President Dallin H. Oaks on the blessings of church service

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.

"In a church we don’t just serve alone or by our own choice or at our convenience. We usually serve in a team. In service we find heaven-sent opportunities to rise above the individualism of our age. Church-directed service helps us overcome the personal selfishness that can retard our spiritual growth.

"There are other important advantages to mention, even briefly. In church we associate with wonderful people striving to serve God. This reminds us that we are not alone in our religious activities. We all need associations with others, and church associations are some of the best we can experience, for us and our companions and children. Without those associations, especially between children and faithful parents, research shows increasing difficulty for parents to raise children in their faith....

"Our members’ religious faith and Church service have taught them how to work in cooperative efforts to benefit the larger community. That kind of experience and development does not happen in the individualism so prevalent in the practices of our current society. In the geographic organization of our local wards, we associate and work with persons we might not otherwise have chosen, persons who teach us and test us.

"In addition to helping us learn spiritual qualities like love, compassion, forgiveness, and patience, this gives us the opportunities to learn how to work with persons of very different backgrounds and preferences. This advantage has helped many of our members, and many organizations are blessed by their participation."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "The Need for a Church," General Conference October 2021, Saturday morning

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President Oaks spoke about the importance and benefits of church participation in our lives. He discussed a number of advantages, including the opportunities to serve that an organization provides.
Our service opportunities are often assigned to us (in callings), but can also be voluntary as a part of the organization. In either case, we learn many lessons from the act of service. One of the most important is to overcome the self-focused attitude so prevalent in our time, and become more aware of the needs and challenges of others all around us.

 

The chance to "learn spiritual qualities like love, compassion, forgiveness, and patience" is a powerful blessing, along with the associations with others in our neighborhoods and communities. All of those things are blessings of service, but the real motivation should always be Christ-like love for our brothers and sisters.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)

President Russell M. Nelson on making time for God amid the world's influences

President Russell M. Nelson (b. 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, and was serving in that quorum when he shared this message. He was set apart as president of the Quorum of Twelve on July 15, 2015, and then as president of the Church on January 14, 2018.

"The voices and pressures of the world are engaging and numerous. But too many voices are deceptive, seductive, and can pull us off the covenant path. To avoid the inevitable heartbreak that follows, I plead with you today to counter the lure of the world by making time for the Lord in your life—each and every day.

"If most of the information you get comes from social or other media, your ability to hear the whisperings of the Spirit will be diminished. If you are not also seeking the Lord through daily prayer and gospel study, you leave yourself vulnerable to philosophies that may be intriguing but are not true. Even Saints who are otherwise faithful can be derailed by the steady beat of Babylon’s band.

"My brothers and sisters, I plead with you to make time for the Lord! Make your own spiritual foundation firm and able to stand the test of time by doing those things that allow the Holy Ghost to be with you always."

- Russell M. Nelson, "Make Time for the Lord," General Conference October 2021, Sunday afternoon

Click here to read or listen to the full talk

This excerpt is from President Nelson's brief closing remarks in the October 2021 general conference. He reflected on the challenging, dynamic, changing nature of the world we live in today, with so many things out of our control—but yet, there are some very important things that are in our control—especially the ways we use our time and energy, how we act towards others, and where we seek guidance and truth.

Twice in his remarks, President Nelson used the invitation, "I plead with you"—to make time for the Lord. That is a strong, heart-felt invitation. As we choose how to spend our time, and where we look for information and knowledge, we must not neglect the only sure foundation. We must remember to fix our focus on the Savior and His blessings in our lives.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)

President Spencer W. Kimball on the importance of continued study after general conference

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) was ordained an apostle in 1943 and served as President of the Church from 1973 to 1985.

"Sunday night... the great Tabernacle was closed, the lights turned out, the record[ing] machines stopped, the doors locked, and another historic conference became history. It will have been lost motion—a waste of time, energy, and money—if its messages are not heeded. In the [several] two-hour sessions… , truths were taught, doctrines expounded, exhortations given, enough to save the whole world from all its ills—and I mean from ALL its ills. A rather complete education in eternal verities was given to millions with a great hope that there were ‘ears a’hearing and eyes a’seeing and hearts a’throbing,’ convinced of truth. …

“I hope you young people all heard the messages of the ages delivered. There will be other conferences every six months. I hope you will get your copy of the [Ensign] and underline the pertinent thoughts and keep it with you for continual reference. No text or volume outside the standard works of the Church should have such a prominent place on your personal library shelves—not for their rhetorical excellence or eloquence of delivery, but for the concepts which point the way to eternal life.”

- Spencer W. Kimball, "In the World but Not of It," BYU Devotional, May 14, 1968, pp. 2–3

President Kimball spoke in general conference meetings for over four decades, and must have pondered the impact of his efforts through the years. These observations at a BYU devotional are thought-provoking. Of what benefit is all of the cost and effort to present a conference, if we don't heed the messages? Great truths are taught, doctrines are expounded, and guidance provided "enough to save the whole world from all its ills—and I mean from ALL its ills" if the counsel is only heeded. That is a powerful claim!

I loved President Kimball's longing that there would be "ears a'hearing and eyes a'seeing and hearts a'throbing" in response to conference.

We are remarkably blessed now, that with modern technology, we can almost instantly access conference talks right after the conference occurs. We can view the transcripts online, listen to the audio or watch video, download to personal devices, etc. It's easier than ever to have access to the talks; but will we truly study, ponder, and heed? Will we choose to accept the guidance that points the way to eternal life?

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
October 3, 2016

President Howard W. Hunter on claiming the blessings of inspired leaders

President Howard W. Hunter (1907-1995) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1959.  He served as Church President for only nine months, from June 5, 1994 to his death on March 3, 1995.

"As I have pondered the messages of the conference, I have asked myself this question: How can I help others partake of the goodness and blessings of our Heavenly Father?  The answer lies in following the direction received from those we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators, and others of the General Authorities.  Let us study their words, spoken under the Spirit of inspiration, and refer to them often.  The Lord has revealed his will to the Saints in this conference.

"I bear solemn and grateful witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world. Certainly he is the center of our worship and the key to our happiness. Let us follow the Son of God in all ways and all walks of life. Let us make him our exemplar and our guide."

- Howard W. Hunter, "Follow the Son of God," General Conference October 1994; see Ensign, Nov. 1994, p. 87
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

We are very blessed in our time to have ready access to the messages of general conference. In past years, it would often take many weeks before a printed copy of the talks would be available; today, we can listen to the talks again almost immediately after conference ends at the Church website; and within a few days the transcripts are also available to study. President Hunter urges us to take advantage of the opportunity to review the messages, so that we can be blessed as we apply them in our lives and share the blessings with others:

If we truly believe that "The Lord has revealed his will to the Saints in this conference" then we should be eager to feast on the words that were shared, and "refer to them often" in our lives in the coming weeks and months!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)
October 3, 2017

President Henry B. Eyring on the power and blessing of repetitive counsel from prophets

President Henry B. Eyring (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.

"In our own time we have been warned with counsel on where to find safety from sin and from sorrow. One of the keys to recognizing those warnings is that they are repeated. For instance, more than once in general conferences, you have heard our prophet say that he would quote a preceding prophet and would therefore be a second witness and sometimes even a third....

"The Apostle Paul wrote, 'In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established' (2 Corinthians 13:1). One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude to live in such a blessed time."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Safety in Counsel," Ensign, Jun 2008, pp. 4-9
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I have come to love and treasure the counsel of "the words of prophets." I truly believe it is a source of "safety from sin and from sorrow." This insight from one of the living prophets was, to me, profound and inspired. We can learn to recognize important warnings by noting their repetition. Rather than be bored or annoyed when counsel seems repetitive, we should be actively seeking for those confirming witnesses; repetition should "rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude."

As we are alert and pondering, we will note underlying themes and repeated emphases in the counsel we are given; and we can find in that a great key as to what the Lord would have us really focus on!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
April 1, 2016

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on the blessings of General Conference

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (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.

"I think it is safe to say that the prayer all the brethren and sisters have had as they have spoken this weekend is that general conference will have been as uplifting, and if needful as life-changing for each of us... who semi-annually respond to our LDS hymn, 'Come, listen to a prophet's voice, and hear the word of God' (Hymns, no. 21).

"In my own expression of testimony and gratitude for the messages and meaning of general conference, may I suggest three things these twice-yearly gatherings declare to all the world.

"First, they declare eagerly and unequivocally that there is again a living prophet on the earth speaking in the name of the Lord. And how we need such guidance! Our times are turbulent and difficult. We see wars internationally and distress domestically. Neighbors all around us face personal heartaches and family sorrows. Legions know fear and troubles of a hundred kinds....

"Secondly, each of these conferences marks a call to action not only in our own lives but also on behalf of others around us, those who are of our own family and faith and those who are not....

"Lastly, a general conference of the Church is a declaration to all the world that Jesus is the Christ....

"To all of you who think you are lost or without hope, or who think you have done too much that was too wrong for too long, to every one of you who worry that you are stranded somewhere on the wintry plains of life and have wrecked your handcart in the process, this conference calls out Jehovah's unrelenting refrain, '[My] hand is stretched out still' (see Isaiah 5:25; 9:17, 21). 'I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them,' He said, '[and even if they] deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, ... if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts' (2 Nephi 28:32). His mercy endureth forever, and His hand is stretched out still. His is the pure love of Christ, the charity that never faileth, that compassion which endures even when all other strength disappears (see Moroni 7:46-47)."

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "Prophets in the Land Again," Ensign, November 2006, pp. 104-7
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It's hard to over-state the importance and blessing of general conferences in the Church. I can only imagine the feeling of those assigned to speak in these settings, as they long for their words to be "uplifting, and if needful as life-changing for each of us" as possible. I appreciated Elder Holland's analysis of the power and importance of the meetings, and how they declare important truth to all the world:

But perhaps more important than what conference says to the whole world, is what is says to me, as a single individual, and to each and every person who listens with humility and sincerity. Particularly for those times when we feel hopeless, lost, or discouraged, Elder Holland testifies that general conference is one of the ways that God reaches His open hands out to us, inviting us into His embrace of comfort, peace, and guidance. If I am willing, general conference is so much more than a series of talks on familiar Gospel topics! I can allow God to speak to me, to teach me, to comfort me, to heal me. What an incomparable blessing that is.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
April 3, 2016

Elder Neil L. Andersen on learning to love and follow our leaders

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

"For most of us, our contact with [the prophets, seers, and revelators] comes through general conference twice each year.... it is when children are young that parents must be innovative in helping them develop good habits regarding conference participation. As our children are given opportunities to observe and learn the role of these special witnesses, they will receive a spiritual confirmation of the sacred calling of their Church leaders, and they will feel a deeper love for and interest in these leaders and their message.

"Viewing the general conference sessions with our family is not sufficient to bring a love for the prophets. On one occasion some years before my call as a General Authority, I conducted a meeting presided over by one of the Apostles. After the meeting, I asked him about his stake conference talks. 'Do you prepare something specific for each stake conference?' I asked. He replied that he generally did not, but relied upon the promptings received just prior to and during the conference. But then he added, 'But my general conference talk is very different. I will normally go through twelve to fifteen drafts to be certain that it is what the Lord would have me say.' Many times since then I have asked myself, 'If an Apostle will go through twelve to fifteen drafts, is it pleasing to the Lord if I listen to or read his message one or two times? I don't think so.'"

- Neil L. Andersen, "Teaching Our Children to Love the Prophets," Ensign, April 1996, pp. 44-47
Click here to read the full talk

Elder Andersen gives every parent of young children something to ponder. They "must be innovative in helping them develop good habits regarding conference participation." A love for Church leaders and interest in their message can be set in childhood. As parents, we should seek inspiration to find the way to do that!

Elder Andersen then instructs that it's not sufficient to just sit together and watch conference. Our effort to draw inspiration from the talks should match the spiritual efforts put into preparing the talks. That is a particularly challenging invitation!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
September 30, 2015