Elder David A. Bednar on strengthening our homes

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.

"Let me summarize a few basic implications of gospel learning becoming increasingly home centered and Church supported.

"The ultimate missionary training center is in our homes; secondary missionary training centers are located in Provo, Manila, Mexico City, and in other locations. Our most instructive Sunday School classes should be our individual and family study in our places of residence; helpful but secondary Sunday School classes are held in our meetinghouses.

"Family history centers now are in our homes. Supplemental support for our family history research work also is available in our meetinghouses.

"Vital temple preparation classes occur in our homes; important but secondary temple preparation classes also may be conducted periodically in our meetinghouses.

"Making our homes sanctuaries wherein we can 'stand in holy places' (D&C 101:22) is essential in these latter days. And as important as home-centered and Church-supported learning is for our spiritual strength and protection today, it will be even more vital in the future."

- David A. Bednar, "Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing," General Conference April 2019
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Elder Bednar addressed ideas about gospel study and strengthening home and family. The recent emphasis from Church leaders on "home-centered, church-supported" efforts is interesting to consider in different aspects, as Elder Bednar does here. It applies not just to gospel learning, but also to family history work, preparation to serve missions and to make sacred temple covenants, and in many other areas. We must have a better focus on making our homes a sacred haven from the world, where we can learn and grow together:

We have been warned regularly that things will likely become more difficult and challenging in the future. With that in mind, it's critical that we make efforts now to establish patterns of learning and worship in our homes so that they truly can be "sanctuaries" from the world.

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

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf on walking the path of discipleship

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.

"Strive to walk the path of discipleship. As your love for God and His children deepens, so does your commitment to follow Jesus Christ.

"You learn about His way by feasting upon His word and heeding and applying the teachings of modern prophets and apostles. You grow in confidence and courage to follow His way as you communicate with Heavenly Father with a teachable, humble heart.

"Walking the path of discipleship takes practice—each day, little by little, 'grace for grace' (D&C 93:12), 'line upon line' (Isaiah 28:10). Sometimes two steps forward and one step back.

"The important thing is that you don’t give up; keep trying to get it right. You will eventually become better, happier, and more authentic. Talking with others about your faith will become normal and natural. In fact, the gospel will be such an essential, precious part of your lives that it would feel unnatural not to talk about it with others. That may not happen immediately—it is a lifelong effort. But it will happen."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart," General Conference April 2019
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Elder Uchtdorf counseled regarding ways to be effective missionaries as we strive to share the gospel with others. One of the most important things is to be faithful disciples ourselves, demonstrating in our lives the influence of the gospel plan:

The more we begin to understand God and His plan for us, the more we feel a profound sense of love for Him, and the more eager we are to follow His way. That is the essence of discipleship. Our humble communication with God will increase and we will "grow in confidence and courage" in sharing the message with others. As we persist in that path, we will eventually "become better, happier, and more authentic."

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

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on sacrifice and sacrament

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.

"In the premortal councils of heaven, God had promised Adam and Eve (and all the rest of us) that help would come from His pure, unblemished Firstborn Son, the Lamb of God 'slain from the foundation of the world' (Revelation 13:8), as the Apostle John would later describe Him. By offering their own little symbolic lambs in mortality, Adam and his posterity were expressing their understanding of and their dependence upon the atoning sacrifice of Jesus the Anointed One. (See Bible Dictionary, 'Anointed One'.) Later, the wilderness tabernacle would become the setting for this ordinance and, after that, the temple that Solomon would build.

"Unfortunately, as a symbol of genuine repentance and faithful living, this ritualistic offering of unblemished little lambs didn’t work very well, as so much of the Old Testament reveals. The moral resolve that should have accompanied those sacrifices sometimes didn’t last long enough for the blood to dry upon the stones. In any case, it didn’t last long enough to preclude fratricide, with Cain killing his brother Abel in the first generation.

"With such trials and troubles going on for centuries, no wonder the angels of heaven sang for joy when, finally, Jesus was born—the long-promised Messiah Himself. Following His brief mortal ministry, this purest of all Passover sheep prepared His disciples for His death by introducing the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, a more personal form of the ordinance that had been introduced just outside of Eden. There would still be an offering, it would still involve a sacrifice, but it would be with symbolism much deeper, much more introspective and personal than the bloodletting of a firstborn lamb."

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "Behold the Lamb of God," General Conference April 2019
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Elder Holland's tender talk discussed our roles as lambs in the fold of the Shepherd, and His role as the Lamb of God offered up for the sins of the world. The importance of the anticipatory ordinance of sacrifice can't be overstated, even though it was so often misunderstood by those who practiced it.

When the responsibility to offer up blood sacrifices was completed with the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, we instead were asked to adopt the sacred ordinance of the sacrament. And through it, we offer up our own hearts on the alter to God with a sacred covenant and promise to obey and follow Him. How grateful we should be for the sacred privilege of participating in that ordinance regularly!

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

President M. Russell Ballard on loving God and our neighbor

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.

"The best ways for us to see the spiritual purposes of the Church are to live the true, pure, and simple teachings of Christ and also to apply the Savior’s two great commandments: 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart. … Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' (D&C 59:5–6; see also Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:36–40.)

"Obedience to those two commandments provides a way to experience more peace and joy. When we love and serve the Lord and love and serve our neighbors, we will naturally feel more happiness that comes to us in no better way.

"Loving God and loving our neighbors is the doctrinal foundation of ministering; home-centered, Church-supported learning; Sabbath-day spiritual worship; and the work of salvation on both sides of the veil supported in the Relief Societies and the elders quorums. All of these things are based on the divine commandments to love God and to love our neighbors. Can there be anything more basic, more fundamental, and more simple than that?

"Living the true, pure, and simple gospel plan will allow us more time to visit the widows, widowers, orphans, lonely, sick, and poor. We will find peace, joy, and happiness in our life when serving the Lord and our neighbors."

- M. Russell Ballard, "The True, Pure, and Simple Gospel of Jesus Christ," General Conference April 2019
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

President Ballard reminds us that "the true, pure, and simple teachings of Christ" are embodied in the commandments to love God and love our neighbors. As we do that, we will find more peace, joy, and happiness in life.

This is an interesting thought. Love of God and neighbor is the force and motivation behind almost all of the significant programs and activities of the Church! As we come to understand and implement the fundamental principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, our lives will be deeply blessed and we will bless all around us.

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

President Henry B. Eyring on faithfully sustaining leaders

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.

"You may have been asked, or you will be, whether you sustain your bishop, stake president, the General Authorities, and the General Officers of the Church. It may happen as you are asked to sustain officers and leaders in a conference. Sometimes it will be in an interview with a bishop or stake president.

"My counsel is that you ask those questions of yourself beforehand, with careful and prayerful thought. As you do, you might look back on your recent thoughts, words, and deeds. Try to remember and frame the answers you will give when the Lord interviews you, knowing that someday He will. You could prepare by asking yourself questions like the following:

"1. Have I thought or spoken of human weakness in the people I have pledged to sustain?
"2. Have I looked for evidence that the Lord is leading them?
"3. Have I conscientiously and loyally followed their leadership?
"4. Have I spoken about the evidence I can see that they are God’s servants?
"5. Do I pray for them regularly by name and with feelings of love?

"Those questions will, for most of us, lead to some uneasiness and a need to repent. We are commanded by God not to judge others unrighteously, but in practice, we find that hard to avoid. Almost everything we do in working with people leads us to evaluate them. And in almost every aspect of our lives, we compare ourselves with others. We may do so for many reasons, some of them reasonable, but it often leads us to be critical....

"My observation is that the members of the Church across the world are generally loyal to each other and to those who preside over them. There are, however, improvements we could and must make. We could rise higher in our power to sustain each other. It will take faith and effort."

- Henry B. Eyring, "The Power of Sustaining Faith," General Conference April 2019
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

In his address to the General Priesthood session of conference, President Eyring encouraged us to consider how well we sustain our leaders and what that concept means in our lives. We are sometimes asked to raise our hands as a sign of willingness to sustain; at other times, we are asked in personal worthiness interviews about our feelings. But we would benefit from following President Eyring's counsel to consider the act and process of sustaining before those moments of avowal or commitment.

President Eyring mentioned several questions of evaluation that we could profit from pondering. They relate to our attitude about our leaders, and how that is reflected in our lives. Are we critical or judgmental of them, or do we seek to uphold and encourage them? Do we need to repent?

As we grow and learn in the Church, we have opportunities to lead and opportunities to follow. Most of our callings and assignments are temporary; we lead for a short season, and then someone else takes our place and we follow their leadership. As I have had the experience to be sustained by others, I have been blessed to feel their love and faith manifest in clear and real ways. I hope I can return that love and faith when another takes my place. President Eyring's suggestions are very helpful.

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

President Dallin H. Oaks on anticipating eternal consequences

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.

"The restored gospel of Jesus Christ encourages us to think about the future. It explains the purpose of mortal life and the reality of the life to follow. It teaches great ideas about the future to guide our actions today.

"In contrast, we all know persons who are concerned only with the present: spend it today, enjoy it today, and take no thought for the future.

"Our present and our future will be happier if we are always conscious of the future. As we make current decisions, we should always be asking, 'Where will this lead?'"

- President Dallin H. Oaks, "Where Will This Lead?," General Conference April 2019
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

What motivates us to make decisions? Often the easy criteria relate to immediate profit or short-term benefit. It's usually relatively easy to see the quick results and benefits of our decisions. But is that a wise method for decision-making? President Oaks taught us that the gospel of Jesus Christ suggests a better pattern: consider the long-term results, and particularly the eternal consequences.

The challenge in this approach is that asking "Where will this lead?" is not always an easy question to answer. It's important to try to anticipate consequences to the best of our ability; and as we grow and mature in life, we learn from experience and are able to refine our predictions to more accuracy. But truthfully, the only way to really know where any decision will lead is to be inspired by God. His inspiration will always direct and confirm as we are worthy and willing to listen.

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

President Russell M. Nelson on the blessing of continuing repentance

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.

"Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

"Whether you are diligently moving along the covenant path, have slipped or stepped from the covenant path, or can’t even see the path from where you are now, I plead with you to repent. Experience the strengthening power of daily repentance—of doing and being a little better each day.

"When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy—the joy of redemption in Him. When we choose to repent, we choose to become more like Jesus Christ!"

- Russell M. Nelson, "We Can Do Better and Be Better," General Conference April 2019
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

In his address to the Priesthood session of general conference, President Nelson spoke about the doctrine of repentance and encouraged all members to embrace the concepts. Instead of the perception of repentance as a burdensome, onerous, challenging event following our misdeeds, President Nelson taught that we should be seeking to establish a "regular, daily focus on repentance." The process of repentance then becomes "key to happiness and peace of mind" as we begin to have "access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

One who has the attitude of daily repentance is continually trying to grow and improve—a little better and a little more Christlike each day. That is the ultimate source of joy in this life!

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