President Thomas S. Monson on responding to calls to serve

President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1963. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency with Presidents Benson, Hunter, and Hinckley and then became Church president in 2008. He led the Church for almost a decade until his passing in January 2018.

"Then and now, servants of God take comfort from the Master's assurance: 'I am with you alway' (Matt. 28:20). This magnificent promise sustains you....

"An abiding faith, a constant trust, a fervent desire have always characterized those who serve the Lord with all their hearts....

"The call to serve has ever characterized the work of the Lord. It rarely comes at a convenient time. It brings humility, it provokes prayer, and it inspires commitment."

- Thomas S. Monson, "Tears, Trials, Trust, Testimony," General Conference, April 1987
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

This message was shared in a Priesthood session of conference when President Monson was serving as a counselor to President Benson. He recognized the challenge that comes to all members of the Church when we are given callings to serve, as we have opportunities to help others in need. The "call" to serve can come as a formal invitation from a leader to fill a particular position or role; or it may be a less formal prompting of a need that we could address in our personal ministry. But for disciples of Christ, that urge to bless others should be a part of our souls.

President Monson himself characterized this inherent attitude of a willingness to serve and bless. His lifetime of formal service in callings was, in a way, almost secondary to the way he often willingly and eagerly followed promptings to bless others in need.

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

Elder Ulisses Soares on learning and teaching the gospel

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.

"As recorded in the book of Acts, Philip the evangelist taught the gospel to a certain Ethiopian who was a eunuch in charge of all the treasures belonging to the queen of Ethiopia. (See Acts 8:27.) While returning from worshipping in Jerusalem, he read the book of Isaiah. Compelled by the Spirit, Philip came closer to him and said, 'Understandest thou what thou readest?

"'And [the eunuch] said, How can I, except some man should guide me? …

"'Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.' (Acts 8:30–31, 35.)

"The question asked by this Ethiopian man is a reminder of the divine mandate we all have to seek to learn and to teach one another the gospel of Jesus Christ. (D&C 88:77–78, 118; 130:18–19; 131:6.) In fact, in the context of learning and teaching the gospel, we are sometimes like the Ethiopian—we need the help of a faithful and inspired teacher; and we are sometimes like Philip—we need to teach and strengthen others in their conversion.

"Our purpose as we seek to learn and to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ must be to increase faith in God and in His divine plan of happiness and in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice and to achieve lasting conversion. Such increased faith and conversion will help us make and keep covenants with God, thus strengthening our desire to follow Jesus and producing a genuine spiritual transformation in us—in other words, transforming us into a new creature, as taught by the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17.) This transformation will bring us a more happy, productive, and healthy life and help us to maintain an eternal perspective. Isn’t this exactly what happened to the Ethiopian eunuch after he learned about the Savior and was converted to His gospel? The scripture says that 'he went on his way rejoicing.' (Acts 8:39.)"

- Ulisses Soares, "How Can I Understand?," General Conference April 2019
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Elder Soares speaks of a two-fold "divine mandate" given to each of us: "to seek to learn and to teach one another the gospel of Jesus Christ." Learning must precede teaching, and so our quest should be continually to study, ponder, ad build on our understanding and testimony. Truly in this quest "we need the help of a faithful and inspired teacher." We should seek them out and be eager for their influence. Then, we are preparing to accept our opportunities to pass on what we have learned.

Our quest for divine knowledge brings many benefits: lasting personal conversion, increased faith, growing resolve to follow Jesus, spiritual transformation. And ultimately, the changes we experience "will bring us a more happy, productive, and healthy life."

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

President Russell M. Nelson on the sacred role of mothers

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.

"During my professional career as a doctor of medicine, I was occasionally asked why I chose to do that difficult work. I responded with my opinion that the highest and noblest work in this life is that of a mother. Since that option was not available to me, I thought that caring for the sick might come close. I tried to care for my patients as compassionately and competently as Mother cared for me.

"Many years ago the First Presidency issued a statement that has had a profound and lasting influence upon me. 'Motherhood,' they wrote, 'is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.' (Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., David O. McKay, General Conference October 1942; see Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency, 6:178)

"Because mothers are essential to God’s great plan of happiness, their sacred work is opposed by Satan, who would destroy the family and demean the worth of women.

"You young men need to know that you can hardly achieve your highest potential without the influence of good women, particularly your mother and, in a few years, a good wife. Learn now to show respect and gratitude. Remember that your mother is your mother. She should not need to issue orders. Her wish, her hope, her hint should provide direction that you would honor. Thank her and express your love for her. And if she is struggling to rear you without your father, you have a double duty to honor her."

- Russell M. Nelson, "Our Sacred Duty to Honor Women," General Conference, April 1999
Click here to read or listen to the full talk 

President Nelson has spoken a number of times about the influence of his own mother. He developed a great respect for women as he was blessed by a kind and humble woman early in his life. For him, motherhood became "the highest and noblest work in this life"—the most significant and important role anyone could fill.

Meanwhile, President Nelson teaches that Satan seeks to disrupt our perception of the sacred role of mothers, to "destroy the family and demean the worth of women." We must be aware of those tactics and combat them.

This counsel to young men (and young women) is a great message:

As we come to understand the role of women and mothers, we will be eager and sensitive to support and sustain.

Photo taken in 1964 shortly before my father's death

The final sentence of the excerpt is particularly poignant to me, since I was raised by a single mother who was left with five children between ages 4 and 11 when her husband was killed in an accident. I love and honor her and pay tribute to her sacrifices and love for her children. It's hard to conceive of the struggles of single mothers. I wish I had been more aware of the principle President Nelson suggests for youth to be aware and attentive.

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

Elder Gerrit W. Gong on caring for one another as shepherds

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.

"Our Good Shepherd seeks and gathers us into His one fold. He asks, 'What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?' (Luke 15:4, emphasis added; see also Doctrine and Covenants 18:15.)

"Our Savior reaches out to the one and to the ninety-and-nine, often at the same time. As we minister, we acknowledge the ninety-and-nine who are steadfast and immovable, even while we yearn after the one who has strayed. Our Lord seeks and delivers us 'out of all places' (Ezekiel 34:12), 'from the four quarters of the earth' (1 Nephi 22:25). He gathers us by holy covenant and His atoning blood. (See Hebrews 13:20.) ...

"Today our Savior desires that what we do and who we are becoming will invite others to come, follow Him. Come find love, healing, connection, and covenant belonging in Him, including in God’s holy temple, where sacred ordinances of salvation can bless all family members, thus gathering Israel on both sides of the veil."

- Gerrit W. Gong, "Good Shepherd, Lamb of God," General Conference April 2019
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

One of the most important functions of every shepherd, working under the direction of The Good Shepherd, is to seek out and care for those who are wandering and lost. That's what He does for us.

It's important to note that ""Our Savior reaches out to the one and to the ninety-and-nine, often at the same time." The 99 are not neglected in His love and concern; they too are blessed by His care and protection. But the one who is lost must be found, and that may require extra seeking. Note that He reaches out to us; we must respond.

And then we, as true under-shepherds, must go and do likewise—caring and ministering for both the 99 and the 1 as we "invte others to some, follow Him."

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

Elder Dale G. Renlund on receiving blessings from God

Elder Dale G. Renlund (born November 13, 1952) served in the First Quorum of Seventy starting in 2009, until his call to the Quorum of Twelve in October 2015.

"Most blessings that God desires to give us require action on our part—action based on our faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in the Savior is a principle of action and of power. First we act in faith; then the power comes—according to God’s will and timing. The sequence is crucial. The required action, though, is always tiny when compared to the blessings we ultimately receive. (See Mosiah 2:24-25.)

"Consider what happened when fiery, flying serpents came among the ancient Israelites on their way to the promised land. The bite of a poisonous serpent was fatal. But a bitten individual could be healed by looking at a brass serpent fashioned by Moses and placed on a pole. (See Numbers 21:6-9.) How much energy does it take to look at something? All who looked accessed the powers of heaven and were healed. Other Israelites who were bitten failed to look at the brazen serpent and died. Perhaps they lacked the faith to look. (See 1 Nephi 17:41.) Perhaps they did not believe that such a simple action could trigger the promised healing. Or perhaps they willfully hardened their hearts and rejected the counsel of God’s prophet. (See 1 Nephi 17:42.)

"The principle of activating blessings that flow from God is eternal. Like those ancient Israelites, we too must act on our faith in Jesus Christ to be blessed. God has revealed that 'there is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.' (D&C 130:20-21.) That being said, you do not earn a blessing—that notion is false—but you do have to qualify for it. Our salvation comes only through the merits and grace of Jesus Christ. (See 2 Nephi 10:24; 25:23.) The immensity of His atoning sacrifice means that the woodpile is infinite; our puny actions approach zero in comparison. But they are not zero, and they are not insignificant; in the dark, a match that is lit can be seen for miles. In fact, it can be seen in heaven because small acts of faith are required to ignite God’s promises. (See Alma 60:11, 21.)"

- Dale G. Renlund, "Abound with Blessings," General Conference April 2019
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Elder Renlund's conference talk explored the concept of  blessings from God, and the relationship to our actions and deeds. Do all our good actions result in blessings? Do we earn blessings? Is it a simple reward system? The answer is not so easy:

Our faith in Jesus Christ results in actions of obedience, service, kindness, and faithfulness. As we "act in faith," we see the power that results, "according to God's will and timing." The important key is that we don't earn blessings; they come through the grace and goodness of God. But we must qualify for them. Our small actions enable us to see the bounteous blessings that God is eager to give.

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

Elder Gary E. Stevenson on preparing for future challenges

Elder Gary E. Stevenson (born August 5, 1955) was called as a Seventy in 2008, then as Presiding Bishop in 2012. He was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2015.

"What about you? Do you recognize your higher and holier identity as a son of God, a bearer of His holy priesthood? With this eternal identity in mind, create your game plan and priesthood playbook that will guide you during times of temptation and adversity. Consider both offensive and defensive strategies.

"Offensive strategies help strengthen testimonies and increase resolve to stay on the strait and narrow path. Examples include regular prayer, scripture study, church and temple attendance, paying tithing, and following the counsel found in the For the Strength of Youth booklet.

"Defensive strategies include planning ahead how you will face temptation. When tempted to compromise your personal standards, you know beforehand what you will do.

"You need a playbook for that.

"Don’t feel like praying today? Time to execute the play you already game-planned.

"Do you feel your testimony waning? You have a play for that. You know what to do."

- Gary E. Stevenson, "Your Priesthood Playbook," General Conference April 2019
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Elder Stevenson addressed his remarks to the young men of the Church, encouraging them to anticipate challenges ahead in their lives and prepare to confront them. These are principles that all of us, at any age, should consider.

Every one of us has a sacred identity as a child of God, and should do all in our power to live up to that inheritance! I particularly appreciate the idea of "offensive strategies," ways to build strength and prepare in advance by increasing faith and testimony; and "defensive strategies" that help us anticipate ways we might confront challenges and temptations.

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

Elder Ronald A. Rasband on the power of willing obedience

Elder Ronald A. Rasband (born February 6, 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 2000.  He was the senior president of the Seventy when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2015.

"What are some ways we can fortify ourselves in troubled times, that we may be 'instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work' (Alma 26:3)? Let’s look to the scriptures.

"We are obedient. The Lord commanded Father Lehi to send his sons back to Jerusalem to 'seek the records, and bring them down hither into the wilderness' (1 Ne 3:4). Lehi didn’t question; he didn’t wonder why or how. Nor did Nephi, who responded, 'I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded' (1 Ne 3:7).

"Do we act with the willing obedience of Nephi? Or are we more inclined to question God’s commands as did Nephi’s brothers, whose lack of faith eventually turned them away from the Lord? Obedience, exercised with 'holiness of heart' (D&C 46:7), is what the Lord asks of us."

- Ronald A. Rasband, "Build a Fortress of Spirituality and Protection," General Conference April 2019
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

As we work to "strengthen home and family" in troubled and challenging times, one of the greatest keys to our efforts of fortification is the simple, eternal concept of obedience. Our willingness to be humble followers of the Savior, striving in every way to live His commandments and instructions, will result in power and strength that we desperately need.

The concept of "willing obedience" is a subtle but important clarification as well. When we are grudging or questioning in every act of our lives, we will not obtain the same results:

Our love of the Savior and testimony of His work should make it easy to obey with "holiness of heart." I love the statement of President Ezra Taft Benson: "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power." (Quoted by Elder Donald L. Staheli, "Obedience—Life’s Great Challenge," General Conference April 1998)

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