Elder D. Todd Christofferson on our love for the Father and Son

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

"Our Heavenly Father loves us profoundly and perfectly. In His love, He created a plan, a plan of redemption and happiness to open to us all the opportunities and joys we are willing to receive, up to and including all that He has and is. To achieve this, He was even willing to offer His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, as our Redeemer. 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' (John 3:16.) His is a Father’s pure love—universal to all yet personal to each.

"Jesus Christ shares with the Father this same perfect love. When the Father first elaborated His great plan of happiness, He called for one to act as a Savior to redeem us—an essential part of that plan. Jesus volunteered, 'Here am I, send me.' (Abr 3:27.) ...

"The love of the Father and the Son is freely given but also includes hopes and expectations. Again, quoting President Nelson, 'God’s laws are motivated entirely by His infinite love for us and His desire for us to become all we can become.' ("The Love and Laws of God," 3.)

"Because They love you, They do not want to leave you 'just as you are.' Because They love you, They want you to have joy and success. Because They love you, They want you to repent because that is the path to happiness. But it is your choice—They honor your agency. You must choose to love Them, to serve Them, to keep Their commandments. Then They can more abundantly bless you as well as love you.

"Their principal expectation of us is that we also love. 'He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.' (1 John 4:8.) As John wrote, 'Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.' (1 John 4:11.)"

- D. Todd Christofferson, "The Love of God," General Conference October 2021, Sunday morning

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What an important thing to recognize and remember: we are deeply and profoundly loved by our Heavenly Father and His Son! They love with a "perfect love" because their love is pure, infinite, and complete, and will bless us as much as we allow it to. They love us so much, that the greatest motivation is to help us be better, to grow and progress, to become more like Them.

The wishes for us include joy and success, repentance and happiess. Receiving those gifts is a choice we make; we must exercise our agency by choosing to love in return, then to serve and obey with a pure heart. Then we will experience even greater influence of Their love, and feel abundant blessings. What a beautiful and wonderful plan of happiness!

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

Elder Quentin L. Cook on finding personal peace in a world of conflict

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

"One of the most cherished titles of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is 'Prince of Peace' (Isa 9:6, 2 Ne 19:6). Ultimately His kingdom will be established including peace and love. We look forward to the millennial reign of the Messiah.

"Notwithstanding this vision of the millennial reign, we know that world peace and harmony are not prevalent in our day. In my lifetime, I have never seen a greater lack of civility. We are bombarded with angry, contentious language and provocative, devastating actions that destroy peace and tranquility.

"Peace in the world is not promised or assured until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Savior instructed His Apostles that His earthly mission would not achieve universal peace. He taught, 'Think not that I am come to send peace on earth' (Matt 10:34). Universal peace was not part of the Savior’s initial mortal ministry. Universal peace does not exist today.

"However, personal peace can be achieved despite the anger, contention, and division that blight and corrupt our world today. It has never been more important to seek personal peace....

"While we will never retreat from efforts to achieve universal peace, we have been assured that we can have personal peace, as Christ teaches. This principle is set forth in the Doctrine and Covenants: 'But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come' (D&C 59:23)."

- Quentin L. Cook, "Personal Peace in Challenging Times," General Conference October 2021, Sunday morning

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I love the title "Prince of Peace." What a noble and honorable designation for the only true source of peace! As Elder Cook notes, there is no peace "universal" peace in the world. We live in a time of greater contention, anger, and provocation than ever. How do we confront our challenges in that kind of world? How do we avoid being consumed by those terrible, non-Christian emotions?

We must be seeking always for personal peace. The Messiah has promised us hope and help as we confront the world. If we turn to Him, follow Him, obey Him, worship Him—in other words, do "the works of righteousness"—we will be able to find that inner peace to help us through our lives.

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

Elder David A. Bednar on receiving divine power through faithfulness

Elder David A. Bednar (1952- ) was sustained as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2004.

"I invite you to consider the blessings promised to covenant-keeping disciples of Jesus Christ. For example, Nephi 'beheld the church of the Lamb of God [in the latter days], and its numbers were few, … the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions … were small.' (1 Nephi 14:12.)

"He also 'beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, … and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.' (1 Nephi 14:14, emphasis added.)

"The phrase 'armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory' is not simply a nice idea or an example of beautiful scriptural language. Rather, these blessings are readily evident in the lives of countless latter-day disciples of the Lord....

"I testify that the covenant people of the Lord today indeed are armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory. I have witnessed faith, courage, perspective, persistence, and joy that extend far beyond mortal capacity—and that only God could provide....

"Covenant promises and blessings are possible only because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He invites us to look to Him (D&C 6:36), come unto Him (3 Ne 12:20, Moro 10:32-33), learn of Him (Matt 11:29, D&C 19:23), and bind ourselves to Him (D&C 43:9, 82:10) through the covenants and ordinances of His restored gospel. I testify and promise that honoring covenants arms us with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory."

- David A. Bednar, "With the Power of God in Great Glory," General Conference October 2021, Saturday afternoon

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Faithful and obedient disciples of Jesus Christ are promised blessings to help them in life's journey. Elder Bednar explores that concept, focusing on the insight shared by Nephi of old who anticipated the situation in our day. To be "armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory" is an profound promise. Being armed with righteousness is more of a blessing than we may realize; that is a weapon that can help us combat all of the greatest challenges of our day. And having God's power in great glory is even more overwhelming.

Being part of the "covenant people of the Lord" brings joy, safety, and power. That should be our daily quest, to continue worthy of that role and title.

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

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf on daily growth and progress

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf (b 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 until 2018.

"We have reliable, visible landmarks that we can use to evaluate our course.

"And what are these landmarks?

"Surely they include daily prayer and pondering the scriptures and using inspired tools like Come, Follow Me. Each day, we can approach the throne of God in humility and honesty. We can ponder our actions and review the moments of our day—considering our will and desires in light of His. If we have drifted, we plead with God to restore us, and we commit to do better.

"This time of introspection is an opportunity for recalibration. It is a garden of reflection where we can walk with the Lord and be instructed, edified, and purified by the written and Spirit-revealed word of our Heavenly Father. It is a sacred time when we remember our solemn covenants to follow the gentle Christ, when we assess our progress and align ourselves with the spiritual landmarks God has provided for His children.

"Think of it as your personal, daily restoration. On our journey as pilgrims on the path of glory, we know how easy it is to fall away. But just as minor deviations can draw us out of the Savior’s Way, so too can small and simple acts of realignment assuredly lead us back. When darkness creeps into our lives, as it often does, our daily restoration opens our hearts to heavenly light, which illuminates our souls, chasing away shadows, fears, and doubts."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Daily Restoration." General Conference October 2021, Sunday morning

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Elder Uchtdorf often shares insights about navigating our journey through life, and the importance of making sure our direction and location are known and correct. He introduced this message with a description of how difficult it is to follow a straight line in a forest, unless there are visible aids to assist such as sunlight or other landmarks. His analogy to our spiritual life was helpful; it's so easy to get lost spiritually unless our path is guided by indicators to help us maintain the course. We gain perspective through prayer and study; but our personal connection go our Father in Heaven is perhaps the most crucial element.

Most of us don't have nearly enough quiet introspection. This time of "daily restoration" suggested by Elder Uchtdorf will truly bless our life, and allow us to make the gentle course corrections to keep us moving in the right direction.

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

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on the first great commandment

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (b. 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.

"Friends, in our present moment we find all manner of divisions and subdivisions, sets and subsets, digital tribes and political identities, with more than enough hostility to go around. Might we ask ourselves if a 'higher and holier' life, to use President Russell M. Nelson’s phrase, is something we could seek? When doing so, we would do well to remember that stunning period in the Book of Mormon in which those people asked and answered that question so affirmatively:

"'And it came to pass that there was no contention among all the people, in all the land … because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.

"'And there were no envyings, nor strifes, … nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.

"'There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.

"'And how blessed were they!' (4 Nephi 1:13, 15–18; emphasis added.)

"What is the key to this breakthrough in contented, happy living? It is embedded there in the text in one sentence: 'The love of God … did dwell in the hearts of the people.' When the love of God sets the tone for our own lives, for our relationships to each other and ultimately our feeling for all humankind, then old distinctions, limiting labels, and artificial divisions begin to pass away, and peace increases. That is precisely what happened in our Book of Mormon example. No longer were there Lamanites, or Jacobites, or Josephites, or Zoramites. There were no '-ites' at all. The people had taken on just one transcendent identity. They were all, it says, to be known as 'the children of Christ.'

"Of course, we are speaking here of the first great commandment given to the human family—to love God wholeheartedly, without reservation or compromise, that is, with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. (See Mark 12:30.) This love of God is the first great commandment in the universe. But the first great truth in the universe is that God loves us exactly that way—wholeheartedly, without reservation or compromise, with all of His heart, might, mind, and strength. And when those majestic forces from His heart and ours meet without restraint, there is a veritable explosion of spiritual, moral power. Then, as Teilhard de Chardin wrote, 'for [the] second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.'"

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Greatest Possession," General Conference October 2021, Saturday morning

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We truly do live in a time of "all manner of divisions and subdivisions." Conflicts related to politics, racial differences, nationalities, belief systems - there are so many divisive issues. These are parallel to the "ites" of the Book of Mormon times. How can we confront, and correct, the anger and bitterness that accompany those divisions?

I have never heard someone propose a solution based on our spiritual focus. But clearly, ultimately, that is the only way to overcome all divisions. If we achieve true unity in Christ, if  "the love of God … did dwell in the hearts of the people", there will be no more divisions. What a truly blessed and happy situation that would be!

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

President Henry B. Eyring on faith, revelation, and the doctrine of Christ

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.

"I know from experience that answers will come to fit your needs and your spiritual preparation. If you need an answer that is important to your eternal welfare or that of others, the answer is more likely to come. Yet even then, you may receive—as did Joseph Smith—the answer to be patient. (See JS-H 1:53.)

"If your faith in Jesus Christ has led to a heart softened through the effects of His Atonement, you will be more able to feel the whisperings of the Spirit in answer to your prayers. My personal experience is that the still, small voice—which is real—is clear and discernible in my mind when I feel an internal quiet and submission to the Lord’s will. That feeling of humility can be best described as 'Not my will, but thine, be done.' (Luke 22:42.)

"This process of revelation is why you will hear speakers teach in this conference what is called the doctrine of Christ. (See 2 Nephi 31; 3 Nephi 11:31–39.) Revelation comes to us in proportion to the degree to which we have sought to take the doctrine of Christ into our hearts and implement it in our lives.

"You remember from the Book of Mormon that Nephi taught us that faith in Jesus Christ is the key to receiving revelations of truth and the key to having the confidence that we are following the Savior’s direction."

- Henry B. Eyring, "The Faith to Ask and Then to Act," General Conference October 2021, Saturday evening

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One of the key invitations of this general conference, starting with President Nelson's opening remarks, was for each listener to seek personal revelation through the messages that would be shared. President Eyring expanded on that invitation with a message about faith in Christ and hearing the voice of God.

An important first step is to have our hearts softened through the influence of the Lord's Atonement. That enables us to feel inspiration more keenly.

This was a key insight for me:

As we come to understand and implement "the doctrine of Christ" in our lives, we will be much more receptive to revelation from heaven. Learning and applying that doctrine is one of the most important things we can individually do!

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

President M. Russell Ballard on loving the Savior

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.

"After Jesus’s Resurrection, as we read in John chapter 21, Peter and the other disciples fished all night without success.1 In the morning, they saw a man standing on the shore who told them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. To their astonishment, the net was filled miraculously. (See John 21:11.)

"They immediately recognized that the man was the Lord, and they rushed to greet Him.

"As they dragged the net to shore, full of fish, Jesus said, 'Come and dine.' (John 21:12.) John reports that 'when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?' (John 21:15, emphasis added.)

"While I was standing on that same seashore, I realized that the Savior’s question was one of the most important questions that He might someday ask me. I could almost hear His voice asking, 'Russell, lovest thou me more than these?'

"Do you wonder what Jesus was referring to when He asked Peter, 'Lovest thou me more than these?'

"Relating this question to ourselves in our day, the Lord may be asking us about how busy we are and about the many positive and negative influences competing for our attention and our time. He may be asking each of us if we love Him more than the things of this world. This may be a question about what we really value in life, who we follow, and how we view our relationships with family members and neighbors. Or maybe He is asking what really brings us joy and happiness.

"Do the things of this world bring us the joy, happiness, and peace that the Savior offered to His disciples and that He offers to us? Only He can bring us true joy, happiness, and peace through our loving Him and following His teachings.

"How would we answer the question 'Lovest thou me more than these?'

"When we discover a fuller meaning of this question, we can become better family members, neighbors, citizens, members of the Church, and sons and daughters of God."

- M. Russell Ballard, "Lovest Thou Me More Than These?", General Conference October 2021, Saturday evening

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President Ballard helps us consider the Savior's teachings to his disciples in a deeply personal way. When he asked Peter about the love he felt, he could have equally been asking each of us. The comparison of "more than these" provides us the challenge to consider our priorities and loyalties, the things that matter most in our lives.

Do we truly love Him more than we love the things of the world? Do our actions, our choices, our lives reflect that choice? President Ballard provides a number of things to consider:

• how busy we are
• the influences, good and bad, that compete for our time
• what do we really value?
• whom do we follow?
• how are our relationships with family members and others?
• what brings us joy and happiness?

As we consider these, and other, aspects of our lives, we will be able to discover if our loyalty to Him is in the proper position.

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