Note: These are the instant, post-conference, mildly-filtered things that ran through my brain and heart as I watched this session of General Conference. If you are looking for deep, spiritual analysis, this is not the place. Drive on.
• And we’re back! Delivered cinnamon rolls to kids, played with grandbaby, and still made it back with 1 minute to spare.
• Elder Bednar conducting.
• Institute choir.
Elder Ronald Rasband kicks it off with the Family Proclamation!!!
When he was called to be an apostle, he was told about the Proclamation: “Teach it like you own it.”
Told the backstory of how the Proclamation came about, beginning with the Hunter administration to the reveal by President Hinckley at Women’s Conference in ’95.
“By divine design, this Proclamation, with its revelatory words, was created to ‘maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.'”
“Most importantly each of us are, as the Proclamation states, “a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents with a divine nature and destiny.”
“The Proclamation has a divine origin, so we must treat it with the reverence deserving words from God.” (Oooh! Let’s cannonize it.)
“The teachings of the Proclamation were revealed by our Lord Jesus Christ to His apostles then and now.”
“There are those who take issue with the declaration on family, marriage, and gender. Some suggest the Church pull it back, revise, or even set the proclamation aside. The proclamation on the family is, as President Hinckley stated, doctrine, my dear brothers and sisters.” <— Awesome & unequivocal.
“God has given men and women different but equal and essential roles that complement each other.”
“With all my soul I plead with you to live close to Him and His Beloved Son. I promise, as you do so, the spirit will inspire and guide you and help you feel their promised peace.”
• I appreciate how he acknowledges that it is a difficult and sensitive issue for many. I hope those who find this truth challenging can take his counsel and turn to the Lord with faith to ork through it.
Bro. Chad Webb – First Counselor Sunday School. Increasing our spiritual capacity to receive revelation. (I’m digging this extra because I’m a Sunday School president now.)
“As we’re given opportunities to share what we are learning through our study and from the Holy Ghost, we help each other to be instructed and edified. As we apply gospel principles, the Spirit again bears witness of their truthfulness.”
Taught that both teachers and learners have a responsibility to prepare. “A diligent learner is one who exercises faith by being active in their own learning. A diligent teacher is one who invites learners to be diligent learners and giving the space to question, share, and testify.”
“As teachers, we can focus more on the learner’s progress, on meeting their needs and on helping them to develop spiritual habits of life-long discipleship.”
- Focus on Christ
- Teach true doctrine: Don’t sensationalize or speculate on what God has not revealed. “True doctrine is found in the scriptures and the words of modern prophets.” We focus on essential and eternal gospel principles, which allows the spirit to testify of truth.”
- Learn diligently
“In our homes and church meetings, as we focus on Jesus Christ, teach His doctrine, and learn diligently, we invite the Holy Ghost to deepen our faith in Jesus Christ and become more like Him.”
Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi: Spoke about altars.
Elder Jaggi tells the story of Adam, offering sacrifices without knowing why. (Moses 5:6-8) “The sacrament table and temple altars symbolize the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His infinite Atonement.”
“If the Savior is the great connector, the adversary is the separator.” <–Awesome. “He, Satan, tempts us to separate ourselves from our consecrated places of worship and from the protection of Jesus Christ.”
Spoke of prayer and the importance of “checking in.” “When I kneel in prayer, I think of how I can give God my will.”
Importance of sacrament table and temple altars: “When we come to the altar, we aren’t earning a reward; we are learning about the Gift Giver. In that learning and covenant binding comes healing.”
Chronicles of Narnia shout-out!
“Jesus Christ heals all wounds. Jesus Christ makes it possible to live again.”
Elder Kevin R. Brown: (Great Jamaican accent) Three truths of the restoration and how they guided him “to a sure witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
- God is our loving Heavenly Father. It is in His nature to bless us
- Agency is a sacred gift. “Agency is more than the ability to choose—it is the responsibility to choose well.” “We cannot make a choice without being responsible for the consequences.”
- “A witness of the Holy Ghost is greater than sight.” “The witness and the gift of the Holy Ghost are available to everyone.”
Tender story of getting flack about his church membership from friends in school. He had a specific moment when he had his “Sacred Grove” moment.
He restated Joseph Smith’s words: “I knew it and I knew that God knew it and I could not deny it.” “I had seen a vision, I knew it and I knew that God knew it and I could not deny it”.
“A testimony is not meant to be temporary….Who or what will you allow to take that away?”
“Saying “I choose to believe!” makes it easier to believe. It is a wise and powerful way to use my agency.”
“I invite you to think about your testimony of Jesus Christ… The power is within you. No one can choose for you. No one can take this gift away. You can choose to believe.”
“If you know, YOU KNOW!”
• Commentary: Elder Brown just gave one of the most powerful and passionate General Conference talks I have ever heard. He came out of nowhere to me – and he’s around my kid’s age. He reduced me to joyous tears and poured the Spirit into my heart. I am now a greatful fan.
• I want an Edler Brown t-shirt that says “IYKYK”
Elder Garrett W. Gong: Gospel Culture. (I’m curious!)
Spoke about the worldwide gathering that is underway by focusing on he parable of the great feast and the good Samaritan.
Membership in the Church of Jesus Christ means making room for all. No one sits alone means no one sits alone emotionally or spiritually.
“It is precisely because we have been hurt and have hurt others that Jesus Christ brings us to His inn.”
“How we treat each other, especially the hungry, thirsty, those left out alone, is how we treat Him.”
“I invite us to worry less, judge less, be less demanding of others, and, when needed, less hard on ourselves. We do not create Zion in a day. But each ‘hello’, each warm gesture, brings Zion closer.”
“Conversion of Jesus Christ requires us to put off the natural man and worldly culture.”
Quotes Elder Oaks: “There is a unique gospel culture, a set of values and expectations and practices common to all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” (link)
We often carry parts of the world’s culture into our faith. The Lord invites us to embrace a gospel culture, rooted not in geography or habit, but in Christlike love, belonging, and covenant connection.
Elder Michael Cziesla: (Great German accent)
“The doctrine of Christ and the law of the gospel are so simple that even little children can understand them.”
“The doctrine of Christ is simple, yet applying His doctrine requires consistent effort. Applying simple gospel principles help us navigate life daily’s challenges in the Lord’s way.”
“Applying the simplicity that is in Christ makes us prioritize people over processes, eternal relationships over short-term behaviors.”
“I have learned through my own experience that the small and simple things of the gospel and faithfully focusing on Christ lead us to true joy.”
Told a great story about his grandmother’s faithfulness and how it led to her husband’s conversion (after 25 years). You should watch it. It also reinforces the importance of Primary songs!
“Following His example provides a safe path through uncertainty and a loving, guiding hand to hold from day to day.”
Concluding statement: “Applying the pure doctrine of Christ in a simplified and focused way will help us to find joy in our daily lives, give guidance in our callings, answer some of life’s most complex questions, and provide strength to face our greatest challenges.”
Elder Quentin L. Cook: Starting by quoting Dickens, “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” He chose to focus on the best of times.
“We live in the best of times. The Lord is truly hastening His work in our time. We should be profoundly grateful for the hastening which has and is occurring, despite these challenging times.”
“There is clear evidence that faith in Jesus Christ is increasing in our day.”
“In the last 36 months, nearly 900,000 converts have joined the Church. These converts constitute approximately 5% of the total Church membership.” WOW!!! Up 20% ths year around the world and 17% in the USA.
“Our sacred duty is to accept and welcome new and returning members. As the Lord hastens His work, we should love, nurture, and serve those who accept His gospel.” “Many join the church at great personal sacrifice and desperately need the support of the fellow Latter-Day Saints.”
Gave counsel to new members:
Prepare to enter the temple. “The temple and the ordinances of the temple should be our focus.”
Be patient in learning: “The gospel is not a test of knowledge.” “Learning the pure doctrine of Jesus Christ is a lifelong pursuit, both in understanding doctrine and living a Christlike life.” Study the scriptures.
“Do not get discouraged if eternal marriage is not possible at this time. Prophets have taught that no blessing will be withheld from faithful members who keep the commandments.”
And to everyone:
“We must remember that the Savior also lived in violent times. His focus was not on the political upheaval of His time, but on perfecting of the Saints.”
• Closing hymn – well-performed but kinda cheesy. Go ahead – come at me.
• Another spectacular session! Glad I have a couple hours to rest. Get ready!
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Put me on the list for the IYKYK shirt.
Totally agree with you about Elder Kevin R. Brown! So powerful, his words really burrowed into me.
I agree with you about Elder Brown’s talk. So powerful!! I had the same reaction, and I am also now a raving fan.