General Conference: Saturday morning

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf conducting

Choir: Press Forward Saints

[ prayer ]

Choir: Lead Kindly Light

President Thomas S. Monson
United in our desire to listen to these messages
Work of church has moved forward unhindered
When all previously announced temples complete, 170 operating
Continue determining needs and finding locations
No new temples announced until others are complete

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
If you haven’t already, you will one day be called on to defend your faith
Will require courage and courtesy on your part
“Viewed Christ’s death and suffered his cross and borne the shame of the world”
Long history of rejection and painfully high price paid by prophets, apostles, missionaries, and members
All those who honor God’s call to lift humanity to a more excellent way
Angels of heaven weep as they record the cost of discipleship
Savior shed tears over those who were rejected and slain in His service
You may wonder if it’s worth it to take a courageous moral stand, or serve as a missionary – YES, because the alternative is to have our houses “left unto us desolate”
From time to time, messengers are called upon to worry, warn, weep
That’s the full price of discipleship
“These children will not hear the law of the Lord. They say to the seers, see not; and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things. Speak unto us smooth things.”
If people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much
Those who not only don’t rock the boat but don’t even row
Man creating God in his own image
Jesus is not a comfortable, easy-on-the-ear, popular God
What would Jesus do? – won’t always bring a popular response
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
Christlike love is the greatest need we have on this planet
Righteousness is ALWAYS supposed to accompany Christlike love
If love is our watchword, then we must forsake transgression and any hint of advocacy for it in others
Pure Christlike love can change the world.
Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and compassion, but defend them.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband
Massive tornado in Oklahama altered landscape, lives of people in its path
Pres. Monson: “First, tell them I love them. Second, tell them I am praying for them. And third, please thank all those who are helping.”
[ Evan sobbing about something ]
[ explaining again to kids that now is a good time to listen quietly ]
Reaching out to rescue one another under any condition is an eternal measure of love
“When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of you God.”
Service prepares us to value and love what the Lord loves, witnesses that we are His disciples

Elder Carlos H. Amado
Christ’s preaching was simple, His ministry consisted of blessing people one by one
Though His disciples were charged with performing miracles, only Christ could forgive sins
“He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall have life.”
“If thou wouldst believe, thou would see the glory of God.”
[ between his accent & the kids being noisy I missed most of this talk ]

Choir & congregation: Choose the Right

Sister Linda S. Reeves
Satan attacking with unprecedented fury
Part of our earthly experience is to learn to control our desires
In marriage, “the spouse becomes preeminent . . . and no other interest or person or thing shall ever take precedence over the companion’s spouse.”
Many children, youth, and adults are innocently exposed to pornography
Often those addicted can’t overcome on their own
Don’t react with shock, anger, or rejection when someone admits and asks for help
Pornography overtakes lives, causes loss of the Spirit, loss of self-control, deceit, total consumption of time, thought, and energy
Counsel with children and create a family plan
Filters on electronic devices – mobile devices are the biggest culprit
Remember our Savior is merciful. He can remove the pain and sorrow you feel and make you clean again
Addiction support is available
How do we protect our children and youth?
The greatest filter in the world is the personal eternal filter that comes from a deep and abiding testimony of our Heavenly Father’s love and our Savior’s sacrifice for every one of us
“We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ . . . that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins”
Parents may be desperate for help, plead to know what to do
It’s ok if the house is a mess and the kids are still in their pjs and many things are left undone
The only things that really need to be accomplished are daily family scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening
Change your focus, don’t worry about less important things
Talk, rejoice, preach and testify of Christ in your home
Blessings of daily scripture study and prayer!
These are the very practices that will take away stress
Start with ourselves, and influence of Spirit will begin to fill our homes and lives
Search out ancestors, be protected now and throughout lives
Keep ourselves worthy of a temple recommend

Elder Neal A. Anderson
Youth: yours is a chosen generation of destiny
The world will not glide calmly toward the Second Coming
“All things shall be in commotion”
Sin always has been and always will be a part of this world, but it has never been so accessible, insatiable, and acceptable.
You are God’s sons and daughters; made your spirit strong and capable
The whirlwinds in your youth can increase your spiritual strength
How do you prepare?
Helaman 5:12 – this is your safety.
“Where once the standards of the Church and the standards of society were mostly compatible, now there is a wide chasm between us, and it is growing ever wider.”
Remain true to that which God has commanded
The Lord has not redefined marriage – the purposes of marriage go far beyond the personal satisfaction and fulfillment of adults
Ideal setting for children to be born, reared, and nurtured
Families are the treasures of heaven
Our responsibility is to teach Heavenly Father’s plan for His children and warn the dangers of not obeying His commandments
Sometimes you have to stand alone
Everyone, independent of decisions and beliefs, deserves our kindness and consideration
Beware of self-righteousness
In the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no place for ridicule, bullying, or bigotry.
“The only safety we have . . . is to learn to give heed to the words and commandments the Lord shall give through His prophet.”
85% church members live within 200 miles of a temple
Lord has given us greater access to temples than any other generation in the history of the world
There is a tangible feeling of holiness in the temple
As you learn about your ancestors, you will see patterns of righteousness (and occasionally patterns you will want to avoid)
Don’t let the whirlwinds drag you down
These are your days to stand strong as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ
Follow more diligently His example and His commandments
As you do, you will see the whirlwinds as tests, temptations, distractions, or challenges to help you grow
As you live righteously, your experiences will confirm to you that Jesus is the Christ
The spiritual rock under your feet will be solid and secure

Choir: A New Commandment I Give Unto You

President Henry B. Eyring
Every day and every hour, you can choose to make or keep a covenant with God
You have the opportunity to show many people the way to greater happiness
Choose to leave an inheritance of hope to those who follow your example
In sacrament meetings, we renew our promise to follow the Savior
Honor the example of faith and hope in the hearts of those who went before us
You may be the first in your family to lead the way to the celestial kingdom
It takes faith to keep sacred covenants for a lifetime
We have temptation, trials, and death as our universal inheritance
However, our loving Heavenly Father gave us the gift of His beloved son Jesus Christ as our Savior
The promise of the resurrection and the possibility of eternal life is also our universal inheritance
[ kids trying to lure the dog for presumably nefarious purposes ]

Choir: Come O Thou King of Kings