Ken Live-Blogs Conference ... Again! 194th Semiannual General Conference

[Kenngo1969]

Elder Kyle S. McKay of the Seventy

• His purpose, today and always, is to testify of Christ

• The Joseph Smith Story

• “His sincere prayer, offered with faith, received the attention of the most powerful forces in the Universe”

• “I had found the testimony of James to be true”

• It is God’s nature to give to those who lack wisdoma

• God is a God who answers teenagers in times of trouble

• A later supplication brought a vision of the Angel Moroni

• Christ to Joseph and Oliver: “Your sins are forgiven you”: Joseph’s life of regular repentance has given Elder McKay confidence to “come boldly to the throne of grace”

• The Father and the Son have bodies as tangible as man’s

• Christ took upon Himself, not only our sins, but our pains and sicknesses, as well

• Not only can Christ forgive sins, He can change our very natures

• “The heavenly priesthood united with the earthly to bring to pass God’s great purposes … The heavenly priesthood are not idle spectators”

• “I had seen a vision. I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it”

• “The fundamental principle of our religion is the testimony of the apostles and prophets, concerning Jesus Christ”

• “There was a man sent from God whose name was Joseph. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light”

• Joseph “was blessed to open the last dispensation, and we are blessed that he did”

• “Praise to Jehovah, who communed with that man”

[Kenngo1969]

Elder David A. Bednar of the Twelve

• Ezra Taft Benson’s ministry influenced Elder Bednar in profound and powerful ways

• Book of Mormon as keystone

• President Benson’s teachings regarding pride influenced Elder Bednar greatly

• Mormon chose the stories, speeches, and records that are most helpful to us

• Book of Mormon writers saw our day and chose things that would be of greatest worth to us

• “What lesson can I learn from this passage that will help me most in this day?”

• The Book of Mormon is a book about the times in which we live now, and in which we will yet live

• In the Book of Helaman, many of the Lamanites had repented, while many of the Nephites had become wicked

• “The Lord began to pour out His Spirit among the Lamanites because of their easiness …”

• Do we allow pride to enter into our hearts because of how the Lord has blessed us?

• Do we allow pride to lift us up above that which is good?

• Prosperity, possessions, and ease are a potent mixture that can lead even the righteous to drink the poison of pride

• If we are not faithful and obedient, we can transform the blessing of prosperity into a curse

• Do we have a misguided sense of self-sufficiency?

• How can we focus on Christ as the mark if we only see ourselves?

• “Ye have sought all the days of your life for that which ye cannot obtain … Happiness in doing iniquity”

• “Behold, the Lord hath shown me great and marvelous things … Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not …”

• “The standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop this work from progressing … “ –Joseph Smith

• If we believe we can withstand the plague of pride, then perhaps this demonstrates that, already, we are afflicted with it

• “Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble.”

Edited October 6, 2024 by Kenngo1969

[blackstrap]

Thanks so much , kenngo, for this valuable contribution to the forum .

[Raingirl]

15 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said:

Saturday Evening Session

 

Elder Gerrit W. Gong, of the Twelve

• Dad joke competition between Elder Gong and “AI” Elder Gong

• Ours is a gospel of joy, and of holiness in everyday life

• To walk with the Lord, we must become holy, and to become holy, the Lord invites us to walk with Him – Ken sez: “A good paradox!”

• Religious believers generally are happier, healthier, and more fulfilled; they have more meaning and purpose; they have greater physical and mental health and greater life satisfaction at all ages

• “Holiness to the Lord” says “No” to the profane

• “Holiness to the Lord” says “Yes” to holiness and reverence

• “I felt like I was being given this big hug when I read Alma 36:12”

• Tithing is not about money, but about following the commandments

• “My testimony grew because I was tested in my beliefs”

• Young man who wanted to serve a mission felt guilty that his father, who was against him serving, died, but then saw him, contented, in a dream

• “I learned to pray not for what I wanted, but for what the Lord wants”

• Sister who suffered heartbreak of infidelity asked “What’s the point?” The answer? “Your covenants are with me”

• Spending time together in the temple healed a rift between a father and a daughter

• Elder Gong’s mother “loved all of life’s flavors”

• As the only member of the Church of Jesus Christ in her family, His mother blessed his family

• “Holiness to the Lord” includes coming more often to the Lord in His House

• “Holiness to the Lord. The House of the Lord” – It draws us closer to one another and prepares us to live with the Father and with His son

Elder Gong spoke at our Stake Conference.  He and Sister Gong stayed after the Sunday session, and greeted every single person.  

[Kenngo1969]

Sunday Morning Session

 

President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Twelve

• A company armed with swords, staves, and so forth sought a man with no weapons, without military training

• “Whom seek ye?” “Jesus of Nazareth” “I am He” They fell backward

• Just hearing His voice was enough to make them react as they did

• When He entered triumphally a few days earlier, all the city was moved

• Their reaction had nothing to do with how he looked, his wardrobe, his wealth, or his education (He had no formal rabbinical training)

• We have no explanation for the victories He achieved except for His “divine DNA”

• We should not simplify or misstate His justice, His love, His mercy, and so on: “If ye love me, keep My commandments”; “As I have loved you, let ye also love one another”

  • He loved with all of His heart, might, mind and strength: He healed deep pain, but administered “hard realities” at the same time

    • He is a God both of a loving embrace and of a bitter cup

• He was perfectly obedient

  • “Behold, I am Jesus Christ … I have drunk of that bitter cup … in the which I have suffered the will of the Father from the beginning”

    • This is the same Being who asked, shortly before, asked, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

    • He was “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief”

    • His love “faileth not”

    • If you feel fear, discouragement, and so on, so did some of the best people who ever lived

    • “We signed on for the whole term” … “The Headmaster gave us all the open-book answers before the course began” … But “we can’t keep cutting class”

    • He is carrying us even when we think He has abandoned us

• Christ “will descend like lightning out of the east”

 

[Kenngo1969]

Sister Tracy Y. Browning, Primary General Presidency

• Pluto was considered to be the outermost object in our solar system

• “We thought we understood the geography of our solar system. We didn’t.”

• How can we respond to the limits of our spiritual understanding, and prepare ourselves for further spiritual growth?

• Heavenly Father’s plan helps us progress even without a complete knowledge of all things

• God’s method of imparting wisdom to us uses the Holy Ghost, Scripture, latter-day revealed truth, Temple worship

• “Ask, seek, knock”; God “gives good things to them that ask Him”; as we wait upon the Lord, we renew our strength

• When God’s children are obedient and keep their covenants, they receive vital spiritual light and knowledge

• Moses 5: “Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord”: “I know not, save the Lord commanded me”; Obedience preceded understanding

• We must remain faithful to that which, already we have received

• The example of Naaman’s maid: “If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it?”

• We are at risk of receiving less accurate understanding if we do not privilege spiritual over temporal sources of knowledge

• “This life is an experience in profound trust” –Richard G. Scott

  • To trust means to obey willingly, without knowing the end from the beginning

• Use the “space between your understanding” to practice faith and obedience

 

[Kenngo1969]

Elder Brook P. Hales of the Seventy

• A widow he home taught was faithful through many trials to the end, despite sadness and loneliness

• In the Temple, she commmunicated a message to her son: “Mortality works. I understand why everything happened in my life the way it did”

• “This is my work and my glory: To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man”: We cannot avoid the refining fire that, often, is necessary for these things to come to pass

• “Whoso layeth down his life in my cause shall find it again … If ye will abide in my covenant”

• “And thou shalt remember all the ways the Lord, thy God, led thee these 40 years in the wilderness”

• “God shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain” even when “dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us and threaten our peace to destroy”

• “And lest I should be exalted above measure … it was given unto me a thorn in the flesh”; “My grace is sufficient for thee …” His thorn was not removed, but he was given grace to withstand it

• “Because of the Savior’s atonement, mortality works”

• His mother experienced pain from polio; Raised his niece after her mother died

• “We were not sent here to fail”

[Kenngo1969]

Bishop L. Todd Budge, of the Presiding Bishopric

• If someone is too busy to listen to the word of God, to nourish their spirit, are they too busy to eat—to nourish their body?

• “In returning and rest shall ye be saved”

• Our salvation depends on resting in Him, meditating, etc., but often, we are too busy

• “To hear the still voice of the Lord, you, too, must be still”

• We must focus our hearts and minds on him

• “To be still may be a way of reminding us to focus on the Savior.” –David A. Bednar

• When we look unto Him in every thought, our doubts and our fears fleee

• Being still does not mean not talking or not doing anything, but, rather, slowing down and living with greater spiritual awareness

• “Be still, and know that I am God”

• We must “be still, and seek the Lord every day, with all of [our] heart, might, mind, and strength”

• We must approach our time with God with an attitude of heartfelt worshipfulness

• “How oft would I have gathered you, and ye would not”; “How oft will I gather you … if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart”

• Should we have more focus on, and awareness of, God during our prayers, worship, study (savoring), and so on

• Do we joyfully ponder the true meaning of the Sacrament?

• Do we pay attention during the endowment, should we spend more time in the Celestial Room

• Christ often sought solitude to commune with His Father; we should do the same

• “Draw near unto Me, and I will draw near unto you”

[Kenngo1969]

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Twelve

• The Decade from 1820-30 had a great influence, unlike any other, on the Church

  • First Vision

  • Visit of Angel Moroni

  • Translation of Book of Mormon

  • Organization of the Church

• This decade promises to be the most momentous in Church history

• “In his church, a triple-digit-birthday does not promote much handwringing” –New York Times

• “The mountain of the Lord’s House shall be established in the tops of the mountain … All nations shall flow unto it”

• These will be days never to be forgotten

• “Glad tidings” are more than joy and happiness: Evangelion – “Good news”

• Let others know that your concern for them is borne out of love for God and love for others

• Unite families for eternity

• Live, care, invite, unite

 

[Kenngo1969]

Brother Brad Wilcox of the Young Men Presidency
    • “Children’s Letters to God”
    • Why must Latter-day Saints live so differently from others?
        ◦ Because you are a child of God
        ◦ Because you are a disciple of Jesus Christ
        ◦ Because you live in the Latter-days
    • “Thanks for the Covenants” – We are—or may become, through our obedience—Children of the Covenant
    • The Birthright son was responsible for governing a deceased father’s estate for the rest of the son’s days
    • We receive an inheritance as a Joint Heir With Christ: Our Birthright does not mean that we are better than others, it means we are responsible to help others be better
    • God loves everyone, but He trusts only a relative few: He trusts us because He has asked us to be different from the world and because we have made covenants with Him
    • “All the angels in heaven are looking at this little handful of people.” –Brigham Young
    • “You can’t be a lifeguard if you look like all of the other people on the beach.”  –Ardeth G. Kapp
    • “A Compensatory Spiritual Power” –Neil L. Anderson
    • God doesn’t simply wish to give us what He has; He wishes us to become what He Is
    • “You’ve got this, because Jesus Christ has you”
    • Over-come … and be-come
    • Don’t trade everything for nothing; Don’t let the world change you when you can change the world

 

Edited October 6, 2024 by Kenngo1969

[Kenngo1969]

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency

• Alma felt his only hope of victory was a force that, often, we underestimate

  • “… the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which is just …” “… try the virtue of the word of God”

  • Word of God is taught by Jesus Christ and by his prophets

    • “I command all men everywhere to repent”: The foundation of His Doctrine

    • “After ye have received this [Holy Ghost] ye must keep my commandments in all things”

      Faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, enduring to the end

      We must be simple in our teaching: Little is lost, and there is safety in simplicity

    • For every hour of effort instilling Gospel principles in children, the Adversary spends countless hours attempting to counteract the Gospel

• Mary’s teaching of the doctrine of Christ got her cast into jail; her calling the judge to repentance in a letter got her cast out of jail

• “Don’t give into doubts! Turn to God for help!”

• “They that wait upon the Lord shall mount on wings of eagles”

• In the Scriptures, many of the wayward were saved as they remembered the words of their parents (Alma the Younger, Enos, etc.)

[ZealouslyStriving]

Bradley Wilcox

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Kenngo1969]

Sunday Afternoon Session

 

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Twelve

• He has cherished memories of attending church in Zwickau

• He pumped the bellows of the organ

• From the bellows, he had a view of stained glass windows, one depicting the Savior and one depicting the First Vision

• That’s when he first gained a testimony of the Church

• He was sad to learn that the church he attended in Zwickau has been torn down

• He was sad to lose the building, but, still, he has a strong testimony

• “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away”

• “My kindness shall not be removed from thee”

• One of the most important lessons we can learn is what is eternal and what is not

• All truth is not of equal value: Some is core truth, some is secondary truth

• Core: “Testimony of the apostles and prophets concerning Jesus Christ”—the root of our testimony

• The branch cannot bear fruit in itself except it abide in The Vine

• Do we ever mistake the branches for the roots, as the Pharisees did? Do we neglect weightier matters such as justice/judgment, mercy, faith

• Seek to understand Christ’s love for you, His will for you

• The most important aspect of the Book of Mormon is its testimony of Christ

• Everything we do in the Church should be a reflection of our love for Jesus Christ

• To grow a healthy tree of faith requires intensive effort and being rooted in Christ

• We must be bound to the Savior regardless of our circumstances

• Korihor could not affect those whose faith was strongly rooted in Jesus Christ rather than in tradition

• Faith is never strong if never tested, if never opposed

• Faith endures the trials and uncertainties of life because it is rooted in Christ, the one perfectly reliable object of our trust

• Once a testimony begins to grow is when the real work begins: It requires diligence, patience, and longsuffering

   

[Kenngo1969]

Elder Takashi Wada of the Seventy

• We are the Spirit Children of our Heavenly Father

• We are here to demonstrate that we are able to use agency wisely in gaining our own experience

• Because Heavenly Father knew we would sin, He sent His Son to Atone for our sins

• This is the Plan of Mercy, the Plan of Happiness

• “Wherefore, feast upon the words of Christ, for the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do”

• He witnessed his father praying: Although he did not know what his father was praying for or to whom he was praying, he was impressed by his father’s faith and devotion

• “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden …” The first verse of the words of Jesus Christ he read: He felt loved, He felt that Christ was speaking to him

• “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled …”

• He learned to pray, to address his Father, to express his hopes and desires

• He learned that because Heavenly Father loves him, He will speak to him

• He overheard a missionary praying for him by name from the other room

• What you think about who you are will affect every decision you make –Russell M. Nelson

[Kenngo1969]

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Twelve

• “I add my apostolic witness that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, the Son of God …”

• We have heard the Savior speak through His chosen leaders

• “My God hath been my support” –Nephi

• We sustain others by holding them up!

• When we sustain with our uplifted hand, we commit to uphold our leaders: “I am here for you”

• We have committed to “bear one another’s burdens that they may be light …”

• “Hold up your light, that it may shine unto the world …”

• “Our sustaining of prophets is a personal commitment …” –Russell M. Nelson

• “I have been kept and preserved by His matchless power to serve you …” –King Benjamin

• “The hands of the President of the Church [of Jesus Christ] may grow weary at times …” –Harold B. Lee

• “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is preparing the world for the time when the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord” –Russell M. Nelson

• How quickly would personal, regional, and worldwide conflicts be resolved if we all resolved to follow The Prince of Peace

• “Pray always that we may conquer Satan …”

• President Nelson’s surprise appearance at the rededication of the Manti Temple: “… a house of peace, a house of comfort, and a house of personal revelation …”

• Early pioneers (including Elder Rasband’s ancestor) labored eleven years to build the Manti Temple

• “We build temples to honor the Lord …” –Russell M. Nelson

• 350 Houses of the Lord are operating, under construction, or planned

• Construction of temples may not change your life, but going to them will

• “All who worship in the Temple will have the power of God and Angels watching over them.” a –Russell M. Nelson

• “Remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done”

[Kenngo1969]

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Twelve

• “A book: The original handheld device” – Message on t-shirt

• No handheld device is as important as the spiritual guidance that comes from the Savior and from the Spirit

• Scriptures give instruction, correction, comfort, and consolation

• They convert those who have broken hearts and contrite spirits

• They enable their adherents to resist the Adversary

• An entire family being taught the gospel read the entire Book of Mormon: The Sisters knew that the rest of the family had a testimony; the Spirit confirmed to then-Bishop Cook that the father had a testimony

• He had made a pledge to fund the building of a church in his former faith; notwithstanding his conversion, he honored that pledge

  • Son served a mission after law school!

• Book of Mormon helps us draw closer to God by learning, understanding, applying its teachings

• We must read, ponder, and pray about the Book of Mormon, and then act according to its precepts

• The Lord declared that the Stick of Judah (the Bible) and the Stick of Joseph (the Book of Mormon) would be joined together and would become “one in thine hand”

• The Book of Mormon is more explicit than the Bible regarding the Atonement (see, e.g., Alma 42) “Mercy cometh because of the Atonement. Only the truly penitent are saved”

• What fills a major library can be stored on a device (or made available on a device) that can fit in one’s hand

• Avoid doomscrolling, fill your life with righteous and positive influences

• The sacred scriptures and living prophets are a major way God makes His truth available to His

[Kenngo1969]

Elder Ruben Alliaud of the Seventy

• We believe that God, the Father, is an exalted Man. When we talk about God’s nature, also, we are talking of our own nature

• “God is our Heavenly Father, and we are His Children” –First Principle of First Missionary Lesson

• We are literally Children of God; we have the ability to become like Him

• Lord to Moses: “Behold, I am the Lord Almighty, and Endless is My Name”; “Thou art my son”

• Satan to Moses: “Moses, son of man, worship me”; Moses – “I am a son of God, in the similitude of His Only Begotten”

• Satan’s temptations Christ: To satisfy physical appetites (command that these stones be made bread), to misuse His power (cast thyself down), possessions (“… all these things will I give thee …”)

• How would our decisions differ if we recognized who we really are

• “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfected”; As we come unto Christ, we will be perfected in Him (Moro. 10:32)

• “Behold, this is My work and My glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”

• “Those who passed by Him reviled Him, saying, ‘If thou be the son of God, come down from the cross …”

[Kenngo1969]

Elder I. Raymond Egbo of the Seventy

• Through hardship, the Nigerian Football Team won the Gold at the 1996 Olympics

• Similarly, as we ignore distractions and focus on Christ, we, too, can triumph

• As we focus on Christ, “the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives”

• He is stretching forth His hand to help

• Christ is joy; Christ is hope; Christ is the promise of Good Things to Come

• “Even until now, I have labored without ceasing to bring souls to Christ …” –Alma

• “Whoso shall put their faith in Christ shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day

• To find joy, make Christ the focus of your life

• “The Lord seeth fit to chasten His people; yea, He trieth their patience and their faith …”

• Three core identities: (1) a Child of God; (2) a Child of the Covenant; (3) Disciple of Jesus Christ –Russell M. Nelson

• “Lift up your head and be of good cheer, for I know the covenant which ye have made unto me …”

• “… and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord …”

• “… come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest …”

[Kenngo1969]

President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church

• Use the messages from this Conference as a litmus test of what is true and what is not for the next six months

• Renovations of Temple Square will be complete by the end of 2026

• 17 New Temples

• Do we understand what is happening right before our eyes: We should not miss the majesty of this moment

• The blessings of the Temple help to gather Israel on both sides of the veil

• When Jesus Christ returns, the Glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together

• During the Millennium, the Lord will be known as King of Kings and Lord of Lords

• Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority: Regular Temple worship will help us to do this

• Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the Temple]

• You will feel His mercy; you will better comprehend the joy of His gospel

• The most crucial question we each must answer is this: To whom—or to what—will I give my life?

• My decision to follow Jesus Christ—to build my life upon Him, as The Rock—has been the most important decision I have made in my life

• Even when an armed robber put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger, still, he felt peace

• The Spirit can give us peace, even amidst chaos

• “I will be on your right hand, and on your left, and My Spirit shall be in your heart, and mine angels round about you to bear you up”

• We should devote time each week for the rest of our lives to understanding the Atonement

• You need not carry your burdens alone, because of what Jesus Christ did for you

• He will forgive you as you repent, He will bless you with what you need, He will heal your wounded soul if you make and keep covenants to follow Him; Your afflictions will be swallowed up in the joy of Christ

• Christ will come again, so we should rededicate our lives to Him, to gather scattered Israel, to talk of Christ, to rejoice in Christ, to preach of Christ

• The best is yet to come because the Savior is coming again; the best is yet to come because God is hastening his work

• “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together”

[Kenngo1969]

One of the things I love about doing this, hard work though it is, is that it's a cheap way to get rep points!

[InCognitus]

President Nelson's talk was, as always, very powerful.

And I have to say that I was totally blown away by the Tabernacle Choir doing a Handel's Messiah "And The Glory of the Lord" as the closing song for General Conference.  Have they ever done songs from Handel's Messiah in General Conference in the past?  That was awesome.

[Tacenda]

28 minutes ago, Kenngo1969 said:

One of the things I love about doing this, hard work though it is, is that it's a cheap way to get rep points!

I hearted you over 14 times, lol! Just for the heck of it and appreciated it since I was on a vacation and couldn't listen/watch because of not having service but now can read what you've provided.

But was able to listen to some today and I really love the ending of conferences and when the leaders greet one another and then get together with their spouses. I loved how Wendy came around to holding Pres Nelson's hand and he then went to help her with her purse or to hold it for her! Loved that, and also the other couples were so cute together and the smiles and genuine feelings of love for each other and those they greeted around them. I am weird that I pay very close attention to these interactions each conference.

ETA: And Pres Nelson looked like he was in his seventies not his hundreds!!

Edited October 6, 2024 by Tacenda

[InCognitus]

5 hours ago, Tacenda said:

And Pres Nelson looked like he was in his seventies not his hundreds!!

I noticed that too.

Regarding my comment above, they just posted the Sunday afternoon session here:   https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/10/sunday-afternoon-session?lang=eng

I just had to watch President Nelson's talk again and listen to the choir's closing song again (I kept watching for it to be posted).  As President Nelson closes his talk he quotes Isaiah 40:5, which of course is the entirety of the lyrics for the "And The Glory of the Lord" song from Handel's Messiah.  It's really cool to have a prophet that is a heart surgeon and is also musically inclined and gets to pick just the right closing song to go with his talk.  

[Kenngo1969]

On 10/5/2024 at 10:25 PM, blackstrap said:

Thanks so much , kenngo, for this valuable contribution to the forum .

You're quite welcome!