Elder Neil L. Andersen on how we are perceived by others

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.

"I witness that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He suffered and died for our sins and rose the third day. He is resurrected. In a future day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is the Christ. (See Romans 14:11.) On that day, our concern will not be, 'Do others consider me Christian?' At that time, our eyes will be fixed on Him, and our souls will be riveted on the question, 'What thinks Christ of me?'"

- Neil L. Andersen, "What Thinks Christ of Me?," General Conference April 2012
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

We sometimes have the tendency to worry about how we are perceived by others. There are good aspects of that; we want others to recognize our discipleship, to know where our loyalty lies, or to see the differences between worldly ways and our ways. These kind of perceptions enable us to be a "light" to those around us. But there are also dangers if we're only worried about being recognized for our importance, having influence and respect, being in charge, etc. Prideful self-importance is a dangerous thing, very contrary to humble discipleship.

In this message, Elder Andersen points out a critical point related to this concept. The day will come when the perceptions of others matter not a whit. Ultimately, there is only One's opinion about us that will matter:

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

President Russell M. Nelson on the necessary process of death

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.

"Anyone who studies the workings of the human body has surely 'seen God moving in his majesty and power' (D&C 88:47). Because the body is governed by divine law, any healing comes by obedience to the law upon which that blessing is predicated. (See D&C 130:21) ...

"If the body’s capacity for normal function, defense, repair, regulation, and regeneration were to prevail without limit, life here would continue in perpetuity. Yes, we would be stranded here on earth! Mercifully for us, our Creator provided for aging and other processes that would ultimately result in our physical death. Death, like birth, is part of life. Scripture teaches that 'it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness' (Alma 42:8). To return to God through the gateway we call death is a joy for those who love Him and are prepared to meet Him. Eventually the time will come when each 'spirit and ... body shall be reunited again in ... perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame' (Alma 11:43), never to be separated again. For these physical gifts, thanks be to God!"

- Russell M. Nelson, "Thanks Be to God," General Conference April 2012
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

President Nelson is particularly qualified to testify of God's miraculous creation in the human body, having studied it so thoroughly as part of his professional career. As a man of deep faith, he truly sees a witness of God's hand in the intricacy of creation, and can testify of the miraculous inherent power in the body to heal and recover—as well as the power of the Priesthood to aid in that process.

However, he also understands God's eternal plan for His children well enough to know that our bodies are designed to eventually fail in mortality:

What a fascinating concept: God's plan for His children would not leave them "stranded here on earth" when there is eternal progress to be considered! We must pass on to the next stage of our eternal existence in order to achieve the fulness of our potential.

Though we sometimes struggle to comprehend the timing of that transition, there is no question that it is ultimately necessary. And as President Nelson testifies, we are assured that the separation of body and spirit, like the separation of us from loved ones who pass on ahead, is temporary in God's eternal plan!

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

Elder D. Todd Christofferson on covenants and the Holy Ghost

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.

"When we have entered into divine covenants, the Holy Ghost is our comforter, our guide, and our companion. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are 'the peaceable things of immortal glory; the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment' (Moses 6:61). The gifts of the Holy Spirit are testimony, faith, knowledge, wisdom, revelations, miracles, healing, and charity, to name but a few (see D&C 46:13–26).

"It is the Holy Ghost that bears witness of your words when you teach and testify. It is the Holy Ghost that, as you speak in hostile venues, puts into your heart what you should say and fulfills the Lord’s promise that 'you shall not be confounded before men' (D&C 100:5). It is the Holy Ghost that reveals how you may clear the next seemingly insurmountable hurdle. It is by the Holy Ghost in you that others may feel the pure love of Christ and receive strength to press forward. It is also the Holy Ghost, in His character as the Holy Spirit of Promise, that confirms the validity and efficacy of your covenants and seals God’s promises upon you."

- D. Todd Christofferson, "The Power of Covenants," General Conference April 2009
Click here to read or listen to the full article

At the conclusion of a talk that discussed the power and importance of covenants, Elder Christofferson shared this interesting segment about the relationship of the Holy Ghost to those covenants. Covenants lead to the gifts of the Spirit as outlined in the scriptures, that can bless our lives in countless ways. They also bring the companionship of the Holy Ghost and all its attendant blessings to the life of the faithful disciple:

In addition to all of those profound blessings that come to us as we receive the blessings of the Holy Ghost into our lives, the final one completes Elder Christofferson's message: the Holy Spirit of Promise "confirms the validity and efficacy of your covenants and seals God’s promises upon you." How important it is that we seek and cultivate this gift in our life!

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

President George Q. Cannon on finding hope in times of gloom

President George Q. Cannon (1827-1901) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1860. He served as counselor in the First Presidency to Brigham Young beginning in 1873, and then to the next three presidents, until his death in 1901.

"I do feel to say to my brethren and sisters, do not be discouraged. Do not allow darkness and gloom to enter into your hearts.

"I want to give you a rule by which you may know that the spirit which you have is the right spirit. The Spirit of God produces cheerfulness, joy, light, and good feelings. Whenever you feel gloomy and despondent and are downcast, unless it be for your sins, you may know it is not the Spirit of God which you have. Fight against it and drive it out of your heart.

"The Spirit of God is a spirit of hope; it is not a spirit of gloom. We should pray for hope, if we do not have it. Hope is a gift from God. Faith is a gift from God. Faith, hope and charity are the gifts that we should seek for, that our minds may be filled with the radiant light of hope."

- George Q. Cannon, discourse at Utah Stake Conference, Provo, Sunday 1/14/1894; see The Deseret Weekly, March 10, 1894, vol. 48 no. 12 p. 351; and Gospel Truth, 1:183 Click here to read the full talk

I love President Cannon's "rule" for discerning spirits. There is no gloom or sadness in the Spirit of God. On the contrary, it brings us light and cheerfulness:

There seem to be times in life when we wage a battle against an adversary, and we feel the importance of President Cannon's encouragement: "Do not allow darkness and gloom to enter into your hearts." We must instead cultivate the Lord's Spirit that will push those other feelings out of our lives. With the Spirit of God, there is always hope—hope that comes as a gift from God, even "the radiant light of hope."

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

Elder Quentin L. Cook on wise choices in life's priorities

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 believe Elder Dallin H. Oaks’s inspired message distinguishing between 'good, better, best' provides an effective way to evaluate choices and priorities. (Ensign, Nov. 2007, 104–8.)  Many choices are not inherently evil, but if they absorb all of our time and keep us from the best choices, then they become insidious.

"Even worthwhile endeavors need evaluation in order to determine if they have become distractions from the best goals. I had a memorable discussion with my father when I was a teenager. He did not believe enough young people were focused on or preparing for long-term important goals—like employment and providing for families.

"Meaningful study and preparatory work experience were always at the top of my father’s recommended priorities. He appreciated that extracurricular activities like debate and student government might have a direct connection with some of my important goals. He was less certain about the extensive time I spent participating in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He acknowledged that athletics could build strength, endurance, and teamwork but asserted that perhaps concentrating on one sport for a shorter time would be better. In his view, sports were good but not the best for me. He was concerned that some sports were about building local celebrity or fame at the expense of more important long-term goals."

- Quentin L. Cook, "Choose Wisely," General Conference October 2014
Click here to read or listen to the full article

What makes a choice good or bad, righteous or evil? Elder Cook suggests it may depend on circumstances; the choice may not be "inherently" wrong, but if it results in activities that prevent us from doing things that are more important, then it can be a bad choice:

Elder Cook shares an example from his own youth, when he was an aspiring athlete. His father counseled him to keep a broad perspective on his youthful activities;. He emphasized that in his case, while there were worthwhile benefits from many extracurricular activities, too much time devoted in those areas would prevent him from focusing on other, more important, activities.

It's important for each of us to evaluate our activities regularly and be sure to choose those things that lead most effectively to our real, eternal goals.

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

Elder Eldred G. Smith on the importance of temple ordinances

Elder Eldred G. Smith (1907-2013) served as "Patriarch to the Church" from 1947 to 1979, during which time he was sustained as a prophet, seer, and revelator along with the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. He was then released and designated an emeritus general authority; he was not replaced as presiding patriarch. Elder Smith passed away on April 4, 2013 at age 106.

"Thus it is necessary to build temples, houses of the Lord, sacred edifices in which may be performed the ordinance of baptism and other sacred ordinances vicariously for our dead ancestors.

"Elijah brought the keys to perform all the sacred ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God. All these most sacred ordinances necessary for man’s exaltation in the life to come, even eternal life, are accepted by God only when they are performed in his sacred house, a temple of God....

"To receive the fullness of the blessings of exaltation, even eternal life, man must receive all the law and the ordinances of God’s kingdom.

"Another requirement to fulfill all the law is people. We, as members of the Church, must so live as to be worthy to go into the house of the Lord to perform these most sacred ordinances, first for ourselves, then for our dead ancestors.

"The living come first. It is necessary for us to receive these ordinances first; then we may be privileged to do this work for our ancestors, to whom the promise was made that we would come to earth in this the dispensation of the fulness of times to do this work for them.

"The time must come when temples will be found all over the earth, in many nations. This is most necessary for the salvation, exaltation, and eternal life of man. Then we should all be very diligent in gathering the family records and so live to be worthy of taking part in this work."

- Eldred G. Smith, "Why Do Latter-day Saints Build Temples?," General Conference October 1972
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Elder Smith shares with us the perspective of the crucial nature of temple ordinances, for the living first, and then as a redemptive action for those who have passed on. Truly, in our time, we must so live to be worthy to partake of the blessings of the house of the Lord. Performing temple work is one of the crucial duties of the dispensation of the fulness of times.

When Elder Smith shared these thoughts in 1972, there were 15 temples dedicated and functioning, with only four outside the United States: Canada, England, Switzerland, and New Zealand. As of this writing, there are 161 dedicated temples (150 operating and 11 being renovated), with another 40 under construction or announced. Truly temples may be found "all over the earth, in many nations" in ways that most of us could little envision in 1972.

Now more than ever, the time has come when we should truly "be very diligent" in our efforts of family history research, and be worthy to attend the temple frequently.

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

Elder David A. Bednar on the Lord's tender mercies

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.

"The Lord’s tender mercies do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Faithfulness and obedience enable us to receive these important gifts and, frequently, the Lord’s timing helps us to recognize them.

"We should not underestimate or overlook the power of the Lord’s tender mercies. The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live. When words cannot provide the solace we need or express the joy we feel, when it is simply futile to attempt to explain that which is unexplainable, when logic and reason cannot yield adequate understanding about the injustices and inequities of life, when mortal experience and evaluation are insufficient to produce a desired outcome, and when it seems that perhaps we are so totally alone, truly we are blessed by the tender mercies of the Lord and made mighty even unto the power of deliverance (see 1 Ne. 1:20)."

- David A. Bednar,  "The Tender Mercies of the Lord," General Conference April 2005
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

After being sustained to the Quorum of Twelve in October 2004, Elder Bednar used his first major conference address in April 2005 to address the topic of "tender mercies" in what has become one of the modern classics. Others have commented on this phrase and verse of scripture, but none so effectively as Elder Bednar did. In 1 Nephi 1, the opening chapter of the Book of Mormon, Nephi has set the foundation of the story of his father Lehi's preaching to Jerusalem and the general rejection of his message of repentance. Nephi closes the chapter with these words:

And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance. (1 Ne 1:20)

Lehi was one of the Lord's "chosen" servants, filled with faith. Nephi's testimony was that the Lord will watch over those who have such faith in Him, by blessing them with his "tender mercies" and making them "mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

Elder Bednar applied this promise to all of us. We receive the tender mercies of the Lord as we live in "faithfulness and obedience." Elder Bednar gives a wonderful, encouraging list of when those blessings might come to us in great power in their simple, sweet power:

• to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live
• when words cannot provide the solace we need
• when words cannot express the joy we feel
• when it is simply futile to attempt to explain that which is unexplainable
• when logic and reason cannot yield adequate understanding about the injustices and inequities of life
• when mortal experience and evaluation are insufficient to produce a desired outcome
• when it seems that perhaps we are so totally alone

At these critical times of life, Elder Bednar's witness is that we will be "made mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

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