General Conference: Sunday morning

President Henry B. Eyring conducting

Choir: On This Day of Joy and Gladness

[ prayer ]

Choir: Let Us All Press On

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
All of us experience times when the very fabric of our world tears at the seams, leaving us feeling alone, frustrated, and adrift
To make life sweeter and joyful and glorious, be grateful
Those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift the goblet of gratitude can find healing, peace, and understanding
We’re commanded to “thank the Lord our God in all things”
Let our heart be full of thanks to God
Why does God command us to be grateful?
Commandments are opportunities to exercise our agency and to receive blessings
What do I have to be grateful for when my world is falling apart?
Count our blessings, there are many; but the Lord doesn’t expect us to be less thankful in times of trial than in times of abundance
Overall spirit or attitude of gratitude
It’s easy to be grateful for things when life seems to be going our way
See gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation
Instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances, whatever they may be
Be like Nephi, whose grateful heart never faltered
We can choose to be like Job, who seemed to have everything but then lost it all
Pioneers maintained a spirit of gratitude on their long trek
Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power
We can be grateful no matter what
When we’re grateful in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation
In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise
How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?
Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we’re pleased with our circumstances
Through the eyes of faith, we look beyond our present-day challenges
Act of faith in God; requires that we trust Him and thank Him for things that we may not see
“Not my will, but thine be done”
We do not always understand the trials of life, but trust that one day we will
Nourished by the many and sacred truths we do know
Through the Atonement, we can live forever with our loved ones
Our tears of sadness and loss will be replaced with an abundance of happiness and joy
“Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.” – apostles accepted with courage the trials they faced
You don’t need to see the Savior as the apostles did to experience the same transformation they did
Is it any wonder that whenever we face the bitter endings of life they seem unacceptable to us?
We resist endings – because we’re made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings
In this plan, there are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings
Have we not reason to be filled with gratitude regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves?
Gratitude broadens our perception and clears our vision, fosters empathy toward our fellow men
Gratitude is a catalyst to all Christlike attitudes
A thankful heart is the parent of all virtues
Allow our souls to expand in thankfulness to our Heavenly Father

Elder M. Russell Ballard
No matter how good your message is, you may not get a chance to deliver it without consistent persistent followup
1. Name of the church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) is not only a formal title
We should not refer to the church by any other name, including Mormon or LDS Church
May fittingly refer to ourselves as Mormon, if coupled with full name of the church
We are Christians! Members of the Savior’s church
Develop the habit of always making it clear that we belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
2. Pray to be led to at least one person to extend an invitation to learn (before Christmas)
Preach My Gospel: extending an invitation without following it up is like buying a ticket without going
Commitment is hollow without completion
Missionary work: inviting others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the gospel
“Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”
Replace our fear with real faith
Followup our invitations, take others by the hand, lift them up, walk with them in their spiritual journey
Obtain a copy of Preach My Gospel, a guidebook for missionary work (for all of us!)
Read it, study it, apply what you learn
Blessings will come to families when they know and understand better what the missionaries are teaching
If we follow up, the Lord will not let us down

Sister Jean A. Stevens
[ talking about a preemie baby…who lived. I tuned out ]
Our Father in Heaven reaches out for each of us with His infinite love
As we develop greater trust and faith, we can access His power to bless us
The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a checklist; it lives in our hearts

Choir & congregation: Teach Me to Walk in the Light

Bishop Gary E. Stevenson
Your pathway to eternal life depends on our brief performance in this life
ex: Olympic athletes judged on very short competition
Your “four minutes” have already begun
Certain things are absolutely essential
Checkpoints which move us through our spiritual performance on earth
Baptism, Holy Ghost, priesthood ordination, temple ordinances, sacrament
In the ordinances, the power of godliness is manifest
Keeping the commandments will qualify you to perform these saving ordinances
In your performance, ponder: what do I need to do next to ensure my medal?
Don’t wait! Your 4 minutes will pass quickly, and you’ll have eternity to think about your actions
It’s not yet too late to repent, but it soon may be
The miracle of the Atonement can make up for imperfections in our performance
“It is never too late, so long as the Master says there is still time”
Is there someone who needs your encouragement? How can you help them with their 4 minutes?
You’ve prepared for this! This is your moment to perform. The time is now

Elder David A. Bednar
ex: new truck, stuck in snow; loaded with wood
Each of us carries a load of demands, opportunities, obligations, constraints
1. Is the load I am carrying producing the spiritual traction to let me press forward?
2. Is the load I am carrying creating sufficient spiritual traction so I ultimately can return home?
Sometimes we mistakenly believe happiness means not carrying a load
Don’t haul around so many nice but unnecessary things that we’re distracted and diverted from what really matters
“Be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me”
Many of assume a burden will be suddenly and permanently taken away – but “the burdens . . . were made light, yea the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease.”
Increased capacity will make burdens lighter
The Atonement enables us to do good and become better
The Atonement is for faithful men and women who are obedient and conscientious and who are striving to be come better and serve more faithfully
The Lord desires to enliven us, not only to guide but also to strengthen and heal us
Savior has suffered not just for our sins and iniquities but also our physical pains and anguish, shortcomings, fears, frustrations, regrets, remorse, despair, desperation
There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness we encounter in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. He has perfect empathy
His yoke is easy, and His burden is light
Strive to learn more about the Atonement as we assess our individual loads
Many aspects of the Atonement we can and need to understand

Choir: A Child’s Prayer

President Thomas S. Monson
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart . . . though shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this journey
We’re all spirit children of our Heavenly Father, and as such are brothers and sisters
Loving all of God’s children will become easier
Love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our exemplar
Manifestations of love: patience, kindness, forgiveness, etc.
Usually our love will be shown in our day-to-day interactions with one another
Recognize someone’s need and then respond
“I’ve never yet felt a tinge of regret for being a little too kind.”
Every day of our lives, we are given opportunities to show love and kindness to those around us
“It will do us little good to speak of the general brotherhood of mankind if we cannot regard those who are all around us as our brothers and sisters.”
“Charity is the pure love of Christ, and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”
Some of our greatest opportunities to demonstrate our love will be within the walls of our own homes
Too much impatience, arguing, fighting, tears in the family
The ones we love most become the targets of our harsh words
If we would keep the commandment to love one another, we must treat each other with kindness and respect
Don’t demean or belittle; be compassionate and encouraging
Forgiveness should go hand-in-hand with love
Blame keeps wounds open; only forgiveness heals
“Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: it might have been.”
Each person has within him- or herself the power to increase the sum total of the world’s happiness
“Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them for a lifetime”
Begin now, today, to express love to all of God’s children
Respond with love and kindness to whatever might come our way
Because of God’s love for us, He sent His son, who loves us enough to give His life for us so that we might have eternal life
Our hearts will be filled with love for our Heavenly Father, for our Savior, and for all mankind

Choir: Guide Us, O Though Great Jehovah

[ prayer ]

General Conference: Saturday afternoon

President Henry B. Eyring conducting

Choir: Glory to God On High

[ prayer ]

[ for the past month I’ve been taking a half dose of Zoloft every day because I was going to run out of refills while our insurance was being processed/cancelled – and a half dose isn’t quite enough, so I had a MAJOR ANXIETY MELTDOWN for a bit ]

Elder Richard G. Scott
The children of Father in Heaven can do amazing things when they feel trusted.
No doctrine more fundamental to our work than the Atonement
At every appropriate opportunity, testify of the Savior and the power of His atoning sacrifice
He is the perfect pattern for everyone in life
Don’t become absorbed by trivial things
We best serve our Father in Heaven by righteously influencing others
His gospel is the path to peace and happiness in this life
Share our love, trust, and knowledge of truth with others

Choir & congregation: We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet

Elder Robert D. Hales
Of all the lessons we learn from the life of the Savior, none is more clear and powerful than the lesson of obedience
In the premortal life, those who followed Lucifer ended their eternal progression
Jesus expressed His commitment to obey: “Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thing forever”
He learned obedience by the things which He suffered
He prepared the way for us to return to our Heavenly Father, who knew we would make mistakes as we learned obedience in mortality
When we obey, we accept His sacrifice, for we believe that through Jesus Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws, ordinances, and commandments of the gospel
At baptism we take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ
Covenant with God that we will be obedient until the end of our lives
As we repent by turning away from disobedience and by beginning to obey again we show our love for Christ
We progress in our understanding of obedience as we live the gospel
Natural man’s obedience: we reject God’s law in favor of our wisdom or desires or popularity
[ internet stopped working ]
We will recognize the central role of agency
In the Garden of Gethsemane: “Let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
Savior obediently endured to the end even though it meant great suffering and death
Obedience is motivated by true love for Heavenly Father
[ crockpot made a noise and Ender thought it was someone knocking at the door ]
Using our agency to obey means choosing to do what is right and letting the consequence follow
It requires mastery and brings confident eternal happiness
It is impossible for others to modify God’s commandments, which were given for our good
To rationalize disobedience does not change spiritual law or its consequences
We have a sacred obligation to uphold the laws and commandments of the Savior
ex: Joseph Smith, Martin Harris – manuscript
“Learn in thy youth to keep
Obedience makes us progressively stronger, capable of enduring tests and trials in the future
“Be humble, be submissive, be gentle”

Elder Claudio D. Zivic
ex: child told to practice piano; gradually love music and practice without prompting
It would be wonderful to have a desire deep in our hearts to keep the commandments without anyone constantly reminding us
How often do we make a mistake about the right way, letting ourselves be led along by the trends of the world?
Are we being doers of the words of Jesus Christ?
Through repentance, we can humble ourselves, change our actions, and draw closer to our Heavenly Father
[ had to look up where Elder Zivic is from…born in Buenos Aires ]
Do not lose sight of the way
Currents of the world will not sweep us away
Jesus Christ lives. He exhorts us, “Hearken all ye nations of the earth, and hear the words of that God who created you.”

Elder W. Craig Zwick
ex: big rig cab filled with smoke, wife jumped out
“I was just trying to save our son.”
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but only that which is good and edifying that it may administer grace unto the hearers.”
Anger is an emotional electrical short
We have all had the opportunity to learn how destructive words can take a situation from hazardous to fatal
Treat all people with civility, even when we disagree
“Grievous words stirreth up anger”
Doesn’t mean we never speak directly or that we compromise doctrinal truth
The entire human race seems to be surprisingly proficient in the language of doubt, blame, and fear
Cultivate respect across wide distances of belief and behavior and across deep canyons of conflicting opinions
It doesn’t matter who is “more right,” what matters is listening to each other and understanding the other’s perception
Ministering grace can change us
Through compassionate language, we can have empathy for the feelings and context of others

Elder Quentin L. Cook
In this life we laugh, we cry, we work, we play…and then we die
Yes, we will live again because of the atoning sacrifice of the Savior
[ kids are CRAZY ]
[ I am CRAZY ]
We act as agents for those who have died without baptism and give them the privilege of coming forth in the first resurrection
[ snack ]
[ various distractions ]

Choir: High On the Mountain Top

[ prayer ]

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