December 18, 2015
Click here to read the full talk

Elder Cook was speaking to young college graduates in this address. They are particularly challenged by social media's lure, and the temptation of "self-promotion" that Elder Cook warns of. The need to find a proper focus of gratitude and humility is more important than ever:

Elder Cook particularly encouraged his audience to be grateful for their heritage, to recognize the contributions of those who went before them. Truly we can never overestimate how much we owe to those who have helped establish foundations of faith for us.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

Elder David A. Bednar on seeking a Christlike character

Elder David A. Bednar (born June 15, 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.

"We can in mortality seek to be blessed with and develop essential elements of a Christlike character. Indeed, it is possible for us as mortals to strive in righteousness to receive the spiritual gifts associated with the capacity to reach outward and appropriately respond to other people who are experiencing the very challenge or adversity that is most immediately and forcefully pressing upon us. We cannot obtain such a capacity through sheer willpower or personal determination. Rather, we are dependent upon and in need of 'the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah' (2 Nephi 2:8). But 'line upon line, precept upon precept' (2 Nephi 28:30) and 'in [the] process of time' (Moses 7:21), we are enabled to reach outward when the natural tendency is for us to turn inward.

"It is interesting to me that one of the central elements of the word character is created by the letters A, C, and T. As we already have seen in the examples of Christ's character from the New Testament, the nature and consistency of how one acts reveals in a powerful way his or her true character. In the case of Christ, he is described as one '. . . who went about doing good' (Acts 10:38)."

- David A. Bednar, "The Character of Christ," BYU-Idaho Religion Symposium, January 25, 2003
Click here to read the full talk

Elder Bednar delivered this address after hearing Elder Neal A. Maxwell teach, "There would have been no Atonement except for the character of Christ." He was led to ponder the character of Christ and how we can be blessed as we come to understand it. As we humbly and sincerely see the spiritual gifts that will allow us to emulate Him, we will be deeply blessed and enhanced through His grace.

Elder Bednar points out that it becomes key for us to act in accordance with the principles we have learned, in seeking His character. Like Him, we should "go about doing good."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf on treating others with love and forgiveness

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.

"This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:

"Stop it!

"It’s that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children. God is our Father. We are His children. We are all brothers and sisters. I don’t know exactly how to articulate this point of not judging others with sufficient eloquence, passion, and persuasion to make it stick. I can quote scripture, I can try to expound doctrine, and I will even quote a bumper sticker I recently saw. It was attached to the back of a car whose driver appeared to be a little rough around the edges, but the words on the sticker taught an insightful lesson. It read, 'Don’t judge me because I sin differently than you.'

"We must recognize that we are all imperfect—that we are beggars before God. Haven’t we all, at one time or another, meekly approached the mercy seat and pleaded for grace? Haven’t we wished with all the energy of our souls for mercy—to be forgiven for the mistakes we have made and the sins we have committed?

"Because we all depend on the mercy of God, how can we deny to others any measure of the grace we so desperately desire for ourselves? My beloved brothers and sisters, should we not forgive as we wish to be forgiven?"

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Merciful Obtain Mercy," General Conference April 2012
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

While serving as a member of the First Presidency, President Uchtdorf shared many powerful messages, and this is a very memorable one. He encouraged us to consider our relationships with one another and to think about the need for love and forgiveness in those interactions. Too often we hold on to grudges and disagreements, as well as treating others with less respect than they deserve; and his advice was very simple: "Stop it!"

When we truly have "a heart full of love for God and His children" it will change our interactions with each other, and we will be more accepting, loving, and forgiving. We depend on mercy from God; we must offer it freely to one another.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on having courageous hearts in challenging days

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (born December 3, 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.

"Prophecies regarding the last days often refer to large-scale calamities such as earthquakes or famines or floods. These in turn may be linked to widespread economic or political upheavals of one kind or another.

"But there is one kind of latter-day destruction that has always sounded to me more personal than public, more individual than collective—a warning, perhaps more applicable inside the Church than outside it. The Savior warned that in the last days even those of the covenant, the very elect, could be deceived by the enemy of truth. (See Matthew 24:24.) If we think of this as a form of spiritual destruction, it may cast light on another latter-day prophecy. Think of the heart as the figurative center of our faith, the poetic location of our loyalties and our values; then consider Jesus’s declaration that in the last days 'men’s hearts [shall fail] them' (Luke 21:26).

"The encouraging thing, of course, is that our Father in Heaven knows all of these latter-day dangers, these troubles of the heart and soul, and has given counsel and protections regarding them.

"In light of that, it has always been significant to me that the Book of Mormon, one of the Lord’s powerful keystones in this counteroffensive against latter-day ills, begins with a great parable of life, an extended allegory of hope versus fear, of light versus darkness, of salvation versus destruction....

"Love. Healing. Help. Hope. The power of Christ to counter all troubles in all times—including the end of times. That is the safe harbor God wants for us in personal or public days of despair. That is the message with which the Book of Mormon begins, and that is the message with which it ends, calling all to 'come unto Christ, and be perfected in him' (Moroni 10:32) ...

"Brothers and sisters, God always provides safety for the soul, and with the Book of Mormon, He has again done that in our time. Remember this declaration by Jesus Himself: 'Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived' (JS—Matthew 1:37)—and in the last days neither your heart nor your faith will fail you."

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "Safety for the Soul," General Conference October 2009
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

The Savior's warning about "Men’s hearts failing them for fear" in the last days has always impressed me; there will be trying times, even for "the very elect"—perhaps especially for them. But Elder Holland points out that the Lord offers light and hope in the midst of the darkness and fear that otherwise might consume us.

"Love. Healing. Help. Hope." There is certainly a "safe harbor" available to each of us, as we turn to Him. In the rest of this encouraging and hopeful talk, Elder Holland testifies of the power of the Book of Mormon to help us find those sources of faith and light.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

President M. Russell Ballard on standing as witnesses of God

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.

"When we covenant in the waters of baptism to 'stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places' (Mosiah 18:9), we’re not talking solely about fast and testimony meetings. It may not always be easy, convenient, or politically correct to stand for truth and right, but it is always the right thing to do. Always. ...

"Standing for truth and right is not solely a Sunday thing. Every day our neighborhoods and communities are in desperate need of our support and our commitment to safety and law and order. Crime, in all its pervasive manifestations, is a serious worldwide evil and a moral problem about which Church leaders have great concern. The social, economic, and moral costs of crime are incalculable. It is no respecter of race, religion, nationality, age, culture, or socioeconomic status."

- M. Russell Ballard, "Standing for Truth and Right," General Conference October 1997
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

What does it mean to "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places"? President Ballard challenges us, in this address shared with a Priesthood session of conference, to be more involved in our communities in defending the truth and being voices for righteousness.

Wickedness continues to grow in society; the modern analogs to Book of Mormon concerns about "secret combinations" are rampant. It becomes more and more critical for faithful disciples of Christ to be willing to be visible and vocal in our efforts to combat the adversary.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)