GenConf: Sunday Afternoon Session

Choir: He Is Risen

President Uchtdorf conducted this opening session.

Choir: My Redeemer Lives

Invocation: S. Gilford Nielsen

Choir: He Sent His Son

Elder Robert D. Hales: Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom

• The blessings we enjoy now are because we made the choice to follow the Savior before this life. To everyone hearing or reading these words, whoever you are and whatever your past may be, remember this: it is not too late to make that same choice again and follow Him.
• As we walk the path of spiritual liberty in these last days, we must understand that the faithful use of our agency depends upon our having religious freedom.
• No one should be criticized, persecuted, or attacked by individuals or governments for what he or she believes about God.
• Some are offended when we bring our religion into the public square yet the same people who insist that their viewpoints and actions be tolerated in society are often very slow to give that same tolerance to religious believers who also wish their viewpoints and actions to be tolerated. The general lack of respect for religious viewpoints is quickly devolving into social and political intolerance for religious people and institutions.
• As disciples of Christ we have a responsibility to work together with like-minded believers, to raise our voices for what is right.
• Brothers and sisters, we are responsible to safeguard these sacred freedoms and rights for ourselves and our posterity.

Elder Kevin W. Pearson: Stay by the Tree

• Enduring to the end is a hallmark of true discipleship and is essential to eternal life. But, when trials and challenges come our way, we are often told to simply “hang in there”. Let me be clear, to “hang in there” is not a principle of the gospel.
• If enduring to the end is essential to eternal life, why do we struggle to be faithful? We struggle when we are caught between competing priorities.
• Each of us experience periods of darkness and loneliness. When life gets dark and dreary, don’t forget to pray.
• Eternal life with our loved ones is sweeter and more desirable than any other thing. To realize this gift we must come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him. He is “the way, the truth, and the life”.
• Obedience builds faith in Christ. Faith is a principle of action and power. Consistently following the Savior’s example produces spiritual power and capacity.
• Tribulation is an inevitable and indispensable part of our eternal progression. When adversity comes, don’t let something you don’t fully understand, unravel everything you do know. Be patient, cling to truth, understanding will come.
• Heeding those who do not believe in Christ will not help you find Him. Searching #spaciousbuilding for knowledge, will not lead you to truth. It’s not posted there. Only the Savior has “the words of eternal life”.
• Elders and Sisters, you simply cannot return from your mission, do a swan dive back into Babylon and spend endless hours, scoring meaningless points, on pointless video games, without falling into a deep spiritual sleep.
• If you are struggling, confused, or spiritually lost, I urge you to do the one thing I know will get you back on track. Begin again, to prayerfully study the Book of Mormon and live its teachings, every day, every day, every day!

Elder Rafael E. Pino: The Eternal Perspective of the Gospel

• It is interesting to note the sequence in the teaching process. Our Heavenly Father first taught Adam and Eve the plan of redemption, and then He gave them commandments.
• The eternal perspective of the gospel leads us to understand the place that we occupy in God’s plan, to accept difficulties and progress through them, to make decisions, and to center our lives on our divine potential.
• This is one way of contemplating the Lord’s plan. We do not have to concern ourselves with each of its parts separately, but rather to try to bring the entire picture into focus, keeping in mind what the final result will be. The Lord knows where each piece belongs so that it fits into the plan.
• It is extremely important that we do not make decisions of eternal value from the perspective of mortality. For decisions that affect eternity, having a gospel perspective is essential.

Choir and Congregation: Come Oh Thou King of Kings

Elder Neil L. Andersen: “Thy Kingdom Come”

• … seeing and believing the Lord’s miracles in establishing His kingdom on earth can help us see and believe that the Lord’s hand is at work in our own lives as well.
• Can you see the hand of God moving His work forward? … Can you see the hand of God in your own life?
• Look for the Lord’s hand not only in the past, not only in our day, but also in the days to come.
• Our faith grows as we anticipate the Savior’s return. The thought of His Coming stirs my soul. It will be breathtaking! The scope and grandeur, the vastness and magnificence, will exceed anything mortal eyes have ever seen or experienced.
• These, then, are the main responsibilities that our Father has assigned to us: seeking our own salvation and that of others, with the understanding that salvation means reaching the highest degree of glory that our Father has provided for His obedient children.2 These responsibilities that have been entrusted to us—and which we have freely accepted—must define our priorities, our desires, our decisions, and our daily conduct.

Elder Jorge F. Zeballos: If You Will Be Responsible

• These, then, are the main responsibilities that our Father has assigned to us: seeking our own salvation and that of others, with the understanding that salvation means reaching the highest degree of glory that our Father has provided for His obedient children.2 These responsibilities that have been entrusted to us—and which we have freely accepted—must define our priorities, our desires, our decisions, and our daily conduct.
• If we are to do God’s will, if we are to be responsible to Him, we must begin by learning, understanding, accepting, and living according to His will for us. The Lord has said, “Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.” Having the desire to do what is right is not enough if we do not make sure to understand what our Father expects from us and wants us to do.
• The path that we have chosen to walk is narrow. Along the way are challenges that will require our faith in Jesus Christ and our best efforts to stay on the path and press forward. We need to repent and be obedient and patient, even if we do not understand all the circumstances that surround us. We must forgive others and live in accordance with what we have learned and with the choices we have made.
• Discipleship requires us not only to learn our duty, make correct decisions, and act in accordance with them, but also essential is our developing the willingness and the ability to accept God’s will, even if it does not match our righteous desires or preferences.

Choir: “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus”

Elder Joseph W. Sitati: Be Fruitful, Multiply, and Subdue the Earth

• … our mortal journey began with both a divine charge and a blessing. A loving Father gave us the charge and the blessing to be fruitful and to multiply and to have dominion so that we can develop and become even as He is.
• The body enables Heavenly Father’s obedient spirit children to experience life on earth.9 Bearing children gives other spirit children of God the opportunity to also enjoy life on earth. All who are born in mortality have the opportunity to progress and to be exalted if they obey God’s commandments. Marriage between a man and a woman is the institution that God ordained for the fulfillment of the charge to multiply. A same-gender relationship does not multiply.
• Living prophets and apostles have counseled all who have the opportunity to enter into the covenant of eternal marriage to proceed in wisdom and faith. We should not put off the time of that sacred day because of worldly pursuits or hold our expectations of a suitable companion at a level that disqualifies every possible candidate.
• To subdue the earth and have dominion over every living thing is to control these things so they fulfill the will of God as they serve the purposes of His children. Subduing includes gaining mastery over our own bodies. It does not include being helpless victims of these things or using them contrary to the will of God.
• The challenges facing human society today, including immorality, pornography, armed conflict, pollution, substance abuse, and poverty, flourish because many in the world have turned themselves over by choice “to the will of the devil and the flesh” rather than to the will of God.

Elder Russell M. Nelson: The Sabbath Is a Delight

• What did the Savior mean when He said that “the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath”? I believe He wanted us to understand that the Sabbath was His gift to us, granting real respite from the rigors of daily life, and opportunity for spiritual and physical renewal. God gave us this special day, not for amusement or daily labor, but for a rest from duty, with physical and spiritual relief.
• In my much younger years, I studied the work of others who had compiled lists of things to do and things not to do on the Sabbath. It wasn’t until later that I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, “What sign do I want to give to God?” That question made my choices about the Sabbath Day crystal clear.
• The Sabbath provides a wonderful opportunity to strengthen family ties.
• We make the Sabbath a delight when we teach the gospel to our children.
• No other work transcends that of righteous, intentional parenting!
• As you teach the gospel, you will learn more. This is the Lord’s way of helping you to comprehend His gospel.
• In paying tithing, we return one tenth of our increase to the Lord. In keeping the Sabbath holy, we reserve one day in seven as His. So it is our privilege to consecrate both money and time to Him who lends us life each day.
• Faith in God engenders a love for the Sabbath; faith in the Sabbath engenders a love for God. A sacred Sabbath truly is a delight.

Choir: Lord, I Would Follow Thee

Benediction: Elder Koichi Aoyagi