Welcome to T&S’ fourth round of coverage of General Conference. We welcome your comments.
Chorus: Come We that Love the Lord
President Henry B. Eyring is conducting this session of Conference.
Chorus: On This Day of Joy and Gladness
Prayer: Élder L. Whitney Clayton
Chorus: Let Us All Press On
President Dieter F. Uchtdof — Grateful in Any Circumstance
“There is one thing we can do to make life sweeter, more joyful, even glorious. We can be grateful.”
“Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being “thankful for things” we focus on being “thankful in our circumstances”—whatever they may be.”
“When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ’s Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven’s embrace.”
“We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?”
“In light of what we know about our eternal destiny, is it any wonder that whenever we face the bitter endings of life, they seem unacceptable to us? There seems to be something inside of us that resists endings.”
“Why is this? Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings, children of Almighty God, whos name is Endless and who promises eternal blessings without number. Endings are not our destiny.”
Élder M. Russell Ballard — Following Up
“…the Lord makes clear that this is not only a formal title, but the name by which His Church is to be called. Given His clear declaration, we should not refer to the Church by any other name, such as “Mormon Church” or “LDS Church.”
“…’extending an invitation without following-up is like beginning a journey without finishing it or buying a ticket to a concert without going into the theater. Without the completed action, the commitment is hollow.'”
Sister Jean A. Stevens — Fear Not I Am With Thee
“…truly our Father knows us and hears the pleadings of our hearts. He accomplishes His miracles one prayer at a time, one person at a time.”
“The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a checklist of things to be done; rather, it can live in our hearts. The gospel is not weight; it is wings. It can carry us.”
Chorus: Teach Me to Walk in the Light
Bishop Gary E. Stevenson — Your Four Minutes
“Now, consider how your pathway to eternal life is similar to these athletes’ “four minute performance.” You are an eternal being. Before you were born, you existed as a spirit.… This life is your four minutes.”
“I urge you to ponder, “What do I need to do next, to ensure my medal?” … Whatever it may be, take it. Do it now. Don’t wait. Your four minutes will pass quickly and you’ll have eternity to think about what you did in this life.”
“But remember, you’ve prepared for this for millennia. This is your moment to perform. This is your four minutes! The time is now!”
Elder David A. Bednar — Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease
“Is the load I am carrying producing the spiritual traction that will enable me to press forward with faith in Christ on the straight and narrow path and avoid getting stuck? Is the load I am carrying creating sufficient spiritual traction so I ultimately can return home to Heavenly Father?”
“Sometimes we mistakenly may believe that happiness is the absence of a load. But bearing a load is a necessary and essential part of the plan of happiness.”
“Most of us know that when we do things wrong and need help to overcome the effects of sin in our lives, the Savior has made it possible for us to become clean through His redeeming power. But do we also understand that the Atonement is for faithful men and women who are obedient, worthy, and conscientious and who are striving to become better and serve more faithfully?”
“It is one thing to know that Jesus Christ came to earth to die for us. But we also need to appreciate that the Lord desires, through His Atonement and by the power of the Holy Ghost, to enliven us—not only to guide but also to strengthen and heal us.”
“Thus the Savior has suffered not just for our sins and iniquities—but also for our physical pains and anguish, our weaknesses and shortcomings, our fears and frustrations, our disappointments and discouragement, our regrets and remorse, our despair and desperation, the injustices and inequities we experience, and the emotional distresses that beset us.”
Chorus: A Child’s Prayer
President Thomas S. Monson — Love—the Essence of the Gospel
“We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey. Likewise, we cannot fully love our fellow men if we do not love God, the Father of us all.”
“Usually our love will be shown in our day-to-day interactions one with another. All important will be our ability to recognize someone’s need and then to respond.”
“Brothers and sisters, some of our greatest opportunities to demonstrate our love will be within the walls of our own homes. Love should be the very heart of family life,…”
“I would hope that we would strive always to be considerate and to be sensitive to the thoughts and feelings and circumstances of those around us. Let us not demean or belittle. Rather, let us be compassionate and encouraging. We must be careful that we do not destroy another person’s confidence through careless words or actions.”
“May we begin now, this very day, to express love to all of God’s children, whether they be our family members, our friends, mere acquaintances, or total strangers. As we arise each morning, let us determine to respond with love and kindness to whatever might come our way.”
Chorus: Guide Us O Thou Great Jehovah
Prayer: Sister Neill F. Marriott