the talks of thomas s. monson, 2006-2015

7/27/2019 The Talks of Thomas S. Monson, 2006-2015

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The Talks of Thomas S. Monson, 2006-2015

Last Updated: October 18, 2015

General Conference Talks

April 2006 General Conference True to te !ait

Thomas S. Monson

First Counselor in the First Presienc!

Let us resol"e ere and no# to follo# tat strai$t pat #ic leads o%e to

te !ater of us all&

'an( (ears a$o, on an assi$n%ent to te beautiful islands of Ton$a, ) #as pri"ile$ed to"isit our Curc scool, te Liaona *i$ +cool, #ere our (out are tau$t b( teacers#it a co%%on bond of faitpro"idin$ trainin$ for te %ind and preparation for life& Ontat occasion, enterin$ one classroo%, ) noticed te rapt attention te cildren $a"eteir nati"e instructor& *is te-tboo. and teirs la( closed upon te des.s& )n is and eeld a stran$e/appearin$ sin$ lure fasioned fro% a round stone and lar$e seasells& Tis, ) learned, #as a maka-feke, an octopus lure& )n Ton$a, octopus %eat is a delicac(&

Te teacer e-plained tat Ton$an ser%en $lide o"er a reef, paddlin$ teir outri$$er

canoes #it one and and dan$lin$ te %a.a/fe.e o"er te side #it te oter& Anoctopus dases out fro% its roc.( lair and seies te lure, %ista.in$ it for a %uc/desired%eal& +o tenacious is te $rasp of te octopus and so r% is its instinct not to relinuiste precious prie tat ser%en can 3ip it ri$t into te canoe&

)t #as an eas( transition for te teacer to point out to te ea$er and #ide/e(ed (outtat te e"il onee"en +atanas fasioned so/called %a.a/fe.es #it #ic toensnare unsuspectin$ persons and ta.e possession of teir destinies&

Toda( #e are surrounded b( te %a.a/fe.es #ic te e"il one dan$les before us and#it #ic e atte%pts to entice us and ten to ensnare us& Once $rasped, suc %a.a/

fe.es are e"er so di4cultand so%eti%es nearl( i%possibleto relinuis& To be safe,#e %ust reco$nie te% for #at te( are and ten be un#a"erin$ in our deter%inationto a"oid te%&

Constantl( before us is te %a.a/fe.e of i%%oralit(& Al%ost e"er(#ere #e turn, tereare tose #o #ould a"e us belie"e tat #at #as once considered i%%oral is no#acceptable& ) tin. of te scripture, o unto te% tat call e"il $ood, and $ood e"il, tatput dar.ness for li$t, and li$t for dar.ness&7 1 +uc is te %a.a/fe.e of i%%oralit(& eare re%inded in te oo. of 'or%on tat castit( and "irtue are precious abo"e alltin$s&

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)n an earlier ti%e and b( a #ic.ed .in$, a ser"ant of God #as tested& Aided b( teinspiration of ea"en, Baniel interpreted to in$ elsaar te #ritin$ on te #all&Concernin$ te proered re#ardse"en a ro(al robe and a nec.lace of $oldBanielsaid: Let t( $ifts be to t(self, and $i"e t( re#ards to anoter&7 10

Barius, a later .in$, also onored Baniel, ele"atin$ i% to te i$est position ofpro%inence& Tere follo#ed te en"( of te cro#d, te Dealous( of princes, and tesce%in$ of a%bitious %en&

Trou$ tric.er( and 3atter(, in$ Barius si$ned a procla%ation pro"idin$ tat an(one#o %ade a reuest of an( $od or %an, e-cept te .in$, sould be tro#n into te lions=den& 9ra(er #as forbidden& )n suc %atters, Baniel too. direction not fro% an eartl(.in$ but fro% te in$ of ea"en and eart, is God& O"erta.en in is dail( pra(ers,Baniel #as brou$t before te .in$& Ieluctantl(, te penalt( #as pronounced& Baniel #asto be tro#n into te lions= den&

) lo"e te biblical account #ic follo#s:

Te .in$ arose "er( earl( in te %ornin$, and #ent in aste unto te den of lions&

And #en e ca%e to te den, e cried #it a la%entable "oice H O Baniel, H is t(God, #o% tou ser"est continuall(, able to deli"er tee fro% te lionsE

Ten said Baniel unto te .in$ H

'( God at sent is an$el, and at sut te lions= %outs, tat te( a"e not urt%e& H

Ten #as te .in$ e-ceedin$ $lad& H Baniel #as ta.en up out of te den, and no%anner of urt #as found upon i%, because e belie"ed in is God&7 11

)n a ti%e of critical need, Baniel=s deter%ination to re%ain true and faitful pro"ideddi"ine protection and a sanctuar( of safet(&

Te cloc. of istor(, li.e te sands of te our$lass, %ar.s te passa$e of ti%e& A ne#cast occupies te sta$e of life& Te proble%s of our da( loo% o%inousl( before us&+urrounded b( te callen$es of %odern li"in$, #e loo. ea"en#ard for tat unfailin$sense of direction tat #e %i$t cart and follo# a #ise and proper course& Our*ea"enl( !ater #ill not den( our petition&

en ) tin. of ri$teous indi"iduals, te na%es of Gusta" and 'ar$arete ac.er co%ereadil( to %ind& Let %e describe te%& ) rst %et te ac.ers #en ) #as called topreside o"er te Canadian 'ission in 15& Te( ad i%%i$rated to in$ston, Ontario,Canada, fro% teir nati"e Ger%an(&

roter ac.er earned is li"in$ as a barber& *is %eans #ere li%ited, but e and +isterac.er al#a(s paid %ore tan a tent as titin$& As branc president, roter ac.erstarted a %issionar( fund, and for %onts at a ti%e e #as te onl( contributor& entere #ere %issionaries in te cit(, te ac.ers fed and cared for te%, and te%issionaries ne"er left te ac.er o%e #itout so%e tan$ible donation to teir #or.and #elfare&









Gusta" and 'ar$arete ac.er=s o%e #as a ea"en& Te( #ere not blessed #itcildren, but te( %otered and fatered teir %an( Curc "isitors& 'en and #o%en oflearnin$ and sopistication sou$t out tese u%ble, unlettered ser"ants of God andcounted te%sel"es fortunate if te( could spend an our in teir presence& Teac.ers= appearance #as ordinar(, teir n$lis altin$ and so%e#at di4cult tounderstand, teir o%e unpretentious& Te( didn=t o#n a car or a tele"ision, nor did te(do an( of te tin$s to #ic te #orld usuall( pa(s attention& Ket te faitful beat apat to teir door in order to parta.e of te spirit tat #as tere&

)n 'arc of 182, roter and +ister ac.er #ere called to ser"e as full/ti%e ordinance#or.ers in te asin$ton B&C& Te%ple& On Mune 2, 18>, #ile roter and +isterac.er #ere still ser"in$ in tis te%ple assi$n%ent, roter ac.er, #it is belo"ed#ife at is side, peacefull( passed fro% %ortalit( to is eternal re#ard& !ittin$ are te#ords, o onors God, God onors&7 12

'( broters and sisters, let us resol"e ere and no# to follo# tat strai$t pat #icleads o%e to te !ater of us all so tat te $ift of eternal lifelife in te presence ofour *ea"enl( !ater%a( be ours& +ould tere be tose tin$s #ic need to becan$ed or corrected in order to do so, ) encoura$e (ou to ta.e care of te% no#&

)n te #ords of a fa%iliar (%n, %a( #e e"er be

rue to the faith that our !arents ha(e cherished, rue to the truth for which martyrs ha(e !erished, o *od)s command, oul, heart and hand, .aithful and true we will e(er stand" 1>

Tat eac of us %a( do so is %( u%ble pra(er, in te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&

April 2006 General ConferenceOur +acred 9riestood Trust

Thomas S. Monson


Te priestood is not reall( so %uc a $ift as it is a co%%ission to ser"e, apri"ile$e to lift, and an opportunit( to bless te li"es of oters&

+o%e (ears a$o as our (oun$est son, Clar., #as approacin$ is 12t birtda(, e and )#ere lea"in$ te Curc Ad%inistration uildin$ #en 9resident *arold & Leeapproaced and $reeted us& ) %entioned to 9resident Lee tat Clar. #ould soon be 12,#ereupon 9resident Lee turned to i% and as.ed, at appens to (ou #en (ou turn12E7

Tis #as one of tose ti%es #en a fater pra(s tat a son #ill be inspired to $i"e aproper response& Clar., #itout esitation, said to 9resident Lee, ) #ill be ordained adeaconF7









Te ans#er #as te one for #ic ) ad pra(ed and #ic 9resident Lee ad sou$t& *eten counseled our son, Ie%e%ber, it is a $reat blessin$ to old te priestood&7

) ope #it all %( eart and soul tat e"er( (oun$ %an #o recei"es te priestood #illonor tat priestood and be true to te trust #ic is con"e(ed #en it is conferred&'a( eac of us #o olds te priestood of God .no# #at e belie"es& As te Apostle9eter ad%onised, %a( #e e"er be read( to $i"e an ans#er to e"er( %an tat as.et(ou a reason of te ope tat is in (ou&7 1 Tere #ill be occasions in eac of our li"es

#en #e #ill be called upon to e-plain or to defend our beliefs& en te ti%e forperfor%ance arri"es, te ti%e for preparation is past&

'ost of (ou (oun$ %en #ill a"e te opportunit( to sare (our testi%onies #en (ouser"e as %issionaries trou$out te #orld& 9repare no# for tat #onderful pri"ile$e&

) a"e e-perienced %an( opportunities& One occurred 21 (ears a$o, prior to te ti%e#en te Ger%an Be%ocratic Iepublicor ast Ger%an(, as it #as %ore co%%onl(.no#n#as freed fro% Co%%unist rule& ) #as "isitin$ #it te ast Ger%an statesecretar(, 'inister G(si& At tat ti%e our te%ple at !reiber$, in ast Ger%an(, #as underconstruction, alon$ #it t#o or tree %eetin$ouses& 'inister G(si and ) "isited on a

nu%ber of subDects, includin$ our #orld#ide buildin$ pro$ra%& *e ten as.ed, ( is(our curc so #ealt( tat (ou can aord to build buildin$s in our countr( andtrou$out te #orldE *o# do (ou $et (our %one(E7

) ans#ered tat te Curc is not #ealt( but tat #e follo# te ancient biblical principleof titin$, #ic principle is ree%pasied in our %odern scripture& ) e-plained also tatour Curc as no paid %inistr( and indicated tat tese #ere t#o reasons #( #e #ereable to build te buildin$s ten under #a(, includin$ te beautiful te%ple at !reiber$&

'inister G(si #as %ost i%pressed #it te infor%ation ) presented, and ) #as "er($rateful ) #as able to ans#er is uestions&

Te opportunit( to declare a trut %a( co%e #en #e least e-pect it& Let us beprepared&

On one occasion, 9resident Ba"id O& 'ca( #as as.ed b( a #o%an not a %e%ber of teCurc #at specic belief set apart te teacin$s of te Curc fro% tose of an( oterfait& )n spea.in$ of tis later, 9resident 'ca( indicated tat e ad felt i%pressed toans#er, Tat #ic dierentiates te beliefs of %( curc fro% tose of oters is di"ineautorit( b( direct re"elation&7 2

ere could #e nd a %ore si$nicant e-a%ple of di"ine autorit( b( direct re"elationtan in te e"ents #ic occurred tat beautiful, clear da(, earl( in te sprin$ ofei$teen undred and t#ent(,7 #en te lad Mosep +%it retired to te #oods to pra(&*is #ords describin$ tat %o%ent in istor( are o"erpo#erin$: ) sa# t#o 9ersona$es,#ose bri$tness and $lor( def( all description, standin$ abo"e %e in te air& One ofte% spa.e unto %e, callin$ %e b( na%e and said, pointin$ to te oterhis is My/elo(ed on" &ear &im%7 >

Our tou$ts turn to te "isit of tat ea"enl( %essen$er, Mon te aptist, on 'a( 15,182& Tere on te ban. of te +usueanna Ii"er, near *ar%on(, 9enns(l"ania, Monlaid is ands upon Mosep +%it and Oli"er Co#der( and ordained te%, sa(in$, Upon

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(ou %( fello# ser"ants, in te na%e of 'essia ) confer te 9riestood of Aaron, #icolds te .e(s of te %inisterin$ of an$els, and of te $ospel of repentance, and ofbaptis% b( i%%ersion for te re%ission of sins&7 Te %essen$er announced tat eacted under te direction of 9eter, Ma%es, and Mon, #o eld te .e(s of te'elciede. 9riestood& Ordination and baptis% follo#ed& Tis is (et anoter e-a%ple ofdi"ine autorit( b( direct re"elation&

)n due ti%e, 9eter, Ma%es, and Mon #ere sent to besto# te blessin$s of te 'elciede.

9riestood& Tese Apostles sent b( te Lord ordained and conr%ed Mosep and Oli"er tobe Apostles and special #itnesses of *is na%e& Bi"ine autorit( b( direct re"elationcaracteried tis sacred "isitation&

As a result of tese e-periences, all of us carr( te reuire%ente"en te blessedopportunit( and sole%n dut(to be true to te trust #e a"e recei"ed&

9resident ri$a% Koun$ declared, Te 9riestood of te +on of God is H te la# b(#ic te #orlds are, #ere, and #ill continue for e"er and e"er&7 5 9resident Mosep !&+%it, e-pandin$ on tis te%e, ad"ised, )t is notin$ %ore nor less tan te po#er ofGod dele$ated to %an b( #ic %an can act in te eart for te sal"ation of te u%an

fa%il(, in te na%e of te !ater and te +on and te *ol( Gost, and act le$iti%atel(;not assu%in$ tat autorit(, nor borro#in$ it fro% $enerations tat are dead and $one,but autorit( tat as been $i"en in tis da( in #ic #e li"e b( %inisterin$ an$els andspirits fro% abo"e, direct fro% te presence of Al%i$t( God&7 6

As ) approaced %( 18t birtda( and prepared to enter %ilitar( ser"ice in orld ar )), )#as reco%%ended to recei"e te 'elciede. 9riestood& 'ine #as te tas. totelepone 9resident 9aul C& Cild, %( sta.e president, for an inter"ie#& *e #as one #olo"ed and understood te ol( scriptures, and it #as is intent tat all oters souldsi%ilarl( lo"e and understand te%& As ) .ne# fro% oters of is rater detailed andsearcin$ inter"ie#s, our telepone con"ersation #ent so%etin$ li.e tis:

*ello, 9resident Cild& Tis is roter 'onson& ) a"e been as.ed b( te bisop to "isit#it (ou relati"e to bein$ ordained an elder&7

!ine, roter 'onson& en can (ou see %eE7

no#in$ tat is sacra%ent %eetin$ ti%e #as :00 and desirin$ %ini%u% e-posure of%( scriptural .no#led$e to is re"ie#, ) su$$ested, *o# #ould >:00 beE7

*is response: O, roter 'onson, tat #ould not pro"ide us su4cient ti%e to perusete scriptures& Could (ou please co%e at 2:00 and brin$ #it (ou (our personall( %ar.edset of scripturesE7

+unda( nall( arri"ed, and ) "isited 9resident Cild=s o%e& ) #as $reeted #ar%l(, andten te inter"ie# be$an& *e said, roter 'onson, (ou old te Aaronic 9riestood&7 Ofcourse, ) .ne# tat& *e continued, *a"e (ou e"er ad an an$el %inister to (ouE7

'( repl(, )=% not sure&7

Bo (ou .no#,7 said e, tat (ou are entitled to sucE7












!or e tat recei"et %( ser"ants recei"et %e;

And e tat recei"et %e recei"et %( !ater;

And e tat recei"et %( !ater recei"et %( !ater=s .in$do%; terefore all tat %(!ater at sall be $i"en unto i%&7 J

Te late lder Belbert L& +taple( of te Nuoru% of te T#el"e once obser"ed: Tere are

t#o %ain reuire%ents of tis oat and co"enant& !irst is faitfulness, #ic denotesobedience to te la#s of God and connotes true obser"ance of all $ospel standards& H

Te second reuire%ent H is to %a$nif( one=s callin$& To %a$nif( is to onor, to e-altand $lorif(, and cause to be eld in $reater estee% or respect& )t also %eans to increasete i%portance of, to enlar$e and %a.e $reater&7 8

Te 9ropet Mosep +%it #as once as.ed, roter Mosep, (ou freuentl( ur$e tat #e%a$nif( our callin$s& at does tis %eanE7 *e is said to a"e replied, To %a$nif( acallin$ is to old it up in di$nit( and i%portance, tat te li$t of ea"en %a( sinetrou$ one=s perfor%ance to te $ae of oter %en& An elder %a$nies is callin$ #en

e learns #at is duties as an elder are and ten perfor%s te%&7

Tose #o bear te Aaronic 9riestood sould be $i"en opportunit( to %a$nif( teircallin$s in tat priestood&

One +unda( t#o (ears a$o ) #as attendin$ sacra%ent %eetin$ in %( #ard& Tat=s ararit(& Tere #ere tree priests at te sacra%ent table, #it te (oun$ %an in te centerbein$ so%e#at andicapped in %o"e%ent but particularl( so in speec& *e tried t#iceto bless te bread but stu%bled badl( eac ti%e, no doubt e%barrassed b( is inabilit(to $i"e te pra(er perfectl(& One of te oter priests ten too. o"er and $a"e teblessin$ on te bread&

Burin$ te passin$ of te bread, ) tou$t to %(self, ) Dust can=t let tat (oun$ %ane-perience failure at te sacra%ent table&7 ) ad a stron$ feelin$ tat if ) didn=t doubt, e#ould be able to bless te #ater eecti"el(& )nas%uc as ) #as on te stand near tesacra%ent table, ) leaned o"er and said to te priest closest to %e, pointin$ to te (oun$%an #o ad e-perienced te di4cult(, Let i% bless te #ater; it=s a sorter pra(er&7And ten ) pra(ed& ) didn=t #ant a double failure& ) lo"e tat passa$e of scripture #ictells us tat #e sould not doubt but belie"e&

en it #as ti%e to bless te #ater, tat (oun$ %an .nelt a$ain and $a"e te pra(er,peraps so%e#at altin$l( but #itout %issin$ a #ord& ) reDoiced silentl(& ile tedeacons #ere passin$ te tra(s, ) loo.ed o"er at te bo( and $a"e i% a tu%bs/up& *e$a"e %e a broad s%ile& en te (oun$ %en #ere e-cused to sit #it teir fa%ilies, esat on te ro# bet#een is %oter and fater& at a Do( it #as to see is %oter $i"ei% a bi$ s%ile and a #ar% u$, #ile is fater con$ratulated i% and put is ar%around is soulder& All tree of te% loo.ed in %( direction, and ) $a"e te% all atu%bs/up& ) could see te %oter and fater #ipin$ tears fro% teir e(es& ) felti%pressed tat tis (oun$ %an #ould do Dust ne in te future&

Te priestood is not reall( so %uc a $ift as it is a co%%ission to ser"e, a pri"ile$e tolift, and an opportunit( to bless te li"es of oters&













<ot lon$ a$o ) recei"ed a letter concernin$ a coice (oun$ deacon, )saac Ieiter, and tedeacons, teacers, and priests #o ser"ed, lifted, and blessed is life and teir o#nli"es&

)saac fou$t cancer fro% te ti%e e #as se"en %onts old until is deat at a$e 1>&en e and is fa%il( %o"ed to a o%e near a ospital so tat )saac could recei"eproper %edical attention, te Aaronic 9riestood %e%bers in te nearb( #ard #ereas.ed to pro"ide te sacra%ent to te% eac +unda(& Tis #ee.l( ordinance beca%e a

fa"orite of te Aaronic 9riestood olders #o participated& Alon$ #it teir leaders and)saac=s fa%il(, te( #ould $ater around )saac=s ospital bed, sin$ (%ns, and saretesti%onies& Ten te sacra%ent #ould be blessed& )saac al#a(s insisted tat, as adeacon, e pass te sacra%ent to is fa%il( and to tose #o ad brou$t it& As e la(in is bed, e $atered te stren$t to old a plate of eiter te blessed bread or #ater&All present #ould co%e to )saac and parta.e of te sacra%ent fro% te plate& <urses andoter %edical sta soon be$an to participate in te %eetin$ as te( realied tat )saac#as close to is *ea"enl( !ater and al#a(s onored *i%& Tou$ #ea. and in pain,)saac al#a(s eld i%self #it te onor of so%eone oldin$ a ro(al priestood&

)saac #as a $reat e-a%ple to te (oun$ %en in te #ard& Te( sa# is desire to fulll is

duties, e"en on is deatbed, and te( realied tat tose duties #ere reall( pri"ile$es& Te( be$an so#in$ up earlier in order to prepare te sacra%ent and to be in teir seatson ti%e& Tere #as %ore re"erence&

)saac Ieiter beca%e a li"in$ ser%on concernin$ onorin$ te priestood& At is funeral,it #as said tat trou$out is life e ad one foot in ea"en& <o doubt e continues to%a$nif( is duties and assist in te #or. be(ond te "eil&

!or tose of us #o old te 'elciede. 9riestood, our pri"ile$e to %a$nif( ourcallin$s is e"er present& e are seperds #atcin$ o"er )srael& Te un$r( seep doloo. up, read( to be fed te bread of life& Are #e prepared, bretren, to feed te 3oc. ofGodE )t is i%perati"e tat #e reco$nie te #ort of a u%an soul, tat #e ne"er $i"e upon one of *is precious sons&

+ould tere be an(one #o feels e is too #ea. to do better because of tat $reatest offears, te fear of failure, tere is no %ore co%fortin$ assurance to be ad tan te #ordsof te Lord: '( $race is su4cient for all %en tat u%ble te%sel"es before %e; for ifte( u%ble te%sel"es before %e, and a"e fait in %e, ten #ill ) %a.e #ea. tin$sbeco%e stron$ unto te%&7 10

'iracles are e"er(#ere to be found #en priestood callin$s are %a$nied& en faitreplaces doubt, #en sel3ess ser"ice eli%inates sels stri"in$, te po#er of God brin$sto pass *is purposes& o% God calls, God ualies&

'a( our *ea"enl( !ater e"er bless, e"er inspire, and e"er lead all #o old *is preciouspriestood is %( sincere pra(er, and ) oer it in te na%e of te Lord Mesus Crist, a%en&

October 2006 General Conference True to Our 9riestood Trust







!or tose of us #o old te 'elciede. 9riestood, our pri"ile$e to %a$nif( ourcallin$s is e"er present& e are seperds #atcin$ o"er )srael& Te un$r( seep loo.up, read( to be fed te bread of life&

'an( (ears a$o, on a *allo#een ni$t, it #as %( pri"ile$e to be of assistance to one #oad te%poraril( lost is #a( and needed a elpin$ and to return& ) #as dri"in$ o%efro% te o4ce rater late& ) ad been stallin$ on *allo#een, lettin$ %( #ife andle tetric./or/treat "isitors& As ) passed +t& 'ar.=s *ospital in +alt La.e Cit(, ) re%e%bered tat

a dear friend, 'a-, la( ill in tat "er( ospital& As e and ) ad beco%e acuainted (earsbefore, #e disco"ered tat #e ad $ro#n up in te sa%e #ard, altou$ at dierentti%es& ( te ti%e ) #as born, 'a- and is parents ad %o"ed fro% te #ard&

Tat *allo#een ni$t, ) dro"e into te par.in$ lot and entered te ospital& As ) stoppedat te des. to inuire as to is roo% nu%ber, ) #as infor%ed tat #en 'a- adre$istered at te ospital, e ad listed as is reli$ious preference not LB+ but rateranoter curc&

) entered 'a-=s roo% and $reeted i%& ) told i% o# proud ) #as to be is friend ando# %uc ) cared about i%& ) tal.ed about is career in ban.in$ and as an orcestra

leader on te side& ) disco"ered tat e ad been oended b( a co%%ent or t#o fro%oters and so ad decided to attend anoter curc& ) said to i%, 'a-, (ou old te'elciede. 9riestood& ) #ould li.e to $i"e (ou a blessin$ toni$t&7 *e a$reed, and teblessin$ #as pro"ided& *e ten infor%ed %e tat is #ife, ernice, #as also "er( ill and#as, in fact, in an adDoinin$ roo%& At %( in"itation, 'a- Doined %e in $i"in$ a blessin$ toer& *e as.ed %e to elp i%& ) coaced i%& *e anointed is #ife& Tere #ere tears ande%braces all around as ) sealed te anointin$ #it 'a-, is ands on is #ife=s ead #it%ine, %a.in$ tat *allo#een e"enin$ one e"er to be re%e%bered&

As ) left te ospital tat ni$t, ) stopped at te des. and told te receptionist tat #itte per%ission of 'a- and is #ife te record sould be can$ed to re3ect teir%e%bersip in Te Curc of Mesus Crist of Latter/da( +aints& ) #aited and ) #atceduntil it #as can$ed&

'( friends 'a- and ernice are no# bot on te oter side of te "eil, but te( spent telast period of teir li"es acti"e and app( and recei"in$ te blessin$s #ic co%e #ittesti%onies of te $ospel and attendance at curc&

retren, our tas. is to reac out to tose #o, for #ate"er reason, are in need of ourelp& Our callen$e is not insur%ountable& e are on te Lord=s errand, and terefore #eare entitled to te Lord=s elp& ut #e %ust tr(& !ro% te pla( henandoah co%es tespo.en line #ic inspires: )f #e don=t tr(, ten #e don=t do; and if #e don=t do, ten#( are #e ereE7

Ours is te responsibilit( to so conduct our li"es tat #en te call co%es to pro"ide apriestood blessin$ or to assist in an( #a(, #e are #ort( to do so& e a"e been toldtat trul( #e cannot escape te eect of our personal in3uence& e %ust be certain tatour in3uence is positi"e and upliftin$&

Are our ands cleanE Are our earts pureE Loo.in$ bac.#ard in ti%e trou$ te pa$esof istor(, #e nd a lesson on #ortiness $leaned fro% te #ords of te d(in$ in$Barius& Trou$ te proper rites, Barius ad been reco$nied as le$iti%ate .in$ of $(pt&



*is ri"al, Ale-ander te Great, ad been declared le$iti%ate son of A%on& *e too #as9arao& Ale-ander, ndin$ te defeated Barius on te point of deat, laid is andsupon is ead to eal i%, co%%andin$ i% to arise and resu%e is .in$l( po#er,concludin$, ) s#ear unto tee, Barius, b( all te $ods, tat ) do tese tin$s trul( and#itout fa.er(&7

Barius replied #it a $entle rebu.e: Ale-ander, %( bo(, H do (ou tin. (ou can toucea"en #it tose ands of (oursE7 Adapted fro% *u$ <ible(, Abraham in Egy!t

?181@, 12&P

Te call of dut( can co%e uietl( as #e #o old te priestood respond to teassi$n%ents #e recei"e& 9resident Geor$e Albert +%it, tat %odest (et eecti"e leaderand ei$t 9resident of te Curc, declared, )t is (our dut( rst of all to learn #at teLord #ants and ten b( te po#er and stren$t of *is ol( 9riestood to %a$nif( (ourcallin$ in te presence of (our fello#s in suc a #a( tat te people #ill be $lad to follo#(ou7 in Conference Ieport, Apr& 12, 1P&

And o# does one %a$nif( a callin$E +i%pl( b( perfor%in$ te ser"ice tat pertains to it&

retren, it is in doingnot Dust dreamingtat li"es are blessed, oters are $uided, andsouls are sa"ed& e (e doers of te #ord, and not earers onl(, decei"in$ (our o#nsel"es,7 declared Ma%es Ma%es 1:22P&

'a( all of us asse%bled toni$t in tis priestood %eetin$ %a.e a rene#ed eort toualif( for te Lord=s $uidance in our li"es& Tere are so %an( out tere #o plead andpra( for elp& Tere are tose #o are discoura$ed, tose #o lon$ to return but #odon=t .no# o# to be$in&

)="e al#a(s belie"ed in te trut of te #ords God=s s#eetest blessin$s al#a(s $o b(ands tat ser"e i% ere belo#7 itne( 'ont$o%er(, Ie"elation,7 in /est-2o(ed1oems of the 23 1eo!le, ed& Mac. '& L(on and oters ?16@, 28>P& Let us a"e read(ands, clean ands, and #illin$ earts, tat #e %a( participate in pro"idin$ #at our*ea"enl( !ater #ould a"e oters recei"e fro% *i%&

) conclude #it an e-a%ple fro% %( o#n life& ) once ad a treasured friend #o see%edto e-perience %ore of life=s troubles and frustrations tan e could bear& !inall( e la( inte ospital ter%inall( ill& ) .ne# not tat e #as tere&

+ister 'onson and ) ad $one to tat sa%e ospital to "isit anoter person #o #as "er(ill& As #e e-ited te ospital and proceeded to #ere our car #as par.ed, ) felt tedistinct i%pression to return and %a.e inuir( concernin$ #eter %( friend *(ru%%i$t still be a patient tere& A cec. #it te cler. at te des. conr%ed tat *(ru%#as indeed a patient tere after %an( #ee.s&

e proceeded to is roo%, .noc.ed on te door, and opened it& e #ere not preparedfor te si$t tat a#aited us& alloon bouuets #ere e"er(#ere& 9ro%inentl( displa(edon te #all #as a poster #it te #ords *app( irtda(, Badd(7 #ritten on it& *(ru%#as sittin$ up in is ospital bed, is fa%il( %e%bers b( is side& en e sa# us, esaid, roter 'onson, o# in te #orld did (ou .no# tat toda( is %( birtda(E7 )s%iled, but ) left te uestion unans#ered&

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/james/1.22?lang=eng#21

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/james/1.22?lang=eng#21



Tose in te roo% #o eld te 'elciede. 9riestood surrounded tis, teir fater and$randfater and %( friend, and a priestood blessin$ #as $i"en&

After tears #ere sed, s%iles of $ratitude e-can$ed, and tender u$s recei"ed and$i"en, ) leaned o"er to *(ru% and spo.e softl( to i%: Ie%e%ber te #ords of te Lord,for te( #ill sustain (ou& *e pro%ised (ou, R) #ill not lea"e (ou co%fortless: ) #ill co%e to(ou= Mon 1:18P&7

Ti%e %arces on& But( .eeps cadence #it tat %arc& But( does not di% nor di%inis&Catastropic con3icts co%e and $o, but te #ar #a$ed for te souls of %en continues#itout abate%ent& Li.e a clarion call co%es te #ord of te Lord to (ou and to %e, andto priestood olders e"er(#ere& ) reiterate tat #ord: erefore, no# let e"er( %anlearn is dut(, and to act in te o4ce in #ic e is appointed, in all dili$ence7 BQC10J:P&

retren, let us learn our duties& Let us e"er be #ort( to perfor% tose duties and, in sodoin$, follo# in te footsteps of te 'aster& en to *i% ca%e te call of dut(, *eans#ered, !ater, t( #ill be done, and te $lor( be tine fore"er7 'oses :2P& 'a( #edo li.e#ise, ) pra( u%bl(, in te na%e of Mesus Crist te Lord, a%en&

October 2006 General Conference*o# !ir% a !oundation

Thomas S. Monson


e can fortif( our foundations of fait, our testi%onies of trut, so tat #e

#ill not falter, #e #ill not fail&

'( dear broters and sisters, bot #itin %( "ie# and asse%bled trou$out te #orld, )see. an interest in (our fait and pra(ers as ) respond to te assi$n%ent and pri"ile$e toaddress (ou&

)n 15, not lon$ after ) be$an %( ser"ice as president of te Canadian 'ission,eaduartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, ) %et <& ldon Tanner, a pro%inent Canadian#o Dust %onts later #ould be called as an Assistant to te Nuoru% of te T#el"eApostles, ten to te Nuoru% of te T#el"e, and ten as a counselor to four 9residents ofte Curc&

At te ti%e ) %et i%, 9resident Tanner #as president of te "ast Trans/Canada 9ipelines,Ltd&, and president of te Canada Cal$ar( +ta.e& *e #as .no#n as 'r& )nte$rit(7 inCanada& Burin$ tat rst %eetin$, #e discussed, a%on$ oter subDects, te coldCanadian #inters, #ere stor%s ra$e, te%peratures can lin$er #ell belo# freein$ for#ee.s at a ti%e, and #ere ic( #inds lo#er tose te%peratures e"en furter& ) as.ed9resident Tanner #( te roads and i$#a(s in #estern Canada basicall( re%ainedintact durin$ suc #inters, so#in$ little or no si$ns of crac.in$ or brea.in$, #ile teroad surfaces in %an( areas #ere #inters are less cold and less se"ere de"elopedcrac.s and brea.s and potoles&

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/14.18?lang=eng#17

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/107.99?lang=eng#98


http://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/4.2?lang=eng#1

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/14.18?lang=eng#17



http://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/4.2?lang=eng#1



+aid e, Te ans#er is in te dept of te base of te pa"in$ %aterials& )n order forte% to re%ain stron$ and unbro.en, it is necessar( to $o "er( deep #it te foundationla(ers& en te foundations are not deep enou$, te surfaces cannot #itstand tee-tre%es of #eater&7

O"er te (ears ) a"e tou$t often of tis con"ersation and of 9resident Tanner=se-planation, for ) reco$nie in is #ords a profound application for our li"es& +tatedsi%pl(, if #e do not a"e a deep foundation of fait and a solid testi%on( of trut, #e

%a( a"e di4cult( #itstandin$ te ars stor%s and ic( #inds of ad"ersit( #icine"itabl( co%e to eac of us&

'ortalit( is a period of testin$, a ti%e to pro"e oursel"es #ort( to return to tepresence of our *ea"enl( !ater& )n order for us to be tested, #e %ust face callen$esand di4culties& Tese can brea. us, and te surface of our souls %a( crac. and cru%bletat is, if our foundations of fait, our testi%onies of trut are not deepl( e%bedded#itin us&

e can rel( on te fait and testi%on( of oters onl( so lon$& "entuall( #e %ust a"eour o#n stron$ and deepl( placed foundation, or #e #ill be unable to #itstand te

stor%s of life, #ic will co%e& +uc stor%s co%e in a "ariet( of for%s& e %a( be faced#it te sorro# and eartbrea. of a #a(#ard cild #o cooses to turn fro% tepat#a( leadin$ to eternal trut and rater tra"el te slipper( slopes of error anddisillusion%ent& +ic.ness %a( stri.e us or a lo"ed one, brin$in$ suerin$ and so%eti%esdeat& Accidents %a( lea"e teir cruel %ar.s of re%e%brance or %a( snu out life&Beat co%es to te a$ed as te( #al. on falterin$ feet& )ts su%%ons is eard b( tose#o a"e scarcel( reaced %id#a( in life=s Dourne(, and often it uses te lau$ter oflittle cildren&

At ti%es tere appears to be no li$t at te tunnel=s end, no da#n to brea. te ni$t=sdar.ness& e feel surrounded b( te pain of bro.en earts, te disappoint%ent ofsattered drea%s, and te despair of "anised opes& e Doin in utterin$ te biblicalplea, )s tere no bal% in GileadE7 Mere%ia 8:22P& e are inclined to "ie# our o#npersonal %isfortunes trou$ te distorted pris% of pessi%is%& e feel abandoned,eartbro.en, alone&

*o# can #e build a foundation stron$ enou$ to #itstand suc "icissitudes of lifeE *o#can #e %aintain te fait and testi%on( #ic #ill be reuired, tat #e %i$te-perience te Do( pro%ised to te faitfulE Constant, stead( eort is necessar(& 'ost ofus a"e e-perienced inspiration so stron$ tat it brin$s tears to our e(es and adeter%ination to e"er re%ain faitful& ) a"e eard te state%ent, )f ) could Dust .eeptese feelin$s #it %e al#a(s, ) #ould ne"er a"e trouble doin$ #at ) sould&7 +ucfeelin$s, o#e"er, can be 3eetin$& Te inspiration #e feel durin$ tese conferencesessions %a( di%inis and fade as 'onda( co%es and #e face te routines of #or., ofscool, of %ana$in$ our o%es and fa%ilies& +uc can easil( ta.e our %inds fro% teol( to te %undane, fro% tat #ic uplifts to tat #ic, if #e allo# it, #ill cip a#a(at our testi%onies, our stron$ foundations&

Of course #e do not li"e in a #orld #ere #e e-perience notin$ but te spiritual, but #ecan fortif( our foundations of fait, our testi%onies of trut, so tat #e #ill not falter, #e#ill not fail& *o#, (ou %a( as., can #e %ost eecti"el( $ain and %aintain te foundationneeded to sur"i"e spirituall( in te #orld in #ic #e li"eE

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/jer/8.22?lang=eng#21

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/jer/8.22?lang=eng#21



'a( ) oer tree $uidelines to elp us in our uest&

!irst, fortif( (our foundation trou$ pra(er& 9ra(er is te soul=s sincere desire, utteredor une-pressed7 9ra(er )s te +oul=s +incere Besire,7 &ymns, no& 15P&

As #e pra(, let us reall( co%%unicate #it our !ater in *ea"en& )t is eas( to let ourpra(ers beco%e repetitious, e-pressin$ #ords #it little or no tou$t beind te%&en #e re%e%ber tat eac of us is literall( a spirit son or dau$ter of God, #e #ill not

nd it di4cult to approac *i% in pra(er& *e .no#s us; *e lo"es us; *e #ants #at isbest for us& Let us pra( #it sincerit( and %eanin$, oerin$ our tan.s and as.in$ fortose tin$s #e feel #e need& Let us listen for *is ans#ers, tat #e %a( reco$nie te%#en te( co%e& As #e do, #e #ill be stren$tened and blessed& e #ill co%e to .no#*i% and *is desires for our li"es& ( .no#in$ *i%, b( trustin$ *is #ill, our foundations of fait #ill be stren$tened& )f an( one of us as been slo# to ear.en to te counsel topra( al#a(s, tere is no ner our to be$in tan no#& illia% Co#per declared, +atantre%bles #en e sees te #ea.est saint upon is .nees7 in illia% <eil, co%p&,$oncise 3ictionary of 4eligious 0uotations ?1J@, 1P&

Let us not ne$lect our fa%il( pra(ers& +uc is an eecti"e deterrent to sin, and tence a

%ost benecent pro"ider of Do( and appiness& Tat old sa(in$ is (et true: Te fa%il(tat pra(s to$eter sta(s to$eter&7 ( pro"idin$ an e-a%ple of pra(er to our cildren,#e #ill also be elpin$ te% to be$in teir o#n deep foundations of fait andtesti%onies #ic te( #ill need trou$out teir li"es&

'( second $uideline: Let us stud( te scriptures and %editate terein da( and ni$t,7as counseled b( te Lord in te boo. of Mosua 1:8P&

)n 2005, undreds of tousands of Latter/da( +aints accepted 9resident Gordon &*inc.le(=s callen$e to read te oo. of 'or%on b( te end of te (ear& ) do belie"eBece%ber of 2005 #ould set an all/ti%e record for ours de"oted to %eetin$ tecallen$e on ti%e& e #ere blessed #en #e co%pleted te tas.; our testi%onies #erestren$tened, our .no#led$e increased& ) #ould encoura$e all of us to continue to readand stud( te scriptures, tat #e %i$t understand te% and appl( in our li"es telessons #e nd tere& ) paraprase te poet Ma%es 9inne( a-ter:

Who learns and learns but ne(er knows 's like the one who !lows and !lows but ne(er sows"

+pendin$ ti%e eac da( in scripture stud( #ill, #itout doubt, stren$ten ourfoundations of fait and our testi%onies of trut&

Iecall #it %e te Do( Al%a e-perienced as e #as Dourne(in$ fro% te land of Gideonsout#ard to te land of 'anti and %et te sons of 'osia& Al%a ad not seen te% forso%e ti%e, and e #as o"erDo(ed to disco"er tat te( #ere still is bretren in teLord; (ea, and te( ad #a-ed stron$ in te .no#led$e of te trut; for te( #ere %enof a sound understandin$ and te( ad searced te scriptures dili$entl(, tat te(%i$t .no# te #ord of God7 see Al%a 1J:1S2P&

'a( #e also .no# te #ord of God and conduct our li"es accordin$l(&

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/josh/1.8?lang=eng#7

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/17.1-2?lang=eng#0

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/josh/1.8?lang=eng#7

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/17.1-2?lang=eng#0



'( tird $uideline for buildin$ a stron$ foundation of fait and testi%on( in"ol"esser"ice&

ile dri"in$ to te o4ce one %ornin$, ) passed a dr(/cleanin$ establis%ent #ic ada si$n in te #indo#& )t read, )t=s te +er"ice Tat Counts&7 Te si$n=s %essa$e si%pl(#ould not lea"e %( %ind& +uddenl( ) realied #(& )n actual fact it is te ser"ice tatcountste Lord=s ser"ice&

)n te oo. of 'or%on #e read of noble in$ enDa%in& )n te true u%ilit( of aninspired leader, e recounted is desire to ser"e is people and lead te% in pats ofri$teousness& *e ten declared to te%:

ecause ) said unto (ou tat ) ad spent %( da(s in (our ser"ice, ) do not desire toboast, for ) a"e onl( been in te ser"ice of God&

And beold, ) tell (ou tese tin$s tat (e %a( learn #isdo%; tat (e %a( learn tat#en (e are in te ser"ice of (our fello# bein$s (e are onl( in te ser"ice of (our God7'osia 2:16S1JP&

Tis is te ser"ice tat counts, te ser"ice to #ic all of us a"e been called: teser"ice of te Lord Mesus Crist&

Alon$ (our pat#a( of life (ou #ill obser"e tat (ou are not te onl( tra"eler& Tere areoters #o need (our elp& Tere are feet to stead(, ands to $rasp, %inds toencoura$e, earts to inspire, and souls to sa"e&

Tirteen (ears a$o it #as %( pri"ile$e to pro"ide a blessin$ to a beautiful 12/(ear/old(oun$ lad(, Ma%i 9al%er& +e ad Dust been dia$nosed #it cancer and #as fri$tenedand be#ildered& +e subseuentl( under#ent sur$er( and painful ce%oterap(& Toda(se is cancer/free and is a bri$t, beautiful 26/(ear/old #o as acco%plised %uc iner life& +o%e ti%e a$o, ) learned tat in er dar.est our, #en an( future appearedso%e#at $ri%, se learned tat er le$ #ere te cancer #as situated #ould reuire%ultiple sur$eries& A lon$/planned i.e #it er Koun$ o%en class up a ru$$ed trail to Ti%pano$os Ca"elocated in te asatc 'ountains about 0 %iles sout of +alt La.eCit(, Uta#as out of te uestion, se tou$t& Ma%i told er friends te( #ould a"eto underta.e te i.e #itout er& )=% condent tere #as a catc in er "oice anddisappoint%ent in er eart& ut ten te oter (oun$ #o%en responded e%paticall(,<o, Ma%i, (ou are $oin$ #it usF7

ut ) can=t #al.,7 ca%e te an$uised repl(&

Ten, Ma%i, #e=ll carr( (ou to te topF7 And te( did&

Toda(, te i.e is a %e%or(, but in realit( it is %uc %ore& Ma%es arrie, te +cottispoet, declared, God $a"e us %e%ories, tat #e %i$t a"e Mune roses in te Bece%berof our li"es7 paraprasin$ Ma%es arrie, in Laurence M& 9eter, co%p&, 1eter)s 0uotations:'deas for #ur ime ?1JJ@, >>5P& <one of tose precious (oun$ #o%en #ill e"er for$ettat %e%orable da( #en a lo"in$ *ea"enl( !ater loo.ed do#n #it a s%ile of appro"aland #as #ell pleased&

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/2.16-17?lang=eng#15

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/2.16-17?lang=eng#15



As *e enlists us to *is cause, *e in"ites us to dra# close to *i%, and #e feel *is spirit inour li"es&

As #e establis a r% foundation for our li"es, let us eac one re%e%ber *is preciouspro%ise:

.ear not, ' am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,

.or ' am thy *od and will still gi(e thee aid"

')ll strengthen thee, hel! thee, and cause thee to stand, 5!held by my righteous, omni!otent hand"

'a( eac of us ualif( for tis blessin$, ) u%bl( pra(, in te na%e of Mesus Crist, our+a"ior, a%en&

April 200J General Conference) no# Tat '( Iedee%er Li"esF

Thomas S. MonsonFirst Counselor in the First Presienc!

ecause our +a"ior died at Cal"ar(, deat as no old upon an( one of us&

Iecentl( ) #as loo.in$ trou$ so%e fa%il( poto albu%s& Cerised %e%ories 3ooded%( %ind as ) ca%e across i%a$e after i%a$e of lo"ed ones $atered at fa%il( outin$s,birtda(s, reunions, anni"ersaries& +ince tese poto$raps #ere ta.en, so%e of tosebelo"ed fa%il( %e%bers a"e departed tis life& ) tou$t of te #ords of te Lord,Tou salt li"e to$eter in lo"e, inso%uc tat tou salt #eep for te loss of te% tat

die&7 1

) %iss eac one #o as left our fa%il( circle&

Tou$ di4cult and painful, deat is an essential part of our %ortal e-perience& ebe$an our soDourn ere b( lea"in$ our pre%ortal e-istence and co%in$ to tis eart& Tepoet ords#ort captured tat Dourne( in is inspired ode to i%%ortalit(& *e #rote:

#ur birth is but a slee! and a forgetting: he oul that rises with us, our life)s tar, &ath had elsewhere its setting, And cometh from afar: 6ot in entire forgetfulness,

And not in utter nakedness, /ut trailing clouds of glory do we come .rom *od, who is our home: &ea(en lies about us in our infancy% 2

Life %o"es on& Kout follo#s cildood, and %aturit( co%es e"er so i%perceptibl(& As #esearc and ponder te purpose and te proble%s of life, all of us sooner or later face teuestion of te len$t of life and of a personal, e"erlastin$ life& Tese uestions %ostinsistentl( assert te%sel"es #en lo"ed ones lea"e us or #en #e face lea"in$ tose#e lo"e&

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2007/04/i-know-that-my-redeemer-lives?lang=eng#1-








At suc ti%es, #e ponder te uni"ersal uestion, best prased b( Mob of old, #ocenturies a$o as.ed, )f a %an die, sall e li"e a$ainE7 >

Toda(, as al#a(s, te s.eptic=s "oice callen$es te #ord of God, and eac %ust cooseto #o% e #ill listen& Clarence Barro#, te fa%ous la#(er and a$nostic, declared, <olife is of %uc "alue, and H e"er( deat is ?but a@ little loss&7 +copenauer, teGer%an pilosoper and pessi%ist, #rote, To desire i%%ortalit( is to desire te eternalperpetuation of a $reat %ista.e&7 5 And to teir #ords are added tose of ne#

$enerations, as foolis %en crucif( te Crist ane#for te( %odif( *is %iracles, doubt*is di"init(, and reDect *is Iesurrection&

Iobert latcford, in is boo. *od and My 6eighbor, attac.ed #it "i$or acceptedCristian beliefs, suc as God, Crist, pra(er, and i%%ortalit(& *e boldl( asserted, )clai% to a"e pro"ed e"er(tin$ ) set out to pro"e so full( and decisi"el( tat noCristian, o#e"er $reat or able e %a( be, can ans#er %( ar$u%ents or sa.e %(case&7 6 *e surrounded i%self #it a #all of s.epticis%& Ten a surprisin$ tin$appened& *is #all suddenl( cru%bled to dust& *e #as left e-posed and undefended&+lo#l( e be$an to feel is #a( bac. to te fait e ad scorned and ridiculed& at adcaused tis profound can$e in is outloo.E &is wife died" it a bro.en eart, e #ent

into te roo% #ere la( all tat #as %ortal of er& *e loo.ed a$ain at te face e lo"edso #ell& Co%in$ out, e said to a friend: )t is se, and (et it is not se& "er(tin$ iscan$ed& +o%etin$ tat #as tere before is ta.en a#a(& +e is not te sa%e& at canbe $one if it be not te soulE7

Later e #rote: Beat is not #at so%e people i%a$ine& )t is onl( li.e $oin$ into anoterroo%& )n tat oter roo% #e sall nd H te dear #o%en and %en and te s#eetcildren #e a"e lo"ed and lost&7 J

A$ainst te doubtin$ in toda(=s #orld concernin$ Crist=s di"init(, #e see. a point ofreference, an uni%peacable source, e"en a testi%on( of e(e#itnesses& +tepen, fro%biblical ti%es, doo%ed to te cruel deat of a %art(r, loo.ed up to ea"en and cried, )see te ea"ens opened, and te +on of %an standin$ on te ri$t and of God&7 8

o can elp but be con"inced b( te stirrin$ testi%on( of 9aul to te CorintiansE *edeclared tat Crist died for our sins accordin$ to te scriptures; and tat e #asburied, and tat e rose a$ain te tird da( accordin$ to te scriptures: and H #as seenof Cepas, ten of te t#el"e: H And,7 said 9aul, last of all e #as seen of %e&7

)n our dispensation, tis sa%e testi%on( #as spo.en boldl( b( te 9ropet Mosep +%it,as e and +idne( Ii$don testied, And no#, after te %an( testi%onies #ic a"ebeen $i"en of i%, tis is te testi%on(, last of all, #ic #e $i"e of i%: Tat e li"esF7

10

Tis is te .no#led$e tat sustains& Tis is te trut tat co%forts& Tis is te assurancetat $uides tose #o are bo#ed do#n #it $riefout of te sado#s and into te li$t&

On Crist%as "e, 1J, ) %et a re%ar.able fa%il(& ac %e%ber of te fa%il( ad anunsa.able testi%on( of te trut and of te realit( of te Iesurrection& Te fa%il(consisted of a %oter and fater and four cildren& ac of te cildrentree sons anda dau$terad been born #it a rare for% of %uscular d(strop(, and eac #asandicapped& 'ar., #o #as ten 16 (ears old, ad under$one spinal sur$er( in an



























eort to elp i% %o"e about %ore freel(& Te oter t#o bo(s, Cristoper, a$e 1>, and Mason, a$e 10, #ere to lea"e for California in a fe# da(s to under$o si%ilar sur$er(& Teonl( dau$ter, +anna, #as ten "e (ears olda beautiful cild& All of te cildren #ereintelli$ent and fait/lled, and it #as ob"ious tat teir parents, ill and +err(, #ereproud of eac one& e "isited for a #ile, and te special spirit of tat fa%il( lled %(o4ce and %( eart& Te fater and ) $a"e blessin$s to te t#o bo(s #o #ere facin$sur$er(, and ten te parents as.ed if little +anna could sin$ for %e& *er fater%entioned tat se ad di%inised lun$ capacit( and tat it %i$t be di4cult for er,

but tat se #anted to tr(& To te acco%pani%ent of a recorded cassette, and in abeautiful, clear "oicene"er %issin$ a notese san$ of a bri$ter future:

#n a beautiful day that ' dream about 'n a world ' would lo(e to see, 's a beautiful !lace where the sun comes out And it shines in the sky for me" #n this beautiful winter)s morning, 'f my wish could come true somehow, hen the beautiful day that ' dream about Would be here and now" 11

Te e%otions of all of us #ere "er( near te surface as se nised& Te spiritualit( oftis "isit set te tone for %( Crist%as tat (ear&

) .ept in touc #it te fa%il(, and #en te oldest son, 'ar., turned 1, arran$e%ents#ere %ade for i% to ser"e a special %ission at Curc eaduarters& "entuall(, teoter t#o broters also ad an opportunit( to ser"e suc %issions&

<earl( a (ear a$o, Cristoper, #o #as ten 22 (ears old, succu%bed to te disease#it #ic eac of te cildren as been aicted& And ten, last +epte%ber, ) recei"ed#ord tat little +anna, no# 1 (ears old, ad passed a#a(& At te funeral ser"ices,+anna #as onored b( beautiful tributes& Leanin$ on te pulpit for support, eac of ersur"i"in$ broters, 'ar. and Mason, sared poi$nant fa%il( e-periences& +anna=s%oter san$ a lo"el( %usical nu%ber as part of a duet& *er fater and $randfater $a"etoucin$ ser%ons& Tou$ teir earts #ere bro.en, eac bore po#erful and deep/felttesti%on( of te realit( of te Iesurrection and of te actualit( tat +anna li"es still, asdoes er broter Cristoper, eac a#aitin$ a $lorious reunion #it teir belo"ed fa%il(&

en it #as %( ti%e to spea., ) recounted tat "isit te fa%il( %ade to %( o4ce nearl(nine (ears earlier and spo.e of te lo"el( son$ +anna san$ on tat occasion& )concluded #it te tou$t: ecause our +a"ior died at Cal"ar(, deat as no oldupon an( one of us& +anna li"es, #ole and #ell, and for er tat beautiful da( se san$about on a special Crist%as "e in 1J, te da( se drea%ed about, is ere and no#&7

'( broters and sisters, #e lau$, #e cr(, #e #or., #e pla(, #e lo"e, #e li"e& And ten#e die& Beat is our uni"ersal erita$e& All %ust pass its portals& Beat clai%s te a$ed,te #ear( and #orn& )t "isits te (out in te bloo% of ope and te $lor( of e-pectation&<or are little cildren .ept be(ond its $rasp& )n te #ords of te Apostle 9aul, )t isappointed unto %en once to die&7 12

And dead #e #ould re%ain but for one 'an and *is %ission, e"en Mesus of <aaret&orn in a stable, cradled in a %an$er, *is birt fullled te inspired pronounce%ents of









%an( propets& *e #as tau$t fro% on i$& *e pro"ided te life, te li$t, and te #a(&'ultitudes follo#ed *i%& Cildren adored *i%& Te au$t( reDected *i%& *e spo.e inparables& *e tau$t b( e-a%ple& *e li"ed a perfect life&

Tou$ te in$ of .in$s and Lord of lords ad co%e, *e #as accorded b( so%e te$reetin$ $i"en to an ene%(, a traitor& Tere follo#ed a %oc.er( #ic so%e called atrial& Cries of crucif( i%, crucif( i%7 1> lled te air& Ten co%%enced te cli%b toCal"ar(=s ill&

*e #as ridiculed, re"iled, %oc.ed, Deered, and nailed to a cross a%idst souts of LetCrist te in$ of )srael descend no# fro% te cross, tat #e %a( see and belie"e&7 1

*e sa"ed oters; i%self e cannot sa"e&7 15 *is response: !ater, for$i"e te%; forte( .no# not #at te( do&7 16 )nto t( ands ) co%%end %( spirit: and a"in$ saidtus, e $a"e up te $ost&7 1J *is bod( #as placed b( lo"in$ ands in a sepulcre e#nof stone&

On te rst da( of te #ee., "er( earl( in te %ornin$, 'ar( 'a$dalene and 'ar( te%oter of Ma%es, alon$ #it oters, ca%e to te sepulcre& To teir astonis%ent, tebod( of teir Lord #as $one& Lu.e records tat t#o %en in sinin$ $ar%ents stood b(

te% and said: ( see. (e te li"in$ a%on$ te deadE *e is not ere, but is risen&7 18

<e-t #ee. te Cristian #orld #ill celebrate te %ost si$nicant e"ent in recordedistor(& Te si%ple pronounce%ent, *e is not ere, but is risen,7 #as te rstconr%ation of te literal Iesurrection of our Lord and +a"ior, Mesus Crist& Te e%pt(to%b tat rst aster %ornin$ brou$t co%fortin$ assurance, an a4r%ati"e ans#er to Mob=s uestion, )f a %an die, sall e li"e a$ainE7 1

To all #o a"e lost lo"ed ones, #e #ould turn Mob=s uestion to an ans#er: )f a %an die,e shall li"e a$ain& e .no#, for #e a"e te li$t of re"ealed trut& ) a% teresurrection, and te life,7 spo.e te 'aster& *e tat belie"et in %e, tou$ e #eredead, (et sall e li"e: And #osoe"er li"et and belie"et in %e sall ne"er die&7 20

Trou$ tears and trials, trou$ fears and sorro#s, trou$ te eartace andloneliness of losin$ lo"ed ones, tere is assurance tat life is e"erlastin$& Our Lord and+a"ior is te li"in$ #itness tat suc is so&

it all %( eart and te fer"enc( of %( soul, ) lift up %( "oice in testi%on( as a special#itness and declare tat God does li"e& Mesus is *is +on, te Onl( e$otten of te !aterin te 3es& *e is our Iedee%er; *e is our 'ediator #it te !ater& *e it #as #o diedon te cross to atone for our sins& *e beca%e te rstfruits of te Iesurrection& ecause*e died, all sall li"e a$ain& O, s#eet te Do( tis sentence $i"es: R) .no# tat %(Iedee%er li"esF=7 21 'a( te #ole #orld .no# it and li"e b( tat .no#led$e, ) u%bl(pra(, in te na%e of Mesus Crist, te Lord and +a"ior, a%en&

April 200J General Conference Tabernacle 'e%ories

Thomas S. Monson

































As tis buildin$ is rededicated toda(, %a( #e pled$e to rededicate our li"esto te #or. of our Lord and +a"ior Mesus Crist&

'( broters and sisters, bot ere in te Tabernacle and listenin$ b( "arious %eanstrou$out te #orld, it is a Do( for %e to stand before (ou once a$ain in tis %a$nicent

buildin$& )n tis settin$ one cannot elp but feel te spirit of te earl( +aints #oconstructed tis beautiful ouse of #orsip, as #ell as all tose #o o"er te (ears a"elabored to preser"e and beautif( it&

) a"e been tin.in$ recentl( of te %an( si$nicant e"ents in %( life #ic areassociated #it te +alt La.e Tabernacle& Altou$ tere are far too %an( for %e to%ention toda(, ) #ould li.e to sare Dust a fe#&

) recall te ti%e ) approaced baptis%, #en ) #as ei$t (ears of a$e& '( %oter tal.ed#it %e about repentance and about te %eanin$ of baptis%; and ten, on a +aturda( in+epte%ber of 1>5, se too. %e on a streetcar to te Tabernacle baptistr( #ic, until

recentl(, #as ere in tis buildin$& At te ti%e it #as not as custo%ar( as it is no# forfaters to baptie teir cildren, since te ordinance #as $enerall( perfor%ed on a+aturda( %ornin$ or afternoon, and %an( faters #ere #or.in$ at teir dail( professionsor trades& ) dressed in #ite and #as baptied& ) re%e%ber tat da( as tou$ it #ere(esterda( and te appiness ) felt at a"in$ ad tis ordinance perfor%ed&

O"er te (ears and particularl( durin$ te ti%e ) ser"ed as a bisop, ) #itnessed %an(oter baptis%s in te Tabernacle font& ac #as a special and inspirin$ occasion, andeac ser"ed to re%ind %e of %( o#n baptis%&

)n April of 150, %( #ife, !rances, and ) #ere in attendance at te +unda( afternoon

session of $eneral conference, eld in tis buildin$& 9resident Geor$e Albert +%it #aste 9resident of te Curc, and in closin$ te conference, e deli"ered an inspirin$ andpo#erful %essa$e concernin$ te Iesurrection of our Lord and +a"ior Mesus Crist&efore e concluded is re%ar.s, o#e"er, e sounded a propetic #arnin$& +aid e: )t#ill not be lon$ until cala%ities #ill o"erta.e te u%an fa%il( unless tere is speed(repentance& )t #ill not be lon$ before tose #o are scattered o"er te face of te eartb( %illions #ill die H because of #at #ill co%e7 in Conference Ieport, Apr& 150, 16P& Tese #ere alar%in$ #ords, for te( ca%e fro% a propet of God&

T#o and a alf %onts after tat $eneral conference, on Mune 25, 150, #ar bro.e out inoreaa #ar #ic #ould e"entuall( clai% an esti%ated 2&5 %illion li"es& Tis e"ent

pro%pted %e to re3ect on te state%ent 9resident +%it %ade as #e sat in tis buildin$tat sprin$ da(&

) attended %an( $eneral conference sessions in te Tabernacle, al#a(s bein$ edied andinspired b( te #ords of te retren& Ten, in October of 16>, 9resident Ba"id O&'ca( in"ited %e to is o4ce and e-tended to %e a call to ser"e as a %e%ber of teNuoru% of te T#el"e Apostles& *e as.ed tat ) .eep tis sacred call condential,re"ealin$ it to no one e-cept %( #ife, and tat ) be present for $eneral conference in te Tabernacle te ne-t da(, #en %( na%e #ould be read aloud&



Te follo#in$ %ornin$ ) ca%e into te Tabernacle not .no#in$ e-actl( #ere to sit& ein$a %e%ber of te 9riestood *o%e Teacin$ Co%%ittee, ) deter%ined tat ) #ould beseated a%on$ te %e%bers of tat co%%ittee& ) noticed a friend of %ine b( te na%e of *u$ +%it, #o #as also a %e%ber of te 9riestood *o%e Teacin$ Co%%ittee& *e%otioned for %e to sit b( i%& ) couldn=t sa( a tin$ to i% about %( call, but ) sat do#n&

Burin$ te session, te %e%bers of te Nuoru% of te T#el"e Apostles #ere sustainedand, of course, %( na%e #as read& ) belie"e te #al. fro% te audience to te stand #as

te lon$est #al. of %( life&

)t as been nearl( (ears since tat conference& Until te (ear 2000, #en teConference Center #as dedicated, it #as %( pri"ile$e to deli"er 101 $eneral conference%essa$es fro% te pulpit in tis buildin$, not includin$ tose $i"en at $eneral au-iliar(conferences and oter %eetin$s eld ere& '( re%ar.s toda( brin$ te total to 102& )a"e ad %an( spiritual e-periences o"er te (ears as ) a"e stood ere&

Burin$ te %essa$e ) deli"ered at $eneral conference in October 1J5, ) felt pro%pted todirect %( re%ar.s to a little $irl #it lon$, blonde air, #o #as seated in te balcon( oftis buildin$& ) called te attention of te audience to er and felt a freedo% of

e-pression #ic testied to %e tat tis s%all $irl needed te %essa$e ) ad in %indconcernin$ te fait of anoter (oun$ lad(&

At te conclusion of te session, ) returned to %( o4ce and found #aitin$ for %e a(oun$ cild b( te na%e of 'isti ite, to$eter #it er $randparents and an aunt& As )$reeted te%, ) reco$nied 'isti as te one in te balcon( to #o% ) ad directed %(re%ar.s& ) learned tat as er ei$t birtda( approaced, se #as in a uandar(concernin$ #eter or not to be baptied& +e felt se #ould li.e to be baptied, and er$randparents, #it #o% se li"ed, #anted er to be baptied, but er less/acti"e%oter su$$ested se #ait until se #as 18 (ears of a$e to %a.e te decision& 'isti adtold er $randparents, )f #e $o to conference in +alt La.e Cit(, %a(be *ea"enl( !ater#ill let %e .no# #at ) sould do&7

'isti and er $randparents and er aunt ad tra"eled fro% California to +alt La.e Cit( forconference and #ere able to obtain seats in te Tabernacle for te +aturda( afternoonsession& Tis #as #ere te( #ere seated #en %( attention #as dra#n to 'isti and %(decision %ade to spea. to er&

As #e continued our "isit after te session, 'isti=s $rand%oter said to %e, ) tin. 'istias so%etin$ se #ould li.e to tell (ou&7 Tis s#eet (oun$ $irl said, roter 'onson,#ile (ou #ere spea.in$ in conference, (ou ans#ered %( uestion& ) #ant to bebaptiedF7

Te fa%il( returned to California, and 'isti #as baptied and conr%ed a %e%ber of TeCurc of Mesus Crist of Latter/da( +aints& Trou$ all te (ears since, 'isti asre%ained true and faitful to te $ospel of Mesus Crist& !ourteen (ears a$o, it #as %(pri"ile$e to perfor% er te%ple %arria$e to a ne (oun$ %an, and to$eter te( arerearin$ "e beautiful cildren, #it anoter one on te #a(&

'( broters and sisters, ) feel pri"ile$ed to be standin$ once a$ain at te Tabernaclepulpit in tis buildin$ #ic olds for %e suc #onderful %e%ories& Te Tabernacle is apart of %( lifea part #ic ) ceris&



rst selection, 9resident Mosep !ieldin$ +%it, our conference "isitor, stepped to tepulpit and read for sustainin$ appro"al te na%es of te ne# sta.e presidenc(& *e ten%entioned tat 9erc( !eter, #o beca%e our ne# sta.e president, and Mon urt, #obeca%e te rst counseloreac of #o% ad been counselors in te pre"iouspresidenc(ad been %ade a#are of teir ne# callin$s before te conference be$an&*o#e"er, e indicated tat ), #o ad been called to be second counselor in te ne#presidenc(, ad no pre"ious .no#led$e of te callin$ and #as earin$ of it for te rstti%e as %( na%e #as read for sustainin$ "ote& *e ten announced, )f roter 'onson is

#illin$ to respond to tis call, #e #ill be pleased to ear fro% i% no#&7

As ) stood at te pulpit and $aed out on tat sea of faces, ) re%e%bered te son$ #ead Dust sun$& )t pertained to te ord of isdo% and #as titled *a"e Coura$e, '( o(,to +a( <o&7 Tat da( ) selected as %( acceptance te%e *a"e Coura$e, '( o(, to +a( Kes&7 Te call for coura$e co%es constantl( to eac of uste coura$e to stand r% forour con"ictions, te coura$e to fulll our responsibilities, te coura$e to onor ourpriestood&

ere"er #e $o, our priestood $oes #it us& Are #e standin$ in ol( places7E > +aid9resident M& Ieuben Clar. Mr&, #o ser"ed for %an( (ears as a counselor in te !irst

9residenc(: Te 9riestood is not li.e a suit of clotes tat (ou can la( o and ta.e bac.on& H Bependin$ upon oursel"es ?it is@ an e"erlastin$ endo#%ent&7 *e continued: )f #ereall( ad tat H con"iction H tat #e could not la( ?te priestood@ aside, and tat God#ould old us responsible if #e ?de%eaned@ it, it #ould sa"e us fro% doin$ a $ood %an(tin$s, sa"e us fro% $oin$ a $ood %an( places& )f, e"er( ti%e #e started a little detoura#a( fro% te strai$t and narro#, #e #ould re%e%ber, R) a% carr(in$ %( 9riestoodere& +ould )E= it #ould not ta.e us lon$ to #or. bac. into te strai$t and narro#&7

9resident +pencer & i%ball said: Tere is no li%it to te po#er of te priestood#ic (ou old& Te li%it co%es in (ou if (ou do not li"e in ar%on( #it te +pirit of teLord and (ou li%it (oursel"es in te po#er (ou e-ert&7 5

'( bretren of te priestoodfro% te (oun$est to te oldestare (ou li"in$ (our lifein accordance #it tat #ic te Lord reuiresE Are (ou #ort( to bear te priestoodof GodE )f (ou are not, %a.e te decision ere and no#, %uster te coura$e it #ill ta.e,and institute #ate"er can$es are necessar( so tat (our life is #at it sould be& Tosail safel( te seas of %ortalit(, #e need te $uidance of tat eternal %arinere"en te$reat Meo"a& )f #e are on te Lord=s errand, #e are entitled to te Lord=s elp&

*is elp as co%e to %e on countless occasions trou$out %( life& Burin$ te nalpases of orld ar )), ) turned 18 and #as ordained an elderone #ee. before )departed for acti"e dut( #it te na"(& A %e%ber of %( #ard bisopric #as at te trainstation to bid %e fare#ell& Must before train ti%e, e placed in %( and a boo. #ic )old before (ou toni$t& )ts title: he Missionary)s &and /ook" ) lau$ed and co%%ented,)=ll be in te na"(not on a %ission&7 *e ans#ered, Ta.e it an(#a(& )t %a( co%e inand(&7

)t did& Burin$ basic trainin$ our co%pan( co%%ander instructed us concernin$ o# #e%i$t best pac. our clotin$ in a lar$e seaba$& *e ten ad"ised, )f (ou a"e a ard,rectan$ular obDect (ou can place in te botto% of te ba$, (our clotes #ill sta( %orer%&7 ) tou$t, ere a% ) $oin$ to nd a ard, rectan$ular obDectE7 +uddenl( )

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2007/04/the-priesthood-a-sacred-gift?lang=eng#3-













re%e%bered Dust te ri$t rectan$ular obDecthe Missionary)s &and /ook" And tus itser"ed for 12 #ee.s at te botto% of tat seaba$&

Te ni$t precedin$ our Crist%as lea"e, our tou$ts #ere, as al#a(s, on o%e& Tebarrac.s #ere uiet& +uddenl( ) beca%e a#are tat %( budd( in te adDoinin$ bun.a%e%ber of te Curc, Leland 'errill#as %oanin$ in pain& ) as.ed, at=s te %atter,'errillE7

*e replied, )=% sic.& )=% reall( sic.&7

) ad"ised i% to $o to te base dispensar(, but e ans#ered .no#in$l( tat suc acourse #ould pre"ent i% fro% bein$ o%e for Crist%as& ) ten su$$ested e be uietso tat #e didn=t a#a.en te entire barrac.s&

Te ours len$tened; is $roans $re# louder& Ten, in desperation, e #ispered,'onson, aren=t (ou an elderE7 ) ac.no#led$ed tis to be so, #ereupon e pleaded,Gi"e %e a blessin$&7

) beca%e "er( %uc a#are tat ) ad ne"er $i"en a blessin$& ) ad ne"er recei"ed suc a

blessin$; ) ad ne"er #itnessed a blessin$ bein$ $i"en& '( pra(er to God #as a plea forelp& Te ans#er ca%e: Loo. in te botto% of te seaba$&7 Tus, at 2:00 a&%& ) e%ptiedon te dec. te contents of te ba$& ) ten too. to te ni$t/li$t tat ard, rectan$ularobDect, he Missionary)s &and /ook, and read o# one blesses te sic.& it about 120curious sailors loo.in$ on, ) proceeded #it te blessin$& efore ) could sto# %( $ear,Leland 'errill #as sleepin$ li.e a cild&

Te ne-t %ornin$, 'errill s%ilin$l( turned to %e and said, 'onson, )=% $lad (ou oldte priestoodF7 *is $ladness #as onl( surpassed b( %( $ratitude$ratitude not onl(for te priestood but for bein$ #ort( to recei"e te elp ) reuired in a ti%e ofdesperate need and to e-ercise te po#er of te priestood&

retren, our Lord and +a"ior said, Co%e, follo# %e&7 6 en #e accept *is in"itationand #al. in *is footsteps, *e #ill direct our pats&

)n April of 2000, ) felt suc direction& ) ad recei"ed a pone call fro% Iosa +alas Giord,#o% ) did not .no#& +e e-plained tat er parents ad been "isitin$ fro% Costa Iicafor a fe# %onts and tat Dust a #ee. prior to er call, er fater, ernardo A$usto+alas, ad been dia$nosed #it li"er cancer& +e indicated tat te doctors ad infor%edte fa%il( tat er fater #ould li"e Dust a fe# %ore da(s& *er fater=s $reat desire, see-plained, #as to %eet %e before e died& +e left er address and as.ed if ) could co%eto er o%e in +alt La.e Cit( to "isit #it er fater&

ecause of %eetin$s and obli$ations, it #as rater late #en ) left %( o4ce& )nstead of$oin$ strai$t o%e, o#e"er, ) felt i%pressed tat ) sould dri"e furter sout and "isitroter +alas tat "er( e"enin$& it te address in and, ) atte%pted to locate teresidence& )n rater ea"( tra4c and #it di%%in$ li$t, ) dro"e past te location #erete road to te ouse sould a"e been& ) could see notin$& *o#e"er, ) don=t $i"e upeasil(& ) dro"e around te bloc. and ca%e bac.& +till notin$& One %ore ti%e ) tried andstill no si$n of te road& ) be$an to feel tat ) #ould be Dustied in turnin$ to#ard o%e& )ad %ade a $allant eort but ad been unsuccessful in ndin$ te address& )nstead, )oered a silent pra(er for elp& Te inspiration ca%e tat ) sould approac te area






fro% te opposite direction& ) dro"e a distance and turned te car around so tat ) #asno# on te oter side of te road& Goin$ in tis direction, te tra4c #as %uc li$ter& As) neared te location once a$ain, ) could see, trou$ te faint li$t, a street si$n tatad been .noc.ed do#nit #as l(in$ on its side at te ed$e of te roadand a nearl(in"isible, #eed/co"ered trac. leadin$ to a s%all apart%ent buildin$ and a sin$le, tin(residence so%e distance fro% te %ain road& As ) dro"e to#ard te buildin$s, a s%all $irlin a #ite dress #a"ed to %e, and ) .ne# tat ) ad found te fa%il(&

) #as usered into te o%e and ten to te roo% #ere roter +alas la(& +urroundin$te bed #ere tree dau$ters and a son/in/la#, as #ell as +ister +alas& All but te son/in/la# #ere fro% Costa Iica& roter +alas=s appearance re3ected te $ra"it( of iscondition& A da%p ra$ #it fra(ed ed$esnot a to#el or a #asclot but a da%p ra$#it fra(ed ed$esrested upon is foreead, e%pasiin$ te u%ble econo%iccircu%stances of te fa%il(&

it so%e pro%ptin$, roter +alas opened is e(es, and a #an s%ile $raced is lips as) too. i% b( te and& ) spo.e te #ords, ) a"e co%e to %eet (ou&7 Tears #elled up inis e(es and in %ine&

) as.ed if a blessin$ #ould be desired, and te unani%ous ans#er fro% te fa%il(%e%bers #as a4r%ati"e& +ince te son/in/la# did not old te priestood, ) proceededb( %(self to pro"ide a priestood blessin$& Te #ords see%ed to 3o# freel( under tedirection of te +pirit of te Lord& ) included te +a"ior=s #ords found in te Boctrine andCo"enants, section 8, "erse 88: ) #ill $o before (our face& ) #ill be on (our ri$t andand on (our left, and %( +pirit sall be in (our earts, and %ine an$els round about (ou,to bear (ou up&7 !ollo#in$ te blessin$, ) oered a fe# #ords of co%fort to te $rie"in$fa%il( %e%bers& ) spo.e carefull( so te( could understand %( n$lis& And ten, #it%( li%ited +panis lan$ua$e abilit(, ) let te% .no# tat ) lo"ed te% and tat our*ea"enl( !ater #ould bless te%&

) as.ed for te fa%il( ible and directed teir attention to > Mon, "erse : ) a"e no$reater Do( tan to ear tat %( cildren #al. in trut&7 ) said to te%, Tis is #at (ourusband and fater #ould a"e (ou re%e%ber as e prepares to depart tis eartl(e-istence&7

it tears strea%in$ do#n er face, roter +alas=s s#eet #ife ten as.ed if ) #ould#rite do#n te references for te t#o scriptures ) ad sared #it te% so tat tefa%il( %i$t read te% a$ain& <ot a"in$ an(tin$ and( on #ic ) could #rite, +ister+alas reaced into er purse and dre# fro% it a slip of paper& As ) too. it fro% er, )noticed it #as a titin$ receipt& '( eart #as touced as ) realied tat, despite tee-tre%el( u%ble circu%stances in #ic te fa%il( li"ed, te( #ere faitful in pa(in$teir tites&

After a tender fare#ell, ) #as escorted to %( car& As ) dro"e o%e#ard, ) re3ected on tespecial spirit #e ad felt& ) e-perienced, as #ell, as ) a"e %an( ti%es before, a sense of$ratitude tat %( *ea"enl( !ater ad ans#ered anoter person=s pra(er trou$ %e&

'( bretren, let us e"er re%e%ber tat te priestood of God #ic #e bear is a sacred$ift #ic brin$s to us and to tose #e ser"e te blessin$s of ea"en& 'a( #e, in#ate"er place #e %a( be, onor and protect tat priestood& 'a( #e e"er be on teLord=s errand, tat #e %i$t e"er be entitled to te Lord=s elp&



Tere is a #ar bein$ #a$ed for %en=s souls(ours and %ine& )t continues #itoutabate%ent& Li.e a clarion call co%es te #ord of te Lord to (ou and to %e and topriestood olders e"er(#ere: erefore, no# let e"er( %an learn is dut(, and to actin te o4ce in #ic e is appointed, in all dili$ence&7 J

'a( #e eac a"e te coura$e to do so, ) pra( in te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&

October 200J General Conference

Three Goals to Guie "ou

Thomas S. Monson


Kour in3uence ran$es far be(ond (ourself and (our o%e and toucesoters all around te $lobe&

Tis e"enin$ our souls a"e reaced to#ard ea"en& e a"e been blessed #itbeautiful %usic and inspired %essa$es& Te +pirit of te Lord is ere&

+isters Mulie ec., +il"ia Allred, arbara To%psontan. ea"en for (our dear %otersand faters, (our teacers, (our (out leaders, and oters #o reco$nied in (ou (ourpotential&

To paraprase a tou$t:

You ne(er know what a girl is worth, You)ll ha(e to wait and see; /ut e(ery woman in a noble !lace, A girl once used to be" 1

)t is a $reat pri"ile$e for %e to be #it (ou& ) reco$nie tat be(ond (ou #o are$atered in te Conference Center, tere are %an( tousands #atcin$ and listenin$ tote proceedin$s b( #a( of satellite trans%ission&

As ) spea. to (ou, ) realie tat as a %an ) a% in te %inorit( and %ust be cautious in %(co%%ents& )=% re%inded of te %an #o #al.ed into a boo.store and as.ed te cler.a#o%anfor elp: *a"e (ou $ot a boo. titled Man, the Master of Women77 Te cler.loo.ed i% strai$t in te e(e and said sarcasticall(, Tr( te ction sectionF7

) assure (ou toni$t tat ) onor (ou, te #o%en of te Curc, and a% #ell a#are, touote illia% I& allace, tat te and tat roc.s te cradle is te and tat rules te#orld&7 2




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)n 101 9resident Loreno +no# said: Te %e%bers of te Ielief +ociet( a"e H%inistered to tose in aiction, te( a"e tro#n teir ar%s of lo"e around tefaterless and te #ido#s, and te( a"e .ept te%sel"es unspotted fro% te #orld& )can testif( tat tere are no purer and %ore God/fearin$ #o%en in te #orld tan are tobe found #itin te ran.s of te Ielief +ociet(&7 >

As in 9resident +no#=s ti%e, tere are, ere and no#, "isits to be %ade, $reetin$s to besared, and un$r( souls to be fed& As ) conte%plate te Ielief +ociet( of toda(,

u%bled b( %( pri"ile$e to spea. to (ou, ) turn to our *ea"enl( !ater for *is di"ine$uidance&

)n tis spirit, ) a"e felt to pro"ide eac %e%ber of te Ielief +ociet( trou$out te#orld tree $oals to %eet:

1& +tud( dili$entl(&

2& 9ra( earnestl(&

>& +er"e #illin$l(&

Let us consider eac of tese $oals& !irst, stud( dili$entl(& Te +a"ior of te #orldinstructed: +ee. (e out of te best boo.s #ords of #isdo%; see. learnin$, e"en b(stud( and also b( fait&7 *e added: +earc te scriptures; for in te% (e tin. (e a"eeternal life: and te( are te( #ic testif( of %e&7 5

A stud( of te scriptures #ill elp our testi%onies and te testi%onies of our fa%il(%e%bers& Our cildren toda( are $ro#in$ up surrounded b( "oices ur$in$ te% toabandon tat #ic is ri$t and to pursue, instead, te pleasures of te #orld& Unlesste( a"e a r% foundation in te $ospel of Mesus Crist, a testi%on( of te trut, and adeter%ination to li"e ri$teousl(, te( are susceptible to tese in3uences& )t is ourresponsibilit( to fortif( and protect te%&

To an alar%in$ e-tent, our cildren toda( are bein$ educated b( te %edia, includin$ te)nternet& )n te United +tates, it is reported tat te a"era$e cild #atcesappro-i%atel( four ours of tele"ision dail(, %uc of te pro$ra%%in$ bein$ lled #it"iolence, alcool and dru$ use, and se-ual content& atcin$ %o"ies and pla(in$ "ideo$a%es is in addition to te four ours& 6 And te statistics are %uc te sa%e for oterde"eloped countries& Te %essa$es portra(ed on tele"ision, in %o"ies, and in oter%edia are "er( often in direct opposition to tat #ic #e #ant our cildren to e%braceand old dear& )t is our responsibilit( not onl( to teac te% to be sound in spirit anddoctrine but also to elp te% sta( tat #a(, re$ardless of te outside forces te( %a(encounter& Tis #ill reuire %uc ti%e and eort on our partand in order to elpoters, #e oursel"es need te spiritual and %oral coura$e to #itstand te e"il #e seeon e"er( side&

e li"e in te ti%e spo.en of in 2 <epi, capter :

O te "ainness, and te frailties, and te foolisness of %enF en te( are learnedte( tin. te( are #ise, and te( ear.en not unto te counsel of God, for te( set itaside, supposin$ te( .no# of te%sel"es, #erefore, teir #isdo% is foolisness and itprotet te% not& And te( sall peris&

















ut to be learned is $ood if te( ear.en unto te counsels of God&7 J

Ieuired is te coura$e to old fast to our standards despite te derision of te #orld&+aid 9resident M& Ieuben Clar. Mr&, for %an( (ears a %e%ber of te !irst 9residenc(: <otun.no#n are cases #ere ?tose@ of presu%ed fait H a"e felt tat, since b( a4r%in$teir full fait te( %i$t call do#n upon te%sel"es te ridicule of teir unbelie"in$collea$ues, te( %ust eiter %odif( or e-plain a#a( teir fait or destructi"el( dilute it,or e"en pretend to cast it a#a(& +uc are (pocrites&7 8

Tere co%es to %ind te po#erful "erses found in 2 Ti%ot(, in te <e# Testa%ent,capter 1, "erses J and 8:

!or God at not $i"en us te spirit of fear; but of po#er, and of lo"e, and of a sound%ind&

e not tou terefore asa%ed of te testi%on( of our Lord&7

e(ond our stud( of spiritual %atters, secular learnin$ is also essential& Often te futureis un.no#n; terefore, it beoo"es us to prepare for uncertainties& +tatistics re"eal tat

at so%e ti%e, because of te illness or deat of a usband or because of econo%icnecessit(, (ou %a( nd (ourself in te role of nancial pro"ider& +o%e of (ou alread(occup( tat role& ) ur$e (ou to pursue (our educationif (ou are not alread( doin$ so ora"e not done sotat (ou %i$t be prepared to pro"ide if circu%stances necessitatesuc&

Kour talents #ill e-pand as (ou stud( and learn& Kou #ill be able to better assist (ourfa%ilies in teir learnin$, and (ou #ill a"e peace of %ind in .no#in$ tat (ou a"eprepared (ourself for te e"entualities tat (ou %a( encounter in life&

) reiterate: +tud( dili$entl(&

Te second $oal ) #is to %ention: 9ra( earnestl(& Te Lord directed, 9ra( al#a(s, and )#ill pour out %( +pirit upon (ou, and $reat sall be (our blessin$&7

9eraps tere as ne"er been a ti%e #en #e ad $reater need to pra( and to teac ourfa%il( %e%bers to pra(& 9ra(er is a defense a$ainst te%ptation& )t is trou$ earnest andeartfelt pra(er tat #e can recei"e te needed blessin$s and te support reuired to%a.e our #a( in tis so%eti%es di4cult and callen$in$ Dourne( #e call %ortalit(&

e can teac te i%portance of pra(er to our cildren and $randcildren bot b( #ordand b( e-a%ple& ) sare #it (ou a lesson in teacin$ b( e-a%ple as described in a%oter=s letter to %e relatin$ to pra(er& Bear 9resident 'onson: +o%eti%es ) #onder if )%a.e a dierence in %( cildren=s li"es& speciall( as a sin$le %oter #or.in$ t#o Dobsto %a.e ends %eet, ) so%eti%es co%e o%e to confusion, but ) ne"er $i"e up ope&7

*er letter continues as se describes o# se and er cildren #ere #atcin$ $eneralconference, #ere ) #as spea.in$ about pra(er& *er son %ade te co%%ent, 'oter,(ou="e alread( tau$t us tat&7 +e as.ed, at do (ou %eanE7 *er son replied, ell,(ou="e tau$t us to pra( and so#ed us o#, but te oter ni$t ) ca%e to (our roo% toas. so%etin$ and found (ou on (our .nees pra(in$ to *ea"enl( !ater& )f *e=si%portant to (ou, *e=ll be i%portant to %e&7 Te letter concluded, ) $uess (ou ne"er





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.no# #at .ind of in3uence (ou=ll be until a cild obser"es (ou doin$ (ourself #at (oua"e tried to teac i% to do&7

+o%e (ears a$o, Dust before lea"in$ +alt La.e to attend te annual %eetin$s of o(+couts of A%erica in Atlanta, Geor$ia, ) decided to ta.e #it %e enou$ copies of te6ew Era so tat ) %i$t sare #it +coutin$ o4cials tis e-cellent publication& en )arri"ed at te otel in Atlanta, ) opened te pac.a$e of %a$aines& ) found tat %(secretar(, for no accountable reason, ad put in te pac.a$e t#o e-tra copies of te Mune

issue, an issue tat featured te%ple %arria$e& ) left te t#o copies in te otel roo% and,as planned, distributed te oter copies&

On te nal da( of %eetin$s, ) ad no desire to attend te sceduled lunceon but feltco%pelled to return to %( roo%& Te telepone #as rin$in$ as ) entered& Te caller #as a%e%ber of te Curc #o ad eard ) #as in Atlanta& +e introduced erself and as.edif ) could pro"ide a blessin$ for er 10/(ear/old dau$ter& ) a$reed readil(, and seindicated tat se and er usband, teir dau$ter, and teir son #ould co%ei%%ediatel( to %( otel roo%& As ) #aited, ) pra(ed for elp& Te applause of tecon"ention #as replaced b( te feelin$s of peace #ic acco%panied pra(er&

Ten ca%e te .noc. at te door and te pri"ile$e #ic #as %ine to %eet a coicefa%il(& Te 10/(ear/old dau$ter #al.ed #it te aid of crutces& Cancer ad reuiredte a%putation of er left le$; o#e"er, er countenance #as radiant, er trust in Godun#a"erin$& A blessin$ #as pro"ided& 'oter and son .nelt b( te side of te bed #ilete fater and ) placed our ands on te tin( dau$ter& e #ere directed b( te +pirit ofGod& e #ere u%bled b( its po#er&

) felt te tears course do#n %( cee.s and tu%ble upon %( ands as te( rested on teead of tat beautiful cild of God& ) spo.e of eternal ordinances and fa%il( e-altation& Te Lord pro%pted %e to ur$e tis fa%il( to enter te ol( te%ple of God& At teconclusion of te blessin$, ) learned tat suc a te%ple "isit #as planned& Nuestionspertainin$ to te te%ple #ere as.ed& ) eard no ea"enl( "oice, nor did ) see a "ision& Kettere ca%e clearl( into %( %ind te #ords, Iefer to te 6ew Era"7 ) loo.ed to#ard tedresser, and tere #ere te t#o e-tra copies of te te%ple issue of te 6ew Era" Onecop( #as $i"en to te dau$ter and te oter to er parents& e re"ie#ed te%to$eter&

Te fa%il( said fare#ell, and once a$ain te roo% #as still& A pra(er of $ratitude ca%eeasil( and, once %ore, te resol"e to e"er pro"ide a place for pra(er&

'( dear sisters, do not pra( for tas.s eual to (our abilities, but pra( for abilities eualto (our tas.s& Ten te perfor%ance of (our tas.s #ill be no %iracle, but (ou #ill be te%iracle&

9ra( earnestl(&

!inall(, ser"e #illin$l(& Kou are a %i$t( force for $ood, one of te %ost po#erful in teentire #orld& Kour in3uence ran$es far be(ond (ourself and (our o%e and toucesoters all around te $lobe& Kou a"e reaced out to (our broters and sisters acrossstreets, across cities, across nations, across continents, across oceans& Kou personif( teIelief +ociet( %otto: Carit( ne"er failet&7



Kou are, of course, surrounded b( opportunities for ser"ice& <o doubt at ti%es (oureco$nie so %an( suc opportunities tat (ou %a( feel so%e#at o"er#el%ed& eredo (ou be$inE *o# can (ou do it allE *o# do (ou coose, fro% all te needs (ouobser"e, #ere and o# to ser"eE

Often s%all acts of ser"ice are all tat is reuired to lift and bless anoter: a uestionconcernin$ a person=s fa%il(, uic. #ords of encoura$e%ent, a sincere co%pli%ent, as%all note of tan.s, a brief telepone call& )f #e are obser"ant and a#are, and if #e act

on te pro%ptin$s #ic co%e to us, #e can acco%plis %uc $ood& +o%eti%es, ofcourse, %ore is needed&

) learned recentl( of lo"in$ ser"ice $i"en to a %oter #en er cildren #ere "er( (oun$&!reuentl( se #ould be up in te %iddle of te ni$t tendin$ to te needs of er littleones, as %oters do& Often er friend and nei$bor across te street #ould co%e o"erte ne-t da( and sa(, ) sa# (our li$ts on in te %iddle of te ni$t and .no# (ou #ereup #it te cildren& )=% $oin$ to ta.e te% to %( ouse for a couple of ours #ile (outa.e a nap&7 +aid tis $rateful %oter: ) #as so tan.ful for er #elco%e oer, it #asn=tuntil tis ad appened %an( ti%es tat ) realied if se ad seen %( li$ts on in te%iddle of te ni$t, se #as up #it one of er cildren as #ell and needed a nap Dust as

%uc as ) did& +e tau$t %e a $reat lesson, and )="e since tried to be as obser"ant asse #as in loo.in$ for opportunities to ser"e oters&7

Countless are te acts of ser"ice pro"ided b( te "ast ar%( of Ielief +ociet( "isitin$teacers& A fe# (ears a$o ) eard of t#o of te% #o aided a $rie"in$ #ido#, An$ela,te $randdau$ter of a cousin of %ine& An$ela=s usband and a friend of is ad $onesno#%obilin$ and ad beco%e "icti%s of suocation trou$ a sno#slide& ac of te%left a pre$nant #ifein An$ela=s case, teir rst cild, and in te oter case, a #ife notonl( e-pectin$ a cild but also te %oter of a toddler& )n te funeral eld for An$ela=susband, te bisop reported tat upon earin$ of te tra$ic accident, e ad $onei%%ediatel( to An$ela=s o%e& Al%ost as soon as e arri"ed, te doorbell sounded& Tedoor #as opened, and tere stood An$ela=s t#o "isitin$ teacers& Te bisop said e#atced as te( so sincerel( e-pressed to An$ela teir lo"e and co%passion& Te tree#o%en cried to$eter, and it #as apparent tat tese t#o ne "isitin$ teacers careddeepl( about An$ela& As peraps onl( #o%en can, te( $entl( indicated#itout bein$as.ede-actl( #at elp te( #ould be pro"idin$& Tat te( #ould be close b( as lon$as An$ela needed te% #as ob"ious& Te bisop e-pressed is deep $ratitude in.no#in$ te( #ould be a real source of co%fort to er in te da(s aead&

+uc acts of lo"e and co%passion are repeated a$ain and a$ain b( te #onderful "isitin$teacers of tis Curcnot al#a(s in suc dra%atic situations but Dust as $enuinel(,ne"erteless&

) e-tol (ou #o, #it lo"in$ care and co%passionate concern, feed te un$r(, clote tena.ed, and ouse te o%eless& *e #o notes te sparro#=s fall #ill not be un%indful ofsuc ser"ice& Te desire to lift, te #illin$ness to elp, and te $raciousness to $i"eco%e fro% a eart lled #it lo"e& +er"e #illin$l(&

Our belo"ed propet, e"en 9resident Gordon & *inc.le(, said of (ou, God planted#itin #o%en so%etin$ di"ine tat e-presses itself in uiet stren$t, in rene%ent, inpeace, in $oodness, in "irtue, in trut, in lo"e&7 10







'( dear sisters, %a( our *ea"enl( !ater bless eac of (ou, %arried or sin$le, in (ouro%es, in (our fa%ilies, in (our "er( li"estat (ou %a( %erit te $lorious salutation ofte +a"ior of te orld: ell done, tou $ood and faitful ser"ant7 11 ) pra(, as ) bless(ou and also te dear #ife of Ma%es & !aust, is belo"ed Iut, #o is ere toni$t on tefront ro#, and teir fa%il(, in te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&

October 200J General Conference'rs& 9attonte +tor( Continues

Thomas S. Monson


) a% certain our *ea"enl( !ater #as %indful of er needs and #anted erto ear te co%fortin$ truts of te $ospel&

) %iss %( collea$ue Ma%es & !aust toda( and e-press %( lo"e to is dear #ife and fa%il(and a% assured e is ser"in$ te Lord else#ere& ) #elco%e te ne#l( sustained GeneraAutorities, 9resident (rin$, lder Coo., and lder GonVle, and assure te% te( a"e%( full support&

Tirt(/ei$t (ears a$o, at a $eneral conference eld in te Tabernacle on Te%ple +uare,) spo.e of one of %( cildood friends, Artur 9atton, #o died at a (oun$ a$e& Te tal.#as titled 'rs& 9atton, Artur Li"es&7 1 ) addressed %( re%ar.s to Artur=s %oter, 'rs&9atton, #o #as not a %e%ber of te Curc& Altou$ ) ad little ope tat 'rs& 9atton#ould actuall( ear %( tal., ) #anted to sare #it all #o #ere #itin te sound of %("oice te $lorious $ospel %essa$e of ope and lo"e& Iecentl( ) a"e felt i%pressed to

refer once a$ain to Artur and to relate to (ou #at transpired follo#in$ %( ori$inal%essa$e&

!irst, %a( ) tell (ou about Artur& *e ad blond, curl( air and a s%ile as bi$ as alloutdoors& *e stood taller tan an( bo( in te class& ) suppose tis is o#, in 10, as te$reat con3ict #ic beca%e orld ar )) #as o"erta.in$ %uc of urope, Artur #asable to fool te recruitin$ o4cers and enlist in te na"( at te tender a$e of 15& ToArtur and %ost of te bo(s, te #ar #as a $reat ad"enture& ) re%e%ber o# stri.in$ eappeared in is na"( unifor%& *o# #e #ised #e #ere older or at least taller so #e toocould enlist&

Kout is a "er( special ti%e of life& As Lon$fello# #rote:

&ow beautiful is youth% how bright it gleams With its illusions, as!irations, dreams% /ook of /eginnings, tory without End, Each maid a heroine, and each man a friend% 2

Artur=s %oter #as so proud of te blue star #ic $raced er li"in$ roo% #indo#& )trepresented to e"er( passerb( tat er son #ore te unifor% of is countr( and #asacti"el( ser"in$& en ) #ould pass te ouse, se often opened te door and in"ited



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%e in to read te latest letter fro% Artur& *er e(es #ould ll #it tears; ) #ould ten beas.ed to read aloud& Artur %eant e"er(tin$ to is #ido#ed %oter&

) can still picture 'rs& 9atton=s coarse ands as se #ould carefull( replace te letter inits en"elope& Tese #ere ard#or.in$ ands; 'rs& 9atton #as a cleanin$ #o%an for ado#nto#n o4ce buildin$& ac da( of er life e-cept +unda(s se could be seen #al.in$alon$ te side#al., pail and brus in and, er $ra( air pulled bac. into a ti$t bob, ersoulders #ear( fro% #or. and stooped #it a$e&

)n 'arc 1, #it te #ar no# ra$in$, Artur #as transferred fro% te U++ 3orsey, adestro(er, to te U++ White 1lains, an aircraft carrier& ile at +aipan in te +out9acic, te sip #as attac.ed& Artur #as one of tose on board #o #as lost at sea&

Te blue star #as ta.en fro% its allo#ed spot in te front #indo# of te 9atton o%e& )t#as replaced b( one of $old, indicatin$ tat e #o% te blue star represented adbeen .illed in battle& A li$t #ent out in te life of 'rs& 9atton& +e $roped in utterdar.ness and deep despair&

it a pra(er in %( eart, ) approaced te fa%iliar #al.#a( to te 9atton o%e,

#onderin$ #at #ords of co%fort could co%e fro% te lips of a %ere bo(&

Te door opened, and 'rs& 9atton e%braced %e as se #ould er o#n son& *o%ebeca%e a capel as a $rief/stric.en %oter and a less/tan/adeuate bo( .nelt in pra(er&

Arisin$ fro% our .nees, 'rs& 9atton $aed into %( e(es and spo.e: To%%(, ) belon$ tono curc, but (ou do& Tell %e, #ill Artur li"e a$ainE7 To te best of %( abilit(, ) testiedto er tat Artur #ould indeed li"e a$ain&

)n $eneral conference tose lon$ (ears a$o, as ) related tis account, ) %entioned tat )ad lost trac. of 'rs& 9atton but tat ) #anted to once %ore ans#er er uestion illArtur li"e a$ainE7

) referred to te +a"ior of te #orld, #o #al.ed te dust( pats of "illa$es #e no#re"erentl( call te *ol( Land; #o caused te blind to see, te deaf to ear, te la%e to#al., and te dead to li"e; to *i% #o tenderl( and lo"in$l( assured us, ) a% te #a(,te trut, and te life&7 >

) e-plained tat te plan of life and an e-planation of its eternal course co%e to us fro%te 'aster of ea"en and eart, e"en Mesus Crist te Lord& To understand te %eanin$of deat, #e %ust appreciate te purpose of life&

) indicated tat in tis dispensation, te Lord declared: And no#, "eril( ) sa( unto (ou, )#as in te be$innin$ #it te !ater, and a% te !irstborn&7 'an #as also in tebe$innin$ #it God&7 5

Mere%ia te propet recorded:

Te #ord of te Lord ca%e unto %e, sa(in$,

efore ) for%ed tee H ) .ne# tee; and before tou ca%est fort H ) sanctied tee,and ) ordained tee a propet unto te nations&7 6
















!ro% tat %aDestic #orld of spirits #e enter te $rand sta$e of life to pro"e oursel"esobedient to all tin$s co%%anded of God& Burin$ %ortalit( #e $ro# fro% elplessinfanc( to inuirin$ cildood and ten to re3ecti"e %aturit(& e e-perience Do( andsorro#, fulll%ent and disappoint%ent, success and failure& e taste te s#eet, (etsa%ple te bitter& Tis is %ortalit(&

Ten to eac life co%es te e-perience .no#n as deat& <one is e-e%pt& All %ust passits portals&

To %ost, tere is so%etin$ sinister and %(sterious about tis un#elco%e "isitor calleddeat& 9eraps it is a fear of te un.no#n #ic causes %an( to dread its co%in$&

Artur 9atton died uic.l(& Oters lin$er& e .no#, trou$ te re"ealed #ord of God,tat te spirits of all %en, as soon as te( are departed fro% tis %ortal bod(, H areta.en o%e to tat God #o $a"e te% life&7 J

) assured 'rs& 9atton and all oters #o #ere listenin$ tat God #ould ne"er forsa.ete%tat *e sent *is Onl( e$otten +on into te #orld to teac us b( e-a%ple te life#e sould li"e& *is +on died upon te cross to redee% all %an.ind& *is #ords to te

$rie"in$ 'arta and to *is disciples toda( brin$ co%fort to us:

) a% te resurrection, and te life: e tat belie"et in %e, tou$ e #ere dead, (etsall e li"e:

And #osoe"er li"et and belie"et in %e sall ne"er die&7 8

)n %( !ater=s ouse are %an( %ansions: if it #ere not so, ) #ould a"e told (ou& ) $o toprepare a place for (ou&

H ) #ill co%e a$ain, and recei"e (ou unto %(self; tat #ere ) a%, tere (e %a( bealso&7

) reiterated te testi%onies of Mon te Ie"elator and 9aul te Apostle& Mon recorded:

) sa# te dead, s%all and $reat, stand before God; H

And te sea $a"e up te dead #ic #ere in it&7 10

9aul declared: As in Ada% all die, e"en so in Crist sall all be %ade ali"e&7 11

) e-plained tat until te $lorious Iesurrection %ornin$, #e #al. b( fait& !or no# #esee trou$ a $lass, dar.l(; but ten face to face&7 12

) reassured 'rs& 9atton tat Mesus in"ited er and all oters:

Co%e unto %e, all (e tat labour and are ea"( laden, and ) #ill $i"e (ou rest&

Ta.e %( (o.e upon (ou, and learn of %e; for ) a% %ee. and lo#l( in eart: and (e sallnd rest unto (our souls&7 1>



























As part of %( %essa$e, ) e-plained to 'rs& 9atton tat suc .no#led$e #ould sustain erin er eartacetat se #ould ne"er be in te tra$ic situation of te disbelie"er #o,a"in$ lost a son, #as eard to sa( as se #atced te cas.et lo#ered into %otereart: Good/b(e, %( bo(& Good/b(e fore"er&7 Iater, #it ead erect, coura$eundaunted, and fait un#a"erin$, se could lift er e(es as se loo.ed be(ond te $entl(brea.in$ #a"es of te blue 9acic and #isper, Good/b(e, Artur, %( precious son&Good/b(euntil #e %eet a$ain&7

) uoted te #ords of Tenn(son, as tou$ spo.en to er b( Artur:

unset and e(ening star, And one clear call for me% And may there be no moaning of the bar, When ' !ut out to sea, 8 wilight and e(ening bell, And after that the dark% And may there be no sadness of farewell, When ' embark; .or tho) from out our bourne of ime and 1lace

he 9ood may bear me far, ' ho!e to see my 1ilot face to face When ' ha(e crossed the bar" 1

As ) concluded %( %essa$e tose lon$ (ears a$o, ) e-pressed to 'rs& 9atton %( personatesti%on( as a special #itness, tellin$ er tat God our !ater #as %indful of ertattrou$ sincere pra(er se could co%%unicate #it *i%; tat *e too ad a +on #odied, e"en Mesus Crist te Lord; tat *e is our ad"ocate #it te !ater, te 9rince of9eace, our +a"ior and di"ine Iedee%er, and one da( #e #ould see *i% face/to/face&

) oped tat %( %essa$e to 'rs& 9atton #ould reac and touc oters #o ad lost alo"ed one&

And no#, %( broters and sisters, ) sare #it (ou te rest of tis account& ) deli"ered%( %essa$e on April 6, 16& A$ain, ) ad little or no ope tat 'rs& 9atton #ouldactuall( ear te tal.& ) ad no reason to tin. se #ould listen to $eneral conference& As) a"e %entioned, se #as not a %e%ber of te Curc& And ten ) learned tatso%etin$ a.in to a %iracle ad ta.en place& *a"in$ no idea #atsoe"er #o #ould bespea.in$ at conference or #at subDects te( %i$t spea. about, Latter/da( +aintnei$bors of 'rs& Terese 9atton in California, #ere se ad %o"ed, in"ited er to teiro%e to listen to a session of conference #it te%& +e accepted teir in"itation andtus #as listenin$ to te "er( session #ere ) directed %( re%ar.s to er personall(&

Burin$ te rst #ee. of 'a( 16, to %( astonis%ent and Do(, ) recei"ed a letterpost%ar.ed 9o%ona, California, and dated April 2, 16& )t #as fro% 'rs& Terese 9atton&) sare #it (ou a part of tat letter:

Bear To%%(,

) ope (ou don=t %ind %( callin$ (ou To%%(, as ) al#a(s tin. of (ou tat #a(& ) don=t.no# o# to tan. (ou for te co%fortin$ tal. (ou $a"e&





Artur #as 15 (ears old #en e enlisted in te na"(& *e #as .illed one %ont beforeis 1t birtda( on Mul( 5, 1&

)t #as #onderful of (ou to tin. of us& ) don=t .no# o# to tan. (ou for (our co%fortin$#ords, bot #en Artur died and a$ain in (our tal.& ) a"e ad %an( uestions o"er te(ears, and (ou a"e ans#ered te%& ) a% no# at peace concernin$ Artur& H God blessand .eep (ou al#a(s&

Lo"e,

Terese 9atton7 15

'( broters and sisters, ) do not belie"e it #as a coincidence tat ) #as i%pressed to$i"e tat particular %essa$e at te April 16 $eneral conference& <or do ) belie"e it #asa coincidence tat 'rs& Terese 9atton #as in"ited b( nei$bors to Doin te% in teir o%efor tat particular session of conference& ) a% certain our *ea"enl( !ater #as %indful of er needs and #anted er to ear te co%fortin$ truts of te $ospel&

Altou$ 'rs& 9atton as lon$ since left %ortalit(, ) a"e felt a stron$ i%pression to

sare #it (ou te %anner in #ic our *ea"enl( !ater blessed and pro"ided for er, a#ido#, in er need& it all te stren$t of %( soul ) testif( tat our *ea"enl( !aterlo"es eac one of us& *e ears te pra(ers of u%ble earts; *e ears our cries for elp,as *e eard 'rs& 9atton& *is +on, our +a"ior and Iedee%er, spea.s to eac of us toda(:eold, ) stand at te door, and .noc.: if an( %an ear %( "oice, and open te door, )#ill co%e in to i%&7 16

ill #e listen for tat .noc.E ill #e ear tat "oiceE ill #e open tat door to te Lord,tat #e %a( recei"e te elp *e is so read( to pro"ideE ) pra( tat #e #ill, in te sacredna%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&

October 200J General ConferenceA Io(al 9riestood

Thomas S. Monson


Ti%es %a( can$e, circu%stances %a( alter, but te %ar.s of a true olderof te priestood of God re%ain constant&

retren, as ) $ae fro% one end to te oter of tis %aDestic buildin$, ) can onl( sa(,(ou are an inspirin$ si$t to beold& )t is a%ain$ to realie tat in tousands of capelstrou$out te #orld, oters of (ouolders of te priestood of Godare recei"in$ tisbroadcast b( #a( of satellite trans%ission& <ationalities "ar( and lan$ua$es are %an(,but a co%%on tread binds us to$eter& e a"e been entrusted to bear te priestoodand to act in te na%e of God& e are te recipients of a sacred trust& 'uc is e-pectedof us&










e #o old te priestood of God and onor it are a%on$ tose #o a"e beenreser"ed for tis special period in istor(& Te Apostle 9eter described us in te secondcapter of 1 9eter, te nint "erse: Ke are a cosen $eneration, a ro(al priestood, anol( nation, a peculiar people; tat (e sould se# fort te praises of i% #o atcalled (ou out of dar.ness into is %ar"ellous li$t&7

*o# %i$t (ou and ) ualif( oursel"es to be #ort( of tat desi$nation, a ro(alpriestood7E at are te caracteristics of a true son of te li"in$ GodE Toni$t ) #ould

li.e us to consider Dust so%e of tose "er( caracteristics&

Ti%es %a( can$e, circu%stances %a( alter, but te %ar.s of a true older of tepriestood of God re%ain constant&

'a( ) su$$est tat rst of all e"er( one of us de"elop te %ar. of "ision& One #riter saidtat te door of istor( turns on s%all in$es, and so do people=s li"es& )f #e #ere toappl( tat %a-i% to our li"es, #e could sa( tat #e are te result of %an( s%alldecisions& )n eect, #e are te product of our coices& e %ust de"elop te capacit( torecall te past, to e"aluate te present, and to loo. into te future in order to acco%plisin our li"es #at te Lord #ould a"e us do&

Kou (oun$ %en oldin$ te Aaronic 9riestood sould a"e te abilit( to en"ision teda( #en (ou #ill old te 'elciede. 9riestood and ten prepare (oursel"es asdeacons, as teacers, as priests to recei"e te ol( 'elciede. 9riestood of God& Koua"e te responsibilit( to be read(, #en (ou recei"e te 'elciede. 9riestood, torespond to a call to ser"e as a %issionar( b( acceptin$ it and ten fulllin$ it& *o# ) pra(tat e"er( bo( and e"er( %an #ill a"e te %ar. of "ision&

Te second principle ) sould li.e to e%pasie as a caracteristic of a true priestoodolder of God is te %ar. of eort& )t is not enou$ to #ant to %a.e te eort and to say #e=ll %a.e te eort& e %ust actuall( make te eort& )t=s in te doing, not Dust tethinking, tat #e acco%plis our $oals& )f #e constantl( put our $oals o, #e #ill ne"ersee te% fullled& +o%eone put it tis #a(: Li"e onl( for to%orro#, and (ou #ill a"e alot of e%pt( (esterda(s toda(& 1

)n Mul( of 1J6, runner Garr( Dor.lund #as deter%ined to ualif( for te U&+& Ol(%pictea%=s 10,000/%eter race #ic #ould be run at te 'ontreal Ol(%pics& *alf#a(trou$ te $rindin$ ualif(in$ race, o#e"er, e lost is left soe& at #ould (ou and )do if tat #ere our e-perienceE ) suppose e could a"e $i"en up and stopped& *e coulda"e bla%ed is bad luc. and lost te opportunit( of participatin$ in te $reatest race ofis life, but tis ca%pion atlete did not do tat& *e ran on #itout is soe& *e .ne#tat e #ould a"e to run faster tan e ad e"er run in is life& *e .ne# tat isco%petitors no# ad an ad"anta$e tat te( did not a"e at te be$innin$ of te race&O"er tat cinder trac. e ran, #it one soe on and one soe o, nisin$ tird andualif(in$ for te opportunit( to participate in te race for te $old %edal& *is o#nrunnin$ ti%e #as te best e ad e"er recorded& *e put fort te eort necessar( toacie"e is $oal&

As priestood olders, #e %a( nd tat tere are ti%es in our li"es #en #e falter, #en#e beco%e #ear( or fati$ued, or #en #e suer a disappoint%ent or a eartace& entat appens, ) #ould ope tat #e #ill perse"ere #it e"en $reater eort to#ard our$oal&

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) add to %( list te %ar. of "irtue& Te Lord indicated tat #e sould let "irtue $arnisour tou$ts unceasin$l(& 5

) recall a priestood %eetin$ eld in te Tabernacle in +alt La.e Cit( #en ) #as a olderof te Aaronic 9riestood& Te 9resident of te Curc #as spea.in$ to te priestood,and e %ade a state%ent ) a"e ne"er for$otten& *e said, in essence, tat %en #oco%%it se-ual sin or oter sins do not do so in te t#in.lin$ of an e(e& *e e%pasiedtat our actions are preceded b( our tou$ts, and #en #e co%%it sin, it is because #e

a"e rst tou$t of co%%ittin$ tat particular sin& Ten te 9resident declared tat te#a( to a"oid sin is to .eep our tin.in$ pure& Te scripture tells us tat as #e tin. in ourearts, so are #e& 6 e %ust a"e te %ar. of "irtue&

)f #e are to be %issionaries in te .in$do% of our *ea"enl( !ater, #e %ust be entitledto te co%panionsip of *is *ol( +pirit, and #e a"e been told precisel( tat *is +pirit#ill not d#ell in i%pure or unol( tabernacles&

!inall(, %a( ) add te %ar. of pra(er& Te desire to co%%unicate #it one=s *ea"enl(!ater is a %ar. of a true priestood older of God&

As #e oer unto te Lord our fa%il( and our personal pra(ers, let us do so #it fait andtrust in *i%& Let us re%e%ber te inDunction of te Apostle 9aul to te *ebre#s: !or etat co%et to God %ust belie"e tat e is, and tat e is a re#arder of te% tatdili$entl( see. i%&7 J )f an( of us as been slo# to ear.en to te counsel to pra(al#a(s, tere is no ner our to be$in tan no#& illia% Co#per declared, +atantre%bles #en e sees te #ea.est saint upon is .nees&7 8 Tose #o feel tat pra(er%i$t denote a p(sical #ea.ness sould consider tat a %an ne"er stands taller tan#en e is upon is .nees&

'a( #e e"er re%e%ber:

1rayer is the soul)s sincere desire, 5ttered or une!ressed, he motion of a hidden re hat trembles in the breast" 8 # thou by whom we come to *od, he 2ife, the ruth, the Way% he !ath of !rayer thyself hast trod; 2ord, teach us how to !ray"

As #e culti"ate te %ar. of pra(er, #e #ill recei"e te blessin$s our *ea"enl( !ater asfor us&

)n conclusion, %a( #e a"e (ision" 'a( #e put fort e<ort" 'a( #e e-e%plif( faith and(irtue and e"er %a.e !rayer a part of our li"es& Ten #e sall indeed be a ro(alpriestood& Tis #ould be %( pra(er, %( personal pra(er tis e"enin$, and ) oer it fro%%( eart in te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&

April 2008 General Conference

















#$am%les of &i'hteousnessPresient Thomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

)t is our dut( to li"e our li"es in suc a #a( tat #e %a( be e-a%ples ofri$teousness&

Toni$t ) a% a#are tat (ou, %( bretren, bot ere in te Conference Center and intousands of oter locations, represent te lar$est $aterin$ of te priestood e"er toasse%ble& e are a part of te $reatest broterood in all te #orld& *o# fortunate andblessed #e are to be olders of te priestood of God&

e a"e been instructed and uplifted as #e a"e listened to inspired %essa$es& ) pra(tat ) %i$t a"e an interest in (our fait and pra(ers as ) sare #it (ou tose tou$tsand feelin$s tat a"e been in %( %ind latel( as ) a"e prepared to address (ou&

As bearers of te priestood, #e a"e been placed on eart in troubled ti%es& e li"e ina co%ple- #orld #it currents of con3ict e"er(#ere to be found& 9olitical %acinationsruin te stabilit( of nations, despots $rasp for po#er, and se$%ents of societ( see%fore"er do#ntrodden, depri"ed of opportunit(, and left #it a feelin$ of failure&

e #o a"e been ordained to te priestood of God can %a.e a dierence& en #eualif( for te elp of te Lord, #e can build bo(s, #e can %end %en, #e can acco%plis%iracles in *is ol( ser"ice& Our opportunities are #itout li%it&

Ours is te tas. to be ttin$ e-a%ples& e are stren$tened b( te trut tat te

$reatest force in te #orld toda( is te po#er of God as it #or.s trou$ %an& )f #e areon te Lord=s errand, bretren, #e are entitled to te Lord=s elp& <e"er for$et tat trut& Tat di"ine elp, of course, is predicated upon our #ortiness& ac %ust as.: Are %(ands cleanE )s %( eart pureE A% ) a #ort( ser"ant of te LordE

e are surrounded b( so %uc tat is desi$ned to di"ert our attention fro% tose tin$s#ic are "irtuous and $ood and to te%pt us #it tat #ic #ould cause us to beun#ort( to e-ercise te priestood #e bear& ) spea. not Dust to te (oun$ %en of teAaronic 9riestood but to tose of all a$es& Te%ptations co%e in "arious for%strou$out our li"es&

retren, are #e ualied at all ti%es to perfor% te sacred duties associated #it tepriestood #e bearE Koun$ %en(ou #o are priestsare (ou clean in bod( and spiritas (ou sit at te sacra%ent table on +unda( and bless te e%ble%s of te sacra%entE Koun$ %en #o are teacers, are (ou #ort( to prepare te sacra%entE Beacons, as (oupass te sacra%ent to te %e%bers of te Curc, do (ou do so .no#in$ tat (ou arespirituall( ualied to do soE Boes eac of (ou full( understand te i%portance of all tesacred duties (ou perfor%E

'( (oun$ friends, be stron$& Te pilosopies of %en surround us& Te face of sin toda(often #ears te %as. of tolerance& Bo not be decei"ed; beind tat facade is eartace,unappiness, and pain& Kou .no# #at is ri$t and #at is #ron$, and no dis$uise,



o#e"er appealin$, can can$e tat& Te caracter of trans$ression re%ains te sa%e& )f(our so/called friends ur$e (ou to do an(tin$ (ou .no# to be #ron$, you be te one to%a.e a stand for ri$t, e"en if (ou stand alone& *a"e te %oral coura$e to be a li$t foroters to follo#& Tere is no friendsip %ore "aluable tan (our o#n clear conscience,(our o#n %oral cleanlinessand #at a $lorious feelin$ it is to .no# tat (ou stand in(our appointed place clean and #it te condence tat (ou are #ort( to do so&

retren of te 'elciede. 9riestood, do (ou stri"e dili$entl( eac da( to li"e as (ou

souldE Are (ou .ind and lo"in$ to (our #ife and (our cildrenE Are (ou onest in (ourdealin$s #it tose around (ouat all ti%es and in all circu%stancesE

)f an( of (ou as slipped alon$ te #a(, tere are tose #o #ill elp (ou to once a$ainbeco%e clean and #ort(& Kour bisop or branc president is an-ious and #illin$ to elpand #ill, #it understandin$ and co%passion, do all #itin is po#er to assist (ou in terepentance process, tat (ou %a( once a$ain stand in ri$teousness before te Lord&

'an( of (ou #ill re%e%ber 9resident <& ldon Tanner, #o ser"ed as a counselor to four9residents of te Curc& *e pro"ided an unde"iatin$ e-a%ple of ri$teousnesstrou$out a career in industr(, durin$ ser"ice in te $o"ern%ent in Canada, and

consistentl( in is pri"ate life& *e $a"e us tis inspired counsel:

<otin$ #ill brin$ $reater Do( and success tan to li"e accordin$ to te teacin$s of te$ospel& e an e-a%ple; be an in3uence for $ood& H

"er( one of us as been foreordained for so%e #or. as ?God=s@ cosen ser"ant on#o% e as seen t to confer te priestood and po#er to act in is na%e& Al#a(sre%e%ber tat people are loo.in$ to (ou for leadersip and (ou are in3uencin$ te li"esof indi"iduals eiter for $ood or for bad, #ic in3uence #ill be felt for $enerations toco%e&71

'( bretren, ) reiterate tat, as olders of te priestood of God, it is our dut( to li"e ourli"es in suc a #a( tat #e %a( be e-a%ples of ri$teousness for oters to follo#& As )a"e pondered o# #e %i$t best pro"ide suc e-a%ples, ) a"e tou$t of ane-perience ) ad so%e (ears a$o #ile attendin$ a sta.e conference& Burin$ te $eneralsession, ) obser"ed a (oun$ bo( sittin$ #it is fa%il( on te front ro# of te sta.ecenter& ) #as seated on te stand& As te %eetin$ pro$ressed, ) be$an to notice tat if )crossed one le$ o"er te oter, te (oun$ bo( #ould do te sa%e tin$& )f ) re"ersed te%otion and crossed te oter le$, e #ould follo# suit& ) #ould put %( ands in %( lap,and e #ould do te sa%e& ) rested %( cin in %( and, and e also did so& ate"er )did, e #ould i%itate %( actions& Tis continued until te ti%e approaced for %e toaddress te con$re$ation& ) decided to put i% to te test& ) loo.ed suarel( at i%,certain ) ad is attention, and ten ) #i$$led %( ears& *e %ade a "ain atte%pt to do tesa%e, but ) ad i%F *e Dust couldn=t uite $et is ears to #i$$le& *e turned to is fater,#o #as sittin$ ne-t to i%, and #ispered so%etin$ to i%& *e pointed to is ears andten to %e& As is fater loo.ed in %( direction, ob"iousl( to see %( ears #i$$le, ) satsole%nl( #it %( ar%s folded, not %o"in$ a %uscle& Te fater $lanced bac. s.epticall(at is son, #o loo.ed sli$tl( defeated& *e nall( $a"e %e a seepis $rin andsru$$ed is soulders&

) a"e tou$t about tat e-perience o"er te (ears as )="e conte%plated o#,particularl( #en #e=re (oun$, #e tend to i%itate te e-a%ple of our parents, our

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leaders, our peers& Te propet ri$a% Koun$ said: e sould ne"er per%it oursel"esto do an(tin$ tat #e are not #illin$ to see our cildren do& e sould set te% ane-a%ple tat #e #is te% to i%itate&72

To (ou #o are faters of bo(s or #o are leaders of bo(s, ) sa(, stri"e to be te .ind ofe-a%ple te bo(s need& Te fater, of course, sould be te pri%e e-a%ple, and te bo(#o is blessed #it a #ort( fater is fortunate indeed& "en an e-e%plar( fa%il(,o#e"er, #it dili$ent and faitful fater and %oter, can use all te supporti"e elp

te( can $et fro% $ood %en #o $enuinel( care& Tere is also te bo( #o as no fateror #ose fater is not currentl( pro"idin$ te t(pe of e-a%ple needed& !or tat bo(, teLord as pro"ided a net#or. of elpers #itin te Curcbisops, ad"isers, teacers,+cout%asters, o%e teacers& en te Lord=s pro$ra% is in eect and properl(#or.in$, no (oun$ %an in te Curc sould be #itout te in3uence of $ood %en in islife&

Te eecti"eness of an inspired bisop, ad"iser, or teacer as "er( little to do #it teout#ard trappin$s of po#er or an abundance of tis #orld=s $oods& Te leaders #o a"ete %ost in3uence are usuall( tose #o set earts are #it de"otion to te trut, #o%a.e obedience to dut( see% te essence of %anood, #o transfor% so%e ordinar(

routine occurrence so tat it beco%es a "ista #ere #e see te person #e aspire to be&

<ot to be o"erloo.edand in fact our pri%ar( e-a%pleis our +a"ior, Mesus Crist& *isbirt #as foretold b( propets; an$els eralded te announce%ent of *is eartl(%inistr(& *e $re#, and #a-ed stron$ in spirit, lled #it #isdo%: and te $race of God#as upon i%&7>

aptied of Mon in te ri"er .no#n as Mordan, *e co%%enced *is o4cial %inistr( to%en& To te sopistr( of +atan, Mesus turned *is bac.& To te dut( desi$nated b( *is!ater, *e turned *is face, pled$ed *is eart, and $a"e *is life& And #at a sinless,sel3ess, noble, and di"ine life it #as& Mesus labored& Mesus lo"ed& Mesus ser"ed& Mesustestied& at ner e-a%ple could #e stri"e to e%ulateE Let us be$in no#, tis "er(ni$t, to do so& Cast o fore"er #ill be te old self and #it it defeat, despair, doubt, anddisbelief& To a ne#ness of life #e co%ea life of fait, ope, coura$e, and Do(& <o tas.loo%s too lar$e; no responsibilit( #ei$s too ea"il(; no dut( is a burden& All tin$sbeco%e possible&

'an( (ears a$o ) spo.e of one #o too. is e-a%ple fro% te +a"ior, one #o stood r%and true, stron$ and #ort( trou$ te stor%s of life& *e coura$eousl( %a$nied ispriestood callin$s& *e pro"ides an e-a%ple to eac of us& *is na%e #as To%as'icael ilson, te son of illie and Mulia ilson of Lafa(ette, Alaba%a&

en e #as but a teena$er and e and is fa%il( #ere not (et %e%bers of te Curc,e #as stric.en #it cancer, follo#ed b( painful radiation terap(, and ten blessedre%ission& Tis illness caused is fa%il( to realie tat not onl( is life precious but tat itcan also be sort& Te( be$an to loo. to reli$ion to elp te% trou$ tis ti%e oftribulation& +ubseuentl(, te( #ere introduced to te Curc, and e"entuall( all but tefater #ere baptied& After acceptin$ te $ospel, (oun$ roter ilson (earned for teopportunit( of bein$ a %issionar(, e"en tou$ e #as older tan %ost (oun$ %en #ente( be$in teir %issionar( ser"ice& At te a$e of 2>, e recei"ed a %ission call to ser"ein te Uta +alt La.e Cit( 'ission&







lder ilson=s %issionar( co%panions described is fait as unuestionin$, unde"iatin$,and un(ieldin$& *e #as an e-a%ple to all& *o#e"er, after 11 %onts of %issionar(ser"ice, illness returned& one cancer no# reuired te a%putation of is ar% andsoulder& Ket e persisted in is %issionar( labors&

lder ilson=s coura$e and consu%in$ desire to re%ain on is %ission so touced isnon%e%ber fater tat e in"esti$ated te teacin$s of te Curc and also beca%e a%e%ber&

) learned tat an in"esti$ator #o% lder ilson ad tau$t #as baptied but ten#anted to be conr%ed b( lder ilson, #o% se respected so %uc& +e, #it a fe#oters, Dourne(ed to lder ilson=s bedside in te ospital& Tere, #it is re%ainin$and restin$ upon er ead, lder ilson conr%ed er a %e%ber of Te Curc of Mesus Crist of Latter/da( +aints&

lder ilson continued %ont after %ont is precious but painful ser"ice as a%issionar(& lessin$s #ere $i"en; pra(ers #ere oered& ecause of is e-a%ple ofdedication, is fello# %issionaries li"ed closer to God&

lder ilson=s p(sical condition deteriorated& Te end dre# near, and e #as to returno%e& *e as.ed to ser"e but one additional %ont, and is reuest #as $ranted& *e putis fait in God, and *e #o% To%as 'icael ilson silentl( trusted opened te#indo#s of ea"en and abundantl( blessed i%& *is parents, illie and Mulia ilson, andis broter Ton( ca%e to +alt La.e Cit( to elp teir son and broter o%e to Alaba%a&*o#e"er, tere #as (et a pra(ed/for, a (earned/for blessin$ to be besto#ed& Te fa%il(in"ited %e to co%e #it te% to te Mordan Ii"er te%ple, #ere tose sacred ordinances#ic bind fa%ilies for eternit(, as #ell as for ti%e, #ere perfor%ed&

) said $ood/b(e to te ilson fa%il(& ) can see lder ilson (et as e tan.ed %e forbein$ #it i% and is lo"ed ones& *e said, )t doesn=t %atter #at appens to us in tislife as lon$ as #e a"e te $ospel of Mesus Crist and li"e it& )t doesn=t %atter #eter )teac te $ospel on tis or te oter side of te "eil, so lon$ as ) can teac it&7 atcoura$e& at condence& at lo"e& Te ilson fa%il( %ade te lon$ tre. o%e toLafa(ette, #ere lder To%as 'icael ilson slipped fro% ere to eternit(& *e #asburied tere #it is %issionar( ta$ in place&

'( bretren, as #e no# lea"e tis $eneral priestood %eetin$, let us all deter%ine toprepare for our ti%e of opportunit( and to onor te priestood #e bear trou$ teser"ice #e render, te li"es #e bless, and te souls #e are pri"ile$ed to elp sa"e& Kouare a cosen $eneration, a ro(al priestood, an ol( nation,7 and (ou can %a.e adierence& To tese truts ) testif( in te na%e of Mesus Crist, our +a"ior, a%en&


(ookin' )ack an Mo*in' For+arPresient Thomas S. Monson





Presient of the Church

To$eter #e sall %o"e for#ard doin$ *is #or.&

) tin. tis as been a re%ar.able session& Te %essa$es a"e been inspirin$; te %usicas been beautiful, te testi%onies sincere& ) tin. an(one #o as attended tis session#ill ne"er for$et itfor te +pirit #e="e felt&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, o"er (ears a$o, in October of 16>, ) stood at tepulpit in te Tabernacle, a"in$ Dust been sustained as a %e%ber of te Nuoru% of te T#el"e Apostles& On tat occasion ) %entioned a s%all si$n ) ad seen on anoter pulpit& Te #ords on te si$n #ere tese: o stands at tis pulpit, let i% be u%ble&7 )assure (ou tat ) #as u%bled b( %( call to te T#el"e at tat ti%e& *o#e"er, as ) standat this pulpit toda(, ) address (ou fro% te absolute depts of u%ilit(& ) feel "er( .eenl(%( dependence upon te Lord& ) u%bl( see. te $uidance of te +pirit as ) sare #it(ou te feelin$s of %( eart&

Must t#o %onts a$o #e said fare#ell to our dear friend and leader Gordon & *inc.le(,te 15t 9resident of Te Curc of Mesus Crist of Latter/da( +aints, an outstandin$a%bassador of trut to te entire #orld and belo"ed of all& e %iss i%& 'ore tan5>,000 %en, #o%en, and cildren Dourne(ed to te beautiful *all of te 9ropets in tis"er( buildin$ to pa( teir last respects to tis $iant of te Lord, #o no# belon$s to tea$es&

it te passin$ of 9resident *inc.le(, te !irst 9residenc( #as dissol"ed& 9resident(rin$ and ), #o ser"ed as counselors to 9resident *inc.le(, returned to our places inte Nuoru% of te T#el"e Apostles, and tat uoru% beca%e te presidin$ autorit( ofte Curc&

On +aturda(, !ebruar( 2, 2008, funeral ser"ices for 9resident *inc.le( #ere eld in tis%a$nicent Conference Centera buildin$ #ic #ill e"er stand as a %onu%ent to isforesi$t and "ision& Burin$ te funeral, beautiful and lo"in$ tributes #ere paid to tis%an of God&

Te follo#in$ da(, all 1 ordained Apostles li"in$ on te eart asse%bled in an upperroo% of te +alt La.e Te%ple& e %et in a spirit of fastin$ and pra(er& Burin$ tatsole%n and sacred $aterin$, te 9residenc( of te Curc #as reor$anied inaccordance #it #ell/establised precedent, after te pattern #ic te Lord *i%self putin place&

'e%bers of te Curc around te #orld con"ened (esterda( in a sole%n asse%bl(& Kouraised (our ands in a sustainin$ "ote to appro"e te action #ic #as ta.en in tat%eetin$ in te te%ple to #ic ) a"e Dust referred& As (our ands #ere raised to#ardea"en, %( eart #as touced& ) felt (our lo"e and support, as #ell as (our co%%it%entto te Lord&

) .no# #itout uestion, %( broters and sisters, tat God li"es& ) testif( to (ou tat tisis *is #or.& ) testif( as #ell tat our +a"ior Mesus Crist is at te ead of tis Curc,#ic bears *is na%e& ) .no# tat te s#eetest e-perience in all tis life is to feel *ispro%ptin$s as *e directs us in te furterance of *is #or.& ) felt tose pro%ptin$s as a



(oun$ bisop, $uided to te o%es #ere tere #as spiritualor peraps te%poral#ant& ) felt te% a$ain as a %ission president in Toronto, Canada, #or.in$ #it #onderful%issionaries #o #ere a li"in$ #itness and testi%on( to te #orld tat tis #or. isdi"ine and tat #e are led b( a propet& ) a"e felt te% trou$out %( ser"ice in te T#el"e and in te !irst 9residenc( and no# as 9resident of te Curc& ) testif( tat eacone of us can feel te Lord=s inspiration as #e li"e #ortil( and stri"e to ser"e *i%&

) a% .eenl( a#are of te 15 %en #o preceded %e as 9resident of te Curc& 'an( of

te% ) a"e .no#n personall(& ) a"e ad te blessin$ and pri"ile$e of ser"in$ as acounselor to tree of te%& ) a% $rateful for te abidin$ le$ac( left b( eac one of tose15 %en& ) a"e te sure .no#led$e, as ) a% condent te( ad, tat God directs *ispropet& '( earnest pra(er is tat ) %i$t continue to be a #ort( instru%ent in *isands to carr( on tis $reat #or. and to fulll te tre%endous responsibilities #icco%e #it te o4ce of 9resident&

) tan. te Lord for #onderful counselors& 9resident *enr( & (rin$ and 9resident Bieter!& Uctdorf are %en of $reat abilit( and sound understandin$& Te( are counselors in tetrue sense of te #ord& ) "alue teir Dud$%ent& ) belie"e te( a"e been prepared b( teLord for te positions te( no# occup(& ) lo"e te %e%bers of te Nuoru% of te T#el"e

Apostles and treasure %( association #it te%& Te(, too, are dedicated to te #or. ofte Lord and are spendin$ teir li"es in *is ser"ice& ) loo. for#ard to ser"in$ #it lderCristoerson, #o as no# been called to tat uoru% and #o as recei"ed (oursustainin$ "ote& *e, too, as been prepared for te position to #ic e as been called&)t as also been a Do( to ser"e #it te %e%bers of te uoru%s of te +e"ent( and #itte 9residin$ isopric& <e# %e%bers of te +e"ent( a"e been called and #eresustained (esterda(, and ) loo. for#ard to associatin$ #it te% in te #or. of te'aster&

A s#eet spirit of unit( e-ists a%on$ te General Autorities& Te Lord as declared, )f (eare not one (e are not %ine&71 e #ill continue to be united in one purposena%el(, tefurterance of te #or. of te Lord&

) feel to e-press tan.s to %( *ea"enl( !ater for *is countless blessin$s to %e& ) cansa(, as did <epi of old, tat ) #as born of $oodl( parents, #ose o#n parents and$randparents #ere $atered out of te lands of +#eden and +cotland and n$land b(dedicated %issionaries& As tose %issionaries bore u%ble testi%onies, te( toucedte earts and te spirits of %( forebears& After Doinin$ te Curc, tese noble %en,#o%en, and cildren %ade teir #a( to te "alle( of te Great +alt La.e& 'an( #ere tetrials and eartaces te( encountered alon$ te #a(&

)n te sprin$ of 188, %( $reat/$reat/$randparents, Carles +te#art 'iller and 'ar('cGo#an 'iller, #o ad Doined te Curc in teir nati"e +cotland, left teir o%e inIuter$len, +cotland, and Dourne(ed to +t& Louis, 'issouri, #it a $roup of +aints, arri"in$tere in 18& One of teir 11 cildren, 'ar$aret, #ould beco%e %( $reat/$rand%oter&

ile te fa%il( #as in +t& Louis #or.in$ to earn enou$ %one( to co%plete teir Dourne( to te +alt La.e Walle(, a pla$ue of colera s#ept trou$ te area, lea"in$deat and eartace in its #a.e& Te 'iller fa%il( #as ard it& )n te space of t#o#ee.s, four of te fa%il( %e%bers succu%bed& Te rst, on Mune 22, 18, #as 18/(ear/old illia%& !i"e da(s later 'ar( 'cGo#an 'iller, %( $reat/$reat/$rand%oter and te%oter of te fa%il(, died& T#o da(s after#ard, 15/(ear/old Arcibald passed a#a(, and

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"e da(s after is deat, %( $reat/$reat/$randfater, Carles +te#art 'iller, fater ofte fa%il(, succu%bed& Te cildren #o sur"i"ed #ere left orpans, includin$ %( $reat/$rand%oter 'ar$aret, #o #as 1> (ears old at te ti%e&

ecause of so %an( deats in te area, tere #ere no cas.ets a"ailable, at an( price, in#ic to bur( te deceased fa%il( %e%bers& Te older sur"i"in$ bo(s dis%antled tefa%il(=s o-en pens in order to %a.e cas.ets for te fa%il( %e%bers #o ad passeda#a(&

Little is recorded of te eartace and stru$$les of te nine re%ainin$ 'iller cildren aste( continued to #or. and sa"e for tat Dourne( teir parents and broters #ould ne"er%a.e& e .no# tat te( left +t& Louis in te sprin$ of 1850 #it four o-en and one#a$on, arri"in$ nall( in te +alt La.e Walle( tat sa%e (ear&

Oters of %( ancestors faced si%ilar ardsips& Trou$ it all, o#e"er, teir testi%oniesre%ained steadfast and r%& !ro% all of te% ) recei"ed a le$ac( of total dedication tote $ospel of Mesus Crist& ecause of tese faitful souls, ) stand before (ou toda(&

) tan. %( !ater in *ea"en for %( s#eet co%panion, !rances& Tis October se and )

#ill celebrate 60 #onderful (ears of %arria$e& Altou$ %( Curc ser"ice be$an at anearl( a$e, se as ne"er once co%plained #en )="e left o%e to attend %eetin$s or tofulll an assi$n%ent& !or %an( (ears %( assi$n%ents as a %e%ber of te T#el"e too.%e a#a( fro% +alt La.e Cit( oftenso%eti%es for "e #ee.s at a ti%elea"in$ eralone to care for our s%all cildren and our o%e& e$innin$ #en ) #as called as abisop at te a$e of 22, #e a"e seldo% ad te lu-ur( of sittin$ to$eter durin$ aCurc ser"ice& ) could not a"e as.ed for a %ore lo(al, lo"in$, and understandin$co%panion&

) e-press $ratitude to %( *ea"enl( !ater for our tree cildren and teir co%panions,for ei$t #onderful $randcildren, and for four beautiful $reat/$randcildren&

)t=s di4cult for %e to nd te #ords to con"e( to (ou, %( broters and sisters, %(eartfelt appreciation for te li"es (ou li"e, for te $ood (ou do, for te testi%onies (oubear& Kou ser"e one anoter #illin$l(& Kou are dedicated to te $ospel of Mesus Crist&

Burin$ %ore tan (ears as a General Autorit(, ) a"e ad te opportunit( to tra"elte #orld o"er& One of %( $reatest Do(s as been to %eet #it (ou, te %e%bers,#ere"er (ou %a( beto feel of (our spirit and (our lo"e& ) loo. for#ard to %an( %oresuc opportunities&

Trou$out te Dourne( alon$ te pat#a( of life, tere are casualties& +o%e depart fro%te road %ar.ers #ic point to#ard life eternal, onl( to disco"er te detour cosenulti%atel( leads to a dead end& )ndierence, carelessness, selsness, and sin all ta.eteir costl( toll in u%an li"es&

Can$e for te better can co%e to all& O"er te (ears #e a"e issued appeals to te lessacti"e, te oended, te critical, te trans$ressorto co%e bac.& Co%e bac. and feastat te table of te Lord, and taste a$ain te s#eet and satisf(in$ fruits of fello#sip #itte +aints&72





)n te pri"ate sanctuar( of one=s o#n conscience lies tat spirit, tat deter%ination tocast o te old person and to %easure up to te stature of true potential& )n tis spirit,#e a$ain issue tat eartfelt in"itation: Co%e bac.& e reac out to (ou in te pure lo"eof Crist and e-press our desire to assist (ou and to #elco%e (ou into full fello#sip& Totose #o are #ounded in spirit or #o are stru$$lin$ and fearful, #e sa(, Let us lift (ouand ceer (ou and cal% (our fears& Ta.e literall( te Lord=s in"itation, Co%e unto %e,all (e tat labour and are ea"( laden, and ) #ill $i"e (ou rest& Ta.e %( (o.e upon (ou,and learn of %e; for ) a% %ee. and lo#l( in eart: and (e sall nd rest unto (our souls&

!or %( (o.e is eas(, and %( burden is li$t&7>

)t #as said of te +a"ior tat *e #ent about doin$ $ood H for God #as #it i%&7 'a(#e follo# tat perfect e-a%ple& )n tis so%eti%es precarious Dourne( trou$ %ortalit(,%a( #e also follo# tat ad"ice fro% te Apostle 9aul #ic #ill elp to .eep us safe andon course: atsoe"er tin$s are true, #atsoe"er tin$s are onest, #atsoe"ertin$s are Dust, #atsoe"er tin$s are pure, #atsoe"er tin$s are lo"el(, #atsoe"ertin$s are of $ood report; if tere be an( "irtue, and if tere be an( praise, tin. ontese tin$s&75

) #ould encoura$e %e%bers of te Curc #ere"er te( %a( be to so# .indness and

respect for all people e"er(#ere& Te #orld in #ic #e li"e is lled #it di"ersit(& ecan and sould de%onstrate respect to#ard tose #ose beliefs dier fro% ours&

'a( #e also de%onstrate .indness and lo"e #itin our o#n fa%ilies& Our o%es are tobe %ore tan sanctuaries; te( sould also be places #ere God=s +pirit can d#ell,#ere te stor% stops at te door, #ere lo"e rei$ns and peace d#ells&

Te #orld can at ti%es be a fri$tenin$ place in #ic to li"e& Te %oral fabric of societ(see%s to be unra"elin$ at an alar%in$ speed& <one#eter (oun$ or old or in/bet#eenis e-e%pt fro% e-posure to tose tin$s #ic a"e te potential to dra$ us do#n anddestro( us& Our (out, our precious (out, in particular, face te%ptations #e canscarcel( co%preend& Te ad"ersar( and is osts see% to be #or.in$ nonstop to causeour do#nfall&

e are #a$in$ a #ar #it sin, %( broters and sisters, but #e need not despair& )t is a#ar #e can and #ill #in& Our !ater in *ea"en as $i"en us te tools #e need in order todo so& *e is at te el%& e a"e notin$ to fear& *e is te God of li$t& *e is te God ofope& ) testif( tat *e lo"es useac one&

'ortalit( is a period of testin$, a ti%e to pro"e oursel"es #ort( to return to tepresence of our *ea"enl( !ater& )n order to be tested, #e %ust so%eti%es facecallen$es and di4culties& At ti%es tere appears to be no li$t at te tunnel=s endnoda#n to brea. te ni$t=s dar.ness& e feel surrounded b( te pain of bro.en earts, tedisappoint%ent of sattered drea%s, and te despair of "anised opes& e Doin inutterin$ te biblical plea )s tere no bal% in GileadE7 6 e are inclined to "ie# our o#npersonal %isfortunes trou$ te distorted pris% of pessi%is%& e feel abandoned,eartbro.en, alone& )f (ou nd (ourself in suc a situation, ) plead #it (ou to turn to our*ea"enl( !ater in fait& *e #ill lift (ou and $uide (ou& *e #ill not al#a(s ta.e (ouraictions fro% (ou, but *e #ill co%fort and lead (ou #it lo"e trou$ #ate"er stor%(ou face&











it all %( eart and te fer"enc( of %( soul, ) lift %( "oice in testi%on( toda( as aspecial #itness and declare tat God does li"e& Mesus is *is +on, te Onl( e$otten of te!ater in te 3es& *e is our Iedee%er; *e is our 'ediator #it te !ater& *e lo"es us#it a lo"e #e cannot full( co%preend, and because *e lo"es us, *e $a"e *is life forus& '( $ratitude to *i% is be(ond e-pression&

) in"o.e *is blessin$s upon (ou, %( belo"ed broters and sisters, in (our o%es, in (our#or., in (our ser"ice to one anoter and to te Lord *i%self& To$eter #e sall %o"e

for#ard doin$ *is #or.&

) pled$e %( life, %( stren$tall tat ) a"e to oerin ser"in$ *i% and in directin$ teaairs of *is Curc in accordance #it *is #ill and b( *is inspiration, and ) do so in *isol( na%ee"en te Lord Mesus Crista%en&


unantl! )lessePresient Thomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

Our testi%onies a"e been stren$tened& ) belie"e #e are all te %oredeter%ined to li"e te principles of te $ospel of Mesus Crist&

)="e been attendin$ conference for a lon$ ti%e& ut ) tin. )="e ne"er felt uite as ricl(

blessed as durin$ tis session& e="e ad rapid/re %essa$es fro% a lot of spea.ers, bute"er( one touced on a "er( i%portant subDect& e="e ad a s%or$asbord toda( of fait,of lo"e, and of counsel& Let=s incorporate tese tin$s in our li"es&

roter allard, se"eral (ears a$o %( dear #ife #ent to te ospital& +e left a notebeind for te cildren: Bear cildren, do not let Badd( touc te %icro#a"e7follo#edb( a co%%a, or te sto"e, or te dis#aser, or te dr(er&7 )=% e%barrassed to add an(%ore to tat list&

) tin. it #as roter Uctdorf #o said, Kou told te audience toda( about (ourerita$e on (our %oter=s side& at about (our fater=s sideE7 +o ) conclude #it Dust a#ord or t#o about %( fater=s side&

'( fater=s fater ca%e fro% +#eden, and is #ife fro% n$land& Te( %et on te sipco%in$ o"er& *e #aited for er to $ro# up, and ten e proposed %arria$e& Te( #ere%arried in te +alt La.e Te%ple, and e #rote in is Dournal, Toda( is te appiest da(of %( life& '( s#eeteart and ) #ere %arried for ti%e and eternit( in te ol( te%ple&7

Tree da(s later, on April 2>, 188, e #rote, Too. te train at te Iio Grande esternBepot enroute e"entuall( to +candina"ia, #ere ) a"e been called as a %issionar(&7 Oe #ent to +#eden, lea"in$ is bride of tree da(s&



*is Dournal, #ritten in pencil, ca%e to %e fro% an uncle #o so%eo# cose %e torecei"e is fater=s Dournal& Te %ost freuent entr( in te Dournal #as, '( feet are#et&7 ut te %ost beautiful entr( said: Toda( #e #ent to te Mansson o%e& e %et+ister Mansson& +e ad a lo"el( dinner for us& +e is a $ood coo.&7 And ten e said,Te cildren all san$ or pla(ed a ar%onica or did a little dance, and ten se paid ertitin$& !i"e .rona for te Lord and one for %( co%panion, lder )pson, and one for %e&7And ten tere #ere listed te na%es of te cildren&

en ) read tat in te Dournal, tere #as %( #ife=s fater=s na%e as one #o #as intat ouseold, one #o probabl( san$ a son$, one #o beca%e te fater of onl( onedau$ter, te $irl #o% ) %arried&

Te rst da( ) sa# !rances, ) .ne# )=d found te ri$t one& Te Lord brou$t us to$eterlater, and ) as.ed er to $o out #it %e& ) #ent to er o%e to call on er& +eintroduced %e, and er fater said, R'onson=tat=s a +#edis na%e, isn=t itE7

) said, Kes&7

*e said, Good&7

Ten e #ent into anoter roo% and brou$t out a picture of t#o %issionaries #it teirtop ats and teir copies of te oo. of 'or%on&

Are (ou related to tis 'onson,7 e said, lias 'onsonE7

) said, Kes, e=s %( $randfater=s broter& *e too #as a %issionar( in +#eden&7

*er fater #ept& *e #ept easil(& *e said, *e and is co%panion #ere te %issionaries#o tau$t te $ospel to %( %oter and %( fater and all of %( broters and sistersand to %e&7 *e .issed %e on te cee.& And ten er %oter cried, and se .issed %eon te oter cee.& And ten ) loo.ed around for !rances& +e said, )=ll $o $et %( coat&7

'( s#eet !rances ad a terrible fall a fe# (ears a$o& +e #ent to te ospital& +e la( ina co%a for about 18 da(s& ) sat b( er side& +e ne"er %o"ed a %uscle& Te cildrencried, te $randcildren cried, and ) #ept& <ot a %o"e%ent&

And ten one da(, se opened er e(es& ) set a speed record in $ettin$ to er side& )$a"e er a .iss and a u$, and ) said, Kou=re bac.& ) lo"e (ou&7 And se said, ) lo"e (ou,too, To%, but #e=re in serious trouble&7 ) tou$t, at do (ou .no# about trouble,!rancesE +e said, ) for$ot to %ail in our fourt/uarter inco%e ta- pa(%ent&7

) said to er, !rances, if (ou ad said tat before (ou e-tended a .iss to %e and told %e(ou lo"e %e, ) %i$t a"e left (ou ere&7

retren, let=s treat our #i"es #it di$nit( and #it respect& Te(=re our eternalco%panions& +isters, onor (our usbands& Te( need to ear a $ood #ord& Te( need afriendl( s%ile& Te( need a #ar% e-pression of true lo"e&

Lea"in$ %( o#n fa%il( for a %o%ent, %( broters and sisters, tis as been a #onderfulconference& e a"e been edied b( #ise and inspired %essa$es& Our testi%onies a"e



been stren$tened& ) belie"e #e are all te %ore deter%ined to li"e te principles of te$ospel of Mesus Crist&

<ot onl( a"e #e been blessed b( te ne tal.s #ic a"e been $i"en; #e a"e alsobeen uplifted b( te beautiful %usic #ic as been pro"ided& e are abundantl(blessed in te Curc b( tose #o sare teir %usical talents #it us& "er( coir andcorus as perfor%ed so #ell durin$ te past t#o da(s&

) e-press %( $reat lo"e for all tose #o a"e participated and to all of (ou #o a"elistened& ) a"e felt (our pra(ers in %( bealf and a"e been sustained and blesseddurin$ te t#o %onts since our belo"ed 9resident *inc.le( left us& Once a$ain, )appreciate (our sustainin$ "ote&

) cannot adeuatel( e-press %( $ratitude for te Iestoration of te $ospel in tese latterda(s and for #at tat as %eant in %( life& ac of us as been in3uenced and sapedas #e a"e follo#ed te +a"ior and a"e adered to te principles of *is $ospel&

To (ou #o are parents, ) sa(, so# lo"e to (our cildren& Kou .no# (ou lo"e te%, but%a.e certain te( .no# it as #ell& Te( are so precious& Let te% .no#& Call upon our

*ea"enl( !ater for elp as (ou care for teir needs eac da( and as (ou deal #it tecallen$es #ic ine"itabl( co%e #it parentood& Kou need %ore tan (our o#n#isdo% in rearin$ te%&

e co%%end our #onderful (oun$ people #o stand up to te iniuit( in te #orld and#o li"e te co%%and%ents to te best of teir abilit(&

To (ou #o are able to attend te te%ple, ) #ould counsel (ou to $o often& Boin$ so #illelp to stren$ten %arria$es and fa%ilies&

Let us be .ind to one anoter, be a#are of eac oter=s needs, and tr( to elp in tatre$ard&

'( dear broters and sisters, ) lo"e (ou, and ) pra( for (ou& 9lease pra( for %e& Andto$eter #e #ill reap te blessin$s our *ea"enl( !ater as in store for eac one of us& Tis is %( pra(er, %( plea as ) add %( testi%on(& Tis #or. is true& )n te na%e of MesusCrist, a%en&

October 2008 General Conference

elcome to ConferencePresient Thomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

Our *ea"enl( !ater is %indful of eac one of us and our needs& 'a( #e belled #it *is +pirit as #e parta.e of te proceedin$s of tis H conference&



'( dear broters and sisters, te past si- %onts since last #e %et see% to a"e 3o#nb(& 'uc as transpired as te #or. of te Lord as %o"ed for#ard uninterrupted&

)t as been %( pri"ile$e, acco%panied b( %( counselors and b( oter GeneralAutorities, to dedicate tree ne# te%ples: in Curitiba, rail; in 9ana%a Cit(, 9ana%a;and in T#in !alls, )daobrin$in$ to 128 te nu%ber of te%ples in operation trou$outte #orld&

Te e"enin$ before eac of te te%ple dedications too. place, %a$nicent culturale"ents #ere eld& )n Curitiba, rail, ,>>0 %e%bers fro% te te%ple district, supportedb( a coir of 1,J00 "oices, presented a %ost inspirational pro$ra% trou$ son$, dance,and "ideo& Te enor%ous soccer stadiu% #ere te e"ent too. place #as lled #itspectators& Te #ind ad been blo#in$, and rain treatened& ) oered a silent pra(eras.in$ *ea"enl( !ater to loo. #it %erc( upon tose #o ad prepared so dili$entl( forour entertain%ent and #ose costu%es and presentations #ould be da%a$ed if a ea"(rain or #ind en"eloped te%& *e onored tat pra(er, and it #asn=t until te end of teso# and later on tat e"enin$ tat rain fell in abundance&

A istor( of te Curc in rail #as portra(ed in son$ and dance& A particularl( %o"in$

scene #as te portra(al of lders Ma%es & !aust and illia% Grant an$erter, #oser"ed as %issionaries in Curitiba in 10& As teir potos #ere displa(ed on lar$escreens, a tre%endous ceer #ent up fro% te audience& All in all, it #as a $loriouse"ent&

)n 9ana%a Cit(, 9ana%a, te e"enin$ before te dedication of te te%ple tere, #e#atced so%e 00 of our (out, $atered fro% across 9ana%a& Te( #ere dressed incolorful fol.loric costu%es as te( danced and presented %essa$es of fa%il(, fello#sip,and fait& e learned tat te( ad been practicin$ for a (ear& Te( ca%e fro% points asdistant as te +an las )slands and te Can$uinola re$ion in norteast 9ana%a& Te tripto te capital cit( for te +an las (out e-acted tree da(s of tra"el o"er land and sea& Te e"ent #as %a$nicent and inspirin$&

)n preparation for our %ost recent te%ple dedication, in T#in !alls, )dao, local Curc%e%bers constructed a u$e sta$e at te !iler, )dao, fair$rounds and lled te dirtarena #it sod and oter decorations, includin$ a lar$e #aterfall to represent +osone!alls, a popular land%ar. located t#o %iles > .%P fro% te ne# te%ple& Te e"enin$ ofte perfor%ance, >,200 (oun$ %en and (oun$ #o%en entered te arena #a"in$ blueand #ite ribbons, turnin$ te arena into a representation of a $reat ri"er of 3o#in$#ater& Titled Li"in$ ater,7 fro% Mon :10, 1, te celebration brou$t to$eter (outfro% 1 sta.es in te ne# te%ple district& Te( depicted, trou$ son$ and dance, botteir dependence for teir spiritual li"es on te li"in$ #ater fro% te +a"ior and teirdependence for teir p(sical li"es on te %ountain strea%s and ri"ers in teir area& Tose of us pri"ile$ed to #itness tis e"ent #ere uplifted and edied&

) a% an ad"ocate for suc e"ents& Te( enable our (out to participate in so%etin$te( trul( nd unfor$ettable& Te friendsips te( for% and te %e%ories te( %a.e #illbe teirs fore"er&

<e-t %ont te 'e-ico Cit( 'e-ico Te%ple #ill be rededicated follo#in$ e-tensi"ereno"ations& )n te co%in$ %onts te construction of oter te%ples #ill be co%pleted,and open ouses and dedications #ill ta.e place&

http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/4.10,14?lang=eng#9

http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/4.10,14?lang=eng#9



Tis %ornin$ ) a% pleased to announce "e ne# te%ples for #ic sites a"e beenacuired and #ic, in co%in$ %onts and (ears, #ill be built in te follo#in$ locations:Cal$ar(, Alberta, Canada; CXrdoba, Ar$entina; te $reater ansas Cit( area; 9iladelpia,9enns(l"ania; and Io%e, )tal(&

roters and sisters, our %issionar( force, ser"in$ trou$out te #orld, continues tosee. out tose #o are searcin$ for te truts #ic are found in te $ospel of MesusCrist& Te Curc is steadil( $ro#in$; it as since its or$aniation o"er 1J8 (ears a$o&

)t as been %( pri"ile$e durin$ te past si- %onts to %eet #it leaders of countriesand #it representati"es of $o"ern%ents& Tose #it #o% )="e %et feel .indl( to#ardte Curc and our %e%bers, and te( a"e been cooperati"e and acco%%odatin$& Tere re%ain, o#e"er, areas of te #orld #ere our in3uence is li%ited and #ere #eare not allo#ed to sare te $ospel freel(& As did 9resident +pencer & i%ball o"er >2(ears a$o, ) ur$e (ou to pra( for te openin$ of tose areas, tat #e %i$t sare #itte% te Do( of te $ospel& As #e pra(ed ten in response to 9resident i%ball=spleadin$s, #e sa# %iracles unfold as countr( after countr(, for%erl( closed to teCurc, #as opened& +uc #ill transpire a$ain as #e pra( #it fait&

<o#, %( broters and sisters, #e a"e co%e ere to be instructed and inspired& +o%e of (ou are ne# in te Curc& e #elco%e (ou& +o%e of (ou are stru$$lin$ #it proble%s,#it callen$es, #it disappoint%ents, #it losses& e lo"e (ou and pra( for (ou& 'an(%essa$es #ill be sared durin$ te ne-t t#o da(s& ) can assure (ou tat tose %en and#o%en #o #ill spea. to (ou a"e pra(ed about #at te( sould sa(& Te( a"e beeninspired and i%pressed as te( a"e sou$t ea"en=s elp and direction&

Our *ea"enl( !ater is %indful of eac one of us and our needs& 'a( #e be lled #it*is +pirit as #e parta.e of te proceedin$s of tis, te 1J8t +e%iannual GeneralConference of te Curc& Tis is %( sincere pra(er, and ) oer it in te na%e of MesusCrist, a%en&


To (earn, to /o, to )ePresient Thomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

'a( #e learn #at #e sould learn, do #at #e sould do, and be #at #esould be&

Kou="e seen a #itness toni$t of te stren$t of te t#o counselors in tis !irst9residenc(& ) stand before (ou and declare tis !irst 9residenc( is united as one under tedirection of te Lord Mesus Crist&



) #ant to especiall( tan. tis %issionar( coir& ) ad an e-perience ) tin. te( %a( beinterested in, and (ou %a( nd it interestin$ also& 'an( (ears a$o ) ad a desperate callfro% te ead of te %issionar( trainin$ center& *e said, 9resident 'onson, ) a"e a%issionar( #o is $oin$ o%e& <otin$ can pre"ent i% fro% uittin$&7

) replied, ell, tat=s not sin$ular& )t=s appened before& at=s is proble%E7

*e said, *e=s been called to a +panis/spea.in$ %ission, and e=s absolutel( certain e

cannot learn +panis&7

) said, ) a"e a su$$estion for (ou& To%orro# %ornin$ a"e i% attend a class learnin$ Mapanese& And ten a"e i% report to (ou at 12:00 noon&7

Te ne-t %ornin$ e poned at 10:00F *e said, Te (oun$ %an is ere #it %e no#,and e #ants %e to .no# e=s absolutel( certain e can learn +panis&7

en tere=s a #ill, tere=s a #a(&

<o#, as ) spea. to (ou toni$t, trul( (ou are a ro(al priestood, asse%bled in %an(

places but in unit(& )n all li.eliood tis is te lar$est asse%bla$e of priestood olderse"er to co%e to$eter& Kour de"otion to (our sacred callin$s is inspirin$& Kour desire tolearn (our dut( is e"ident& Te purit( of (our souls brin$s ea"en closer to (ou and (ourfa%ilies&

'an( areas of te #orld a"e e-perienced di4cult econo%ic ti%es& usinesses a"efailed, Dobs a"e been lost, and in"est%ents a"e been Deopardied& e %ust %a.ecertain tat tose for #o% #e sare responsibilit( do not $o un$r( or uncloted orunseltered& en te priestood of tis Curc #or.s to$eter as one in %eetin$ tese"e-in$ conditions, near %iracles ta.e place&

e ur$e all Latter/da( +aints to be prudent in teir plannin$, to be conser"ati"e in teirli"in$, and to a"oid e-cessi"e or unnecessar( debt& Te nancial aairs of te Curc arebein$ %ana$ed in tis %anner, for #e are a#are tat (our titin$ and otercontributions a"e not co%e #itout sacrice and are sacred funds&

Let us %a.e our o%es sanctuaries of ri$teousness, places of pra(er, and abodes oflo"e tat #e %i$t %erit te blessin$s tat can co%e onl( fro% our *ea"enl( !ater& eneed *is $uidance in our dail( li"es&

)n tis "ast tron$ are priestood po#er and te capacit( to reac out and sare te$lorious $ospel #it oters& As as been %entioned, #e a"e te ands to lift otersfro% co%placenc( and inacti"it(& e a"e te earts to ser"e faitfull( in our priestoodcallin$s and tereb( inspire oters to #al. on i$er $round and to a"oid te s#a%ps ofsin #ic treaten to en$ulf so %an(& Te #ort of souls is indeed $reat in te si$t ofGod& Ours is te precious pri"ile$e, ar%ed #it tis .no#led$e, to %a.e a dierence inte li"es of oters& Te #ords found in e.iel could #ell pertain to all of us #o follo#te +a"ior in tis sacred #or.:

A ne# eart H #ill ) $i"e (ou, and a ne# spirit #ill ) put #itin (ou& H



And ) #ill put %( spirit #itin (ou, and cause (ou to #al. in %( statutes, and (e sall.eep %( Dud$%ents, and do te%&

And (e sall d#ell in te land tat ) $a"e to (our faters; and (e sall be %( people, and) #ill be (our God&71

*o# %i$t #e %erit tis pro%iseE at #ill ualif( us to recei"e tis blessin$E )s tere a$uide to follo#E

'a( ) su$$est tree i%perati"es for our consideration& Te( appl( to te deacon as #ellas to te i$ priest& Te( are #itin our reac& A .ind *ea"enl( !ater #ill elp us in ouruest&

!irst, learn +hat +e shoul learn.

+econd, o +hat +e shoul o.

And tird, e +hat +e shoul e.

Let us discuss tese obDecti"es, tat #e %i$t be protable ser"ants in te si$t of ourLord&

!irst, learn what we should learn" Te Apostle 9aul placed an ur$enc( on our eorts tolearn& *e said to te 9ilippians, One tin$ ) do, for$ettin$ tose tin$s #ic arebeind, and reacin$ fort unto tose tin$s #ic are before, ) press to#ard te %ar.for te prie of te i$ callin$ of God in Crist Mesus&7 2 And to te *ebre#s e ur$ed,La( aside H sin?;@ H let us run #it patience te race H set before us, loo.in$ ?for ane-a%ple@ unto Mesus te autor and niser of our fait&7>

9resident +tepen L Iicards, #o ser"ed for %an( (ears in te Nuoru% of te T#el"eApostles and ten in te !irst 9residenc(, spo.e often to olders of te priestood ande%pasied is pilosop( pertainin$ to it& *e declared: Te 9riestood is usuall(si%pl( dened as Rte po#er of God dele$ated to %an&= Tis denition, ) tin., isaccurate&7

*e continued: ut for practical purposes ) li.e to dene te 9riestood in ter%s ofser"ice and ) freuentl( call it Rte perfect plan of ser"ice&= ) do so because it see%s to%e tat it is onl( trou$ te utiliation of te di"ine po#er conferred on %en tat te(%a( e"er ope to realie te full i%port and "italit( of tis endo#%ent& )t is aninstru%ent of ser"ice H and te %an #o fails to use it is apt to lose it, for #e are plainl(told b( re"elation tat e #o ne$lects it Rsall not be counted #ort( to stand&=7

9resident *arold & Lee, 11t 9resident of te Curc and one of te $reat teacers inte Curc, put is counsel in eas(/to/understand ter%s& +aid e: en one beco%es aolder of te priestood, e beco%es an a$ent of te Lord& *e sould tin. of is callin$as tou$ e #ere on te Lord=s errand&75

<o#, so%e of (ou %a( be s( b( nature or consider (oursel"es inadeuate to responda4r%ati"el( to a callin$& Ie%e%ber tat tis #or. is not (ours and %ine alone& )t is teLord=s #or., and #en #e are on te Lord=s errand, #e are entitled to te Lord=s elp&Ie%e%ber tat te Lord #ill sape te bac. to bear te burden placed upon it&

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ile te for%al classroo% %a( be inti%idatin$ at ti%es, so%e of te %ost eecti"eteacin$ ta.es place oter tan in te capel or te classroo%& ell do ) re%e%ber tatso%e (ears a$o, %e%bers oldin$ te Aaronic 9riestood #ould ea$erl( loo. for#ard toan annual outin$ co%%e%oratin$ te restoration of te Aaronic 9riestood& ( tebusload te (oun$ %en of our sta.e Dourne(ed 0 %iles 15 .%P nort to te Clar.stonCe%eter(, #ere #e "ie#ed te $ra"e of 'artin *arris, one of te Tree itnesses ofte oo. of 'or%on& ile surroundin$ te beautiful $ranite saft #ic %ar.s te$ra"e, a i$ councilor #ould present bac.$round concernin$ te life of 'artin *arris,

read fro% te oo. of 'or%on is testi%on(, and ten bear is o#n #itness to te trut& Te (oun$ %en listened #it rapt attention, touced te $ranite %ar.er, and ponderedte #ords te( ad eard and te feelin$s te( ad felt&

At a par. in Lo$an, lunc #as enDo(ed& Te $roup of (oun$ %en #ould ten lie do#n onte la#n at te Lo$an te%ple and $ae up#ard at its loft( spires& Often beautiful #iteclouds #ould urr( past te spires, %o"ed alon$ b( a $entle breee& Te purpose ofte%ples #as tau$t& Co"enants and pro%ises beca%e %uc %ore tan #ords& Tedesire to be #ort( to enter tose te%ple doors entered tose (outful earts& *ea"en#as "er( close& Learnin$ #at #e sould learn #as assured&

<u%ber t#o, do what we should do" )n a re"elation on priestood, $i"en trou$ Mosep+%it te 9ropet, recorded as te 10Jt section of te Boctrine and Co"enants,learnin$7 %o"es to doin$7 as #e read, erefore, no# let e"er( %an learn is dut(,and to act in te o4ce in #ic e is appointed, in all dili$ence&7 6

ac priestood older attendin$ tis session toni$t as a callin$ to ser"e, to put fortis best eorts in te #or. assi$ned to i%& <o assi$n%ent is %enial in te #or. of teLord, for eac as eternal conseuences& 9resident Mon Ta(lor #arned us, )f (ou do not%a$nif( (our callin$s, God #ill old (ou responsible for tose #o% (ou %i$t a"esa"ed ad (ou done (our dut(&7J And #o of us can aord to be responsible for te dela(of eternal life of a u%an soulE )f $reat Do( is te re#ard of sa"in$ one soul, ten o#terrible %ust be te re%orse of tose #ose ti%id eorts a"e allo#ed a cild of God to$o un#arned or unaided so tat e as to #ait till a dependable ser"ant of God co%esalon$&

Te old ada$e is e"er true: Bo (our dut(, tat is best; lea"e unto te Lord te rest&7

'ost ser"ice $i"en b( priestood olders is acco%plised uietl(, #itout fanfare& Afriendl( s%ile, a #ar% andclasp, a sincere testi%on( of trut can literall( lift li"es,can$e u%an nature, and sa"e precious souls&

An e-a%ple of suc ser"ice #as te %issionar( e-perience of Mulius and Borot( !usse.,#o #ere called to ll a t#o/(ear %ission in 9oland& roter !usse. #as born in 9oland&*e spo.e te lan$ua$e& *e lo"ed te people& +ister !usse. #as n$lis and .ne# little of9oland and its people&

Trustin$ in te Lord, te( e%bar.ed on teir assi$n%ent& Te li"in$ conditions #erepri%iti"e, te #or. lonel(, teir tas. i%%ense& A %ission ad not at tat ti%e beenestablised in 9oland& Te assi$n%ent $i"en te !usse.s #as to prepare te #a(, tat a%ission could be establised so tat oter %issionaries could be called to ser"e, peoplecould be tau$t, con"erts could be baptied, brances could be establised, and capelscould be erected&







+e"eral (ears a$o ) recei"ed a letter fro% a lon$ti%e friend& *e bore is testi%on( in tatletter& ) #ould li.e to sare part of it #it (ou toni$t, since it illustrates te stren$t ofte priestood in one #o learned #at e sould learn, #o did #at e sould do, and#o al#a(s tried to be #at e sould be& ) sall read e-cerpts of tat letter fro% %(friend Teron & orup, #o passed a#a( tree (ears a$o at te a$e of 0:

At te a$e of ei$t, #en ) #as baptied and recei"ed te *ol( Gost, ) #as %uci%pressed about bein$ $ood and able to a"e te *ol( Gost to be a elp trou$out %(

life& ) #as told tat te *ol( Gost associated onl( in $ood co%pan( and tat #en e"ilentered our li"es, e #ould lea"e& <ot .no#in$ #en ) #ould need is pro%ptin$s and$uidance, ) tried to so li"e tat ) #ould not lose tis $ift& On one occasion it sa"ed %( life&

Burin$ orld ar )), ) #as an en$ineer/$unner in a /2 bo%ber $tin$ in te +out9acic& H One da( tere #as an announce%ent tat te lon$est bo%bin$ 3i$t e"er%ade #ould be atte%pted to .noc. out an oil rener(& Te pro%ptin$s of te +pirit told%e ) #ould be assi$ned on tis 3i$t but tat ) #ould not lose %( life& At te ti%e ) #aste president of te LB+ $roup&

Te co%bat #as ferocious as #e 3e# o"er orneo& Our plane #as it b( attac.in$

planes and soon burst into 3a%es, and te pilot told us to prepare to Du%p& ) #ent outlast& e #ere sot at b( ene%( pilots as #e 3oated do#n& ) ad trouble in3atin$ %( liferaft& obbin$ up and do#n in te #ater, ) be$an to dro#n and passed out& ) ca%e to%o%entaril( and cried, RGod sa"e %eF= H A$ain ) tried in3atin$ te life raft and tis ti%e#as successful& it Dust enou$ air in it to .eep %e a3oat, ) rolled o"er on top of it, tooe-austed to %o"e&

!or tree da(s #e 3oated about in ene%( territor( #it sips all about us and planeso"eread& ( te( couldn=t see a (ello# $roup of rafts on blue #ater is a %(ster(,7 e#rote& A stor% ca%e up, and #a"es tirt( feet i$ al%ost tore our rafts apart& Treeda(s #ent b( #it no food or #ater& Te oters as.ed %e if ) pra(ed& ) ans#ered tat )did pra( and #e #ould indeed be rescued& Tat e"enin$ #e sa# our sub%arine tat #astere to rescue us, but it passed b(& Te ne-t %ornin$ it did ?te sa%e& e .ne#@ tis#as te last da( ?it #ould@ be in te area& Ten ca%e te pro%ptin$s of te *ol( Gost&RKou a"e te priestood& Co%%and te sub to pic. (ou up&= +ilentl( ) pra(ed, R)n tena%e of Mesus Crist, and b( te po#er of te priestood, turn about and pic. us up&= )n afe# %inutes, te( #ere alon$side of us& en on dec., te captain H said, R) don=t .no#o# #e e"er found (ou, for #e #ere not e"en loo.in$ for (ou&= ' .ne#&71>

) lea"e #it (ou %( testi%on( tat tis #or. in #ic #e are en$a$ed is true& Te Lord isat te el%& Tat #e %a( e"er follo# *i% is %( sincere pra(er, and ) as. it in te na%eof Mesus Crist, a%en&


Finin' o! in the ourne!Presient Thomas S. Monson






Let us relis life as #e li"e it, nd Do( in te Dourne(, and sare our lo"e #itfriends and fa%il(&

'( dear broters and sisters, ) a% u%bled as ) stand before (ou tis %ornin$& ) as. for

(our fait and pra(ers in %( bealf as ) spea. about tose tin$s #ic a"e been on%( %ind and #ic ) a"e felt i%pressed to sare #it (ou&

) be$in b( %entionin$ one of te %ost ine"itable aspects of our li"es ere upon teeart, and tat is change" At one ti%e or anoter #e="e all eard so%e for% of tefa%iliar ada$e: <otin$ is as constant as can$e&7

Trou$out our li"es, #e %ust deal #it can$e& +o%e can$es are #elco%e; so%e arenot& Tere are can$es in our li"es #ic are sudden, suc as te une-pected passin$ ofa lo"ed one, an unforeseen illness, te loss of a possession #e treasure& ut %ost of tecan$es ta.e place subtl( and slo#l(&

Tis conference %ar.s 5 (ears since ) #as called to te Nuoru% of te T#el"e Apostles&As te Dunior %e%ber of te T#el"e ten, ) loo.ed up to 1 e-ceptional %en, #o #eresenior to %e in te T#el"e and te !irst 9residenc(& One b( one, eac of tese %en asreturned o%e& en 9resident *inc.le( passed a#a( ei$t %onts a$o, ) realied tat )ad beco%e te senior Apostle& Te can$es o"er a period of 5 (ears tat #ereincre%ental no# see% %onu%ental&

Tis co%in$ #ee. +ister 'onson and ) #ill celebrate our 60t #eddin$ anni"ersar(& As )loo. bac. to our be$innin$s, ) realie Dust o# %uc our li"es a"e can$ed since ten&Our belo"ed parents, #o stood beside us as #e co%%enced our Dourne( to$eter, a"e

passed on& Our tree cildren, #o lled our li"es so co%pletel( for %an( (ears, are$ro#n and a"e fa%ilies of teir o#n& 'ost of our $randcildren are $ro#n, and #e no#a"e four $reat/$randcildren&

Ba( b( da(, %inute b( %inute, second b( second #e #ent fro% #ere #e #ere to #ere#e are no#& Te li"es of all of us, of course, $o trou$ si%ilar alterations and can$es& Te dierence bet#een te can$es in %( life and te can$es in (ours is onl( in tedetails& Ti%e ne"er stands still; it %ust steadil( %arc on, and #it te %arcin$ co%ete can$es&

Tis is our one and onl( cance at %ortal lifeere and no#& Te lon$er #e li"e, te

$reater is our realiation tat it is brief& Opportunities co%e, and ten te( are $one& )belie"e tat a%on$ te $reatest lessons #e are to learn in tis sort soDourn upon teeart are lessons tat elp us distin$uis bet#een #at is i%portant and #at is not& )plead #it (ou not to let tose %ost i%portant tin$s pass (ou b( as (ou plan for tatillusi"e and none-istent future #en (ou #ill a"e ti%e to do all tat (ou #ant to do&)nstead, nd Do( in te Dourne(no#&

) a% #at %( #ife, !rances, calls a so#/a/olic&7 ) torou$l( enDo( %an( %usicals,and one of %( fa"orites #as #ritten b( te A%erican co%poser 'eredit illson and isentitled he Music Man" 9rofessor *arold *ill, one of te principal caracters in te so#,



"oices a caution tat ) sare #it (ou& +a(s e, Kou pile up enou$ to%orro#s, and(ou=ll nd (ou="e collected a lot of e%pt( (esterda(s&71

'( broters and sisters, tere is no to%orro# to re%e%ber if #e don=t do so%etin$toda(&

)="e sared #it (ou pre"iousl( an e-a%ple of tis pilosop(& ) belie"e it bearsrepeatin$& 'an( (ears a$o, Artur Gordon #rote in a national %a$aine, and ) uote:

en ) #as around tirteen and %( broter ten, !ater ad pro%ised to ta.e us to tecircus& ut at luncti%e tere #as a pone call; so%e ur$ent business reuired isattention do#nto#n& e braced oursel"es for disappoint%ent& Ten #e eard i% sa(?into te pone@, R<o, ) #on=t be do#n& )t=ll a"e to #ait&=

en e ca%e bac. to te table, 'oter s%iled& RTe circus .eeps co%in$ bac., (ou.no#,= ?se said&@

R) .no#,= said !ater& Rut cildood doesn=t&=72

)f (ou a"e cildren #o are $ro#n and $one, in all li.eliood (ou a"e occasionall( feltpan$s of loss and te reco$nition tat (ou didn=t appreciate tat ti%e of life as %uc as(ou sould a"e& Of course, tere is no $oin$ bac., but onl( for#ard& Iater tand#ellin$ on te past, #e sould %a.e te %ost of toda(, of te ere and no#, doin$ all#e can to pro"ide pleasant %e%ories for te future&

)f (ou are still in te process of raisin$ cildren, be a#are tat te tin( n$erprints tatso# up on al%ost e"er( ne#l( cleaned surface, te to(s scattered about te ouse, tepiles and piles of laundr( to be tac.led #ill disappear all too soon and tat (ou #illto(our surprise%iss te% profoundl(&

+tresses in our li"es co%e re$ardless of our circu%stances& e %ust deal #it te% tebest #e can& ut #e sould not let te% $et in te #a( of #at is %ost i%portantand#at is %ost i%portant al%ost al#a(s in"ol"es te people around us& Often #e assu%etat te( must .no# o# %uc #e lo"e te%& ut #e sould ne"er assu%e; #e souldlet te% .no#& rote illia% +a.espeare, Te( do not lo"e tat do not so# teirlo"e&7> e #ill ne"er re$ret te .ind #ords spo.en or te aection so#n& Iater, ourre$rets #ill co%e if suc tin$s are o%itted fro% our relationsips #it tose #o %eante %ost to us&

+end tat note to te friend (ou="e been ne$lectin$; $i"e (our cild a u$; $i"e (our !arents a u$; sa( ) lo"e (ou7 %ore; al#a(s e-press (our tan.s& <e"er let a proble% tobe sol"ed beco%e %ore i%portant tan a person to be lo"ed& !riends %o"e a#a(,cildren $ro# up, lo"ed ones pass on& )t=s so eas( to ta.e oters for $ranted, until tatda( #en te(=re $one fro% our li"es and #e are left #it feelin$s of #at if7 and ifonl(&7 +aid autor *arriet eecer +to#e, Te bitterest tears sed o"er $ra"es are for#ords left unsaid and deeds left undone&7

)n te 160s, durin$ te Wietna% ar, Curc %e%ber Ma( *ess, an air%an, #as sotdo#n o"er <ort Wietna%& !or t#o (ears is fa%il( ad no idea #eter e #as dead orali"e& *is captors in *anoi e"entuall( allo#ed i% to #rite o%e but li%ited is %essa$eto less tan 25 #ords& at #ould (ou and ) sa( to our fa%ilies if #e #ere in te sa%e

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situationnot a"in$ seen te% for o"er t#o (ears and not .no#in$ if #e #ould e"ersee te% a$ainE antin$ to pro"ide so%etin$ is fa%il( could reco$nie as a"in$co%e fro% i% and also #antin$ to $i"e te% "aluable counsel, roter *ess #roteand ) uote: Tese tin$s are i%portant: te%ple %arria$e, %ission, colle$e& 9ress on,set $oals, #rite istor(, ta.e pictures t#ice a (ear&75

Let us relis life as #e li"e it, nd Do( in te Dourne(, and sare our lo"e #it friends andfa%il(& One da( eac of us #ill run out of to%orro#s&

)n te boo. of Mon in te <e# Testa%ent, capter 1>, "erse >, te +a"ior ad%onisesus, As ) a"e lo"ed (ou, H lo"e one anoter&7

+o%e of (ou %a( be fa%iliar #it Tornton ilder=s classic dra%a #ur own" )f (ou are,(ou #ill re%e%ber te to#n of Gro"er=s Corners, #ere te stor( ta.es place& )n te pla(%il( ebb dies in cildbirt, and #e read of te lonel( $rief of er (oun$ usband,Geor$e, left #it teir four/(ear/old son& %il( does not #is to rest in peace; se #antsto e-perience a$ain te Do(s of er life& +e is $ranted te pri"ile$e of returnin$ to eartand reli"in$ er 12t birtda(& At rst it is e-citin$ to be (oun$ a$ain, but te e-cite%ent#ears o uic.l(& Te da( olds no Do( no# tat %il( .no#s #at is in store for te

future& )t is unbearabl( painful to realie o# una#are se ad been of te %eanin$ and#onder of life #ile se #as ali"e& efore returnin$ to er restin$ place, %il( la%ents,Bo H u%an bein$s e"er realie life #ile te( li"e ite"er(, e"er( %inuteE7

Our realiation of #at is %ost i%portant in life $oes and in and #it $ratitude for ourblessin$s&

+aid one #ell/.no#n autor: ot abundance and lac. ?of abundance@ e-istsi%ultaneousl( in our li"es, as parallel realities& )t is al#a(s our conscious coice #icsecret $arden #e #ill tend H #en #e coose not to focus on #at is %issin$ fro% ourli"es but are $rateful for te abundance tat=s presentlo"e, ealt, fa%il(, friends,#or., te Do(s of nature, and personal pursuits tat brin$ us ?appiness@te #astelandof illusion falls a#a( and #e e-perience ea"en on eart&7 6

)n te Boctrine and Co"enants, section 88, "erse >>, #e are told: !or #at dot it prota %an if a $ift is besto#ed upon i%, and e recei"e not te $iftE eold, e reDoices notin tat #ic is $i"en unto i%, neiter reDoices in i% #o is te $i"er of te $ift&7

Te ancient Io%an pilosoper *orace ad%onised, ate"er our God as blessed(ou #it, ta.e it #it $rateful and, nor postpone (our Do(s fro% (ear to (ear, so tat in#ate"er place (ou a"e been, (ou %a( sa( tat (ou a"e li"ed appil(&7

'an( (ears a$o ) #as touced b( te stor( of or$ild Bal& +e #as born in 'innesotain 180 of <or#e$ian parents and fro% er earl( (ears suered se"erel( i%paired "ision&+e ad a tre%endous desire to participate in e"er(da( life despite er andicap and,trou$ seer deter%ination, succeeded in nearl( e"er(tin$ se undertoo.& A$ainst tead"ice of educators, #o felt er andicap #as too $reat, se attended colle$e, recei"in$er bacelor of arts de$ree fro% te Uni"ersit( of 'innesota& +e later studied atColu%bia Uni"ersit( and te Uni"ersit( of Oslo& +e e"entuall( beca%e te principal ofei$t scools in #estern 'innesota and <ort Ba.ota&


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+e #rote te follo#in$ in one of te 1J boo.s se autored: ) ad onl( one e(e, and it#as so co"ered #it dense scars tat ) ad to do all %( seein$ trou$ one s%allopenin$ in te left of te e(e& ) could see a boo. onl( b( oldin$ it up close to %( faceand b( strainin$ %( one e(e as ard as ) could to te left&7J

'iraculousl(, in 1>#en se #as o"er 50 (ears olda re"olutionar( procedure #asde"eloped #ic nall( restored to er %uc of te si$t se ad been #itout for solon$& A ne# and e-citin$ #orld opened up before er& +e too. $reat pleasure in te

s%all tin$s %ost of us ta.e for $ranted, suc as #atcin$ a bird in 3i$t, noticin$ teli$t re3ected in te bubbles of er dis#ater, or obser"in$ te pases of te %oon eacni$t& +e closed one of er boo.s #it tese #ords: Bear H !ater in ea"en, ) tan. Tee& ) tan. Tee&78

or$ild Bal, bot before and after er si$t #as restored, #as lled #it $ratitude forer blessin$s&

)n 182, t#o (ears before se died, at te a$e of 2 er last boo. #as publised& )ts title:&a!!y All My 2ife" *er attitude of tan.fulness enabled er to appreciate er blessin$sand to li"e a full and ric life despite er callen$es&

)n 1 Tessalonians in te <e# Testa%ent, capter 5, "erse 18, #e are told b( te Apostle9aul, )n e"er( tin$ $i"e tan.s: for tis is te #ill of God&7

Iecall #it %e te account of te 10 lepers:

And as ?Mesus@ entered into a certain "illa$e, tere %et i% ten %en tat #ere lepers,#ic stood afar o:

And te( lifted up teir "oices, and said, Mesus, 'aster, a"e %erc( on us&

And #en e sa# te%, e said unto te%, Go se# (oursel"es unto te priests& And itca%e to pass, tat, as te( #ent, te( #ere cleansed&

And one of te%, #en e sa# tat e #as ealed, turned bac., and #it a loud "oice$loried God,

And fell do#n on is face at is feet, $i"in$ i% tan.s: and e #as a +a%aritan&

And Mesus ans#erin$ said, ere tere not ten cleansedE but #ere are te nineE

Tere are not found tat returned to $i"e $lor( to God, sa"e tis stran$er&7

+aid te Lord in a re"elation $i"en trou$ te 9ropet Mosep +%it, )n notin$ dot%an oend God, or a$ainst none is is #rat .indled, sa"e tose #o confess not isand in all tin$s&710 'a( #e be found a%on$ tose #o $i"e our tan.s to our *ea"enl(!ater& )f in$ratitude be nu%bered a%on$ te serious sins, ten $ratitude ta.es its placea%on$ te noblest of "irtues&

Bespite te can$es #ic co%e into our li"es and #it $ratitude in our earts, %a( #ell our da(sas %uc as #e can#it tose tin$s #ic %atter %ost& 'a( #e ceristose #e old dear and e-press our lo"e to te% in #ord and in deed&



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e-pressin$ appreciation to te bretren and sisters #o a"e addressed us& ) a%re%inded of te #ords of 'oroni found in te oo. of 'or%on: And teir %eetin$s #ereconducted b( te curc after te %anner of te #or.in$s of te +pirit, and b( te po#erof te *ol( Gost; for as te po#er of te *ol( Gost led te% #eter to preac, or toe-ort, or to pra(, or to supplicate, or to sin$, e"en so it #as done&71

'a( #e lon$ re%e%ber #at #e a"e eard durin$ tis $eneral conference& Te%essa$es #ic a"e been $i"en #ill be printed in ne-t %ont=s Ensign and 2iahona

%a$aines& ) ur$e (ou to stud( te% and to ponder teir teacin$s&

To (ou retren #o a"e been released at tis conference, #e e-press our deepappreciation for (our %an( (ears of dedicated ser"ice& Te entire %e%bersip of teCurc as beneted fro% (our countless contributions&

) assure (ou tat our *ea"enl( !ater is %indful of te callen$es #e face in te #orldtoda(& *e lo"es eac of us and #ill bless us as #e stri"e to .eep *is co%%and%ents andsee. *i% trou$ pra(er&

e are a $lobal curc, broters and sisters& Our %e%bersip is found trou$out te

#orld& 'a( #e be $ood citiens of te nations in #ic #e li"e and $ood nei$bors in ourco%%unities, reacin$ out to tose of oter faits, as #ell as to our o#n& 'a( #e be %enand #o%en of onest( and inte$rit( in e"er(tin$ #e do&

Tere are tose trou$out te #orld #o are un$r(; tere are tose #o are destitute&or.in$ to$eter, #e can alle"iate suerin$ and pro"ide for tose in need& )n addition tote ser"ice (ou $i"e as (ou care for one anoter, (our contributions to te funds of teCurc enable us to respond al%ost i%%ediatel( #en disasters occur an(#ere in te#orld& e are nearl( al#a(s a%on$ te rst on te scene to pro"ide #ate"er assistance#e can& e tan. (ou for (our $enerosit(&

Tere are oter di4culties in te li"es of so%e& 9articularl( a%on$ te (oun$, tere aretose #o are tra$icall( in"ol"ed in suc tin$s as dru$s, i%%oralit(, $an$s, and all teserious proble%s tat $o #it te%& )n addition, tere are tose #o are lonel(, includin$#ido#s and #ido#ers, #o lon$ for te co%pan( and te concern of oters& 'a( #e e"erbe %indful of te needs of tose around us and be read( to e-tend a elpin$ and and alo"in$ eart&

roters and sisters, o# blessed #e are tat te ea"ens are indeed open, tat terestored Curc of Mesus Crist is upon te eart toda(, and tat te Curc is foundedupon te roc. of re"elation& e .no# tat continuous re"elation is te "er( lifeblood ofte $ospel of Mesus Crist&

'a( eac of us $o safel( to our o%es& 'a( #e li"e to$eter in peace and ar%on( andlo"e& 'a( #e stri"e eac da( to follo# te +a"ior=s e-a%ple&

God bless (ou, %( broters and sisters& ) tan. (ou for (our pra(ers in %( bealf and inbealf of all te General Autorities& e are deepl( $rateful for (ou&

)n one of Cristoper 'arlo#e=s pla(s, he ragical &istory of 3r" .austus, tere isportra(ed an indi"idual, Br& !austus, #o cose to i$nore God and follo# te pat#a( of+atan& At te end of is #ic.ed life, and facin$ te frustration of opportunities lost and

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punis%ent certain to co%e, e la%ented, ?Tere is@ %ore searin$ an$uis tan?3a%in$@ reeternal e-ile fro% God&72

'( broters and sisters, Dust as eternal e-ile fro% God %a( be te %ost searin$ an$uis,so eternal life in te presence of God is our %ost precious $oal&

it all %( eart and soul ) pra( tat #e %i$t continue to perse"ere in te pursuit oftis %ost precious prie&

) bear #itness to (ou tat tis #or. is true, tat our +a"ior li"es, and tat *e $uides anddirects *is Curc ere upon te eart& ) bid (ou fare#ell, %( dear broters and sisters,until #e %eet a$ain in si- %onts& )n te na%e of Mesus of <aaret, our +a"ior, ourIedee%er #o% #e ser"e, a%en&


Ma! "ou a*e Coura'ePresient Thomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

'( earnest pra(er is tat (ou #ill a"e te coura$e reuired to refrain fro% Dud$in$ oters, te coura$e to be caste and "irtuous, and te coura$e tostand r% for trut and ri$teousness&

'( dear (oun$ sisters, #at a $lorious si$t (ou are& ) realie tat be(ond tis

%a$nicent Conference Center %an( tousands are asse%bled in capels and in otersettin$s trou$out %uc of te #orld& ) pra( for ea"enl( elp as ) respond to teopportunit( to address (ou&

e a"e eard ti%el(, inspirin$ %essa$es fro% (our $eneral Koun$ o%en leaders& Tese are coice #o%en, called and set apart to $uide and teac (ou& Te( lo"e (ou, asdo )&

Kou a"e co%e to tis eart at a $lorious ti%e& Te opportunities before (ou are nearl(li%itless& Al%ost all of (ou li"e in co%fortable o%es, #it lo"in$ fa%ilies, adeuatefood, and su4cient clotin$& )n addition, %ost of (ou a"e access to a%ain$

tecnolo$ical ad"ances& Kou co%%unicate trou$ cell pones, te-t %essa$in$, instant%essa$in$, e/%ailin$, blo$$in$, !aceboo., and oter suc %eans& Kou listen to %usic on(our i9ods and '9> pla(ers& Tis list, of course, represents but a fe# of te tecnolo$ies#ic are a"ailable to (ou&

All of tis is a little dauntin$ to so%eone suc as ), #o $re# up #en radios #ere$enerall( lar$e 3oor %odels and #en tere #ere no tele"isions to spea. of, let aloneco%puters or cell pones& )n fact, #en ) #as (our a$e, telepone lines #ere %ostl(sared& )n our fa%il(, if #e #anted to %a.e a telepone call, #e #ould a"e to pic. up





te pone and listen rst to %a.e certain no oter fa%il( #as usin$ te line, for se"eralfa%ilies sared one line&

) could $o on all ni$t tal.in$ about te dierences bet#een %( $eneration and (ours&+u4ce it to sa( tat %uc as can$ed bet#een te ti%e ) #as (our a$e and tepresent&

Altou$ tis is a re%ar.able period #en opportunities abound, (ou also face

callen$es #ic are uniue to tis ti%e& !or instance, te "er( tecnolo$ical tools )a"e %entioned pro"ide opportunities for te ad"ersar( to te%pt (ou and to ensnare (ouin is #eb of deceit, tereb( opin$ to ta.e possession of (our destin(&

As ) conte%plate all tat (ou face in te #orld toda(, one #ord co%es to %( %ind& )tdescribes an attribute needed b( all of us but one #ic (ouat tis ti%e of (our lifeand in tis #orld#ill need particularl(& Tat attribute is coura$e&

Toni$t )=d li.e to tal. #it (ou about te coura$e (ou #ill need in tree aspects of (ourli"es:

!irst, te coura$e to refrain fro% Dud$in$ oters;+econd, te coura$e to be caste and "irtuous; and

Tird, te coura$e to stand r% for trut and ri$teousness&

'a( ) spea. rst about te coura$e to refrain fro% Dud$in$ oters& O, (ou %a( as.,Boes tis reall( ta.e coura$eE7 And ) #ould repl( tat ) belie"e tere are %an( ti%es#en refrainin$ fro% Dud$%entor $ossip or criticis%, #ic are certainl( a.in to Dud$%entta.es an act of coura$e&

Unfortunatel(, tere are tose #o feel it necessar( to criticie and to belittle oters& Kou

a"e, no doubt, been #it suc people, as (ou #ill be in te future& '( dear (oun$friends, #e are not left to #onder #at our bea"ior sould be in suc situations& )n te+er%on on te 'ount, te +a"ior declared, Mud$e not&71 At a later ti%e *e ad%onised,Cease to nd fault one #it anoter&72 )t #ill ta.e real coura$e #en (ou are surroundedb( (our peers and feelin$ te pressure to participate in suc criticis%s and Dud$%ents torefrain fro% Doinin$ in&

) #ould "enture to sa( tat tere are (oun$ #o%en around (ou #o, because of (ourun.ind co%%ents and criticis%, are often left out& )t see%s to be te pattern, particularl(at tis ti%e in (our li"es, to a"oid or to be un.ind to tose #o %i$t be Dud$ed dierent,tose #o don=t t te %old of #at #e or oters tin. te( sould be&

Te +a"ior said:

A ne# co%%and%ent ) $i"e unto (ou, Tat (e lo"e one anoter& H

( tis sall all %en .no# tat (e are %( disciples, if (e a"e lo"e one to anoter&7 >

'oter Teresa, a Catolic nun #o #or.ed a%on$ te poor in )ndia %ost of er life,spo.e tis trut: )f (ou Dud$e people, (ou a"e no ti%e to lo"e te%&7

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A friend told %e of an e-perience se ad %an( (ears a$o #en se #as a teena$er& )ner #ard #as a (oun$ #o%an na%ed +andra #o ad suered an inDur( at birt,resultin$ in er bein$ so%e#at %entall( andicapped& +andra lon$ed to be included#it te oter $irls, but se loo.ed andicapped& +e acted andicapped& *er clotin$#as al#a(s ill ttin$& +e so%eti%es %ade inappropriate co%%ents& Altou$ +andraattended teir 'utual acti"ities, it #as al#a(s te responsibilit( of te teacer to .eeper co%pan( and to tr( to %a.e er feel #elco%e and "alued, since te $irls did not&

Ten so%etin$ appened: a ne# $irl of te sa%e a$e %o"ed into te #ard& <anc( #asa cute, redeaded, self/condent, popular $irl #o t in easil(& All te $irls #anted to beer friend, but <anc( didn=t li%it er friendsips& )n fact, se #ent out of er #a( tobefriend +andra and to %a.e certain se al#a(s felt included in e"er(tin$& <anc(see%ed to $enuinel( like +andra&

Of course te oter $irls too. note and be$an #onderin$ #( they adn=t e"erbefriended +andra& )t no# see%ed not onl( acceptable but desirable& "entuall( te(be$an to realie #at <anc(, b( er e-a%ple, #as teacin$ te%: tat +andra #as a"aluable dau$ter of our *ea"enl( !ater, tat se ad a contribution to %a.e, and tatse deser"ed to be treated #it lo"e and .indness and positi"e attention&

( te ti%e <anc( and er fa%il( %o"ed fro% te nei$borood a (ear or so later,+andra #as a per%anent part of te $roup of (oun$ #o%en& '( friend said tat fro%ten on se and te oter $irls %ade certain no one #as e"er left out, re$ardless of #at%i$t %a.e er dierent& A "aluable, eternal lesson ad been learned&

True lo"e can alter u%an li"es and can$e u%an nature&

'( precious (oun$ sisters, ) plead #it (ou to a"e te coura$e to refrain fro% Dud$in$and criticiin$ tose around (ou, as #ell as te coura$e to %a.e certain e"er(one isincluded and feels lo"ed and "alued&

) turn ne-t to te coura$e (ou #ill need to be caste and "irtuous& Kou li"e in a #orld#ere %oral "alues a"e, in $reat %easure, been tossed aside, #ere sin is 3a$rantl( ondispla(, and #ere te%ptations to stra( fro% te strait and narro# pat surround (ou&'an( are te "oices tellin$ (ou tat (ou are far too pro"incial or tat tere is so%etin$#ron$ #it you if (ou still belie"e tere is suc a tin$ as i%%oral bea"ior&

)saia declared, oe unto te% tat call e"il $ood, and $ood e"il; tat put dar.ness forli$t, and li$t for dar.ness&7

Great coura$e #ill be reuired as (ou re%ain caste and "irtuous a%id te acceptedtin.in$ of te ti%es&

)n te #orld=s "ie# toda( tere is little tou$t tat (oun$ %en and (oun$ #o%en #illre%ain %orall( clean and pure before %arria$e& Boes tis %a.e i%%oral bea"ioracceptableE Absolutel( notF

Te co%%and%ents of our *ea"enl( !ater are not ne$otiableF

9o#erful is tis uote fro% ne#s co%%entator Ted oppel, ost of AC=s 6ightline pro$ra% for %an( (ears& +aid e:





e a"e actuall( con"inced oursel"es tat slo$ans #ill sa"e us& R+oot up if (ou %ust;but use a clean needle&= RnDo( se- #ene"er #it #o%e"er (ou #is; but ?protect(ourself@&=

<o& Te ans#er is no& <ot no because it isn=t cool or s%art or because (ou %i$t end upin Dail or d(in$ in an A)B+ #ardbut no, because it=s #ron$& H

at 'oses brou$t do#n fro% 't& +inai #ere not te Ten +u$$estions, te( are

Co%%and%ents& Are, not #ere&75

'( s#eet (oun$ sisters, %aintain an eternal perspecti"e& e alert to anything tat #ouldrob (ou of te blessin$s of eternit(&

*elp in %aintainin$ te proper perspecti"e in tese per%issi"e ti%es can co%e to (oufro% %an( sources& One "aluable resource is (our patriarcal blessin$& Iead itfreuentl(& +tud( it carefull(& e $uided b( its cautions& Li"e to %erit its pro%ises& )f (oua"e not (et recei"ed (our patriarcal blessin$, plan for te ti%e #en (ou #ill recei"eit, and ten ceris it&

)f an( as stu%bled in er Dourne(, tere is a #a( bac.& Te process is called repentance&Our +a"ior died to pro"ide (ou and %e tat blessed $ift& Te pat %a( be di4cult, butte pro%ise is real: Tou$ (our sins be as scarlet, te( sall be as #ite as sno#&76 And ) #ill re%e%ber ?te%@ no %ore&7J

+o%e (ears a$o anoter !irst 9residenc( %ade tis state%ent, and (our !irst 9residenc(toda( ecoes te appeal& ) uote: To te (out H , #e plead #it (ou to li"e clean?li"es@, for te unclean life leads onl( to suerin$, %iser(, and #oe p(sicall(,andspirituall( it is te pat to destruction& *o# $lorious and near to te an$els is (out tatis clean; tis (out as Do( unspea.able ere and eternal appiness ereafter& +e-ualpurit( is (out=s %ost precious possession; it is te foundation of all ri$teousness&78

'a( (ou a"e te coura$e to be caste and "irtuous&

'( nal plea toni$t is tat (ou a"e te coura$e to stand r% for trut andri$teousness& ecause te trend in societ( toda( is a#a( fro% te "alues and principleste Lord as $i"en us, (ou #ill al%ost certainl( be called upon to defend tat #ic (oubelie"e& Unless te roots of (our testi%on( are r%l( planted, it #ill be di4cult for (ou to#itstand te ridicule of tose #o callen$e (our fait& en r%l( planted, (ourtesti%on( of te $ospel, of te +a"ior, and of our *ea"enl( !ater #ill in3uence all tat(ou do trou$out (our life& Te ad"ersar( #ould li.e notin$ better tan for (ou toallo# derisi"e co%%ents and criticis% of te Curc to cause (ou to uestion and doubt& Kour testi%on(, #en constantl( nourised, #ill .eep (ou safe&

Iecall #it %e Lei=s "ision of te tree of life& *e sa# tat %an( #o ad eld to te ironrod and ad %ade teir #a( trou$ te %ists of dar.ness, arri"in$ at last at te tree oflife and parta.in$ of te fruit of te tree, did ten cast teir e(es about as if te( #ereasa%ed&7 Lei #ondered as to te cause of teir e%barrass%ent& As e loo.ed about,e beeld, on te oter side of te ri"er of #ater, a $reat and spacious buildin$& H













And it #as lled #it people, bot old and (oun$, bot %ale and fe%ale; and teir%anner of dress #as e-ceedin$l( ne; and te( #ere in te attitude of %oc.in$ andpointin$ teir n$ers to#ards tose #o H #ere parta.in$ of te fruit&7 10

Te $reat and spacious buildin$ in Lei=s "ision represents tose in te #orld #o %oc.God=s #ord and #o ridicule tose #o e%brace it and #o lo"e te +a"ior and li"e teco%%and%ents& at appens to tose #o are asa%ed #en te %oc.in$ occursELei tells us, And after te( ad tasted of te fruit te( #ere asa%ed, because of tose

tat #ere sco4n$ at te%; and te( fell a#a( into forbidden pats and #ere lost&7 11

'( belo"ed (oun$ sisters, #it te coura$e of (our con"ictions, %a( (ou declare #itte Apostle 9aul, ) a% not asa%ed of te $ospel of Crist: for it is te po#er of Godunto sal"ation&712

Lest (ou feel inadeuate for te tas.s #ic lie aead, ) re%ind (ou of anoter of teApostle 9aul=s stirrin$ state%ents fro% #ic #e %i$t dra# coura$e: !or God at not$i"en us te spirit of fear; but of po#er, and of lo"e, and of a sound %ind&7 1>

)n closin$ %a( ) sare #it (ou te account of a bra"e (oun$ #o%an #ose e-perience

as stood trou$ te a$es as an e-a%ple of te coura$e to stand for trut andri$teousness&

'ost of (ou are fa%iliar #it te Old Testa%ent account of ster& )t is a "er( interestin$and inspirin$ record of a beautiful (oun$ Me#is $irl #ose parents ad died, lea"in$ erto be raised b( an older cousin, 'ordecai, and is #ife&

'ordecai #or.ed for te .in$ of 9ersia, and #en te .in$ #as loo.in$ for a ueen,'ordecai too. ster to te palace and presented er as a candidate, ad"isin$ er not tore"eal tat se #as Me#is& Te .in$ #as pleased #it ster abo"e all te oters and%ade ster is ueen&

*a%an, te cief prince in te .in$=s court, beca%e increasin$l( an$r( #it 'ordecaibecause 'ordecai #ould not bo# do#n and pa( o%a$e to i%& )n retribution, *a%ancon"inced te .in$in a rater de"ious %annertat tere #ere certain people7 in all12J pro"inces of te .in$do% #ose la#s #ere dierent fro% oters= and tat te(#ould not obe( te .in$=s la#s and sould be destro(ed&1 itout na%in$ tese peopleto te .in$, *a%an #as, of course, referrin$ to te Me#s, includin$ 'ordecai&

it te .in$=s per%ission to andle te %atter, *a%an sent letters to te $o"ernors ofall of te pro"inces, instructin$ te% to destro(, to .ill, and to cause to peris, all Me#s,bot (oun$ and old, little cildren and #o%en, H ?on@ te tirteent da( of te t#elft%ont&715

Trou$ a ser"ant, 'ordecai sent #ord to ster concernin$ te decree a$ainst te Me#s,reuestin$ tat se $o in to te .in$ to plead for er people& ster #as at rst reluctant,re%indin$ 'ordecai tat it #as a$ainst te la# for an(one to $o unbidden into te innercourt of te .in$& 9unis%ent b( deat #ould be te resultunless te .in$ #ere to oldout is $olden scepter, allo#in$ te person to li"e&

'ordecai=s response to ster=s esitation #as to te point& *e replied to er tus:















Tin. not H tat tou salt escape in te .in$=s ouse, %ore tan all te Me#s&

!or if tou alto$eter oldest t( peace at tis ti%e, H tou and t( fater=s ouse sallbe destro(ed&716

And ten e added tis searcin$ uestion: o .no#et #eter tou art co%e to te.in$do% for suc a ti%e as tisE71J

)n response, ster as.ed 'ordecai to $ater all te Me#s e could and to as. te% tofast tree da(s for er and said tat se and er and%aids #ould do te sa%e& +edeclared, ) ?#ill@ $o in unto te .in$, #ic is not accordin$ to te la#: and if ) peris, )peris&718 ster ad $atered er coura$e and #ould stand r% and i%%o"able for tat#ic #as ri$t&

9(sicall(, e%otionall(, and spirituall( prepared, ster stood in te inner court of te.in$=s ouse& en te .in$ sa# er, e eld out is $olden scepter, tellin$ er tat e#ould $rant #ate"er reuest se ad& +e in"ited te .in$ to a feast se ad arran$ed,and durin$ te feast se re"ealed tat se #as a Me#& +e also e-posed *a%an=sunderanded plot to e-ter%inate all of te Me#s in te .in$do%& ster=s plea to sa"e

erself and er people #as $ranted&1

ster, trou$ fastin$, fait, and coura$e, ad sa"ed a nation&

Kou #ill probabl( not be called upon to put (our life on te line, as did ster, for tat#ic (ou belie"e& Kou #ill, o#e"er, %ost li.el( nd (ourself in situations #ere $reatcoura$e #ill be reuired as (ou stand r% for trut and ri$teousness&

A$ain, %( dear (oun$ sisters, altou$ tere a"e al#a(s been callen$es in te #orld,%an( of tose #ic (ou face are uniue to tis ti%e& ut (ou are so%e of our *ea"enl(!ater=s stron$est cildren, and *e as sa"ed (ou to co%e to te eart for suc a ti%eas tis&720 it *is elp, (ou #ill a"e te coura$e to face #ate"er co%es& Tou$ te#orld %a( at ti%es appear dar., (ou a"e te li$t of te $ospel, #ic #ill be as abeacon to $uide (our #a(&

'( earnest pra(er is tat (ou #ill a"e te coura$e reuired to refrain fro% Dud$in$oters, te coura$e to be caste and "irtuous, and te coura$e to stand r% for trutand ri$teousness& As (ou do so, (ou #ill be an e-a%ple of te belie"ers,7 21 and (our life#ill be lled #it lo"e and peace and Do(& 'a( tis be so, %( belo"ed (oun$ sisters, ) as.in te na%e of Mesus Crist, our +a"ior, a%en&


elcome to ConferencePresient Thomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church















<o#, %( broters and sisters, ) a% pleased to report tat te Curc is doin$ "er( #ell& Te #or. of te Lord continues to %o"e for#ard uninterrupted&

e no# a"e appro-i%atel( 5>,000 %issionaries ser"in$ in >8 %issions trou$out te#orld& e ta.e %ost seriousl( te +a"ior=s %andate #en *e said, Go (e terefore, andteac all nations, baptiin$ te% in te na%e of te !ater, and of te +on, and of te*ol( Gost&71 e are deepl( $rateful for te labors of our %issionaries and for tesacrices #ic te( and teir fa%ilies %a.e in order for te% to ser"e&

e also a"e countless "olunteers and %issionaries in nonprosel(tin$ acti"ities& Teseare $enerall( %ature indi"iduals #o donate teir ti%e and talents in order to furter te#or. of te Lord and to bless our *ea"enl( !ater=s cildren& *o# tan.ful #e are for te"aluable ser"ices tese indi"iduals are pro"idin$&

Te 9erpetual ducation !und, establised in 2001, continues to %o"e for#ard& +ince itsinception, >5,600 (oun$ %en and (oun$ #o%en a"e been enrolled in te pro$ra% anda"e trained to i%pro"e teir s.ills and teir e%plo(%ent opportunities& Tus far, 18,00a"e nised tat trainin$& On a"era$e, #it te 2&J (ears of education te( are no#recei"in$, te( are increasin$ teir inco%e b( tree to four ti%es& at a blessin$ tis is

in teir li"esF Tis is indeed an inspired pro$ra%&

'( broters and sisters, ) tan. (ou for (our fait and de"otion to te $ospel& ) tan. (oufor te lo"e and care (ou so# to one anoter& ) tan. (ou for te ser"ice (ou pro"ide in(our #ards and brances and in (our sta.es and districts& )t is suc ser"ice tat enableste Lord to acco%plis *is purposes ere upon te eart&

) e-press %( tan.s to (ou for (our .indnesses to %e #ere"er ) $o& ) tan. (ou for (ourpra(ers in %( bealf& ) a"e felt tose pra(ers and a% %ost $rateful for te%&

<o#, %( broters and sisters, #e are an-ious to listen to te %essa$es #ic #ill bepresented to us durin$ te ne-t t#o da(s, tat #e %i$t be tau$t and inspired anda"e a rene#ed deter%ination to li"e te $ospel and to ser"e te Lord& Tose #o #illaddress us a"e sou$t ea"en=s elp and direction as te( a"e prepared teir%essa$es& Te( a"e been i%pressed concernin$ tat #ic te( #ill sare #it us&

To tose of (ou #o are ne# in te Curc, #e #elco%e (ou& To tose of (ou #o arestru$$lin$ #it callen$es or #it disappoint%ents or #it losses, #e pra( for (ou& Our*ea"enl( !ater lo"es eac of us and is %indful of our needs& 'a( #e be lled #it *is+pirit as #e listen to tat #ic #ill be presented& +uc is %( pra(er tis %ornin$ as #eopen tis $reat conference& ) also add a fond re%e%brance of 9resident Gordon &*inc.le(, #o preceded %e as 9resident of te Curc& )=% sure e=s ser"in$ #ell on teoter side& )n te na%e of our Lord and +a"ior, Mesus Crist, a%en&


)e "our )est Self

http://lds.org/general-conference/print/2009/04/welcome-to-conference?lang=eng&clang=eng#1-PD50015887_000_003




Presient Thomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

ac %ust stri"e to learn is dut( and ten to do it to te best of is abilit(&

'( belo"ed bretren of te priestood asse%bled ere in tis full Conference Center and

in locations trou$out te #orld, ) a% u%bled b( te responsibilit( #ic is %ine toaddress (ou& ) endorse tose %essa$es #ic a"e alread( been presented and e-pressto eac of (ou %( sincere lo"e, as #ell as %( appreciation for (our fait and (ourde"otion&

retren, our responsibilities as bearers of te priestood are %ost si$nicant, asoutlined in te Boctrine and Co"enants: Te po#er and autorit( of te i$er, or'elciede. 9riestood, is to old te .e(s of all te spiritual blessin$s of te curc&7 1 And furter, Te po#er and autorit( of te lesser, or Aaronic 9riestood, is to old te.e(s of te %inisterin$ of an$els, and to ad%inister in out#ard ordinances, te letter ofte $ospel, te baptis% of repentance for te re%ission of sins, a$reeable to te

co"enants and co%%and%ents&72

)n 158 lder *arold & Lee, #o later ser"ed as te 11t 9resident of te Curc,described te priestood as te Lord=s H troops a$ainst te forces of e"il&7>

9resident Mon Ta(lor stated tat te po#er %anifested b( te priestood is si%pl( tepo#er of God&7

Tese stirrin$ declarations fro% propets of God elp us to understand tat eac %anand eac bo( #o olds te priestood of God %ust be #ort( of tat $reat pri"ile$eand responsibilit(& ac %ust stri"e to learn is dut( and ten to do it to te best of is

abilit(& As #e do so, #e pro"ide te %eans b( #ic our *ea"enl( !ater and *is +on, Mesus Crist, can acco%plis Teir #or. ere upon te eart& )t is #e #o are Teirrepresentati"es ere&

)n te #orld toda( #e face di4culties and callen$es, so%e of #ic can see% trul(dauntin$& *o#e"er, #it God on our side #e cannot fail& As #e bear *is ol( priestood#ortil(, #e #ill be "ictorious&

<o# to (ou #o old te Aaronic 9riestood, %a( ) sa( tat ) sincerel( ope eac of (ouis a#are of te si$nicance of (our priestood ordination& Kours is a "ital role in te life ofe"er( %e%ber of (our #ard as (ou participate in te ad%inistration and passin$ of te

sacra%ent eac +unda(&

) ad te pri"ile$e to ser"e as te secretar( of %( deacons uoru%& ) recall te %an(assi$n%ents #e %e%bers of tat uoru% ad te opportunit( to ll& 9assin$ te sacredsacra%ent, collectin$ te %ontl( fast oerin$s, and loo.in$ after one anoter co%ereadil( to %ind& Te %ost fri$tenin$ one, o#e"er, appened at te leadersip sessionof our #ard conference& Te %e%ber of our sta.e presidenc( #o #as presidin$ calledon a nu%ber of te #ard o4cers to spea.& Te( did so& Ten, #itout te sli$test#arnin$, e stood and said, e #ill no# call on one of our (oun$er #ard o4cers, To%as +& 'onson, secretar( of te deacons uoru%, to $i"e us an accountin$ of is

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ser"ice and to bear is testi%on(&7 ) don=t re%e%ber a sin$le tin$ ) said, but ) a"ene"er for$otten te e-perience or te lesson tat it tau$t %e& )t #as te Apostle 9eter#o said, e read( al#a(s to $i"e an ans#er to e"er( %an tat as.et (ou a reason ofte ope tat is in (ou&75

)n an earlier $eneration, te Lord $a"e tis pro%ise to olders of te priestood: ) #ill$o before (our face& ) #ill be on (our ri$t and and on (our left, and %( +pirit sall be in(our earts, and %ine an$els round about (ou, to bear (ou up&76

Tis is not a ti%e for fear, bretren, but rater a ti%e for faita ti%e for eac of us #oolds te priestood to be is best self&

Altou$ our Dourne( trou$ %ortalit( #ill at ti%es place us in ar%=s #a(, %a( ) oer(ou toni$t tree su$$estions #ic, #en obser"ed and follo#ed, #ill lead us to safet(& Te( are:

1. Stu! ili'entl!.2. Pra! fer*entl!.3. (i*e ri'hteousl!.

Tese su$$estions are not ne#; te( a"e been tau$t and repeated a$ain and a$ain& )f#e incorporate te% into our li"es, o#e"er, #e #ill a"e te stren$t to #itstand tead"ersar(& +ould #e i$nore te%, #e #ill be openin$ te door for +atan to a"ein3uence and po#er o"er us&

!irst, stu! ili'entl!. "er( older of te priestood sould participate in dail(scripture stud(& Cras courses are not nearl( so eecti"e as te da(/to/da( readin$ andapplication of te scriptures in our li"es& eco%e acuainted #it te lessons tescriptures teac& Learn te bac.$round and settin$ of te 'aster=s parables and tepropets= ad%onitions& +tud( te% as tou$ te( #ere spea.in$ to (ou, for suc is tetrut&

Te propet Lei and is son <epi #ere eac so#n in "ision te i%portance ofobtainin$ and ten oldin$ fast to te #ord of God& Concernin$ te rod of iron so#ni%, <epi said tis to is disbelie"in$ broters, La%an and Le%uel:

And ) said unto te% tat ?te rod@ #as te #ord of God; and #oso #ould ear.en untote #ord of God, and #ould old fast unto it, te( #ould ne"er peris; neiter could tete%ptations and te er( darts of te ad"ersar( o"erpo#er te% unto blindness, to leadte% a#a( to destruction&

erefore, ), <epi, did e-ort te% to $i"e eed unto te #ord of te Lord; (ea, ) dide-ort te% #it all te ener$ies of %( soul, and #it all te facult( #ic ) possessed,tat te( #ould $i"e eed to te #ord of God and re%e%ber to .eep is co%%and%entsal#a(s in all tin$s&7J

) pro%ise (ou, #eter (ou old te Aaronic or te 'elciede. 9riestood, tat if (ou#ill stud( te scriptures dili$entl(, (our po#er to a"oid te%ptation and to recei"edirection of te *ol( Gost in all (ou do #ill be increased&









+econd, %ra! fer*entl!. it God, all tin$s are possible& 'en of te Aaronic9riestood, %en of te 'elciede. 9riestood, re%e%ber te pra(er of te 9ropet Mosep, oered in tat $ro"e called sacred& Loo. around (ou and see te result of tatans#ered pra(er&

Ada% pra(ed; Mesus pra(ed& e .no# te outco%e of teir pra(ers& *e #o notes te fallof a sparro# surel( ears te pleadin$s of our earts& Ie%e%ber te pro%ise: )f an( of(ou lac. #isdo%, let i% as. of God, tat $i"et to all %en liberall(, and upbraidet not;

and it sall be $i"en i%&78

To tose #itin te sound of %( "oice #o are stru$$lin$ #it callen$es and di4cultieslar$e and s%all, pra(er is te pro"ider of spiritual stren$t; it is te passport to peace&9ra(er is te %eans b( #ic #e approac our !ater in *ea"en, #o lo"es us& +pea. to*i% in pra(er and ten listen for te ans#er& 'iracles are #rou$t trou$ pra(er&

+ister Bais( O$ando li"es in <e# Kor. Cit(, o%e to %ore tan ei$t %illion people&+o%e (ears a$o +ister O$ando %et #it te %issionaries and #as tau$t te $ospel&Graduall(, se and te %issionaries lost contact& Ti%e passed& Ten, in 200J, teprinciples of te $ospel se ad been tau$t b( te %issionaries stirred #itin er eart&

One da( #ile $ettin$ into a ta-i, Bais( sa# te %issionaries at a distance, but se #asunable to %a.e contact #it te% before te( disappeared fro% "ie#& +e pra(edfer"entl( to our *ea"enl( !ater and pro%ised *i% tat if *e #ould so%eo# direct te%issionaries to er once a$ain, se #ould open er door to te%& +e returned o%etat da( #it fait in er eart tat God #ould ear and ans#er er pra(er&

)n te %eanti%e, t#o (oun$ %issionaries #o ad been sincerel( pra(in$ and #or.in$ tond people to teac #ere one da( e-a%inin$ te tractin$ records of %issionaries #oad pre"iousl( ser"ed in teir area& As te( did so, te( ca%e across te na%e of Bais(O$ando& en te( approaced er apart%ent te "er( afternoon tat +ister O$andooered tat si%ple but fer"ent pra(er, se opened te door and said tose #ords tatare %usic to e"er( %issionar( #o as e"er eard te%: lders, co%e in& )="e been#aitin$ for (ouF7

T#o fer"ent pra(ers #ere ans#ered, contact #as reestablised, %issionar( lessons #eretau$t, and arran$e%ents #ere %ade for Bais( and er son dd( to be baptied&

Ie%e%ber to %ra! fer*entl!.

'( nal su$$estion, %( bretren: li*e ri'hteousl!. )saia, tat $reat propet of te Old Testa%ent, $a"e tis stirrin$ car$e to olders of te priestood: Touc no uncleantin$& H e (e clean, tat bear te "essels of te Lord&7 Tat=s about as strai$t as itcould be $i"en&

*olders of te priestood %a( not necessaril( be elouent in teir speec& Te( %a( notold ad"anced de$rees in di4cult elds of stud(& Te( %a( "er( #ell be %en of u%ble%eans& ut God is no respecter of persons, and *e #ill sustain *is ser"ants inri$teousness as te( a"oid te e"ils of our da( and li"e li"es of "irtue and purit(& 'a( )illustrate&







+o%e 00 %iles 1,00 .%P nort of +alt La.e Cit( is te beautiful cit( of Cal$ar(,Alberta, Canada, o%e of te fa%ous Cal$ar( +ta%pede, one of Canada=s lar$est annuale"ents and te #orld=s lar$est outdoor rodeo& Te 10/da( e"ent features a rodeoco%petition, e-ibits, a$ricultural co%petitions, and cuc. #a$on races& Te +ta%pede9arade, #ic occurs on openin$ da(, is one of te festi"al=s oldest and lar$esttraditions& Te parade follo#s a nearl( tree/%ile 5/.%P route in do#nto#n Cal$ar(, #itattendance reacin$ >50,000 spectators, %an( dressed in #estern attire&

+e"eral (ears a$o, a %arcin$ band fro% a lar$e i$ scool in Uta ad auditioned forand ad recei"ed one of te co"eted entries to %arc in te Cal$ar( +ta%pede 9arade&'onts of fund/raisin$, earl(/%ornin$ practices up and do#n te streets, and oterpreparations #ere underta.en in order for te band to tra"el to Cal$ar( and participatein te parade, #ere one band #ould be selected to recei"e te rst/place onor&

!inall( te da( for departure arri"ed, #it te ea$er students and teir leaders boardin$te buses and eadin$ nort for te lon$ Dourne( to Cal$ar(&

ile en route, te cara"an stopped in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, #ere te $roupre%ained for an o"erni$t sta(& Te local Ielief +ociet( sisters tere prepared sac.

lunces for te band %e%bers to enDo( before departin$ a$ain& rad, one of te band%e%bers, #o #as a priest in te Aaronic 9riestood, #as not un$r( and decided to.eep is lunc until later&

rad li.ed to sit in te bac. of te bus& As e too. is usual seat tere in preparation forte re%ainder of te Dourne( to Cal$ar(, e tossed is sac. lunc on te self beind telast ro# of seats& Tere te lunc sat b( te rear #indo# as te Mul( afternoon sun sonetrou$& Unfortunatel(, te sac. lunc contained an e$$ salad sand#ic& !or tose of(ou #o don=t understand te si$nicance of tis, %a( ) Dust sa( tat e$$ salad %ust berefri$erated& )f it is not, and if it is subDected to i$ eat suc as tat #ic #ould beproduced b( te sun beatin$ trou$ a bus #indo# on a sunn( da(, it beco%es a ratere4cient incubator for "arious strains of bacteria tat can result in #at %a( co%%onl(be referred to as food poisonin$&

+o%eti%e before arri"in$ in Cal$ar(, rad $re# un$r(& Ie%e%berin$ te sac. lunc, e$ulped do#n te e$$ salad sand#ic& As te buses arri"ed in Cal$ar( and dro"e aroundte cit(, te %e%bers of te band $re# e-citedall e-cept for rad& Unfortunatel(, alltat $re# #itin i% #ere se"ere sto%ac pains and oter disco%forts associated #itfood poisonin$& Kou .no# #at te( are&

Upon arri"in$ at teir destination, te band %e%bers e-ited te bus& rad, o#e"er, didnot& Altou$ e .ne# is fello# band %e%bers #ere countin$ on i% to pla( is dru%in te parade te follo#in$ %ornin$, rad #as doubled o"er in pain and #as too sic. tolea"e te bus& 9ro"identiall( for i%, t#o of is friends, +te"e and 'i.e, #o ad recentl($raduated fro% i$ scool and #o ad also recentl( been ordained to te o4ce ofelder in te 'elciede. 9riestood, found tat rad #as %issin$ and decided to loo. fori%&

!indin$ rad in te rear of te bus and learnin$ #at te proble% #as, +te"e and 'i.efelt elpless& !inall( it occurred to te% tat te( #ere elders and eld te po#er of te'elciede. 9riestood to bless te sic.& Bespite teir total lac. of e-perience in $i"in$ apriestood blessin$, tese t#o ne# elders ad fait in te po#er te( eld& Te( laid



teir ands on rad=s ead and, in"o.in$ te autorit( of te 'elciede. 9riestood, inte na%e of Mesus Crist uttered te si%ple #ords to bless rad to be %ade #ell&

!ro% tat %o%ent, rad=s s(%pto%s #ere co%pletel( $one& Te ne-t %ornin$ e too.is place #it te rest of te band %e%bers and proudl( %arced do#n te streets ofCal$ar(& Te band recei"ed rst/place onors and te co"eted blue ribbon& !ar %orei%portant, o#e"er, #as tat t#o (oun$, ine-perienced but #ort( priestood oldersad ans#ered te call to represent te Lord in ser"in$ teir fello# %an& en it #as

necessar( for te% to e-ercise teir priestood in bealf of one #o #as desperatel( inneed of teir elp, te( #ere able to respond because te( li"ed teir li"es ri$teousl(&

retren, are #e prepared for our Dourne( trou$ lifeE Te pat#a( can at ti%es bedi4cult& Cart (our course, be cautious, and deter%ine to stu! ili'entl!, %ra!fer*entl!, and li*e ri'hteousl!.

Let us ne"er despair, for te #or. in #ic #e are en$a$ed is te #or. of te Lord& )t asbeen said, Te Lord sapes te bac. to bear te burden placed upon it&7

Te stren$t #ic #e earnestl( see. in order to %eet te callen$es of a co%ple- and

can$in$ #orld can be ours #en, #it fortitude and resolute coura$e, #e stand anddeclare #it Mosua, As for %e and %( ouse, #e #ill ser"e te Lord&710 To tis di"inetrut ) testif( and do so in te na%e of Mesus Crist, our Lord, a%en&

April

200 General Conference

)e of Goo CheerPresient Thomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

e of $ood ceer& Te future is as bri$t as (our fait&

'( dear broters and sisters, ) e-press %( lo"e to (ou& ) a% u%bled b( teresponsibilit( to address (ou, and (et ) a% $rateful for te opportunit( to do so&

+ince last #e %et to$eter in a $eneral conference si- %onts a$o, tere a"e beencontinuin$ si$ns tat circu%stances in te #orld aren=t necessaril( as #e #ould #is& Te $lobal econo%(, #ic si- %onts a$o appeared to be sa$$in$, see%s to a"e ta.ena nosedi"e, and for %an( #ee.s no# te nancial outloo. as been so%e#at $ri%& )naddition, te %oral footin$s of societ( continue to slip, #ile tose #o atte%pt tosafe$uard tose footin$s are often ridiculed and, at ti%es, pic.eted and persecuted&ars, natural disasters, and personal %isfortunes continue to occur&

)t #ould be eas( to beco%e discoura$ed and c(nical about te futureor e"en fearful of#at %i$t co%eif #e allo#ed oursel"es to d#ell onl( on tat #ic is #ron$ in te





#orld and in our li"es& Toda(, o#e"er, )=d li.e us to turn our tou$ts and our attitudesa#a( fro% te troubles around us and to focus instead on our blessin$s as %e%bers ofte Curc& Te Apostle 9aul declared, God at not $i"en us te spirit of fear; but ofpo#er, and of lo"e, and of a sound %ind&71

<one of us %a.es it trou$ tis life #itout proble%s and callen$esand so%eti%estra$edies and %isfortunes& After all, in lar$e part #e are ere to learn and $ro# fro%suc e"ents in our li"es& e .no# tat tere are ti%es #en #e #ill suer, #en #e #ill

$rie"e, and #en #e #ill be saddened& *o#e"er, #e are told, Ada% fell tat %en %i$tbe; and %en are, tat te( %i$t a"e Do(&72

*o# %i$t #e a"e Do( in our li"es, despite all tat #e %a( faceE A$ain fro% tescriptures: erefore, be of $ood ceer, and do not fear, for ) te Lord a% #it (ou, and#ill stand b( (ou&7>

Te istor( of te Curc in tis, te dispensation of te fulness of ti%es, is replete #itte e-periences of tose #o a"e stru$$led and (et #o a"e re%ained steadfast andof $ood ceer as te( a"e %ade te $ospel of Mesus Crist te center of teir li"es& Tisattitude is #at #ill pull us trou$ #ate"er co%es our #a(& )t #ill not re%o"e our

troubles fro% us but rater #ill enable us to face our callen$es, to %eet te% ead on,and to e%er$e "ictorious&

Too nu%erous to %ention are te e-a%ples of all te indi"iduals #o a"e faced di4cultcircu%stances and (et #o a"e perse"ered and pre"ailed because teir fait in te$ospel and in te +a"ior as $i"en te% te stren$t te( a"e needed& Tis %ornin$,o#e"er, )=d li.e to sare #it (ou tree suc e-a%ples&

!irst, fro% %( o#n fa%il(, ) %ention a toucin$ e-perience tat as al#a(s been aninspiration to %e&

'( %aternal $reat/$randparents Gibson and Cecelia +arp Condie li"ed in Clac.%annan,+cotland& Teir fa%ilies #ere en$a$ed in coal %inin$& Te( #ere at peace #it te #orld,surrounded b( relati"es and friends, and #ere oused in fairl( co%fortable uarters in aland te( lo"ed& Ten te( listened to te %essa$e of te %issionaries fro% Te Curcof Mesus Crist of Latter/da( +aints and, to te depts of teir "er( souls, #ere con"erted& Te( eard te call to $ater to Yion and .ne# te( %ust ans#er tat call&

+o%eti%e around 188, te( sold teir possessions and prepared for te aardous"o(a$e across te %i$t( Atlantic Ocean& it "e s%all cildren, te( boarded a sailin$"essel, all teir #orldl( possessions in one tin( trun.& Te( tra"eled >,000 %iles ,800.%P across te #atersei$t lon$, #ear( #ee.s on a treacerous sea, #atcin$ and#aitin$, #it poor food, poor #ater, and no elp be(ond te len$t and breadt of tats%all sip&

)n te %idst of tis soul/tr(in$ situation, one of teir (oun$ sons beca%e ill& Tere #ereno doctors, no stores at #ic te( %i$t purcase %edicine to ease is suerin$& Te(#atced, te( pra(ed, te( #aited, and te( #ept as da( b( da( is conditiondeteriorated& en is e(es #ere at last closed in deat, teir earts #ere torn asunder& To add to teir $rief, te la#s of te sea %ust be obe(ed& rapped in a can"as #ei$eddo#n #it iron, te little bod( #as consi$ned to a #ater( $ra"e& As te( sailed a#a(,onl( tose parents .ne# te crusin$ blo# dealt to #ounded earts& *o#e"er, #it a

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fait born of teir deep con"iction of te trut and teir lo"e of te Lord, Gibson andCecelia eld on& Te( #ere co%forted b( te #ords of te Lord: )n te #orld (e salla"e tribulation: but be of $ood ceer; ) a"e o"erco%e te #orld&7 5

*o# $rateful ) a% for ancestors #o ad te fait to lea"e eart and o%e and to Dourne( to Yion, #o %ade sacrices ) can scarcel( i%a$ine& ) tan. %( *ea"enl( !aterfor te e-a%ple of fait, of coura$e, and of deter%ination Gibson and Cecelia +arpCondie pro"ide for %e and for all teir posterit(&

) introduce ne-t a $entle, fait/lled %an #o epito%ied te peace and Do( #ic te$ospel of Mesus Crist can brin$ into one=s life&

Late one e"enin$ on a 9acic isle, a s%all boat slipped silentl( to its bert at te crudepier& T#o 9ol(nesian #o%en elped 'eli 'ulipola fro% te boat and $uided i% to te#ell/#orn pat#a( leadin$ to te "illa$e road& Te #o%en %ar"eled at te bri$t stars,#ic t#in.led in te %idni$t s.(& Te %oonli$t $uided te% alon$ teir #a(&*o#e"er, 'eli 'ulipola could not appreciate tese deli$ts of naturete %oon, testars, te s.(for e #as blind&

roter 'ulipola=s "ision ad been nor%al until a fateful da( #en, #ile #or.in$ on apineapple plantation, li$t turned suddenl( to dar.ness and da( beca%e perpetual ni$t&*e #as depressed and despondent until e learned te $ood ne#s of te $ospel of MesusCrist& *is life #as brou$t into co%pliance #it te teacin$s of te Curc, and eonce a$ain felt ope and Do(&

roter 'ulipola and is lo"ed ones ad %ade a lon$ "o(a$e, a"in$ learned tat one#o eld te priestood of God #as "isitin$ a%on$ te islands of te 9acic& *e sou$t ablessin$, and it #as %( pri"ile$e, alon$ #it anoter #o eld te 'elciede.9riestood, to pro"ide tat blessin$ to i%& As #e nised, ) noted tat tears #erestrea%in$ fro% is si$tless e(es, coursin$ do#n is bro#n cee.s and tu%blin$ nall(upon is nati"e dress& *e dropped to is .nees and pra(ed: O God, Tou .no#est ) a%blind& T( ser"ants a"e blessed %e tat %( si$t %i$t return& eter in T( #isdo%) see li$t or #eter ) see dar.ness all te da(s of %( life, ) #ill be eternall( $rateful forte trut of T( $ospel, #ic ) no# see and #ic pro"ides te li$t of %( life&7

*e rose to is feet and, s%ilin$, tan.ed us for pro"idin$ te blessin$& *e tendisappeared into te still of te ni$t& +ilentl( e ca%e; silentl( e departed& ut ispresence ) sall ne"er for$et& ) re3ected upon te %essa$e of te 'aster: ) a% te li$tof te #orld: e tat follo#et %e sall not #al. in dar.ness, but sall a"e te li$t oflife&76

'( broters and sisters, eac of us as tat li$t in is or er life& e are not left to #al.alone, no %atter o# dar. our pat#a(&

) lo"e te #ords penned b( '& Louise *as.ins:

And ' said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:=*i(e me a light, that ' may tread safely into the unknown%> And he re!lied:=*o out into the darkness and !ut your hand into the &and of *od"hat shall be to you better than ?a@ light and safer than a known way"> J









Te settin$ for %( nal e-a%ple of one #o perse"ered and ulti%atel( pre"ailed, despiteo"er#el%in$l( di4cult circu%stances, be$ins in ast 9russia follo#in$ orld ar ))&

)n about 'arc 16, less tan a (ear after te end of te #ar, ra Taft enson, ten a%e%ber of te Nuoru% of te T#el"e, acco%panied b( !rederic. & abbel, #asassi$ned a special post#ar tour of urope for te e-press purpose of %eetin$ #it te+aints, assessin$ teir needs, and pro"idin$ assistance to te%& lder enson androter abbel later recounted, fro% a testi%on( te( eard, te e-perience of a Curc

%e%ber #o found erself in an area no lon$er controlled b( te $o"ern%ent under#ic se ad resided&

+e and er usband ad li"ed an id(llic life in ast 9russia& Ten ad co%e te second$reat #orld #ar #itin teir lifeti%es& *er belo"ed (oun$ usband #as .illed durin$ tenal da(s of te fri$tful battles in teir o%eland, lea"in$ er alone to care for teirfour cildren&

Te occup(in$ forces deter%ined tat te Ger%ans in ast 9russia %ust $o to esternGer%an( to see. a ne# o%e& Te #o%an #as Ger%an, and so it #as necessar( for erto $o& Te Dourne( #as o"er a tousand %iles 1,600 .%P, and se ad no #a( to

acco%plis it but on foot& +e #as allo#ed to ta.e onl( suc bare necessities as secould load into er s%all #ooden/#eeled #a$on& esides er cildren and tese%ea$er possessions, se too. #it er a stron$ fait in God and in te $ospel asre"ealed to te latter/da( propet Mosep +%it&

+e and te cildren be$an te Dourne( in late su%%er& *a"in$ neiter food nor %one(a%on$ er fe# possessions, se #as forced to $ater a dail( subsistence fro% te eldsand forests alon$ te #a(& +e #as constantl( faced #it dan$ers fro% panic/stric.enrefu$ees and plunderin$ troops&

As te da(s turned into #ee.s and te #ee.s to %onts, te te%peratures droppedbelo# freein$& ac da(, se stu%bled o"er te froen $round, er s%allest cildabab(in er ar%s& *er tree oter cildren stru$$led alon$ beind er, #it te oldestse"en (ears oldpullin$ te tin( #ooden #a$on containin$ teir belon$in$s& Ia$$ed andtorn burlap #as #rapped around teir feet, pro"idin$ te onl( protection for te%, sinceteir soes ad lon$ since disinte$rated& Teir tin, tattered Dac.ets co"ered teir tin,tattered clotin$, pro"idin$ teir onl( protection a$ainst te cold&

+oon te sno#s ca%e, and te da(s and ni$ts beca%e a ni$t%are& )n te e"enin$s seand te cildren #ould tr( to nd so%e .ind of seltera barn or a sedand #oulduddle to$eter for #ar%t, #it a fe# tin blan.ets fro% te #a$on on top of te%&

+e constantl( stru$$led to force fro% er %ind o"er#el%in$ fears tat te( #ouldperis before reacin$ teir destination&

And ten one %ornin$ te untin.able appened& As se a#a.ened, se felt a cill in ereart& Te tin( for% of er tree/(ear/old dau$ter #as cold and still, and se realiedtat deat ad clai%ed te cild& Tou$ o"er#el%ed #it $rief, se .ne# tat se%ust ta.e te oter cildren and tra"el on& !irst, o#e"er, se used te onl( i%ple%entse ada tablespoonto di$ a $ra"e in te froen $round for er tin(, precious cild&



Beat, o#e"er, #as to be er co%panion a$ain and a$ain on te Dourne(& *er se"en/(ear/old son died, eiter fro% star"ation or fro% freein$ or bot& A$ain er onl( so"el#as te tablespoon, and a$ain se du$ our after our to la( is %ortal re%ains $entl(into te eart& <e-t, er "e/(ear/old son died, and a$ain se used er tablespoon as aso"el&

*er despair #as all consu%in$& +e ad onl( er tin( bab( dau$ter left, and te poortin$ #as failin$& !inall(, as se #as reacin$ te end of er Dourne(, te bab( died in

er ar%s& Te spoon #as $one no#, so our after our se du$ a $ra"e in te froeneart #it er bare n$ers& *er $rief beca%e unbearable& *o# could se possibl( be.neelin$ in te sno# at te $ra"eside of er last cildE +e ad lost er usband and aller cildren& +e ad $i"en up er eartl( $oods, er o%e, and e"en er o%eland&

)n tis %o%ent of o"er#el%in$ sorro# and co%plete be#ilder%ent, se felt er eart#ould literall( brea.& )n despair se conte%plated o# se %i$t end er o#n life, as so%an( of er fello# countr(%en #ere doin$& *o# eas( it #ould be to Du%p o a nearb(brid$e, se tou$t, or to tro# erself in front of an onco%in$ train&

And ten, as tese tou$ts assailed er, so%etin$ #itin er said, Get do#n on (our

.nees and pra(&7 +e i$nored te pro%ptin$ until se could resist it no lon$er& +e .neltand pra(ed %ore fer"entl( tan se ad in er entire life:

Bear *ea"enl( !ater, ) do not .no# o# ) can $o on& ) a"e notin$ lefte-cept %(fait in Tee& ) feel, !ater, a%idst te desolation of %( soul, an o"er#el%in$ $ratitudefor te atonin$ sacrice of T( +on, Mesus Crist& ) cannot e-press adeuatel( %( lo"e for*i%& ) .no# tat because *e suered and died, ) sall li"e a$ain #it %( fa%il(; tatbecause *e bro.e te cains of deat, ) sall see %( cildren a$ain and #ill a"e te Do(of raisin$ te%& Tou$ ) do not at tis %o%ent #is to li"e, ) #ill do so, tat #e %a( bereunited as a fa%il( and returnto$eterto Tee&7

en se nall( reaced er destination of arlsrue, Ger%an(, se #as e%aciated&roter abbel said tat er face #as a purple/$ra(, er e(es red and s#ollen, er Dointsprotrudin$& +e #as literall( in te ad"anced sta$es of star"ation& )n a Curc %eetin$sortl( tereafter, se bore a $lorious testi%on(, statin$ tat of all te ailin$ people iner saddened land, se #as one of te appiest because se .ne# tat God li"ed, tat Mesus is te Crist, and tat *e died and #as resurrected so tat #e %i$t li"e a$ain& +etestied tat se .ne# if se continued faitful and true to te end, se #ould bereunited #it tose se ad lost and #ould be sa"ed in te celestial .in$do% of God&8

!ro% te ol( scriptures #e read, eold, te ri$teous, te saints of te *ol( One of)srael, te( #o a"e belie"ed in ?*i%@, te( #o a"e endured te crosses of te #orld,H te( sall inerit te .in$do% of God, H and teir Do( sall be full fore"er&7

) testif( to (ou tat our pro%ised blessin$s are be(ond %easure& Tou$ te stor%clouds %a( $ater, tou$ te rains %a( pour do#n upon us, our .no#led$e of te$ospel and our lo"e of our *ea"enl( !ater and of our +a"ior #ill co%fort and sustain usand brin$ Do( to our earts as #e #al. upri$tl( and .eep te co%%and%ents& Tere #illbe notin$ in tis #orld tat can defeat us&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, fear not& e of $ood ceer& Te future is as bri$t as(our fait&







) declare tat God li"es and tat *e ears and ans#ers our pra(ers& *is +on, Mesus Crist,is our +a"ior and our Iedee%er& *ea"en=s blessin$s a#ait us& )n te na%e of Mesus Crist,a%en&

April 200 General Conferencentil e Meet 'ainPresient Thomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

'a( #e lon$ re%e%ber tat #ic #e a"e eard durin$ tis conference& H) ur$e (ou to stud( te %essa$es and to ponder teir teacin$s and ten toappl( te% in (our life&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, %( eart is full and %( feelin$s tender as #e concludetis $reat $eneral conference&

e a"e been ricl( blessed as #e a"e listened to te counsel and testi%onies of tose#o a"e spo.en to us& ) belie"e #e are all %ore deter%ined to li"e te principles of te$ospel of Mesus Crist&

) e-press %( sincere tan.s to eac one #o participated in te conference, includin$tose retren #o oered pra(ers&

Te %usic as been %a$nicent& *o# $rateful ) a% for tose blessed #it %usicaltalents #o are #illin$ to sare teir talents #it oters& ) a% re%inded of te scripturefound in te Boctrine and Co"enants: !or %( soul deli$tet in te son$ of te eart;(ea, te son$ of te ri$teous is a pra(er unto %e, and it sall be ans#ered #it ablessin$ upon teir eads&71

'a( #e lon$ re%e%ber tat #ic #e a"e eard durin$ tis conference& ) re%ind (outat te %essa$es #ill be printed in ne-t %ont=s Ensign and 2iahona %a$aines& ) ur$e(ou to stud( te %essa$es and to ponder teir teacin$s and ten to appl( te% in (ourlife&

) #ant (ou to .no# o# %uc ) lo"e and appreciate %( de"oted counselors, 9resident*enr( & (rin$ and 9resident Bieter !& Uctdorf& Te( are %en of #isdo% andunderstandin$& Teir ser"ice is in"aluable& ) lo"e and support %( retren of te Nuoru%of te T#el"e Apostles& Burin$ tis conference #e sustained a ne# %e%ber of tatNuoru%& *e is co%pletel( dedicated to te #or. of te Lord, and ) testif( tat e is te%an our *ea"enl( !ater #ants to ll tis position at tis ti%e&

) e-press %( lo"e to te %e%bers of te +e"ent( and te 9residin$ isopric& Te( ser"esel3essl( and so eecti"el(& +i%ilarl(, ) pa( tribute to te $eneral au-iliar( o4cers& )naccordance #it our polic( of rotation, #e a"e sustained ne# $eneral presidencies of





te Koun$ 'en and of te +unda( +cool& e loo. for#ard to #or.in$ #it te%& etan. tose #o #ere released fro% tese positions at tis conference and #o ser"edso faitfull( in tese capacities&

'( broters and sisters, %a( #e stri"e to li"e closer to te Lord& 'a( #e re%e%ber topra( al#a(s lest ?#e@ enter into te%ptation&72

To (ou parents, e-press (our lo"e to (our cildren& 9ra( for te% tat te( %a( be able

to #itstand te e"ils of te #orld& 9ra( tat te( %a( $ro# in fait and testi%on(& 9ra(tat te( %a( pursue li"es of $oodness and of ser"ice to oters&

Cildren, let (our parents .no# (ou lo"e te%& Let te% .no# o# %uc (ou appreciateall te( a"e done and continue to do for (ou&

<o#, a #ord of caution to allbot (oun$ and old, bot %ale and fe%ale& e li"e at ati%e #en te ad"ersar( is usin$ e"er( %eans possible to ensnare us in is #eb ofdeceit, tr(in$ desperatel( to ta.e us do#n #it i%& Tere are %an( pat#a(s alon$#ic e entices us to $opat#a(s tat can lead to our destruction& Ad"ances in %an(areas tat can be used for $ood can also be used to speed us alon$ tose einous

pat#a(s&

) feel to %ention one in particular, and tat is te )nternet& On one and, it pro"idesnearl( li%itless opportunities for acuirin$ useful and i%portant infor%ation& Trou$ it#e can co%%unicate #it oters around te #orld& Te Curc itself as a #onderfuleb site, lled #it "aluable and upliftin$ infor%ation and priceless resources&

On te oter and, o#e"erand e-tre%el( alar%in$are te reports of te nu%ber ofindi"iduals #o are utiliin$ te )nternet for e"il and de$radin$ purposes, te "ie#in$ ofporno$rap( bein$ te %ost pre"alent of tese purposes& '( broters and sisters,in"ol"e%ent in suc #ill literall( destro( te spirit& e stron$& e clean& A"oid sucde$radin$ and destructi"e t(pes of content at all costs#ere"er te( %a( beF ) soundtis #arnin$ to e"er(one, e"er(#ere& ) addparticularl( to te (oun$ peopletat tisincludes porno$rapic i%a$es trans%itted "ia cell pones&

'( belo"ed friends, under no circu%stances allo# (oursel"es to beco%e trapped in te"ie#in$ of porno$rap(, one of te %ost eecti"e of +atan=s entice%ents& And if (oua"e allo#ed (ourself to beco%e in"ol"ed in tis bea"ior, cease no#& +ee. te elp (ouneed to o"erco%e and to can$e te direction of (our life& Ta.e te steps necessar( to$et bac. on te strait and narro#, and ten sta( tere&

'a( #e sa(, #it Mosua of old, Coose (ou tis da( #o% (e #ill ser"e; H but as for%e and %( ouse, #e #ill ser"e te Lord&7>

<o#, %( broters and sisters, #e a"e built te%ples trou$out te #orld and #illcontinue to do so& To (ou #o are #ort( and able to attend te te%ple, ) #ouldad%onis (ou to $o often& Te te%ple is a place #ere #e can nd peace& Tere #erecei"e a rene#ed dedication to te $ospel and a stren$tened resol"e to .eep teco%%and%ents&

at a pri"ile$e it is to be able to $o to te te%ple, #ere #e %a( e-perience tesanctif(in$ in3uence of te +pirit of te Lord& Great ser"ice is $i"en #en #e perfor%







"icarious ordinances for tose #o a"e $one be(ond te "eil& )n %an( cases #e do not.no# tose for #o% #e perfor% te #or.& e e-pect no tan.s, nor do #e a"e teassurance tat te( #ill accept tat #ic #e oer& *o#e"er, #e ser"e, and in tatprocess #e attain tat #ic co%es of no oter eort: #e literall( beco%e sa"iors on'ount Yion& As our +a"ior $a"e *is life as a "icarious sacrice for us, so #e, in so%es%all %easure, do te sa%e #en #e perfor% pro-( #or. in te te%ple for tose #oa"e no %eans of %o"in$ for#ard unless so%etin$ is done for te% b( tose of us ereon te eart&

) a% deepl( $rateful tat as a curc #e continue to e-tend u%anitarian aid #eretere is $reat need& e a"e done %uc in tis re$ard and a"e blessed te li"es oftousands upon tousands of our !ater=s cildren #o are not of our fait as #ell astose #o are& e intend to continue to elp #ere"er suc is needed& e e-press$ratitude to (ou for (our contributions in tis re$ard&

*o# $rateful ) a%, %( broters and sisters, for te Iestoration of te $ospel in tisdispensation and for all te blessin$s tat a"e co%e into %( life and into (our li"es as aresult& e are a blessed people, for #e a"e te sure .no#led$e tat God li"es and tat Mesus is te Crist&

'a( ea"en=s blessin$s be #it (ou& 'a( (our o%es be lled #it ar%on( and lo"e&'a( (ou constantl( nouris (our testi%onies tat te( %i$t be a protection to (oua$ainst te ad"ersar(&

As (our u%ble ser"ant, ) desire #it all %( eart to do God=s #ill and to ser"e *i% andto ser"e (ou&

<o#, %( broters and sisters, conference is o"er& As #e return to our o%es, %a( #e doso safel(&

) lo"e (ou& ) pra( for (ou& ) #ould as. tat (ou #ould re%e%ber %e and all te GeneralAutorities in (our pra(ers& Until #e %eet a$ain in si- %onts= ti%e, ) as. te Lord=sblessin$s to be upon all of us, and ) do it in te na%e of Mesus Crist te Lord, our +a"ior,a%en&


elcome to ConferenceThomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

e desire tat as %an( %e%bers as possible a"e an opportunit( to attendte te%ple #itout a"in$ to tra"el inordinate distances&



'( belo"ed broters and sisters, ) e-tend %( $reetin$s to all of (ou as #e co%%encetis, te 1Jt +e%iannual General Conference of Te Curc of Mesus Crist of Latter/da( +aints&

*o# $rateful ) a% for te a$e in #ic #e li"ean a$e of suc ad"anced tecnolo$( tat#e are able to address (ou across te #orld& As te General Autorities and au-iliar(leaders stand ere in te Conference Center in +alt La.e Cit(, our "oices #ill be reacin$(ou b( "arious %eans, includin$ radio, tele"ision, satellite trans%ission, and te )nternet&

Altou$ #e #ill be spea.in$ to (ou in n$lis, (ou #ill be earin$ us in so%e 2lan$ua$es&

+ince last #e %et in April of tis (ear, #e a"e dedicated te beautiful Ouirr 'ountainUta Te%ple in +out Mordan, Uta& +and#iced bet#een te Braper Uta Te%plededication in 'arc and tis %ost recent dedication of te Ouirr 'ountain Uta Te%plein Au$ust, a spectacular t#o/ni$t cultural e"ent #as eld, featurin$ (out fro% botte%ple districts& Te productions retraced te ric le$ac( of Uta trou$ son$ anddance& All told, appro-i%atel( 1,000 (out participated o"er te t#o ni$ts&

e continue to build te%ples& e desire tat as %an( %e%bers as possible a"e an

opportunit( to attend te te%ple #itout a"in$ to tra"el inordinate distances&orld#ide, 8> percent of our %e%bers li"e #itin 200 %iles >20 .%P of a te%ple& Tatpercenta$e #ill continue to increase as #e construct ne# te%ples around te #orld&Currentl( tere are 1>0 te%ples in operation, #it 16 announced or under construction& Tis %ornin$ ) a% pleased to announce 5 additional te%ples for #ic sites are bein$acuired and #ic, in co%in$ %onts and (ears, #ill be built in te follo#in$ locations:ri$a% Cit(, Uta; ConcepciXn, Cile; !ortalea, rail; !ort Lauderdale, !lorida; and+apporo, Mapan&

'illions of ordinances are perfor%ed in te te%ples eac (ear in bealf of our deceasedlo"ed ones& 'a( #e continue to be faitful in perfor%in$ suc ordinances for tose #oare unable to do so for te%sel"es& ) lo"e te #ords of 9resident Mosep !& +%it as espo.e of te%ple ser"ice and of te spirit #orld be(ond %ortalit(& +aid e, Trou$ oureorts in teir bealf teir cains of bonda$e #ill fall fro% te%, and te dar.nesssurroundin$ te% #ill clear a#a(, tat li$t %a( sine upon te% and te( sall ear inte spirit #orld of te #or. tat as been done for te% b( teir ?people@ ere, and #illreDoice #it (ou in (our perfor%ance of tese duties&71

roters and sisters, te Curc continues to $ro#, as it as since bein$ or$anied o"er1J (ears a$o& )t is can$in$ te li"es of %ore and %ore people e"er( (ear and isspreadin$ far and #ide o"er te eart as our %issionar( force see.s out tose #o areloo.in$ for te truts #ic are found in te $ospel of Mesus Crist& e call upon all%e%bers of te Curc to befriend te ne# con"erts, to reac out to te%, to surroundte% #it lo"e, and to elp te% feel at o%e&

) #ould as. tat (our fait and pra(ers continue to be oered in bealf of tose areas#ere our in3uence is li%ited and #ere #e are not allo#ed to sare te $ospel freel( attis ti%e& 'iracles can occur as #e do so&

<o#, %( broters and sisters, #e are an-ious to listen to te %essa$es #ic #ill bepresented to us durin$ te ne-t t#o da(s& Tose #o #ill address us a"e sou$tea"en=s elp and direction as te( a"e prepared teir %essa$es& Te( a"e been





i%pressed concernin$ tat #ic te( #ill sare #it us& Tat #e %a( be lled #it te+pirit of te Lord as #e listen and learn is %( pra(er in te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&


School Th! Feelin's, 4 M! )rotherThomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

)f #e desire to a"e a proper spirit #it us at all ti%es, #e %ust coose torefrain fro% beco%in$ an$r(&

retren, #e are asse%bled as a %i$t( bod( of te priestood, bot ere in te

Conference Center and in locations trou$out te #orld& e a"e eard inspired%essa$es tis e"enin$, and ) e-press %( appreciation to tose retren #o a"eaddressed us& ) a% onored, (et u%bled, b( te pri"ile$e to spea. to (ou, and ) pra(tat te inspiration of te Lord %a( attend %e&

Iecentl( as ) #atced te ne#s on tele"ision, ) realied tat %an( of te lead stories#ere si%ilar in nature in tat te tra$edies reported all basicall( traced bac. to onee%otion: anger" Te fater of an infant ad been arrested for p(sical abuse of te bab(&)t #as alle$ed tat te bab(=s cr(in$ ad so infuriated i% tat e ad bro.en one of tecild=s li%bs and se"eral ribs& Alar%in$ #as te report of $ro#in$ $an$ "iolence, #it tenu%ber of $an$/related .illin$s a"in$ risen sarpl(& Anoter stor( tat ni$t in"ol"ed

te sootin$ of a #o%an b( er estran$ed usband, #o #as reportedl( in a Dealousra$e after ndin$ er #it anoter %an& Ten, of course, tere #as te usual co"era$eof #ars and con3icts trou$out te #orld&

) tou$t of te #ords of te 9sal%ist: Cease fro% an$er, and forsa.e #rat&71

'an( (ears a$o, a (oun$ couple called %( o4ce and as.ed if te( could co%e in forcounselin$& Te( indicated te( ad suered a tra$ed( in teir li"es and tat teir%arria$e #as in serious Deopard(& An appoint%ent #as arran$ed&

Te tension bet#een tis usband and #ife #as apparent as te( entered %( o4ce& Teir stor( unfolded slo#l( at rst as te usband spo.e altin$l( and te #ife crieduietl( and participated "er( little in te con"ersation&

Te (oun$ %an ad returned fro% ser"in$ a %ission and #as accepted to a presti$iousuni"ersit( in te eastern part of te United +tates& )t #as tere, in a uni"ersit( #ard, tate ad %et is future #ife& +e #as also a student at te uni"ersit(& After a (ear ofdatin$, te( Dourne(ed to Uta and #ere %arried in te +alt La.e Te%ple, returnin$ eastsortl( after#ard to nis teir scoolin$&

http://lds.org/general-conference/print/2009/10/school-thy-feelings-o-my-brother?lang=eng&clang=eng#1-PD50019113_000_023




( te ti%e te( $raduated and returned to teir o%e state, te( #ere e-pectin$ teirrst cild and te usband ad e%plo(%ent in is cosen eld& Te #ife $a"e birt to abab( bo(& Life #as $ood&

en teir son #as about 18 %onts old, te( decided to ta.e a sort "acation to "isitfa%il( %e%bers #o li"ed a fe# undred %iles a#a(& Tis #as at a ti%e #en car seatsfor cildren and seat belts for adults #ere scarcel( eard of, let alone used& Te tree%e%bers of te fa%il( all rode in te front seat #it te toddler in te %iddle&

+o%eti%e durin$ te trip, te usband and #ife ad a disa$ree%ent& After all tese(ears, ) cannot recall #at caused it& ut ) do re%e%ber tat teir ar$u%ent escalatedand beca%e so eated tat te( #ere e"entuall( (ellin$ at one anoter& Understandabl(,tis caused teir (oun$ son to be$in cr(in$, #ic te usband said onl( added to isan$er& Losin$ total control of is te%per, e pic.ed up a to( te cild ad dropped on teseat and 3un$ it in te direction of is #ife&

*e %issed ittin$ is #ife& )nstead, te to( struc. teir son, #it te result tat e #asbrain da%a$ed and #ould be andicapped for te rest of is life&

Tis #as one of te %ost tra$ic situations ) ad e"er encountered& ) counseled andencoura$ed te%& e tal.ed of co%%it%ent and responsibilit(, of acceptance andfor$i"eness& e spo.e of te aection and respect #ic needed to return to teir fa%il(&e read #ords of co%fort fro% te scriptures& e pra(ed to$eter& Tou$ ) a"e noteard fro% te% since tat da( so lon$ a$o, te( #ere s%ilin$ trou$ teir tears aste( left %( o4ce& All tese (ears )="e oped te( %ade te decision to re%ain to$eter,co%forted and blessed b( te $ospel of Mesus Crist&

) tin. of te% #ene"er ) read te #ords: An$er doesn=t sol"e an(tin$& )t buildsnotin$, but it can destro( e"er(tin$&72

e="e all felt an$er& )t can co%e #en tin$s don=t turn out te #a( #e #ant& )t %i$t bea reaction to so%etin$ #ic is said of us or to us& e %a( e-perience it #en peopledon=t bea"e te #a( #e #ant te% to bea"e& 9eraps it co%es #en #e a"e to #aitfor so%etin$ lon$er tan #e e-pected& e %i$t feel an$r( #en oters can=t seetin$s fro% our perspecti"e& Tere see% to be countless possible reasons for an$er&

Tere are ti%es #en #e can beco%e upset at i%a$ined urts or percei"ed inDustices&9resident *eber M& Grant, se"ent 9resident of te Curc, told of a ti%e as a (oun$ adult#en e did so%e #or. for a %an #o ten sent i% a cec. for Z500 #it a letterapolo$iin$ for not bein$ able to pa( i% %ore& Ten 9resident Grant did so%e #or. foranoter %an#or. #ic e said #as 10 ti%es %ore di4cult, in"ol"in$ 10 ti%es %orelabor and a $reat deal %ore ti%e& Tis second %an sent i% a cec. for Z150& Koun$*eber felt e ad been treated %ost unfairl(& *e #as at rst insulted and ten incensed&

*e recounted te e-perience to an older friend, #o as.ed, Bid tat %an intend toinsult (ouE7

9resident Grant replied, <o& *e told %( friends e ad re#arded %e andso%el(&7

To tis te older friend replied, A %an=s a fool #o ta.es an insult tat isn=t intended&7>







Te Apostle 9aul as.s in pesians, capter , "erse 26 of te Mosep +%it Translation:Can (e be an$r(, and not sinE let not te sun $o do#n upon (our #rat&7 ) as., is itpossible to feel te +pirit of our *ea"enl( !ater #en #e are an$r(E ) .no# of noinstance #ere suc #ould be te case&

!ro% > <epi in te oo. of 'or%on, #e read:

Tere sall be no disputations a%on$ (ou& H

!or "eril(, "eril( ) sa( unto (ou, e tat at te spirit of contention is not of %e, but isof te de"il, #o is te fater of contention, and e stirret up te earts of %en tocontend #it an$er, one #it anoter&

eold, tis is not %( doctrine, to stir up te earts of %en #it an$er, one a$ainstanoter; but tis is %( doctrine, tat suc tin$s sould be done a#a(&7

To be an$r( is to (ield to te in3uence of +atan& <o one can make us an$r(& )t is ourcoice& )f #e desire to a"e a proper spirit #it us at all ti%es, #e %ust coose to refrainfro% beco%in$ an$r(& ) testif( tat suc is possible&

An$er, +atan=s tool, is destructi"e in so %an( #a(s&

) belie"e %ost of us are fa%iliar #it te sad account of To%as & 'ars and is #ife,liabet& roter 'ars #as one of te rst %odern/da( Apostles called after teCurc #as restored to te eart& *e e"entuall( beca%e 9resident of te Nuoru% of te T#el"e Apostles&

ile te +aints #ere in !ar est, 'issouri, liabet 'ars, To%as=s #ife, and erfriend +ister *arris decided te( #ould e-can$e %il. in order to %a.e %ore ceesetan te( oter#ise could& To be certain all #as done fairl(, te( a$reed tat te( souldnot sa"e #at #ere called te strippin$s, but tat te %il. and strippin$s sould all $oto$eter& +trippin$s ca%e at te end of te %il.in$ and #ere ricer in crea%&

+ister *arris #as faitful to te a$ree%ent, but +ister 'ars, desirin$ to %a.e so%eespeciall( delicious ceese, sa"ed a pint of strippin$s fro% eac co# and sent +ister*arris te %il. #itout te strippin$s& Tis caused te t#o #o%en to uarrel& en te(could not settle teir dierences, te %atter #as referred to te o%e teacers to settle& Te( found liabet 'ars $uilt( of failure to .eep er a$ree%ent& +e and er usband#ere upset #it te decision, and te %atter #as ten referred to te bisop for aCurc trial& Te bisop=s court decided tat te strippin$s #ere #ron$full( sa"ed andtat +ister 'ars ad "iolated er co"enant #it +ister *arris&

To%as 'ars appealed to te i$ council, and te %en co%prisin$ tis councilconr%ed te bisop=s decision& *e ten appealed to te !irst 9residenc( of te Curc& Mosep +%it and is counselors considered te case and upeld te decision of te i$council&

lder To%as & 'ars, #o sided #it is #ife trou$ all of tis, beca%e an$rier #iteac successi"e decisionso an$r(, in fact, tat e #ent before a %a$istrate and s#oretat te 'or%ons #ere ostile to#ard te state of 'issouri& *is a4da"it led toor atleast #as a factor inGo"ernor Lilburn o$$s=s cruel e-ter%ination order, #ic resulted

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http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/eph/4.26a?lang=eng




in o"er 15,000 +aints bein$ dri"en fro% teir o%es, #it all te terrible suerin$ andconseuent deat tat follo#ed& All of tis occurred because of a disa$ree%ent o"er tee-can$e of %il. and crea%&5

After 1 (ears of rancor and loss, To%as & 'ars %ade is #a( to te +alt La.e Walle(and as.ed 9resident ri$a% Koun$ for for$i"eness& roter 'ars also #rote to *eber Ci%ball, !irst Counselor in te !irst 9residenc(, of te lesson e ad learned& +aid roter'ars: Te Lord could $et alon$ "er( #ell #itout %e and *e H lost notin$ b( %(

fallin$ out of te ran.s; ut O #at a"e ) lostEF Iices, $reater rices tan all tis #orldor %an( planets li.e tis could aord&76

Apropos are te #ords of te poet Mon Greenleaf ittier: Of all sad #ords of ton$ue orpen, te saddest are tese: R)t %i$t a"e beenF=7J

'( bretren, #e are all susceptible to tose feelin$s #ic, if left uncec.ed, can lead toan$er& e e-perience displeasure or irritation or anta$onis%, and if #e so coose, #elose our te%per and beco%e an$r( #it oters& )ronicall(, tose oters are often%e%bers of our o#n fa%ilieste people #e reall( lo"e te %ost&

'an( (ears a$o ) read te follo#in$ Associated 9ress dispatc #ic appeared in tene#spaper: An elderl( %an disclosed at te funeral of is broter, #it #o% e adsared, fro% earl( %anood, a s%all, one/roo% cabin near Canisteo, <e# Kor., tatfollo#in$ a uarrel, te( ad di"ided te roo% in alf #it a cal. line, and neiter adcrossed te line or spo.en a #ord to te oter since tat da(62 (ears before& Must tin.of te conseuence of tat an$er& at a tra$ed(F

'a( #e %a.e a conscious decision, eac ti%e suc a decision %ust be %ade, to refrainfro% an$er and to lea"e unsaid te ars and urtful tin$s #e %a( be te%pted to sa(&

) lo"e te #ords of te (%n #ritten b( lder Carles & 9enrose, #o ser"ed in teNuoru% of te T#el"e and in te !irst 9residenc( durin$ te earl( (ears of te 20tcentur(:

chool thy feelings, # my brother;rain thy warm, im!ulsi(e soul"3o not its emotions smother,/ut let wisdom)s (oice control"chool thy feelings; there is !ower 'n the cool, collected mind"1assion shatters reason)s tower,Makes the clearest (ision blind"8

ac of us is a older of te priestood of God& Te oat and co"enant of te priestoodpertains to all of us& To tose #o old te 'elciede. 9riestood, it is a declaration ofour reuire%ent to be faitful and obedient to te la#s of God and to %a$nif( tecallin$s #ic co%e to us& To tose #o old te Aaronic 9riestood, it is apronounce%ent concernin$ future dut( and responsibilit(, tat (ou %a( prepare(oursel"es ere and no#&

Tis oat and co"enant is set fort b( te Lord in tese #ords:











!or #oso is faitful unto te obtainin$ tese t#o priestoods of #ic ) a"e spo.en,and te %a$nif(in$ teir callin$, are sanctied b( te +pirit unto te rene#in$ of teirbodies&

Te( beco%e te sons of 'oses and of Aaron and te seed of Abraa%, and te curcand .in$do%, and te elect of God&

And also all te( #o recei"e tis priestood recei"e %e, sait te Lord;

!or e tat recei"et %( ser"ants recei"et %e;

And e tat recei"et %e recei"et %( !ater;

And e tat recei"et %( !ater recei"et %( !ater=s .in$do%; terefore all tat %(!ater at sall be $i"en unto i%&7

retren, $reat pro%ises a#ait us if #e are true and faitful to te oat and co"enant oftis precious priestood #ic #e old& 'a( #e be #ort( sons of our *ea"enl( !ater&'a( #e e"er be e-e%plar( in our o%es and faitful in .eepin$ all of te

co%%and%ents, tat #e %a( arbor no ani%osit( to#ard an( %an but rater bepeace%a.ers, e"er re%e%berin$ te +a"ior=s ad%onition, ( tis sall all %en .no#tat (e are %( disciples, if (e a"e lo"e one to anoter&7 10 Tis is %( plea toni$t at teconclusion of tis $reat priestood %eetin$, and it=s also %( u%ble and sincere pra(er,for ) lo"e (ou, bretren, #it all %( eart and soul& And ) pra( our *ea"enl( !ater=sblessin$ to attend eac of (ou in (our life, in (our o%e, in (our eart, in (our soul, inte na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&


hat a*e /one for Someone Toa!Thomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

Te needs of oters are e"er present, and eac of us can do so%etin$ toelp so%eone&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, ) $reet (ou tis %ornin$ #it lo"e in %( eart for te$ospel of Mesus Crist and for eac of (ou& ) a% $rateful for te pri"ile$e to stand before(ou, and ) pra( tat ) %i$t eecti"el( co%%unicate to (ou tat #ic ) a"e feltpro%pted to sa(&

A fe# (ears a$o ) read an article #ritten b( Mac. 'cConnell, 'B& *e $re# up in te ills ofsout#est Wir$inia in te United +tates as one of se"en cildren of a 'etodist %inisterand a sta(/at/o%e %oter& Teir circu%stances #ere "er( u%ble& *e recounted tatdurin$ is cildood, e"er( da( as te fa%il( sat around te dinner table, is fater







#ould as. eac one in turn, And #at did (ou do for so%eone toda(E71 Te cildren#ere deter%ined to do a $ood turn e"er( da( so te( could report to teir fater tatte( ad elped so%eone& Br& 'cConnell calls tis e-ercise is fater=s %ost "aluablele$ac(, for that e-pectation and those #ords inspired i% and is siblin$s to elp oterstrou$out teir li"es& As te( $re# and %atured, teir %oti"ation for pro"idin$ ser"icecan$ed to an inner desire to elp oters&

esides Br& 'cConnell=s distin$uised %edical career#ere e directed te

de"elop%ent of te tuberculosis tine test, participated in te earl( de"elop%ent of tepolio "accine, super"ised te de"elop%ent of T(lenol, and #as instru%ental inde"elopin$ te %a$netic resonance i%a$in$ procedure, or 'I)e created anor$aniation e calls Wolunteers in 'edicine, #ic $i"es retired %edical personnel acance to "olunteer at free clinics ser"in$ te #or.in$ uninsured& Br& 'cConnell said isleisure ti%e since e retired as e"aporated into 60/our #ee.s of unpaid #or., but?is@ ener$( le"el as increased and tere is a satisfaction in ?is@ life tat #asn=t terebefore&7 *e %ade tis state%ent: )n one of tose parado-es of life, ) a"e beneted%ore fro% Wolunteers in 'edicine tan %( patients a"e&72 Tere are no# o"er J0 succlinics across te United +tates&

Of course, #e can=t all be Br& 'cConnells, establisin$ %edical clinics to elp te poor;o#e"er, te needs of oters are e"er present, and eac of us can do so%etin$ to elpso%eone&

Te Apostle 9aul ad%onised, ( lo"e ser"e one anoter&7> Iecall #it %e te fa%iliar#ords of in$ enDa%in in te oo. of 'or%on: en (e are in te ser"ice of (ourfello# bein$s (e are onl( in te ser"ice of (our God&7

Te +a"ior tau$t *is disciples, !or #osoe"er #ill sa"e is life sall lose it: but#osoe"er #ill lose is life for %( sa.e, te sa%e sall sa"e it&75

) belie"e te +a"ior is tellin$ us tat unless #e lose oursel"es in ser"ice to oters, tereis little purpose to our o#n li"es& Tose #o li"e onl( for te%sel"es e"entuall( sri"elup and $urati"el( lose teir li"es, #ile tose #o lose te%sel"es in ser"ice to oters$ro# and 3ourisand in eect sa"e teir li"es&

)n te October 16> $eneral conferencete conference at #ic ) #as sustained as a%e%ber of te Nuoru% of te T#el"e Apostles9resident Ba"id O& 'ca( %ade tisstate%ent: 'an=s $reatest appiness co%es fro% losin$ i%self for te $ood of oters&7

Often #e li"e side b( side but do not co%%unicate eart to eart& Tere are tose #itinte spere of our o#n in3uence #o, #it outstretced ands, cr( out, )s tere no bal%in GileadE7J

) a% condent it is te intention of eac %e%ber of te Curc to ser"e and to elptose in need& At baptis% #e co"enanted to bear one anoter=s burdens, tat te( %a(be li$t&78 *o# %an( ti%es as (our eart been touced as (ou a"e #itnessed te needof anoterE *o# often a"e (ou intended to be te one to elpE And (et o# often asda(/to/da( li"in$ interfered and (ou="e left it for oters to elp, feelin$ tat o, surel(so%eone #ill ta.e care of tat need&7

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e beco%e so cau$t up in te bus(ness of our li"es& ere #e to step bac., o#e"er,and ta.e a $ood loo. at #at #e=re doin$, #e %a( nd tat #e a"e i%%ersed oursel"esin te tic. of tin tin$s&7 )n oter #ords, too often #e spend %ost of our ti%e ta.in$care of te tin$s #ic do not reall( %atter %uc at all in te $rand sce%e of tin$s,ne$lectin$ tose %ore i%portant causes&

'an( (ears a$o ) eard a poe% #ic as sta(ed #it %e, b( #ic ) a"e tried to $uide%( life& )t=s one of %( fa"orites:

' ha(e we!t in the night .or the shortness of sight hat to somebody)s need made me blind;/ut ' ne(er ha(e yet .elt a tinge of regret .or being a little too kind"

'( broters and sisters, #e are surrounded b( tose in need of our attention, ourencoura$e%ent, our support, our co%fort, our .indnessbe te( fa%il( %e%bers,friends, acuaintances, or stran$ers& e are te Lord=s ands ere upon te eart, #it

te %andate to ser"e and to lift *is cildren& *e is dependent upon eac of us&

Kou %a( la%ent: ) can barel( %a.e it trou$ eac da(, doin$ all tat ) need to do& *o#can ) pro"ide ser"ice for otersE at can ) possibl( doE

Must o"er a (ear a$o, ) #as inter"ie#ed b( te $hurch 6ews prior to %( birtda(& At teconclusion of te inter"ie#, te reporter as.ed #at ) #ould consider te ideal $ift tat%e%bers #orld#ide could $i"e to %e& ) replied, !ind so%eone #o is a"in$ a ard ti%eor is ill or lonel(, and do so%etin$ for i% or er&7 10

) #as o"er#el%ed #en tis (ear for %( birtda( ) recei"ed undreds of cards and

letters fro% %e%bers of te Curc around te #orld tellin$ %e o# te( ad fullledtat birtda( #is& Te acts of ser"ice ran$ed fro% asse%blin$ u%anitarian .its todoin$ (ard #or.&

Boens and doens of 9ri%aries callen$ed te cildren to pro"ide ser"ice, and tentose acts of ser"ice #ere recorded and sent to %e& ) %ust sa( tat te %etods forrecordin$ te% #ere creati"e& 'an( ca%e in te for% of pa$es put to$eter into "arioussapes and sies of boo.s& +o%e contained cards or pictures dra#n or colored b( tecildren& One "er( creati"e 9ri%ar( sent a lar$e Dar containin$ undreds of #at te(called #ar% fuies,7 eac one representin$ an act of ser"ice perfor%ed durin$ te (earb( one of te cildren in te 9ri%ar(& ) can onl( i%a$ine te appiness tese cildren

e-perienced as te( told of teir ser"ice and ten placed a #ar% fu(7 in te Dar&

) sare #it (ou Dust a fe# of te countless notes contained in te %an( $ifts ) recei"ed&One s%all cild #rote, '( $randpa ad a stro.e, and ) eld is and&7 !ro% an 8/(ear/old $irl: '( sister and ) ser"ed %( %o% and fa%il( b( or$aniin$ and cleanin$ te to(closet& )t too. us a fe# ours and #e ad fun& Te best part #as tat #e surprised %(%o% and %ade er app( because se didn=t e"en as. us to do it&7 An 11/(ear/old $irl#rote: Tere #as a fa%il( in %( #ard tat did not a"e a lot of %one(& Te( a"e treelittle $irls& Te %o% and dad ad to $o so%e#ere, so ) oered to #atc te tree $irls& Te dad #as Dust about to and %e a Z5 bill& ) said, R) can=t ta.e ?it@&= '( ser"ice #as tat







) #atced te $irls for free&7 A 9ri%ar( cild in 'on$olia #rote tat e ad brou$t in#ater fro% te #ell so is %oter #ould not a"e to do so& !ro% a /(ear/old bo(, nodoubt #ritten b( a 9ri%ar( teacer: '( dad is $one for ar%( trainin$ for a fe# #ee.s&'( special Dob is to $i"e %( %o% u$s and .isses&7 rote a /(ear/old $irl: ) pic.edstra#berries for %( $reat/$rand%a& ) felt $ood insideF7 And anoter: ) pla(ed #it alonel( .id&7

!ro% an 11/(ear/old bo(: ) #ent to a lad(=s ouse and as.ed er uestions and san$ er

a son$& )t felt $ood to "isit er& +e #as app( because se ne"er $ets "isitors&7 Ieadin$tis particular note re%inded %e of #ords penned lon$ a$o b( lder Iicard L& "ans ofte Nuoru% of te T#el"e& +aid e: )t is di4cult for tose #o are (oun$ to understandte loneliness tat co%es #en life can$es fro% a ti%e of preparation and perfor%anceto a ti%e of puttin$ tin$s a#a(& H To be so lon$ te center of a o%e, so %uc sou$tafter, and ten, al%ost suddenl( to be on te sidelines #atcin$ te procession pass b(tis is li"in$ into loneliness& H e a"e to li"e a lon$ ti%e to learn o# e%pt( a roo%can be tat is lled onl( #it furniture& )t ta.es so%eone H be(ond %ere ired ser"ice,be(ond institutional care or professional dut(, to ta# out te %e%ories of te past and.eep te% #ar%l( li"in$ in te present& H e cannot brin$ te% bac. te %ornin$ours of (out& ut #e can elp te% li"e in te #ar% $lo# of a sunset %ade %ore

beautiful b( our tou$tfulness H and unfei$ned lo"e&711

'( birtda( cards and notes ca%e also fro% teena$ers in Koun$ 'en and Koun$ o%enclasses #o %ade blan.ets for ospitals, ser"ed in food pantries, #ere baptied for tedead, and perfor%ed nu%erous oter acts of ser"ice&

Ielief +ocieties, #ere elp can al#a(s be found, pro"ided ser"ice abo"e and be(ondtat #ic te( #ould nor%all( a"e $i"en& 9riestood $roups did te sa%e&

'( broters and sisters, %( eart as seldo% been as touced and $rateful as it #as#en +ister 'onson and ) literall( spent ours readin$ of tese $ifts& '( eart is full no#as ) spea. of te e-perience and conte%plate te li"es #ic a"e been blessed as aresult, for bot te $i"er and te recei"er&

Te #ords fro% te 25t capter of 'atte# co%e to %ind:

Co%e, (e blessed of %( !ater, inerit te .in$do% prepared for (ou fro% tefoundation of te #orld:

!or ) #as an un$red, and (e $a"e %e %eat: ) #as tirst(, and (e $a"e %e drin.: ) #asa stran$er, and (e too. %e in:

<a.ed, and (e cloted %e: ) #as sic., and (e "isited %e: ) #as in prison, and (e ca%eunto %e&

Ten sall te ri$teous ans#er i%, sa(in$, Lord, #en sa# #e tee an un$red, andfed teeE or tirst(, and $a"e tee drin.E

en sa# #e tee a stran$er, and too. tee inE or na.ed, and cloted teeE

Or #en sa# #e tee sic., or in prison, and ca%e unto teeE





And te in$ sall ans#er and sa( unto te%, Weril( ) sa( unto (ou, )nas%uc as (ea"e done it unto one of te least of tese %( bretren, (e a"e done it unto %e&712

'( broters and sisters, %a( #e as. oursel"es te uestion #ic $reeted Br& Mac.'cConnell and is broters and sisters eac e"enin$ at dinnerti%e: at a"e ) donefor so%eone toda(E7 'a( te #ords of a fa%iliar (%n penetrate our "er( souls and ndlod$%ent in our earts:

&a(e ' done any good in the world today7&a(e ' hel!ed anyone in need7&a(e ' cheered u! the sad and made someone feel glad7'f not, ' ha(e failed indeed"&as anyone)s burden been lighter today /ecause ' was willing to share7&a(e the sick and the weary been hel!ed on their way7When they needed my hel! was ' there71>

Tat ser"ice to #ic all of us a"e been called is te ser"ice of te Lord Mesus Crist&

As *e enlists us to *is cause, *e in"ites us to dra# close to *i%& *e spea.s to (ou and to%e:


Ta.e %( (o.e upon (ou, and learn of %e; for ) a% %ee. and lo#l( in eart: and (e sallnd rest unto (our souls&

!or %( (o.e is eas(, and %( burden is li$t&71

)f #e trul( listen, #e %a( ear tat "oice fro% far a#a( sa( to us, as it spo.e to anoter,

ell done, tou $ood and faitful ser"ant&715

Tat eac %a( ualif( for tis blessin$ fro%our Lord is %( pra(er, and ) oer it in *is na%e, e"en Mesus Crist, our +a"ior, a%en&


Closin' &emarksThomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

)f #e eed *is #ords and li"e te co%%and%ents, #e #ill sur"i"e tis ti%eof per%issi"eness and #ic.edness&

'( eart is full as #e co%e to te close of tis conference& e a"e been ricl( tau$tand spirituall( edied as #e a"e listened to te %essa$es #ic a"e been presentedand te testi%onies #ic a"e been borne& e e-press tan.s to eac one #o asparticipated, includin$ tose retren oerin$ pra(ers&











Once a$ain te %usic as been #onderful& ) e-press %( personal $ratitude for tose#illin$ to sare #it us teir talents, toucin$ and inspirin$ us in te process& Tebeautiful %usic te( produce enances and enrices eac session of conference&

e re%ind (ou tat te %essa$es #e a"e eard durin$ tis conference #ill be printedin te <o"e%ber issues of te Ensign and 2iahona %a$aines& As #e read and stud(te%, #e #ill be additionall( tau$t and inspired& 'a( #e incorporate into our dail( li"este truts found terein&

e e-press to tose retren #o a"e been released durin$ tis conference our deepappreciation& Te( a"e ser"ed #ell and a"e %ade si$nicant contributions to te #or.of te Lord& Teir dedication as been co%plete& e tan. te% fro% te botto% of ourearts&

e li"e at a ti%e #en %an( in te #orld a"e slipped fro% te %oorin$s of safet(found in co%pliance #it te co%%and%ents& )t is a ti%e of per%issi"eness, #it societ(in $eneral routinel( disre$ardin$ and brea.in$ te la#s of God& e often nd oursel"ess#i%%in$ a$ainst te current, and so%eti%es it see%s as tou$ te current could carr(us a#a(&

) a% re%inded of te #ords of te Lord found in te boo. of ter in te oo. of 'or%on&+aid te Lord, Ke cannot cross tis $reat deep sa"e ) prepare (ou a$ainst te #a"es ofte sea, and te #inds #ic a"e $one fort, and te 3oods #ic sall co%e&7 1 '(broters and sisters, *e as prepared us& )f #e eed *is #ords and li"e teco%%and%ents, #e #ill sur"i"e tis ti%e of per%issi"eness and #ic.ednessa ti%e#ic can be co%pared #it te #a"es and te #inds and te 3oods tat can destro(&*e is e"er %indful of us& *e lo"es us and #ill bless us as #e do #at is ri$t&

*o# $rateful #e are tat te ea"ens are indeed open, tat te $ospel of Mesus Cristas been restored, and tat te Curc is founded on te roc. of re"elation& e are ablessed people, #it apostles and propets upon te eart toda(&

<o#, as #e lea"e tis conference, ) in"o.e te blessin$s of ea"en upon eac of (ou&'a( all of (ou return safel( to (our o%es& As (ou ponder te tin$s (ou a"e earddurin$ tis conference, %a( (ou sa(, #it te people of in$ enDa%in #o all cried #itone "oice, e belie"e all te #ords #ic tou ast spo.en unto us; and also, #e .no#of teir suret( and trut, because of te +pirit of te Lord O%nipotent, #ic as#rou$t a %i$t( can$e in us H tat #e a"e no %ore disposition to do e"il, but to do$ood continuall(&72 'a( e"er( %an and #o%an, bo( and $irl lea"e tis conference abetter person tan e or se #as #en it be$an t#o da(s a$o&

) lo"e (ou, %( broters and sisters& ) pra( for (ou& ) #ould as. once a$ain tat (ou #ouldre%e%ber %e and all te General Autorities in (our pra(ers& e are one #it (ou in%o"in$ for#ard tis %ar"elous #or.& ) testif( to (ou tat #e are all in tis to$eter andtat e"er( %an, #o%an, and cild as a part to pla(& 'a( God $i"e us te stren$t andte abilit( and te deter%ination to pla( our part #ell&

) bear %( testi%on( to (ou tat tis #or. is true, tat our +a"ior li"es, and tat *e$uides and directs *is Curc ere upon te eart& ) lea"e #it (ou %( #itness and %(testi%on( tat God our ternal !ater li"es and lo"es us& *e is indeed our !ater, and *eis personal and real&

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'a( God bless (ou& 'a( *is pro%ised peace be #it (ou no# and al#a(s&

) bid (ou fare#ell until #e %eet a$ain in si- %onts= ti%e, and do so in te na%e of MesusCrist, our +a"ior and Iedee%er and our Ad"ocate #it te !ater, a%en&


elcome to ConferenceThomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

Tan. (ou, %( broters and sisters, for (our fait and de"otion to te$ospel of Mesus Crist&

*o# $ood it is, %( belo"ed broters and sisters, to %eet to$eter once a$ain& Tisconference %ar.s 180 (ears since te Curc #as or$anied& *o# $rateful #e are for te9ropet Mosep +%it, #o sou$t for te trut, #o found it, and #o, under tedirection of te Lord, restored te $ospel and or$anied te Curc&

Te Curc as $ro#n steadil( since tat da( in 18>0& )t continues to can$e te li"es of%ore and %ore people e"er( (ear and to spread across te eart as our %issionar( forcesee.s out tose #o are searcin$ for te trut& Once a$ain #e call upon te %e%bersof te Curc to reac out to te ne# con"erts or to tose %a.in$ teir #a( bac. intote Curc, to surround te% #it lo"e and to elp te% feel at o%e&

Tan. (ou, %( broters and sisters, for (our fait and de"otion to te $ospel of MesusCrist& Tan. (ou for all tat (ou do in (our #ards and brances, in (our sta.es anddistricts& Kou ser"e #illin$l( and #ell and acco%plis $reat $ood& 'a( te Lord bless (ouas (ou stri"e to follo# *i% and to obe( *is co%%and%ents&

+ince last #e %et, te Curc as continued to pro"ide %uc/needed u%anitarianassistance in "arious locations around te #orld& )n te past tree %onts alone,u%anitarian assistance as been pro"ided in !renc 9ol(nesia, 'on$olia, oli"ia, 9eru,Ariona, 'e-ico, 9ortu$al, and U$anda, a%on$ oter areas& 'ost recentl( #e a"eassisted in *aiti and Cile follo#in$ de"astatin$ eartua.es and tsuna%is in toseareas& e e-press our lo"e to our Curc %e%bers #o a"e suered in tese disasters& Kou are in our pra(ers& e e-press profound $ratitude to all of (ou for (our #illin$ness toassist #it our u%anitarian eorts b( sarin$ (our resources and, in %an( cases, (ourti%e, (our talents, and (our e-pertise&

Tis (ear %ar.s 25 (ears since our u%anitarian pro$ra% beca%e part of our #elfareeort& Te nu%ber of indi"iduals assisted b( tis pro$ra% could ne"er adeuatel( be%easured& e #ill al#a(s stri"e to be a%on$ te rst on te scene of disasters,#ere"er te( %a( occur&



Te Curc continues to $ro# and to %o"e for#ard& Te buildin$ of te%ples is anindication of suc $ro#t& Iecentl( #e announced a ne# te%ple #ic #ill be built in9a(son, Uta& e also announced %aDor reno"ations #ic #ill be %ade to te O$denUta Te%ple& itin te ne-t tree %onts #e #ill dedicate ne# te%ples in Wancou"er,ritis Colu%bia; in te Gila Walle(, Ariona; and in Cebu Cit( in te 9ilippines& Later inte (ear oter te%ples #ill be dedicated or rededicated& e #ill continue to buildte%ples trou$out te #orld as our %e%bersip $ro#s& ac (ear %illions ofordinances are perfor%ed in te te%ples for our deceased lo"ed ones& 'a( #e continue

to be faitful in perfor%in$ suc ordinances for tose #o are unable to do so forte%sel"es&

'an( of (ou are a#are tat a sort ti%e after October conference, %( dear #ife,!rances, suered a fall, #ic left er #it a bro.en ip and a bro.en soulder& After t#osuccessful sur$eries and se"eral #ee.s of ospitaliation, se #as able to return o%e&+e is doin$ #ell and continues to %a.e pro$ress to#ard a full reco"er(& +e #as able toattend te $eneral Koun$ o%en %eetin$ last +aturda( and plans to attend a session ort#o tis #ee.end& )n fact, at te last %inute se said, )=% $oin$ toda(F7 And se=s ereF+e Doins %e in e-pressin$ our deep $ratitude to our *ea"enl( !ater and to all of (oufor (our pra(ers and (our #ell #ises in er bealf&

<o#, broters and sisters, #e a"e co%e ere to be instructed and inspired& e#elco%e tose of (ou #o are ne# in te Curc& Oters of (ou are stru$$lin$ #itproble%s, #it callen$es, #it disappoint%ents, #it losses& e lo"e (ou and #e pra(for (ou& 'an( %essa$es, co"erin$ a "ariet( of $ospel topics, #ill be $i"en durin$ tene-t t#o da(s& Tose %en and #o%en #o #ill spea. to (ou a"e sou$t ea"en=s elpconcernin$ te %essa$es te( #ill $i"e&

)t is %( pra(er tat #e %a( be lled #it *is +pirit as #e listen and learn& Tat tis %a(be so, ) pra( in te na%e of Mesus Crist, our Lord and +a"ior, a%en&


Pre%aration )rin's )lessin'sThomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

Let us consider our callin$s, let us re3ect on our responsibilities, and let usfollo# Mesus Crist&

retren, (ou #o are ere in te Conference Center in +alt La.e Cit( are an inspirin$si$t to beold& )t is a%ain$ to realie tat in tousands of capels trou$out te#orld, oters of (oufello# olders of te priestood of Godare recei"in$ tisbroadcast b( #a( of satellite trans%ission& Kour nationalities "ar(, and (our lan$ua$esare %an(, but a co%%on tread binds us to$eter& e a"e been entrusted to bear te



priestood and to act in te na%e of God& e are te recipients of a sacred trust& 'uc ise-pected of us&

One of %( %ost "i"id %e%ories is attendin$ priestood %eetin$ as a ne#l( ordaineddeacon and sin$in$ te openin$ (%n Co%e, All Ke +ons of God&7 Toni$t ) eco tespirit of tat special (%n and sa( to (ou, Co%e, all (e sons of God #o a"e recei"edte priestood&71 Let us consider our callin$s, let us re3ect on our responsibilities, and letus follo# Mesus Crist, our Lord&

T#ent( (ears a$o ) attended a sacra%ent %eetin$ #ere te cildren responded to tete%e ) elon$ to Te Curc of Mesus Crist of Latter/da( +aints&7 Tese bo(s and $irlsde%onstrated te( #ere in trainin$ for ser"ice to te Lord and to oters& Te %usic #asbeautiful, te recitations s.illfull( rendered, and te spirit ea"en/sent& One of %($randsons, #o #as 11 (ears old at tat ti%e, ad spo.en of te !irst Wision as epresented is part on te pro$ra%& After#ard, as e ca%e to is parents and$randparents, ) said to i%, To%%(, ) tin. (ou are al%ost read( to be a %issionar(&7

*e replied, <ot (et& ) still a"e a lot to learn&7

Trou$ te (ears tat follo#ed, To%%( did learn, tan.s to is parents and to teacersand ad"isers at curc, #o #ere dedicated and conscientious& en e #as oldenou$, e #as called to ser"e a %ission& *e did so in a %ost onorable fasion&

Koun$ %en, ) ad%onis (ou to prepare for ser"ice as a %issionar(& Tere are %an( toolsto elp (ou learn te lessons #ic #ill be benecial to (ou as #ell as elpin$ (ou to li"ete life (ou #ill need to a"e li"ed to be #ort(& One suc tool is te boo.let entitled !orte +tren$t of Kout, publised under te direction of te !irst 9residenc( and Nuoru%of te T#el"e Apostles& )t features standards fro% te #ritin$s and teacin$s of Curcleaders and fro% scripture, aderence to #ic #ill brin$ te blessin$s of our *ea"enl(!ater and te $uidance of *is +on to eac of us& )n addition, tere are lesson %anuals,carefull( prepared after pra(erful consideration& !a%ilies a"e fa%il( o%e e"enin$s,#ere $ospel principles are tau$t& Al%ost all of (ou a"e te opportunit( to attendse%inar( classes tau$t b( dedicated teacers #o a"e %uc to sare&

e$in to prepare for a te%ple %arria$e as #ell as for a %ission& 9roper datin$ is a part oftat preparation& )n cultures #ere datin$ is appropriate, do not date until (ou are 16(ears old& <ot all teena$ers need to date or e"en #ant to& H en (ou be$in datin$, $oin $roups or on double dates& H 'a.e sure (our parents %eet ?and beco%e acuainted#it@ tose (ou date&7 ecause datin$ is a preparation for %arria$e, date onl( tose#o a"e i$ standards&72

e careful to $o to places #ere tere is a $ood en"iron%ent, #ere (ou #on=t be faced#it te%ptation&

A #ise fater said to is son, )f (ou e"er nd (ourself in a place #ere (ou souldn=tou$t to be, $et outF7 Good ad"ice for all of us&

+er"ants of te Lord a"e al#a(s counseled us to dress appropriatel( to so# respect forour *ea"enl( !ater and for oursel"es& Te #a( (ou dress sends %essa$es about(ourself to oters and often in3uences te #a( (ou and oters act& Bress in suc a #a(

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as to brin$ out te best in (ourself and tose around (ou& A"oid e-tre%es in clotin$ andappearance, includin$ tattoos and piercin$s&

"er(one needs $ood friends& Kour circle of friends #ill $reatl( in3uence (our tin.in$and bea"ior, Dust as (ou #ill teirs& en (ou sare co%%on "alues #it (our friends,(ou can stren$ten and encoura$e eac oter& Treat e"er(one #it .indness and di$nit(&'an( non%e%bers a"e co%e into te Curc trou$ friends #o a"e in"ol"ed te%in Curc acti"ities&

Te oft/repeated ada$e is e"er true: *onest( ?is@ te best polic(&7> A Latter/da( +aint(oun$ %an li"es as e teaces and as e belie"es& *e is onest #it oters& *e is onest#it i%self& *e is onest #it God& *e is onest b( abit and as a %atter of course&en a di4cult decision %ust be %ade, e ne"er as.s i%self, at #ill oters tin.E7but rater, at #ill ) tin. of %(selfE7

!or so%e, tere #ill co%e te te%ptation to disonor a personal standard of onest(& )n abusiness la# class at te uni"ersit( ) attended, ) re%e%ber tat one particular class%atene"er prepared for te class discussions& ) tou$t to %(self, *o# is e $oin$ to passte nal e-a%inationE7

) disco"ered te ans#er #en e ca%e to te classroo% for te nal e-a% on a #inter=sda( #earin$ on is bare feet onl( a pair of sandals& ) #as surprised and #atced i% aste class be$an& All of our boo.s ad been placed upon te 3oor, as per te instruction&*e slipped te sandals fro% is feet; and ten, #it toes tat e ad trained and adprepared #it $l(cerin, e s.illfull( turned te pa$es of one of te boo.s #ic e adplaced on te 3oor, tereb( "ie#in$ te ans#ers to te e-a%ination uestions&

*e recei"ed one of te i$est $rades in tat course on business la#& ut te da( ofrec.onin$ ca%e& Later, as e prepared to ta.e is co%preensi"e e-a%, for te rst ti%ete dean of is particular discipline said, Tis (ear ) #ill depart fro% tradition and #illconduct an oral, rater tan a #ritten, test&7 Our fa"orite trained/toe e-pert found tate ad is foot in is %out on tat occasion and failed te e-a%&

*o# (ou spea. and te #ords (ou use tell %uc about te i%a$e (ou coose to portra(&Use lan$ua$e to build and uplift tose around (ou& 9rofane, "ul$ar, or crude lan$ua$eand inappropriate or o/color Do.es are oensi"e to te Lord& <e"er %isuse te na%e ofGod or Mesus Crist& Te Lord said, Tou salt not ta.e te na%e of te Lord t( God in"ain&7

Our *ea"enl( !ater as counseled us to see. after an(tin$ "irtuous, lo"el(, or of $oodreport or praise#ort(&75 ate"er (ou read, listen to, or #atc %a.es an i%pression on(ou&

9orno$rap( is especiall( dan$erous and addicti"e& Curious e-ploration of porno$rap(can beco%e a controllin$ abit, leadin$ to coarser %aterial and to se-ual trans$ression&A"oid porno$rap( at all costs&

Bon=t be afraid to #al. out of a %o"ie, turn o a tele"ision set, or can$e a radio stationif #at=s bein$ presented does not %eet (our *ea"enl( !ater=s standards& )n sort, if(ou a"e an( uestion about #eter a particular %o"ie, boo., or oter for% ofentertain%ent is appropriate, don=t see it, don=t read it, don=t participate&









Te Apostle 9aul declared: no# (e not tat (e are te te%ple of God, and tat te+pirit of God d#ellet in (ouE H Te te%ple of God is ol(, #ic te%ple (e are&7 6 retren, it is our responsibilit( to .eep our te%ples clean and pure&

*ard dru$s, #ron$ful use of prescription dru$s, alcool, coee, tea, and tobacco productsdestro( (our p(sical, %ental, and spiritual #ell/bein$& An( for% of alcool is ar%ful to(our spirit and (our bod(& Tobacco can ensla"e (ou, #ea.en (our lun$s, and sorten (ourlife&

'usic can elp (ou dra# closer to (our *ea"enl( !ater& )t can be used to educate, edif(,inspire, and unite& *o#e"er, %usic can, b( its te%po, beat, intensit(, and l(rics, dull (ourspiritual sensiti"it(& Kou cannot aord to ll (our %inds #it un#ort( %usic&

ecause se-ual inti%ac( is so sacred, te Lord reuires self/control and purit( before%arria$e as #ell as full delit( after %arria$e& )n datin$, treat (our date #it respect ande-pect (our date to so# tat sa%e respect for (ou& Tears ine"itabl( follo#trans$ression&

9resident Ba"id O& 'ca(, nint 9resident of te Curc, ad"ised, ) i%plore (ou to tin.

clean tou$ts&7 *e ten %ade tis si$nicant declaration of trut: "er( action ispreceded b( a tou$t& )f #e #ant to control our actions, #e %ust control our tin.in$&7retren, ll (our %inds #it $ood tou$ts, and (our actions #ill be proper& 'a( eac of(ou be able to eco in trut te line fro% Tenn(son spo.en b( +ir Galaad: '( stren$tis as te stren$t of ten, because %( eart is pure&7J

<ot lon$ a$o te autor of a paper on teena$e se-ualit( su%%ed up is researc b(sa(in$ tat societ( sends teens a %i-ed %essa$e: ad"ertise%ents and te %ass %ediacon"e( "er( ea"( %essa$es tat se-ual acti"it( is acceptable and e-pected,7induce%ents tat so%eti%es dro#n out te #arnin$s of e-perts and te pleas ofparents& Te Lord cuts trou$ all te %edia %essa$es #it clear and precise lan$ua$e#en *e declares to us, e (e clean&78

ene"er te%ptation co%es, re%e%ber te #ise counsel of te Apostle 9aul, #odeclared, Tere at no te%ptation ta.en (ou but suc as is co%%on to %an: but Godis faitful, #o #ill not suer (ou to be te%pted abo"e tat (e are able; but #ill #it tete%ptation also %a.e a #a( to escape, tat (e %a( be able to bear it&7

en (ou #ere conr%ed a %e%ber of te Curc, (ou recei"ed te ri$t to teco%panionsip of te *ol( Gost& *e can elp (ou %a.e $ood coices& en callen$edor te%pted, (ou do not need to feel alone& Ie%e%ber tat pra(er is te passport tospiritual po#er&

)f an( as stu%bled in is Dourne(, tere is a #a( bac.& Te process is called repentance&Our +a"ior died to pro"ide (ou and %e tat blessed $ift& Tou$ te pat is di4cult, tepro%ise is real: Tou$ (our sins be as scarlet, te( sall be as #ite as sno#&710

Bon=t put (our eternal life at ris.& eep te co%%and%ents of God& )f (ou a"e sinned,te sooner (ou be$in to %a.e (our #a( bac., te sooner (ou #ill nd te s#eet peaceand Do( tat co%e #it te %iracle of for$i"eness& *appiness co%es fro% li"in$ te #a(te Lord #ants (ou to li"e and fro% ser"ice to God and oters&













retren, it is %( pra(er tat #e %a( so li"e tat #e too %a( touc ea"en and besi%ilarl( blessed, eac and e"er( one, in te na%e of te Gi"er of all blessin$s, e"en Mesus Crist, a%en&


e s &isen7Thomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

Te e%pt( to%b tat rst aster %ornin$ #as te ans#er to Mob=s uestion,)f a %an die, sall e li"e a$ainE7

Tis as been a re%ar.able session& )n bealf of all #o participated tus far in #ord or%usic, as te 9resident of te Curc, ) a"e cosen si%pl( to sa( to (ou at tis %o%ent Dust t#o #ords, .no#n as te t#o %ost i%portant #ords in te n$lis lan$ua$e& To+ister Cer(l Lant and er counselors, te coir, te %usicians, te spea.ers, tose#ords are Tan. (ou&7

'an( (ears a$o, #ile in London, n$land, ) "isited te fa%ed Tate art $aller(& or.s b(Gainsborou$, Ie%brandt, Constable, and oter reno#ned artists #ere displa(ed inroo% after roo%& ) ad%ired teir beaut( and reco$nied te s.ill #ic ad been reuiredto create tese %asterpieces& Tuc.ed a#a( in a uiet corner of te tird 3oor, o#e"er,#as a paintin$ #ic not onl( cau$t %( attention but also captured %( eart& Te

artist, !ran. ra%le(, ad painted a u%ble cotta$e facin$ a #inds#ept sea& T#o#o%en, te %oter and te #ife of an absent ser%an, ad #atced and #aited teni$t trou$ for is return& <o# te ni$t ad passed, and te realiation ad set intat e ad been lost at sea and #ould not return& neelin$ at te side of er %oter/in/la#, er ead buried in te lap of te older #o%an, te (oun$ #ife #ept in despair& Tespent candle on te #indo# led$e told of te fruitless "i$il&

) sensed te (oun$ #o%an=s eartace; ) felt er $rief& Te auntin$l( "i"id inscription#ic te artist $a"e to is #or. told te tra$ic stor(& )t read, A &o!eless 3awn"

O, o# te (oun$ #o%an lon$ed for te co%fort, e"en te realit(, of Iobert Louis

+te"enson=s Ieuie%7:

&ome is the sailor, home from sea, And the hunter home from the hill"1

A%on$ all te facts of %ortalit(, none is so certain as its end& Beat co%es to all; it isour uni"ersal erita$e; it %a( clai% its "icti%?s@ in infanc( or (out, ?it %a( "isit@ in teperiod of life=s pri%e, or its su%%ons %a( be deferred until te sno#s of a$e a"e$atered upon te H ead; it %a( befall as te result of accident or disease, H or Htrou$ natural causes; but co%e it %ust&72 )t ine"itabl( represents a painful loss of

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association and, particularl( in te (oun$, a crusin$ blo# to drea%s unrealied,a%bitions unfullled, and opes "anuised&

at %ortal bein$, faced #it te loss of a lo"ed one or, indeed, standin$ i%self orerself on te tresold of innit(, as not pondered #at lies be(ond te "eil #icseparates te seen fro% te unseenE

Centuries a$o te %an Mobso lon$ blessed #it e"er( %aterial $ift, onl( to nd i%self

sorel( aicted b( all tat can befall a u%an bein$sat #it is co%panions anduttered te ti%eless, a$eless uestion, )f a %an die, sall e li"e a$ainE7> Mob spo.e#at e"er( oter li"in$ %an or #o%an as pondered&

Tis $lorious aster %ornin$ )=d li.e to consider Mob=s uestion)f a %an die, sall eli"e a$ainE7and pro"ide te ans#er #ic co%es not onl( fro% tou$tfulconsideration but also fro% te re"ealed #ord of God& ) be$in #it te essentials&

)f tere is a desi$n in tis #orld in #ic #e li"e, tere %ust be a Besi$ner& o canbeold te %an( #onders of te uni"erse #itout belie"in$ tat tere is a desi$n for all%an.indE o can doubt tat tere is a Besi$nerE

)n te boo. of Genesis #e learn tat te Grand Besi$ner created te ea"en and teeart: And te eart #as #itout for%, and "oid; and dar.ness #as upon te face of tedeep&7

Let tere be li$t,7 said te Grand Besi$ner, and tere #as li$t&7 *e created ar%a%ent& *e separated te land fro% te #aters and said, Let te eart brin$ fort$rass, H te fruit tree (ieldin$ fruit after is .ind, #ose seed is in itself&7

T#o li$ts *e createdte sun and te %oon& Ca%e te stars b( *is desi$n& *e calledfor li"in$ creatures in te #ater and fo#ls to 3( abo"e te eart& And it #as so& *e %adecattle, beasts, and creepin$ tin$s& Te desi$n #as nearl( co%plete&

Last of all, *e created %an in *is o#n i%a$e%ale and fe%ale#it do%inion o"er alloter li"in$ tin$s&

'an alone recei"ed intelli$encea brain, a %ind, and a soul& 'an alone, #it teseattributes, ad te capacit( for fait and ope, for inspiration and a%bition&

o could persuasi"el( ar$ue tat %ante noblest #or. of te Great Besi$ner, #itdo%inion o"er all li"in$ tin$s, #it a brain and a #ill, #it a %ind and a soul, #itintelli$ence and di"init(sould co%e to an end #en te spirit forsa.es its eartl(te%pleE

To understand te %eanin$ of deat, #e %ust appreciate te purpose of life& Te di%li$t of belief %ust (ield to te noonda( sun of re"elation, b( #ic #e .no# tat #eli"ed before our birt into %ortalit(& )n our pre%ortal state, #e #ere doubtless a%on$ tesons and dau$ters of God #o souted for Do( because of te opportunit( to co%e totis callen$in$ (et necessar( %ortal e-istence&5 e .ne# tat our purpose #as to $aina p(sical bod(, to o"erco%e trials, and to pro"e tat #e #ould .eep teco%%and%ents of God& Our !ater .ne# tat because of te nature of %ortalit(, #e#ould be te%pted, #ould sin, and #ould fall sort& +o tat #e %i$t a"e e"er( cance









of success, *e pro"ided a +a"ior, #o #ould suer and die for us& <ot onl( #ould *eatone for our sins, but as a part of tat Atone%ent, *e #ould also o"erco%e te p(sicaldeat to #ic #e #ould be subDect because of te !all of Ada%&

Tus, %ore tan 2,000 (ears a$o, Crist, our +a"ior, #as born to %ortal life in a stable inetlee%& Te lon$/foretold 'essia ad co%e&

Tere #as "er( little #ritten of te bo(ood of Mesus& ) lo"e te passa$e fro% Lu.e: And

Mesus increased in #isdo% and stature, and in fa"our #it God and %an&76 And fro% teboo. of Acts, tere is a sort prase concernin$ te +a"ior #ic as a #orld of%eanin$: ?*e@ #ent about doin$ $ood&7J

*e #as baptied b( Mon in te ri"er Mordan& *e called te T#el"e Apostles& *e blessedte sic.& *e caused te la%e to #al., te blind to see, te deaf to ear& *e e"en raisedte dead to life& *e tau$t, *e testied, and *e pro"ided a perfect e-a%ple for us tofollo#&

And ten te %ortal %ission of te +a"ior of te #orld dre# to its close& A last supper#it *is Apostles too. place in an upper roo%& Aead la( Getse%ane and Cal"ar(=s

cross&

<o %ere %ortal can concei"e te full i%port of #at Crist did for us in Getse%ane& *e*i%self later described te e-perience: ?Te@ suerin$ caused %(self, e"en God, te$reatest of all, to tre%ble because of pain, and to bleed at e"er( pore, and to suer botbod( and spirit&78

!ollo#in$ te a$on( of Getse%ane, no# drained of stren$t, *e #as seied b( rou$,crude ands and ta.en before Annas, Caiapas, 9ilate, and *erod& *e #as accused andcursed& Wicious blo#s furter #ea.ened *is pain/rac.ed bod(& lood ran do#n *is face asa cruel cro#n fasioned of sarp torns #as forced onto *is ead, piercin$ *is bro#& Andten once a$ain *e #as ta.en to 9ilate, #o $a"e in to te cries of te an$r( %ob:Crucif( i%, crucif( i%&7

*e #as scour$ed #it a #ip into #ose %ultiple leater strands sarp %etals andbones #ere #o"en& Iisin$ fro% te cruelt( of te scour$e, #it stu%blin$ steps *ecarried *is o#n cross until *e could $o no farter and anoter souldered te burden for*i%&

!inall(, on a ill called Cal"ar(, #ile elpless follo#ers loo.ed on, *is #ounded bod( #asnailed to a cross& 'ercilessl( *e #as %oc.ed and cursed and derided& And (et *e criedout, !ater, for$i"e te%; for te( .no# not #at te( do&7 10

Te a$oniin$ ours passed as *is life ebbed& !ro% *is parced lips ca%e te #ords,!ater, into t( ands ) co%%end %( spirit: and a"in$ said tus, e $a"e up te$ost&711

As te serenit( and solace of a %erciful deat freed *i% fro% te sorro#s of %ortalit(,*e returned to te presence of *is !ater&















At te last %o%ent, te 'aster could a"e turned bac.& ut *e did not& *e passedbeneat all tin$s tat *e %i$t sa"e all tin$s& *is lifeless bod( #as urriedl( but$entl( placed in a borro#ed to%b&

<o #ords in Cristendo% %ean %ore to %e tan tose spo.en b( te an$el to te#eepin$ 'ar( 'a$dalene and te oter 'ar( #en, on te rst da( of te #ee., te(approaced te to%b to care for te bod( of teir Lord& +po.e te an$el:

( see. (e te li"in$ a%on$ te deadE

*e is not ere, but is risen&712

Our +a"ior li"ed a$ain& Te %ost $lorious, co%fortin$, and reassurin$ of all e"ents ofu%an istor( ad ta.en placete "ictor( o"er deat& Te pain and a$on( ofGetse%ane and Cal"ar( ad been #iped a#a(& Te sal"ation of %an.ind ad beensecured& Te !all of Ada% ad been reclai%ed&

Te e%pt( to%b tat rst aster %ornin$ #as te ans#er to Mob=s uestion, )f a %andie, sall e li"e a$ainE7 To all #itin te sound of %( "oice, ) declare, )f a %an die, e

sall li"e a$ain& e .no#, for #e a"e te li$t of re"ealed trut&

!or since b( %an ca%e deat, b( %an ca%e also te resurrection of te dead&

!or as in Ada% all die, e"en so in Crist sall all be %ade ali"e&71>

) a"e readand ) belie"ete testi%onies of tose #o e-perienced te $rief ofCrist=s Cruci-ion and te Do( of *is Iesurrection& ) a"e readand ) belie"etetesti%onies of tose in te <e# orld #o #ere "isited b( te sa%e risen Lord&

) belie"e te testi%on( of one #o, in tis dispensation, spo.e #it te !ater and te+on in a $ro"e no# called sacred and #o $a"e is life, sealin$ tat testi%on( #it isblood& Beclared e:

And no#, after te %an( testi%onies #ic a"e been $i"en of i%, tis is tetesti%on(, last of all, #ic #e $i"e of i%: Tat e li"esF

!or #e sa# i%, e"en on te ri$t and of God; and #e eard te "oice bearin$ recordtat e is te Onl( e$otten of te !ater&7 1

Te dar.ness of deat can al#a(s be dispelled b( te li$t of re"ealed trut& ) a% teresurrection, and te life,7 spo.e te 'aster&15 9eace ) lea"e #it (ou, %( peace ) $i"eunto (ou&716

O"er te (ears ) a"e eard and read testi%onies too nu%erous to count, sared #it%e b( indi"iduals #o testif( of te realit( of te Iesurrection and #o a"e recei"ed, inteir ours of $reatest need, te peace and co%fort pro%ised b( te +a"ior&

) #ill %ention Dust part of one suc account& T#o #ee.s a$o ) recei"ed a toucin$ letterfro% a fater of se"en #o #rote about is fa%il( and, in particular, is son Mason, #oad beco%e ill #en 11 (ears of a$e& O"er te ne-t fe# (ears, Mason=s illness recurredse"eral ti%es& Tis fater told of Mason=s positi"e attitude and sunn( disposition, despite













is ealt callen$es& Mason recei"ed te Aaronic 9riestood at a$e 12 and al#a(s#illin$l( %a$nied is responsibilities #it e-cellence, #eter e felt #ell or not&7 *erecei"ed is a$le +cout A#ard #en e #as 1 (ears old&

Last su%%er, not lon$ after Mason=s 15t birtda(, e #as once a$ain ad%itted to teospital& On one of is "isits to see Mason, is fater found i% #it is e(es closed& <ot.no#in$ #eter Mason #as asleep or a#a.e, e be$an tal.in$ softl( to i%& Mason,7 esaid, ) .no# (ou a"e been trou$ a lot in (our sort life and tat (our current

condition is di4cult& "en tou$ (ou a"e a $iant battle aead, ) don=t e"er #ant (ou tolose (our fait in Mesus Crist&7 *e said e #as startled as Mason i%%ediatel( opened ise(es and said, <e"erF7 in a clear, resolute "oice& Mason ten closed is e(es and said no%ore&

*is fater #rote: )n tis si%ple declaration, Mason e-pressed one of te %ost po#erful,pure testi%onies of Mesus Crist tat ) a"e e"er eard& H As is declaration of R<e"erF=beca%e i%printed on %( soul tat da(, %( eart lled #it Do( tat %( *ea"enl( !aterad blessed %e to be te fater of suc a tre%endous and noble bo(& H ?)t@ #as te lastti%e ) eard i% declare is testi%on( of Crist&7

Altou$ is fa%il( #as e-pectin$ tis to be Dust anoter routine ospitaliation, Masonpassed a#a( less tan t#o #ee.s later& An older broter and sister #ere ser"in$ %issionsat te ti%e& Anoter broter, (le, ad Dust recei"ed is %ission call& )n fact, te call adco%e earlier tan e-pected, and on Au$ust 5, Dust a #ee. before Mason=s passin$, tefa%il( $atered in is ospital roo% so tat (le=s %ission call could be opened tereand sared #it te entire fa%il(&

)n is letter to %e, tis fater included a poto$rap of Mason in is ospital bed, #it isbi$ broter (le standin$ beside te bed, oldin$ is %ission call& Tis caption #as#ritten beneat te poto$rap: Called to ser"e teir %issions to$eteron bot sidesof te "eil&7

Mason=s broter and sister alread( ser"in$ %issions sent beautiful, co%fortin$ letterso%e to be sared at Mason=s funeral& *is sister, ser"in$ in te Ar$entina uenos Airesest 'ission, as part of er letter, #rote: ) .no# tat Mesus Crist li"es, and because *eli"es, all of us, includin$ our belo"ed Mason, #ill li"e a$ain too& H e can ta.e co%fort inte sure .no#led$e #e a"e tat #e a"e been sealed to$eter as an eternal fa%il(& H)f #e do our "er( best to obe( and do better in tis life, #e #ill see ?i% a$ain@&7 +econtinued: ?A@ scripture tat ) a"e lon$ lo"ed no# ta.es on ne# si$nicance andi%portance at tis ti%e& H ?!ro%@ Ie"elation capter 21, "erse : RAnd God sall #ipea#a( all tears fro% teir e(es; and tere sall be no %ore deat, neiter sorro#, norcr(in$, neiter sall tere be an( %ore pain: for te for%er tin$s are passed a#a(&=7

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, in our our of deepest sorro#, #e can recei"e profoundpeace fro% te #ords of te an$el tat rst aster %ornin$: *e is not ere: for e isrisen&71J

&e is risen% &e is risen%ell it out with oyful (oice"&e has burst his three days) !rison;2et the whole wide earth reoice"3eath is conBuered; man is free"

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http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/rev/21.4?lang=eng#3




$hrist has won the (ictory%18

As one of *is special #itnesses on eart toda(, tis $lorious aster +unda(, ) declare tattis is true, in *is sacred na%ee"en te na%e of Mesus Crist, our +a"iora%en&


or at Closin'Thomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

Te li$touse of te Lord sends fort si$nals readil( reco$nied and ne"erfailin$&

Tis as been a #onderful closin$ session& )="e seldo% eard suc ne ser%ons tau$t inso fe# #ords as #e="e e-perienced toda(& e=re all ere because #e lo"e te Lord& e#ant to ser"e *i%& Our *ea"enl( !ater is %indful of us& Of tat ) testif(& ) ac.no#led$e*is and in all tin$s&

One brief scripture:

Trust in te Lord #it all tine eart; and lean not unto tine o#n understandin$&

)n all t( #a(s ac.no#led$e i%, and e sall direct t( pats&7 1

Tat as been te stor( of %( life&

'( dear broters and sisters, #e co%e no# to te conclusion of a %ost upliftin$ andinspirin$ conference& After listenin$ to te counsel and testi%onies of tose #o a"espo.en to us, ) belie"e #e a"e been ricl( blessed and are all %ore deter%ined to li"ete principles of te $ospel of Mesus Crist& )t as been $ood for us to be ere& ee-press our $ratitude to eac one #o as spo.en to us, as #ell as to tose #o a"eoered pra(ers&

Te %usic as been %a$nicent& ) a% re%inded of te scripture found in te Boctrineand Co"enants: !or %( soul deli$tet in te son$ of te eart; (ea, te son$ of teri$teous is a pra(er unto %e, and it sall be ans#ered #it a blessin$ upon teireads&72

Ie%e%ber tat te %essa$es #e a"e eard durin$ tis conference #ill be printed inte 'a( issues of te Ensign and 2iahona %a$aines& ) ur$e (ou to stud( te %essa$es,to ponder teir teacin$s, and ten to appl( te% in (our life&

) .no# (ou Doin #it %e in e-pressin$ $ratitude to tose bretren and sisters #o a"ebeen released durin$ tis conference& Te( a"e ser"ed #ell and a"e %ade si$nicant


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contributions to te #or. of te Lord& Teir dedication as been co%plete& e tan.te% fro% te botto% of our earts&

<o#, #e a"e also sustained, b( uplifted ands, bretren and sisters #o a"e beencalled to ne# positions durin$ tis conference& e #ant te% to .no# tat #e loo.for#ard to #or.in$ #it te% in te cause of te 'aster&

'( broters and sisters, toda(, as #e loo. at te #orld around us, #e are faced #it

proble%s #ic are serious and of $reat concern to us& Te #orld see%s to a"e slippedfro% te %oorin$s of safet( and drifted fro% te arbor of peace&

9er%issi"eness, i%%oralit(, porno$rap(, disonest(, and a ost of oter ills cause%an( to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crused on te Da$$ed reefs of lostopportunities, forfeited blessin$s, and sattered drea%s&

'( counsel for all of us is to loo. to te li$touse of te Lord& Tere is no fo$ so dense,no ni$t so dar., no $ale so stron$, no %ariner so lost but #at its beacon li$t canrescue& )t bec.ons trou$ te stor%s of life& Te li$touse of te Lord sends fortsi$nals readil( reco$nied and ne"er failin$&

) lo"e te #ords found in 9sal%s: Te Lord is %( roc., and %( fortress, and %(deli"erer; %( God, %( stren$t, in #o% ) #ill trust; H ) #ill call upon te Lord H so ?)sall@ be sa"ed fro% %ine ene%ies&7>

Te Lord lo"es us, %( broters and sisters, and #ill bless us as #e call upon *i%&

*o# $rateful #e are for te restored $ospel of Mesus Crist and for all te $ood it brin$sinto our li"es& Te Lord as poured out *is blessin$s upon us as a people& ) bear %(testi%on( to (ou tat tis #or. is true, tat our +a"ior li"es, and tat *e $uides anddirects *is Curc ere upon te eart&

<o#, as #e co%e to te nal %o%ents of tis conference, %( eart is full and %(feelin$s tender& ) e-press %( lo"e and $ratitude to (ou& Tan. (ou for (our pra(ers in %(bealf and in bealf of all of te General Autorities of te Curc& Te Lord ears (ourpra(ers and blesses us and directs us in te aairs of *is .in$do% ere upon te eart&!or tis #e are deepl( $rateful&

As #e lea"e tis conference, ) in"o.e te blessin$s of ea"en upon eac of (ou& As (oureturn to (our o%es around te #orld, ) pra( our *ea"enl( !ater #ill bless (ou and(our fa%ilies& 'a( te %essa$es and spirit of tis conference nd e-pression in all tat(ou doin (our o%es, in (our #or., in (our %eetin$s, and in all (our co%in$s and$oin$s&

) lo"e (ou& ) pra( for (ou& 'a( God bless (ou& 'a( *is pro%ised peace be #it (ou no#and al#a(s, in te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&


Charit! 8e*er Faileth





!ort(/se"en (ears a$o tis $eneral conference, ) #as called to te Nuoru% of te T#el"eApostles& At te ti%e, ) ad been ser"in$ on one of te $eneral priestood co%%ittees of te Curc, and so before %( na%e #as presented, ) sat #it %( fello# %e%bers of tatpriestood co%%ittee, as #as e-pected of %e& '( #ife, o#e"er, ad no idea #ere to$o and no one #it #o% se could sit and, in fact, #as unable to nd a seat an(#erein te Tabernacle& A dear friend of ours, #o #as a %e%ber of one of te $eneralau-iliar( boards and #o #as sittin$ in te area desi$nated for te board %e%bers,as.ed +ister 'onson to sit #it er& Tis #o%an .ne# notin$ of %( call#ic #ould

be announced sortl(but se spotted +ister 'onson, reco$nied er consternation, and$raciousl( oered er a seat& '( dear #ife #as relie"ed and $rateful for tis .ind$esture& +ittin$ do#n, o#e"er, se eard loud #isperin$ beind er as one of teboard %e%bers e-pressed er anno(ance to tose around er tat one of er fello#board %e%bers #ould a"e te audacit( to in"ite an outsider7 to sit in tis areareser"ed onl( for te%& Tere #as no e-cuse for er un.ind bea"ior, re$ardless of who %i$t a"e been in"ited to sit tere& *o#e"er, ) can onl( i%a$ine o# tat #o%an felt#en se learned tat te intruder7 #as te #ife of te ne#est Apostle&

<ot onl( are #e inclined to Dud$e te actions and #ords of oters, but %an( of us Dud$eappearances: clotin$, airst(les, sie& Te list could $o on and on&

A classic account of Dud$in$ b( appearance #as printed in a national %a$aine %an((ears a$o& )t is a true accountone #ic (ou %a( a"e eard but #ic bearsrepeatin$&

A #o%an b( te na%e of 'ar( artels ad a o%e directl( across te street fro% teentrance to a ospital clinic& *er fa%il( li"ed on te %ain 3oor and rented te upstairsroo%s to outpatients at te clinic&

One e"enin$ a trul( a#ful/loo.in$ old %an ca%e to te door as.in$ if tere #as roo% fori% to sta( te ni$t& *e #as stooped and sri"eled, and is face #as lopsided fro%s#ellin$red and ra#& *e said e=d been untin$ for a roo% since noon but #it nosuccess& ) $uess it=s %( face,7 e said& ) .no# it loo.s terrible, but %( doctor sa(s itcould possibl( i%pro"e after %ore treat%ents&7 *e indicated e=d be app( to sleep inte roc.in$ cair on te porc& As se tal.ed #it i%, 'ar( realied tis little old %anad an o"ersied eart cro#ded into tat tin( bod(& Altou$ er roo%s #ere lled, setold i% to #ait in te cair and se=d nd i% a place to sleep&

At bedti%e 'ar(=s usband set up a ca%p cot for te %an& en se cec.ed in te%ornin$, te bed linens #ere neatl( folded and e #as out on te porc& *e refusedbrea.fast, but Dust before e left for is bus, e as.ed if e could return te ne-t ti%e ead a treat%ent& ) #on=t put (ou out a bit,7 e pro%ised& ) can sleep ne in a cair&7'ar( assured i% e #as #elco%e to co%e a$ain&

)n te se"eral (ears e #ent for treat%ents and sta(ed in 'ar(=s o%e, te old %an,#o #as a ser%an b( trade, al#a(s ad $ifts of seafood or "e$etables fro% is$arden& Oter ti%es e sent pac.a$es in te %ail&

en 'ar( recei"ed tese tou$tful $ifts, se often tou$t of a co%%ent er ne-t/door nei$bor %ade after te dis$ured, stooped old %an ad left 'ar(=s o%e tat rst%ornin$& Bid (ou .eep tat a#ful/loo.in$ %an last ni$tE ) turned i% a#a(& Kou canlose custo%ers b( puttin$ up suc people&7



'ar( .ne# tat %a(be te( had lost custo%ers once or t#ice, but se tou$t, O, ifonl( te( could a"e .no#n i%, peraps teir illnesses #ould a"e been easier tobear&7

After te %an passed a#a(, 'ar( #as "isitin$ #it a friend #o ad a $reenouse& Asse loo.ed at er friend=s 3o#ers, se noticed a beautiful $olden cr(sante%u% but#as puled tat it #as $ro#in$ in a dented, old, rust( buc.et& *er friend e-plained, )ran sort of pots, and .no#in$ o# beautiful tis one #ould be, ) tou$t it #ouldn=t

%ind startin$ in tis old pail& )t=s Dust for a little #ile, until ) can put it out in te $arden&7

'ar( s%iled as se i%a$ined Dust suc a scene in ea"en& *ere=s an especiall( beautifulone,7 God %i$t a"e said #en *e ca%e to te soul of te little old %an& *e #on=t%ind startin$ in tis s%all, %issapen bod(&7 ut tat #as lon$ a$o, and in God=s $ardeno# tall tis lo"el( soul %ust standF>

Appearances can be so decei"in$, suc a poor %easure of a person& Ad%onised te+a"ior, Mud$e not accordin$ to te appearance&7

A %e%ber of a #o%en=s or$aniation once co%plained #en a certain #o%an #as

selected to represent te or$aniation& +e ad ne"er %et te #o%an, but se ad seena poto$rap of er and didn=t li.e #at se sa#, considerin$ er to be o"er#ei$t& +eco%%ented, Of te tousands of #o%en in tis or$aniation, surel( a betterrepresentati"e could a"e been cosen&7

True, te #o%an #o #as cosen #as not %odel sli%&7 ut tose #o .ne# er and.ne# er ualities sa# in er far %ore tan #as re3ected in te poto$rap& Tepoto$rap did so# tat se ad a friendl( s%ile and a loo. of condence& at tepoto$rap didn)t so# #as tat se #as a lo(al and co%passionate friend, a #o%an ofintelli$ence #o lo"ed te Lord and #o lo"ed and ser"ed *is cildren& )t didn=t so#tat se "olunteered in te co%%unit( and #as a considerate and concerned nei$bor&)n sort, te poto$rap did not re3ect #o se reall( #as&

) as.: if attitudes, deeds, and spiritual inclinations #ere re3ected in !hysical features, #ould te countenance of te #o%an #o co%plained be as lo"el( as tat of te #o%anse criticiedE

'( dear sisters, eac of (ou is uniue& Kou are dierent fro% eac oter in %an( #a(s& Tere are tose of (ou #o are %arried& +o%e of (ou sta( at o%e #it (our cildren,#ile oters of (ou #or. outside (our o%es& +o%e of (ou are e%pt( nesters& Tere aretose of (ou #o are %arried but do not a"e cildren& Tere are tose #o aredi"orced, tose #o are #ido#ed& 'an( of (ou are sin$le #o%en& +o%e of (ou a"ecolle$e de$rees; so%e of (ou do not& Tere are tose #o can aord te latest fasionsand tose #o are luc.( to a"e one appropriate +unda( outt& +uc dierences areal%ost endless& Bo tese dierences te%pt us to Dud$e one anoterE

'oter Teresa, a Catolic nun #o #or.ed a%on$ te poor in )ndia %ost of er life,spo.e tis profound trut: )f (ou Dud$e people, (ou a"e no ti%e to lo"e te%&75 Te+a"ior as ad%onised, Tis is %( co%%and%ent, Tat (e lo"e one anoter, as ) a"elo"ed (ou&76 ) as.: can we lo(e one another, as the a(ior has commanded, if we udgeeach other7 And ) ans#er#it 'oter Teresa: no, #e cannot&

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Te Apostle Ma%es tau$t, )f an( H a%on$ (ou see% to be reli$ious, and bridlet not iston$ue, but decei"et is o#n eart, tis %an=s ?or #o%an=s@ reli$ion is "ain&7J

) a"e al#a(s lo"ed (our Ielief +ociet( %otto: Carit( ne"er failet&7 8 at is carit(E Te propet 'or%on teaces us tat carit( is te pure lo"e of Crist&7 )n is fare#ell%essa$e to te La%anites, 'oroni declared, -cept (e a"e carit( (e can in no#ise besa"ed in te .in$do% of God&710

) consider carit(or te pure lo"e of Crist7to be te opposite of criticis% and Dud$in$& )n spea.in$ of carit(, ) do not at tis %o%ent a"e in %ind te relief of tesuerin$ trou$ te $i"in$ of our substance& Tat, of course, is necessar( and proper& Toni$t, o#e"er, ) a"e in %ind te carit( tat %anifests itself #en #e are tolerant ofoters and lenient to#ard teir actions, te .ind of carit( tat for$i"es, te .ind ofcarit( tat is patient&

) a"e in %ind te carit( tat i%pels us to be s(%patetic, co%passionate, and%erciful, not onl( in ti%es of sic.ness and aiction and distress but also in ti%es of#ea.ness or error on te part of oters&

Tere is a serious need for te carit( tat $i"es attention to tose #o are unnoticed,ope to tose #o are discoura$ed, aid to tose #o are aicted& True carit( is lo"e inaction& Te need for carit( is e"er(#ere&

<eeded is te carit( #ic refuses to nd satisfaction in earin$ or in repeatin$ tereports of %isfortunes tat co%e to oters, unless b( so doin$, te unfortunate one %a(be beneted& Te A%erican educator and politician *orace 'ann once said, To pit(distress is but u%an; to relie"e it is $odli.e&711

Carit( is a"in$ patience #it so%eone #o as let us do#n& )t is resistin$ te i%pulseto beco%e oended easil(& )t is acceptin$ #ea.nesses and sortco%in$s& )t is acceptin$people as te( trul( are& )t is loo.in$ be(ond p(sical appearances to attributes tat #illnot di% trou$ ti%e& )t is resistin$ te i%pulse to cate$orie oters&

Carit(, tat pure lo"e of Crist, is %anifest #en a $roup of (oun$ #o%en fro% asin$les #ard tra"els undreds of %iles to attend te funeral ser"ices for te %oter ofone of teir Ielief +ociet( sisters& Carit( is so#n #en de"oted "isitin$ teacers return%ont after %ont, (ear after (ear to te sa%e uninterested, so%e#at critical sister& )tis e"ident #en an elderl( #ido# is re%e%bered and ta.en to #ard functions and toIelief +ociet( acti"ities& )t is felt #en te sister sittin$ alone in Ielief +ociet( recei"este in"itation, Co%esit b( us&7

)n a undred s%all #a(s, all of (ou #ear te %antle of carit(& Life is perfect for none ofus& Iater tan bein$ Dud$%ental and critical of eac oter, %a( #e a"e te pure lo"eof Crist for our fello# tra"elers in tis Dourne( trou$ life& 'a( #e reco$nie tat eacone is doin$ er best to deal #it te callen$es #ic co%e er #a(, and %a( #e stri"eto do our best to elp out&

Carit( as been dened as te i$est, noblest, stron$est .ind of lo"e,712 te purelo"e of Crist H ; and #oso is found possessed of it at te last da(, it sall be #ell #it?er@&71>

















Carit( ne"er failet&7 'a( tis lon$/endurin$ Ielief +ociet( %otto, tis ti%eless trut,$uide (ou in e"er(tin$ (ou do& 'a( it per%eate (our "er( souls and nd e-pression inall (our tou$ts and actions&

) e-press %( lo"e to (ou, %( sisters, and pra( tat ea"en=s blessin$s %a( e"er be(ours& )n te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&


s e Meet To'ether 'ainThomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

'issionar( ser"ice is a priestood dut(an obli$ation te Lord e-pects of us#o a"e been $i"en so "er( %uc&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, #e #elco%e (ou to $eneral conference, #ic is bein$eard and seen b( "arious %eans trou$out te #orld& e e-press tan.s to all #oa"e to do #it te co%plicated lo$istics of tis $reat underta.in$&

+ince April #en #e last %et, te #or. of te Curc as %o"ed for#ard unindered& )tas been %( pri"ile$e to dedicate four ne# te%ples& Acco%panied b( %( counselors andoter General Autorities, ) a"e tra"eled to Gila Walle(, Ariona; to Wancou"er, ritisColu%bia; to Cebu Cit( in te 9ilippines; and to (i", U.raine& Te te%ple in eac oftese locations is %a$nicentl( beautiful& ac one is blessin$ te li"es of our %e%bersand is an in3uence for $ood upon tose not of our fait&

Te e"enin$ prior to eac te%ple dedication, #e #ere pri"ile$ed to "ie# a culturalcelebration, participated in b( our (oun$ people and so%e of our not/so/(oun$ people& Tese e"ents #ere $enerall( eld in lar$e stadiu%s, altou$ in (i" #e %et in abeautiful palace& Te dancin$, sin$in$, %usical perfor%ances, and displa(s #eree-cellent& ) e-press %( co%%endation and lo"e to all #o #ere in"ol"ed&

ac te%ple dedication #as a spiritual feast& e felt te +pirit of te Lord at all of te%&

<e-t %ont #e #ill rededicate te Laie *a#aii Te%ple, one of our oldest te%ples, #icas under$one e-tensi"e reno"ations durin$ %an( %onts& e loo. for#ard to tat

sacred occasion&

e continue to build te%ples& Tis %ornin$ ) a% pleased to announce "e additionalte%ples for #ic sites are bein$ acuired and #ic, in co%in$ %onts and (ears, #illbe built in te follo#in$ locations: Lisbon, 9ortu$al; )ndianapolis, )ndiana; Urdaneta,9ilippines; *artford, Connecticut; and TiDuana, 'e-ico&

Te ordinances perfor%ed in our te%ples are "ital to our sal"ation and to te sal"ation ofour deceased lo"ed ones& 'a( #e continue faitful in attendin$ te te%ples, #ic arebein$ built closer and closer to our %e%bers&



<o#, before #e ear fro% our spea.ers tis %ornin$, %a( ) %ention a %atter close to%( eart and #ic deser"es our serious attention& ) spea. of %issionar( #or.&

!irst, to (oun$ %en of te Aaronic 9riestood and to (ou (oun$ %en #o are beco%in$elders: ) repeat #at propets a"e lon$ tau$ttat e"er( #ort(, able (oun$ %ansould prepare to ser"e a %ission& 'issionar( ser"ice is a priestood dut(an obli$ationte Lord e-pects of us #o a"e been $i"en so "er( %uc& Koun$ %en, ) ad%onis (outo prepare for ser"ice as a %issionar(& eep (oursel"es clean and pure and #ort( to

represent te Lord& 'aintain (our ealt and stren$t& +tud( te scriptures& ere sucis a"ailable, participate in se%inar( or institute& !a%iliarie (ourself #it te %issionar(andboo. 1reach My *os!el"

A #ord to (ou (oun$ sisters: #ile (ou do not a"e te sa%e priestood responsibilit( asdo te (oun$ %en to ser"e as full/ti%e %issionaries, (ou also %a.e a "aluablecontribution as %issionaries, and #e #elco%e (our ser"ice&

And no# to (ou %ature broters and sisters: #e need %an(, %an( %ore senior couples& To te faitful couples no# ser"in$ or #o a"e ser"ed in te past, #e tan. (ou for (ourfait and de"otion to te $ospel of Mesus Crist& Kou ser"e #illin$l( and #ell and

acco%plis $reat $ood&

To tose of (ou #o are not (et to te season of life #en (ou %i$t ser"e a couples%ission, ) ur$e (ou to prepare no# for te da( #en (ou and (our spouse %i$t do so&As (our circu%stances allo#, as (ou are eli$ible for retire%ent, and as (our ealtper%its, %a.e (oursel"es a"ailable to lea"e o%e and $i"e full/ti%e %issionar( ser"ice& Tere are fe# ti%es in (our li"es #en (ou #ill enDo( te s#eet spirit and satisfactiontat co%e fro% $i"in$ full/ti%e ser"ice to$eter in te #or. of te 'aster&

<o#, %( broters and sisters, %a( (ou be attuned to te +pirit of te Lord as #e earfro% *is ser"ants durin$ te ne-t t#o da(s& Tat tis %a( be te blessin$ of eac, ) pra(u%bl( in te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&


The Three &s of ChoiceThomas S. Monson


ac of us as co%e to tis eart #it all te tools necessar( to %a.ecorrect coices&

'( belo"ed bretren of te priestood, %( earnest pra(er toni$t is tat ) %i$t enDo(te elp of our *ea"enl( !ater in $i"in$ utterance to tose tin$s #ic ) feel i%pressedto sare #it (ou&



) a"e been tin.in$ recentl( about coices and teir conseuences& +carcel( an our ofte da( $oes b( but #at #e are called upon to %a.e coices of one sort or anoter&+o%e are tri"ial, so%e %ore far/reacin$& +o%e #ill %a.e no dierence in te eternalsce%e of tin$s, and oters #ill %a.e all te dierence&

As )="e conte%plated te "arious aspects of coice, )="e put te% into tree cate$ories:rst, te right of coice; second, te res!onsibility of coice; and tird, te results ofcoice& ) call tese te tree Is of coice&

) %ention rst te right of coice& ) a% so $rateful to a lo"in$ *ea"enl( !ater for *is $iftof a$enc(, or te ri$t to coose& 9resident Ba"id O& 'ca(, nint 9resident of teCurc, said, <e-t to te besto#al of life itself, te ri$t to direct tat life is God=s$reatest $ift to %an&71

e .no# tat #e ad our a$enc( before tis #orld #as and tat Lucifer atte%pted tota.e it fro% us& *e ad no condence in te principle of a$enc( or in us and ar$ued fori%posed sal"ation& *e insisted tat #it is plan none #ould be lost, but e see%ed notto reco$nieor peraps not to caretat in addition, none #ould be an( #iser, an(stron$er, an( %ore co%passionate, or an( %ore $rateful if is plan #ere follo#ed&

e #o cose te +a"ior=s plan .ne# tat #e #ould be e%bar.in$ on a precarious,di4cult Dourne(, for #e #al. te #a(s of te #orld and sin and stu%ble, cuttin$ us ofro% our !ater& ut te !irstborn in te +pirit oered *i%self as a sacrice to atone forte sins of all& Trou$ unspea.able suerin$ *e beca%e te $reat Iedee%er, te +a"iorof all %an.ind, tus %a.in$ possible our successful return to our !ater&

Te propet Lei tells us: erefore, %en are free accordin$ to te 3es; and all tin$sare $i"en te% #ic are e-pedient unto %an& And te( are free to coose libert( andeternal life, trou$ te $reat 'ediator of all %en, or to coose capti"it( and deat,accordin$ to te capti"it( and po#er of te de"il; for e see.et tat all %en %i$t be%iserable li.e unto i%self&72

retren, #itin te connes of #ate"er circu%stances #e nd oursel"es, #e #illal#a(s a"e te right to coose&

<e-t, #it te right of coice co%es te res!onsibility to coose& e cannot be neutral;tere is no %iddle $round& Te Lord .no#s tis; Lucifer .no#s tis& As lon$ as #e li"eupon tis eart, Lucifer and is osts #ill ne"er abandon te ope of clai%in$ our souls&

Our *ea"enl( !ater did not launc us on our eternal Dourne( #itout pro"idin$ te%eans #ereb( #e could recei"e fro% *i% God/$i"en $uidance to assist in our safereturn at te end of %ortal life& ) spea. of pra(er& ) spea. too of te #isperin$s fro% tatstill, s%all "oice #itin eac of us, and ) do not o"erloo. te ol( scriptures, #ritten b(%ariners #o successfull( sailed te seas #e too %ust cross&

ac of us as co%e to tis eart #it all te tools necessar( to %a.e correct coices& Te propet 'or%on tells us, Te +pirit of Crist is $i"en to e"er( %an, tat e %a(.no# $ood fro% e"il&7>

e are surroundede"en at ti%es bo%bardedb( te %essa$es of te ad"ersar(&Listen to so%e of te%; te( are no doubt fa%iliar to (ou: Must tis once #on=t %atter&7

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Bon=t #orr(; no one #ill .no#&7 Kou can stop s%o.in$ or drin.in$ or ta.in$ dru$s an(ti%e (ou #ant&7 "er(bod(=s doin$ it, so it can=t be tat bad&7 Te lies are endless&

Altou$ in our Dourne( #e #ill encounter for.s and turnin$s in te road, #e si%pl(cannot aord te lu-ur( of a detour fro% #ic #e %a( ne"er return& Lucifer, tat cle"erpied piper, pla(s is liltin$ %elod( and attracts te unsuspectin$ a#a( fro% te safet( ofteir cosen pat#a(, a#a( fro% te counsel of lo"in$ parents, a#a( fro% te securit(of God=s teacin$s& *e see.s not Dust te so/called refuse of u%anit(; e see.s all of us,

includin$ te "er( elect of God& in$ Ba"id listened, #a"ered, and ten follo#ed and fell&+o did Cain in an earlier era and Mudas )scariot in a later one& Lucifer=s %etods arecunnin$; is "icti%s, nu%erous&

e read of i% in 2 <epi: Oters #ill e pacif(, and lull te% a#a( into carnalsecurit(&7 Oters e 3atteret a#a(, and tellet te% tere is no ell H until e $raspste% #it is a#ful cains&75 And tus te de"il ceatet teir souls, and leadet te%a#a( carefull( do#n to ell&76

en faced #it si$nicant coices, o# do #e decideE Bo #e succu%b to te pro%iseof %o%entar( pleasureE To our ur$es and passionsE To te pressure of our peersE

Let us not nd oursel"es as indecisi"e as is Alice in Le#is Carroll=s classic Alice)s Ad(entures in Wonderland" Kou #ill re%e%ber tat se co%es to a crossroads #it t#opats before er, eac stretcin$ on#ard but in opposite directions& +e is confronted b(te Cesire cat, of #o% Alice as.s, ic pat sall ) follo#E7

Te cat ans#ers, Tat depends #ere (ou #ant to $o& )f (ou do not .no# #ere (ou#ant to $o, it doesn=t %atter #ic pat (ou ta.e&7J

Unli.e Alice, #e all .no# #ere #e #ant to $o, and it does %atter #ic #a( #e $o, forb( coosin$ our pat, #e coose our destination&

Becisions are constantl( before us& To %a.e te% #isel(, coura$e is neededtecoura$e to sa( no, te coura$e to sa( (es& Becisions do deter%ine destin(&

) plead #it (ou to %a.e a deter%ination ri$t ere, ri$t no#, not to de"iate fro% tepat #ic #ill lead to our $oal: eternal life #it our !ater in *ea"en& Alon$ tat strai$tand true pat tere are oter $oals: %issionar( ser"ice, te%ple %arria$e, Curcacti"it(, scripture stud(, pra(er, te%ple #or.& Tere are countless #ort( $oals to reacas #e tra"el trou$ life& <eeded is our co%%it%ent to reac te%&

!inall(, bretren, ) spea. of te results of coice& All of our coices a"e conseuences,so%e of #ic a"e little or notin$ to do #it our eternal sal"ation and oters of #ica"e e(erything to do #it it&

eter (ou #ear a $reen T/sirt or a blue one %a.es no dierence in te lon$ run&*o#e"er, #eter (ou decide to pus a .e( on (our co%puter #ic #ill ta.e (ou toporno$rap( can %a.e all te dierence in (our life& Kou #ill a"e Dust ta.en a step ote strai$t, safe pat& )f a friend pressures (ou to drin. alcool or to tr( dru$s and (ousuccu%b to te pressure, (ou are ta.in$ a detour fro% #ic (ou %a( not return&retren, #eter #e are 12/(ear/old deacons or %ature i$ priests, #e aresusceptible& 'a( #e .eep our e(es, our earts, and our deter%ination focused on tat











$oal #ic is eternal and #ort an( price #e #ill a"e to pa(, re$ardless of te sacrice#e %ust %a.e to reac it&

<o te%ptation, no pressure, no enticin$ can o"erco%e us unless #e allo# suc& )f #e%a.e te #ron$ coice, #e a"e no one to bla%e but oursel"es& 9resident ri$a% Koun$ once e-pressed tis trut b( relatin$ it to i%self& +aid e: )f roter ri$a%sall ta.e a #ron$ trac., and be sut out of te in$do% of ea"en, no person #ill be tobla%e but roter ri$a%& ) a% te onl( bein$ in ea"en, eart, or ell, tat can be

bla%ed&7 *e continued: Tis #ill euall( appl( to e"er( Latter/da( +aint& +al"ation is anindi"idual operation&78

Te Apostle 9aul as assured us, Tere at no te%ptation ta.en (ou but suc as isco%%on to %an: but God is faitful, #o #ill not suer (ou to be te%pted abo"e tat (eare able; but #ill #it te te%ptation also %a.e a #a( to escape, tat (e %a( be able tobear it&7

e a"e all %ade incorrect coices& )f #e a"e not alread( corrected suc coices, )assure (ou tat tere is a #a( to do so& Te process is called repentance& ) plead #it(ou to correct (our %ista.es& Our +a"ior died to pro"ide (ou and %e tat blessed $ift&

Altou$ te pat is not eas(, te pro%ise is real: Tou$ (our sins be as scarlet, te(sall be as #ite as sno#&710 And ), te Lord, re%e%ber te% no %ore&711 Bon=t put (oureternal life at ris.& )f (ou a"e sinned, te sooner (ou be$in to %a.e (our #a( bac., tesooner (ou #ill nd te s#eet peace and Do( tat co%e #it te %iracle of for$i"eness&

retren, (ou are of a noble birtri$t& ternal life in te .in$do% of our !ater is (our$oal& +uc a $oal is not acie"ed in one $lorious atte%pt but rater is te result of alifeti%e of ri$teousness, an accu%ulation of #ise coices, e"en a constanc( of purpose&As #it an(tin$ reall( #ort#ile, te re#ard of eternal life reuires eort&

Te scriptures are clear:

Ke sall obser"e to do H as te Lord (our God at co%%anded (ou: (e sall not turnaside to te ri$t and or to te left&

Ke sall #al. in all te #a(s #ic te Lord (our God at co%%anded (ou&712

)n closin$ %a( ) sare #it (ou an e-a%ple of one #o deter%ined earl( in life #at is$oals #ould be& ) spea. of roter Cla(ton '& Cristensen, a %e%ber of te Curc #ois a professor of business ad%inistration in te business scool at *ar"ard Uni"ersit(&

en e #as 16 (ears old, roter Cristensen decided, a%on$ oter tin$s, tat e#ould not pla( sports on +unda(& Kears later, #en e attended O-ford Uni"ersit( inn$land, e pla(ed center on te bas.etball tea%& Tat (ear te( ad an undefeatedseason and #ent trou$ to te ritis eui"alent of #at in te United +tates #ould bete <CAA bas.etball tourna%ent&

Te( #on teir $a%es fairl( easil( in te tourna%ent, %a.in$ it to te nal four& )t #asten tat roter Cristensen loo.ed at te scedule and, to is absolute orror, sa#tat te nal bas.etball $a%e #as sceduled to be pla(ed on a +unda(& *e and te tea%ad #or.ed so ard to $et #ere te( #ere, and e #as te startin$ center& *e #ent to













is coac #it is dile%%a& *is coac #as uns(%patetic and told roter Cristensene e-pected i% to pla( in te $a%e&

9rior to te nal $a%e, o#e"er, tere #as a se%inal $a%e& Unfortunatel(, te bac.upcenter dislocated is soulder, #ic increased te pressure on roter Cristensen topla( in te nal $a%e& *e #ent to is otel roo%& *e .nelt do#n& *e as.ed is *ea"enl(!ater if it #ould be all ri$t, Dust tis once, if e pla(ed tat $a%e on +unda(& *e saidtat before e ad nised pra(in$, e recei"ed te ans#er: Cla(ton, #at are (ou e"en

as.in$ %e forE Kou .no# te ans#er&7

*e #ent to is coac, tellin$ i% o# sorr( e #as tat e #ouldn=t be pla(in$ in tenal $a%e& Ten e #ent to te +unda( %eetin$s in te local #ard #ile is tea%pla(ed #itout i%& *e pra(ed %i$til( for teir success& Te( did #in&

Tat fateful, di4cult decision #as %ade %ore tan >0 (ears a$o& roter Cristensenas said tat as ti%e as passed, e considers it one of te %ost i%portant decisions ee"er %ade& )t #ould a"e been "er( eas( to a"e said, Kou .no#, in $eneral, .eepin$te +abbat da( ol( is te ri$t co%%and%ent, but in %( particular e-tenuatin$circu%stance, it=s o.a(, Dust tis once, if ) don=t do it&7 *o#e"er, e sa(s is entire life

as turned out to be an unendin$ strea% of e-tenuatin$ circu%stances, and ad ecrossed te line Dust tat once, ten te ne-t ti%e so%etin$ ca%e up tat #as sode%andin$ and critical, it #ould a"e been so %uc easier to cross te line a$ain& Telesson e learned is tat it is easier to .eep te co%%and%ents 100 percent of te ti%etan it is 8 percent of te ti%e&1>

'( belo"ed bretren, %a( #e be lled #it $ratitude for te right of coice, accept teres!onsibility of coice, and e"er be conscious of te results of coice& As bearers of tepriestood, all of us united as one can ualif( for te $uidin$ in3uence of our *ea"enl(!ater as #e coose carefull( and correctl(& e are en$a$ed in te #or. of te Lord MesusCrist& e, li.e tose of olden ti%es, a"e ans#ered *is call& e are on *is errand& esall succeed in te sole%n car$e: e (e clean, tat bear te "essels of te Lord&71 Tat tis %a( be so is %( sole%n and u%ble pra(er, in te na%e of Mesus Crist, our'aster, a%en&


The /i*ine Gift of GratitueThomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

A $rateful eart H co%es trou$ e-pressin$ $ratitude to our *ea"enl(!ater for *is blessin$s and to tose around us for all tat te( brin$ intoour li"es&







Tis as been a %ar"elous session& en ) #as appointed 9resident of te Curc, ) said)=ll ta.e one assi$n%ent for %(self& )=ll be te ad"iser for te Tabernacle Coir&7 )=% "er(proud of %( coirF

'( %oter once said of %e, To%%(, )=% "er( proud of all tat (ou="e done& ut ) a"eone co%%ent to %a.e to (ou& Kou sould a"e sta(ed #it te piano&7

+o ) #ent to te piano and pla(ed a nu%ber for er: *ere #e $o, ?ere #e $o@ to a

birtda( part(&71 Ten ) $a"e er a .iss on te foreead, and se e%braced %e&

) tin. of er& ) tin. of %( fater& ) tin. of all tose General Autorities #o="ein3uenced %e, and oters, includin$ te #ido#s #o% ) "isited85 of te%#it acic.en for te o"en, so%eti%es a little %one( for teir poc.et&

) "isited one late one ni$t& )t #as %idni$t, and ) #ent to te nursin$ o%e, and tereceptionist said, )=% sure se=s asleep, but se told %e to be sure to a#a.en er, forse said, R) .no# e=ll co%e&=7

) eld er and; se called %( na%e& +e #as #ide a#a.e& +e pressed %( and to er

lips and said, ) .ne# (ou=d co%e&7 *o# could ) not a"e co%eE

eautiful %usic touces %e tat #a(&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, #e a"e eard inspired %essa$es of trut, of ope, andof lo"e& Our tou$ts a"e turned to *i% #o atoned for our sins, #o so#ed us te#a( to li"e and o# to pra(, and #o de%onstrated b( *is o#n actions te blessin$s ofser"icee"en our Lord and +a"ior, Mesus Crist&

)n te boo. of Lu.e, capter 1J, #e read of *i%:

And it ca%e to pass, as e #ent to Merusale%, tat e passed trou$ te %idst of+a%aria and Galilee&

And as e entered into a certain "illa$e, tere ?e %et@ ten %en tat #ere lepers, #icstood afar o:

And te( lifted up teir "oices, and said, Mesus, 'aster, a"e %erc( on us&

And #en e sa# te%, e said unto te%, Go se# (oursel"es unto te priests& And itca%e to pass, tat, as te( #ent, te( #ere cleansed&

And one of te%, #en e sa# tat e #as ealed, turned bac., and #it a loud "oice$loried God,

And fell do#n on is face at is feet, $i"in$ i% tan.s: and e #as a +a%aritan&

And Mesus ans#erin$ said, ere tere not ten cleansedE but #ere are te nineE

Tere are not found tat returned to $i"e $lor( to God, sa"e tis stran$er&

And e said unto i%, Arise, $o t( #a(: t( fait at %ade tee #ole&72

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Trou$ di"ine inter"ention tose #o #ere lepers #ere spared fro% a cruel, lin$erin$deat and $i"en a ne# lease on life& Te e-pressed $ratitude b( one %erited te'aster=s blessin$; te in$ratitude so#n b( te nine, *is disappoint%ent&

'( broters and sisters, do #e re%e%ber to $i"e tan.s for te blessin$s #e recei"eE+incerel( $i"in$ tan.s not onl( elps us reco$nie our blessin$s, but it also unloc.s tedoors of ea"en and elps us feel God=s lo"e&

'( belo"ed friend 9resident Gordon & *inc.le( said, en (ou #al. #it $ratitude, (oudo not #al. #it arro$ance and conceit and e$otis%, (ou #al. #it a spirit oftan.s$i"in$ tat is beco%in$ to (ou and #ill bless (our li"es&7>

)n te boo. of 'atte# in te ible, #e a"e anoter account of $ratitude, tis ti%e asan e-pression fro% te +a"ior& As *e tra"eled in te #ilderness for tree da(s, %ore tan,000 people follo#ed and tra"eled #it *i%& *e too. co%passion on te%, for te( %a(not a"e eaten durin$ te entire tree da(s& *is disciples, o#e"er, uestioned,ence sould #e a"e so %uc bread in te #ilderness, as to ll so $reat a%ultitudeE7 Li.e %an( of us, te disciples sa# onl( #at #as lac.in$&

And Mesus sait unto te%, *o# %an( loa"es a"e (eE And ?te disciples@ said, +e"en,and a fe# little ses&

And ?Mesus@ co%%anded te %ultitude to sit do#n on te $round&

And e too. te se"en loa"es and te ses, and ga(e thanks, and bra.e te%, and$a"e to is disciples, and te disciples to te %ultitude&7

<otice tat te +a"ior $a"e tan.s for #at te( adand a %iracle follo#ed: And te(did all eat, and #ere lled: and te( too. up of te bro.en %eat tat #as left se"enbas.ets full&7

e a"e all e-perienced ti%es #en our focus is on #at #e lac. rater tan on ourblessin$s& +aid te Gree. pilosoper pictetus, *e is a #ise %an #o does not $rie"efor te tin$s #ic e as not, but reDoices for tose #ic e as&75

Gratitude is a di"ine principle& Te Lord declared trou$ a re"elation $i"en to te9ropet Mosep +%it:

Tou salt tan. te Lord t( God in all tin$s& H

And in notin$ dot %an oend God, or a$ainst none is is #rat .indled, sa"e tose#o confess not is and in all tin$s&76

)n te oo. of 'or%on #e are told to li"e in tan.s$i"in$ dail(, for te %an( %erciesand blessin$s #ic ?God@ dot besto# upon (ou&7J

Ie$ardless of our circu%stances, eac of us as %uc for #ic to be $rateful if #e #illbut pause and conte%plate our blessin$s&

Tis is a #onderful ti%e to be on eart& ile tere is %uc tat is #ron$ in te #orldtoda(, tere are %an( tin$s tat are ri$t and $ood& Tere are %arria$es tat %a.e it,













parents #o lo"e teir cildren and sacrice for te%, friends #o care about us andelp us, teacers #o teac& Our li"es are blessed in countless #a(s&

e can lift oursel"es and oters as #ell #en #e refuse to re%ain in te real% ofne$ati"e tou$t and culti"ate #itin our earts an attitude of $ratitude& )f in$ratitudebe nu%bered a%on$ te serious sins, ten $ratitude ta.es its place a%on$ te noblestof "irtues& +o%eone as said tat $ratitude is not onl( te $reatest of "irtues, but teparent of all oters&78

*o# can #e culti"ate #itin our earts an attitude of $ratitudeE 9resident Mosep !&+%it, si-t 9resident of te Curc, pro"ided an ans#er& +aid e: Te $rateful %ansees so %uc in te #orld to be tan.ful for, and #it i% te $ood out#ei$s te e"il&Lo"e o"erpo#ers Dealous(, and li$t dri"es dar.ness out of is life&7 *e continued: 9ridedestro(s our $ratitude and sets up selsness in its place& *o# %uc appier #e are inte presence of a $rateful and lo"in$ soul, and o# careful #e sould be to culti"ate,trou$ te %ediu% of a pra(erful life, a tan.ful attitude to#ard God and %anF7

9resident +%it is tellin$ us tat a pra(erful life is te .e( to possessin$ $ratitude&

Bo %aterial possessions %a.e us app( and $ratefulE 9eraps %o%entaril(& *o#e"er,tose tin$s #ic pro"ide deep and lastin$ appiness and $ratitude are te tin$s#ic %one( cannot bu(: our fa%ilies, te $ospel, $ood friends, our ealt, our abilities,te lo"e #e recei"e fro% tose around us& Unfortunatel(, tese are so%e of te tin$s#e allo# oursel"es to ta.e for $ranted&

Te n$lis autor Aldous *u-le( #rote, 'ost u%an bein$s a"e an al%ost innitecapacit( for ta.in$ tin$s for $ranted&710

e often ta.e for $ranted te "er( people #o %ost deser"e our $ratitude& Let us not#ait until it is too late for us to e-press tat $ratitude& +pea.in$ of lo"ed ones e adlost, one %an declared is re$ret tis #a(: ) re%e%ber tose app( da(s, and often#is ) could spea. into te ears of te dead te $ratitude #ic #as due te% in life,and so ill returned&711

Te loss of lo"ed ones al%ost ine"itabl( brin$s so%e re$rets to our earts& Let=s%ini%ie suc feelin$s as %uc as u%anl( possible b( freuentl( e-pressin$ our lo"eand $ratitude to te%& e ne"er .no# o# soon it #ill be too late&

A $rateful eart, ten, co%es trou$ e-pressin$ $ratitude to our *ea"enl( !ater for *isblessin$s and to tose around us for all tat te( brin$ into our li"es& Tis reuiresconscious eortat least until #e a"e trul( learned and culti"ated an attitude of$ratitude& Often #e feel $rateful and intend to e-press our tan.s but for$et to do so or Dust don=t $et around to it& +o%eone as said tat feelin$ $ratitude and not e-pressin$ itis li.e #rappin$ a present and not $i"in$ it&712

en #e encounter callen$es and proble%s in our li"es, it is often di4cult for us tofocus on our blessin$s& *o#e"er, if #e reac deep enou$ and loo. ard enou$, #e #illbe able to feel and reco$nie Dust o# %uc #e a"e been $i"en&

) sare #it (ou an account of one fa%il( #ic #as able to nd blessin$s in te %idst of serious callen$es& Tis is an account ) read %an( (ears a$o and a"e .ept because of













te %essa$e it con"e(s& )t #as #ritten b( Gordon Green and appeared in an A%erican%a$aine o"er 50 (ears a$o&

Gordon tells o# e $re# up on a far% in Canada, #ere e and is siblin$s ad to urr(o%e fro% scool #ile te oter cildren pla(ed ball and #ent s#i%%in$& Teir fater,o#e"er, ad te capacit( to elp te% understand tat teir #or. a%ounted toso%etin$& Tis #as especiall( true after ar"estti%e #en te fa%il( celebrated Tan.s$i"in$, for on tat da( teir fater $a"e te% a $reat $ift& *e too. an in"entor( of

e"er(tin$ te( ad&

On Tan.s$i"in$ %ornin$ e #ould ta.e te% to te cellar #it its barrels of apples, binsof beets, carrots pac.ed in sand, and %ountains of sac.ed potatoes as #ell as peas, cornstrin$ beans, Dellies, stra#berries, and oter preser"es #ic lled teir sel"es& *e adte cildren count e"er(tin$ carefull(& Ten te( #ent out to te barn and $ured o#%an( tons of a( tere #ere and o# %an( busels of $rain in te $ranar(& Te(counted te co#s, pi$s, cic.ens, tur.e(s, and $eese& Teir fater said e #anted to seeo# te( stood, but te( .ne# e reall( #anted te% to realie on tat feast da( o#ricl( God ad blessed te% and ad s%iled upon all teir ours of #or.& !inall(, #ente( sat do#n to te feast teir %oter ad prepared, te blessin$s #ere so%etin$ te(

felt&

Gordon indicated, o#e"er, tat te Tan.s$i"in$ e re%e%bered %ost tan.full( #aste (ear te( see%ed to a"e notin$ for #ic to be $rateful&

Te (ear started o #ell: te( ad lefto"er a(, lots of seed, four litters of pi$s, and teirfater ad a little %one( set aside so tat so%eda( e could aord to bu( a a( loadera #onderful %acine %ost far%ers Dust drea%ed of o#nin$& )t #as also te (ear tatelectricit( ca%e to teir to#naltou$ not to te% because te( couldn=t aord it&

One ni$t #en Gordon=s %oter #as doin$ er bi$ #as, is fater stepped in and too.is turn o"er te #asboard and as.ed is #ife to rest and do er .nittin$& *e said, Kouspend %ore ti%e doin$ te #as tan sleepin$& Bo (ou tin. #e sould brea. do#n and$et electricit(E7 Altou$ elated at te prospect, se sed a tear or t#o as se tou$tof te a( loader tat #ouldn=t be bou$t&

+o te electrical line #ent up teir lane tat (ear& Altou$ it #as notin$ fanc(, te(acuired a #asin$ %acine tat #or.ed all da( b( itself and brilliant li$tbulbs tatdan$led fro% eac ceilin$& Tere #ere no %ore la%ps to ll #it oil, no %ore #ic.s tocut, no %ore soot( ci%ne(s to #as& Te la%ps #ent uietl( o to te attic&

Te co%in$ of electricit( to teir far% #as al%ost te last $ood tin$ tat appened tote% tat (ear& Must as teir crops #ere startin$ to co%e trou$ te $round, te rainsstarted& en te #ater nall( receded, tere #asn=t a plant left an(#ere& Te( planteda$ain, but %ore rains beat te crops into te eart& Teir potatoes rotted in te %ud& Te( sold a couple of co#s and all te pi$s and oter li"estoc. te( ad intended to.eep, $ettin$ "er( lo# prices for te% because e"er(bod( else ad to do te sa%e tin$&All te( ar"ested tat (ear #as a patc of turnips #ic ad so%eo# #eatered testor%s&

Ten it #as Tan.s$i"in$ a$ain& Teir %oter said, 'a(be #e=d better for$et it tis(ear& e a"en=t e"en $ot a $oose left&7



On Tan.s$i"in$ %ornin$, o#e"er, Gordon=s fater so#ed up #it a Dac.rabbit andas.ed is #ife to coo. it& Grud$in$l( se started te Dob, indicatin$ it #ould ta.e a lon$ti%e to coo. tat tou$ old tin$& en it #as nall( on te table #it so%e of teturnips tat ad sur"i"ed, te cildren refused to eat& Gordon=s %oter cried, and tenis fater did a stran$e tin$& *e #ent up to te attic, $ot an oil la%p, too. it bac. to tetable, and li$ted it& *e told te cildren to turn out te electric li$ts& en tere #asonl( te la%p a$ain, te( could ardl( belie"e tat it ad been tat dar. before& Te(#ondered o# te( ad e"er seen an(tin$ #itout te bri$t li$ts %ade possible b(

electricit(&

Te food #as blessed, and e"er(one ate& en dinner #as o"er, te( all sat uietl(&rote Gordon:

)n te u%ble di%ness of te old la%p #e #ere be$innin$ to see clearl( a$ain& H

)t ?#as@ a lo"el( %eal& Te Dac. rabbit tasted li.e tur.e( and te turnips #ere te%ildest #e could recall& H

H ?Our@ o%e H , for all its #ant, #as so ric ?to@ us&71>

'( broters and sisters, to e-press $ratitude is $racious and onorable, to enact$ratitude is $enerous and noble, but to li"e #it $ratitude e"er in our earts is to toucea"en&

As ) close tis %ornin$, it is %( pra(er tat in addition to all else for #ic #e are$rateful, #e %a( e"er re3ect our $ratitude for our Lord and +a"ior, Mesus Crist& *is$lorious $ospel pro"ides ans#ers to life=s $reatest uestions: ere did #e co%e fro%E( are #e ereE ere do our spirits $o #en #e dieE Tat $ospel brin$s to tose #oli"e in dar.ness te li$t of di"ine trut&

*e tau$t us o# to pra(& *e tau$t us o# to li"e& *e tau$t us o# to die& *is life is ale$ac( of lo"e& Te sic. *e ealed; te do#ntrodden *e lifted; te sinner *e sa"ed&

Ulti%atel(, *e stood alone& +o%e Apostles doubted; one betra(ed *i%& Te Io%ansoldiers pierced *is side& Te an$r( %ob too. *is life& Tere (et rin$s fro% Gol$ota=s ill*is co%passionate #ords: !ater, for$i"e te%; for te( .no# not #at te( do&71

o #as tis %an of sorro#s, H acuainted #it $rief7E15 o is tis in$ of $lor(,716 tis Lord of lordsE *e is our 'aster& *e is our +a"ior& *e is te +on of God& *e is teAutor of Our +al"ation& *e bec.ons, !ollo# %e&71J *e instructs, Go, and do touli.e#ise&718 *e pleads, eep %( co%%and%ents&71

Let us follo# *i%& Let us e%ulate *is e-a%ple& Let us obe( *is #ords& ( so doin$, #e$i"e to *i% te di"ine $ift of $ratitude&

'( sincere, eartfelt pra(er is tat #e %a( in our indi"idual li"es re3ect tat %ar"elous"irtue of $ratitude& 'a( it per%eate our "er( souls, no# and e"er%ore& )n te sacredna%e of Mesus Crist, our +a"ior, a%en&


















Till e Meet 'ainThomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

ndure to te end #e %ust, for our $oal is eternal life in te presence of our!ater in *ea"en&

'( broters and sisters, %( eart is full as #e brin$ to a close tis #onderful $eneralconference of te Curc& e a"e been spirituall( fed as #e a"e listened to tecounsel and testi%onies of tose #o a"e participated in eac session& ) a% certain )spea. for all %e%bers e"er(#ere #en ) e-press deep appreciation for te truts #ea"e been tau$t& e could eco te #ords, found in te oo. of 'or%on, of tose #oeard te ser%on of te $reat in$ enDa%in and cried #it one "oice, sa(in$: Kea, #e

belie"e all te #ords #ic tou ast spo.en unto us; and also, #e .no# of teir suret(and trut, because of te +pirit of te Lord O%nipotent&71

) ope tat #e #ill ta.e te ti%e to read te conference tal.s, #ic #ill be reprinted inte <o"e%ber issue of te Ensign and 2iahona %a$aines, for te( are deser"in$ of ourcareful stud(&

at a blessin$ it is tat #e a"e been able to %eet ere, in tis %a$nicentConference Center, in peace and co%fort and safet(& e a"e ad unprecedentedco"era$e of te conference, reacin$ across te continents and te oceans to peoplee"er(#ere& Tou$ #e are far re%o"ed fro% %an( of (ou, #e feel of (our spirit and

send our lo"e and appreciation to (ou&

To our retren #o a"e been released at tis conference, %a( ) e-press te eartfelt$ratitude of all of us for (our %an( (ears of de"oted ser"ice& Countless are tose #oa"e been blessed b( (our contributions to te #or. of te Lord&

Te Tabernacle Coir and oter coirs #ic participated in te sessions a"e pro"idedtrul( ea"enl( %usic tat as enanced and beautied all else #ic as ta.en place& )tan. (ou for sarin$ #it us (our %usical talents and abilities&

) lo"e and appreciate %( faitful counselors, 9resident *enr( & (rin$ and 9residentBieter !& Uctdorf& Te( are trul( %en of #isdo% and understandin$, and teir ser"ice isin"aluable& ) could not do all tat ) a% called upon to do #itout teir support andassistance& ) lo"e and ad%ire %( retren of te Nuoru% of te T#el"e Apostles and allin te Nuoru%s of te +e"ent( and in te 9residin$ isopric& Te( ser"e sel3essl( andeecti"el(& ) si%ilarl( e-press %( appreciation for te #o%en and %en #o ser"e as$eneral au-iliar( o4cers&

*o# blessed #e are to a"e te restored $ospel of Mesus Crist& )t pro"ides ans#ers touestions concernin$ #ere #e ca%e fro%, #( #e are ere, and #ere #e #ill $o #en#e pass fro% tis life& )t pro"ides %eanin$ and purpose and ope to our li"es&

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http://lds.org/general-conference/print/2010/10/till-we-meet-again?lang=eng&clang=eng#1-PD50021411_000_5080



e li"e in a troubled #orld, a #orld of %an( callen$es& e are ere on tis eart to deal#it our indi"idual callen$es to te best of our abilit(, to learn fro% te%, and too"erco%e te%& ndure to te end #e %ust, for our $oal is eternal life in te presence of our !ater in *ea"en& *e lo"es us and #ants notin$ %ore tan for us to succeed in tis$oal& *e #ill elp us and bless us as #e call upon *i% in our pra(ers, as #e stud( *is#ords, and as #e obe( *is co%%and%ents& Terein is found safet(; terein is foundpeace&

'a( God bless (ou, %( broters and sisters& ) tan. (ou for (our pra(ers in %( bealfand in bealf of all of te General Autorities& e are deepl( $rateful for (ou and for alltat (ou do to furter te .in$do% of God on eart&

'a( ea"en=s blessin$s be #it (ou& 'a( (our o%es be lled #it lo"e and courtes(and #it te +pirit of te Lord& 'a( (ou constantl( nouris (our testi%onies of te$ospel, tat te( #ill be a protection to (ou a$ainst te buetin$s of +atan&

Conference is no# o"er& As #e return to our o%es, %a( #e do so safel(& 'a( te spirit#e a"e felt ere be and abide #it us as #e $o about tose tin$s #ic occup( useac da(& 'a( #e so# increased .indness to#ard one anoter; %a( #e e"er be found

doin$ te #or. of te Lord&

) lo"e (ou; ) pra( for (ou& ) bid (ou fare#ell till #e %eet a$ain in si- %onts= ti%e& )n tena%e of our Lord and +a"ior, e"en Mesus Crist, a%en&


t9s Conference 4nce 'ainThomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

Tan. (ou for (our fait and de"otion to te $ospel, for te lo"e and care(ou so# to one anoter, and for te ser"ice (ou pro"ide&

en tis buildin$ #as planned, #e tou$t #e=d ne"er ll it& Must loo. at it no#&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, o# $ood it is to be to$eter once a$ain as #e be$inte 181st Annual General Conference of Te Curc of Mesus Crist of Latter/da( +aints&

Te past si- %onts see% to a"e passed rapidl( as )="e been bus( #it %an(responsibilities& One of te $reat blessin$s durin$ tis ti%e #as to rededicate tebeautiful Laie *a#aii Te%ple, #ic ad been under$oin$ e-tensi"e reno"ations fornearl( t#o (ears& ) #as acco%panied b( 9resident and +ister *enr( & (rin$, lder and+ister Nuentin L& Coo., and lder and +ister illia% I& al.er& Burin$ te e"enin$ priorto te rededication, #ic too. place durin$ <o"e%ber, #e #atced 2,000 (oun$ people



fro% te te%ple district as te( lled te Cannon Acti"ities Center on te KUS*a#aiica%pus and perfor%ed for us& Teir production #as titled Te Gaterin$ 9lace7 andcreati"el( and %asterfull( recounted si$nicant e"ents in local Curc istor( and teistor( of te te%ple& at a #onderful e"enin$ it #asF

Te follo#in$ da( #as a spiritual feast as te te%ple #as rededicated in tree sessions& Te +pirit of te Lord #as #it us in ric abundance&

e continue to build te%ples& )t is %( pri"ile$e tis %ornin$ to announce treeadditional te%ples for #ic sites are bein$ acuired and #ic, in co%in$ %onts and(ears, #ill be built in te follo#in$ locations: !ort Collins, Colorado; 'eridian, )dao; andinnipe$, 'anitoba, Canada& Te( #ill certainl( be a blessin$ to our %e%bers in toseareas&

ac (ear %illions of ordinances are perfor%ed in te te%ples& 'a( #e continue to befaitful in perfor%in$ suc ordinances, not onl( for oursel"es but also for our deceasedlo"ed ones #o are unable to do so for te%sel"es&

Te Curc continues to pro"ide u%anitarian aid in ti%es of disaster& 'ost recentl( our

earts and our elp a"e $one out to Mapan follo#in$ te de"astatin$ eartua.e andtsuna%i and te resultant nuclear callen$es& e a"e distributed o"er J0 tons ofsupplies, includin$ food, #ater, blan.ets, beddin$, ($iene ite%s, clotin$, and fuel& Our(oun$ sin$le adults a"e "olunteered teir ti%e to locate %issin$ %e%bers usin$ te)nternet, social %edia, and oter %odern %eans of co%%unication& 'e%bers aredeli"erin$ aid "ia scooters pro"ided b( te Curc to areas tat are di4cult to reac b(car& +er"ice proDects to asse%ble ($iene .its and cleanin$ .its are bein$ or$anied in%ultiple sta.es and #ards in To.(o, <a$o(a, and Osa.a& Tus far, o"er 0,000 ours ofser"ice a"e been donated b( %ore tan ,000 "olunteers& Our elp #ill be on$oin$ in Mapan and in an( oter areas #ere tere is need&

'( broters and sisters, ) tan. (ou for (our fait and de"otion to te $ospel, for telo"e and care (ou so# to one anoter, and for te ser"ice (ou pro"ide in (our #ardsand brances and sta.es and districts& Tan. (ou, as #ell, for (our faitfulness in pa(in$(our tites and oerin$s and for (our $enerosit( in contributin$ to te oter funds of teCurc&

As of te end of te (ear 2010, tere #ere 52,225 %issionaries ser"in$ in >0 %issionstrou$out te #orld& 'issionar( #or. is te lifeblood of te .in$do%& 'a( ) su$$est tatif (ou are able, (ou %i$t consider %a.in$ a contribution to te General 'issionar( !undof te Curc&

<o#, broters and sisters, #e are an-ious to listen to te %essa$es #ic #ill bepresented to us toda( and to%orro#& Tose #o #ill address us a"e sou$t ea"en=selp and direction as te( a"e prepared teir %essa$es& Tat #e %a( be lled #it te+pirit of te Lord and be uplifted and inspired as #e listen and learn is %( pra(er& )n tena%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&




Priesthoo Po+erThomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

'a( #e be #ort( recipients of te di"ine po#er of te priestood #e bear&'a( it bless our li"es and %a( #e use it to bless te li"es of oters&

) pra(ed and studied lon$ about #at ) %i$t sa( toni$t& ) #is not to oend an(one& )tou$t, at are te callen$es #e a"eE at do ) deal #it e"er( da( tat causes%e to #eep so%eti%es late into te ni$tE7 ) tou$t tat ) #ould tr( to address a fe# of tose callen$es toni$t& +o%e #ill appl( to te (oun$ %en& +o%e #ill appl( to tose#o are %iddle a$ed& +o%e #ill appl( to tose #o are a little bit abo"e %iddle a$e& edon=t tal. about old a$e&

And so ) si%pl( #ant to be$in b( declarin$, it as been $ood for us to be to$eter tis

e"enin$& e="e eard #onderful and ti%el( %essa$es concernin$ te priestood of God&), #it (ou, a"e been uplifted and inspired&

Toni$t ) #is to address %atters #ic a"e been %uc on %( %ind of late and #ic )a"e felt i%pressed to sare #it (ou& )n one #a( or anoter, te( all relate to tepersonal #ortiness reuired to recei"e and e-ercise te sacred po#er of te priestood#ic #e old&

'a( ) be$in b( recitin$ to (ou fro% section 121 of te Boctrine and Co"enants:

Te ri$ts of te priestood are inseparabl( connected #it te po#ers of ea"en, and

H te po#ers of ea"en cannot be controlled nor andled onl( upon te principles ofri$teousness&

Tat te( %a( be conferred upon us, it is true; but #en #e underta.e to co"er oursins, or to $ratif( our pride, our "ain a%bition, or to e-ercise control or do%inion orco%pulsion upon te souls of te cildren of %en, in an( de$ree of unri$teousness,beold, te ea"ens #itdra# te%sel"es; te +pirit of te Lord is $rie"ed; and #en itis #itdra#n, A%en to te priestood or te autorit( of tat %an&7 1

retren, tat is te deniti"e #ord of te Lord concernin$ *is di"ine autorit(& ecannot be in doubt as to te obli$ation tis places upon eac of us #o bear te

priestood of God&

e a"e co%e to te eart in troubled ti%es& Te %oral co%pass of te %asses as$raduall( sifted to an al%ost an(tin$ $oes7 position&

)="e li"ed lon$ enou$ to a"e #itnessed %uc of te %eta%orposis of societ(=s%orals& ere once te standards of te Curc and te standards of societ( #ere%ostl( co%patible, no# tere is a #ide cas% bet#een us, and it=s $ro#in$ e"er #ider&

'an( %o"ies and tele"ision so#s portra( bea"ior #ic is in direct opposition to tela#s of God& Bo not subDect (ourself to te innuendo and outri$t lt #ic are so often

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found tere& Te l(rics in %uc of toda(=s %usic fall in te sa%e cate$or(& Te profanit(so pre"alent around us toda( #ould ne"er a"e been tolerated in te not/too/distantpast& +adl(, te Lord=s na%e is ta.en in "ain o"er and o"er a$ain& Iecall #it %e teco%%and%entone of te ten#ic te Lord re"ealed to 'oses on 'ount +inai: Tousalt not ta.e te na%e of te Lord t( God in "ain; for te Lord #ill not old i%$uiltless tat ta.et is na%e in "ain&72 ) a% sorr( tat an( of us is subDected to profanelan$ua$e, and ) plead #it (ou not to use it& ) i%plore (ou not to sa( or to do an(tin$ of#ic (ou cannot be proud&

+ta( co%pletel( a#a( fro% porno$rap(& Bo not allo# (ourself to "ie# it, e"er& )t aspro"en to be an addiction #ic is %ore tan di4cult to o"erco%e& A"oid alcool andtobacco or an( oter dru$s, also addictions #ic (ou #ould be ard pressed to conuer&

at #ill protect (ou fro% te sin and e"il around (ouE ) %aintain tat a stron$testi%on( of our +a"ior and of *is $ospel #ill elp see (ou trou$ to safet(& )f (ou a"enot read te oo. of 'or%on, read it& ) #ill not as. for a so# of ands& )f (ou do sopra(erfull( and #it a sincere desire to .no# te trut, te *ol( Gost #ill %anifest itstrut to (ou& )f it is trueand it isten Mosep +%it #as a propet #o sa# God te!ater and *is +on, Mesus Crist& Te Curc is true& )f (ou do not alread( a"e a

testi%on( of tese tin$s, do tat #ic is necessar( to obtain one& )t is essential for (outo a"e (our o#n testi%on(, for te testi%onies of oters #ill carr( (ou onl( so far& Onceobtained, a testi%on( needs to be .ept "ital and ali"e trou$ obedience to teco%%and%ents of God and trou$ re$ular pra(er and scripture stud(& Attend curc& Kou (oun$ %en, attend se%inar( or institute if suc is a"ailable to (ou&

+ould tere be an(tin$ a%iss in (our life, tere is open to (ou a #a( out& Cease an(unri$teousness& Tal. #it (our bisop& ate"er te proble%, it can be #or.ed outtrou$ proper repentance& Kou can beco%e clean once a$ain& +aid te Lord, spea.in$ oftose #o repent, Tou$ (our sins be as scarlet, te( sall be as #ite as sno#,7> and), te Lord, re%e%ber te% no %ore&7

Te +a"ior of %an.ind described *i%self as bein$ in te #orld but not of te #orld&5 ealso can be in te #orld but not of te #orld as #e reDect false concepts and falseteacin$s and re%ain true to tat #ic God as co%%anded&

<o#, ) a"e tou$t a lot latel( about (ou (oun$ %en #o are of an a$e to %arr( but#o a"e not (et felt to do so& ) see lo"el( (oun$ ladies #o desire to be %arried and toraise fa%ilies, and (et teir opportunities are li%ited because so %an( (oun$ %en arepostponin$ %arria$e&

Tis is not a ne# situation& 'uc as been said concernin$ tis %atter b( past 9residentsof te Curc& ) sare #it (ou Dust one or t#o e-a%ples of teir counsel&

+aid 9resident *arold & Lee, e are not doin$ our dut( as olders of te priestood#en #e $o be(ond te %arria$eable a$e and #itold oursel"es fro% an onorable%arria$e to tese lo"el( #o%en&76

9resident Gordon & *inc.le( said tis: '( eart reaces out to H our sin$le sisters,#o lon$ for %arria$e and cannot see% to nd it& H ) a"e far less s(%pat( for te(oun$ %en, #o under te custo%s of our societ(, a"e te prero$ati"e to ta.e teinitiati"e in tese %atters but in so %an( cases fail to do so&7J















) realie tere are %an( reasons #( (ou %a( be esitatin$ to ta.e tat step of $ettin$%arried& )f (ou are concerned about pro"idin$ nanciall( for a #ife and fa%il(, %a( )assure (ou tat tere is no sa%e in a couple a"in$ to scri%p and sa"e& )t is $enerall(durin$ tese callen$in$ ti%es tat (ou #ill $ro# closer to$eter as (ou learn to sacriceand to %a.e di4cult decisions& 9eraps (ou are afraid of %a.in$ te #ron$ coice& Totis ) sa( tat (ou need to e-ercise fait& !ind so%eone #it #o% (ou can beco%patible& Iealie tat (ou #ill not be able to anticipate e"er( callen$e #ic %a(arise, but be assured tat al%ost an(tin$ can be #or.ed out if (ou are resourceful and

if (ou are co%%itted to %a.in$ (our %arria$e #or.&

9eraps (ou are a"in$ a little too %uc fun bein$ sin$le, ta.in$ e-tra"a$ant "acations,bu(in$ e-pensi"e cars and to(s, and Dust $enerall( enDo(in$ te carefree life #it (ourfriends& )="e encountered $roups of (ou runnin$ around to$eter, and ) ad%it tat )="e#ondered #( (ou aren=t out #it te (oun$ ladies&

retren, tere is a point at #ic it=s ti%e to tin. seriousl( about %arria$e and to see.a co%panion #it #o% (ou #ant to spend eternit(& )f (ou coose #isel( and if (ou areco%%itted to te success of (our %arria$e, tere is notin$ in tis life #ic #ill brin$(ou $reater appiness&

en (ou %arr(, bretren, (ou #ill #is to %arr( in te ouse of te Lord& !or (ou #oold te priestood, tere sould be no oter option& e careful lest (ou destro( (oureli$ibilit( to be so %arried& Kou can .eep (our courtsip #itin proper bounds #ile stilla"in$ a #onderful ti%e&

<o#, bretren, ) turn to anoter subDect about #ic ) feel i%pressed to address (ou& )nte tree (ears since ) #as sustained as 9resident of te Curc, ) belie"e te saddestand %ost discoura$in$ responsibilit( ) a"e eac #ee. is te andlin$ of cancellations ofsealin$s& ac one #as preceded b( a Do(ous %arria$e in te ouse of te Lord, #ere alo"in$ couple #as be$innin$ a ne# life to$eter and loo.in$ for#ard to spendin$ te restof eternit( #it eac oter& And ten %onts and (ears $o b(, and for one reason oranoter, lo"e dies& )t %a( be te result of nancial proble%s, lac. of co%%unication,uncontrolled te%pers, interference fro% in/la#s, entan$le%ent in sin& Tere are an(nu%ber of reasons& )n %ost cases di"orce does not a"e to be te outco%e&

Te "ast %aDorit( of reuests for cancellations of sealin$s co%e fro% #o%en #o trieddesperatel( to %a.e a $o of te %arria$e but #o, in te nal anal(sis, could noto"erco%e te proble%s&

Coose a co%panion carefull( and pra(erfull(; and #en (ou are %arried, be ercel(lo(al one to anoter& 9riceless ad"ice co%es fro% a s%all fra%ed plaue ) once sa# inte o%e of an uncle and aunt& )t read, Coose (our lo"e; lo"e (our coice&7 Tere is$reat #isdo% in tose fe# #ords& Co%%it%ent in %arria$e is absolutel( essential&

Kour #ife is (our eual& )n %arria$e neiter partner is superior nor inferior to te oter& Kou #al. side b( side as a son and a dau$ter of God& +e is not to be de%eaned orinsulted but sould be respected and lo"ed& +aid 9resident Gordon & *inc.le(: An( %anin tis Curc #o H e-ercises unri$teous do%inion o"er ?is #ife@ is un#ort( to oldte priestood& Tou$ e %a( a"e been ordained, te ea"ens #ill #itdra#, te+pirit of te Lord #ill be $rie"ed, and it #ill be a%en to te autorit( of te priestood oftat %an&78





9resident *o#ard & *unter said tis about %arria$e: ein$ appil( and successfull(%arried is $enerall( not so %uc a %atter of %arr(in$ te ri$t person as it is being theright !erson&7 ) li.e tat& Te conscious eort to do one=s part full( is te $reatestele%ent contributin$ to success&7

'an( (ears a$o in te #ard o"er #ic ) presided as te bisop, tere li"ed a couple #ooften ad "er( serious, eated disa$ree%ents& ) %ean real disa$ree%ents& ac of tet#o #as certain of is or er position& <eiter one #ould (ield to te oter& en te(

#eren=t ar$uin$, te( %aintained #at ) #ould call an uneas( truce&

One %ornin$ at 2:00 a&%& ) ad a telepone call fro% te couple& Te( #anted to tal. to%e, and te( #anted to tal. ri$t ten& ) dra$$ed %(self fro% bed, dressed, and #ent toteir o%e& Te( sat on opposite sides of te roo%, not spea.in$ to eac oter& Te #ifeco%%unicated #it er usband b( tal.in$ to %e& *e replied to er b( tal.in$ to %e& )tou$t, *o# in te #orld are #e $oin$ to $et tis couple to$eterE7

) pra(ed for inspiration, and te tou$t ca%e to %e to as. te% a uestion& ) said, *o#lon$ as it been since (ou a"e been to te te%ple and #itnessed a te%ple sealin$E7 Te( ad%itted it ad been a "er( lon$ ti%e& Te( #ere oter#ise #ort( people #o

eld te%ple reco%%ends and #o #ent to te te%ple and did ordinance #or. for oters&

) said to te%, ill (ou co%e #it %e to te te%ple on ednesda( %ornin$ at 8:00E e#ill #itness a sealin$ cere%on( tere&7

)n unison te( as.ed, ose cere%on(E7

) responded, ) don=t .no#& )t #ill be for #oe"er is $ettin$ %arried tat %ornin$&7

On te follo#in$ ednesda( at te appointed our, #e %et at te +alt La.e Te%ple& Tetree of us #ent into one of te beautiful sealin$ roo%s, not .no#in$ a soul in te roo%e-cept lder lIa( L& Cristiansen, ten an Assistant to te Nuoru% of te T#el"e, aGeneral Autorit( position #ic e-isted at tat ti%e& lder Cristiansen #as sceduledto perfor% a sealin$ cere%on( for a bride and $roo% in tat "er( roo% tat %ornin$& )a% condent te bride and er fa%il( tou$t, Tese %ust be friends of te $roo%7and tat te $roo%=s fa%il( tou$t, Tese %ust be friends of te bride&7 '( couple#ere seated on a little benc #it about a full t#o feet 0&6 %P of space bet#een te%&

lder Cristiansen be$an b( pro"idin$ counsel to te couple #o #ere bein$ %arried,and e did so in a beautiful fasion& *e %entioned o# a usband sould lo"e is #ife,o# e sould treat er #it respect and courtes(, onorin$ er as te eart of teo%e& Ten e tal.ed to te bride about o# se sould onor er usband as te eadof te o%e and be of support to i% in e"er( #a(&

) noticed tat as lder Cristiansen spo.e to te bride and te $roo%, %( couple %o"eda little closer to$eter& +oon te( #ere seated ri$t ne-t to one anoter& at pleased%e is tat te( ad bot %o"ed at about te sa%e rate& ( te end of te cere%on(, %(couple #ere sittin$ as close to eac oter as tou$ they #ere te ne#l(#eds& ac #ass%ilin$&

e left te te%ple tat da(, and no one e"er .ne# #o #e #ere or #( #e ad co%e,but %( friends #ere oldin$ ands as te( #al.ed out te front door& Teir dierences





ad been set aside& ) ad not ad to sa( one #ord& Kou see, te( re%e%bered teir o#n#eddin$ da( and te co"enants te( ad %ade in te ouse of God& Te( #ereco%%itted to be$innin$ a$ain and tr(in$ arder tis ti%e around&

)f an( of (ou are a"in$ di4cult( in (our %arria$e, ) ur$e (ou to do all tat (ou can to%a.e #ate"er repairs are necessar(, tat (ou %i$t be as app( as (ou #ere #en(our %arria$e started out& e #o are %arried in te ouse of te Lord do so for ti%eand for all eternit(, and ten #e %ust put fort te necessar( eort to %a.e it so& )

realie tat tere are situations #ere %arria$es cannot be sa"ed, but ) feel stron$l( tatfor te %ost part te( can be and sould be& Bo not let (our %arria$e $et to te point#ere it is in Deopard(&

9resident *inc.le( tau$t tat it is up to eac of us #o old te priestood of God todiscipline oursel"es so tat #e stand abo"e te #a(s of te #orld& )t is essential tat #ebe onorable and decent %en& Our actions %ust be abo"e reproac&

Te #ords #e spea., te #a( #e treat oters, and te #a( #e li"e our li"es all i%pactour eecti"eness as %en and bo(s oldin$ te priestood&

Te $ift of te priestood is priceless& )t carries #it it te autorit( to act as God=sser"ants, to ad%inister to te sic., to bless our fa%ilies, and to bless oters as #ell& )tsautorit( can reac be(ond te "eil of deat, on into te eternities& Tere is notin$ elseto co%pare #it it in all tis #orld& +afe$uard it, treasure it, li"e #ort( of it& 10

'( belo"ed bretren, %a( ri$teousness $uide our e"er( step as #e Dourne( trou$ life& Toda( and al#a(s, %a( #e be #ort( recipients of te di"ine po#er of te priestood #ebear& 'a( it bless our li"es and %a( #e use it to bless te li"es of oters, as did *e #oli"ed and died for use"en Mesus Crist, our Lord and +a"ior& Tis is %( pra(er in *issacred na%e, *is ol( na%e, a%en&


The ol! Tem%le:a )eacon to the orlThomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

Te all/i%portant and cro#nin$ blessin$s of %e%bersip in te Curc aretose blessin$s #ic #e recei"e in te te%ples of God&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, ) e-tend %( lo"e and $reetin$s to eac of (ou and pra(tat our *ea"enl( !ater #ill $uide %( tou$ts and inspire %( #ords as ) spea. to (outoda(&

'a( ) be$in b( %a.in$ a co%%ent or t#o concernin$ te ne %essa$es #e a"e eardtis %ornin$ fro% +ister Allred and isop urton and oters pertainin$ to te Curc=s





#elfare pro$ra%& As indicated, tis (ear %ar.s te J5t anni"ersar( of tis inspiredpro$ra%, #ic as blessed te li"es of so %an(& )t #as %( pri"ile$e to .no# personall(so%e of tose #o pioneered tis $reat endea"or%en of co%passion and foresi$t&

As bot isop urton and +ister Allred and oters %entioned, te bisop of te #ard is$i"en te responsibilit( to care for tose in need #o reside #itin te boundaries of is#ard& +uc #as %( pri"ile$e #en ) presided as a "er( (oun$ bisop in +alt La.e Cit(o"er a #ard of 1,080 %e%bers, includin$ 8 #ido#s& Tere #ere %an( #o needed

assistance& *o# $rateful ) #as for te #elfare pro$ra% of te Curc and for te elp ofte Ielief +ociet( and te priestood uoru%s&

) declare tat te #elfare pro$ra% of Te Curc of Mesus Crist of Latter/da( +aints isinspired of Al%i$t( God&

<o#, %( broters and sisters, tis conference %ar.s tree (ears since ) #as sustained as9resident of te Curc& Of course te( a"e been bus( (ears, lled #it %an(callen$es but also #it countless blessin$s& Te opportunit( ) a"e ad to dedicate andrededicate te%ples as been a%on$ te %ost enDo(able and sacred of tese blessin$s,and it is concernin$ te te%ple tat ) #is to spea. to (ou toda(&

Burin$ te October $eneral conference in 102, Curc 9resident Mosep !& +%ite-pressed in is openin$ address te ope tat one da( #e #ould a"e te%ples built inte "arious parts of te ?#orld@ #ere te( are needed for te con"enience of tepeople&71

Burin$ te rst 150 (ears follo#in$ te or$aniation of te Curc, fro% 18>0 to 180,21 te%ples #ere built, includin$ te te%ples in irtland, Oio, and <au"oo, )llinois&Contrast tat #it te >0 (ears since 180, durin$ #ic 115 te%ples #ere built anddedicated& it te announce%ent (esterda( of > ne# te%ples, tere are additionall( 26te%ples eiter under construction or in preconstruction sta$es& Tese nu%bers #illcontinue to $ro#&

Te $oal 9resident Mosep !& +%it oped for in 102 is beco%in$ a realit(& Our desire isto %a.e te te%ple as accessible as possible to our %e%bers&

One of te te%ples currentl( under construction is in 'anaus, rail& 'an( (ears a$o )read of a $roup of o"er a undred %e%bers #o left 'anaus, located in te eart of teA%aon rain forest, to tra"el to #at #as ten te closest te%ple, located in +[o 9aulo,railnearl( 2,500 %iles ,000 .%P fro% 'anaus& Tose faitful +aints Dourne(ed b(boat for four da(s on te A%aon Ii"er and its tributaries& After co%pletin$ tis Dourne(b( #ater, te( boarded buses for anoter tree da(s of tra"elo"er bu%p( roads, #it"er( little to eat, and #it no#ere co%fortable to sleep& After se"en da(s and ni$ts,te( arri"ed at te te%ple in +[o 9aulo, #ere ordinances eternal in nature #ereperfor%ed& Of course teir return Dourne( #as Dust as di4cult& *o#e"er, te( adrecei"ed te ordinances and blessin$s of te te%ple, and altou$ teir purses #eree%pt(, te( te%sel"es #ere lled #it te spirit of te te%ple and #it $ratitude forte blessin$s te( ad recei"ed&2 <o#, %an( (ears later, our %e%bers in 'anaus arereDoicin$ as te( #atc teir o#n te%ple ta.e sape on te ban.s of te Iio <e$ro& Te%ples brin$ Do( to our faitful %e%bers #ere"er te( are built&

http://lds.org/general-conference/print/2011/04/the-holy-temple-a-beacon-to-the-world?lang=eng&clang=eng#1-PD50028768_000_4060






Ieports of te sacrices %ade in order to recei"e te blessin$s found onl( in te%ples ofGod ne"er fail to touc %( eart and brin$ to %e a rene#ed sense of tan.fulness forte%ples&

'a( ) sare #it (ou te account of Tii and Tararaina 'ou Ta% and teir 10 cildren& Te entire fa%il( e-cept for one dau$ter Doined te Curc in te earl( 160s, #en%issionaries ca%e to teir island, located about 100 %iles 160 .%P sout of Taiti& +oonte( be$an to desire te blessin$s of an eternal fa%il( sealin$ in te te%ple&

At tat ti%e te nearest te%ple to te 'ou Ta% fa%il( #as te *a%ilton <e# Yealand Te%ple, %ore tan 2,500 %iles ,000 .%P to te sout#est, accessible onl( b(e-pensi"e airplane tra"el& Te lar$e 'ou Ta% fa%il(, #ic e.ed out a %ea$er li"in$ ona s%all plantation, ad no %one( for airplane fare, nor #as tere an( opportunit( fore%plo(%ent on teir 9acic island& +o roter 'ou Ta% and is son G\rard %ade tedi4cult decision to tra"el >,000 %iles ,800 .%P to #or. in <e# Caledonia, #ereanoter son #as alread( e%plo(ed&

Te tree 'ou Ta% %en labored for four (ears& roter 'ou Ta% alone returned o%eonl( once durin$ tat ti%e, for te %arria$e of a dau$ter&

After four (ears, roter 'ou Ta% and is sons ad sa"ed enou$ %one( to ta.e tefa%il( to te <e# Yealand Te%ple& All #o #ere %e%bers #ent e-cept for one dau$ter,#o #as e-pectin$ a bab(& Te( #ere sealed for ti%e and eternit(, an indescribable and Do(ful e-perience&

roter 'ou Ta% returned fro% te te%ple directl( to <e# Caledonia, #ere e #or.edfor t#o %ore (ears to pa( for te passa$e of te one dau$ter #o ad not been at tete%ple #it te%a %arried dau$ter and er cild and usband&

)n teir later (ears roter and +ister 'ou Ta% desired to ser"e in te te%ple& ( tatti%e te 9apeete Taiti Te%ple ad been constructed and dedicated, and te( ser"edfour %issions tere&>

'( broters and sisters, te%ples are %ore tan stone and %ortar& Te( are lled #itfait and fastin$& Te( are built of trials and testi%onies& Te( are sanctied b( sacriceand ser"ice&

Te rst te%ple to be built in tis dispensation #as te te%ple at irtland, Oio& Te+aints at te ti%e #ere i%po"erised, and (et te Lord ad co%%anded tat a te%plebe built, so build it te( did& rote lder *eber C& i%ball of te e-perience, Te Lordonl( .no#s te scenes of po"ert(, tribulation and distress #ic #e passed trou$ toacco%plis it&7 And ten, after all tat ad been painsta.in$l( co%pleted, te +aints#ere forced to lea"e Oio and teir belo"ed te%ple& Te( e"entuall( found refu$ealtou$ it #ould be te%porar(on te ban.s of te 'ississippi Ii"er in te state of)llinois& Te( na%ed teir settle%ent <au"oo, and #illin$ to $i"e teir all once a$ain and#it teir fait intact, te( erected anoter te%ple to teir God& 9ersecutions ra$ed,o#e"er, and #it te <au"oo Te%ple barel( co%pleted, te( #ere dri"en fro% teiro%es once a$ain, see.in$ refu$e in a desert&







Te stru$$le and te sacrice be$an once a$ain as te( labored for 0 (ears to erect te+alt La.e Te%ple, #ic stands %aDesticall( on te bloc. Dust sout of tose of us #oare ere toda( in te Conference Center&

+o%e de$ree of sacrice as e"er been associated #it te%ple buildin$ and #it te%pleattendance& Countless are tose #o a"e labored and stru$$led in order to obtain forte%sel"es and for teir fa%ilies te blessin$s #ic are found in te te%ples of God&

( are so %an( #illin$ to $i"e so %uc in order to recei"e te blessin$s of te te%pleE Tose #o understand te eternal blessin$s #ic co%e fro% te te%ple .no# tat nosacrice is too $reat, no price too ea"(, no stru$$le too di4cult in order to recei"etose blessin$s& Tere are ne"er too %an( %iles to tra"el, too %an( obstacles too"erco%e, or too %uc disco%fort to endure& Te( understand tat te sa"in$ordinances recei"ed in te te%ple tat per%it us to so%eda( return to our *ea"enl(!ater in an eternal fa%il( relationsip and to be endo#ed #it blessin$s and po#erfro% on i$ are #ort e"er( sacrice and e"er( eort&

Toda( %ost of us do not a"e to suer $reat ardsips in order to attend te te%ple&i$t(/"e percent of te %e%bersip of te Curc no# li"e #itin 200 %iles >20 .%P

of a te%ple, and for a $reat %an( of us, tat distance is %uc sorter&

)f (ou a"e been to te te%ple for (oursel"es and if (ou li"e #itin relati"el( closepro-i%it( to a te%ple, (our sacrice could be settin$ aside te ti%e in (our bus( li"es to"isit te te%ple re$ularl(& Tere is %uc to be done in our te%ples in bealf of tose #o#ait be(ond te "eil& As #e do te #or. for te%, #e #ill .no# tat #e a"eacco%plised #at te( cannot do for te%sel"es& 9resident Mosep !& +%it, in a %i$t(declaration, stated, Trou$ our eorts in teir bealf teir cains of bonda$e #ill fallfro% te%, and te dar.ness surroundin$ te% #ill clear a#a(, tat li$t %a( sineupon te% and te( sall ear in te spirit #orld of te #or. tat as been done forte% b( teir cildren ere, and #ill reDoice #it (ou in (our perfor%ance of teseduties&75 '( broters and sisters, te #or. is ours to do&

)n %( o#n fa%il(, so%e of our %ost sacred and treasured e-periences a"e occurred#en #e a"e Doined to$eter in te te%ple to perfor% sealin$ ordinances for ourdeceased ancestors&

)f (ou a"e not (et been to te te%ple or if (ou ha(e been but currentl( do not ualif(for a reco%%end, tere is no %ore i%portant $oal for (ou to #or. to#ard tan bein$#ort( to $o to te te%ple& Kour sacrice %a( be brin$in$ (our life into co%pliance #it#at is reuired to recei"e a reco%%end, peraps b( forsa.in$ lon$/eld abits #icdisualif( (ou& )t %a( be a"in$ te fait and te discipline to pa( (our titin$& ate"erit is, ualif( to enter te te%ple of God& +ecure a te%ple reco%%end and re$ard it as aprecious possession, for suc it is&

Until (ou a"e entered te ouse of te Lord and a"e recei"ed all te blessin$s #ica#ait (ou tere, (ou a"e not obtained e"er(tin$ te Curc as to oer& Te all/i%portant and cro#nin$ blessin$s of %e%bersip in te Curc are tose blessin$s#ic #e recei"e in te te%ples of God&

<o#, %( (oun$ friends #o are in (our teena$e (ears, al#a(s a"e te te%ple in (oursi$ts& Bo notin$ #ic #ill .eep (ou fro% enterin$ its doors and parta.in$ of te





sacred and eternal blessin$s tere& ) co%%end tose of (ou #o alread( $o to tete%ple re$ularl( to perfor% baptis%s for te dead, arisin$ in te "er( earl( ours of te%ornin$ so (ou can participate in suc baptis%s before scool be$ins& ) can tin. of nobetter #a( to start a da(&

To (ou parents of (oun$ cildren, %a( ) sare #it (ou so%e sa$e ad"ice fro% 9resident+pencer & i%ball& +aid e: )t #ould be a ne tin$ if H parents #ould a"e in e"er(bedroo% in teir ouse a picture of te te%ple so ?teir cildren@ fro% te ti%e ?te(

are@ infant?s@ could loo. at te picture e"er( da( ?until@ it beco%es a part of ?teir li"es@&en ?te( reac@ te a$e tat ?te( need@ to %a.e ?te@ "er( i%portant decision?concernin$ $oin$ to te te%ple@, it #ill a"e alread( been %ade&7 6

Our cildren sin$ in 9ri%ar(:

) lo"e to see te te%ple&)=ll $o inside so%eda(&)=ll co"=nant #it %( !ater;)=ll pro%ise to obe(&J

) plead #it (ou to teac (our cildren of te te%ple=s i%portance&

Te #orld can be a callen$in$ and di4cult place in #ic to li"e& e are oftensurrounded b( tat #ic #ould dra$ us do#n& As (ou and ) $o to te ol( ouses ofGod, as #e re%e%ber te co"enants #e %a.e #itin, #e #ill be %ore able to bear e"er(trial and to o"erco%e eac te%ptation& )n tis sacred sanctuar( #e #ill nd peace; #e#ill be rene#ed and fortied&

<o#, %( broters and sisters, %a( ) %ention one %ore te%ple before ) close& )n te not/too/distant future as ne# te%ples ta.e sape around te #orld, one #ill rise in a cit(#ic ca%e into bein$ o"er 2,500 (ears a$o& ) spea. of te te%ple #ic is no# bein$

built in Io%e, )tal(&

"er( te%ple is a ouse of God, llin$ te sa%e functions and #it identical blessin$sand ordinances& Te Io%e )tal( Te%ple, uniuel(, is bein$ built in one of te %ostistoric locations in te #orld, a cit( #ere te ancient Apostles 9eter and 9aul preacedte $ospel of Crist and #ere eac #as %art(red&

Last October, as #e $atered on a lo"el( pastoral site in te norteast corner of Io%e, it#as %( opportunit( to oer a pra(er of dedication as #e prepared to brea. te $round& )felt i%pressed to call upon )talian senator Lucio 'alan and Io%e=s "ice/%a(or GiuseppeCiardi to be a%on$ te rst to turn a so"elful of eart& ac ad been a part of te

decision to allo# us to build a te%ple in teir cit(&

Te da( #as o"ercast but #ar%, and altou$ rain treatened, not %ore tan a drop ort#o fell& As te %a$nicent coir san$ in )talian te beautiful strains of Te +pirit ofGod,7 one felt as tou$ ea"en and eart #ere Doined in a $lorious (%n of praise and$ratitude to Al%i$t( God& Tears could not be restrained&

)n a co%in$ da(, te faitful in tis, te ternal Cit(, #ill recei"e ordinances eternal innature in a ol( ouse of God&







) e-press %( und(in$ $ratitude to %( *ea"enl( !ater for te te%ple no# bein$ built inIo%e and for all of our te%ples, #ere"er te( are& ac one stands as a beacon to te#orld, an e-pression of our testi%on( tat God, our ternal !ater, li"es, tat *e desiresto bless us and, indeed, to bless *is sons and dau$ters of all $enerations& ac of ourte%ples is an e-pression of our testi%on( tat life be(ond te $ra"e is as real and ascertain as is our life ere on eart& ) so testif(&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, %a( #e %a.e #ate"er sacrices are necessar( to

attend te te%ple and to a"e te spirit of te te%ple in our earts and in our o%es&'a( #e follo# in te footsteps of our Lord and +a"ior, Mesus Crist, #o %ade teulti%ate sacrice for us, tat #e %i$t a"e eternal life and e-altation in our *ea"enl(!ater=s .in$do%& Tis is %( sincere pra(er, and ) oer it in te na%e of our +a"ior, MesusCrist te Lord, a%en&


t Partin'Thomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

<one of us can concei"e te full i%port of #at Crist did for us inGetse%ane, but ) a% $rateful e"er( da( of %( life for *is atonin$ sacrice&

'( broters and sisters, %( eart is full as #e co%e to te close of tis conference& e

a"e felt te +pirit of te Lord in ric abundance& ) e-press %( appreciation and tat of%e%bers of te Curc e"er(#ere to eac one #o as participated, includin$ tose#o a"e oered pra(ers& 'a( #e lon$ re%e%ber te %essa$es #e a"e eard& As #erecei"e te issues of te Ensign and 2iahona %a$aines #ic #ill contain tese%essa$es in #ritten for%, %a( #e read and stud( te%&

Once a$ain te %usic in all of te sessions as been #onderful& ) e-press %( personal$ratitude for tose #illin$ to sare #it us teir talents, toucin$ and inspirin$ us in teprocess&

e a"e sustained, b( uplifted and, retren #o a"e been called to ne# positionsdurin$ tis conference& e #ant te% to .no# tat #e loo. for#ard to #or.in$ #itte% in te cause of te 'aster&

) e-press %( lo"e and appreciation for %( de"oted counselors, 9resident *enr( & (rin$and 9resident Bieter !& Uctdorf& Te( are %en of #isdo% and understandin$& Teirser"ice is in"aluable& ) lo"e and support %( retren of te Nuoru% of te T#el"eApostles& Te( ser"e %ost eecti"el(, and te( are co%pletel( dedicated to te #or.& )also e-press %( lo"e to te %e%bers of te +e"ent( and te 9residin$ isopric&



e face %an( callen$es in te #orld toda(, but ) assure (ou tat our *ea"enl( !ater is%indful of us& *e lo"es eac of us and #ill bless us as #e see. *i% trou$ pra(er andstri"e to .eep *is co%%and%ents&

e are a $lobal curc& Our %e%bersip is found trou$out te #orld& 'a( #e be $oodcitiens of te nations in #ic #e li"e and $ood nei$bors in our co%%unities, reacin$out to tose of oter faits as #ell as to tose of our o#n& 'a( #e be e-a%ples ofonest( and inte$rit( #ere"er #e $o and in #ate"er #e do&

Tan. (ou for (our pra(ers in %( bealf, broters and sisters, and in bealf of all of teGeneral Autorities of te Curc& e are deepl( $rateful for (ou and for all tat (ou doto furter te #or. of te Lord&

As (ou return to (our o%es, %a( (ou do so safel(& 'a( te blessin$s of ea"en be upon(ou&

<o#, before #e lea"e toda(, %a( ) sare #it (ou %( lo"e for te +a"ior and for *is$reat atonin$ sacrice for us& )n tree #ee.s= ti%e te entire Cristian #orld #ill becelebratin$ aster& ) belie"e tat none of us can concei"e te full i%port of #at Crist

did for us in Getse%ane, but ) a% $rateful e"er( da( of %( life for *is atonin$ sacricein our bealf&

At te last %o%ent, *e could a"e turned bac.& ut *e did not& *e passed beneat alltin$s tat *e %i$t sa"e all tin$s& )n doin$ so, *e $a"e us life be(ond tis %ortale-istence& *e reclai%ed us fro% te !all of Ada%&

To te depts of %( "er( soul, ) a% $rateful to *i%& *e tau$t us o# to li"e& *e tau$tus o# to die& *e secured our sal"ation&

As ) close, %a( ) sare #it (ou toucin$ #ords #ritten b( %il( *arris #ic describe so#ell %( feelin$s as aster co%es:

Te linen #ic once eld *i% is e%pt(&)t lies tere,!res and #ite and clean& Te door stands opened& Te stone is rolled a#a(,And ) can al%ost ear te an$els sin$in$ *is praises&Linen cannot old *i%&+tone cannot old *i%& Te #ords eco trou$ te e%pt( li%estone ca%ber,

*e is not ere&7 Te linen #ic once eld *i% is no# e%pt(&)t lies tere,!res and #ite and cleanAnd o, alleluDa, it is e%pt(&1

lessin$s to (ou, %( broters and sisters& )n te na%e of Mesus Crist, our +a"ior, a%en&

http://lds.org/general-conference/print/2011/04/at-parting?lang=eng&clang=eng#1-PD50028768_000_5080

http://lds.org/general-conference/print/2011/04/at-parting?lang=eng&clang=eng#1-PD50028768_000_5080




s e Meet 'ainThomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

)t is %( pra(er tat #e %a( be lled #it te +pirit of te Lord as #e listento te %essa$es toda( and to%orro# and learn tose tin$s te Lord #oulda"e us .no#&

)t is $ood, broters and sisters, to #elco%e (ou to te 181st +e%iannual GeneralConference of Te Curc of Mesus Crist of Latter/da( +aints&

Tis conference %ar.s 8 (earstin. of it, 8 (earssince ) #as called to te Nuoru%of te T#el"e Apostles b( 9resident Ba"id O& 'ca(& Tat #as in October of 16>& )tsee%s i%possible tat so %an( (ears a"e co%e and $one since ten&

en #e=re bus(, ti%e see%s to pass far too uic.l(, and te past si- %onts a"e beenno e-ception for %e& One of te i$li$ts durin$ tat period #as te opportunit( ) adto rededicate te Atlanta Geor$ia Te%ple on 'a( 1& ) #as acco%panied b( lder and+ister '& Iussell allard, lder and +ister alter !& GonVle, and lder and +ister illia%I& al.er&

Burin$ te cultural celebration entitled +outern Li$ts,7 eld te e"enin$ prior to terededication, 2,J00 (oun$ %en and (oun$ #o%en fro% trou$out te te%ple districtperfor%ed& )t #as one of te %ost outstandin$ pro$ra%s ) a"e seen and ad teaudience on its feet se"eral ti%es for standin$ o"ations&

Te follo#in$ da( te te%ple #as rededicated in t#o sessions, #ere te +pirit of teLord #as #it us in ric abundance&

Burin$ te latter part of Au$ust, 9resident *enr( & (rin$ dedicated te +an +al"ador l+al"ador Te%ple& *e #as acco%panied b( +ister (rin$ and b( lder and +ister B& ToddCristoerson, lder and +ister illia% I& al.er, and +ister +il"ia *& Allred of te Ielief+ociet( $eneral presidenc( and er usband, Mer(& 9resident (rin$ reported tat it #asa %ost spiritual e"ent&

)n te latter part of tis (ear, 9resident Bieter !& Uctdorf and +ister Uctdorf #ill tra"el#it oter General Autorities to Nuetaltenan$o, Guate%ala, #ere e #ill dedicate ourte%ple tere&

Te buildin$ of te%ples continues uninterrupted, broters and sisters& Toda( it is %(pri"ile$e to announce se"eral ne# te%ples&

!irst, %a( ) %ention tat no Curc/built facilit( is %ore i%portant tan a te%ple& Te%ples are places #ere relationsips are sealed to$eter to last trou$ te eternities&



e are $rateful for all te %an( te%ples across te #orld and for te blessin$ te( are inte li"es of our %e%bers&

Late last (ear te 9ro"o Tabernacle in Uta Count( #as seriousl( da%a$ed b( a terriblere& Tis #onderful buildin$, %uc belo"ed b( $enerations of Latter/da( +aints, #as left#it onl( te e-terior #alls standin$& After careful stud(, #e a"e decided to rebuild it#it full preser"ation and restoration of te e-terior, to beco%e te second te%ple of teCurc in te cit( of 9ro"o& Te e-istin$ 9ro"o Te%ple is one of te busiest in te Curc,

and a second te%ple tere #ill acco%%odate te increasin$ nu%bers of faitful Curc%e%bers #o are attendin$ te te%ple fro% 9ro"o and te surroundin$ co%%unities&

) a% also pleased to announce ne# te%ples in te follo#in$ locations: arranuilla,Colo%bia; Burban, +out Africa; insasa in te Be%ocratic Iepublic of te Con$o; and+tar Walle(, (o%in$& )n addition, #e are %o"in$ for#ard on our plans for a te%ple to bebuilt in 9aris, !rance&

Betails of tese te%ples #ill be pro"ided in te future as site and oter necessar(appro"als are obtained&

) a"e %entioned in pre"ious conferences te pro$ress #e are %a.in$ in placin$ te%plescloser to our %e%bers& Altou$ te( are readil( a"ailable to %an( %e%bers in teCurc, tere are still areas of te #orld #ere te%ples are so distant fro% our %e%berstat te( cannot aord te tra"el reuired to $et to te%& Te( are tus unable toparta.e of te sacred and eternal blessin$s te%ples pro"ide& To elp in tis re$ard, #ea"e a"ailable #at is called te General Te%ple 9atron Assistance !und& Tis fundpro"ides a one/ti%e "isit to te te%ple for tose #o oter#ise #ould not be able to $oto te te%ple and (et #o lon$ desperatel( for tat opportunit(& An( #o %i$t #is tocontribute to tis fund can si%pl( #rite in te infor%ation on te nor%al contribution slip#ic is $i"en to te bisop eac %ont&

<o#, broters and sisters, it is %( pra(er tat #e %a( be lled #it te +pirit of te Lordas #e listen to te %essa$es toda( and to%orro# and learn tose tin$s te Lord #oulda"e us .no#& Tis ) pra( for in te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&


/are to Stan lone

Thomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

'a( #e e"er be coura$eous and prepared to stand for #at #e belie"e&

'( belo"ed bretren, it is a tre%endous pri"ile$e to be #it (ou toni$t& e #o oldte priestood of God for% a $reat bond and broterood&



e read in te Boctrine and Co"enants, section 121, "erse >6, tat te ri$ts of tepriestood are inseparabl( connected #it te po#ers of ea"en&7 at a #onderful $ift#e a"e been $i"ento old te priestood, #ic is inseparabl( connected #it tepo#ers of ea"en&7 Tis precious $ift, o#e"er, brin$s #it it not onl( special blessin$sbut also sole%n responsibilities& e %ust conduct our li"es so tat #e are e"er #ort( ofte priestood #e bear& e li"e in a ti%e #en #e are surrounded b( %uc tat isintended to entice us into pats #ic %a( lead to our destruction& To a"oid suc patsreuires deter%ination and coura$e&

) recall a ti%eand so%e of (ou ere toni$t #ill also#en te standards of %ostpeople #ere "er( si%ilar to our standards& <o lon$er is tis true& ) recentl( read an articlein te 6ew York imes concernin$ a stud( #ic too. place durin$ te su%%er of 2008&A distin$uised <otre Ba%e sociolo$ist led a researc tea% in conductin$ in/deptinter"ie#s #it 2>0 (oun$ adults across A%erica& ) belie"e #e can safel( assu%e tatte results #ould be si%ilar in %ost parts of te #orld&

) sare #it (ou Dust a portion of tis "er( tellin$ article:

Te inter"ie#ers as.ed open/ended uestions about ri$t and #ron$, %oral dile%%as

and te %eanin$ of life& )n te ra%blin$ ans#ers, H (ou see te (oun$ people $ropin$ tosa( an(tin$ sensible on tese %atters& ut te( Dust don=t a"e te cate$ories or"ocabular( to do so&

en as.ed to describe a %oral dile%%a te( ad faced, t#o/tirds of te (oun$people eiter couldn=t ans#er te uestion or described proble%s tat are not %oral atall, li.e #eter te( could aord to rent a certain apart%ent or #eter te( adenou$ uarters to feed te %eter at a par.in$ spot&7

Te article continues:

Te default position, #ic %ost of te% ca%e bac. to a$ain and a$ain, is tat %oralcoices are Dust a %atter of indi"idual taste& R)t=s personal,= te respondents t(picall(said& R)t=s up to te indi"idual& o a% ) to sa(E=

IeDectin$ blind deference to autorit(, %an( of te (oun$ people a"e $one o to teoter e-tre%e ?sa(in$@: R) #ould do #at ) tou$t %ade %e app( or o# ) felt& ) a"eno oter #a( of .no#in$ #at to do but o# ) internall( feel&=7

Tose #o conducted te inter"ie#s e%pasied tat te %aDorit( of te (oun$ people#it #o% te( spo.e ad not been $i"en te resourcesb( scools, institutions ?or@fa%iliesto culti"ate teir %oral intuitions&71

retren, none #itin te sound of %( "oice sould be in an( doubt concernin$ #at is%oral and #at is not, nor sould an( be in doubt about #at is e-pected of us asolders of te priestood of God& e a"e been and continue to be tau$t God=s la#s&Bespite #at (ou %a( see or ear else#ere, tese la#s are uncan$in$&

As #e $o about li"in$ fro% da( to da(, it is al%ost ine"itable tat our fait #ill becallen$ed& e %a( at ti%es nd oursel"es surrounded b( oters and (et standin$ in te%inorit( or e"en standin$ alone concernin$ #at is acceptable and #at is not& Bo #ea"e te %oral coura$e to stand r% for our beliefs, e"en if b( so doin$ #e %ust stand


http://lds.org/general-conference/print/2011/10/dare-to-stand-alone?lang=eng&clang=eng#1-PD50029123_000_3060





aloneE As olders of te priestood of God, it is essential tat #e are able to face#itcoura$e#ate"er callen$es co%e our #a(& Ie%e%ber te #ords of Tenn(son: '(stren$t is as te stren$t of ten, because %( eart is pure&72

)ncreasin$l(, so%e celebrities and oters #ofor one reason or anoterare in tepublic e(e a"e a tendenc( to ridicule reli$ion in $eneral and, at ti%es, te Curc inparticular& )f our testi%onies are not r%l( enou$ rooted, suc criticis%s can cause usto doubt our o#n beliefs or to #a"er in our resol"es&

)n Lei=s "ision of te tree of life, found in 1 <epi 8, Lei sees, a%on$ oters, tose #oold to te iron rod until te( co%e fort and parta.e of te fruit of te tree of life, #ic#e .no# is a representation of te lo"e of God& And ten, sadl(, after te( parta.e of tefruit, so%e are asa%ed because of tose in te $reat and spacious buildin$,7 #orepresent te pride of te cildren of %en, #o are pointin$ n$ers at te% and sco4n$at te%; and te( fall a#a( into forbidden pats and are lost&> at a po#erful tool ofte ad"ersar( is ridicule and %oc.er(F A$ain, bretren, do #e a"e te coura$e to standstron$ and r% in te face of suc di4cult oppositionE

) belie"e %( rst e-perience in a"in$ te coura$e of %( con"ictions too. place #en )

ser"ed in te United +tates <a"( near te end of orld ar ))&

<a"( boot ca%p #as not an eas( e-perience for %e, nor for an(one #o endured it& !orte rst tree #ee.s ) #as con"inced %( life #as in Deopard(& Te na"( #asn=t tr(in$ totrain %e; it #as tr(in$ to .ill %e&

) sall e"er re%e%ber #en +unda( rolled around after te rst #ee.& e recei"ed#elco%e ne#s fro% te cief pett( o4cer& +tandin$ at attention on te drill $round in abris. California breee, #e eard is co%%and: Toda( e"er(bod( $oes to curce"er(bod(, tat is, e-cept for %e& ) a% $oin$ to rela-F7 Ten e souted, All of (ouCatolics, (ou %eet in Ca%p Becaturand don=t co%e bac. until tree o=cloc.& !or#ard,%arcF7 A rater sieable contin$ent %o"ed out& Ten e bar.ed out is ne-t co%%and:Tose of (ou #o are Me#is, (ou %eet in Ca%p *enr(and don=t co%e bac. until treeo=cloc.& !or#ard, %arcF7 A so%e#at s%aller contin$ent %arced out& Ten e said,Te rest of (ou 9rotestants, (ou %eet in te teaters at Ca%p !arra$utand don=tco%e bac. until tree o=cloc.& !or#ard, %arcF7

)nstantl( tere 3ased trou$ %( %ind te tou$t, 'onson, (ou are not a Catolic;(ou are not a Me#; (ou are not a 9rotestant& Kou are a 'or%on, so (ou Dust stand ereF7 )can assure (ou tat ) felt co%pletel( alone& Coura$eous and deter%ined, (esbut alone&

And ten ) eard te s#eetest #ords ) e"er eard tat cief pett( o4cer utter& *e loo.edin %( direction and as.ed, And Dust #at do (ou $u(s call (oursel"esE7 Until tat "er(%o%ent ) ad not realied tat an(one #as standin$ beside %e or beind %e on te drill$round& Al%ost in unison, eac of us replied, 'or%onsF7 )t is di4cult to describe te Do(tat lled %( eart as ) turned around and sa# a andful of oter sailors&

Te cief pett( o4cer scratced is ead in an e-pression of pule%ent but nall( said,ell, (ou $u(s $o nd so%e#ere to %eet& And don=t co%e bac. until tree o=cloc.&!or#ard, %arcF7


http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/8?lang=eng



http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/8?lang=eng




As #e %arced a#a(, ) tou$t of te #ords of a r(%e ) ad learned in 9ri%ar( (earsbefore:

3are to be a Mormon;3are to stand alone"3are to ha(e a !ur!ose rm;3are to make it known"

Altou$ te e-perience turned out dierentl( fro% #at ) ad e-pected, ) ad been#illin$ to stand alone, ad suc been necessar(&

+ince tat da(, tere a"e been ti%es #en tere #as no one standin$ beind %e andso ) did stand alone& *o# $rateful ) a% tat ) %ade te decision lon$ a$o to re%ainstron$ and true, al#a(s prepared and read( to defend %( reli$ion, sould te need arise&

Lest #e at an( ti%e feel inadeuate for te tas.s aead for us, bretren, %a( ) sare#it (ou a state%ent %ade in 18J b( ten/Curc 9resident ra Taft enson as eaddressed a lar$e $roup of %e%bers in California& +aid 9resident enson:

)n all a$es, propets a"e loo.ed do#n trou$ te corridors of ti%e to our da(& illionsof te deceased and tose (et to be born a"e teir e(es on us& 'a.e no %ista.e aboutit(ou are a %ar.ed $eneration& H

!or nearl( si- tousand (ears, God as eld (ou in reser"e to %a.e (our appearance inte nal da(s before te second co%in$ of te Lord& +o%e indi"iduals #ill fall a#a(, butte .in$do% of God #ill re%ain intact to #elco%e te return of its *eade"en MesusCrist&

ile tis $eneration #ill be co%parable in #ic.edness to te da(s of <oa, #en teLord cleansed te eart b( 3ood, tere is a %aDor dierence tis ti%e: ?it is tat@ God as

sa"ed for te nal innin$ so%e of *is stron$est H cildren, #o #ill elp bear o te.in$do% triu%pantl(&7

Kes, bretren, #e represent so%e of *is stron$est cildren& Ours is te responsibilit( tobe #ort( of all te $lorious blessin$s our !ater in *ea"en as in store for us& ere"er#e $o, our priestood $oes #it us& Are #e standin$ in ol( placesE 9lease, before (ouput (ourself and (our priestood in Deopard( b( "enturin$ into places or participatin$ inacti"ities #ic are not #ort( of (ou or of tat priestood, pause to consider teconseuences& ac of us as ad conferred upon i% te Aaronic 9riestood& )n teprocess, eac recei"ed te po#er #ic olds te .e(s to te %inisterin$ of an$els& +aid9resident Gordon & *inc.le(:

Kou cannot aord to do an(tin$ tat #ould place a curtain bet#een (ou and te%inisterin$ of an$els in (our bealf&

Kou cannot be i%%oral in an( sense& Kou cannot be disonest& Kou cannot ceat or lie& Kou cannot ta.e te na%e of God in "ain or use lt( lan$ua$e and still a"e te ri$t tote %inisterin$ of an$els&75

)f an( of (ou as stu%bled in (our Dourne(, ) #ant (ou to understand #itout an(uestion #atsoe"er tat tere is a #a( bac.& Te process is called repentance& Our







+a"ior $a"e *is life to pro"ide (ou and %e tat blessed $ift& Bespite te fact tat terepentance pat is not eas(, te pro%ises are real& e a"e been told: Tou$ (oursins be as scarlet, te( sall be as #ite as sno#&76 And ) #ill re%e%ber ?te%@ no%ore&7J at a state%ent& at a blessin$& at a pro%ise&

Tere %a( be tose of (ou #o are tin.in$ to (oursel"es, ell, )=% not li"in$ all teco%%and%ents, and )=% not doin$ e"er(tin$ ) sould, and (et %( life is $oin$ alon$ Dust ne& ) tin. ) can a"e %( ca.e and eat it too&7 retren, ) pro%ise (ou tat tis #ill

not #or. in te lon$ run&

<ot too %an( %onts a$o ) recei"ed a letter fro% a %an #o once tou$t e coulda"e it bot #a(s& *e as no# repented and as brou$t is life into co%pliance #it$ospel principles and co%%and%ents& ) #ant to sare #it (ou a para$rap fro% isletter, for it represents te realit( of 3a#ed tin.in$: ) a"e ad to learn for %(self teard #a(P tat te +a"ior #as absolutel( correct #en *e said, R<o %an can ser"e t#o%asters: for eiter e #ill ate te one, and lo"e te oter; or else e #ill old to teone, and despise te oter& Ke cannot ser"e God and %a%%on&=8 ) tried, about as ard asan(one e"er as, to do bot& )n te end,7 said e, ) ad all of te e%ptiness, dar.ness,and loneliness tat +atan pro"ides to tose #o belie"e is deceptions, illusions, and

lies&7

)n order for us to be stron$ and to #itstand all te forces pullin$ us in te #ron$direction or all te "oices encoura$in$ us to ta.e te #ron$ pat, #e %ust a"e our o#ntesti%on(& eter (ou are 12 or 112or an(#ere in bet#een(ou can .no# for(ourself tat te $ospel of Mesus Crist is true& Iead te oo. of 'or%on& 9onder itsteacin$s& As. *ea"enl( !ater if it is true& e a"e te pro%ise tat if (e sall as. #ita sincere eart, #it real intent, a"in$ fait in Crist, e #ill %anifest te trut of it unto(ou, b( te po#er of te *ol( Gost&7

en #e .no# te oo. of 'or%on is true, ten it follo#s tat Mosep +%it #as indeeda propet and tat e sa# God te ternal !ater and *is +on, Mesus Crist& )t alsofollo#s tat te $ospel #as restored in tese latter da(s trou$ Mosep +%itincludin$te restoration of bot te Aaronic and 'elciede. 9riestoods&

Once #e a"e a testi%on(, it is incu%bent upon us to sare tat testi%on( #it oters&'an( of (ou bretren a"e ser"ed as %issionaries trou$out te #orld& 'an( of (ou(oun$ %en #ill (et ser"e& 9repare (oursel"es no# for tat opportunit(& 'a.e certain (ouare #ort( to ser"e&

)f #e are prepared to sare te $ospel, #e are read( to respond to te counsel of teApostle 9eter, #o ur$ed, e read( al#a(s to $i"e an ans#er to e"er( %an tat as.et(ou a reason of te ope tat is in (ou&710

e #ill a"e opportunities trou$out our li"es to sare our beliefs, altou$ #e don=tal#a(s .no# #en #e #ill be called upon to do so& +uc an opportunit( ca%e to %e in15J, #en ) #or.ed in te publisin$ business and #as as.ed to $o to Ballas, Te-as,so%eti%es called te cit( of curces,7 to address a business con"ention& !ollo#in$ teconclusion of te con"ention, ) too. a si$tseein$ bus ride trou$ te cit(=s suburbs& As#e passed te "arious curces, our dri"er #ould co%%ent, On te left (ou see te'etodist curc7 or Tere on te ri$t is te Catolic catedral&7













As #e passed a beautiful red bric. buildin$ situated upon a ill, te dri"er e-clai%ed,Tat buildin$ is #ere te 'or%ons %eet&7 A lad( in te rear of te bus called out,Bri"er, can (ou tell us so%etin$ %ore about te 'or%onsE7

Te dri"er pulled te bus o"er to te side of te road, turned around in is seat, andreplied, Lad(, all ) .no# about te 'or%ons is tat te( %eet in tat red bric. buildin$&)s tere an(one on tis bus #o .no#s an(tin$ %ore about te 'or%onsE7

) #aited for so%eone to respond& ) $aed at te e-pression on eac person=s face forso%e si$n of reco$nition, so%e desire to co%%ent& <otin$& ) realied it #as up to %e todo as te Apostle 9eter su$$ested, to be read( al#a(s to $i"e an ans#er to e"er( %antat as.et (ou a reason of te ope tat is in (ou&7 ) also realied te trut of te ada$een te ti%e for decision arri"es, te ti%e for preparation is past&7

!or te ne-t 15 or so %inutes, ) ad te pri"ile$e of sarin$ #it tose on te bus %(testi%on( concernin$ te Curc and our beliefs& ) #as $rateful for %( testi%on( and$rateful tat ) #as prepared to sare it&

it all %( eart and soul, ) pra( tat e"er( %an #o olds te priestood #ill onor

tat priestood and be true to te trust #ic #as con"e(ed #en it #as conferred& 'a(eac of us #o olds te priestood of God .no# #at e belie"es& 'a( #e e"er becoura$eous and prepared to stand for #at #e belie"e, and if #e %ust stand alone in teprocess, %a( #e do so coura$eousl(, stren$tened b( te .no#led$e tat in realit( #eare ne"er alone #en #e stand #it our !ater in *ea"en&

As #e conte%plate te $reat $ift #e a"e been $i"ente ri$ts of te priestood Hinseparabl( connected #it te po#ers of ea"en7%a( our deter%ination e"er be to$uard and defend it and to be #ort( of its $reat pro%ises& retren, %a( #e follo# te+a"ior=s instruction to us found in te boo. of > <epi: *old up (our li$t tat it %a(sine unto te #orld& eold ) a% te li$t #ic (e sall old uptat #ic (e a"eseen %e do&711

Tat #e %a( e"er follo# tat li$t and old it up for all te #orld to see is %( pra(er and%( blessin$ upon all #o ear %( "oice, in te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&


Stan in ol! PlacesThomas S. MonsonPresient of the Church

Co%%unication #it our !ater in *ea"enincludin$ our pra(ers to *i%and *is inspiration to usis necessar( in order for us to #eater te stor%sand trials of life&





'( belo"ed broters and sisters, #e a"e eard ne %essa$es tis %ornin$, and )co%%end eac #o as participated& e=re particularl( deli$ted to a"e lder IobertB& *ales #it us once a$ain and feelin$ i%pro"ed& e lo"e (ou, ob&

As ) pondered #at ) #ould li.e to sa( to (ou tis %ornin$, ) a"e felt i%pressed to sarecertain tou$ts and feelin$s #ic ) consider to be pertinent and ti%el(& ) pra( tat )%a( be $uided in %( re%ar.s&

) a"e li"ed on tis eart for 8 (ears no#& To $i"e (ou a little perspecti"e, ) #as born tesa%e (ear Carles Lindber$ 3e# te rst solo nonstop 3i$t fro% <e# Kor. to 9aris in asin$le/en$ine, sin$le/seat %onoplane& 'uc as can$ed durin$ te 8 (ears since ten&'an as lon$ since been to te %oon and bac.& )n fact, (esterda(=s science ction asbeco%e toda(=s realit(& And tat realit(, tan.s to te tecnolo$( of our ti%es, iscan$in$ so fast #e can barel( .eep up #it itif #e do at all& !or tose of us #ore%e%ber dial telepones and %anual t(pe#riters, toda(=s tecnolo$( is %ore tan%erel( a%ain$&

Also e"ol"in$ at a rapid rate as been te %oral co%pass of societ(& ea"iors #iconce #ere considered inappropriate and i%%oral are no# not onl( tolerated but also

"ie#ed b( e"er so %an( as acceptable&

) recentl( read in te Wall treet Cournal an article b( Monatan +ac.s, ritain=s ciefrabbi& A%on$ oter tin$s, e #rites: )n "irtuall( e"er( estern societ( in te 160stere #as a %oral re"olution, an abandon%ent of its entire traditional etic of self/restraint& All (ou need, san$ te eatles, is lo"e& Te Mudeo/Cristian %oral code #as Dettisoned& )n its place ca%e ?te ada$e@: ?3o@ whate(er works for you" Te TenCo%%and%ents #ere re#ritten as te Ten Creati"e +u$$estions&7

Iabbi +ac.s $oes on to la%ent:

e a"e been spendin$ our %oral capital #it te sa%e rec.less abandon tat #e a"ebeen spendin$ our nancial capital& H

Tere are lar$e parts of ?te #orld@ #ere reli$ion is a tin$ of te past and tere is nocounter/"oice to te culture of bu( it, spend it, #ear it, 3aunt it, because (ou=re #ort it& Te %essa$e is tat %oralit( is pass\, conscience is for #i%ps, and te sin$le o"erridin$co%%and is RTou salt not be found out&=71

'( broters and sisters, tisunfortunatel(describes %uc of te #orld around us& Bo#e #rin$ our ands in despair and #onder o# #e=ll e"er sur"i"e in suc a #orldE <o&)ndeed, #e a"e in our li"es te $ospel of Mesus Crist, and #e .no# tat %oralit( is notpass\, tat our conscience is tere to $uide us, and tat #e are responsible for ouractions&

Altou$ te #orld as can$ed, te la#s of God re%ain constant& Te( a"e notcan$ed; te( #ill not can$e& Te Ten Co%%and%ents are Dust tatco%%and%ents& Te( are not su$$estions& Te( are e"er( bit as reuisite toda( as te( #ere #en God$a"e te% to te cildren of )srael& )f #e but listen, #e ear te eco of God=s "oice,spea.in$ to us ere and no#:

Tou salt a"e no oter $ods before %e&

http://lds.org/general-conference/print/2011/10/stand-in-holy-places?lang=eng&clang=eng#1-PD50029123_000_4060




) $ained %( testi%on( of te po#er of pra(er #en ) #as about 12 (ears old& ) ad#or.ed ard to earn so%e %one( and ad %ana$ed to sa"e "e dollars& Tis #as durin$te Great Bepression, #en "e dollars #as a substantial su% of %one(especiall( for abo( of 12& ) $a"e all %( coins, #ic totaled "e dollars, to %( fater, and e $a"e %e inreturn a "e/dollar bill& ) .no# tere #as so%etin$ specic ) planned to purcase #itte "e dollars, altou$ all tese (ears later ) can=t recall #at it #as& ) Dust re%e%bero# i%portant tat %one( #as to %e&

At te ti%e, #e did not o#n a #asin$ %acine, so %( %oter #ould send to te laundr(eac #ee. our clotes #ic needed to be #ased& After a couple of da(s, a load of #at#e called #et #as7 #ould be returned to us, and 'oter #ould an$ te ite%s on ourclotesline out bac. to dr(&

) ad tuc.ed %( "e/dollar bill in te poc.et of %( Deans& As (ou can probabl( $uess, %( Deans #ere sent to te laundr( #it te %one( still in te poc.et& en ) realied #atad appened, ) #as sic. #it #orr(& ) .ne# tat poc.ets #ere routinel( cec.ed at telaundr( prior to #asin$& )f %( %one( #as not disco"ered and ta.en durin$ tat process,) .ne# it #as al%ost certain te %one( #ould be dislod$ed durin$ #asin$ and #ould beclai%ed b( a laundr( #or.er #o #ould a"e no idea to #o% te %one( sould be

returned, e"en if e ad te inclination to do so& Te cances of $ettin$ bac. %( "edollars #ere e-tre%el( re%otea fact #ic %( dear %oter conr%ed #en ) told er )ad left te %one( in %( poc.et&

) #anted tat %one(; ) needed tat %one(; ) ad #or.ed "er( ard to earn tat %one(& )realied tere #as onl( one tin$ ) could do& )n %( e-tre%it( ) turned to %( !ater in*ea"en and pleaded #it *i% to .eep %( %one( safe in tat poc.et so%eo# until our#et #as ca%e bac.&

T#o "er( lon$ da(s later, #en ) .ne# it #as about ti%e for te deli"er( truc. to brin$our #as, ) sat b( te #indo#, #aitin$& As te truc. pulled up to te curb, %( eart #aspoundin$& As soon as te #et clotes #ere in te ouse, ) $rabbed %( Deans and ran to%( bedroo%& ) reaced into te poc.et #it tre%blin$ ands& en ) didn=t nd an(tin$i%%ediatel(, ) tou$t all #as lost& And ten %( n$ers touced tat #et "e/dollar bill&As ) pulled it fro% te poc.et, relief 3ooded o"er %e& ) oered a eartfelt pra(er of$ratitude to %( !ater in *ea"en, for ) .ne# tat *e ad ans#ered %( pra(er&

+ince tat ti%e of lon$ a$o, ) a"e ad countless pra(ers ans#ered& <ot a da( as $oneb( tat ) a"e not co%%unicated #it %( !ater in *ea"en trou$ pra(er& )t is arelationsip ) cerisone ) #ould literall( be lost #itout& )f (ou do not no# a"e suc arelationsip #it (our !ater in *ea"en, ) ur$e (ou to #or. to#ard tat $oal& As (ou doso, (ou #ill be entitled to *is inspiration and $uidance in (our lifenecessities for eacof us if #e are to sur"i"e spirituall( durin$ our soDourn ere on eart& +uc inspirationand $uidance are $ifts *e freel( $i"es if #e but see. te%& at treasures te( areF

) a% al#a(s u%bled and $rateful #en %( *ea"enl( !ater co%%unicates #it %etrou$ *is inspiration& ) a"e learned to reco$nie it, to trust it, and to follo# it& Ti%eand ti%e a$ain ) a"e been te recipient of suc inspiration& One rater dra%atice-perience too. place in Au$ust of 18J durin$ te dedication of te !ran.furt Ger%an( Te%ple& 9resident ra Taft enson ad been #it us for te rst da( or t#o of tededication but ad returned o%e, and so it beca%e %( opportunit( to conduct tere%ainin$ sessions&



On +aturda( #e ad a session for our Butc %e%bers #o #ere in te !ran.furt Te%pledistrict& ) #as #ell acuainted #it one of our outstandin$ leaders fro% te <eterlands,roter 9eter 'ouri.& Must prior to te session, ) ad te distinct i%pression tat roter'ouri. sould be called upon to spea. to is fello# Butc %e%bers durin$ te sessionand tat, in fact, e sould be te rst spea.er& <ot a"in$ seen i% in te te%ple tat%ornin$, ) passed a note to lder Carlos & Asa(, our Area 9resident, as.in$ #eter9eter 'ouri. #as in attendance at te session& Must prior to standin$ up to be$in tesession, ) recei"ed a note bac. fro% lder Asa( indicatin$ tat roter 'ouri. #as

actuall( not in attendance, tat e #as in"ol"ed else#ere, and tat e #as plannin$ toattend te dedicator( session in te te%ple te follo#in$ da( #it te ser"ice%ensta.es&

As ) stood at te pulpit to #elco%e te people and to outline te pro$ra%, ) recei"edun%ista.able inspiration once a$ain tat ) #as to announce 9eter 'ouri. as te rstspea.er& Tis #as counter to all %( instincts, for ) ad Dust eard fro% lder Asa( tatroter 'ouri. #as denitel( not in te te%ple& Trustin$ in te inspiration, o#e"er, )announced te coir presentation and te pra(er and ten indicated tat our rstspea.er #ould be roter 9eter 'ouri.&

As ) returned to %( seat, ) $lanced to#ard lder Asa(; ) sa# on is face a loo. of alar%&*e later told %e tat #en ) ad announced roter 'ouri. as te rst spea.er, ecouldn=t belie"e is ears& *e said e .ne# tat ) ad recei"ed is note and tat ) indeedad read it, and e couldn=t fato% #( ) #ould ten announce roter 'ouri. as aspea.er, .no#in$ e #asn=t an(#ere in te te%ple&

Burin$ te ti%e all of tis #as ta.in$ place, 9eter 'ouri. #as in a %eetin$ at te areao4ces in 9ortstrasse& As is %eetin$ #as $oin$ for#ard, e suddenl( turned to lder To%as A& *a#.es Mr&, #o #as ten te re$ional representati"e, and as.ed, *o# fastcan (ou $et %e to te te%pleE7

lder *a#.es, #o #as .no#n to dri"e rater rapidl( in is s%all sports car, ans#ered, )can a"e (ou tere in 10 %inutesF ut #( do (ou need to $o to te te%pleE7

roter 'ouri. ad%itted e did not .no# #( e needed to $o to te te%ple but tat e.ne# e ad to $et tere& Te t#o of te% set out for te te%ple i%%ediatel(&

Burin$ te %a$nicent coir nu%ber, ) $lanced around, tin.in$ tat at an( %o%ent )#ould see 9eter 'ouri.& ) did not& Ie%ar.abl(, o#e"er, ) felt no alar%& ) ad a s#eet,undeniable assurance tat all #ould be #ell&

roter 'ouri. entered te front door of te te%ple Dust as te openin$ pra(er #asconcludin$, still not .no#in$ #( e #as tere& As e urried do#n te all, e sa# %(i%a$e on te %onitor and eard %e announce, e #ill no# ear fro% roter 9eter'ouri.&7

To te astonis%ent of lder Asa(, 9eter 'ouri. i%%ediatel( #al.ed into te roo% andtoo. is place at te podiu%&

!ollo#in$ te session, roter 'ouri. and ) discussed tat #ic ad ta.en place prior tois opportunit( to spea.& ) a"e pondered te inspiration #ic ca%e tat da( not onl(to %e but also to 9eter 'ouri.& Tat re%ar.able e-perience as pro"ided an undeniable



#itness to %e of te i%portance of bein$ #ort( to recei"e suc inspiration and tentrustin$ itand follo#in$ it#en it co%es& ) .no# #itout uestion tat te Lordintended for tose #o #ere present at tat session of te !ran.furt Te%ple dedicationto ear te po#erful, toucin$ testi%on( of *is ser"ant roter 9eter 'ouri.&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, co%%unication #it our !ater in *ea"enincludin$our pra(ers to *i% and *is inspiration to usis necessar( in order for us to #eater testor%s and trials of life& Te Lord in"ites us, Bra# near unto %e and ) #ill dra# near

unto (ou; see. %e dili$entl( and (e sall nd %e&7J As #e do so, #e #ill feel *is +pirit inour li"es, pro"idin$ us te desire and te coura$e to stand stron$ and r% inri$teousnessto stand H in ol( places, and be not %o"ed&78

As te #inds of can$e s#irl around us and te %oral ber of societ( continues todisinte$rate before our "er( e(es, %a( #e re%e%ber te Lord=s precious pro%ise totose #o trust in *i%: !ear tou not; for ) a% #it tee: be not dis%a(ed; for ) a% t(God: ) #ill stren$ten tee; (ea, ) #ill elp tee; (ea, ) #ill upold tee #it te ri$tand of %( ri$teousness&7

at a pro%iseF 'a( suc be our blessin$, ) sincerel( pra( in te sacred na%e of our

Lord and +a"ior, Mesus Crist, a%en&


ntil e Meet 'ainThomas S. Monson


'a( te spirit #e a"e felt ere be and abide #it us as #e $o about tosetin$s #ic occup( us eac da(&

'( broters and sisters, ) .no# (ou #ill a$ree #it %e tat tis as been a %ostinspirin$ conference& e a"e felt te +pirit of te Lord in ric abundance tese past t#oda(s as our earts a"e been touced and our testi%onies of tis di"ine #or. a"e beenstren$tened& e e-press tan.s to eac one #o as participated, includin$ toseretren oerin$ pra(ers&

e are all ere because #e lo"e te Lord and #ant to ser"e *i%& ) testif( to (ou tat our*ea"enl( !ater is %indful of us& ) ac.no#led$e *is and in all tin$s&

Once a$ain te %usic as been #onderful, and ) e-press %( personal $ratitude and tatof te entire Curc to tose #illin$ to sare #it us teir talents in tis re$ard&

e e-press our deep appreciation to tose retren #o a"e been released durin$ tisconference& Te( a"e ser"ed faitfull( and #ell and a"e %ade si$nicant contributionsto te #or. of te Lord&









) e-press profound appreciation to %( faitful and dedicated counselors and tan. te%publicl( for te support and assistance te( pro"ide to %e& Te( are trul( %en of #isdo%and understandin$, and teir ser"ice is in"aluable&

) tan. %( bretren of te Nuoru% of te T#el"e for teir %ost able and untirin$ ser"icein te #or. of te Lord& Li.e#ise ) e-press %( $ratitude to te %e%bers of te Nuoru%sof te +e"ent( and to te 9residin$ isopric for teir sel3ess and eecti"e ser"ice& )si%ilarl( e-press %( appreciation for te #o%en and %en #o ser"e as $eneral au-iliar(

o4cers&

roters and sisters, ) assure (ou tat our *ea"enl( !ater is %indful of te callen$es#e face in te #orld toda(& *e lo"es eac of us and #ill bless us as #e stri"e to .eep *isco%%and%ents and see. *i% trou$ pra(er&

*o# blessed #e are to a"e te restored $ospel of Mesus Crist& )t pro"ides ans#ers tote uestions concernin$ #ere #e ca%e fro%, #( #e are ere, and #ere #e #ill $o#en #e depart fro% tis life& )t $i"es %eanin$ and purpose and ope to our li"es&

) tan. (ou for te ser"ice (ou so #illin$l( $i"e to one anoter& e are God=s ands ere

on tis eart, #it a %andate to lo"e and to ser"e *is cildren&

) tan. (ou for all tat (ou do in (our #ards and (our brances& ) e-press %( $ratitudefor (our #illin$ness to ser"e in te positions to #ic (ou are called, #ate"er te( %a(be& ac is i%portant in furterin$ te #or. of te Lord&

Conference is no# o"er& As #e return to our o%es, %a( #e do so safel(& 'a( #e nd allas been #ell durin$ our absence& 'a( te spirit #e a"e felt ere be and abide #it usas #e $o about tose tin$s #ic occup( us eac da(& 'a( #e so# increased .indnessone to#ard anoter& 'a( #e e"er be found doin$ te #or. of te Lord&

'a( ea"en=s blessin$s be #it (ou& 'a( (our o%es be lled #it ar%on( and lo"e&'a( (ou constantl( nouris (our testi%onies, tat te( %i$t be a protection for (oua$ainst te ad"ersar(&

As (our u%ble ser"ant, ) desire #it all %( eart to do God=s #ill and to ser"e *i% andto ser"e (ou&

) lo"e (ou; ) pra( for (ou& ) #ould as. once a$ain tat (ou #ould re%e%ber %e and allte General Autorities in (our pra(ers& e are one #it (ou in %o"in$ for#ard tis%ar"elous #or.& ) testif( to (ou tat #e are all in tis to$eter and tat e"er( %an,#o%an, and cild as a part to pla(& 'a( God $i"e us te stren$t and te abilit( andte deter%ination to pla( our part #ell&

) bear %( testi%on( to (ou tat tis #or. is true, tat our +a"ior li"es, and tat *e$uides and directs *is Curc ere upon te eart& ) lea"e #it (ou %( #itness and %(testi%on( tat God our ternal !ater li"es and lo"es us& *e is indeed our !ater, and *eis personal and real& 'a( #e realie and understand o# close to us *e is #illin$ toco%e, o# far *e is #illin$ to $o to elp us, o# %uc *e lo"es us, and o# %uc *edoes and is #illin$ to do for us&

'a( *e bless (ou& 'a( *is pro%ised peace be #it (ou no# and al#a(s&



) sa( fare#ell to (ou until #e %eet a$ain in si- %onts= ti%e, and ) do so in te na%e of Mesus Crist, our +a"ior and Iedee%er, a%en&


)elie*e, 4e!, #nureThomas S. Monson


elie"e tat re%ainin$ stron$ and faitful to te truts of te $ospel is ofut%ost i%portance& ) testif( tat it is&

'( dear (oun$ sisters, te responsibilit( to address (ou is u%blin$& ) pra( for di"ineelp, tat ) %a( be %ade eual to suc an opportunit(&

A %ere 20 (ears a$o (ou ad not (et co%%enced (our Dourne( trou$ %ortalit(& Kou#ere still in (our ea"enl( o%e& Tere (ou #ere a%on$ tose #o lo"ed (ou and #ereconcerned for (our eternal #ell/bein$& "entuall(, eart life beca%e essential to (ourpro$ress& !are#ells #ere no doubt spo.en, and e-pressions of condence $i"en& Kou$ained bodies and beca%e %ortal, cut o fro% te presence of (our *ea"enl( !ater&

A Do(ous #elco%e, o#e"er, a#aited (ou ere on eart& Tose rst (ears #ere precious,special (ears& +atan ad no po#er to te%pt (ou, for (ou ad not (et beco%eaccountable& Kou #ere innocent before God&

+oon (ou entered tat period so%e a"e labeled te terrible teens&7 ) prefer te terricteens&7 at a ti%e of opportunit(, a season of $ro#t, a se%ester of de"elop%ent%ar.ed b( te acuisition of .no#led$e and te uest for trut&

<o one as described te teena$e (ears as bein$ eas(& Te( are often (ears ofinsecurit(, of feelin$ as tou$ (ou Dust don=t %easure up, of tr(in$ to nd (our place#it (our peers, of tr(in$ to t in& Tis is a ti%e #en (ou are beco%in$ %oreindependentand peraps desire %ore freedo% tan (our parents are #illin$ to $i"e (ouri$t no#& Te( are also pri%e (ears #en +atan #ill te%pt (ou and #ill do is ut%ost to

entice (ou fro% te pat #ic #ill lead (ou bac. to tat ea"enl( o%e fro% #ic (ouca%e and bac. to (our lo"ed ones tere and bac. to (our *ea"enl( !ater&

Te #orld around (ou is not euipped to pro"ide te elp (ou need to %a.e it trou$tis often/treacerous Dourne(& +o %an( in our societ( toda( see% to a"e slipped fro%te %oorin$s of safet( and drifted fro% te arbor of peace&

9er%issi"eness, i%%oralit(, porno$rap(, dru$s, te po#er of peer pressureall teseand %orecause %an( to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crused on te Da$$edreefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessin$s, and sattered drea%s&



)s tere a #a( to safet(E )s tere an escape fro% treatened destructionE Te ans#er isa resoundin$ (esF ) counsel (ou to loo. to te li$touse of te Lord& ) a"e said itbefore; ) #ill sa( it a$ain: tere is no fo$ so dense, no ni$t so dar., no $ale so stron$, no%ariner so lost but #at te li$touse of te Lord can rescue& )t bec.ons trou$ testor%s of life& )t calls, Tis #a( to safet(& Tis #a( to o%e&7 )t sends fort si$nals ofli$t easil( seen and ne"er failin$& )f follo#ed, tose si$nals #ill $uide (ou bac. to (ourea"enl( o%e&

) #is to tal. #it (ou toni$t about tree essential si$nals fro% te Lord=s li$touse#ic #ill elp (ou to return to tat !ater #o ea$erl( a#aits (our triu%panto%eco%in$& Tose tree si$nals are belie"e, obe(, and endure&

!irst, ) %ention a si$nal #ic is basic and essential: belie"e& elie"e tat (ou are adau$ter of *ea"enl( !ater, tat *e lo"es (ou, and tat (ou are ere for a $loriouspurposeto $ain (our eternal sal"ation& elie"e tat re%ainin$ stron$ and faitful to tetruts of te $ospel is of ut%ost i%portance& ) testif( tat it isF

'( (oun$ friends, belie"e in te #ords (ou sa( eac #ee. as (ou recite te Koun$o%en te%e& Tin. about te %eanin$ of tose #ords& Tere is trut tere& +tri"e

al#a(s to li"e te "alues #ic are set fort& elie"e, as (our te%e states, tat if (ouaccept and act upon tose "alues, (ou #ill be prepared to stren$ten (our o%e and(our fa%il(, to %a.e and .eep sacred co"enants, to recei"e te ordinances of tete%ple, and to e"entuall( enDo( te blessin$s of e-altation& Tese are beautiful $ospeltruts, and b( follo#in$ te%, (ou #ill be appier trou$out (our life ere and ereaftertan (ou #ill be if (ou disre$ard te%&

'ost of (ou #ere tau$t te truts of te $ospel fro% te ti%e (ou #ere a toddler& Kou#ere tau$t b( lo"in$ parents and carin$ teacers& Te truts te( i%parted to (ouelped (ou $ain a testi%on(; (ou belie"ed #at (ou #ere tau$t& Altou$ tattesti%on( can continue to be fed spirituall( and to $ro# as (ou stud(, as (ou pra( for$uidance, and as (ou attend (our Curc %eetin$s eac #ee., it is up to (ou to .eeptat testi%on( ali"e& +atan #ill tr( #it all is %i$t to destro( it& Trou$out (our entirelife (ou #ill need to nurture it& As #it te 3a%e of a bri$tl( burnin$ re, (our testi%on(if not continuall( fed#ill fade to $lo#in$ e%bers and ten cool co%pletel(& Kou %ustnot let tis appen&

esides attendin$ (our +unda( %eetin$s and (our #ee.ni$t acti"ities, #en (ou a"ete cance to be in"ol"ed in se%inar(, #eter in te earl( %ornin$ or in released/ti%eclasses, ta.e ad"anta$e of tat opportunit(& 'an( of (ou are attendin$ se%inar( no#& As#it an(tin$ in life, %uc of #at (ou ta.e fro% (our se%inar( e-perience depends on(our attitude and (our #illin$ness to be tau$t& 'a( (our attitude be one of u%ilit( anda desire to learn& *o# $rateful ) a% for te opportunit( ) ad as a teena$er to attendearl(/%ornin$ se%inar(, for it pla(ed a "ital role in %( de"elop%ent and tede"elop%ent of %( testi%on(& +e%inar( can can$e li"es&

+o%e (ears a$o ) #as on a board of directors #it a ne %an #o ad been e-tre%el(successful in life& ) #as i%pressed #it is inte$rit( and is lo(alt( to te Curc& )learned tat e ad $ained a testi%on( and ad Doined te Curc because of se%inar(&en e %arried, is #ife ad been a lifelon$ %e%ber of te Curc& *e belon$ed to nocurc& Trou$ te (ears and despite er eorts, e so#ed no interest in attendin$curc #it is #ife and cildren& And ten e be$an dri"in$ t#o of is dau$ters to



earl(/%ornin$ se%inar(& *e #ould re%ain in te car #ile te( ad teir class, and tene #ould dri"e te% to scool& One da( it #as rainin$, and one of is dau$ters said,Co%e in, Bad& Kou can sit in te all&7 *e accepted te in"itation& Te door to teclassroo% #as open, and e be$an to listen& *is eart #as touced& !or te rest of tatscool (ear, e attended se%inar( #it is dau$ters, #ic led e"entuall( to is%e%bersip and a lifeti%e of acti"it( in te Curc& Let se%inar( elp build andstren$ten (our testi%on(&

Tere #ill be ti%es #en (ou #ill face callen$es #ic %i$t Deopardie (our testi%on(or (ou %a( ne$lect it as (ou pursue oter interests& ) plead #it (ou to .eep it stron$& )tis (our responsibilit(, and (ours alone, to .eep its 3a%e burnin$ bri$tl(& ort isreuired, but it is eort (ou #ill ne"er, e"er re$ret& )=% re%inded of te #ords of a son$#ritten b( Mulie de Ae"edo *an.s& Ieferrin$ to er testi%on(, se #rote:

Trou$ te #inds of can$encircled b( te clouds of pain) $uard it #it %( life) need te #ar%t) need te li$t Tou$ te stor% #ill ra$e

) stand a$ainst te poundin$ rain) re%ainA .eeper of te 3a%e& 1

'a( (ou belie"e and ten %a( (ou .eep te 3a%e of (our testi%on( burnin$ bri$tl(,co%e #at %a(&

<e-t, (oun$ #o%en, %a( (ou obe(& Obe( (our parents& Obe( te la#s of God& Te( are$i"en to us b( a lo"in$ *ea"enl( !ater& en te( are obe(ed, our li"es #ill be %orefulllin$, less co%plicated& Our callen$es and proble%s #ill be easier to bear& e #illrecei"e te Lord=s pro%ised blessin$s& *e as said, Te Lord reuiret te eart and a#illin$ %ind; and te #illin$ and obedient sall eat te $ood of te land of Yion in teselast da(s&7 2

Kou a"e but one life to li"e& eep it as free fro% trouble as (ou can& Kou #ill be te%pted,so%eti%es b( indi"iduals (ou ad tou$t friends&

+o%e (ears a$o ) spo.e to a 'ia 'aid ad"iser #o told %e of an e-perience se ad #itone of te (oun$ #o%en in er class& Tis (oun$ #o%an ad been te%pted ti%e andti%e a$ain to lea"e te pat#a( of trut and follo# te detour of sin& Trou$ teconstant persuasion of so%e of er friends at scool, se ad nall( a$reed to follo#suc a detour& Te plan #as set: se #ould tell er parents se #as $oin$ to er acti"it(ni$t for Koun$ o%en& +e planned, o#e"er, to be tere onl( lon$ enou$ for er$irlfriends and teir dates to pic. er up& Te( #ould ten attend a part( #ere alcoolicbe"era$es #ould be consu%ed and #ere te bea"ior #ould be in co%plete "iolation of#at tis (oun$ #o%an .ne# #as ri$t&

Te teacer ad pra(ed for inspiration in elpin$ all er $irls but especiall( tisparticular (oun$ #o%an, #o see%ed so uncertain about er co%%it%ent to te $ospel& Te teacer ad recei"ed inspiration tat ni$t to abandon #at se ad pre"iousl(planned and to spea. to te $irls about re%ainin$ %orall( clean& As se be$an sarin$er tou$ts and feelin$s, te (oun$ #o%an in uestion cec.ed er #atc often to



%a.e sure se didn=t %iss er rende"ous #it er friends& *o#e"er, as te discussionpro$ressed, er eart #as touced, er conscience a#a.ened, and er deter%inationrene#ed& en it ca%e, se i$nored te repeated sound of te auto%obile ornsu%%onin$ er& +e re%ained trou$out te e"enin$ #it er teacer and te oter$irls in te class& Te te%ptation to detour fro% God=s appro"ed #a( ad been a"erted&+atan ad been frustrated& Te (oun$ #o%an re%ained after te oters ad left in orderto tan. er teacer for te lesson and to let er .no# o# it ad elped er a"oid #at%i$t a"e been a tra$ic outco%e& A teacer=s pra(er ad been ans#ered&

) subseuentl( learned tat because se ad %ade er decision not to $o #it erfriends tat ni$tso%e of te %ost popular $irls and bo(s at scoolte (oun$ #o%an#as sunned b( te% and for %an( %onts ad no friends at scool& Te( couldn=taccept tat se #as un#illin$ to do te tin$s te( did& )t #as an e-tre%el( di4cult andlonel( period for er, but se re%ained steadfast and e"entuall( $ained friends #osared er standards& <o#, se"eral (ears later, se as a te%ple %arria$e and fourbeautiful cildren& *o# dierent er life could a"e been& Our decisions deter%ine ourdestin(&

9recious (oun$ #o%en, %a.e e"er( decision (ou conte%plate pass tis test: at does

it do to %eE at does it do for %eE7 And let (our code of conduct e%pasie not at#ill oters tin.E7 but rater at #ill ) tin. of %(selfE7 e in3uenced b( tat still,s%all "oice& Ie%e%ber tat one #it autorit( placed is ands on (our ead at teti%e of (our conr%ation and said, Iecei"e te *ol( Gost&7 Open (our earts, e"en(our "er( souls, to te sound of tat special "oice #ic testies of trut& As te propet)saia pro%ised, Tine ears sall ear a #ord H sa(in$, Tis is te #a(, #al. (e in it&7 >

Te tenor of our ti%es is per%issi"eness& 'a$aines and tele"ision so#s portra( testars of te %o"ie screen, te eroes of te atletic eldtose #o% %an( (oun$people lon$ to e%ulateas disre$ardin$ te la#s of God and 3auntin$ sinful practices,see%in$l( #it no ill eect& Bon=t (ou belie"e itF Tere is a ti%e of rec.onin$e"en abalancin$ of te led$er& "er( Cinderella as er %idni$tif not in tis life, ten in tene-t& Mud$%ent Ba( #ill co%e for all& Are (ou preparedE Are (ou pleased #it (our o#nperfor%anceE

)f an( as stu%bled in er Dourne(, ) pro%ise (ou tat tere is a #a( bac.& Te process iscalled repentance& Our +a"ior died to pro"ide (ou and %e tat blessed $ift& Tou$ tepat is di4cult, te pro%ise is real& +aid te Lord: Tou$ (our sins be as scarlet, te(sall be as #ite as sno#&7 And ) #ill re%e%ber ?te%@ no %ore&7 5

'( belo"ed (oun$ sisters, (ou a"e te precious $ift of a$enc(& ) plead #it (ou tocoose to obe(&

!inall(, %a( (ou endure& at does it %ean to endureE ) lo"e tis denition: to #itstand#it coura$e& Coura$e %a( be necessar( for (ou to belie"e; it #ill at ti%es be necessar(as (ou obe(& )t #ill %ost certainl( be reuired as (ou endure until tat da( #en (ou #illlea"e tis %ortal e-istence&

) a"e spo.en o"er te (ears #it %an( indi"iduals #o a"e told %e, ) a"e so %an(proble%s, suc real concerns& )=% o"er#el%ed #it te callen$es of life& at can )doE7 ) a"e oered to te%, and ) no# oer to (ou, tis specic su$$estion: see.ea"enl( $uidance one da( at a ti%e& Life b( te (ard is ard; b( te inc it=s a cinc&



ac of us can be true for Dust one da(and ten one %ore and ten one %ore after tatuntil #e="e li"ed a lifeti%e $uided b( te +pirit, a lifeti%e close to te Lord, a lifeti%eof $ood deeds and ri$teousness& Te +a"ior pro%ised, Loo. unto %e, and endure tote end, and (e sall li"e; for unto i% tat enduret to te end #ill ) $i"e eternal life&7 6

!or tis purpose a"e (ou co%e into %ortalit(, %( (oun$ friends& Tere is notin$ %orei%portant tan te $oal (ou stri"e to attaine"en eternal life in te .in$do% of (our!ater&

Kou are precious, precious dau$ters of our *ea"enl( !ater sent to eart at tis da( andti%e for a purpose& Kou a"e been #iteld until tis "er( our& onderful, $lorioustin$s are in store for (ou if (ou #ill onl( belie"e, obe(, and endure& 'a( tis be (ourblessin$, ) pra( in te na%e of Mesus Crist, our +a"ior, a%en&


s e Gather 4nce 'ainThomas S. Monson


Our *ea"enl( !ater is %indful of eac of us and our needs& 'a( #e belled #it *is +pirit as #e parta.e of te proceedin$s of tis conference&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, as #e $ater once a$ain in a $eneral conference of teCurc, ) #elco%e (ou and e-press %( lo"e to (ou& e %eet eac si- %onts tostren$ten one anoter, to e-tend encoura$e%ent, to pro"ide co%fort, to build fait& eare ere to learn& +o%e of (ou %a( be see.in$ ans#ers to uestions and callen$es (ouare e-periencin$ in (our life& +o%e are stru$$lin$ #it disappoint%ents or losses& accan be enli$tened and uplifted and co%forted as te +pirit of te Lord is felt&

+ould tere be can$es #ic need to be %ade in (our life, %a( (ou nd te incenti"eand te coura$e to do so as (ou listen to te inspired #ords #ic #ill be spo.en& 'a(eac of us resol"e ane# to li"e so tat #e are #ort( sons and dau$ters of our*ea"enl( !ater& 'a( #e continue to oppose e"il #ere"er it is found&

*o# blessed #e are to a"e co%e to eart at suc a ti%e as tisa %ar"elous ti%e inte lon$ istor( of te #orld& e can=t all be to$eter under one roof, but #e no# a"ete abilit( to parta.e of te proceedin$s of tis conference trou$ te #onders oftele"ision, radio, cable, satellite trans%ission, and te )nternete"en on %obile de"ices&e co%e to$eter as one, spea.in$ %an( lan$ua$es, li"in$ in %an( lands, but all of onefait and one doctrine and one purpose&

!ro% a s%all be$innin$ 182 (ears a$o, our presence is no# felt trou$out te #orld& Tis $reat cause in #ic #e are en$a$ed #ill continue to $o fort, can$in$ andblessin$ li"es as it does so& <o cause, no force in te entire #orld can stop te #or. of



God& Bespite #at co%es, tis $reat cause #ill $o for#ard& Kou recall te propetic #ordsof te 9ropet Mosep +%it: <o unallo#ed and can stop te #or. fro% pro$ressin$;persecutions %a( ra$e, %obs %a( co%bine, ar%ies %a( asse%ble, calu%n( %a(defa%e, but te trut of God #ill $o fort boldl(, nobl(, and independent, till it aspenetrated e"er( continent, "isited e"er( cli%e, s#ept e"er( countr(, and sounded ine"er( ear, till te purposes of God sall be acco%plised, and te Great Meo"a sallsa( te #or. is done&71

Tere is %uc tat is di4cult and callen$in$ in te #orld toda(, %( broters andsisters, but tere is also %uc tat is $ood and upliftin$& As #e declare in our tirteentarticle of fait, )f tere is an(tin$ "irtuous, lo"el(, or of $ood report or praise#ort(, #esee. after tese tin$s&7 'a( #e e"er continue to do so&

) tan. (ou for (our fait and de"otion to te $ospel& ) tan. (ou for te lo"e and care(ou so# one to anoter& ) tan. (ou for te ser"ice (ou pro"ide in (our #ards andbrances and in (our sta.es and districts& )t is suc ser"ice tat enables te Lord toacco%plis %an( of *is purposes ere upon te eart&

) e-press %( tan.s to (ou for (our .indnesses to %e #ere"er ) $o& ) tan. (ou for (our

pra(ers in %( bealf& ) a"e felt tose pra(ers and a% %ost $rateful for te%&

<o#, %( broters and sisters, #e a"e co%e to be instructed and inspired& 'an(%essa$es #ill be sared durin$ te ne-t t#o da(s& ) can assure (ou tat tose %en and#o%en #o #ill address (ou a"e sou$t ea"en=s elp and direction as te( a"eprepared teir %essa$es& Te( a"e been inspired concernin$ tat #ic te( #ill sare#it us&

Our *ea"enl( !ater is %indful of eac of us and our needs& 'a( #e be lled #it *is+pirit as #e parta.e of te proceedin$s of tis conference& Tis is %( sincere pra(er inte sacred na%e of our Lord and +a"ior, Mesus Crist, a%en&


illin' an orth! to Ser*e

Thomas S. Monson


'iracles are e"er(#ere to be found #en te priestood is understood, itspo#er is onored and used properl(, and fait is e-erted&

'( belo"ed bretren, o# $ood it is to %eet #it (ou once a$ain& ene"er ) attend te$eneral priestood %eetin$, ) re3ect on te teacin$s of so%e of God=s noble leaders#o a"e spo.en in te $eneral priestood %eetin$s of te Curc& 'an( a"e passedto teir eternal re#ard, and (et fro% te brilliance of teir %inds, fro% te depts of

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teir souls, and fro% te #ar%t of teir earts, te( a"e $i"en us inspired direction& )sare #it (ou toni$t so%e of teir teacin$s concernin$ te priestood&

!ro% te 9ropet Mosep +%it: 9riestood is an e"erlastin$ principle, and e-isted #itGod fro% eternit(, and #ill to eternit(, #itout be$innin$ of da(s or end of (ears&71

!ro% te #ords of 9resident ilford oodru, #e learn: Te *ol( 9riestood is tecannel trou$ #ic God co%%unicates and deals #it %an upon te eart; and te

ea"enl( %essen$ers tat a"e "isited te eart to co%%unicate #it %an are %en #oeld and onored te priestood #ile in te 3es; and e"er(tin$ tat God as causedto be done for te sal"ation of %an, fro% te co%in$ of %an upon te eart to terede%ption of te #orld, as been and #ill be b( "irtue of te e"erlastin$ priestood&72

9resident Mosep !& +%it furter claried: Te priestood H is H te po#er of Goddele$ated to %an b( #ic %an can act in te eart for te sal"ation of te u%anfa%il(, in te na%e of te !ater and te +on and te *ol( Gost, and act le$iti%atel(;not assu%in$ tat autorit(, nor borro#in$ it fro% $enerations tat are dead and $one,but autorit( tat as been $i"en in tis da( in #ic #e li"e b( %inisterin$ an$els andspirits fro% abo"e, direct from the !resence of Almighty *od&7>

And nall( fro% 9resident Mon Ta(lor: at is priestoodE H )t is te $o"ern%ent ofGod, #eter on te eart or in te ea"ens, for it is b( tat po#er, a$enc(, or principletat all tin$s are $o"erned on te eart and in te ea"ens, and b( tat po#er tat alltin$s are upeld and sustained& )t $o"erns all tin$sit directs all tin$sit sustains alltin$sand as to do #it all tin$s tat God and trut are associated #it&7

*o# blessed #e are to be ere in tese last da(s, #en te priestood of God is uponte eart& *o# pri"ile$ed #e are to bear tat priestood& Te priestood is not so %uca $ift as it is a co%%ission to ser"e, a pri"ile$e to lift, and an opportunit( to bless teli"es of oters&

it tese opportunities co%e responsibilities and duties& ) lo"e and ceris te noble#ord duty and all tat it i%plies&

)n one capacit( or anoter, in one settin$ or anoter, ) a"e been attendin$ priestood%eetin$s for te past J2 (earssince ) #as ordained a deacon at te a$e of 12& Ti%ecertainl( %arces on& But( .eeps cadence #it tat %arc& But( does not di% nordi%inis& Catastropic con3icts co%e and $o, but te #ar #a$ed for te souls of %encontinues #itout abate%ent& Li.e a clarion call co%es te #ord of te Lord to (ou, to%e, and to priestood olders e"er(#ere: erefore, no# let e"er( %an learn isduty, and to act in te o4ce in #ic e is appointed, in all dili$ence&75

Te call of dut( ca%e to Ada%, to <oa, to Abraa%, to 'oses, to +a%uel, to Ba"id& )tca%e to te 9ropet Mosep +%it and to eac of is successors& Te call of dut( ca%e tote bo( <epi #en e #as instructed b( te Lord, trou$ is fater Lei, to return to Merusale% #it is broters to obtain te brass plates fro% Laban& <epi=s broters%ur%ured, sa(in$ it #as a ard tin$ #ic ad been as.ed of te%& at #as <epi=sresponseE +aid e, ) #ill $o and do te tin$s #ic te Lord at co%%anded, for ).no# tat te Lord $i"et no co%%and%ents unto te cildren of %en, sa"e e sallprepare a #a( for te% tat te( %a( acco%plis te tin$ #ic e co%%andette%&76

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en tat sa%e call co%es to (ou and to %e, #at #ill be our responseE ill #e%ur%ur, as did La%an and Le%uel, and sa(, Tis is a ard tin$ reuired of us7EJ Or #il#e, #it <epi, indi"iduall( declare, ) #ill $o& ) #ill do7E ill #e be #illin$ to ser"e andto obe(E

At ti%es te #isdo% of God appears as bein$ foolis or Dust too di4cult, but one of te$reatest and %ost "aluable lessons #e can learn in %ortalit( is tat #en God spea.sand a %an obe(s, tat %an #ill al#a(s be ri$t&

en ) tin. of te #ord duty and o# perfor%in$ our dut( can enric our li"es and teli"es of oters, ) recall te #ords penned b( a reno#ned poet and autor:

) slept and drea%t Tat life #as Do() a#o.e and sa# Tat life #as dut() acted and beoldBut( #as Do(&8

Iobert Louis +te"enson put it anoter #a(& +aid e, ) .no# #at pleasure is, for ) a"edone $ood #or.&7

As #e perfor% our duties and e-ercise our priestood, #e #ill nd true Do(& e #ille-perience te satisfaction of a"in$ co%pleted our tas.s&

e a"e been tau$t te specic duties of te priestood #ic #e old, #eter it bete Aaronic or te 'elciede. 9riestood& ) ur$e (ou to conte%plate tose duties andten do all #itin (our po#er to fulll te%& )n order to do so, eac %ust be #ort(& Letus a"e read( ands, clean ands, and #illin$ ands, tat #e %a( participate inpro"idin$ #at our *ea"enl( !ater #ould a"e oters recei"e fro% *i%& )f #e are not#ort(, it is possible to lose te po#er of te priestood; and if #e lose it, #e a"e lostte essence of e-altation& Let us be #ort( to ser"e&

9resident *arold & Lee, one of te $reat teacers in te Curc, said: en onebeco%es a older of te priestood, e beco%es an a$ent of te Lord& *e sould tin. ofis callin$ as tou$ e #ere on te Lord=s errand&710

Burin$ orld ar )), in te earl( part of 1, an e-perience in"ol"in$ te priestoodtoo. place as United +tates %arines #ere ta.in$ #aDalein Atoll, part of te 'arsall)slands and located in te 9acic Ocean about %id#a( bet#een Australia and *a#aii&at too. place in tis re$ard #as related b( a correspondentnot a %e%ber of teCurc#o #or.ed for a ne#spaper in *a#aii& )n te 1 ne#spaper article e #rotefollo#in$ te e-perience, e e-plained tat e and oter correspondents #ere in tesecond #a"e beind te %arines at #aDalein Atoll& As te( ad"anced, te( noticed a(oun$ %arine 3oatin$ facedo#n in te #ater, ob"iousl( badl( #ounded& Te sallo##ater around i% #as red #it is blood& And ten te( noticed anoter %arine %o"in$to#ard is #ounded co%rade& Te second %arine #as also #ounded, #it is left ar%an$in$ elplessl( b( is side& *e lifted up te ead of te one #o #as 3oatin$ in te#ater in order to .eep i% fro% dro#nin$& )n a panic.( "oice e called for elp& Tecorrespondents loo.ed a$ain at te bo( e #as supportin$ and called bac., +on, tereis notin$ #e can do for tis bo(&7











Ten,7 #rote te correspondent, ) sa# so%etin$ tat ) ad ne"er seen before&7 Tisbo(, badl( #ounded i%self, %ade is #a( to te sore #it te see%in$l( lifeless bod(of is fello# %arine& *e put te ead of is co%panion on is .nee& H at a picturetat #astese t#o %ortall( #ounded bo(sbot H clean, #onderful/loo.in$ (oun$%en, e"en in teir distressin$ situation& And te one bo( bo#ed is ead o"er te oterand said, R) co%%and (ou, in te na%e of Mesus Crist and b( te po#er of tepriestood, to re%ain ali"e until ) can $et %edical elp&=7 Te correspondent concludedis article: Te tree of us ?te t#o %arines and )@ are ere in te ospital& Te doctors

don=t .no# ?o# te( %ade it ali"e@, but ) .no#&711

'iracles are e"er(#ere to be found #en te priestood is understood, its po#er isonored and used properl(, and fait is e-erted& en fait replaces doubt, #ensel3ess ser"ice eli%inates sels stri"in$, te po#er of God brin$s to pass *is purposes&

Te call of dut( can co%e uietl( as #e #o old te priestood respond to teassi$n%ents #e recei"e& 9resident Geor$e Albert +%it, tat %odest but eecti"eleader, declared, )t is (our dut( rst of all to learn #at te Lord #ants and ten b( tepo#er and stren$t of *is ol( 9riestood to ?so@ %a$nif( (our callin$ in te presence of(our fello#s H tat te people #ill be $lad to follo# (ou&712

+uc a call of dut(a %uc less dra%atic call but one #ic noneteless elped to sa"ea soulca%e to %e in 150 #en ) #as a ne#l( called bisop& '( responsibilities as abisop #ere %an( and "aried, and ) tried to te best of %( abilit( to do all tat #asreuired of %e& Te United +tates #as en$a$ed in a dierent #ar b( ten& ecause %an(of our %e%bers #ere ser"in$ in te ar%ed ser"ices, an assi$n%ent ca%e fro% Curceaduarters for all bisops to pro"ide eac ser"ice%an a subscription to te $hurch6ews and te 'm!ro(ement Era, te Curc=s %a$aine at tat ti%e& )n addition, eacbisop #as as.ed to #rite a personal, %ontl( letter to eac ser"ice%an fro% is #ard&Our #ard ad 2> %en in unifor%& Te priestood uoru%s, #it eort, supplied te fundsfor te subscriptions to te publications& ) undertoo. te tas., e"en te dut(, to #rite 2>personal letters eac %ont& After all tese (ears ) still a"e copies of %an( of %( lettersand te responses recei"ed& Tears co%e easil( #en tese letters are reread& )t is a Do(to learn a$ain of a soldier=s pled$e to li"e te $ospel, a sailor=s decision to .eep fait#it is fa%il(&

One e"enin$ ) anded to a sister in te #ard te stac. of 2> letters for te current%ont& *er assi$n%ent #as to andle te %ailin$ and to %aintain te constantl(can$in$ address list& +e $lanced at one en"elope and, #it a s%ile, as.ed, isop,don=t (ou e"er $et discoura$edE *ere is anoter letter to roter r(son& Tis is te 1Jtletter (ou a"e sent to i% #itout a repl(&7

) responded, ell, %a(be tis #ill be te %ont&7 As it turned out, tat was te %ont&!or te rst ti%e, e responded to %( letter& *is repl( is a .eepsa.e, a treasure& *e #asser"in$ far a#a( on a distant sore, isolated, o%esic., alone& *e #rote, Bear isop, )ain=t %uc at #ritin= letters&7 ) could a"e told i% that se"eral %onts earlier&P *isletter continued, Tan. (ou for te $hurch 6ews and %a$aines, but %ost of all tan.(ou for te personal letters& ) a"e turned o"er a ne# leaf& ) a"e been ordained a priestin te Aaronic 9riestood& '( eart is full& ) a% a app( %an&7

roter r(son #as no appier tan #as is bisop& ) ad learned te practicalapplication of te ada$e Bo ?(our@ dut(; tat is best; lea"e unto ?te@ Lord te rest&71>









Kears later, #ile attendin$ te +alt La.e Cotton#ood +ta.e #en Ma%es & !aust ser"edas its president, ) related tat account in an eort to encoura$e attention to ourser"ice%en& After te %eetin$, a ne/loo.in$ (oun$ %an ca%e for#ard& *e too. %(and in is and as.ed, isop 'onson, do (ou re%e%ber %eE7

) suddenl( realied #o e #as& roter r(sonF7 ) e-clai%ed& *o# are (ouE at are(ou doin$ in te CurcE7

it #ar%t and ob"ious pride, e responded, )=% ne& ) ser"e in te presidenc( of %(elders uoru%& Tan. (ou a$ain for (our concern for %e and te personal letters #ic(ou sent and #ic ) treasure&7

retren, te #orld is in need of our elp& Are #e doin$ all #e souldE Bo #e re%e%berte #ords of 9resident Mon Ta(lor: )f (ou do not %a$nif( (our callin$s, God #ill old (ouresponsible for tose #o% (ou %i$t a"e sa"ed ad (ou done (our dut(7E1 Tere arefeet to stead(, ands to $rasp, %inds to encoura$e, earts to inspire, and souls to sa"e& Te blessin$s of eternit( a#ait (ou& Kours is te pri"ile$e to be not spectators butparticipants on te sta$e of priestood ser"ice& Let us ear.en to te stirrin$ re%inderfound in te pistle of Ma%es: e (e doers of te #ord, and not earers onl(, decei"in$

(our o#n sel"es&715

Let us learn and conte%plate our dut(& Let us be #illin$ and #ort( to ser"e& Let us inte perfor%ance of our dut( follo# in te footsteps of te 'aster& As (ou and ) #al. tepat#a( Mesus #al.ed, #e #ill disco"er *e is %ore tan te babe in etlee%, %oretan te carpenter=s son, %ore tan te $reatest teacer e"er to li"e& e #ill co%e to.no# *i% as te +on of God, our +a"ior and our Iedee%er& en to *i% ca%e te call ofdut(, *e ans#ered, !ater, t( #ill be done, and te $lor( be tine fore"er&716 'a( eacof us do li.e#ise, ) pra( in *is ol( na%e, te na%e of Mesus Crist, te Lord, a%en&


The &ace of (ife

Thomas S. Monson


ere did #e co%e fro%E ( are #e ereE ere do #e $o after tis lifeE<o lon$er need tese uni"ersal uestions re%ain unans#ered&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, tis %ornin$ ) #is to spea. to (ou of eternal trutstose truts #ic #ill enric our li"es and see us safel( o%e&

"er(#ere people are in a urr(& Met/po#ered aircraft speed teir precious u%an car$oacross broad continents and "ast oceans so tat business %eetin$s %i$t be attended,obli$ations %et, "acations enDo(ed, or fa%ilies "isited& Ioad#a(s e"er(#ereincludin$









free#a(s, tru#a(s, and %otor#a(scarr( %illions of auto%obiles, occupied b( %ore%illions of people, in a see%in$l( endless strea% and for a %ultitude of reasons as #erus about te business of eac da(&

)n tis fast/paced life, do #e e"er pause for %o%ents of %editatione"en tou$ts ofti%eless trutsE

en co%pared to eternal "erities, %ost of te uestions and concerns of dail( li"in$ are

reall( rater tri"ial& at sould #e a"e for dinnerE at color sould #e paint teli"in$ roo%E +ould #e si$n Monn( up for soccerE Tese uestions and countless otersli.e te% lose teir si$nicance #en ti%es of crisis arise, #en lo"ed ones are urt orinDured, #en sic.ness enters te ouse of $ood ealt, #en life=s candle di%s anddar.ness treatens& Our tou$ts beco%e focused, and #e are easil( able to deter%ine#at is reall( i%portant and #at is %erel( tri"ial&

) recentl( "isited #it a #o%an #o as been battlin$ a life/treatenin$ disease for o"ert#o (ears& +e indicated tat prior to er illness, er da(s #ere lled #it acti"ities sucas cleanin$ er ouse to perfection and llin$ it #it beautiful furnisin$s& +e "isiteder airdresser t#ice a #ee. and spent %one( and ti%e eac %ont addin$ to er

#ardrobe& *er $randcildren #ere in"ited to "isit infreuentl(, for se #as al#a(sconcerned tat #at se considered er precious possessions %i$t be bro.en oroter#ise ruined b( tin( and careless ands&

And ten se recei"ed te soc.in$ ne#s tat er %ortal life #as in Deopard( and tatse %i$t a"e "er( li%ited ti%e left ere& +e said tat at te %o%ent se eard tedoctor=s dia$nosis, se .ne# i%%ediatel( tat se #ould spend #ate"er ti%e se adre%ainin$ #it er fa%il( and friends and #it te $ospel at te center of er life, fortese represented #at #as %ost precious to er&

+uc %o%ents of clarit( co%e to all of us at one ti%e or anoter, altou$ not al#a(strou$ so dra%atic a circu%stance& e see clearl( #at it is tat reall( %atters in ourli"es and o# #e sould be li"in$&

+aid te +a"ior:

La( not up for (oursel"es treasures upon eart, #ere %ot and rust dot corrupt, and#ere tie"es brea. trou$ and steal:

ut la( up for (oursel"es treasures in ea"en, #ere neiter %ot nor rust dot corrupt,and #ere tie"es do not brea. trou$ nor steal:

!or #ere (our treasure is, tere #ill (our eart be also&71

)n our ti%es of deepest re3ection or $reatest need, te soul of %an reaces ea"en#ard,see.in$ a di"ine response to life=s $reatest uestions: Where did we come from7 Whyare we here7 Where do we go after we lea(e this life7

Ans#ers to tese uestions are not disco"ered #itin te co"ers of acade%ia=s te-tboo.sor b( cec.in$ te )nternet& Tese uestions transcend %ortalit(& Te( e%brace eternit(&

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Te Apostle 9aul li.ened life to a race& To te *ebre#s e ur$ed, Let us la( aside H tesin #ic dot so easil( beset us, and let us run #it patience te race tat is set beforeus&7

)n our eal, let us not o"erloo. te sa$e counsel fro% cclesiastes: Te race is not to tes#ift, nor te battle to te stron$&710 Actuall(, te prie belon$s to i% or er #oendures to te end&

en ) re3ect on te race of life, ) re%e%ber anoter t(pe of race, e"en fro% cildoodda(s& '( friends and ) #ould ta.e poc.et.ni"es in and and, fro% te soft #ood of a#illo# tree, fasion s%all to( boats& it a trian$ular/saped cotton sail in place, eac#ould launc is crude craft in te race do#n te relati"el( turbulent #aters of Uta=s9ro"o Ii"er& e #ould run alon$ te ri"er=s ban. and #atc te tin( "essels so%eti%esbobbin$ "iolentl( in te s#ift current and at oter ti%es sailin$ serenel( as te #aterdeepened&

Burin$ a particular race #e noted tat one boat led all te rest to#ard te appointednis line& +uddenl(, te current carried it too close to a lar$e #irlpool, and te boatea"ed to its side and capsied& Around and around it #as carried, unable to %a.e its

#a( bac. into te %ain current& At last it ca%e to an uneas( rest a%id te 3otsa% and Detsa% tat surrounded it, eld fast b( te tentacles of te $raspin$ $reen %oss&

Te to( boats of cildood ad no .eel for stabilit(, no rudder to pro"ide direction, andno source of po#er& )ne"itabl(, teir destination #as do#nstrea%te pat of leastresistance&

Unli.e to( boats, #e a"e been pro"ided di"ine attributes to $uide our Dourne(& e enter%ortalit( not to 3oat #it te %o"in$ currents of life but #it te po#er to tin., toreason, and to acie"e&

Our *ea"enl( !ater did not launc us on our eternal "o(a$e #itout pro"idin$ te%eans #ereb( #e could recei"e fro% *i% $uidance to ensure our safe return& ) spea. ofpra(er& ) spea. too of te #isperin$s fro% tat still, s%all "oice; and ) do not o"erloo.te ol( scriptures, #ic contain te #ord of te Lord and te #ords of te propetspro"ided to us to elp us successfull( cross te nis line&

At so%e period in our %ortal %ission, tere appears te falterin$ step, te #an s%ile,te pain of sic.nesse"en te fadin$ of su%%er, te approac of autu%n, te cill of#inter, and te e-perience #e call deat&

"er( tou$tful person as as.ed i%self te uestion best prased b( Mob of old: )f a%an die, sall e li"e a$ainE711 Tr( as #e %i$t to put te uestion out of our tou$ts, ital#a(s returns& Beat co%es to all %an.ind& )t co%es to te a$ed as te( #al. onfalterin$ feet& )ts su%%ons is eard b( tose #o a"e scarcel( reaced %id#a( in life=s Dourne(& At ti%es it uses te lau$ter of little cildren&

ut #at of an e-istence be(ond deatE )s deat te end of allE Iobert latcford, in isboo. *od and My 6eighbor, attac.ed #it "i$or accepted Cristian beliefs suc as God,Crist, pra(er, and particularl( i%%ortalit(& *e boldl( asserted tat deat #as te end ofour e-istence and tat no one could pro"e oter#ise& Ten a surprisin$ tin$ appened&*is #all of s.epticis% suddenl( cru%bled to dust& *e #as left e-posed and undefended&









+lo#l( e be$an to feel is #a( bac. to te fait e ad ridiculed and abandoned& atad caused tis profound can$e in is outloo.E *is #ife died& it a bro.en eart e#ent into te roo% #ere la( all tat #as %ortal of er& *e loo.ed a$ain at te face elo"ed so #ell& Co%in$ out, e said to a friend: )t is se, and (et it is not se& "er(tin$is can$ed& +o%etin$ tat #as tere before is ta.en a#a(& +e is not te sa%e& atcan be $one if it be not te soulE7

Later e #rote: Beat is not #at so%e people i%a$ine& )t is onl( li.e $oin$ into anoter

roo%& )n tat oter roo% #e sall nd H te dear #o%en and %en and te s#eetcildren #e a"e lo"ed and lost&712

'( broters and sisters, #e .no# tat deat is not te end& Tis trut as been tau$tb( li"in$ propets trou$out te a$es& )t is also found in our ol( scriptures& )n te oo.of 'or%on #e read specic and co%fortin$ #ords:

<o#, concernin$ te state of te soul bet#een deat and te resurrectioneold, itas been %ade .no#n unto %e b( an an$el, tat te spirits of all %en, as soon as te(are departed fro% tis %ortal bod(, (ea, te spirits of all %en, #eter te( be $ood ore"il, are ta.en o%e to tat God #o $a"e te% life&

And ten sall it co%e to pass, tat te spirits of tose #o are ri$teous are recei"edinto a state of appiness, #ic is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace,#ere te( sall rest fro% all teir troubles and fro% all care, and sorro#&71>

After te +a"ior #as crucied and *is bod( ad lain in te to%b for tree da(s, te spirita$ain entered& Te stone #as rolled a#a(, and te resurrected Iedee%er #al.ed fort,cloted #it an i%%ortal bod( of 3es and bones&

Te ans#er to Mob=s uestion, )f a %an die, sall e li"e a$ainE7 ca%e #en 'ar( andoters approaced te to%b and sa# t#o %en in sinin$ $ar%ents #o spo.e to te%:( see. (e te li"in$ a%on$ te deadE *e is not ere, but is risen&71

As te result of Crist=s "ictor( o"er te $ra"e, #e sall all be resurrected& Tis is terede%ption of te soul& 9aul #rote: Tere are H celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial:but te $lor( of te celestial is one, and te $lor( of te terrestrial is anoter&715

)t is te celestial $lor( #ic #e see.& )t is in te presence of God #e desire to d#ell& )t isa fore"er fa%il( in #ic #e #ant %e%bersip& +uc blessin$s are earned trou$ alifeti%e of stri"in$, see.in$, repentin$, and nall( succeedin$&

Where did we come from7 Why are we here7 Where do we go after this life7 <o lon$erneed tese uni"ersal uestions re%ain unans#ered& !ro% te "er( depts of %( soul andin all u%ilit(, ) testif( tat tose tin$s of #ic ) a"e spo.en are true&

Our *ea"enl( !ater reDoices for tose #o .eep *is co%%and%ents& *e is concernedalso for te lost cild, te tard( teena$er, te #a(#ard (out, te delinuent parent& Tenderl( te 'aster spea.s to tese and indeed to all: Co%e bac.& Co%e up& Co%e in&Co%e o%e& Co%e unto %e&7

)n one #ee. #e #ill celebrate aster& Our tou$ts #ill turn to te +a"ior=s life, *is deat,and *is Iesurrection& As *is special #itness, ) testif( to (ou tat *e li"es and tat *e











a#aits our triu%pant return& Tat suc a return #ill be ours, ) pra( u%bl( in *is ol(na%ee"en Mesus Crist, our +a"ior and our Iedee%er, a%en&


s e Close This ConferenceThomas S. Monson


'a( (ou ponder te truts (ou a"e eard, and %a( te( elp (ou tobeco%e e"en better tan (ou #ere #en conference be$an&

'( eart is full as #e co%e to te close of tis $lorious conference& e a"e been soricl( blessed as #e a"e listened to te counsel and testi%onies of tose #o a"espo.en to us& ) tin. (ou #ill a$ree #it %e tat #e a"e felt te +pirit of te Lord as ourearts a"e been touced and our testi%onies stren$tened&

Once a$ain #e a"e enDo(ed beautiful %usic, #ic as enanced and enriced eacsession of conference& ) e-press %( $ratitude to all #o a"e sared #it us teir talentsin tis re$ard&

'( eartfelt tan.s $o to eac #o as spo.en to us as #ell as to tose #o a"eoered pra(ers at eac of te sessions&

Tere are countless indi"iduals #o #or. eiter beind te scenes or in less "isiblepositions eac conference& )t #ould not be possible for us to old tese sessions #itoutteir assistance& '( tan.s $o to all of te% as #ell&

) .no# (ou Doin #it %e in e-pressin$ profound $ratitude to tose bretren and sisters#o a"e been released durin$ tis conference& e #ill %iss te%& Teir contributions tote #or. of te Lord a"e been enor%ous and #ill be felt trou$out $enerations toco%e&

e a"e also sustained, trou$ uplifted ands, bretren and sisters #o a"e been

called to ne# positions durin$ tis conference& e #elco%e te% and #ant te% to.no# tat #e loo. for#ard to ser"in$ #it te% in te cause of te 'aster& Te( a"ebeen called b( inspiration fro% on i$&

e a"e ad unprecedented co"era$e of tis conference, reacin$ across te continentsand oceans to people e"er(#ere& Tou$ #e are far re%o"ed fro% %an( of (ou, #e feeof (our spirit and (our dedication, and #e send our lo"e and appreciation to (ou#ere"er (ou are&



*o# blessed #e are, %( broters and sisters, to a"e te restored $ospel of Mesus Cristin our li"es and in our earts& )t pro"ides ans#ers to life=s $reatest uestions& )t pro"ides%eanin$ and purpose and ope to our li"es&

e li"e in troubled ti%es& ) assure (ou tat our *ea"enl( !ater is %indful of tecallen$es #e face& *e lo"es eac of us and desires to bless us and to elp us& 'a( #ecall upon *i% in pra(er, as *e ad%onised #en *e said, 9ra( al#a(s, and ) #ill pourout %( +pirit upon (ou, and $reat sall be (our blessin$(ea, e"en %ore tan if (ou

sould obtain treasures of eart&71

'( dear broters and sisters, %a( (our o%es be lled #it lo"e and courtes( and #itte +pirit of te Lord& Lo"e (our fa%ilies& )f tere are disa$ree%ents or contentionsa%on$ (ou, ) ur$e (ou to settle te% no#& +aid te +a"ior:

Tere sall be no disputations a%on$ (ou& H

!or "eril(, "eril( ) sa( unto (ou, e tat at te spirit of contention is not of %e, but isof te de"il, #o is te fater of contention, and e stirret up te earts of %en tocontend #it an$er, one #it anoter&

?ut@ beold, tis is not %( doctrine H ; but this is %( doctrine, tat suc tin$s souldbe done a#a(&72

As (our u%ble ser"ant, ) eco te #ords of in$ enDa%in in is address to is people#en e said:

) a"e not co%%anded (ou to H tin. tat ) of %(self a% %ore tan a %ortal %an&

ut ) a% li.e as (oursel"es, subDect to all %anner of inr%ities in bod( and %ind; (et )a"e been cosen H b( te and of te Lord H and a"e been .ept and preser"ed b( is%atcless po#er, to ser"e (ou #it all te %i$t, %ind and stren$t #ic te Lord at$ranted unto %e&7>

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, ) desire #it all %( eart to do God=s #ill and to ser"e*i% and to ser"e (ou&

<o# as #e lea"e tis conference, ) in"o.e te blessin$s of ea"en upon eac of (ou& 'a((ou #o are a#a( fro% (our o%es return to te% safel(& 'a( (ou ponder te truts (oua"e eard, and %a( te( elp (ou to beco%e e"en better tan (ou #ere #enconference be$an t#o da(s a$o&

Until #e %eet a$ain in si- %onts= ti%e, ) as. te Lord=s blessin$s to be upon (ou and,indeed, upon all of us, and ) do so in *is ol( na%ee"en Mesus Crist, our Lord and+a"iora%en&

October 2012 General Conferenceelco%e to Conference

)! Presient Thomas S. Monson

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https://www.lds.org/church/leader/thomas-s-monson?lang=eng







'a( #e listen attenti"el( to te %essa$es H , tat #e %a( feel te +pirit ofte Lord and $ain te .no#led$e *e #ould desire for us&

As far as ) can see, e"er( seat is llede-cept for a fe# ri$t tere in te bac.& Tere isroo% for i%pro"e%ent& Tis is a courtes( to tose #o %i$t be Dust a bit tard(, becauseof te tra4c, to nd a seat #en te( co%e&

Tis is a $reat da(conference da(& e a"e eard a beautiful coir sin$ %a$nicent%usic& "er( ti%e ) ear te coir or ear te or$an or ear te piano, ) tin. of %(%oter, #o said, ) lo"e all te acclai% tat as been $i"en (ou, all te de$rees (oua"e obtained, and all te #or. (ou a"e done& '( onl( re$ret is tat (ou did not sta(#it te piano&7 Tan.s, 'oter& ) #is ) ad&

*o# $ood it is, %( broters and sisters, to #elco%e (ou to te 182nd +e%iannualGeneral Conference of Te Curc of Mesus Crist of Latter/da( +aints&

+ince #e %et si- %onts a$o, tree ne# te%ples a"e been dedicated, and one te%ple

as been rededicated& )n 'a(, it #as %( pri"ile$e to dedicate te beautiful ansas Cit('issouri Te%ple and to attend te cultural celebration associated #it it& ) #ill %entiontat celebration in $reater detail in %( re%ar.s to%orro# %ornin$&

)n Mune, 9resident Bieter !& Uctdorf dedicated te lon$/a#aited te%ple in 'anaus, rail,and in earl( +epte%ber, 9resident *enr( & (rin$ rededicated te ne#l( refurbisedte%ple in uenos Aires, Ar$entina, a te%ple #ic ) ad te pri"ile$e to dedicate nearl(2J (ears a$o& Must t#o #ee.s a$o, 9resident o(d & 9ac.er dedicated te lo"el( ri$a%Cit( Te%ple in te o%eto#n #ere e #as born and raised&

As ) a"e indicated pre"iousl(, no Curc/built facilit( is %ore i%portant tan a te%ple,

and #e are pleased to a"e 1> te%ples in operation trou$out te #orld, #it 2J %oreannounced or under construction& e are $rateful for tese sacred edices and teblessin$s te( brin$ into our li"es&

Tis %ornin$ ) a% pleased to announce t#o additional te%ples, #ic in co%in$ %ontsand (ears #ill be built in te follo#in$ locations: Tucson, Ariona, and Areuipa, 9eru&Betails concernin$ tese te%ples #ill be pro"ided in te future as necessar( per%its andappro"als are obtained&

roters and sisters, ) no# turn to anoter %atterna%el(, %issionar( ser"ice&

!or so%e ti%e te !irst 9residenc( and te Nuoru% of te T#el"e Apostles a"e allo#ed(oun$ %en fro% certain countries to ser"e at te a$e of 18 #en te( are #ort(, able,a"e $raduated fro% i$ scool, and a"e e-pressed a sincere desire to ser"e& Tis asbeen a countr(/specic polic( and as allo#ed tousands of (oun$ %en to ser"eonorable %issions and also fulll reuired %ilitar( obli$ations and educationalopportunities&

Our e-perience #it tese 18/(ear/old %issionaries as been positi"e& Teir %issionpresidents report tat te( are obedient, faitful, %ature, and ser"e Dust as co%petentl(as do te older %issionaries #o ser"e in te sa%e %issions& Teir faitfulness,

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obedience, and %aturit( a"e caused us to desire te sa%e option of earlier %issionar(ser"ice for all (oun$ %en, re$ardless of te countr( fro% #ic te( co%e&

) a% pleased to announce tat eecti"e i%%ediatel( all #ort( and able (oun$ %en #oa"e $raduated fro% i$ scool or its eui"alent, re$ardless of #ere te( li"e, #illa"e te option of bein$ reco%%ended for %issionar( ser"ice be$innin$ at te a$e of18, instead of a$e 1& ) a% not su$$estin$ tat all (oun$ %en #illor souldser"e attis earlier a$e& Iater, based on indi"idual circu%stances as #ell as upon a

deter%ination b( priestood leaders, tis option is no# a"ailable&

As #e a"e pra(erfull( pondered te a$e at #ic (oun$ %en %a( be$in teir%issionar( ser"ice, #e a"e also $i"en consideration to te a$e at #ic a (oun$#o%an %i$t ser"e& Toda( ) a% pleased to announce tat able, #ort( (oun$ #o%en#o a"e te desire to ser"e %a( be reco%%ended for %issionar( ser"ice be$innin$ ata$e 1, instead of a$e 21&

e a4r% tat %issionar( #or. is a priestood dut(and #e encoura$e all (oun$ %en#o are #ort( and #o are p(sicall( able and %entall( capable to respond to te callto ser"e& 'an( (oun$ #o%en also ser"e, but te( are not under te sa%e %andate to

ser"e as are te (oun$ %en& e assure te (oun$ sisters of te Curc, o#e"er, tatte( %a.e a "aluable contribution as %issionaries, and #e #elco%e teir ser"ice&

e continue to need %an( %ore senior couples& As (our circu%stances allo#, as (ou areeli$ible for retire%ent, and as (our ealt per%its, ) encoura$e (ou to %a.e (oursel"esa"ailable for full/ti%e %issionar( ser"ice& ot usband and #ife #ill a"e a $reater Do(as te( to$eter ser"e our !ater=s cildren&

<o#, %( broters and sisters, %a( #e listen attenti"el( to te %essa$es #ic #ill bepresented durin$ te ne-t t#o da(s, tat #e %a( feel te +pirit of te Lord and $ain te.no#led$e *e #ould desire for us& Tat tis %a( be our e-perience ) pra( in te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&

October 2012 General Conference+ee Oters as Te( 'a( eco%e


e %ust de"elop te capacit( to see %en not as te( are at present but as

te( %a( beco%e&

'( dear bretren, t#ice eac (ear tis %a$nicent Conference Center is lled tocapacit( #it te priestood of God as #e $ater to ear %essa$es of inspiration& Tereis a %ar"elous spirit #ic per%eates te $eneral priestood %eetin$ of te Curc& Tis spirit e%anates fro% te Conference Center and enters e"er( buildin$ #ere tesons of God asse%ble& e a"e surel( felt tat spirit toni$t&

+o%e (ears a$o, before tis beautiful Conference Center #as built, a "isitor to Te%ple+uare in +alt La.e Cit( attended a $eneral conference session in te Tabernacle& *e

http://mormon.org/missionary-work






listened to te %essa$es of te retren& *e paid attention to te pra(ers& *e eard tebeautiful %usic b( te Tabernacle Coir& *e %ar"eled at te $randeur of te %a$nicent Tabernacle or$an& en te %eetin$ ad ended e #as eard to sa(, ) #ould $i"ee"er(tin$ ) possess if ) .ne# tat #at tose spea.ers said toda( #as true&7 )n essencee #as sa(in$, ) #is tat ) ad a testi%on( of te $ospel&7

Tere is absolutel( notin$ in tis #orld tat #ill pro"ide %ore co%fort and appinesstan a testi%on( of te trut& Altou$ to "ar(in$ de$rees, ) belie"e e"er( %an or (oun$

%an ere toni$t as a testi%on(& )f (ou feel tat (ou do not (et a"e te dept oftesti%on( (ou #ould #is, ) ad%onis (ou to #or. to acie"e suc a testi%on(& )f it isstron$ and deep, labor to .eep it tat #a(& *o# blessed #e are to a"e a .no#led$e ofte trut&

'( %essa$e toni$t, bretren, is tat tere are countless indi"iduals #o a"e little orno testi%on( ri$t no#, tose #o could and #ould recei"e suc a testi%on( if #e #ouldbe #illin$ to %a.e te eort to sare ours and to elp te% can$e& )n so%e instanceswe can pro"ide te incenti"e for can$e& ) %ention rst tose #o are %e%bers but #oare not at present full( co%%itted to te $ospel&

'an( (ears a$o, at an area conference eld in *elsin.i, !inland, ) eard a po#erful,%e%orable, and %oti"atin$ %essa$e $i"en in a %oters and dau$ters= session& ) a"enot for$otten tat %essa$e, tou$ nearl( 0 (ears a"e passed since ) eard it& A%on$%an( truts te spea.er discussed, se said tat a #o%an needs to be told se isbeautiful& +e needs to be told se is "alued& +e needs to be told se is #ort#ile&

retren, ) .no# tat %en are "er( %uc li.e #o%en in tis re$ard& e need to be toldtat #e a%ount to so%etin$, tat #e are capable and #ort#ile& e need to be $i"ena cance to ser"e& !or tose %e%bers #o a"e slipped fro% acti"it( or #o old bac.and re%ain nonco%%ittal, #e can pra(erfull( see. for so%e #a( to reac te%& As.in$te% to ser"e in so%e capacit( %a( Dust be te incenti"e te( need to return to fullacti"it(& ut tose leaders #o could elp in tis re$ard are so%eti%es reluctant to doso& e need to bear in %ind tat people can can$e& Te( can put beind te% badabits& Te( can repent fro% trans$ressions& Te( can bear te priestood #ortil(& Andte( can ser"e te Lord dili$entl(& 'a( ) pro"ide a fe# illustrations&

en ) rst beca%e a %e%ber of te Nuoru% of te T#el"e Apostles, ) ad teopportunit( to acco%pan( 9resident <& ldon Tanner, a counselor to 9resident Ba"id O&'ca(, to a sta.e conference in Alberta, Canada& Burin$ te %eetin$, te sta.epresident read te na%es of four bretren #o ad ualied to be ordained elders& Tese #ere %en #o% 9resident Tanner .ne#, for at one ti%e e ad li"ed in tat area&ut 9resident Tanner .ne# and re%e%bered te% as te( once #ere and did not .no#tat te( ad turned teir li"es around and ad full( ualied to beco%e elders&

Te sta.e president read te na%e of te rst %an and as.ed i% to stand& 9resident Tanner #ispered to %e, Loo. at i%& ) ne"er tou$t e #ould %a.e it&7 Te sta.epresident read te na%e of te second %an, and e stood& 9resident Tanner nud$ed %ea$ain and reported is astonis%ent& And so it #as #it all four of te bretren&

After te %eetin$, 9resident Tanner and ) ad te opportunit( to con$ratulate tese fourbretren& Te( ad de%onstrated tat %en can can$e&



) said, 9resident, )=ll ta.e i% into te oter roo% and inter"ie# i%& Kou spea. after teclosin$ son$ until #e return&7

en te t#o of us #al.ed bac. in te roo%, te %ission president concluded istesti%on(& ) presented te na%e of te broter to be te ne# branc president& !ro%tat da( for#ard, Lead"ille, Colorado, ad a local %e%ber leadin$ te unit tere&

Te sa%e principle, bretren, applies to tose #o are not (et %e%bers& e sould

de"elop te capacit( to see %en not as te( are but as te( can beco%e #en te( are%e%bers of te Curc, #en te( a"e a testi%on( of te $ospel, and #en teir li"esare in ar%on( #it its teacin$s&

ac. in te (ear 161, a #orld#ide conference #as eld for %ission presidents, ande"er( %ission president in te Curc #as brou$t to +alt La.e Cit( for tose %eetin$s& )ca%e to +alt La.e Cit( fro% %( %ission in Toronto, Canada&

)n one particular %eetin$, <& ldon Tanner, #o #as ten an Assistant to te Nuoru% ofte T#el"e, ad Dust returned fro% is initial e-perience of presidin$ o"er te %issions inGreat ritain and #estern urope& *e told of a %issionar( #o ad been te %ost

successful %issionar( #o% e ad %et in all of te inter"ie#s e ad conducted& *esaid tat as e inter"ie#ed tat %issionar(, e said to i%, ) suppose tat all of tepeople #o% (ou baptied ca%e into te Curc b( #a( of referrals&7

Te (oun$ %an ans#ered, <o, #e found te% all b( tractin$&7

roter Tanner as.ed i% #at #as dierent about is approac#( e ad sucpeno%enal success #en oters didn=t& Te (oun$ %an said tat e atte%pted tobaptie e"er( person #o% e %et& *e said tat if e .noc.ed on te door and sa# a%an s%o.in$ a ci$ar and dressed in old clotes and see%in$l( uninterested in an(tin$particularl( reli$ionte %issionar( #ould picture in is o#n %ind #at tat %an#ould loo. li.e under a dierent set of circu%stances& )n is %ind e #ould loo. at i%as clean/sa"en and #earin$ a #ite sirt and #ite trousers& And te %issionar( couldsee i%self leadin$ tat %an into te #aters of baptis%& *e said, en ) loo. atso%eone tat #a(, ) a"e te capacit( to bear %( testi%on( to i% in a #a( tat cantouc is eart&7

e a"e te responsibilit( to loo. at our friends, our associates, our nei$bors tis #a(&A$ain, #e a"e te responsibilit( to see indi"iduals not as te( are but rater as te(can beco%e& ) #ould plead #it (ou to tin. of te% in tis #a(&

retren, te Lord told us so%etin$ about te i%portance of tis priestood tat #eold& *e told us tat #e recei"e it #it an oat and a co"enant& *e $a"e unto us teinstruction tat #e %ust be faitful and true in all tat #e recei"e, and tat #e a"e teresponsibilit( to .eep tis co"enant e"en unto te end& And ten all tat te !ater assall be $i"en unto us&2

$ourage is te #ord #e need to ear and old near our eartscoura$e to turn ourbac.s on te%ptation, coura$e to lift up our "oices in testi%on( to all #o% #e %eet,re%e%berin$ tat e"er(one %ust a"e an opportunit( to ear te %essa$e& )t is not aneas( tin$ for %ost to do tis& ut #e can co%e to belie"e in te #ords of 9aul to Ti%ot(:

http://lds.org/study/topics/baptism?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2012/10/see-others-as-they-may-become?lang=eng#2-10491_000_36monson





9resident Mon Ta(lor su%%ed up te reuire%ents: Te .ind of %en #e #ant asbearers of tis $ospel %essa$e are %en #o a"e fait in God; %en #o a"e fait inteir reli$ion; %en #o onor teir priestood; H %en full of te *ol( Gost and tepo#er of God?;@ H %en of onor, inte$rit(, "irtue and purit(&78

retren, to eac of us co%es te %andate to sare te $ospel of Crist& en our li"esco%pl( #it God=s o#n standard, tose #itin our spere of in3uence #ill ne"er spea.te la%ent, Te ar"est is past, te su%%er is ended, and #e are not sa"ed&7

Te perfect +eperd of souls, te %issionar( #o redee%ed %an.ind, $a"e us *isdi"ine assurance:

)f it so be tat (ou sould labor all (our da(s in cr(in$ repentance unto tis people, andbrin$, sa"e it be one soul unto %e, o# $reat sall be (our Do( #it i% in te .in$do%of %( !aterF

And no#, if (our Do( #ill be $reat #it one soul tat (ou a"e brou$t unto %e into te.in$do% of %( !ater, o# $reat #ill be (our Do( if (ou sould brin$ %an( souls unto%eF710

Of *i% #o spo.e tese #ords, ) declare %( personal #itness& *e is te +on of God, ourIedee%er, and our +a"ior&

) pra( tat #e #ill a"e te coura$e to e-tend te and of fello#sip, te tenacit( to tr(and tr( a$ain, and te u%ilit( needed to see. $uidance fro% our !ater as #e fulll our%andate to sare te $ospel& Te responsibilit( is upon us, bretren& )n te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&

October 2012 General ConferenceConsider te lessin$s


Our *ea"enl( !ater is a#are of our needs and #ill elp us as #e call upon*i% for assistance&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, tis conference %ar.s (ears since ) #as sustained,on October , 16>, as a %e%ber of te Nuoru% of te T#el"e Apostles& !ort(/nine (ears

is a lon$ ti%e& )n %an( #a(s, o#e"er, te ti%e see%s "er( sort since ) stood at tepulpit in te Tabernacle and $a"e %( "er( rst $eneral conference address&

'uc as can$ed since October , 16>& e li"e in a uniue ti%e in te #orld=s istor(&e are blessed #it so "er( %uc& And (et it is so%eti%es di4cult to "ie# te proble%sand per%issi"eness around us and not beco%e discoura$ed& ) a"e found tat, ratertan d#ellin$ on te ne$ati"e, if #e #ill ta.e a step bac. and consider te blessin$s inour li"es, includin$ see%in$l( s%all, so%eti%es o"erloo.ed blessin$s, #e can nd$reater appiness&











As ) a"e re"ie#ed te past (ears, ) a"e %ade so%e disco"eries& One is tatcountless e-periences ) a"e ad #ere not necessaril( tose one #ould considere-traordinar(& )n fact, at te ti%e te( transpired, te( often see%ed unre%ar.able ande"en ordinar(& And (et, in retrospect, te( enriced and blessed li"esnot te least of#ic #as %( o#n& ) #ould reco%%end tis sa%e e-ercise to (ouna%el(, tat (outa.e an in"entor( of (our life and loo. specicall( for te blessin$s, lar$e and s%all, (oua"e recei"ed&

Ieinforced constantl( durin$ %( o#n re"ie# of te (ears as been %( .no#led$e tatour pra(ers are eard and ans#ered& e are fa%iliar #it te trut found in 2 <epi inte oo. of 'or%on: 'en are, tat te( %i$t a"e Do(&71 ) testif( tat %uc of tat Do(co%es as #e reco$nie tat #e can co%%unicate #it our *ea"enl( !ater trou$pra(er and tat tose pra(ers #ill be eard and ans#eredperaps not o# and #en#e e-pected te( #ould be ans#ered, but te( will be ans#ered and b( a *ea"enl(!ater #o .no#s and lo"es us perfectl( and #o desires our appiness& *asn=t *epro%ised us, e tou u%ble; and te Lord t( God sall lead tee b( te and, and$i"e tee ans#er to t( pra(ers7E2

!or te ne-t fe# %inutes allotted to %e, ) #ould li.e to sare #it (ou Dust a tin(

sa%plin$ of te e-periences ) a"e ad #erein pra(ers #ere eard and ans#ered and#ic, in retrospect, brou$t blessin$s into %( life as #ell as te li"es of oters& '( dail( Dournal, .ept o"er all tese (ears, as elped pro"ide so%e specics #ic ) %ost li.el(#ould not oter#ise be able to recount&

)n earl( 165, ) #as assi$ned to attend sta.e conferences and to old oter %eetin$strou$out te +out 9acic area& Tis #as %( rst "isit to tat part of te #orld, and it#as a ti%e ne"er to be for$otten& 'uc tat #as spiritual in nature occurred durin$ tisassi$n%ent as ) %et #it leaders, %e%bers, and %issionaries&

On te #ee.end of +aturda( and +unda(, !ebruar( 20 and 21, #e #ere in risbane,Australia, to old re$ular conference sessions of te risbane +ta.e& Burin$ %eetin$s on+aturda(, ) #as introduced to te district president fro% an adDoinin$ area& As ) soo. isand, ) ad a stron$ i%pression tat ) needed to spea. #it i% and to pro"ide counsel,and so ) as.ed i% if e #ould acco%pan( %e to te +unda( %ornin$ session tefollo#in$ da( so tat tis could be acco%plised&

!ollo#in$ te +unda( session, #e ad an opportunit( to "isit to$eter& e tal.ed of is%an( responsibilities as district president& As #e did so, ) felt i%pressed to oer i%specic su$$estions concernin$ %issionar( #or. and o# e and is %e%bers couldelp te full/ti%e %issionaries in teir labors in is area& ) later learned tat tis %an adbeen pra(in$ for $uidance in tis re$ard& To i% our "isit #as a special #itness tat ispra(ers #ere eard and ans#ered& Tis #as a see%in$l( unre%ar.able %eetin$ but one#ic ) a% con"inced #as $uided b( te +pirit and #ic %ade a dierence in tatdistrict president=s life and ad%inistration, in te li"es of is %e%bers, and in tesuccess of te %issionaries tere&

'( broters and sisters, te Lord=s purposes are often acco%plised as #e pa( eed tote $uidance of te +pirit& ) belie"e tat te %ore #e act upon te inspiration andi%pressions #ic co%e to us, te %ore te Lord #ill entrust to us *is errands&

http://mormon.org/book-of-mormon

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2012/10/consider-the-blessings?lang=eng#1-10491_000_46monson









Ieluctantl( #e be$an #al.in$ to#ard te nearest to#n, te cars #iin$ past us& !inall(one car stopped, and a (oun$ %an oered to elp& e e"entuall( found tat te dieselfuel in our $as tan. ad tic.ened because of te cold, %a.in$ it i%possible for us todri"e te car& Tis .ind (oun$ %an dro"e us bac. to our 'id#a( o%e& ) atte%pted torei%burse i% for is ser"ices, but e $raciousl( declined& *e indicated tat e #as ao( +cout and #anted to do a $ood turn& ) identied %(self to i%, and e e-pressed isappreciation for te pri"ile$e to be of elp& Assu%in$ tat e #as about %issionar( a$e, )as.ed i% if e ad plans to ser"e a %ission& *e indicated e #as not certain Dust #at

e #anted to do&

On te follo#in$ 'onda( %ornin$, ) #rote a letter to tis (oun$ %an and tan.ed i% foris .indness& )n te letter ) encoura$ed i% to ser"e a full/ti%e %ission& ) enclosed acop( of one of %( boo.s and underscored te capters on %issionar( ser"ice&

About a #ee. later te (oun$ %an=s %oter teleponed and ad"ised tat er son #as anoutstandin$ (oun$ %an but tat because of certain in3uences in is life, is lon$/elddesire to ser"e a %ission ad di%inised& +e indicated se and is fater ad fastedand pra(ed tat is eart #ould be can$ed& Te( ad placed is na%e on te pra(erroll of te 9ro"o Uta Te%ple& Te( oped tat so%eo#, in so%e #a(, is eart #ould

be touced for $ood and e #ould return to is desire to ll a %ission and to ser"e teLord faitfull(& Te %oter #anted %e to .no# tat se loo.ed upon te e"ents of tatcold e"enin$ as an ans#er to teir pra(ers in is bealf& ) said, ) a$ree #it (ou&7

After se"eral %onts and %ore co%%unication #it tis (oun$ %an, +ister 'onson and )#ere o"erDo(ed to attend is %issionar( fare#ell prior to is departure for te CanadaWancou"er 'ission&

as it cance tat our pats crossed on tat cold Bece%ber ni$tE ) do not for one%o%ent belie"e so& Iater, ) belie"e our %eetin$ #as an ans#er to a %oter=s andfater=s eartfelt pra(ers for te son te( cerised&

A$ain, %( broters and sisters, our *ea"enl( !ater is a#are of our needs and #ill elpus as #e call upon *i% for assistance& ) belie"e tat no concern of ours is too s%all orinsi$nicant& Te Lord is in te details of our li"es&

) sould li.e to conclude b( relatin$ one recent e-perience #ic ad an i%pact onundreds& )t occurred at te cultural celebration for te ansas Cit( Te%ple, Dust "e%onts a$o& As #it so %uc tat appens in our li"es, at te ti%e it see%ed to be Dustanoter e-perience #ere e"er(tin$ #or.ed out& *o#e"er, as ) learned of tecircu%stances associated #it te cultural celebration te e"enin$ before te te%ple#as dedicated, ) realied tat te perfor%ance tat ni$t #as not ordinar(& Iater, it #asuite re%ar.able&

As #it all cultural e"ents eld in conDunction #it te%ple dedications, te (out in teansas Cit( 'issouri Te%ple Bistrict ad reearsed te perfor%ance in separate $roupsin teir o#n areas& Te plan #as tat te( #ould %eet all to$eter in te lar$e rented%unicipal center on te +aturda( %ornin$ of te perfor%ance so tat te( could learn#en and #ere to enter, #ere te( #ere to stand, o# %uc space sould be bet#eente% and te person ne-t to te%, o# to e-it te %ain 3oor, and so fort%an(details #ic te( #ould a"e to $rasp durin$ te da( as tose in car$e put te "ariousscenes to$eter so tat te nal perfor%ance #ould be polised and professional&



Tere #as Dust one %aDor proble% tat da(& Te entire production #as dependent onprerecorded se$%ents tat #ould be so#n on te lar$e screen .no#n as a Mu%botron& Tese recorded se$%ents #ere critical to te entire production& Te( not onl( tied it allto$eter, but eac tele"ised se$%ent #ould introduce te ne-t perfor%ance& Te "ideose$%ents pro"ided te fra%e#or. on #ic te entire production depended& And te Mu%botron #as not #or.in$&

Tecnicians #or.ed franticall( to sol"e te proble% #ile te (out #aited, undreds of

te%, losin$ precious reearsal ti%e& Te situation be$an to loo. i%possible&

Te #riter and director of te celebration, +usan Cooper, later e-plained: As #e %o"edfro% plan A to to Y, #e .ne# tat it #asn=t #or.in$& H As #e #ere loo.in$ at tescedule, #e .ne# tat it #as $oin$ to be be(ond us, but #e .ne# tat #e ad one ofte $reatest stren$ts on te 3oor belo#>,000 (out& e needed to $o do#n and tell?te%@ #at #as appenin$ and dra# upon teir fait&7>

Must an our before te audience #ould be$in to enter te center, >,000 (out .nelt onte 3oor and pra(ed to$eter& Te( pra(ed tat tose #or.in$ on te Mu%botron #ouldbe inspired to .no# #at to do to repair it; te( as.ed teir *ea"enl( !ater to %a.e up

for #at te( te%sel"es could not do because of te sorta$e of ti%e&

+aid one #o #rote about it after#ard, )t #as a pra(er te (out #ill ne"er for$et, notbecause te 3oor #as ard, but because te +pirit %elted teir bones&7

)t #as not lon$ before one of te tecnicians ca%e to tell te% tat te proble% adbeen disco"ered and corrected& *e attributed te solution to luc., but all tose (out.ne# better&

en #e entered te %unicipal center tat e"enin$, #e ad no idea of te di4culties ofte da(& Onl( later did #e learn of te%& at #e #itnessed, o#e"er, #as a beautiful,polised perfor%anceone of te best ) a"e seen& Te (out radiated a $lorious,po#erful spirit #ic #as felt b( all #o #ere present& Te( see%ed to .no# Dust #ereto enter, #ere to stand, and o# to interact #it all te oter perfor%ers around te%&en ) learned tat teir reearsals ad been cut sort and tat %an( of te nu%bersad not been reearsed b( te entire $roup, ) #as astonised& <o one #ould a"e.no#n& Te Lord ad indeed %ade up te dierence&

) ne"er cease to be a%aed b( o# te Lord can %oti"ate and direct te len$t andbreadt of *is .in$do% and (et a"e ti%e to pro"ide inspiration concernin$ oneindi"idualor one cultural celebration or one Mu%botron& Te fact tat *e can, tat *edoes, is a testi%on( to %e&

'( broters and sisters, te Lord is in all of our li"es& *e lo"es us& *e #ants to bless us&*e #ants us to see. *is elp& As *e $uides us and directs us and as *e ears andans#ers our pra(ers, #e #ill nd te appiness ere and no# tat *e desires for us& 'a(#e be a#are of *is blessin$s in our li"es, ) pra( in te na%e of Mesus Crist, our +a"ior,a%en&










Let us be of $ood ceer as #e $o about our li"es& Altou$ #e li"e in increasin$l(perilous ti%es, te Lord lo"es us and is %indful of us& *e is al#a(s on our side as #e do#at is ri$t& *e #ill elp us in ti%e of need& Bi4culties co%e into our li"es, proble%s #edo not anticipate and #ic #e #ould ne"er coose& <one of us is i%%une& Te purposeof %ortalit( is to learn and to $ro# to be %ore li.e our !ater, and it is often durin$ tedi4cult ti%es tat #e learn te %ost, as painful as te lessons %a( be& Our li"es canalso be lled #it Do( as #e follo# te teacin$s of te $ospel of Mesus Crist&

Te Lord ad%onised, e of $ood ceer; ) a"e o"erco%e te #orld&71 at $reatappiness tis .no#led$e sould brin$ to us& *e li"ed for us and *e died for us& *e paidte price for our sins& 'a( #e e%ulate *is e-a%ple& 'a( #e so# our $reat $ratitude to*i% b( acceptin$ *is sacrice and li"in$ li"es tat #ill ualif( us to return and one da(li"e #it *i%&

As ) a"e %entioned at pre"ious conferences, ) tan. (ou for (our pra(ers in %( bealf& )need te%; ) feel te%& e as General Autorities also re%e%ber all of (ou and pra( forour *ea"enl( !ater=s coicest blessin$s to be #it (ou&

<o#, %( belo"ed broters and sisters, #e adDourn for si- %onts& 'a( God be #it (ou

until #e %eet a$ain at tat ti%e& )n te na%e of our +a"ior and Iedee%er, e"en MesusCrist te Lord, a%en&

April 201> General Conferenceelco%e to Conference


) ur$e (ou to be attenti"e and recepti"e to te %essa$es #ic #e #ill ear& Tat #e %a( do so is %( pra(er&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, o# pleased ) a% to #elco%e (ou to te 18>rd AnnualGeneral Conference of te Curc&

Burin$ te si- %onts since last #e %et, it as been %( opportunit( to tra"el a bit andto %eet #it so%e of (ou in (our o#n areas& !ollo#in$ $eneral conference in October, )tra"eled to Ger%an(, #ere it #as %( pri"ile$e to %eet #it our %e%bers at se"erallocations in tat countr( as #ell as in parts of Austria&

At te end of October, ) dedicated te Cal$ar( Alberta Te%ple in Canada, #it teassistance of lder and +ister '& Iussell allard, lder and +ister Crai$ C& Cristensen,and lder and +ister illia% I& al.er& )n <o"e%ber, ) rededicated te oise )dao Te%ple& Also tra"elin$ #it %e and participatin$ in te dedication #ere lder and +isterBa"id A& ednar, lder and +ister Crai$ C& Cristensen, and lder and +ister illia% I&al.er&

Te cultural celebrations eld in conDunction #it bot of tese dedications #ereoutstandin$& ) did not personall( attend te cultural celebration in Cal$ar(, inas%uc asit #as +ister 'onson=s 85t birtda( and ) felt ) sould be #it er& *o#e"er, se and )


https://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2012/10/god-be-with-you-till-we-meet-again?lang=eng#1-10491_000_58monson



https://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2012/10/god-be-with-you-till-we-meet-again?lang=eng#1-10491_000_58monson




#ere pri"ile$ed to #atc te celebration in our li"in$ roo% o"er closed/circuit tele"ision,and ten ) 3e# to Cal$ar( te follo#in$ %ornin$ for te dedication& )n oise o"er ,000(out fro% te te%ple district participated in te cultural celebration& Tere #ere so%an( (oun$ people in"ol"ed tat tere #as not roo% for fa%il( %e%bers to attend inte arena in #ic te( perfor%ed&

Must last %ont 9resident Bieter !& Uctdorf, acco%panied b( +ister Uctdorf, lder and+ister Mere( I& *olland, and lder and +ister Gre$or( A& +c#iter, tra"eled to

Te$uci$alpa, *onduras, to dedicate our ne#l( co%pleted te%ple tere& A %a$nicent(out celebration too. place te e"enin$ prior to te dedication&

Tere are oter te%ples #ic a"e been announced and #ic are at "arious sta$es inte preli%inar( process or #ic are under construction&

)t is %( pri"ile$e tis %ornin$ to announce t#o additional te%ples, #ic in co%in$%onts and (ears #ill be built in te follo#in$ locations: Cedar Cit(, Uta, and Iio de Maneiro, rail& roters and sisters, te%ple buildin$ continues unabated&

As (ou .no#, in te October $eneral conference ) announced can$es in te a$es at

#ic (oun$ %en and (oun$ #o%en %i$t ser"e as full/ti%e %issionaries, #it te(oun$ %en no# bein$ able to ser"e at a$e 18 and te (oun$ #o%en at 1&

Te response of our (oun$ people as been re%ar.able and inspirin$& As of April t#oda(s a$o#e a"e 65,6> full/ti%e %issionaries ser"in$, #it o"er 20,000 %ore #oa"e recei"ed teir calls but #o a"e not (et entered a %issionar( trainin$ center ando"er 6,000 %ore in te inter"ie# process #it teir bisops and sta.e presidents& )t asbeen necessar( for us to create 58 ne# %issions to acco%%odate te increasednu%bers of %issionaries&

To elp %aintain tis %issionar( force, and because %an( of our %issionaries co%e fro%%odest circu%stances, #e in"ite (ou, as (ou are able, to contribute $enerousl( to teGeneral 'issionar( !und of te Curc&

<o#, broters and sisters, #e #ill ear inspired %essa$es toda( and to%orro#& Tose#o #ill address us a"e sou$t pra(erfull( to .no# tat #ic te Lord #ould a"e usear at tis ti%e&

) ur$e (ou to be attenti"e and recepti"e to te %essa$es #ic #e #ill ear& Tat #e%a( do so is %( pra(er in te na%e of Mesus Crist, te Lord, a%en&

April 201> General ConferenceCo%e, All Ke +ons of God


'a( eac one of us searc te scriptures #it dili$ence, plan is life #itpurpose, teac te trut #it testi%on(, and ser"e te Lord #it lo"e&

http://mormon.org/family








Te e%pasis of te Curc curricula is te ol( scriptures, pro$ra%%ed andcoordinated trou$ te correlation eort& e are encoura$ed, as #ell, to stud( tescriptures eac da( bot indi"iduall( and #it our fa%ilies&

Let %e pro"ide but one reference #ic as i%%ediate application to our li"es& )n teoo. of 'or%on, te 1Jt capter of Al%a, #e read te account of Al%a=s Do( as e once%ore sa# te sons of 'osia and noted teir steadfastness in te cause of trut& Terecord tells us, Te( ad #a-ed stron$ in te .no#led$e of te trut; for te( #ere %en

of a sound understandin$ and te( ad searced te scriptures dili$entl(, tat te(%i$t .no# te #ord of God&

ut tis is not all; te( ad $i"en te%sel"es to %uc pra(er, and fastin$; tereforete( ad te spirit of propec(, and te spirit of re"elation, and #en te( tau$t, te(tau$t #it po#er and autorit( of God&7

retren, searc te scriptures #it dili$ence&

+econd in our for%ula: plan (our life #it purpose&

9eraps no $eneration of (out as faced suc far/reacin$ decisions as te (out oftoda(& 9ro"ision %ust be %ade for scool, %ission, and %arria$e& !or so%e, %ilitar(ser"ice #ill be included&

9reparation for a %ission be$ins earl(& )n addition to spiritual preparation, a #ise parent#ill pro"ide te %eans #ereb( a (oun$ son %i$t co%%ence is personal %issionar(fund& *e %a( #ell be encoura$ed as te (ears $o b( to stud( a forei$n lan$ua$e so tat,if necessar(, is lan$ua$e s.ills could be utilied& "entuall( tere co%es tat $loriousda( #en te bisop and sta.e president in"ite te (oun$ %an in for a "isit& ortinessis ascertained; a %issionar( reco%%endation is co%pleted&

Burin$ no oter ti%e does te entire fa%il( so an-iousl( #atc and #ait for te %ail%anand te letter #ic contains te return address D East outh em!le, alt 2ake $ity , 5tah& Te letter arri"es; te suspense is o"er#el%in$; te call is read& Often teassi$ned eld of labor is far a#a( fro% o%e& Ie$ardless of te location, o#e"er, teresponse of te prepared and obedient %issionar( is te sa%e: ) #ill ser"e&7

9reparations for departure be$in& Koun$ %en, ) ope (ou appreciate te sacrices #ic(our parents so #illin$l( %a.e in order for (ou to ser"e& Teir labors #ill sustain (ou,teir fait encoura$e (ou, teir pra(ers upold (ou& A %ission is a fa%il( aair& Tou$te e-panse of continents or oceans %a( separate, earts are as one&

retren, as (ou plan #it purpose (our li"es, re%e%ber tat (our %issionar(opportunities are not restricted to te period of a for%al call& !or tose of (ou #o ser"ein te %ilitar(, suc ti%e can and sould be protable& ac (ear our (oun$ %en inunifor% brin$ %an( souls into te .in$do% of God b( onorin$ teir priestood, li"in$te co%%and%ents of God, and teacin$ to oters te Lord=s di"ine #ord&

Bo not o"erloo. (our pri"ile$e to be %issionaries #ile (ou are pursuin$ (our for%aleducation& Kour e-a%ple as a Latter/da( +aint #ill be obser"ed, #ei$ed, and oftti%ese%ulated&


https://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2013/04/come-all-ye-sons-of-god?lang=eng#4-10785_000_36monson







retren, #ate"er (our a$e, #ate"er (our circu%stance, ) ad%onis (ou to plan (ourlife #it purpose&

<o# to te tird point in our for%ula: teac te trut #it testi%on(&

Obe( te counsel of te Apostle 9eter, #o ur$ed, e read( al#a(s to $i"e an ans#er toe"er( %an tat as.et (ou a reason of te ope tat is in (ou&7 5 Lift up (our "oices andtestif( to te true nature of te Godead& Beclare (our #itness concernin$ te oo. of

'or%on& Con"e( te $lorious and beautiful truts contained in te plan of sal"ation&

en ) ser"ed as a %ission president in Canada %ore tan 50 (ears a$o, one (oun$%issionar( #o ca%e fro% a s%all, rural co%%unit( %ar"eled at te sie of Toronto& *e#as sort in stature but tall in testi%on(& <ot lon$ after is arri"al, to$eter #it isco%panion, e called at te o%e of l%er 9ollard in Osa#a, Ontario, Canada& !eelin$sorr( for te (oun$ %en #o, durin$ a blindin$ bliard, #ere $oin$ ouse to ouse,'r& 9ollard in"ited te %issionaries into is o%e& Te( presented to i% teir %essa$e&*e did not catc te spirit& )n due ti%e e as.ed tat te( lea"e and not return& *is last#ords to te elders as te( departed is front porc #ere spo.en in derision: Kou can=ttell %e (ou actuall( belie"e Mosep +%it #as a propet of GodF7

Te door #as sut& Te elders #al.ed do#n te pat& Our countr( bo( spo.e to isco%panion: lder, #e didn=t respond to 'r& 9ollard& *e said #e didn=t belie"e Mosep+%it #as a true propet& Let=s return and bear our testi%onies to i%&7 At rst te %oree-perienced %issionar( esitated but nall( a$reed to acco%pan( is co%panion& !earstruc. teir earts as te( approaced te door fro% #ic te( ad Dust been eDected& Te( .noc.ed, confronted 'r& 9ollard, spent an a$oniin$ %o%ent, and ten #it po#erborne of te +pirit, our ine-perienced %issionar( spo.e: 'r& 9ollard, (ou said #e didn=treall( belie"e Mosep +%it #as a propet of God& ) testif( to (ou tat Mosep was apropet& *e did translate te oo. of 'or%on& *e sa# God te !ater and Mesus te +on&) .no# it&7

+o%e ti%e later, 'r& 9ollard, no# roter 9ollard, stood in a priestood %eetin$ anddeclared, Tat ni$t ) could not sleep& Iesoundin$ in %( ears ) eard te #ords RMosep+%it #as a propet of God& ) .no# it& ) .no# it& ) .no# it&= Te ne-t da( ) teleponed te%issionaries and as.ed te% to return& Teir %essa$e, coupled #it teir testi%onies,can$ed %( life and te li"es of %( fa%il(&7 retren, teac te trut #it testi%on(&

Te nal point in our for%ula is to ser"e te Lord #it lo"e& Tere is no substitute forlo"e& +uccessful %issionaries lo"e teir co%panions, teir %ission leaders, and teprecious persons #o% te( teac& )n te fourt section of te Boctrine and Co"enants,te Lord establised te ualications for te labors of te %inistr(& Let us consider but afe# "erses:

O (e tat e%bar. in te ser"ice of God, see tat (e ser"e i% #it all (our eart, %i$t,%ind and stren$t, tat (e %a( stand bla%eless before God at te last da(& H

And fait, ope, carit( and lo"e, #it an e(e sin$le to te $lor( of God, ualif( i% forte #or.&

Ie%e%ber fait, "irtue, .no#led$e, te%perance, patience, broterl( .indness,$odliness, carit(, u%ilit(, dili$ence&76


http://lds.org/study/topics/god-the-father?lang=eng

http://lds.org/study/topics/doctrine-and-covenants?lang=eng



http://lds.org/study/topics/god-the-father?lang=eng

http://lds.org/study/topics/doctrine-and-covenants?lang=eng




ell %i$t eac of (ou #itin te sound of %( "oice as. i%self te uestion Toda(,a"e ) increased in fait, in "irtue, in .no#led$e, in $odliness, in lo"eE7

Trou$ (our dedicated de"otion at o%e or abroad, tose souls #o% (ou elp to sa"e%a( #ell be tose #o% (ou lo"e te %ost&

'an( (ears a$o dear friends of %ine, Crai$ +udbur( and is %oter, 9earl, ca%e to %(o4ce prior to Crai$=s departure for te Australia 'elbourne 'ission& !red +udbur(,

Crai$=s fater, #as noticeabl( absent& T#ent(/"e (ears earlier, Crai$=s %oter ad%arried !red, #o did not sare er lo"e for te Curc and, indeed, #as not a %e%ber&

Crai$ conded to %e is deep and abidin$ lo"e for is parents and is ope tatso%eo#, in so%e #a(, is fater #ould be touced b( te +pirit and open is eart tote $ospel of Mesus Crist& ) pra(ed for inspiration concernin$ o# suc a desire %i$t befullled& Te inspiration ca%e, and ) said to Crai$, +er"e te Lord #it all (our eart& eobedient to (our sacred callin$& ac #ee. #rite a letter to (our parents, and onoccasion, #rite to Bad personall(, and let i% .no# o# %uc (ou lo"e i%, and tell i%#( (ou=re $rateful to be is son&7 *e tan.ed %e and, #it is %oter, departed teo4ce&

) #as not to see Crai$=s %oter for so%e 18 %onts, #en se ca%e to %( o4ce and, insentences punctuated b( tears, said to %e, )t as been al%ost t#o (ears since Crai$ leftfor is %ission& *e as ne"er failed in #ritin$ a letter to us eac #ee.& Iecentl(, %(usband, !red, stood for te rst ti%e in a testi%on( %eetin$ and surprised %e andsoc.ed e"er(one #o #as tere b( announcin$ tat e ad %ade te decision tobeco%e a %e%ber of te Curc& *e indicated tat e and ) #ould $o to Australia to%eet Crai$ at te conclusion of is %ission so tat !red could be Crai$=s nal baptis% asa full/ti%e %issionar(&7

<o %issionar( stood so tall as did Crai$ +udbur( #en, in far/o Australia, e elped isfater into #ater #aist/deep and, raisin$ is ri$t ar% to te suare, repeated tosesacred #ords: !rederic. Carles +udbur(, a"in$ been co%%issioned of Mesus Crist, )baptie (ou in te na%e of te !ater, and of te +on, and of te *ol( Gost&7

Lo"e ad #on its "ictor(& +er"e te Lord #it lo"e&

retren, %a( eac one of us searc te scriptures #it dili$ence, plan is life #itpurpose, teac te trut #it testi%on(, and ser"e te Lord #it lo"e&

Te perfect +eperd of our souls, te %issionar( #o redee%ed %an.ind, $a"e us *isdi"ine assurance:

)f it so be tat (ou sould labor all (our da(s in cr(in$ repentance unto tis people, andbrin$, sa"e it be one soul unto %e, o# $reat sall be (our Do( #it i% in te .in$do%of %( !aterF

And no#, if (our Do( #ill be $reat #it one soul tat (ou a"e brou$t unto %e into te.in$do% of %( !ater, o# $reat #ill be (our Do( if (ou sould brin$ %an( souls unto%eF7J







Of *i% #o spo.e tese #ords ) declare %( #itness: *e is te +on of God, ourIedee%er, and our +a"ior&

) pra( tat #e %a( e"er respond to *is $entle in"itation, !ollo# tou %e&78 )n *is ol(na%ee"en te na%e of Mesus Crist te Lorda%en&

April 201> General ConferenceObedience rin$s lessin$s


A .no#led$e of trut and te ans#ers to our $reatest uestions co%e to usas #e are obedient to te co%%and%ents of God&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, o# $rateful ) a% to be #it (ou tis %ornin$& ) see. aninterest in (our fait and pra(ers as ) respond to te pri"ile$e to address (ou&

Trou$out te a$es, %en and #o%en a"e sou$t for .no#led$e and understandin$concernin$ tis %ortal e-istence and teir place and purpose in it, as #ell as for te #a(to peace and appiness& +uc a searc is underta.en b( eac of us&

Tis .no#led$e and understandin$ are a"ailable to all %an.ind& Te( are contained intruts #ic are eternal& )n Boctrine and Co"enants section 1, "erse >, #e read,eold, and lo, te Lord is God, and te +pirit bearet record, and te record is true,and te trut abidet fore"er and e"er&7

Te poet #rote:

To te ea"ens depart and te eart=s fountains burst, Trut, te su% of e-istence, #ill #eater te #orst,ternal, uncan$ed, e"er%ore&1

+o%e #ould as., ere is suc trut to be found, and o# are #e to reco$nie itE7 )n are"elation $i"en trou$ te 9ropet Mosep +%it at irtland, Oio, in 'a( of 18>>, teLord declared:

Trut is .no#led$e of tin$s as te( are, and as te( #ere, and as te( are to co%e& H

Te +pirit of trut is of God& H

And no %an recei"et a fulness unless e .eepet is co%%and%ents&

*e tat .eepet ?God=s@ co%%and%ents recei"et trut and li$t, until e is $loried intrut and .no#et all tin$s&72

at a $lorious pro%iseF *e tat .eepet ?God=s@ co%%and%ents recei"et trut andli$t, until e is $loried in trut and .no#et all tin$s&7



https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/1.39?lang=eng#38

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2013/04/obedience-brings-blessings?lang=eng#1-10785_000_46monson

http://mormon.org/joseph-smith




https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/1.39?lang=eng#38






Tere is no need for (ou or for %e, in tis enli$tened a$e #en te fulness of te$ospel as been restored, to sail uncarted seas or to tra"el un%ar.ed roads in searc oftrut& A lo"in$ *ea"enl( !ater as plotted our course and pro"ided an unfailin$ $uidee"en obedience" A .no#led$e of trut and te ans#ers to our $reatest uestions co%eto us as #e are obedient to te co%%and%ents of God&

e learn obedience trou$out our li"es& e$innin$ #en #e are "er( (oun$, toseresponsible for our care set fort $uidelines and rules to ensure our safet(& Life #ould be

si%pler for all of us if #e #ould obe( suc rules co%pletel(& 'an( of us, o#e"er, learntrou$ e-perience te #isdo% of bein$ obedient&

en ) #as $ro#in$ up, eac su%%er fro% earl( Mul( until earl( +epte%ber, %( fa%il( sta(ed at our cabin at Wi"ian 9ar. in 9ro"o Can(on in Uta&

One of %( best friends durin$ tose carefree da(s in te can(on #as Bann( Larsen,#ose fa%il( also o#ned a cabin at Wi"ian 9ar.& ac da( e and ) roa%ed tis bo(=sparadise, sin$ in te strea% and te ri"er, collectin$ roc.s and oter treasures, i.in$,cli%bin$, and si%pl( enDo(in$ eac %inute of eac our of eac da(&

One %ornin$ Bann( and ) decided #e #anted to a"e a ca%pre tat e"enin$ #it allour can(on friends& e Dust needed to clear an area in a nearb( eld #ere #e could all$ater& Te Mune $rass #ic co"ered te eld ad beco%e dr( and pric.l(, %a.in$ teeld unsuitable for our purposes& e be$an to pull at te tall $rass, plannin$ to clear alar$e, circular area& e tu$$ed and (an.ed #it all our %i$t, but all #e could $et #eres%all andfuls of te stubborn #eeds& e .ne# tis tas. #ould ta.e te entire da(, andalread( our ener$( and entusias% #ere #anin$&

And ten #at ) tou$t #as te perfect solution ca%e into %( ei$t/(ear/old %ind& )said to Bann(, All #e need is to set tese #eeds on re& e=ll Dust burn a circle in te#eedsF7 *e readil( a$reed, and ) ran to our cabin to $et a fe# %atces&

Lest an( of (ou tin. tat at te tender a$e of ei$t #e #ere per%itted to use %atces, )#ant to %a.e it clear tat bot Bann( and ) #ere forbidden to use te% #itout adultsuper"ision& ot of us ad been #arned repeatedl( of te dan$ers of re& *o#e"er, ).ne# #ere %( fa%il( .ept te %atces, and #e needed to clear tat eld& itout so%uc as a second tou$t, ) ran to our cabin and $rabbed a fe# %atcstic.s, %a.in$certain no one #as #atcin$& ) id te% uic.l( in one of %( poc.ets&

ac. to Bann( ) ran, e-cited tat in %( poc.et ) ad te solution to our proble%& ) recalltin.in$ tat te re #ould burn onl( as far as #e #anted and ten #ould so%eo#%a$icall( e-tin$uis itself&

) struc. a %atc on a roc. and set te parced Mune $rass ablae& )t i$nited as tou$ itad been drenced in $asoline& At rst Bann( and ) #ere trilled as #e #atced te#eeds disappear, but it soon beca%e apparent tat te re #as not about to $o out onits o#n& e panic.ed as #e realied tere #as notin$ #e could do to stop it& Te%enacin$ 3a%es be$an to follo# te #ild $rass up te %ountainside, endan$erin$ tepine trees and e"er(tin$ else in teir pat&

!inall( #e ad no option but to run for elp& +oon all a"ailable %en and #o%en at Wi"ian9ar. #ere dasin$ bac. and fort #it #et burlap ba$s, beatin$ at te 3a%es in an





atte%pt to e-tin$uis te%& After se"eral ours te last re%ainin$ e%bers #eres%otered& Te a$es/old pine trees ad been sa"ed, as #ere te o%es te 3a%es#ould e"entuall( a"e reaced&

Bann( and ) learned se"eral di4cult but i%portant lessons tat da(not te least of#ic #as te i%portance of obedience&

Tere are rules and la#s to elp ensure our p(sical safet(& Li.e#ise, te Lord as

pro"ided $uidelines and co%%and%ents to elp ensure our spiritual safet( so tat #e%i$t successfull( na"i$ate tis often/treacerous %ortal e-istence and returne"entuall( to our *ea"enl( !ater&

Centuries a$o, to a $eneration steeped in te tradition of ani%al sacrice, +a%uel boldl(declared, To obe( is better tan sacrice, and to ear.en tan te fat of ra%s&7>

)n tis dispensation, te Lord re"ealed to te 9ropet Mosep +%it tat *e reuires teeart and a #illin$ %ind; and te #illin$ and obedient sall eat te $ood of te land ofYion in tese last da(s&7

All propets, ancient and %odern, a"e .no#n tat obedience is essential to oursal"ation& <epi declared, ) #ill $o and do te tin$s #ic te Lord at co%%anded&75

Tou$ oters faltered in teir fait and teir obedience, ne"er once did <epi fail to dotat #ic te Lord as.ed of i%& Untold $enerations a"e been blessed as a result&

A soul/stirrin$ account of obedience is tat of Abraa% and )saac& *o# painfull( di4cultit %ust a"e been for Abraa%, in obedience to God=s co%%and, to ta.e is belo"ed)saac into te land of 'oria to oer i% as a sacrice& Can #e i%a$ine te ea"iness ofAbraa%=s eart as e Dourne(ed to te appointed placeE +urel( an$uis %ust a"erac.ed is bod( and tortured is %ind as e bound )saac, laid i% on te altar, and too.te .nife to sla( i%& it un#a"erin$ fait and i%plicit trust in te Lord, e respondedto te Lord=s co%%and& *o# $lorious #as te pronounce%ent, and #it #at #ondered#elco%e did it co%e: La( not tine and upon te lad, neiter do tou an( tin$ untoi%: for no# ) .no# tat tou fearest God, seein$ tou ast not #iteld t( son, tineonl( son fro% %e&76

Abraa% ad been tried and tested, and for is faitfulness and obedience te Lord $a"ei% tis $lorious pro%ise: )n t( seed sall all te nations of te eart be blessed;because tou ast obe(ed %( "oice&7J

Altou$ #e are not as.ed to pro"e our obedience in suc a dra%atic and eart/#rencin$ #a(, obedience is reuired of us as #ell&

Beclared 9resident Mosep !& +%it in October 18J>, Obedience is te rst la# ofea"en&78

+aid 9resident Gordon & *inc.le(, Te appiness of te Latter/da( +aints, te peace ofte Latter/da( +aints, te pro$ress of te Latter/da( +aints, te prosperit( of te Latter/da( +aints, and te eternal sal"ation and e-altation of tis people lie in #al.in$ inobedience to te counsels of H God&7

















) pra( tat te Lord #ill bless and .eep (ou, %( broters and sisters& 'a(*is pro%ised peace be #it (ou no# and al#a(s&

'( broters and sisters, #at a $lorious conference #e a"e ad& ) .no# (ou #ill a$ree#it %e tat te %essa$es a"e been inspirin$& Our earts a"e been touced, and ourtesti%onies of tis di"ine #or. a"e been stren$tened as #e a"e felt te +pirit of teLord& 'a( #e lon$ re%e%ber #at #e a"e eard tese past t#o da(s& ) ur$e (ou tostud( te %essa$es furter #en te( are printed in co%in$ issues of te Ensign and2iahona %a$aines&

e e-press our $ratitude to eac one #o as spo.en to us, as #ell as to tose #oa"e oered pra(ers& )n addition, te %usic as been upliftin$ and inspirin$& e lo"e our#onderful Tabernacle Coir and tan. all oters #o pro"ided %usic as #ell&

e Doin to$eter in e-pressin$ our $ratitude to tose of te presidenc( and board of te$eneral Koun$ o%en, #o #ere released (esterda(& Teir ser"ice as been outstandin$and teir dedication co%plete&

e a"e sustained, b( uplifted ands, bretren and sisters #o a"e been called to ne#positions durin$ tis conference& e #ant all of te% to .no# tat #e loo. for#ard toser"in$ #it te% in te cause of te 'aster&

e are a #orld#ide Curc, broters and sisters& Our %e%bersip is found across te$lobe& ) ad%onis (ou to be $ood citiens of te nations in #ic (ou li"e and $oodnei$bors in (our co%%unities, reacin$ out to tose of oter faits as #ell as to ouro#n& 'a( #e be tolerant of, as #ell as .ind and lo"in$ to, tose #o do not sare ourbeliefs and our standards& Te +a"ior brou$t to tis eart a %essa$e of lo"e and$ood#ill to all %en and #o%en& 'a( #e e"er follo# *is e-a%ple&

) pra( tat #e %a( be a#are of te needs of tose around us& Tere are so%e,particularl( a%on$ te (oun$, #o are tra$icall( in"ol"ed in dru$s, i%%oralit(,porno$rap(, and so on& Tere are tose #o are lonel(, includin$ #ido#s and #ido#ers,#o lon$ for te co%pan( and concern of oters& 'a( #e e"er be read( to e-tend tote% a elpin$ and and a lo"in$ eart&

e li"e at a ti%e in te #orld=s istor( #en tere are %an( di4cult callen$es but also$reat opportunities and reasons for reDoicin$& Tere are, of course, tose ti%es #en #ee-perience disappoint%ents, eartaces, and e"en tra$edies in our li"es& *o#e"er, if #e#ill put our trust in te Lord, *e #ill elp us trou$ our di4culties, #ate"er te( %a(be& Te 9sal%ist pro"ided tis assurance: eepin$ %a( endure for a ni$t, but Do(

co%et in te %ornin$&71

'( broters and sisters, ) #ant (ou to .no# o# $rateful ) a% for te $ospel of MesusCrist, restored in tese latter da(s trou$ te 9ropet Mosep +%it& )t is te .e( to ourappiness& 'a( #e be u%ble and pra(erful, a"in$ te fait tat our *ea"enl( !atercan $uide and bless us in our li"es&

) bear %( personal #itness and testi%on( to (ou tat God li"es, tat *e ears tepra(ers of u%ble earts& *is +on, our +a"ior and Iedee%er, spea.s to eac of us:eold, ) stand at te door, and .noc.: if an( %an ear %( "oice, and open te door, )#ill co%e in to i%&72 'a( #e belie"e tese #ords and ta.e ad"anta$e of tis pro%ise&

http://lds.org/topic/gratitude/

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http://lds.org/study/topics/pornography?lang=eng








As tis conference no# concludes, ) in"o.e te blessin$s of ea"en upon eac of (ou&'a( (our o%es be lled #it peace, ar%on(, courtes(, and lo"e& 'a( te( be lled#it te +pirit of te Lord& 'a( (ou nurture and nouris (our testi%onies of te $ospel,tat te( #ill be a protection to (ou a$ainst te buetin$s of +atan&

Until #e %eet a$ain in si- %onts, ) pra( tat te Lord #ill bless and .eep (ou, %(broters and sisters& 'a( *is pro%ised peace be #it (ou no# and al#a(s& Tan. (ou for(our pra(ers in %( bealf and in bealf of all of te General Autorities& e are deepl(

$rateful for (ou& )n te na%e of our +a"ior and Iedee%er, #o% #e ser"e, e"en MesusCrist, te Lord, a%en&

October 201> General Conferencee <e"er al. Alone


Kou #ill one da( stand aside and loo. at (our di4cult ti%es, and (ou #illrealie tat *e #as al#a(s tere beside (ou&

'( dear sisters, te spirit #e feel tis e"enin$ is a re3ection of (our stren$t, (ourde"otion, and (our $oodness& To uote te 'aster: Ke are te salt of te eart& H Ke arete li$t of te #orld&71

As ) a"e conte%plated %( opportunit( to address (ou, ) a"e been re%inded of te lo"e%( dear #ife, !rances, ad for Ielief +ociet(& Burin$ er lifeti%e se ser"ed in %an(positions in Ielief +ociet(& en se and ) #ere bot Dust >1 (ears of a$e, ) #as called tobe president of te Canadian 'ission& Burin$ te tree (ears of tat assi$n%ent, !rances

presided o"er all of te Ielief +ocieties in tat "ast area, #ic enco%passed tepro"inces of Ontario and Nuebec& +o%e of er closest friendsips ca%e as a result oftat assi$n%ent, as #ell as fro% te %an( callin$s se later lled in our o#n #ard Ielief+ociet(& +e #as a faitful dau$ter of our *ea"enl( !ater, %( belo"ed co%panion, and%( dearest friend& ) %iss er %ore tan #ords can e-press&

) too lo"e Ielief +ociet(& ) testif( to (ou tat it #as or$anied b( inspiration and is a "italpart of te Lord=s Curc ere upon te eart& )t #ould be i%possible to calculate all te$ood #ic as co%e fro% tis or$aniation and all te li"es #ic a"e been blessedbecause of it&

Ielief +ociet( is %ade up of a "ariet( of #o%en& Tere are tose of (ou #o are sin$leperaps in scool, peraps #or.in$(et for$in$ a full and ric life& +o%e of (ou are bus(%oters of $ro#in$ cildren& +till oters of (ou a"e lost (our usbands because ofdi"orce or deat and are stru$$lin$ to raise (our cildren #itout te elp of a usbandand fater& +o%e of (ou a"e raised (our cildren but a"e realied tat teir need for(our elp is on$oin$& Tere are %an( of (ou #o a"e a$in$ parents #o reuire telo"in$ care onl( (ou can $i"e&

ere"er #e are in life, tere are ti%es #en all of us a"e callen$es and stru$$les&Altou$ te( are dierent for eac, te( are co%%on to all&


http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/print/general-relief-society-meeting/2013/09/we-never-walk-alone?lang=eng#1-10791_000_64monson





'an( of te callen$es #e face e-ist because #e li"e in tis %ortal #orld, populated b(all %anner of indi"iduals& At ti%es #e as. in desperation, *o# can ) .eep %( si$tsr%l( -ed on te celestial as ) na"i$ate trou$ tis telestial #orldE7

Tere #ill be ti%es #en (ou #ill #al. a pat stre#n #it torns and %ar.ed b(stru$$le& Tere %a( be ti%es #en (ou feel detacede"en isolatedfro% te Gi"er ofe"er( $ood $ift& Kou #orr( tat (ou #al. alone& !ear replaces fait&

en (ou nd (ourself in suc circu%stances, ) plead #it (ou to re%e%ber pra(er& )lo"e te #ords of 9resident ra Taft enson concernin$ pra(er& +aid e:

All trou$ %( life te counsel to depend on pra(er as been pried abo"e al%ost an(oter ad"ice ) a"e H recei"ed& )t as beco%e an inte$ral part of %ean ancor, aconstant source of stren$t, and te basis of %( .no#led$e of tin$s di"ine& H

H Tou$ re"erses co%e, in pra(er #e can nd reassurance, for God #ill spea. peaceto te soul& Tat peace, tat spirit of serenit(, is life=s $reatest blessin$&72

Te Apostle 9aul ad%onised:

Let (our reuests be %ade .no#n unto God&

And te peace of God, #ic passet all understandin$, sall .eep (our earts and%inds trou$ Crist Mesus&7>

at a $lorious pro%iseF 9eace is tat #ic #e see., tat for #ic #e (earn&

e #ere not placed on tis eart to #al. alone& at an a%ain$ source of po#er, ofstren$t, and of co%fort is a"ailable to eac of us& *e #o .no#s us better tan #e.no# oursel"es, *e #o sees te lar$er picture and #o .no#s te end fro% tebe$innin$, as assured us tat *e #ill be tere for us to pro"ide elp if #e but as.& ea"e te pro%ise: 9ra( al#a(s, and be belie"in$, and all tin$s sall #or. to$eter for(our $ood&7

As our pra(ers ascend ea"en#ard, let us not for$et te #ords tau$t to us b( te+a"ior& en *e faced te e-cruciatin$ a$on( of Getse%ane and te cross, *e pra(edto te !ater, <ot %( #ill, but tine, be done&75 Bi4cult as it %a( at ti%es be, it is forus, as #ell, to trust our *ea"enl( !ater to .no# best o# and #en and in #at %annerto pro"ide te elp #e see.&

) ceris te #ords of te poet:

) .no# not b( #at %etods rare,ut tis ) .no#, God ans#ers pra(er&) .no# tat *e as $i"en *is ord,ic tells %e pra(er is al#a(s eard,And #ill be ans#ered, soon or late&And so ) pra( and cal%l( #ait&) .no# not if te blessin$ sou$till co%e in Dust te #a( ) tou$t;ut lea"e %( pra(ers #it *i% alone,











ose #ill is #iser tan %( o#n,Assured tat *e #ill $rant %( uest,Or send so%e ans#er far %ore blest&6

Of course, pra(er is not Dust for ti%es of trouble& e are told repeatedl( in te scripturesto pra( al#a(s7J and to .eep a pra(er in our earts&8 Te #ords of a fa"orite andfa%iliar (%n pose a uestion #ic #e #ould do #ell to as. oursel"es dail(: Bid (outin. to pra(E7

Allied #it pra(er in elpin$ us cope in our often di4cult #orld is scripture stud(& Te#ords of trut and inspiration found in our four standard #or.s are pried possessions to%e& ) ne"er tire of readin$ te%& ) a% lifted spirituall( #ene"er ) searc te scriptures& Tese ol( #ords of trut and lo"e $i"e $uidance to %( life and point te #a( to eternalperfection&

As #e read and ponder te scriptures, #e #ill e-perience te s#eet #isperin$s of te+pirit to our souls& e can nd ans#ers to our uestions& e learn of te blessin$s #icco%e trou$ .eepin$ God=s co%%and%ents& e $ain a sure testi%on( of our *ea"enl(!ater and our +a"ior, Mesus Crist, and of Teir lo"e for us& en scripture stud( is

co%bined #it our pra(ers, #e can of a certaint( .no# tat te $ospel of Mesus Crist istrue&

+aid 9resident Gordon & *inc.le(, 'a( te Lord bless eac of us to feast upon is ol(?#ords@ and to dra# fro% ?te%@ tat stren$t, tat peace, ?and@ tat .no#led$e R#icpasset all understandin$= 9ilip& :JP&710

As #e re%e%ber pra(er and ta.e ti%e to turn to te scriptures, our li"es #ill be innitel(%ore blessed and our burdens #ill be %ade li$ter&

'a( ) sare #it (ou te account of o# our *ea"enl( !ater ans#ered te pra(ers andpleadin$s of one #o%an and pro"ided er te peace and assurance se so desperatel(sou$tE

Tian(=s di4culties be$an last (ear #en se ad $uests at er o%e for Tan.s$i"in$and ten a$ain for Crist%as& *er usband ad been in %edical scool and #as no# inte second (ear of is %edical residenc(& ecause of te lon$ #or. ours reuired ofi%, e #as not able to elp er as %uc as te( bot #ould a"e li.ed, and so %ost oftat #ic needed to be acco%plised durin$ tis olida( season, in addition to te careof teir four (oun$ cildren, fell to Tian(& +e #as beco%in$ o"er#el%ed, and tense learned tat one #o #as dear to er ad been dia$nosed #it cancer& Te stressand #orr( be$an to ta.e a ea"( toll on er, and se slipped into a period ofdiscoura$e%ent and depression& +e sou$t %edical elp, and (et notin$ can$ed& *erappetite disappeared, and se be$an to lose #ei$t, #ic er tin( fra%e could ill aord&+e sou$t peace trou$ te scriptures and pra(ed for deli"erance fro% te $loo%#ic #as o"erta.in$ er& en neiter peace nor elp see%ed to co%e, se be$an tofeel abandoned b( God& *er fa%il( and friends pra(ed for er and tried desperatel( toelp& Te( deli"ered er fa"orite foods in an atte%pt to .eep er p(sicall( ealt(, butse could ta.e onl( a fe# bites and ten #ould be unable to nis&





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http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/philip/4.7?lang=eng#6




On one particularl( tr(in$ da(, a friend atte%pted in "ain to entice er #it foods sead al#a(s lo"ed& en notin$ #or.ed, te friend said, Tere %ust be something tatsounds $ood to (ou&7

Tian( tou$t for a %o%ent and said, Te onl( tin$ ) can tin. of tat sounds $ood iso%e%ade bread&7

ut tere #as none on and&

Te follo#in$ afternoon Tian(=s doorbell ran$& *er usband appened to be o%e andans#ered it& en e returned, e #as carr(in$ a loaf of o%e%ade bread& Tian( #asastonised #en e told er it ad co%e fro% a #o%an na%ed +errie, #o% te(barel( .ne#& +e #as a friend of Tian(=s sister <icole, #o li"ed in Ben"er, Colorado&+errie ad been introduced to Tian( and er usband brie3( se"eral %onts earlier#en <icole and er fa%il( #ere sta(in$ #it Tian( for Tan.s$i"in$& +errie, #o li"edin O%aa, ad co%e to Tian(=s o%e to "isit #it <icole&

<o#, %onts later, #it te delicious bread in and, Tian( called er sister <icole totan. er for sendin$ +errie on an errand of %erc(& )nstead, se learned <icole ad not

insti$ated te "isit and ad no .no#led$e of it&

Te rest of te stor( unfolded as <icole cec.ed #it er friend +errie to nd out #atad pro%pted er to deli"er tat loaf of bread& at se learned #as an inspiration toer, to Tian(, to +errieand it is an inspiration to %e&

On tat particular %ornin$ of te bread deli"er(, +errie ad been pro%pted to %a.et#o loa"es of bread instead of te one se ad planned to %a.e& +e said se felti%pressed to ta.e te second loaf #it er in er car tat da(, altou$ se didn=t .no##(& After lunc at a friend=s o%e, er one/(ear/old dau$ter be$an to cr( and neededto be ta.en o%e for a nap& +errie esitated #en te un%ista.able feelin$ ca%e toer tat se needed to deli"er tat e-tra loaf of bread to <icole=s sister Tian(, #o li"ed>0 %inutes a#a( on te oter side of to#n and #o% se barel( .ne#& +e tried torationalie a#a( te tou$t, #antin$ to $et er "er( tired dau$ter o%e and feelin$seepis about deli"erin$ a loaf of bread to people #o #ere al%ost stran$ers& *o#e"er,te i%pression to $o to Tian(=s o%e #as stron$, so se eeded te pro%ptin$&

en se arri"ed, Tian(=s usband ans#ered te door& +errie re%inded i% tat se#as <icole=s friend #o% e=d %et brie3( at Tan.s$i"in$, anded i% te loaf of bread,and left&

And so it appened tat te Lord sent a "irtual stran$er across to#n to deli"er not Dustte desired o%e%ade bread but also a clear %essa$e of lo"e to Tian(& at appenedto er cannot be e-plained in an( oter #a(& +e ad an ur$ent need to feel tat se#asn=t alonetat God #as a#are of er and ad not abandoned er& Tat breadte"er( tin$ se #anted#as deli"ered to er b( so%eone se barel( .ne#, so%eone #oad no .no#led$e of er need but #o listened to te pro%ptin$ of te +pirit andfollo#ed tat pro%ptin$& )t beca%e an ob"ious si$n to Tian( tat er *ea"enl( !ater#as a#are of er needs and lo"ed er enou$ to send elp& *e ad responded to ercries for relief&



'( dear sisters, (our *ea"enl( !ater lo"es (oueac of (ou& Tat lo"e ne"er can$es&)t is not in3uenced b( (our appearance, b( (our possessions, or b( te a%ount of %one((ou a"e in (our ban. account& )t is not can$ed b( (our talents and abilities& )t is si%pl(tere& )t is tere for (ou #en (ou are sad or app(, discoura$ed or opeful& God=s lo"eis tere for (ou #eter or not (ou feel (ou deser"e lo"e& )t is si%pl( al#a(s tere&

As #e see. our *ea"enl( !ater trou$ fer"ent, sincere pra(er and earnest, dedicatedscripture stud(, our testi%onies #ill beco%e stron$ and deepl( rooted& e #ill .no# of

God=s lo"e for us& e #ill understand tat #e do not e"er #al. alone& ) pro%ise (ou tat(ou #ill one da( stand aside and loo. at (our di4cult ti%es, and (ou #ill realie tat *e#as al#a(s tere beside (ou& ) .no# tis to be true in te passin$ of %( eternalco%panion!rances e"erl( Monson 'onson&

) lea"e #it (ou %( blessin$& ) lea"e #it (ou %( $ratitude for all te $ood (ou do andfor te li"es (ou lead& Tat (ou %a( be blessed #it e"er( $ood $ift is %( pra(er in tena%e of our +a"ior and Iedee%er, e"en Mesus Crist te Lord, a%en&

October 201> General Conferenceelco%e to Conference


)t is %( pra(er tat #e %a( be lled #it te +pirit of te Lord as #e listenand learn& *o# $ood it is, %( belo"ed broters and sisters, to %eet to$eter once a$ain& )t asbeen Dust o"er 18> (ears since te Curc #as or$anied b( te 9ropet Mosep +%it,

under te direction of te Lord& At tat %eetin$ on April 6, 18>0, tere #ere si- %e%bersof te Curc present&1

) a% app( to announce tat t#o #ee.s a$o, te %e%bersip of te Curc reaced 15%illion& Te Curc continues to $ro# steadil( and to can$e te li"es of %ore and %orepeople e"er( (ear& )t is spreadin$ across te eart as our %issionar( force see.s outtose #o are searcin$ for te trut&

)t as scarcel( been one (ear since ) announced te lo#erin$ of te a$e of %issionar(ser"ice& +ince tat ti%e te nu%ber of full/ti%e %issionaries ser"in$ as increased fro%58,500 in October 2012 to 80,>>> toda(& at a tre%endous and inspirin$ response #e

a"e #itnessedF

Te ol( scriptures contain no procla%ation %ore rele"ant, no responsibilit( %orebindin$, no instruction %ore direct tan te inDunction $i"en b( te resurrected Lord as*e appeared in Galilee to te ele"en disciples& +aid *e, Go (e terefore, and teac allnations, baptiin$ te% in te na%e of te !ater, and of te +on, and of te *ol(Gost&72 Te 9ropet Mosep +%it declared, After all tat as been said, te $reatestand %ost i%portant dut( is to preac te Gospel&7> +o%e of (ou ere toda( #ill (etre%e%ber te #ords of 9resident Ba"id O& 'ca(, #o prased te fa%iliar "er(%e%ber a %issionar(F7



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To teir #ords ) add %( o#n& <o# is te ti%e for %e%bers and %issionaries to co%eto$eter, to #or. to$eter, to labor in te Lord=s "ine(ard to brin$ souls unto *i%& *eas prepared te %eans for us to sare te $ospel in a %ultitude of #a(s, and *e #illassist us in our labors if #e #ill act in fait to fulll *is #or.&

To elp %aintain our e"er/increasin$ %issionar( force, ) a"e as.ed our %e%bers in tepast to contribute, as te( are able, to teir #ard %issionar( fund or to te General'issionar( !und of te Curc& Te response to tat reuest as been $ratif(in$ and as

elped support tousands of %issionaries #ose circu%stances do not allo# te% tosupport te%sel"es& ) tan. (ou for (our $enerous contributions& Te need for elp ison$oin$, tat #e %i$t continue to assist tose #ose desire to ser"e is $reat but #odo not, b( te%sel"es, a"e te %eans to do so&

<o#, broters and sisters, #e a"e co%e ere to be instructed and inspired& 'an(%essa$es, co"erin$ a "ariet( of $ospel topics, #ill be $i"en durin$ te ne-t t#o da(s& Tose %en and #o%en #o #ill spea. to (ou a"e sou$t ea"en=s elp concernin$ te%essa$es te( #ill $i"e&

)t is %( pra(er tat #e %a( be lled #it te +pirit of te Lord as #e listen and learn& )n

te na%e of our +a"ior, Mesus Crist, a%en&

October 201> General Conference True +eperds


*o%e teacin$ ans#ers %an( pra(ers and per%its us to see te

transfor%ations #ic can ta.e place in people=s li"es&

Toni$t in te Conference Center in +alt La.e Cit( and in locations far and near areasse%bled tose #o bear te priestood of God& Trul( (ou are a ro(al priestood7e"en a cosen $eneration,7 as te Apostle 9eter declared&1 ) a% onored to a"e tepri"ile$e to address (ou&

en ) #as $ro#in$ up, eac su%%er our fa%il( #ould dri"e to 9ro"o Can(on, about 5%iles J2 .%P sout and a little east of +alt La.e Cit(, #ere #e #ould sta( in te fa%il(cabin for se"eral #ee.s& e bo(s #ere al#a(s an-ious to $et on te sin$ strea% orinto te s#i%%in$ ole, and #e #ould tr( to pus te car a little faster& )n tose da(s,

te auto%obile %( fater dro"e #as a 128 Olds%obile& )f e #ent o"er >5 %iles 56 .%Pan our, %( %oter #ould sa(, eep it do#nF eep it do#nF7 ) #ould sa(, 9ut teaccelerator do#n, BadF 9ut it do#nF7

Bad #ould dri"e about >5 %iles an our all te #a( up to 9ro"o Can(on or until #e #ouldco%e around a bend in te road and our Dourne( #ould be alted b( a erd of seep& e#ould #atc as undreds of seep led past us, see%in$l( #itout a seperd, a fe#do$s (appin$ at teir eels as te( %o"ed alon$& a( bac. in te rear #e could see teseeperder on is orsenot a bridle on it but a alter& *e #as occasionall( slouced



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do#n in te saddle doin$, since te orse .ne# #ic #a( to $o and te (appin$ do$sdid te #or.&

Contrast tat to te scene #ic ) "ie#ed in 'unic, Ger%an(, %an( (ears a$o& )t #as a+unda( %ornin$, and #e #ere en route to a %issionar( conference& As ) loo.ed out te#indo# of te %ission president=s auto%obile, ) sa# a seperd #it a sta in is and,leading te seep& Te( follo#ed i% #ere"er e #ent& )f e %o"ed to te left, te(follo#ed i% to te left& )f e %o"ed to te ri$t, te( follo#ed i% in tat direction& )

%ade te co%parison bet#een te true seperd #o led is seep and teseeperder #o rode casuall( beind is seep&

Mesus said, ) a% te $ood seperd, and .no# %( seep&72 *e pro"ides for us teperfect e-a%ple of #at a true seperd sould be&

retren, as te priestood of God #e a"e a seperdin$ responsibilit(& Te #isdo% ofte Lord as pro"ided $uidelines #ereb( #e %i$t be seperds to te fa%ilies of teCurc, #ere #e can ser"e, #e can teac, and #e can testif( to te%& +uc is calledo%e teacin$, and it is about tis tat ) #is to spea. to (ou toni$t&

Te bisop of eac #ard in te Curc o"ersees te assi$nin$ of priestood olders aso%e teacers to "isit te o%es of %e%bers e"er( %ont& Te( $o in pairs& erepossible, a (oun$ %an #o is a priest or a teacer in te Aaronic 9riestoodacco%panies an adult oldin$ te 'elciede. 9riestood& As te( $o into te o%es oftose for #o% te( are responsible, te Aaronic 9riestood older sould ta.e part inte teacin$ #ic ta.es place& +uc an assi$n%ent #ill elp to prepare tese (oun$%en for %issions as #ell as for a lifeti%e of priestood ser"ice&

Te o%e teacin$ pro$ra% is a response to %odern re"elation co%%issionin$ toseordained to te priestood to teac, e-pound, e-ort, baptie, H and "isit te ouse ofeac %e%ber, and e-ort te% to pra( "ocall( and in secret and attend to all fa%il(duties, H to #atc o"er te curc al#a(s, and be #it and stren$ten te%; and seetat tere is no iniuit( in te curc, neiter ardness #it eac oter, neiter l(in$,bac.bitin$, nor e"il spea.in$&7>

9resident Ba"id O& 'ca( ad%onised: *o%e teacin$ is one of our %ost ur$ent and%ost re#ardin$ opportunities to nurture and inspire, to counsel and direct our !ater=scildren& H ?)t@ is a di"ine ser"ice, a di"ine call& )t is our dut( as *o%e Teacers to carr(te H spirit into e"er( o%e and eart& To lo"e te #or. and do our best #ill brin$unbounded peace, Do( and satisfaction to ?a noble,@ dedicated ?teacer@ of God=scildren&7

!ro% te oo. of 'or%on #e read tat Al%a consecrated all teir priests and all teirteacers; and none #ere consecrated e-cept te( #ere Dust %en&

Terefore te( did #atc o"er teir people, and did nouris te% #it tin$s pertainin$to ri$teousness&75

)n perfor%in$ our o%e teacin$ responsibilities, #e are #ise if #e learn and understandte callen$es of te %e%bers of eac fa%il(, tat #e %i$t be eecti"e in teacin$and in pro"idin$ needed assistance&













A o%e teacin$ "isit is also %ore li.el( to be successful if an appoint%ent is %ade inad"ance& To illustrate tis point, let %e sare #it (ou an e-perience ) ad so%e (earsa$o& At tat ti%e te 'issionar( -ecuti"e Co%%ittee #as co%prised of +pencer &i%ball, Gordon & *inc.le(, and To%as +& 'onson& One e"enin$ roter and +ister*inc.le( osted a dinner in teir o%e for te co%%ittee %e%bers and our #i"es& ead Dust nised a lo"el( %eal #en tere #as a .noc. at te door& 9resident *inc.le(opened te door and found one of is o%e teacers standin$ tere& Te o%e teacersaid, ) .no# ) didn=t %a.e an appoint%ent to co%e, and ) don=t a"e #it %e %(

co%panion, but ) felt ) sould co%e toni$t& ) didn=t .no# (ou #ould be entertainin$co%pan(&7

9resident *inc.le( $raciousl( in"ited te o%e teacer to co%e in and sit do#n and toinstruct tree Apostles and our #i"es concernin$ our dut( as %e%bers& it a bit oftrepidation, te o%e teacer did is best& 9resident *inc.le( tan.ed i% for co%in$,after #ic e %ade a urried e-it&

) %ention one %ore e-a%ple of te incorrect #a( to acco%plis o%e teacin$&9resident 'arion G& Io%ne(, #o #as a counselor in te !irst 9residenc( so%e (earsa$o, used to tell about is o%e teacer #o once #ent to te Io%ne( o%e on a cold

#inter ni$t& *e .ept is at in is and and sifted ner"ousl( #en in"ited to sit do#nand $i"e is %essa$e& As e re%ained standin$, e said, ell, )=ll tell (ou, roterIo%ne(, it=s cold outside, and ) left %( car en$ine runnin$ so it #ouldn=t stop& ) Dustca%e b( so ) could tell te bisop ) ad %ade %( "isits&76

9resident ra Taft enson, after relatin$ 9resident Io%ne(=s e-perience in a %eetin$ ofpriestood olders, ten said, e can do better tan tat, bretren%uc betterF7J )a$ree&

*o%e teacin$ is %ore tan a %ecanical "isit once per %ont& Ours is te responsibilit(to teac, to inspire, to %oti"ate, and #ere #e "isit tose #o are not acti"e, to brin$ toacti"it( and to e"entual e-altation te sons and dau$ters of God&

To assist in our eorts, ) sare tis #ise counsel #ic surel( applies to o%e teacers& )tco%es fro% Abraa% Lincoln, #o said, )f (ou #ould #in a %an to (our cause, rstcon"ince i% tat (ou are is sincere friend&78 9resident ra Taft enson ur$ed: Abo"eall, be a $enuine friend to te indi"iduals and fa%ilies (ou teac& H A friend %a.es %oretan a dutiful "isit eac %ont& A friend is %ore concerned about elpin$ people tan$ettin$ credit& A friend cares& A friend ?so#s lo"e@& A friend listens, and a friend reacesout&7

*o%e teacin$ ans#ers %an( pra(ers and per%its us to see te transfor%ations #iccan ta.e place in people=s li"es&

An e-a%ple of tis #ould be Bic. *a%%er, #o ca%e to Uta #it te Ci"ilianConser"ation Corps durin$ te Bepression& *e %et and %arried a Latter/da( +aint (oun$#o%an& *e opened Bic.=s Caf\ in +t& Geor$e, Uta, #ic beca%e a popular %eetin$spot&

Assi$ned as o%e teacer to te *a%%er fa%il( #as illard 'ilne, a friend of %ine&+ince ) .ne# Bic. *a%%er as #ell, a"in$ printed te %enus for is caf\, ) #ould as. %(friend roter 'ilne #en ) "isited +t& Geor$e, *o# is our friend Bic. *a%%er co%in$E7











Te repl( #ould $enerall( be, *e=s co%in$, but slo#l(&7

en illard 'ilne and is co%panion "isited te *a%%er o%e eac %ont, te(al#a(s %ana$ed to present a $ospel %essa$e and to sare teir testi%onies #it Bic.and te fa%il(&

Te (ears passed b(, and ten one da( illard poned %e #it $ood ne#s& roter'onson,7 e be$an, Bic. *a%%er is con"erted and is $oin$ to be baptied& *e is in is

0t (ear, and #e a"e been friends all our adult li"es& *is decision #ar%s %( eart& )="ebeen is o%e teacer for %an( (ears&7 Tere #as a catc in illard=s "oice as econ"e(ed is #elco%e %essa$e&

roter *a%%er #as indeed baptied and a (ear later entered tat beautiful +t& Geor$e Te%ple and tere recei"ed is endo#%ent and sealin$ blessin$s&

) as.ed illard, Bid (ou e"er beco%e discoura$ed as is o%e teacer for suc a lon$ti%eE7

*e replied, <o, it #as #ort e"er( eort& As ) #itness te Do( #ic as co%e to te

%e%bers of te *a%%er fa%il(, %( eart lls #it $ratitude for te blessin$s te $ospelas brou$t into teir li"es and for te pri"ile$e ) a"e ad to elp in so%e #a(& ) a% aapp( %an&7

retren, it #ill be our pri"ile$e trou$ te (ears to "isit and teac %an( indi"idualstose #o are less acti"e as #ell as tose #o are full( co%%itted& )f #e areconscientious in our callin$, #e #ill a"e %an( opportunities to bless li"es& Our "isits totose #o a"e distanced te%sel"es fro% Curc acti"it( can be te .e( #ic #ille"entuall( open te doors to teir return&

it tis tou$t in %ind, let us reac out to tose for #o% #e are responsible andbrin$ te% to te table of te Lord to feast on *is #ord and to enDo( te co%panionsipof *is +pirit and be no %ore stran$ers and forei$ners, but fello#citiens #it te saints,and of te ouseold of God&710

)f an( of (ou as slipped into co%placenc( concernin$ (our o%e teacin$ "isits, %a( )sa( tat tere is no ti%e li.e te present to rededicate (ourself to fulllin$ (our o%eteacin$ duties& Becide no# to %a.e #ate"er eort is necessar( to reac tose for#o% (ou a"e been $i"en responsibilit(& Tere are ti%es #en a little e-tra proddin$%a( be needed, as #ell, to elp (our o%e teacin$ co%panion nd te ti%e to $o #it(ou, but if (ou are persistent, (ou #ill succeed&

retren, our eorts in o%e teacin$ are on$oin$& Te #or. #ill ne"er be concludeduntil our Lord and 'aster sa(s, )t is enou$&7 Tere are li"es to bri$ten& Tere areearts to touc& Tere are souls to sa"e& Ours is te sacred pri"ile$e to bri$ten, totouc, and to sa"e tose precious souls entrusted to our care& e sould do so faitfull(and #it earts lled #it $ladness&

)n closin$ ) turn to one particular e-a%ple to describe te t(pe of o%e teacers #esould be& Tere is one Teacer #ose life o"ersado#s all oters& *e tau$t of life anddeat, of dut( and destin(& *e li"ed not to be ser"ed but to ser"e, not to recei"e but to$i"e, not to sa"e *is life but to sacrice it for oters& *e described a lo"e %ore beautiful







tan lust, a po"ert( ricer tan treasure& )t #as said of tis Teacer tat *e tau$t #itautorit( and not as did te scribes&11 *is la#s #ere not inscribed upon stone but uponu%an earts&

) spea. of te 'aster Teacer, e"en Mesus Crist, te +on of God, te +a"ior andIedee%er of all %an.ind& Te biblical account sa(s of *i%, *e #ent about doin$$ood&712 it *i% as our unfailin$ $uide and e-e%plar, #e sall ualif( for *is di"ineelp in our o%e teacin$& Li"es #ill be blessed& *earts #ill be co%forted& +ouls #ill be

sa"ed& e #ill beco%e true seperds& Tat tis %a( be so, ) pra( in te na%e of tat$reat +eperd, Mesus Crist, a%en&

October 201> General Conference) ill <ot !ail Tee, nor !orsa.e Tee7


Our *ea"enl( !ater H .no#s tat #e learn and $ro# and beco%e stron$eras #e face and sur"i"e te trials trou$ #ic #e %ust pass&

)n %( Dournal toni$t, ) sall #rite, Tis as been one of te %ost inspirin$ sessions ofan( $eneral conference )="e attended& "er(tin$ as been of te $reatest and %ostspiritual nature&7

roters and sisters, si- %onts a$o as #e %et to$eter in our $eneral conference, %(s#eet #ife, !rances, la( in te ospital, a"in$ suered a de"astatin$ fall Dust a fe# da(searlier& )n 'a(, after #ee.s of "aliantl( stru$$lin$ to o"erco%e er inDuries, se slippedinto eternit(& *er loss as been profound& +e and ) #ere %arried in te +alt La.e Te%ple

on October J, 18& To%orro# #ould a"e been our 65t #eddin$ anni"ersar(& +e #aste lo"e of %( life, %( trusted condant, and %( closest friend& To sa( tat ) %iss erdoes not be$in to con"e( te dept of %( feelin$s&

Tis conference %ar.s 50 (ears since ) #as called to te Nuoru% of te T#el"e Apostlesb( 9resident Ba"id O& 'ca(& Trou$ all tese (ears ) a"e felt notin$ but te full andco%plete support of %( s#eet co%panion& Countless are te sacrices se %ade so tat) could fulll %( callin$& <e"er did ) ear a #ord of co%plaint fro% er as ) #as oftenreuired to spend da(s and so%eti%es #ee.s a#a( fro% er and fro% our cildren& +e#as an an$el, indeed&

) #is to e-press %( tan.s, as #ell as tose of %( fa%il(, for te tre%endousoutpourin$ of lo"e #ic as co%e to us since !rances=s passin$& *undreds of cards andletters #ere sent fro% around te #orld e-pressin$ ad%iration for er and condolencesto our fa%il(& e recei"ed doens of beautiful 3oral arran$e%ents& e are $rateful forte nu%erous contributions #ic a"e been oered in er na%e to te General'issionar( !und of te Curc& On bealf of tose of us #o% se left beind, ) e-pressdeep $ratitude for (our .ind and eartfelt e-pressions&

Of ut%ost co%fort to %e durin$ tis tender ti%e of partin$ a"e been %( testi%on( ofte $ospel of Mesus Crist and te .no#led$e ) a"e tat %( dear !rances li"es still& )

















.no# tat our separation is te%porar(& e #ere sealed in te ouse of God b( onea"in$ autorit( to bind on eart and in ea"en& ) .no# tat #e #ill be reunited one da(and #ill ne"er a$ain be separated& Tis is te .no#led$e tat sustains %e&

roters and sisters, it %a( be safel( assu%ed tat no person as e"er li"ed entirel( freeof suerin$ and sorro#, nor as tere e"er been a period in u%an istor( tat did nota"e its full sare of tur%oil and %iser(&

en te pat#a( of life ta.es a cruel turn, tere is te te%ptation to as. te uestion( %eE7 At ti%es tere appears to be no li$t at te end of te tunnel, no sunrise toend te ni$t=s dar.ness& e feel enco%passed b( te disappoint%ent of sattereddrea%s and te despair of "anised opes& e Doin in utterin$ te biblical plea, )s tereno bal% in GileadE71 e feel abandoned, eartbro.en, alone& e are inclined to "ie# ouro#n personal %isfortunes trou$ te distorted pris% of pessi%is%& e beco%ei%patient for a solution to our proble%s, for$ettin$ tat freuentl( te ea"enl( "irtue of patience is reuired&

Te di4culties #ic co%e to us present us #it te real test of our abilit( to endure& Afunda%ental uestion re%ains to be ans#ered b( eac of us: +all ) falter, or sall )

nisE +o%e do falter as te( nd te%sel"es unable to rise abo"e teir callen$es& Tonis in"ol"es endurin$ to te "er( end of life itself&

As #e ponder te e"ents tat can befall all of us, #e can sa( #it Mob of old, 'an is bornunto trouble&72 Mob #as a perfect and upri$t7 %an #o feared God, and esce#ede"il&7> 9ious in is conduct, prosperous in is fortune, Mob #as to face a test #ic coulda"e destro(ed an(one& +orn of is possessions, scorned b( is friends, aicted b( issuerin$, sattered b( te loss of is fa%il(, e #as ur$ed to curse God, and die&7 *eresisted tis te%ptation and declared fro% te depts of is noble soul:

eold, %( #itness is in ea"en, and %( record is on i$&75

) .no# tat %( redee%er li"et&76

Mob .ept te fait& ill #e do li.e#ise as #e face tose callen$es #ic #ill be oursE

ene"er #e are inclined to feel burdened do#n #it te blo#s of life, let us re%e%bertat oters a"e passed te sa%e #a(, a"e endured, and ten a"e o"erco%e&

Te istor( of te Curc in tis, te dispensation of te fulness of ti%es, is replete #itte e-periences of tose #o a"e stru$$led and (et #o a"e re%ained steadfast andof $ood ceer& Te reasonE Te( a"e %ade te $ospel of Mesus Crist te center of teirli"es& Tis is #at #ill pull us trou$ #ate"er co%es our #a(& e #ill still e-periencedi4cult callen$es, but #e #ill be able to face te%, to %eet te% ead on, and toe%er$e "ictorious&

!ro% te bed of pain, fro% te pillo# #et #it tears, #e are lifted ea"en#ard b( tatdi"ine assurance and precious pro%ise: ) #ill not fail tee, nor forsa.e tee&7J +ucco%fort is priceless&

As ) a"e tra"eled far and #ide trou$out te #orld fulllin$ te responsibilities of %(callin$, ) a"e co%e to .no# %an( tin$snot te least of #ic is tat sadness and

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suerin$ are uni"ersal& ) cannot be$in to %easure all of te eartace and sorro# ) a"e#itnessed as ) a"e "isited #it tose #o are dealin$ #it $rief, e-periencin$ illness,facin$ di"orce, stru$$lin$ #it a #a(#ard son or dau$ter, or suerin$ teconseuences of sin& Te list could $o on and on, for tere are countless proble%s #iccan befall us& To sin$le out one e-a%ple is di4cult, and (et #ene"er ) tin. ofcallen$es, %( tou$ts turn to roter re%s, one of %( bo(ood +unda( +coolteacers& *e #as a faitful %e%ber of te Curc, a %an #it a eart of $old& *e and is#ife, +adie, ad ei$t cildren, %an( of #o% #ere te sa%e a$es as tose in our

fa%il(&

After !rances and ) #ere %arried and %o"ed fro% te #ard, #e sa# roter and +isterre%s and %e%bers of teir fa%il( at #eddin$s and funerals, as #ell as at #ardreunions&

)n 168, roter re%s lost is #ife, +adie& T#o of is ei$t cildren also passed a#a( aste (ears #ent b(&

One da( nearl( 1> (ears a$o, roter re%s=s oldest $randdau$ter teleponed %e& +ee-plained tat er $randfater ad reaced is 105t birtda(& +e said, *e li"es in a

s%all care center but %eets #it is entire fa%il( eac +unda(, #ere e deli"ers a$ospel lesson&7 +e continued, Tis past +unda(, Grandpa announced to us, R'( dears, a% $oin$ to die tis #ee.& ill (ou please call To%%( 'onson& *e #ill .no# #at todo&=7

) "isited roter re%s te "er( ne-t e"enin$& ) ad not seen i% for a #ile& ) could notspea. to i%, for e ad lost is earin$& ) could not #rite a %essa$e for i% to read,because e ad lost is si$t& ) #as told tat te fa%il( co%%unicated #it i% b(ta.in$ te n$er of is ri$t and and ten tracin$ on te pal% of is left and te na%eof te person "isitin$& An( %essa$e ad to be con"e(ed in tis sa%e #a(& ) follo#ed teprocedure b( ta.in$ is n$er and spellin$ T/O/'/'/K '/O/</+/O/<, te na%e b( #ice ad al#a(s .no#n %e& roter re%s beca%e e-cited and, ta.in$ %( ands, placedte% on is ead& ) .ne# is desire #as to recei"e a priestood blessin$& Te dri"er #oad ta.en %e to te care center Doined %e as #e placed our ands on te ead ofroter re%s and pro"ided te desired blessin$& After#ard, tears strea%ed fro% issi$tless e(es& *e $rasped our ands in $ratitude& Altou$ e ad not eard teblessin$ #e ad $i"en i%, te +pirit #as stron$, and ) belie"e e #as inspired to .no##e ad pro"ided te blessin$ #ic e needed& Tis s#eet %an could no lon$er see& *ecould no lon$er ear& *e #as conned ni$t and da( to a s%all roo% in a care center&And (et te s%ile on is face and te #ords e spo.e touced %( eart& Tan. (ou,7 esaid& '( *ea"enl( !ater as been so $ood to %e&7

itin a #ee., Dust as roter re%s ad predicted, e passed a#a(& <e"er did e d#ellon #at e #as lac.in$; rater, e #as al#a(s deepl( $rateful for is %an( blessin$s&

Our *ea"enl( !ater, #o $i"es us so %uc to deli$t in, also .no#s tat #e learn and$ro# and beco%e stron$er as #e face and sur"i"e te trials trou$ #ic #e %ustpass& e .no# tat tere are ti%es #en #e #ill e-perience eartbrea.in$ sorro#, #en#e #ill $rie"e, and #en #e %a( be tested to our li%its& *o#e"er, suc di4culties allo#us to can$e for te better, to rebuild our li"es in te #a( our *ea"enl( !ater teacesus, and to beco%e so%etin$ dierent fro% #at #e #erebetter tan #e #ere, %ore



understandin$ tan #e #ere, %ore e%patetic tan #e #ere, #it stron$er testi%oniestan #e ad before&

Tis sould be our purposeto perse"ere and endure, (es, but also to beco%e %orespirituall( rened as #e %a.e our #a( trou$ sunsine and sorro#& ere it not forcallen$es to o"erco%e and proble%s to sol"e, #e #ould re%ain %uc as #e are, #itlittle or no pro$ress to#ard our $oal of eternal life& Te poet e-pressed %uc te sa%etou$t in tese #ords:

Good ti%ber does not $ro# #it ease, Te stron$er #ind, te stron$er trees& Te furter s.(, te $reater len$t& Te %ore te stor%, te %ore te stren$t&( sun and cold, b( rain and sno#,)n trees and %en $ood ti%bers $ro#&8

Onl( te 'aster .no#s te depts of our trials, our pain, and our suerin$& *e aloneoers us eternal peace in ti%es of ad"ersit(& *e alone touces our tortured souls #it *isco%fortin$ #ords:


Ta.e %( (o.e upon (ou, and learn of %e; for ) a% %ee. and lo#l( in eart: and (e sallnd rest unto (our souls&

!or %( (o.e is eas(, and %( burden is li$t&7

eter it is te best of ti%es or te #orst of ti%es, *e is #it us& *e as pro%ised tattis #ill ne"er can$e&

'( broters and sisters, %a( #e a"e a co%%it%ent to our *ea"enl( !ater tat doesnot ebb and 3o# #it te (ears or te crises of our li"es& e sould not need toe-perience di4culties for us to re%e%ber *i%, and #e sould not be dri"en to u%ilit(before $i"in$ *i% our fait and trust&

'a( #e e"er stri"e to be close to our *ea"enl( !ater& To do so, #e %ust pra( to *i% andlisten to *i% e"er( da(& e trul( need *i% e"er( our, #eter te( be ours ofsunsine or of rain& 'a( *is pro%ise e"er be our #atc#ord: ) #ill not fail tee, norforsa.e tee&710

it all te stren$t of %( soul, ) testif( tat God li"es and lo"es us, tat *is Onl(e$otten +on li"ed and died for us, and tat te $ospel of Mesus Crist is tat penetratin$li$t #ic sines trou$ te dar.ness of our li"es& 'a( it e"er be so, ) pra( in tesacred na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&

October 201> General Conference Till e 'eet A$ain












'a( #e so# increased .indness to#ard one anoter, and %a( #e e"er befound doin$ te #or. of te Lord&

'( broters and sisters, %( eart is full as #e brin$ to a close tis #onderful $eneralconference of te Curc& e a"e been spirituall( fed as #e a"e listened to tecounsel and testi%onies of tose #o a"e participated in eac session&

e a"e been blessed to %eet ere in te %a$nicent Conference Center in peace andsafet(& e a"e ad unprecedented co"era$e of te conference, reacin$ across tecontinents to people e"er(#ere& Tou$ #e are p(sicall( far re%o"ed fro% %an( of(ou, #e feel of (our spirit&

To our retren #o a"e been released at tis conference, %a( ) e-press te eartfelttan.s of te entire Curc for (our (ears of de"oted ser"ice& Countless are tose #oa"e been blessed b( (our contributions to te #or. of te Lord&

) e-press $ratitude to te Tabernacle Coir and to te oter coirs #ic participated in

tis conference& Te %usic as been beautiful and as added $reatl( to te +pirit #ea"e felt at eac session&

) tan. (ou for (our pra(ers in %( bealf and in bealf of all te General Autorities and$eneral o4cers of te Curc& e are stren$tened b( te%&

'a( ea"en=s blessin$s be #it (ou& 'a( (our o%es be lled #it lo"e and courtes(and #it te +pirit of te Lord& 'a( (ou constantl( nouris (our testi%onies of te $ospeltat te( #ill be a protection to (ou a$ainst te buetin$s of te ad"ersar(&

Conference is no# o"er& As #e return to our o%es, %a( #e do so safel(& 'a( te +pirit

#e a"e felt ere be and abide #it us as #e $o about tose tin$s #ic occup( useac da(& 'a( #e so# increased .indness to#ard one anoter, and %a( #e e"er befound doin$ te #or. of te Lord&

'( broters and sisters, %a( God bless (ou& 'a( *is pro%ised peace be #it (ou no#and al#a(s& ) bid (ou fare#ell until #e %eet a$ain in si- %onts= ti%e& )n te na%e ofour +a"ior, e"en Mesus Crist te Lord, a%en&


elco%e to Conference)! Presient Thomas S. Monson

e are H united in our fait and in our desire to listen to and learn fro% te%essa$es #ic #ill be presented to us&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, o# pleased ) a% to #elco%e (ou to tis #orld#ideconference of Te Curc of Mesus Crist of Latter/da( +aints& e are $atered to$eter









as a $reat fa%il(, %ore tan 15 %illion stron$, united in our fait and in our desire tolisten to and learn fro% te %essa$es #ic #ill be presented to us&

Te past si- %onts a"e $one b( uic.l( as te #or. of te Curc as %o"ed for#ardunindered& )t #as %( pri"ile$e Dust o"er a %ont a$o to dedicate te Gilbert Ariona Te%ple, a %a$nicent structure& Te e"enin$ before te dedication, a cultural e"ent #aseld at te nearb( Bisco"er( 9ar.& T#el"e tousand (oun$ people perfor%ed a 0/%inute pro$ra%& Te dancin$, te sin$in$, and te %usical perfor%ances #ere

outstandin$&

Tis area ad been e-periencin$ an especiall( dr( season, and ) belie"e %an( pra(ersad been sent ea"en#ard o"er te precedin$ se"eral #ee.s for %uc/needed rain&Unfortunatel(, it ca%e Dust before te perfor%ance and sta(ed for te entire productionFBespite te fact tat te (out #ere soa.ed trou$ #it te rain and cilled fro% tecool te%perature, #e all felt te +pirit of te Lord& Te te%e of te pro$ra%, Li"e Trueto te !ait7tin. about tat: Li"e True to te !ait7#as portra(ed %a$nicentl( b(s%ilin$ and entusiastic (oun$ %en and (oun$ #o%en& Bespite te cold and te rain,tis #as a fait/lled and inspirin$ e-perience tese (oun$ people #ill e"er treasure and#ill be relatin$ to teir cildren and $randcildren in te (ears to co%e&

Te follo#in$ da(, te dedication of te Gilbert Ariona Te%ple too. place& )t beca%e te12nd operatin$ te%ple in te Curc& Unli.e te e"enin$ before, te da( #as beautifuland lled #it sunsine& Te sessions #ere trul( inspirin$& Attendin$ #it %e #ere9resident *enr( & (rin$, lder and +ister Tad I& Callister, lder and +ister illia% I&al.er, and lder and +ister ent !& Iicards&

)n 'a( te !ort Lauderdale !lorida Te%ple #ill be dedicated& Oter te%ples aresceduled to be co%pleted and dedicated later tis (ear& )n 2015 #e anticipateco%pletin$ and dedicatin$ ne# te%ples in %an( parts of te #orld& Tis process #illcontinue& en all te pre"iousl( announced te%ples are co%pleted, #e #ill a"e 1J0operatin$ te%ples trou$out te #orld&

Altou$ #e are currentl( concentratin$ our eorts on co%pletin$ te pre"iousl(announced te%ples and #ill not be announcin$ an( ne# te%ples in te i%%ediatefuture, #e #ill continue te process of deter%inin$ needs and of ndin$ locations forte%ples (et to co%e& Announce%ents #ill ten be %ade in future $eneral conferences&e are a te%ple/buildin$ and a te%ple/attendin$ people&

<o#, broters and sisters, #e are an-ious to listen to te %essa$es #ic #ill bepresented to us toda( and to%orro#& Tose #o #ill address us a"e sou$t ea"en=selp and direction as te( a"e prepared teir %essa$es&

'a( #eall of us, ere and else#erebe lled #it te +pirit of te Lord and beuplifted and inspired as #e listen and learn& )n te na%e of Mesus Crist, our +a"ior,a%en&

April 201 General Conferencee +tron$ and of a Good Coura$e




Let usall of usa"e te coura$e to def( te consensus, te coura$e tostand for principle&

'( bretren, o# $ood it is to be #it (ou once a$ain& ) pra( for ea"enl( elp as )

respond to te opportunit( to address (ou&

e(ond tis Conference Center are additional tousands asse%bled in capels and inoter settin$s trou$out %uc of te #orld& A co%%on tread binds all of us to$eter,for #e a"e been entrusted to bear te priestood of God&

e are ere upon te eart at a re%ar.able period in its istor(& Our opportunities areal%ost li%itless, and (et #e also face a %ultitude of callen$es, so%e of te% uniue toour ti%e&

e li"e in a #orld #ere %oral "alues a"e, in $reat %easure, been tossed aside, #ere

sin is 3a$rantl( on displa(, and #ere te%ptations to stra( fro% te strait and narro#pat surround us& e are faced #it persistent pressures and insidious in3uences tearin$do#n #at is decent and atte%ptin$ to substitute te sallo# pilosopies and practicesof a secular societ(&

ecause of tese and oter callen$es, decisions are constantl( before us #ic candeter%ine our destin(& )n order for us to %a.e te correct decisions, coura$e is neededte coura$e to sa( no #en #e sould, te coura$e to sa( (es #en tat is appropriate,te coura$e to do te ri$t tin$ because it is ri$t&

)nas%uc as te trend in societ( toda( is rapidl( %o"in$ a#a( fro% te "alues and

principles te Lord as $i"en us, #e #ill al%ost certainl( be called upon to defend tat#ic #e belie"e& ill #e a"e te coura$e to do soE

+aid 9resident M& Ieuben Clar. Mr&, #o for %an( (ears #as a %e%ber of te !irst9residenc(: <ot un.no#n are cases #ere ?tose@ of presu%ed fait H a"e felt tat,since b( a4r%in$ teir full fait te( %i$t call do#n upon te%sel"es te ridicule ofteir unbelie"in$ collea$ues, te( %ust eiter %odif( or e-plain a#a( teir fait, ordestructi"el( dilute it, or e"en pretend to cast it a#a(& +uc are (pocrites&71 <one of us#ould #is to #ear suc a label, and (et are #e reluctant to declare our fait in so%ecircu%stancesE

e can elp oursel"es in our desire to do #at is ri$t if #e put oursel"es in places andparticipate in acti"ities #ere our tou$ts are in3uenced for $ood and #ere te +piritof te Lord #ill be co%fortable&

) recall readin$ so%e ti%e a$o te counsel a fater $a"e to is son #en e #ent a#a(to scool: )f (ou e"er nd (ourself #ere (ou souldn=t ou$t to be, $et outF7 ) oer toeac of (ou te sa%e ad"ice: )f (ou e"er nd (ourself #ere (ou souldn=t ou$t to be,$et outF7





Te call for coura$e co%es constantl( to eac of us& "er( da( of our li"es coura$e isneedednot Dust for te %o%entous e"ents but %ore often as #e %a.e decisions orrespond to circu%stances around us& +aid +cottis poet and no"elist Iobert Louis+te"enson: "er(da( coura$e as fe# #itnesses& ut (ours is no less noble because nodru% beats for (ou and no cro#ds sout (our na%e&72

Coura$e co%es in %an( for%s& rote te Cristian autor Carles +#indoll: Coura$e isnot li%ited to te battleeld H or bra"el( catcin$ a tief in (our ouse& Te real tests of

coura$e are %uc uieter& Te( are inner tests, li.e re%ainin$ faitful #en no one=sloo.in$, H li.e standin$ alone #en (ou=re %isunderstood&7> ) #ould add tat tis innercoura$e also includes doin$ te ri$t tin$ e"en tou$ #e %a( be afraid, defendin$ ourbeliefs at te ris. of bein$ ridiculed, and %aintainin$ tose beliefs e"en #en treatened#it a loss of friends or of social status& *e #o stands steadfastl( for tat #ic is ri$t%ust ris. beco%in$ at ti%es disappro"ed and unpopular&

ile ser"in$ in te United +tates <a"( in orld ar )), ) learned of bra"e deeds,instances of "alor, and e-a%ples of coura$e& One #ic ) sall ne"er for$et #as te uietcoura$e of an 18/(ear/old sea%annot of our fait#o #as not too proud to pra(& Of250 %en in te co%pan(, e #as te onl( one #o eac ni$t .nelt do#n b( te side of

is bun., at ti%es a%idst te Deers of bullies and te Dests of unbelie"ers& it bo#edead, e pra(ed to God& *e ne"er #a"ered& *e ne"er faltered& *e ad coura$e&

) listened not lon$ a$o to an e-a%ple of one #o surel( see%ed to lac. tis innercoura$e& A friend told of a spiritual and fait/pro%otin$ sacra%ent %eetin$ se and erusband ad attended in teir #ard& A (oun$ %an #o eld te o4ce of priest in teAaronic 9riestood touced te earts of te entire con$re$ation as e spo.e of $ospeltruts and of te Do(s of .eepin$ te co%%and%ents& *e bore a fer"ent, toucin$testi%on( as e stood at te pulpit, appearin$ clean and neat in is #ite sirt and tie&

Later tat sa%e da(, as tis #o%an and er usband dro"e out of teir nei$borood,te( sa# tis sa%e (oun$ %an #o ad so inspired te% Dust a fe# ours earlier& <o#,o#e"er, e presented a co%pletel( dierent picture as e #al.ed do#n te side#al.dressed in scru( clotesand s%o.in$ a ci$arette& '( friend and er usband #ere notonl( $reatl( disappointed and saddened, but te( #ere also confused b( o# e could socon"incin$l( see% to be one person in sacra%ent %eetin$ and ten so uic.l( see% tobe so%eone else entirel(&

retren, are (ou te sa%e person #ere"er (ou are and #ate"er (ou are doin$teperson our *ea"enl( !ater #ants (ou to be and te person (ou .no# (ou sould beE

)n an inter"ie# publised in a national %a$aine, #ell/.no#n A%erican <CAA bas.etballpla(er Mabari 9ar.er, a %e%ber of te Curc, #as as.ed to sare te best ad"ice e adrecei"ed fro% is fater& Ieplied Mabari, ?'( fater@ said, Must be te sa%e person (ouare in te dar. tat (ou are in te li$t&7 )%portant ad"ice, bretren, for all of us&

Our scriptures are lled #it e-a%ples of te t(pe of coura$e needed b( eac of ustoda(& Te propet Baniel e-ibited supre%e coura$e b( standin$ up for tat #ic e.ne# to be ri$t and b( de%onstratin$ te coura$e to pra(, tou$ treatened #itdeat #ere e to do so&5



Coura$e caracteried te life of Abinadi, as so#n b( is #illin$ness to oer is liferater tan to den( te trut&6

o can elp but be inspired b( te li"es of te 2,000 striplin$ sons of *ela%an, #otau$t and de%onstrated te need for coura$e to follo# te teacin$s of parents, to becaste and pureEJ

9eraps eac of tese scriptural accounts is cro#ned b( te e-a%ple of 'oroni, #o ad

te coura$e to perse"ere in ri$teousness to te "er( end&8

Trou$out is life, te 9ropet Mosep +%it pro"ided countless e-a%ples of coura$e&One of te %ost dra%atic occurred as e and oter bretren #ere cained to$eteri%a$ine, cained to$eterand eld in an unnised cabin ne-t to te courtouse inIic%ond, 'issouri& 9arle( 9& 9ratt, #o #as a%on$ tose eld capti"e, #rote of oneparticular ni$t: e ad lain as if in sleep till te our of %idni$t ad passed, and ourears and earts ad been pained, #ile #e ad listened for ours to te obscene Dests,te orrid oats, te dreadful blaspe%ies and lt( lan$ua$e of our $uards&7

Continued lder 9ratt:

) ad listened till ) beca%e so dis$usted, soc.ed, orried, and so lled #it te spiritof indi$nant Dustice tat ) could scarcel( refrain fro% risin$ upon %( feet and rebu.in$te $uards; but ?)@ ad said notin$ to Mosep, or an( one else, altou$ ) la( ne-t to i%and .ne# e #as a#a.e& On a sudden e arose to is feet, and spo.e in a "oice oftunder, or as te roarin$ lion, utterin$, as near as ) can recollect, te follo#in$ #ords:

R'2E6$E" 8 'n the name of Cesus $hrist ' rebuke you, and command you to be still; ' willnot li(e another minute and hear such language" $ease such talk, or you or ' die &''6A6%=7

Mosep stood erect in terrible %aDest(,7 as described b( lder 9ratt& *e #as cained,#itout a #eapon, and (et e #as cal% and di$nied& *e loo.ed do#n upon te uailin$$uards, #o #ere srin.in$ into a corner or croucin$ at is feet& Tese see%in$l(incorri$ible %en be$$ed is pardon and re%ained uiet&

<ot all acts of coura$e brin$ suc spectacular or i%%ediate results, and (et all of te%do brin$ peace of %ind and a .no#led$e tat ri$t and trut a"e been defended&

)t is i%possible to stand upri$t #en one plants is roots in te siftin$ sands of popularopinion and appro"al& <eeded is te coura$e of a Baniel, an Abinadi, a 'oroni, or a Mosep +%it in order for us to old stron$ and fast to tat #ic #e .no# is ri$t& Te(ad te coura$e to do not tat #ic #as eas( but tat #ic #as ri$t&

e #ill all face fear, e-perience ridicule, and %eet opposition& Let usall of usa"e tecoura$e to def( te consensus, te coura$e to stand for principle& Coura$e, notco%pro%ise, brin$s te s%ile of God=s appro"al& Coura$e beco%es a li"in$ and anattracti"e "irtue #en it is re$arded not onl( as a #illin$ness to die %anfull( but also aste deter%ination to li"e decentl(& As #e %o"e for#ard, stri"in$ to li"e as #e sould, #e#ill surel( recei"e elp fro% te Lord and can nd co%fort in *is #ords& ) lo"e *ispro%ise recorded in te boo. of Mosua:



suc, are broters and sisters& As #e .eep tis trut in %ind, lo"in$ all of God=s cildren#ill beco%e easier&

Actuall(, lo"e is te "er( essence of te $ospel, and Mesus Crist is our -e%plar& *is life#as a le$ac( of lo"e& Te sic. *e ealed; te do#ntrodden *e lifted; te sinner *esa"ed& At te end te an$r( %ob too. *is life& And (et tere rin$s fro% Gol$ota=s illte #ords: !ater, for$i"e te%; for te( .no# not #at te( do7a cro#nin$e-pression in %ortalit( of co%passion and lo"e&

Tere are %an( attributes #ic are %anifestations of lo"e, suc as .indness, patience,sel3essness, understandin$, and for$i"eness& )n all our associations, tese and otersuc attributes #ill elp %a.e e"ident te lo"e in our earts&

Usuall( our lo"e #ill be so#n in our da(/to/da( interactions one #it anoter& Alli%portant #ill be our abilit( to reco$nie so%eone=s need and ten to respond& ) a"eal#a(s cerised te senti%ent e-pressed in te sort poe%:

) a"e #ept in te ni$t!or te sortness of si$t

Tat to so%ebod(=s need %ade %e blind;ut ) ne"er a"e (et!elt a tin$e of re$ret!or bein$ a little too .ind&5

) recentl( #as %ade a#are of a toucin$ e-a%ple of lo"in$ .indnessone tat adunforeseen results& Te (ear #as 1>>, #en because of te Great Bepression,e%plo(%ent opportunities #ere scarce& Te location #as te eastern part of te United+tates& Arlene iesec.er ad Dust $raduated fro% i$ scool& After a len$t( searc fore%plo(%ent, se #as nall( able to obtain #or. at a clotin$ %ill as a sea%stress& Te%ill #or.ers #ere paid onl( for eac of te correctl( co%pleted pieces te( se#edto$eter dail(& Te %ore pieces te( produced, te %ore te( #ere paid&

One da( sortl( after startin$ at te %ill, Arlene #as faced #it a procedure tat ad erconfused and frustrated& +e sat at er se#in$ %acine tr(in$ to unpic. erunsuccessful atte%pt to co%plete te piece on #ic se #as #or.in$& Tere see%ed tobe no one to elp er, for all of te oter sea%stresses #ere urr(in$ to co%plete as%an( pieces as te( could& Arlene felt elpless and opeless& Nuietl(, se be$an to cr(&

Across fro% Arlene sat ernice Ioc.& +e #as older and %ore e-perienced as asea%stress& Obser"in$ Arlene=s distress, ernice left er o#n #or. and #ent to Arlene=sside, .indl( $i"in$ er instruction and elp& +e sta(ed until Arlene $ained condenceand #as able to successfull( co%plete te piece& ernice ten #ent bac. to er o#n%acine, a"in$ %issed te opportunit( to co%plete as %an( pieces as se could a"e,ad se not elped&

it tis one act of lo"in$ .indness, ernice and Arlene beca%e lifelon$ friends& ace"entuall( %arried and ad cildren& +o%eti%e in te 150s, ernice, #o #as a%e%ber of te Curc, $a"e Arlene and er fa%il( a cop( of te oo. of 'or%on& )n160, Arlene and er usband and cildren #ere baptied %e%bers of te Curc& Laterte( #ere sealed in a ol( te%ple of God&



As a result of te co%passion so#n b( ernice as se #ent out of er #a( to elp one#o% se didn=t .no# but #o #as in distress and needed assistance, countlessindi"iduals, bot li"in$ and dead, no# enDo( te sa"in$ ordinances of te $ospel&

"er( da( of our li"es #e are $i"en opportunities to so# lo"e and .indness to tosearound us& +aid 9resident +pencer & i%ball: e %ust re%e%ber tat tose %ortals#e %eet in par.in$ lots, o4ces, ele"ators, and else#ere are tat portion of %an.indGod as $i"en us to lo"e and to ser"e& )t #ill do us little $ood to spea. of te $eneral

broterood of %an.ind if #e cannot re$ard tose #o are all around us as our brotersand sisters&76

Often our opportunities to so# our lo"e co%e une-pectedl(& An e-a%ple of suc anopportunit( appeared in a ne#spaper article in October 181& +o i%pressed #as ) #itte lo"e and co%passion related terein tat ) a"e .ept te clippin$ in %( les for o"er>0 (ears&

Te article indicates tat an Alas.a Airlines nonstop 3i$t fro% Ancora$e, Alas.a, to+eattle, asin$tona 3i$t carr(in$ 150 passen$ers#as di"erted to a re%oteAlas.an to#n in order to transport a $ra"el( inDured cild& Te t#o/(ear/old bo( ad

se"ered an arter( in is ar% #en e fell on a piece of $lass #ile pla(in$ near iso%e& Te to#n #as 50 %iles J25 .%P sout of Ancora$e and #as certainl( not onte 3i$t pat& *o#e"er, %edics at te scene ad sent out a frantic reuest for elp, andso te 3i$t #as di"erted to pic. up te cild and ta.e i% to +eattle so tat e could betreated in a ospital&

en te 3i$t touced do#n near te re%ote to#n, %edics infor%ed te pilot tat tebo( #as bleedin$ so badl( e could not sur"i"e te 3i$t to +eattle& A decision #as %adeto 3( anoter 200 %iles >20 .%P out of te #a( to Muneau, Alas.a, te nearest cit( #ita ospital&

After transportin$ te bo( to Muneau, te 3i$t eaded for +eattle, no# ours beindscedule& <ot one passen$er co%plained, e"en tou$ %ost of te% #ould %issappoint%ents and connectin$ 3i$ts& )n fact, as te %inutes and ours tic.ed b(, te(too. up a collection, raisin$ a considerable su% for te bo( and is fa%il(&

As te 3i$t #as about to land in +eattle, te passen$ers bro.e into a ceer #en tepilot announced tat e ad recei"ed #ord b( radio tat te bo( #as $oin$ to be allri$t&J

To %( %ind co%e te #ords of te scripture: Carit( is te pure lo"e of Crist, H and#oso is found possessed of it at te last da(, it sall be #ell #it i%&78

roters and sisters, so%e of our $reatest opportunities to de%onstrate our lo"e #ill be#itin te #alls of our o#n o%es& Lo"e sould be te "er( eart of fa%il( life, and (etso%eti%es it is not& Tere can be too %uc i%patience, too %uc ar$uin$, too %an($ts, too %an( tears& La%ented 9resident Gordon & *inc.le(: ( is it tat te ?ones@#e lo"e ?%ost@ beco%e so freuentl( te tar$ets of our ars #ordsE ( is it tat ?#e@so%eti%es spea. as if #it da$$ers tat cut to te uic.E7 Te ans#ers to teseuestions %a( be dierent for eac of us, and (et te botto% line is tat te reasons donot %atter& )f #e #ould .eep te co%%and%ent to lo"e one anoter, #e %ust treat eacoter #it .indness and respect&



Of course tere #ill be ti%es #en discipline needs to be %eted out& Let us re%e%ber,o#e"er, te counsel found in te Boctrine and Co"enantsna%el(, tat #en it isnecessar( for us to repro"e anoter, #e after#ard so# fort an increase of lo"e&10

) #ould ope tat #e #ould stri"e al#a(s to be considerate and to be sensiti"e to tetou$ts and feelin$s and circu%stances of tose around us& Let us not de%ean orbelittle& Iater, let us be co%passionate and encoura$in$& e %ust be careful tat #edo not destro( anoter person=s condence trou$ careless #ords or actions&

!or$i"eness sould $o and in and #it lo"e& )n our fa%ilies, as #ell as #it our friends,tere can be urt feelin$s and disa$ree%ents& A$ain, it doesn=t reall( %atter o# s%allte issue #as& )t cannot and sould not be left to can.er, to fester, and ulti%atel( todestro(& la%e .eeps #ounds open& Onl( for$i"eness eals&

A lo"el( lad( #o as since passed a#a( "isited #it %e one da( and une-pectedl(recounted so%e re$rets& +e spo.e of an incident #ic ad ta.en place %an( (earsearlier and in"ol"ed a nei$borin$ far%er, once a $ood friend but #it #o% se and erusband ad disa$reed on %ultiple occasions& One da( te far%er as.ed if e could ta.ea sortcut across er propert( to reac is o#n acrea$e& At tis point se paused in er

narrati"e to %e and, #it a tre%or in er "oice, said, roter 'onson, ) didn=t let i%cross our propert( ten or e"er but reuired i% to ta.e te lon$ #a( around on foot toreac is propert(& ) #as #ron$, and ) re$ret it& *e=s $one no#, but o, ) #is ) could sa(to i%, R)=% so sorr(&= *o# ) #is ) ad a second cance to be .ind&7

As ) listened to er, tere ca%e to %( %ind te doleful obser"ation of Mon Greenleafittier: Of all sad #ords of ton$ue or pen, te saddest are tese: R't might ha(ebeen%=711 roters and sisters, as #e treat oters #it lo"e and .ind consideration, #e#ill a"oid suc re$rets&

Lo"e is e-pressed in %an( reco$niable #a(s: a s%ile, a #a"e, a .ind co%%ent, aco%pli%ent& Oter e-pressions %a( be %ore subtle, suc as so#in$ interest inanoter=s acti"ities, teacin$ a principle #it .indness and patience, "isitin$ one #o isill or o%ebound& Tese #ords and actions and %an( oters can co%%unicate lo"e&

Bale Carne$ie, a #ell/.no#n A%erican autor and lecturer, belie"ed tat eac personas #itin i%self or erself te po#er to increase te su% total of ?te@ #orld=sappiness H b( $i"in$ a fe# #ords of sincere appreciation to so%eone #o is lonel( ordiscoura$ed&7 +aid e, 9eraps (ou #ill for$et to%orro# te .ind #ords (ou sa( toda(,but te recipient %a( ceris te% o"er a lifeti%e&712

'a( #e be$in no#, tis "er( da(, to e-press lo"e to all of God=s cildren, #eter te(be our fa%il( %e%bers, our friends, %ere acuaintances, or total stran$ers& As #e ariseeac %ornin$, let us deter%ine to respond #it lo"e and .indness to #ate"er %i$tco%e our #a(&

e(ond co%preension, %( broters and sisters, is te lo"e of God for us& ecause oftis lo"e, *e sent *is +on, #o lo"ed us enou$ to $i"e *is life for us, tat #e %i$ta"e eternal life& As #e co%e to understand tis inco%parable $ift, our earts #ill belled #it lo"e for our ternal !ater, for our +a"ior, and for all %an.ind& Tat suc %a(be so is %( earnest pra(er in te sacred na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&



April 201 General ConferenceUntil e 'eet A$ain


'a( te +pirit #e a"e felt durin$ tese past t#o da(s be and abide #it usas #e $o about tose tin$s #ic occup( us eac da(&

'( broters and sisters, #at a #onderful conference tis as been& e a"e been fedspirituall( as #e a"e listened to te inspired #ords of te %en and #o%en #o a"eaddressed us& Te %usic as been superb, te %essa$es a"e been prepared anddeli"ered under te pro%ptin$s of te *ol( +pirit, and te pra(ers a"e dra#n us nearerto ea"en& e a"e been uplifted in e"er( #a( as #e a"e participated to$eter&

) ope tat #e #ill ta.e te ti%e to read te conference %essa$es #en te( beco%ea"ailable on LB+&or$ #itin te ne-t fe# da(s and #en te( are printed in co%in$

issues of te Ensign and 2iahona %a$aines, for te( are deser"in$ of our careful re"ie#and stud(&

) .no# (ou Doin #it %e in e-pressin$ our sincere $ratitude to tose bretren and sisters#o #ere released durin$ tis conference& Te( a"e ser"ed #ell and a"e %adesi$nicant contributions to te #or. of te Lord& Teir dedication as been co%plete&

e a"e also sustained, b( uplifted ands, bretren #o a"e been called to ne#positions of responsibilit(& e #elco%e te% and #ant te% to .no# tat #e loo.for#ard to ser"in$ #it te% in te cause of te 'aster&

As #e ponder te %essa$es #e a"e eard, %a( #e resol"e to do a little better tan #ea"e done in te past& 'a( #e be .ind and lo"in$ to tose #o do not sare our beliefsand our standards& Te +a"ior brou$t to tis eart a %essa$e of lo"e and $ood#ill to all%en and #o%en& 'a( #e e"er follo# *is e-a%ple&

e face %an( serious callen$es in te #orld toda(, but ) assure (ou tat our *ea"enl(!ater is %indful of us& *e #ill $uide and bless us as #e put our fait and trust in *i%and #ill see us trou$ #ate"er di4culties co%e our #a(&

'a( ea"en=s blessin$s be #it eac of us& 'a( our o%es be lled #it lo"e andcourtes( and #it te +pirit of te Lord& 'a( #e constantl( nouris our testi%onies of

te $ospel, tat te( #ill be a protection for us a$ainst te buetin$s of te ad"ersar(&'a( te +pirit #e a"e felt durin$ tese past t#o da(s be and abide #it us as #e $oabout tose tin$s #ic occup( us eac da(, and %a( #e e"er be found doin$ te #or.of te Lord&

) bear testi%on( tat tis #or. is true, tat our +a"ior li"es, and tat *e $uides anddirects *is Curc ere upon te eart& ) lea"e #it (ou %( #itness and %( testi%on(tat God our ternal !ater li"es and lo"es us& *e is indeed our !ater, and *e ispersonal and real& 'a( #e realie o# close to us *e is #illin$ to co%e, o# far *e is#illin$ to $o to elp us, and o# %uc *e lo"es us&





As ) %entioned in April, #en all te pre"iousl( announced te%ples are constructed anddedicated, #e #ill a"e 1J0 operatin$ te%ples trou$out te #orld& ecause #e areconcentratin$ our eorts on co%pletin$ te%ples #ic #ere pre"iousl( announced, #eare not at te present ti%e announcin$ an( ne# te%ples& *o#e"er, in te future, as #eidentif( needs and locate properties, announce%ents of additional te%ples #ill be %ade&

Te Curc continues to $ro#& e are no# %ore tan 15 %illion stron$ and increasin$ innu%bers& Our %issionar( eorts are $oin$ for#ard unindered& e a"e o"er 88,000

%issionaries ser"in$, sarin$ te $ospel %essa$e te #orld o"er& e rea4r% tat%issionar( #or. is a priestood dut(, and #e encoura$e all #ort( and able (oun$ %ento ser"e& e are "er( $rateful for te (oun$ #o%en #o also ser"e& Te( %a.e asi$nicant contribution, altou$ te( are not under te sa%e %andate to ser"e as arete (oun$ %en&

<o# ) in"ite (ou to $i"e (our attention to te bretren and sisters #o #ill participatetoda( and to%orro# in our conference sessions& All #o a"e been as.ed to spea. feel a$reat responsibilit( in doin$ so& As #e listen, %a( our earts be touced and our faitincreased, ) u%bl( pra( in te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&

October 201 General ConferenceGuided +afel( *o%e


e loo. ea"en#ard for tat unfailin$ sense of direction, tat #e %i$tcart and follo# a #ise and proper course&

retren, #e are asse%bled as a %i$t( bod( of te priestood, bot ere in teConference Center and in locations trou$out te #orld& ) a% onored (et u%bled b(te responsibilit( #ic is %ine to address a fe# re%ar.s to (ou& ) pra( for te +pirit ofte Lord to attend %e as ) do so&

+e"ent(/"e (ears a$o, on !ebruar( 1, 1>, in *a%bur$, Ger%an(, a public olida(#as celebrated& A%id fer"ent speeces, ceerin$ tron$s, and te pla(in$ of patrioticante%s, te ne# battlesip /ismarck #as put to sea "ia te Ii"er lbe& Tis, te %ostpo#erful "essel a3oat, #as a breatta.in$ spectacle of ar%or and %aciner(&Construction reuired %ore tan 5J,000 blueprints for te >80/%illi%eter, radar/controlled, double/$un turrets& Te "essel featured 28,000 %iles 5,000 .%P of electrical

circuits& )t #ei$ed o"er >5,000 tons, and ar%or plate pro"ided %a-i%u% safet(&'aDestic in appearance, $i$antic in sie, a#eso%e in repo#er, te %i$t( colossus #asconsidered unsin.able&

Te /ismarck =s appoint%ent #it destin( ca%e %ore tan t#o (ears later, #en on 'a(2, 11, te t#o %ost po#erful #arsips in te ritis <a"(, te 1rince of Wales andte &ood, en$a$ed in battle te /ismarck and te Ger%an cruiser 1rin+ Eugen& itin"e %inutes te /ismarck ad sent to te depts of te Atlantic te &ood and all buttree %en of a cre# of o"er 1,00& Te oter ritis battlesip, te 1rince of Wales, adsuered ea"( da%a$e and turned a#a(&





O"er te ne-t tree da(s te /ismarck #as en$a$ed a$ain and a$ain b( ritis #arsipsand aircraft& )n all, te ritis concentrated te stren$t of "e battlesips, t#o aircraftcarriers, 11 cruisers, and 21 destro(ers in an eort to nd and to sin. te %i$t(/ismarck &

Burin$ tese battles, sell after sell in3icted onl( supercial da%a$e on te /ismarck &as it unsin.able after allE Ten a torpedo scored a luc.( it, #ic Da%%ed te/ismarck =s rudder& Iepair eorts pro"ed fruitless& it $uns pri%ed and te cre#s at

read(, te /ismarck could onl( steer a slo# circle& Must be(ond reac #as te po#erfulGer%an air force& Te /ismarck could not reac te safet( of o%e port& <eiter couldpro"ide te needed a"en, for te /ismarck ad lost te abilit( to steer a cartedcourse& <o rudder, no elp, no port& Te end dre# near& ritis $uns blaed as teGer%an cre# scuttled and san. te once see%in$l( indestructible "essel& Te un$r(#a"es of te Atlantic rst lapped at te sides and ten s#allo#ed te pride of teGer%an na"(& Te /ismarck #as no %ore&1

Li.e te /ismarck , eac of us is a %iracle of en$ineerin$& Our creation, o#e"er, #as notli%ited b( u%an $enius& 'an can de"ise te %ost co%ple- %acines but cannot $i"ete% life or besto# upon te% te po#ers of reason and Dud$%ent& Tese are di"ine

$ifts, besto#ed onl( b( God&

Li.e te "ital rudder of a sip, bretren, #e a"e been pro"ided a #a( to deter%ine tedirection #e tra"el& Te li$touse of te Lord bec.ons to all as #e sail te seas of life&Our purpose is to steer an unde"iatin$ course to#ard our desired $oale"en tecelestial .in$do% of God& A %an #itout a purpose is li.e a sip #itout a rudder, ne"erli.el( to reac o%e port& To us co%es te si$nal: cart (our course, set (our sail,position (our rudder, and proceed&

As #it te %i$t( /ismarck , so it is #it %an& Te trust of te turbines and te po#erof te propellers are useless #itout tat sense of direction, tat arnessin$ of teener$(, tat directin$ of te po#er pro"ided b( te rudder, idden fro% "ie#, relati"el(s%all in sie but absolutel( essential in function&

Our !ater pro"ided te sun, te %oon, and te starsea"enl( $ala-ies to $uide%ariners #o sail te lanes of te sea& To us, as #e #al. te pat#a( of life, *e pro"idesa clear %ap and points te #a( to#ard our desired destination& *e cautions: be#are tedetours, te pitfalls, te traps& e cannot be decei"ed b( tose #o #ould lead usastra(, tose cle"er pied pipers of sin bec.onin$ ere or tere& )nstead, #e pause topra(; #e listen to tat still, s%all "oice #ic spea.s to te depts of our souls te'aster=s $entle in"itation, Co%e, follo# %e&72

Ket tere are tose #o do not ear, #o #ill not obe(, #o prefer to #al. a pat of teiro#n %a.in$& Too often te( succu%b to te te%ptations #ic surround all of us and#ic can appear so enticin$&

As bearers of te priestood, #e a"e been placed on eart in troubled ti%es& e li"e ina co%ple- #orld #it currents of con3ict e"er(#ere to be found& 9olitical sce%es ruinte stabilit( of nations, despots $rasp for po#er, and se$%ents of societ( see% fore"erdo#ntrodden, depri"ed of opportunit( and left #it a feelin$ of failure& Te sopistries of%en rin$ in our ears, and sin surrounds us&



Ours is te responsibilit( to be #ort( of all te $lorious blessin$s our !ater in *ea"enas in store for us& ere"er #e $o, our priestood $oes #it us& Are #e standin$ in ol(placesE 9lease, before (ou put (ourself and (our priestood in Deopard( b( "enturin$ intoplaces or participatin$ in acti"ities #ic are not #ort( of (ou or of tat priestood,pause to consider te conseuences&

e #o a"e been ordained to te priestood of God can %a.e a dierence& en #e%aintain our personal purit( and onor our priestood, #e beco%e ri$teous e-a%ples

for oters to follo#& Te Apostle 9aul ad%onised, e tou an e-a%ple of te belie"ers,in #ord, in con"ersation, in carit(, in spirit, in fait, in purit(&7> *e also #rote tat tefollo#ers of Crist sould be as li$ts in te #orld&7 9ro"idin$ an e-a%ple ofri$teousness can elp to illu%inate an increasin$l( dar. #orld&

'an( of (ou #ill re%e%ber 9resident <& ldon Tanner, #o ser"ed as a counselor to four9residents of te Curc& *e pro"ided an unde"iatin$ e-a%ple of ri$teousnesstrou$out is career in industr(, durin$ ser"ice in te $o"ern%ent in Canada, and as anApostle of Mesus Crist& *e $a"e us tis inspired counsel: <otin$ #ill brin$ $reater Do(and success tan to li"e accordin$ to te teacin$s of te $ospel& e an e-a%ple; be anin3uence for $ood&7

*e continued: "er( one of us as been foreordained for so%e #or. as ?God=s@ cosenser"ant on #o% e as seen t to confer te priestood and po#er to act in is na%e&Al#a(s re%e%ber tat people are loo.in$ to (ou for leadersip and (ou are in3uencin$te li"es of indi"iduals eiter for $ood or for bad, #ic in3uence #ill be felt for$enerations to co%e&75

e are stren$tened b( te trut tat te $reatest force in te #orld toda( is te po#erof God as it #or.s trou$ %an& To sail safel( te seas of %ortalit(, #e need te$uidance of tat ternal 'arinere"en te $reat Meo"a& e reac out, #e reac up toobtain ea"enl( elp&

A #ell/.no#n e-a%ple of one #o did not reac up#ard is tat of Cain, son of Ada% and"e& 9o#erful in potential but #ea. of #ill, Cain per%itted $reed, en"(, disobedience,and e"en %urder to Da% tat personal rudder #ic #ould a"e $uided i% to safet( ande-altation& Te do#n#ard $ae replaced te up#ard loo.; Cain fell&

)n anoter ti%e and b( a #ic.ed .in$, a ser"ant of God #as tested& Aided b( teinspiration of ea"en, Baniel interpreted for te .in$ te #ritin$ on te #all& Concernin$te proered re#ardse"en a ro(al robe, a nec.lace of $old, and political po#erBanielsaid, Let t( $ifts be to t(self, and $i"e t( re#ards to anoter&76 Great rices andpo#er ad been oered to Baniel, re#ards representin$ te tin$s of te #orld and notof God& Baniel resisted and re%ained faitful&

Later, #en Baniel #orsipped God despite a decree declarin$ suc to be forbidden, e#as tro#n into a den of lions& Te biblical account tells us tat te follo#in$ %ornin$,Baniel #as ta.en up out of te den, and no %anner of urt #as found upon i%,because e belie"ed in H God&7J )n a ti%e of critical need, Baniel=s deter%ination tosteer a stead( course (ielded di"ine protection and pro"ided a sanctuar( of safet(& +ucprotection and safet( can be ours as #e also steer tat stead( course to#ard our eternalo%e&



Te cloc. of istor(, li.e te sands of te our$lass, %ar.s te passa$e of ti%e& A ne#cast occupies te sta$e of life& Te proble%s of our da( loo% o%inousl( before us& Trou$out te istor( of te #orld, +atan as #or.ed tirelessl( for te destruction ofte follo#ers of te +a"ior& )f #e succu%b to is enticin$s, #eli.e te %i$t( /ismarck #ill lose tat rudder #ic can $uide us to safet(& )nstead, surrounded b( tesopistication of %odern li"in$, #e loo. ea"en#ard for tat unfailin$ sense of direction,tat #e %i$t cart and follo# a #ise and proper course& Our *ea"enl( !ater #ill notlea"e our sincere petition unans#ered& As #e see. ea"enl( elp, our rudder, unli.e tat

of te /ismarck , #ill not fail&

As #e "enture fort on our indi"idual "o(a$es, %a( #e sail safel( te seas of life& 'a(#e a"e te coura$e of a Baniel, tat #e %i$t re%ain true and faitful despite te sinand te%ptation #ic surround us& 'a( our testi%onies be as deep and as stron$ as tatof Macob, te broter of <epi, #o, #en confronted b( one #o sou$t in e"er( #a(possible to destro( is fait, declared, ) could not be sa.en&78

it te rudder of fait $uidin$ our passa$e, bretren, #e too #ill nd our #a( safel(o%eo%e to God, to d#ell #it *i% eternall(& Tat suc %a( be so for eac of us, )pra( in te sacred na%e of Mesus Crist, our +a"ior and Iedee%er, a%en&

October 201 General Conference9onder te 9at of T( !eet


As #e loo. to Mesus as our -e%plar and as #e follo# in *is footsteps, #ecan return safel( to our *ea"enl( !ater&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, ) a% u%bled as ) stand before (ou tis %ornin$& ) as.for (our fait and pra(ers in %( bealf as ) sare #it (ou %( %essa$e&

All of us co%%enced a #onderful and essential Dourne( #en #e left te spirit #orld andentered tis often/callen$in$ sta$e called %ortalit(& Te pri%ar( purposes of oure-istence upon te eart are to obtain a bod( of 3es and bones, to $ain e-perience tatcould co%e onl( trou$ separation fro% our ea"enl( parents, and to see if #e #ould.eep te co%%and%ents& )n te boo. of Abraa% capter > #e read: And #e #ill pro"ete% ere#it, to see if te( #ill do all tin$s #atsoe"er te Lord teir God sallco%%and te%&71

en #e ca%e to te eart, #e brou$t #it us tat $reat $ift fro% Gode"en oura$enc(& )n tousands of #a(s #e are pri"ile$ed to coose for oursel"es& *ere #e learnfro% te ard tas.%aster of e-perience& e discern bet#een $ood and e"il& edierentiate as to te bitter and te s#eet& e learn tat decisions deter%ine destin(&

) a% certain #e left our !ater #it an o"er#el%in$ desire to return to *i%, tat #e%i$t $ain te e-altation *e planned for us and #ic #e oursel"es so %uc #anted&Altou$ #e are left to nd and follo# tat pat #ic #ill lead us bac. to our !ater in*ea"en, *e did not send us ere #itout direction and $uidance& Iater, *e as $i"en us





te tools #e need, and *e #ill assist us as #e see. *is elp and stri"e to do all in ourpo#er to endure to te end and $ain eternal life&

To elp $uide us #e a"e te #ords of God and of *is +on found in our ol( scriptures&e a"e te counsel and teacin$s of God=s propets& Of para%ount i%portance, #ea"e been pro"ided #it a perfect e-a%ple to follo#e"en te e-a%ple of our Lord and+a"ior, Mesus Cristand #e a"e been instructed to follo# tat e-a%ple& +aid te +a"ior*i%self: Co%e, follo# %e&72 Te #or.s #ic (e a"e seen %e do tat sall (e also

do&7> *e posed te uestion, at %anner of %en ou$t (e to beE7 And ten *eans#ered, Weril( ) sa( unto (ou, e"en as ) a%&7 *e %ar.ed te pat and led te#a(&75

As #e loo. to Mesus as our -e%plar and as #e follo# in *is footsteps, #e can returnsafel( to our *ea"enl( !ater to li"e #it *i% fore"er& +aid te propet <epi, Unless a%an sall endure to te end, in follo#in$ te e-a%ple of te +on of te li"in$ God, ecannot be sa"ed&76

One #o%an, eac ti%e se related e-periences se ad durin$ a "isit to te *ol( Land,#ould e-clai%, ) #al.ed #ere Mesus #al.edF7

+e ad been in te "icinit( #ere Mesus li"ed and tau$t& 9eraps se stood on a roc.on #ic *e ad once stood or loo.ed at a %ountain ran$e *e ad once $aed upon& Tee-periences, in and of te%sel"es, #ere trillin$ to er; but p(sicall( #al.in$ where Mesus #al.ed is less i%portant tan #al.in$ as *e #al.ed& %ulatin$ *is actions andfollo#in$ *is e-a%ple are far %ore i%portant tan tr(in$ to retrace te re%nants of tetrails *e tra"ersed in %ortalit(&

en Mesus e-tended to a certain ric %an te in"itation, Co%e, follo# %e,7J *e didnot intend %erel( tat te ric %an follo# *i% up and do#n te ills and "alle(s of tecountr(side&

e need not #al. b( te sores of Galilee or a%on$ te Mudean ills to #al. #ere Mesus#al.ed& All of us can #al. te pat *e #al.ed #en, #it *is #ords rin$in$ in our ears,*is +pirit llin$ our earts, and *is teacin$s $uidin$ our li"es, #e coose to follo# *i%as #e Dourne( trou$ %ortalit(& *is e-a%ple li$ts te #a(& +aid *e, ) a% te #a(, tetrut, and te life&78

As #e e-a%ine te pat Mesus #al.ed, #e #ill see tat it too. *i% trou$ %an( of tesa%e callen$es #e oursel"es #ill face in life&

!or e-a%ple, Mesus #al.ed te pat of disappoint%ent& Altou$ *e e-perienced %an(disappoint%ents, one of te %ost poi$nant #as depicted in *is la%ent o"er Merusale% as*e closed *is public %inistr(& Te cildren of )srael ad reDected te safet( of teprotectin$ #in$ #ic *e ad oered te%& As *e loo.ed out o"er te cit( soon to beabandoned to destruction, *e #as o"erco%e b( e%otions of deep sorro#& )n an$uis *ecried out, O Merusale%, Merusale%, #ic .illest te propets, and stonest te% tat aresent unto tee; o# often #ould ) a"e $atered t( cildren to$eter, as a en dot$ater er brood under er #in$s, and (e #ould notF7

Mesus #al.ed te pat of te%ptation& Lucifer, tat e"il one, a%assin$ is $reateststren$t, is %ost in"itin$ sopistr(, te%pted *i% #o ad fasted for 0 da(s and 0



in elpfulness, not onl( to our fello# %e%bers but also to tose #o are not of our fait&As #e associate #it te%, %a( #e so# our respect for te%&

Tere are tose #o stru$$le e"er( da( #it callen$es& Let us e-tend to te% ourconcern, as #ell as a elpin$ and& As #e care for eac oter, #e #ill be blessed&

'a( #e re%e%ber te elderl( and tose #o are o%ebound& As #e ta.e ti%e to "isitte%, te( #ill .no# tat te( are lo"ed and "alued& 'a( #e follo# te %andate to

succor te #ea., lift up te ands #ic an$ do#n, and stren$ten te feeble.nees&71

'a( #e be people of onest( and inte$rit(, tr(in$ to do te ri$t tin$ at all ti%es and inall circu%stances& 'a( #e be faitful follo#ers of Crist, e-a%ples of ri$teousness, tusbeco%in$ li$ts in te #orld&72

'( broters and sisters, ) tan. (ou for (our pra(ers in %( bealf& Te( stren$ten %eand lift %e as ) stri"e #it all %( eart and stren$t to do God=s #ill and to ser"e *i%and to ser"e (ou&

As #e lea"e tis conference, ) in"o.e te blessin$s of ea"en upon eac of (ou& 'a( (ou#o are a#a( fro% (our o%es return to te% safel( and nd all in order& 'a( #e allponder te truts #e a"e eard, and %a( te( elp us to beco%e e"en %ore "aliantdisciples tan #e #ere #en tis conference be$an&

Until #e %eet a$ain in si- %onts= ti%e, ) as. te Lord=s blessin$s to be upon (ou and,indeed, upon all of us, and ) do so in *is ol( na%ee"en Mesus Crist, our Lord and+a"iora%en&

April 2015 General Conference Te 9riestooda +acred Gift


ac of us as been entrusted #it one of te %ost precious $ifts e"erbesto#ed upon %an.ind&

One of %( %ost "i"id %e%ories is attendin$ priestood %eetin$ as a ne#l( ordaineddeacon and sin$in$ durin$ te openin$ (%n, Co%e, all (e sons of God #o a"e

recei"ed te priestood&71 Toni$t, to all asse%bled ere in te Conference Center and,indeed, trou$out te #orld, ) eco te spirit of tat special (%n and sa( to (ou:$ome, all ye sons of *od who ha(e recei(ed the !riesthood, let us consider our callin$s;let us re3ect on our responsibilities; let us deter%ine our dut(; and let us follo# MesusCrist, our Lord& ile #e %a( dier in a$e, in custo%, or in nationalit(, #e are united asone in our priestood callin$s&

To eac of us, te restoration of te Aaronic 9riestood to Oli"er Co#der( and Mosep+%it b( Mon te aptist is %ost si$nicant& Li.e#ise, te restoration of te 'elciede.9riestood to Mosep and Oli"er b( 9eter, Ma%es, and Mon is a cerised e"ent&





*is response: O, roter 'onson, tat #ould not pro"ide us su4cient ti%e to perusete scriptures&7 *e ten su$$ested a ti%e tree ours before is sacra%ent %eetin$,and e instructed %e to brin$ #it %e %( personall( %ar.ed and referenced set ofscriptures&

en ) arri"ed at is o%e on +unda(, ) #as $reeted #ar%l(, and ten te inter"ie#be$an& 9resident Cild said, roter 'onson, (ou old te Aaronic 9riestood& *a"e (oue"er ad an$els %inister to (ouE7 ) replied tat ) ad not& en e as.ed if ) .ne# ) #as

entitled to suc, ) a$ain replied tat ) ad not .no#n&

*e instructed, roter 'onson, repeat fro% %e%or( te 1>t section of te Boctrineand Co"enants&7

) be$an, RUpon (ou %( fello# ser"ants, in te na%e of 'essia ) confer te 9riestoodof Aaron, #ic olds te .e(s of te %inisterin$ of an$els=7

+top,7 9resident Cild directed& Ten, in a cal%, .indl( tone, e counseled, roter'onson, ne"er for$et tat as a older of te Aaronic 9riestood (ou are entitled to te%inisterin$ of an$els&7

)t #as al%ost as tou$ an an$el #ere in te roo% tat da(& ) a"e ne"er for$otten teinter"ie#& ) (et feel te spirit of tat sole%n occasion as #e to$eter read of teresponsibilities, te duties, and te blessin$s of te Aaronic 9riestood and te'elciede. 9riestoodblessin$s #ic co%e not onl( to us but also to our fa%ilies andto oters #e #ill a"e te pri"ile$e to ser"e&

) #as ordained an elder, and on te da( of %( departure for acti"e dut( #it te na"(, a%e%ber of %( #ard bisopric Doined %( fa%il( and friends at te train station to bid %efare#ell& Must before train ti%e, e placed in %( and a s%all "olu%e titled Missionary&andbook & ) lau$ed and co%%ented tat ) #asn=t $oin$ on a %ission&

*e ans#ered, Ta.e it an(#a(& )t %a( co%e in and(&7

)t did& ) needed a ard, rectan$ular obDect to place in te botto% of %( seaba$ so tat%( clotin$ #ould sta( %ore r% and #ould tus be less #rin.led& Te Missionary&andbook #as Dust #at ) needed, and it ser"ed #ell in %( seaba$ for 12 #ee.s&

Te ni$t before our Crist%as lea"e, our tou$ts #ere of o%e& Te barrac.s #ereuiet, but ten te silence #as bro.en b( %( budd( in te adDoinin$ bun.a 'or%onbo(, Leland 'errill#o be$an to %oan in pain& ) inuired concernin$ te reason, and esaid e felt reall( sic.& *e did not #ant to $o to te base dispensar(, for e .ne# tatdoin$ suc #ould pre"ent is $oin$ o%e te follo#in$ da(&

*e see%ed to $ro# #orse as te ours passed& !inall(, .no#in$ tat ) #as an elder, eas.ed %e to $i"e i% a priestood blessin$&

) ad ne"er before $i"en a priestood blessin$, ) ad ne"er recei"ed a blessin$, and ) adne"er #itnessed a blessin$ bein$ $i"en& As ) pra(ed silentl( for elp, ) re%e%bered teMissionary &andbook in te botto% of %( seaba$& ) uic.l( e%ptied te ba$ and too.te boo. to te ni$t/li$t& Tere ) read o# one blesses te sic.& it %an( curioussailors loo.in$ on, ) proceeded #it te blessin$& efore ) could put e"er(tin$ bac. into



%( ba$, Leland 'errill #as sleepin$ li.e a cild& *e a#a.ened te follo#in$ %ornin$feelin$ ne& Te $ratitude eac of us felt for te po#er of te priestood #as i%%ense&

Te (ears a"e brou$t %e %ore opportunities to pro"ide blessin$s to tose in needtan ) could possibl( count& ac opportunit( as found %e deepl( $rateful tat God asentrusted to %e tis sacred $ift& ) re"ere te priestood& ) a"e #itnessed its po#er ti%eand ti%e a$ain& ) a"e seen its stren$t& ) a"e %ar"eled at te %iracles it as #rou$t&

retren, eac of us as been entrusted #it one of te %ost precious $ifts e"erbesto#ed upon %an.ind& As #e onor our priestood and li"e our li"es so tat #e are atall ti%es #ort(, te blessin$s of te priestood #ill 3o# trou$ us& ) lo"e te #ordsfound in te Boctrine and Co"enants, section 121, "erse 5, #ic tell us #at #e %ustdo to be #ort(: Let t( bo#els H be full of carit( to#ards all %en, and to teouseold of fait, and let "irtue $arnis t( tou$ts unceasin$l(; ten sall t(condence #a- stron$ in te presence of God; and te doctrine of te priestood salldistil upon t( soul as te de#s fro% ea"en&7

As bearers of te priestood of God, #e are en$a$ed in te #or. of te Lord Mesus Crist&e a"e ans#ered *is call; #e are on *is errand& Let us learn of *i%& Let us follo# in *is

footsteps& Let us li"e b( *is precepts& ( so doin$, #e #ill be prepared for an( ser"ice *ecalls us to perfor%& Tis is *is #or.& Tis is *is Curc& )ndeed, *e is our captain, tein$ of Glor(, e"en te +on of God& ) testif( tat *e li"es and bear tis #itness in *is ol(na%e, te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&

April 2015 General Conferencelessin$s of te Te%ple


As #e attend te te%ple, tere can co%e to us a di%ension of spiritualit(and a feelin$ of peace&

'( belo"ed broters and sisters, o# $rateful ) a% to be #it (ou tis beautiful aster%ornin$ #en our tou$ts turn to te +a"ior of te #orld& ) e-tend %( lo"e and$reetin$s to eac of (ou and pra( tat our *ea"enl( !ater #ill inspire %( #ords&

Tis conference %ar.s se"en (ears since ) #as sustained as 9resident of te Curc& Te( a"e been bus( (ears, lled not onl( #it a fe# callen$es but also #it countless

blessin$s& A%on$ te %ost enDo(able and sacred of tese blessin$s as been %(opportunit( to dedicate and rededicate te%ples&

'ost recentl(, tis past <o"e%ber it #as %( pri"ile$e to dedicate te beautiful ne#9oeni- Ariona Te%ple& ) #as Doined b( 9resident Bieter !& Uctdorf, lder Ballin *& Oa.s,lder Iicard M& 'a(nes, lder L(nn G& Iobbins, and lder ent !& Iicards& On tee"enin$ prior to te dedication, a %ar"elous cultural celebration #as eld #ere o"er,000 of our (out fro% te te%ple district perfor%ed beautifull(& Te follo#in$ da( tete%ple #as dedicated in tree sacred and inspirin$ sessions&





Te buildin$ of te%ples is a "er( clear indication of te $ro#t of te Curc& ecurrentl( a"e 1 te%ples in operation #orld#ide, #it 5 bein$ reno"ated and 1> %oreunder construction& )n addition, 1> te%ples #ic #ere pre"iousl( announced are in"arious sta$es of preparation before construction be$ins& Tis (ear #e anticipaterededicatin$ 2 te%ples and dedicatin$ 5 ne# te%ples #ic are sceduled forco%pletion&

!or te past t#o (ears, as #e a"e concentrated our eorts on co%pletin$ pre"iousl(

announced te%ples, #e a"e eld in abe(ance plans for an( additional te%ples& Tis%ornin$, o#e"er, ) a% "er( pleased to announce tree ne# te%ples #ic #ill be builtin te follo#in$ locations: AbidDan, )"or( Coast; 9ort/au/9rince, *aiti; and an$.o., Tailand& at %ar"elous blessin$s are in store for our faitful %e%bers in tese areasand, indeed, #ere"er te%ples are located trou$out te #orld&

Te process of deter%inin$ needs and ndin$ locations for additional te%ples is on$oin$for #e desire tat as %an( %e%bers as possible a"e an opportunit( to attend tete%ple #itout $reat sacrices of ti%e and resources& As #e a"e done in te past, #e#ill .eep (ou infor%ed as decisions are %ade in tis re$ard&

As ) tin. of te%ples, %( tou$ts turn to te %an( blessin$s #e recei"e terein& As #eenter trou$ te doors of te te%ple, #e lea"e beind us te distractions and confusionof te #orld& )nside tis sacred sanctuar(, #e nd beaut( and order& Tere is rest for oursouls and a respite fro% te cares of our li"es&

As #e attend te te%ple, tere can co%e to us a di%ension of spiritualit( and a feelin$of peace #ic #ill transcend an( oter feelin$ #ic could co%e into te u%an eart&e #ill $rasp te true %eanin$ of te #ords of te +a"ior #en *e said: 9eace ) lea"e#it (ou, %( peace ) $i"e unto (ou& H Let not (our eart be troubled, neiter let it beafraid&71

+uc peace can per%eate an( eartearts tat are troubled, earts tat are burdeneddo#n #it $rief, earts tat feel confusion, earts tat plead for elp&

) recentl( learned rstand of a (oun$ %an #o attended te te%ple #it a eartpleadin$ for elp& 'an( %onts earlier e ad recei"ed is call to ser"e in a %ission in+out A%erica& *o#e"er, is "isa #as dela(ed for suc a len$t( period tat e #asreassi$ned to a %ission in te United +tates& Altou$ disappointed tat e could notser"e in te area of is ori$inal call, e noneteless #or.ed ard in is ne# assi$n%ent,deter%ined to ser"e to te best of is abilit(& *e beca%e discoura$ed, o#e"er, becauseof ne$ati"e e-periences e ad #it %issionaries #o see%ed to i% to be %oreinterested in a"in$ a $ood ti%e tan in sarin$ te $ospel&

A fe# sort %onts later tis (oun$ %an suered a "er( serious ealt callen$e #icleft i% partiall( paral(ed, and so e #as sent o%e on a %edical lea"e&

+o%e %onts later te (oun$ %an ad ealed co%pletel(, and is paral(sis addisappeared& *e #as infor%ed tat e #ould once a$ain be able to ser"e as a%issionar(, a blessin$ for #ic e ad pra(ed dail(& Te onl( disappointin$ ne#s #astat e #ould return to te sa%e %ission #ic e ad left, #ere e felt te bea"iorsand attitudes of so%e %issionaries #ere less tan te( sould be&



*e ad co%e to te te%ple to see. co%fort and a conr%ation tat e could a"e a$ood e-perience as a %issionar(& *is parents also ad pra(ed tat tis te%ple "isit #ouldpro"ide te elp teir son needed&

As te (oun$ %an entered te celestial roo% follo#in$ te session, e sat in a cair andbe$an to pra( for $uidance fro% is *ea"enl( !ater&

Anoter #o entered te celestial roo% sortl( after#ard #as a (oun$ %an #ose na%e

is Landon& As e #al.ed into te roo%, is $ae #as i%%ediatel( dra#n to te (oun$%an sittin$ on te cair, e(es closed and ob"iousl( pra(in$& Landon recei"ed anun%ista.able pro%ptin$ tat e sould spea. #it te (oun$ %an& *esitant to interrupt,o#e"er, e decided to #ait& After se"eral %inutes ad $one b(, te (oun$ %an #as stillpra(in$& Landon .ne# e could no lon$er postpone te pro%ptin$& *e approaced te(oun$ %an and $entl( touced is soulder& Te (oun$ %an opened is e(es, startledtat e ad been disturbed& Landon said uietl(, ) a"e felt i%pressed tat ) need total. #it (ou, altou$ ) a% not certain #(&7

As te( be$an to con"erse, te (oun$ %an poured out is eart to Landon, e-plainin$is circu%stances and endin$ #it is desire to recei"e so%e co%fort and

encoura$e%ent concernin$ is %ission& Landon, #o ad returned fro% a successful%ission Dust a (ear earlier, told of is o#n %ission e-periences, te callen$es andconcerns e ad faced, te %anner in #ic e ad turned to te Lord for elp, and teblessin$s e ad recei"ed& *is #ords #ere co%fortin$ and reassurin$, and isentusias% for is %ission #as conta$ious& "entuall(, as te (oun$ %an=s fearssubsided, a feelin$ of peace ca%e to i%& *e felt deep $ratitude as e realied is pra(erad been ans#ered&

Te t#o (oun$ %en pra(ed to$eter, and ten Landon prepared to lea"e, app( tat ead listened to te inspiration #ic ad co%e to i%& As e stood to $o, te (oun$ %anas.ed Landon, ere did (ou ser"e (our %issionE7 To tis point, neiter of te% ad%entioned to te oter te na%e of te %ission in #ic e ad ser"ed& en Landonreplied #it te na%e of is %ission, tears #elled up in te e(es of te (oun$ %an&Landon ad ser"ed in te "er( %ission to #ic te (oun$ %an #ould be returnin$F

)n a recent letter to %e, Landon sared #it %e te (oun$ %an=s partin$ #ords to i%: ad fait *ea"enl( !ater #ould bless %e, but ) ne"er could a"e i%a$ined tat *e#ould send so%eone to elp %e #o ad ser"ed in %( o#n %ission& ) .no# no# tat all#ill be #ell&72 Te u%ble pra(er of a sincere eart ad been eard and ans#ered&

'( broters and sisters, in our li"es #e #ill a"e te%ptations; #e #ill a"e trials andcallen$es& As #e $o to te te%ple, as #e re%e%ber te co"enants #e %a.e tere, #e#ill be better able to o"erco%e tose te%ptations and to bear our trials& )n te te%ple#e can nd peace&

Te blessin$s of te te%ple are priceless& One for #ic ) a% $rateful e"er( da( of %(life is tat #ic %( belo"ed #ife, !rances, and ) recei"ed as #e .nelt at a sacred altarand %ade co"enants bindin$ us to$eter for all eternit(& Tere is no blessin$ %oreprecious to %e tan te peace and co%fort ) recei"e fro% te .no#led$e ) a"e tat seand ) #ill be to$eter a$ain&



'a( our *ea"enl( !ater bless us tat #e %a( a"e te spirit of te%ple #orsip, tat #e%a( be obedient to *is co%%and%ents, and tat #e %a( follo# carefull( te steps ofour Lord and +a"ior, Mesus Crist& ) testif( tat *e is our Iedee%er& *e is te +on of God&*e it is #o ca%e fort fro% te $ra"e tat rst aster %ornin$, brin$in$ #it *i% te$ift of e"erlastin$ life for all of God=s cildren& On tis beautiful da(, as #e celebrate tat%o%entous e"ent, %a( #e oer pra(ers of $ratitude for *is $reat and %ar"elous $ifts tous& Tat tis %a( be so, ) pra( u%bl( in *is ol( na%e, a%en&

October 2015 General Conferenceeep te Co%%and%ents


*e #o created us and #o lo"es us perfectl( .no#s Dust o# #e need toli"e our li"es in order to obtain te $reatest appiness possible&

'( belo"ed bretren, o# $ood it is to be #it (ou once a$ain& e a"e been inspiredtis e"enin$ b( te #ords #ic #e a"e eard& ) pra( tat ) too #ill be $uided in #at )sa(&

'( %essa$e to (ou toni$t is strai$tfor#ard& )t is tis: kee! the commandments&

God=s co%%and%ents are not $i"en to frustrate us or to beco%e obstacles to ourappiness& Must te opposite is true& *e #o created us and #o lo"es us perfectl( .no#s Dust o# #e need to li"e our li"es in order to obtain te $reatest appiness possible& *eas pro"ided us #it $uidelines #ic, if #e follo# te%, #ill see us safel( trou$ tisoften treacerous %ortal Dourne(& e re%e%ber te #ords of te fa%iliar (%n: eep

te co%%and%entsF )n tis tere is safet(; in tis tere is peace&71

Our *ea"enl( !ater lo"es us enou$ to sa(: hou shalt not lie; thou shalt not steal; thoushalt not commit adultery; thou shalt lo(e thy neighbor as thyself ; and so on&2 e .no#te co%%and%ents& *e understands tat #en #e .eep te co%%and%ents, our li"es#ill be appier, %ore fulllin$, and less co%plicated& Our callen$es and proble%s #ill beeasier to bear, and #e #ill recei"e *is pro%ised blessin$s& ut #ile *e $i"es us la#sand co%%and%ents, *e also allo#s us to coose #eter to accept te% or to reDectte%& Our decisions in tis re$ard #ill deter%ine our destin(&

) a% condent tat eac of us as as is ulti%ate $oal life e"erlastin$ in te presence of

our *ea"enl( !ater and *is +on, Mesus Crist& )t is i%perati"e, terefore, for us to %a.ecoices trou$out our li"es tat #ill lead us to tis $reat $oal& e .no#, o#e"er, tatte ad"ersar( is co%%itted to our failure& *e and is osts are relentless in teir eortsto t#art our ri$teous desires& Te( represent a $ra"e and constant treat to oureternal sal"ation unless #e are also relentless in our deter%ination and eorts to acie"eour $oal& Te Apostle 9eter #arns us, e "i$ilant; because (our ad"ersar( te de"il, as aroarin$ lion, #al.et about, see.in$ #o% e %a( de"our&7>

Altou$ tere is no ti%e in our li"es #en #e are e-e%pt fro% te%ptation, (ou (oun$%en are at an a$e #en (ou %a( be particularl( "ulnerable& Teena$e (ears are often





(ears of insecurit(, of feelin$ as tou$ (ou don=t %easure up, of tr(in$ to nd (ourplace #it (our peers, and of tr(in$ to t in& Kou %a( be te%pted to lo#er (our standardsand to follo# te cro#d in order to be accepted b( tose (ou desire to a"e as friends&9lease be stron$, and be alert to anything tat #ould rob (ou of te blessin$s of eternit(& Te coices (ou %a.e ere and no# are fore"er i%portant&

e read in 1 Corintians: Tere are H so %an( .inds of "oices in te #orld&7 e aresurrounded b( persuasi"e "oices, be$uilin$ "oices, belittlin$ "oices, sopisticated "oices,

and confusin$ "oices& ) %i$t add tat tese are loud "oices& ) ad%onis (ou to turn te"olu%e do#n and to be in3uenced instead b( tat still, s%all "oice #ic #ill $uide (outo safet(& Ie%e%ber tat one #it autorit( placed is ands on (our ead after (ou#ere baptied, conr%in$ (ou a %e%ber of te Curc and sa(in$, Iecei"e te *ol(Gost&75 Open (our earts, e"en (our "er( souls, to te sound of tat special "oice#ic testies of trut& As te propet )saia pro%ised, Tine ears sall ear a #ord H ,sa(in$, Tis is te #a(, #al. (e in it&76 'a( #e e"er be in tune, tat #e %i$t ear tisco%fortin$, $uidin$ "oice #ic #ill .eep us safe&

Bisre$ard for te co%%and%ents as opened te #a( for #at ) consider to be tepla$ues of our da(& Te( include te pla$ue of per%issi"eness, te pla$ue of

porno$rap(, te pla$ue of dru$s, te pla$ue of i%%oralit(, and te pla$ue of abortion,to na%e Dust a fe#& Te scriptures tell us tat te ad"ersar( is te founder of all tesetin$s&7J e .no# tat e is te fater of all lies, to decei"e and to blind %en&78

) plead #it (ou to a"oid an(tin$ tat #ill depri"e (ou of (our appiness ere in%ortalit( and eternal life in te #orld to co%e& it is deceptions and lies, tead"ersar( #ill lead (ou do#n a slipper( slope to (our destruction if (ou allo# i% to doso& Kou #ill li.el( be on tat slipper( slope before (ou e"en realie tat tere is no #a( tostop& Kou a"e eard te %essa$es of te ad"ersar(& *e cunnin$l( calls: Cust this oncewon)t matter; e(eryone is doing it; don)t be old-fashioned; times ha(e changed; it can)thurt anyone; your life is yours to li(e& Te ad"ersar( .no#s us, and e .no#s tete%ptations #ic #ill be di4cult for us to i$nore& *o# "ital it is tat #e e-erciseconstant "i$ilance in order to a"oid $i"in$ in to suc lies and te%ptations&

Great coura$e #ill be reuired as #e re%ain faitful and true a%id te e"er/increasin$pressures and insidious in3uences #it #ic #e are surrounded and #ic distort tetrut, tear do#n te $ood and te decent, and atte%pt to substitute te %an/%adepilosopies of te #orld& )f te co%%and%ents ad been #ritten b( %an, ten tocan$e te% b( inclination or le$islation or b( an( oter %eans #ould be teprero$ati"e of %an& Te co%%and%ents, o#e"er, #ere God/$i"en& Usin$ our a$enc(,#e can set te% aside& e cannot, o#e"er, can$e te%, Dust as #e cannot change teconseuences #ic co%e fro% disobe(in$ and brea.in$ te%&

'a( #e realie tat our $reatest appiness in tis life #ill co%e as #e follo# God=sco%%and%ents and obe( *is la#sF ) lo"e te #ords found in )saia capter >2, "erse 1J:Te #or. of ri$teousness sall be peace; and te eect of ri$teousness uietness andassurance for e"er&7 +uc peace, suc assurance can co%e onl( trou$ ri$teousness&

e cannot allo# oursel"es te sli$test bit of lee#a( in dealin$ #it sin& e cannot allo#oursel"es to belie"e tat #e can participate Dust a little7 in disobe(in$ teco%%and%ents of God, for te sin can $rab us #it an iron and fro% #ic it ise-cruciatin$l( painful to free oursel"es& Te addictions #ic can co%e fro% dru$s,



alcool, porno$rap(, and i%%oralit( are real and are nearl( i%possible to brea. #itout$reat stru$$le and %uc elp&

)f an( of (ou as stu%bled in is Dourne(, ) assure (ou tat tere is a #a( bac.& Teprocess is called repentance& Altou$ te pat is di4cult, (our eternal sal"ationdepends on it& at could be %ore #ort( of (our eortsE ) plead #it (ou to deter%ineri$t ere and no# to ta.e te steps necessar( to full( repent& Te sooner (ou do so, tesooner (ou #ill be able to e-perience te peace and te uietness and te assurance

spo.en of b( )saia&

A sort #ile a$o ) eard te testi%on( of a #o%an #o, #it er usband, stra(ed fro%te pat of safet(, brea.in$ co%%and%ents and, in te process, nearl( destro(in$ teirfa%il(& en eac of te% could nall( see trou$ te tic. ae of addiction andreco$nie o# unapp( teir li"es ad beco%e, as #ell as o# %uc te( #ere urtin$teir lo"ed ones, te( be$an to can$e& Te repentance process felt slo# and #as, atti%es, painful, but #it te elp of priestood leaders, alon$ #it elp fro% fa%il( andlo(al friends, te( %ade teir #a( bac.&

) sare #it (ou a portion of tis sister=s testi%on( of te ealin$ po#er of repentance:

*o# does so%eone $o fro% bein$ one of te lost seep and $ripped b( ?sin@, to tispeace and appiness #e no# feelE *o# does tat appenE Te ans#er H is because of aperfect $ospel, a perfect +on and *is sacrice for %e& H ere tere #as dar.ness,tere is no# li$t& ere tere #as despair and pain, tere is Do( and ope& e a"ebeen innitel( blessed b( te can$e tat can onl( co%e trou$ repentance %adepossible b( te Atone%ent of Mesus Crist&7

Our +a"ior died to pro"ide (ou and %e tat blessed $ift& Bespite te fact tat te pat isdi4cult, te pro%ise is real& +aid te Lord to tose #o repent:

Tou$ (our sins be as scarlet, te( sall be as #ite as sno#&7

And ) #ill re%e%ber ?te%@ no %ore&710

Trou$out our li"es #e #ill need to nurture stron$ testi%onies b( stud(in$ tescriptures and b( pra(in$ and b( ponderin$ te truts of te $ospel of Mesus Crist&en r%l( planted, our testi%onies of te $ospel, of te +a"ior, and of our *ea"enl(!ater #ill in3uence all tat #e do&

) testif( tat all of us are belo"ed sons of our !ater in *ea"en, sent to eart at tis da(and ti%e for a purpose, and $i"en te priestood of God so tat #e can ser"e oters andperfor% God=s #or. ere upon te eart& e a"e been co%%anded to li"e our li"es sotat #e re%ain #ort( to possess tat priestood&

'( bretren, %a( #e .eep te co%%and%entsF onderful and $lorious are te re#ards#ic are in store for us if #e do& 'a( tis be our blessin$, ) pra( in te na%e of MesusCrist, our +a"ior and our Iedee%er, a%en&

October 2015 General Conferencee an -a%ple and a Li$t




As #e follo# te e-a%ple of te +a"ior, ours #ill be te opportunit( to be ali$t in te li"es of oters&

'( roters and sisters, o# $ood it is to be #it (ou once a$ain& As (ou .no#, since #e

#ere to$eter in April, #e a"e been saddened b( te loss of tree of our belo"edApostles: 9resident o(d & 9ac.er, lder L& To% 9err(, and lder Iicard G& +cott& Te(a"e returned to teir ea"enl( o%e& e %iss te%& *o# $rateful #e are for teire-a%ples of Cristli.e lo"e and for te inspired teacin$s te( a"e left to all of us&

e e-tend a eartfelt #elco%e to our ne#est Apostles, lder Ionald A& Iasband, lderGar( & +te"enson, and lder Bale G& Ienlund& Tese are %en dedicated to te #or. ofte Lord& Te( are #ell ualied to ll te i%portant positions to #ic te( a"e beencalled&

Iecentl(, as ) a"e been readin$ and ponderin$ te scriptures, t#o passa$es in

particular a"e sta(ed #it %e& ot are fa%iliar to us& Te rst is fro% te +er%on onte 'ount: Let (our li$t so sine before %en, tat te( %a( see (our $ood #or.s, and$lorif( (our !ater #ic is in ea"en&71 Te second scripture is one #ic ca%e to %(%ind as ) pondered te %eanin$ of te rst& )t is fro% te Apostle 9aul=s pistle to Ti%ot(: e tou an e-a%ple of te belie"ers, in #ord, in con"ersation, in carit(, inspirit, in fait, in purit(&72

) belie"e te second scripture e-plains, in $reat part, o# #e can acco%plis te rst&e beco%e e-a%ples of te belie"ers b( li"in$ te $ospel of Mesus Crist in #ord, incon"ersation, in carit(, in spirit, in fait, and in purit(& As #e do so, our li$ts #ill sinefor oters to see&

ac of us ca%e to eart a"in$ been $i"en te Li$t of Crist& As #e follo# te e-a%pleof te +a"ior and li"e as *e li"ed and as *e tau$t, tat li$t #ill burn #itin us and #illli$t te #a( for oters&

Te Apostle 9aul lists si- attributes of a belie"er, attributes tat #ill allo# our li$ts tosine& Let us loo. at eac one&

) %ention te rst t#o attributes to$eterbein$ an e-a%ple in #ord and incon"ersation& Te #ords #e use can lift and inspire, or te( can ar% and de%ean& )nte #orld toda( tere is a profusion of profanit( #it #ic #e see% to be surrounded at

nearl( e"er( turn& )t is di4cult to a"oid earin$ te na%es of Beit( bein$ used casuall(and tou$tlessl(& Coarse co%%ents see% to a"e beco%e a staple of tele"ision,%o"ies, boo.s, and %usic& andied about are slanderous re%ar.s and an$r( retoric& Letus spea. to oters #it lo"e and respect, e"er .eepin$ our lan$ua$e clean and a"oidin$#ords or co%%ents tat #ould #ound or oend& 'a( #e follo# te e-a%ple of te+a"ior, #o spo.e #it tolerance and .indness trou$out *is %inistr(&

Te ne-t attribute %entioned b( 9aul is carit(, #ic as been dened as te purelo"e of Crist&7> ) a% condent tere are #itin our spere of in3uence tose #o arelonel(, tose #o are ill, and tose #o feel discoura$ed& Ours is te opportunit( to elp





te% and to lift teir spirits& Te +a"ior brou$t ope to te opeless and stren$t to te#ea.& *e ealed te sic.; *e caused te la%e to #al., te blind to see, te deaf to ear&*e e"en raised te dead to life& Trou$out *is %inistr( *e reaced out in carit( to an(in need& As #e e%ulate *is e-a%ple, #e #ill bless li"es, includin$ our o#n&

<e-t, #e are to be an e-a%ple in spirit& To %e tat %eans #e stri"e to a"e in our li"es.indness, $ratitude, for$i"eness, and $ood#ill& Tese ualities #ill pro"ide for us a spirit#ic #ill touc te li"es of tose around us& )t as been %( opportunit( trou$ te

(ears to associate #it countless indi"iduals #o possess suc a spirit& e e-perience aspecial feelin$ #en #e are #it te%, a feelin$ tat %a.es us #ant to associate #itte% and to follo# teir e-a%ple& Te( radiate te Li$t of Crist and elp us feel *islo"e for us&

To illustrate tat te li$t #ic co%es fro% a pure and lo"in$ spirit is reco$nied b(oters, ) sare #it (ou an e-perience of %an( (ears a$o&

At tat ti%e, leaders of te Curc %et #it o4cials in Merusale% to #or. out a leasea$ree%ent for land on #ic te Curc=s Merusale% Center #ould be built& )n order toobtain te per%issions needed, te Curc ad to a$ree tat no prosel(tin$ #ould be

underta.en b( our %e%bers #o #ould occup( te center& After tat a$ree%ent adbeen %ade, one of te )sraeli o4cials, #o #as #ell acuainted #it te Curc and its%e%bers, re%ar.ed tat e .ne# te Curc #ould onor te no/prosel(tin$ a$ree%entut,7 e said, referrin$ to te students #o #ould attend tere, #at are #e $oin$ todo about te li$t tat is in teir e(esE7 'a( tat special li$t e"er sine #itin us, tatit %i$t be reco$nied and appreciated b( oters&

To be an e-a%ple of fait %eans tat #e trust in te Lord and in *is #ord& )t %eans tat#e possess and tat #e nouris te beliefs tat #ill $uide our tou$ts and our actions&Our fait in te Lord Mesus Crist and in our *ea"enl( !ater #ill in3uence all tat #e do&A%idst te confusion of our a$e, te con3icts of conscience, and te tur%oil of dail(li"in$, an abidin$ fait beco%es an ancor to our li"es& Ie%e%ber tat fait and doubtcannot e-ist in te sa%e %ind at te sa%e ti%e, for one #ill dispel te oter& ) reiterate#at #e a"e been told repeatedl(tat in order to $ain and to .eep te fait #e need,it is essential tat #e read and stud( and ponder te scriptures& Co%%unication #it our*ea"enl( !ater trou$ pra(er is "ital& e cannot aord to ne$lect tese tin$s, for tead"ersar( and is osts are relentlessl( see.in$ for a cin. in our ar%or, a lapse in ourfaitfulness& +aid te Lord, +earc dili$entl(, pra( al#a(s, and be belie"in$, and alltin$s sall #or. to$eter for (our $ood&75

!inall(, #e are to be pure, #ic %eans tat #e are clean in bod(, %ind, and spirit& e.no# tat our bod( is a te%ple, to be treated #it re"erence and respect& Our %indssould be lled #it upliftin$ and ennoblin$ tou$ts and .ept free fro% tose tin$s#ic #ill pollute& )n order to a"e te *ol( Gost as our constant co%panion, #e %ustbe #ort(& roters and sisters, purit( #ill brin$ us peace of %ind and #ill ualif( us torecei"e te +a"ior=s pro%ises& +aid *e, lessed are te pure in eart: for te( sall seeGod&76

As #e pro"e to be e-a%ples in #ord, in con"ersation, in carit(, in spirit, in fait, and inpurit(, #e #ill ualif( to be li$ts to te #orld&



'a( ) sa( to all of (ou, and particularl( to (ou (oun$ people, tat as te #orld %o"esfurter and furter a#a( fro% te principles and $uidelines $i"en to us b( a lo"in$*ea"enl( !ater, #e #ill stand out fro% te cro#d because #e are dierent& e #illstand out because #e dress %odestl(& e #ill be dierent because #e do not useprofanit( and because #e do not parta.e of substances #ic are ar%ful to our bodies&e #ill be dierent because #e a"oid o/color u%or and de$radin$ re%ar.s& e #ill bedierent as #e decide not to ll our %inds #it %edia coices tat are base andde%eanin$ and tat #ill re%o"e te +pirit fro% our o%es and our li"es& e #ill

certainl( stand out as #e %a.e coices re$ardin$ %oralit(coices #ic adere to$ospel principles and standards& Tose tin$s #ic %a.e us dierent fro% %ost of te#orld also pro"ide us #it tat li$t and tat spirit #ic #ill sine in an increasin$l(dar. #orld&

)t is often di4cult to be dierent and to stand alone in a cro#d& )t is natural to fear #atoters %i$t tin. or sa(& Co%fortin$ are te #ords of te psal%: Te Lord is %( li$tand %( sal"ation; #o% sall ) fearE te Lord is te stren$t of %( life; of #o% sall )be afraidE7J As #e %a.e Crist te center of our li"es, our fears #ill be replaced b( tecoura$e of our con"ictions&

Life is perfect for none of us, and at ti%es te callen$es and di4culties #e face %a(beco%e o"er#el%in$, causin$ our li$t to di%& *o#e"er, #it elp fro% our *ea"enl(!ater, coupled #it support fro% oters, #e can re$ain tat li$t #ic #ill illu%inateour o#n pat once a$ain and pro"ide te li$t oters %a( need&

To illustrate, ) sare #it (ou te toucin$ #ords of a fa"orite poe% ) rst read %an((ears a$o:

) %et a stran$er in te ni$tose la%p ad ceased to sine&) paused and let i% li$t*is la%p fro% %ine&

A te%pest spran$ up later onAnd soo. te #orld about&And #en te #ind #as $one'( la%p #as outF

ut bac. to %e te stran$er ca%e*is la%p #as $lo#in$ neF*e eld te precious 3a%eAnd li$ted %ineF8

'( broters and sisters, our opportunities to sine surround us eac da(, in #ate"ercircu%stance #e nd oursel"es& As #e follo# te e-a%ple of te +a"ior, ours #ill be teopportunit( to be a li$t in te li"es of oters, #eter te( be our o#n fa%il( %e%bersand friends, our co/#or.ers, %ere acuaintances, or total stran$ers&

To eac of (ou, ) sa( tat (ou are a son or dau$ter of our *ea"enl( !ater& Kou a"eco%e fro% *is presence to li"e on tis eart for a season, to re3ect te +a"ior=s lo"e andteacin$s, and to bra"el( let (our li$t sine for all to see& en tat season on eart



as ended, if (ou a"e done (our part, (ours #ill be te $lorious blessin$ of returnin$ toli"e #it *i% fore"er&

*o# reassurin$ are te +a"ior=s #ords: ) a% te li$t of te #orld: e tat follo#et %esall not #al. in dar.ness, but sall a"e te li$t of life&7 Of *i% ) testif(& *e is our+a"ior and Iedee%er, our Ad"ocate #it te !ater& *e is our -e%plar and ourstren$t& *e is te li$t #ic sinet in dar.ness&710 Tat eac of us #itin te soundof %( "oice %a( pled$e to follo# *i%, tus beco%in$ a sinin$ li$t to te #orld, is %(

pra(er in *is ol( na%e, e"en Mesus Crist te Lord, a%en&

Talks at )"

<o" 6, 2005

Becisions Beter%ine Bestin( To%as +& 'onson

Kou are a $lorious $roup, e"en a cosen $eneration, asse%bled bot ere in te'arriott Center at ri$a% Koun$ Uni"ersit( and in %an( oter locations& )t is anonor for %e to be #it (ou, and ) #ant (ou to .no# tat tere is no#ere else oneart ) #ould rater be tis e"enin$&

) approac tis assi$n%ent after earnest personal pra(er& ) see. (our fait; ) as. for(our pra(ers&

As ) loo. at (ou asse%bled ere and conte%plate tose of (ou #o are asse%bledelse#ere, %( tou$ts turn to (our parents& !or %an( (ears it #as %( pri"ile$enearl( e"er( #ee. to attend sta.e conferences and to be in te o%e of a sta.epresident or a counselor to a sta.e president& +o%eti%es, rater interestin$ tin$s#ould occur& Tere #ere occasions #en a tin( broter or sister, not .no#in$ tat'oter and Bad ad $i"en teir bedroo% and teir bed to a General Autorit(, #ouldcreep in te bedroo% earl( in te %ornin$ and tin. tat e or se #as cra#lin$ intobed #it 'oter and !ateronl( to be a%aed and confused to nd tat suc #asnot te case&

On one occasion %an( (ears a$o, #ile "isitin$ te )ndianapolis +ta.e, ) re%e%ber9resident Lo#e, #o #as #it 9urdue Uni"ersit( tere, sa(in$ to %e, roter'onson, #ould (ou li.e to co%e out to %( o%e and sta( #it us +aturda( e"enin$,or #ould (ou prefer to fore$o te 0/%ile dri"e and sta( ere #it %( counselor in

)ndianapolisE7

) responded, ell, 9resident Lo#e, it=s late at ni$t, and, if it=s all te sa%e to (ou, )=llsta( #it (our counselor ere in )ndianapolis&7

Te ne-t %ornin$ 9resident Lo#e $reeted %e at ei$t o=cloc. and said, roter'onson, (ou %ade an inspired decision&7

) as.ed, *o#=s tatE7



ell,7 e replied, #e a"e a son a#a( attendin$ te uni"ersit(, and our anticipation#as tat #e, of course, #ould a"e (ou occup( our bedroo% on +aturda( e"enin$&ut, un.no#n to us and totall( une-pectedl(, our son returned o%e fro% scool att#o in te %ornin$, ca%e in te front door, #al.ed up te stairs to our bedroo%,turned on te li$t, and (elled, R+urpriseF=7

)=% not certain #o #ould a"e been %ore surprised on tat occasion ad ) sta(ed#it te sta.e presidentte student or %eF ) tin. it=s rater a $ood tin$ #e didn=t

nd out&

ell, %( (oun$ friends, #at a trillin$ life a#aits (ouF Kou %a( not be a Mon Cabot,sailin$ o into te blue #it te .in$=s patent to disco"er ne# lands, nor a Captain Ma%es Coo., #ose "o(a$es of disco"er( carried i% to far a#a( places #itstran$e/soundin$ na%es&71 ut (ou can be e-plorers in spirit, #it a %andate to %a.etis #orld better b( disco"erin$ i%pro"ed #a(s of li"in$ and of doin$ tin$s& Te spiritof e-ploration, #eter it be of te surface of te eart, te "astness of space, or teprinciples of li"in$ $reatl(, includes de"elopin$ te capacit( to face trouble #itcoura$e, disappoint%ent #it ceerfulness, and triu%p #it u%ilit(&

'an( of (ou are fa%iliar #it te %usical .iddler on the 4oof" )t is a fa"orite of %ine&One lau$s as e obser"es te old/fasioned fater of a Me#is fa%il( in Iussiaatte%ptin$ to cope #it te can$in$ ti%es brou$t forcibl( o%e to i% b( isbeautiful dau$ters& it abandon te( sin$, 'atc%a.er, %atc%a.er, %a.e %e a%atc&7 Te"(e, te fater, sin$s is repl( #it )f ) ere a Iic 'an&7 Tears co%e tote "ie#er as e ears te beautiful strains of +unrise, +unset,7 and e see%s toappreciate Te"(e=s lo"e for is nati"e "illa$e #en te cast sin$s Anate".a&7

Te $aiet( of te dance, te r(t% of te %usic, and te e-cellence of te actin$ allfade in si$nicance #en Te"(e spea.s #at to %e beco%es te %essa$e of te%usical& *e $aters is lo"el( dau$ters to is side, and, in te si%plicit( of ispeasant surroundin$s, e counsels te% as te( ponder teir future& Ie%e%ber,7

cautions Te"(e, in Anate".a #e .no# #o #e are and #at God e-pects us tobeco%e&7

As Latter/da( +aints, #e .no# #o #e are and #at God e-pects us to beco%e& Listento te trut tau$t to us in te rst boo. of 'oses, called Genesis:

*od said, 2et us make man in our image, after our likeness" " " "

o *od created man in his own image, in the image of *od created he him; male andfemale created he them"

And *od blessed them" ?Genesis 1:26S28@

Created in te i%a$e of God& e cannot sincerel( old tis con"iction #itoute-periencin$ a profound sense of stren$t and po#er& As Latter/da( +aints, #e .no#tat #e li"ed before #e ca%e to eart, tat %ortalit( is a probationar( period #erein#e %i$t pro"e oursel"es obedient to God=s co%%and and tus #ort( of celestial$lor(& Kes, #e .no# #o #e are and #at God e-pects us to beco%e& +uc.no#led$e, o#e"er, does not ensure our success in reacin$ our $oal of eternal life&

Burin$ te last alf centur( or so, tere as been trou$out te #orld a $radual butcontinual decline in %an( pases of life& e obser"e relationsips #itout %oralit(,science #itout u%anit(, .no#led$e #itout caracter, business #itout etics,



#orsip #itout sacrice, pleasure #itout conscience, politics #itout principle, and#ealt #itout #or.s&

9eraps te reno#ned autor Carles Bic.ens best described our da( #en e spo.eof a period o"er t#o centuries a$o& *is classic A ale of wo $ities be$ins:

't was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it wasthe age of foolishness, it was the e!och of belief, it was the e!och of incredulity, it

was the season of 2ight, it was the season of 3arkness, it was the s!ring of ho!e, itwas the winter of des!air, we had e(erything before us, we had nothing before us"

Tis is (our #orld& Te future is in (our ands& Te outco%e is up to (ou& Te #a( toe-altation is not a free#a( featurin$ unli%ited "ision, unrestricted speeds, anduntested s.ills& Iater, it is .no#n b( %an( for.s and turnin$s, sarp cur"es, andcontrolled speeds& Kour dri"in$ s.ill #ill be put to te test& Are (ou read(E Kou aredri"in$& Kou a"en=t passed tis #a( before& !ortunatel(, te 'aster *i$#a( uilder,e"en our *ea"enl( !ater, as pro"ided a road %ap so#in$ te route to follo#& *eas placed %ar.ers alon$ te #a( to $uide (ou to (our destination& 9eraps (ou %a(reco$nie so%e of *is si$ns:

*onour t( fater and t( %oter7 -odus 20:12P&

+earc te scriptures; for & & & te( are te( #ic testif( of %e7 Mon 5:>P&

+ee. (e rst te .in$do% of God, and is ri$teousness7 'atte# 6:>>P&

e (e clean7 > <epi 20:1P&

Tat e"il one too as placed road si$ns to frustrate (our pro$ress and to lead (oufro% te pat of trut into detours of sin& *is detours all lead to a dead end& *a"e (ou

noticed is %ar.ersE

Must tis once #on=t %atter&

)t can=t urt an(one but %e&

'( lo"e is %ine to $i"e; %( life is %ine to li"e&

Ti%es a"e can$ed&

<o# #e see co%in$ into focus te responsibilit( to coose, tat ine"itable crisis at te

crossroads of life& *e #o #ould lead (ou do#n #aits patientl( for a dar. ni$t, a#a"erin$ #ill, a confused conscience, a %i-ed/up %ind& Are (ou prepared to %a.e tedecisions at te crossroadsE

) can=t stress too stron$l( tat decisions deter%ine destin(& Kou can=t %a.e eternaldecisions #itout eternal conseuences&

'a( ) pro"ide a si%ple for%ula b( #ic (ou can %easure te coices #ic confront(ou& )t=s eas( to re%e%ber, so%eti%es di4cult to appl(: Kou can=t be ri$t b( doin$#ron$; (ou can=t be #ron$ b( doin$ ri$t& Kour personal conscience al#a(s #arns (ouas a friend before it punises (ou as a Dud$e&



Te Lord, in a re"elation $i"en trou$ Mosep +%it te 9ropet at irtland, Oio,'a( 18>1, counseled:

hat which doth not edify is not of *od, and is darkness"

hat which is of *od is light" ?BQC 50:2>S2@

+o%e foolis persons turn teir bac.s on te #isdo% of God and follo# te allure%entof c.le fasion, te attraction of false popularit(, and te trill of te %o%ent& Teir

course of conduct so rese%bles te disastrous e-perience of sau, #o e-can$ed isbirtri$t for a %ess of potta$e&

To illustrate, %a( ) sare #it (ou te results of a sur"e( conducted b( a reputableor$aniation and reported in a national %a$aine&2 Te sur"e( #as entitled, ould Kou, for Ten 'illion BollarsE7 Let %e as. (ou te sa%e uestions #ic #ere as.ed inte sur"e(:

!or 10 %illion dollars in cas, #ould (ou lea"e (our fa%il( per%anentl(E

ould (ou %arr( so%eone (ou didn=t lo"eE

ould (ou $i"e up all (our friends per%anentl(E

ould (ou ser"e a (ear=s Dail ter% on a fra%ed car$eE

ould (ou ta.e o (our clotes in publicE

ould (ou ta.e a dan$erous Dob in #ic (ou ad a 1/in/10 cance of losin$ (ourlifeE

ould (ou beco%e a be$$ar for a (earE

Of te people polled, 1 percent #ould lea"e teir fa%ilies, 10 percent #ould %arr(lo"elessl(, 11 percent #ould $i"e up friends, 12 percent #ould undress in public, 1>percent #ould $o to Dail for a (ear, 1 percent #ould ta.e te ris.( Dob, and 21percent #ould be$ for a (ear&

ere %one(, rater tan %oralit(, dictates one=s actions, one is inclined a#a( fro%God& Turnin$ a#a( fro% God brin$s bro.en co"enants, sattered drea%s, "aniseda%bitions, unfullled e-pectations, crused opes, and ruined li"es&

+uc a ua$%ire of uic.sand ) plead #it (ou to a"oid& Kou are of a noble birtri$t&

ternal life in te .in$do% of our !ater is (our $oal& +uc a $oal is not acie"ed inone $lorious atte%pt but rater is te result of a lifeti%e of ri$teousness, anaccu%ulation of #ise coices, e"en a constanc( of purpose& Li.e te co"eted A $radeon te report card of a di4cult and reuired colle$e course, te re#ard of eternal lifereuires eort&

Tere is a fable told about uclid and 9arao and $eo%etr(& )t is said tat 9arao,entranced b( so%e of te e-planations and de%onstrations of uclid, #ised to learn$eo%etr(, and uclid undertoo. to teac i%& *e studied for a brief period and tencalled in uclid and said te process #as too slo# for i%& *e #as a 9arao; tere%ust be a sorter road& *e did not #ant to spend all is ti%e to learn $eo%etr(& Ten



uclid $a"e "oice to tis $reat trut& +aid e to is 'aDest(, Tere is no ro(al road to$eo%etr(&7>

'( (oun$ friends, tere is no ro(al road to sal"ation and e-altation& Tere is no ro(alroad to success in an( endea"or& Te A $rade is te result of eac te%e, eac ui,eac class, eac e-a%ination, eac ter% paper& +o eac eartfelt pra(er, eac Curc%eetin$ attended, eac #ort( friend, eac ri$teous decision, eac act of ser"iceperfor%ed all precede tat $oal of eternal life&

A fe# %onts a$o, as ) returned fro% an assi$n%ent in Ger%an(, ) $aed out te#indo# of te plane and %ar"eled at te stars b( #ic te na"i$ator carted ourcourse& '( tou$ts #ere upon (ou and te opportunit( $i"en %e to %eet #it (outoni$t& ) tou$t of te trut )deals are li.e stars; (ou #ill not succeed in toucin$te% #it (our ands& ut & & & (ou coose te% as (our $uides, and follo#in$ te%(ou #ill reac (our destin(&7

at ideals, #en follo#ed, #ill brin$ to (ou tose blessin$s (ou so %uc see., e"ena uiet conscience, a peace/lled eart, a lo"in$ fa%il(, a contented o%eE

'a( ) su$$est tese tree:

$hoose your friends with caution"

1lan your future with !ur!ose"

.rame your life with faith"

First; Choose "our Friens +ith Caution)n a sur"e( #ic #as %ade in selected #ards and sta.es of te Curc, #e learned a%ost si$nicant fact& Tose persons #ose friends %arried in te te%ple usuall(%arried in te te%ple, #ile tose persons #ose friends did not %arr( in te te%pleusuall( did not %arr( in te te%ple& Te in3uence of one=s friends appeared to be a

%ore do%inant factor tan parental ur$in$, classroo% instruction, or pro-i%it( to ate%ple&

e tend to beco%e li.e tose #o% #e ad%ire& Must as in <ataniel *a#torne=sclassic account Te Great +tone !ace,7 #e adopt te %anneris%s, te attitudes,e"en te conduct of tose #o% #e ad%ireand te( are usuall( our friends&Associate #it tose #o, li.e (ou, are plannin$ not for te%porar( con"enience,sallo# $oals, or narro# a%bition but rater for tose tin$s tat %atter %oste"eneternal obDecti"es&

)nscribed on te east transept #all of +tanford Uni"ersit( 'e%orial Curc is tetrut: All tat is not eternal ?is@ too sort, ?and@ all tat is not innite ?is@ too s%all&75

e(ond (our circle of eartl( friends, ) ur$e (ou to %a.e a friend of (our *ea"enl(!ater& *e stands read( to ans#er te pra(er of (our eart& ein$ te !ater of (ourspirit and a"in$ created (ou in *is o#n i%a$e, .no#in$ te end fro% te be$innin$,*is #isdo% #ill not fail and *is counsel is e"er true& 'a.e a friend of *i%&

Tere is anoter i%portant friend (ou sould a"e, and tat is te bisop of (our#ard& *e as been called of God b( propec( and te la(in$ on of ands b( tose#o are in autorit(& *e is entitled to ea"enl( elp in pro"idin$ (ou #it counsel and$uidance& 'a.e a friend of i%&



*o# #ell ) re%e%ber te callen$es confrontin$ te (out in te #ard o"er #ic )once presided as a bisop& One e"enin$ a lo"el( teena$e $irl ca%e to %( o4ce #iter bo(friend to tal. tin$s o"er #it %e& Te t#o of te% #ere "er( %uc in lo"e,and te%ptation #as be$innin$ to $et te best of te%&

As #e counseled to$eter, eac %ade a pled$e to te oter to resist te%ptation and.eep upper%ost in teir %inds te $oal of a te%ple %arria$e& ) su$$ested a course ofaction to follo# and ten felt i%pressed to sa(: )f (ou e"er nd (oursel"es in a

position of co%pro%ise and need additional stren$t, (ou call %e, re$ardless of teour&7

One %ornin$ at 1:00 a&%&, te telepone ran$ and a "oice said: isop, tis is +usan&Ie%e%ber o# (ou as.ed %e to call if ) found %(self bein$ te%ptedE ell, isop,)=% in tat situation&7 ) as.ed #ere se #as, and se described a popular par.in$spot in te +alt La.e Walle(& +e and er anc\ ad #al.ed to a nearb( pone bootto %a.e te call& Te settin$ #asn=t ideal for pro"idin$ counsel, but te need #as$reat, and te (oun$ couple #as recepti"e&

) #on=t %ention o# often +usan called& *o#e"er, #en te %ail%an deli"ered er#eddin$ announce%ent to our o%e and +ister 'onson read, 'r& and 'rs& Monesreuest te pleasure of (our co%pan( at te #eddin$ reception of teir dau$ter,+usan,7 se si$ed, Tan. ea"enF7 en ) noticed te s%all print at te botto%,#ic read, 'arried in te +alt La.e Te%ple,7 ) said silentl(, Tan. ea"en for testren$t of Latter/da( +aint (out&7

$hoose your friends with caution"

Secon; Plan "our Future +ith Pur%ose Te $reat To%as Carl(le said: Te %an #itout a purpose is li.e a sip #itout aruddera #aif, a notin$, a no %an& *a"e a purpose in life, and, a"in$ it, tro# sucstren$t of %ind and %uscle into (our #or. as God as $i"en (ou&76

'an( (ears a$o ) ser"ed as a %ission president& ) ad 50 #onderful, dedicated%issionaries& en #e returned o%e to +alt La.e Cit( after tree (ears, %( dear#ife and ) #ere a little surprised one e"enin$ as #e ran a tall( on our %issionaries,onl( to nd tat tere #ere so%e sister %issionaries #o ad not as (et found aneternal co%panion& e deter%ined #e #ould do #at #e could to elp out& ) said to+ister 'onson, !rances, let=s plan #it a purpose and in"ite tree or four of our lo"el(sister %issionaries to our o%e& e=ll a"e an acti"it( #ere te( can tell us #o ofall te sin$le returned %ale %issionaries te( #ould li.e to a"e in"ited to a littlereside in our o%e& Ten #e #ill so# pictures of te %ission, and #e #ill arran$ete seatin$ so tat te( can beco%e #ell acuainted #it one anoter&7 Tis #as

done, and ) %i$t sa( tat te four $irls #o% #e in"ited ea$erl( responded to tecallen$e&

)n soe bo-es #e %aintained indi"idual "e/b(/se"en/inc poto$raps of e"er(%issionar(& e ad four suc bo-es, #it %issionar( pictures in eac& As tose four$irls sat around our li"in$ roo%, ) said to eac of te%, *ere is a $ift& Tu%b trou$(our bo- of pictures and tell %e #ic of all te pictures represents te (oun$ %an#o% (ou #ould %ost li.e to a"e in"ited to co%e to tis reside&7 '(, tat #as aninterestin$ scene& ) tin. tat te onl( #a( ) could adeuatel( describe it is to as. auestion& *a"e (ou e"er seen cildren on Crist%as %ornin$E e #ent for#ard andin"ited te cosen four (oun$ %en to Doin tese four (oun$ ladies in our o%e, and



#e ad a $lorious e"enin$& At te conclusion of te e"enin$, ) noticed t#o of te%slo#l( #al.in$ do#n our dri"e#a(, and ) said to +ister 'onson, Tis loo.spro%isin$&7 Te( #ere #al.in$ "er( close to$eter&

)t #asn=t lon$ after#ard tat ) recei"ed a telepone call fro% te (oun$ %an& *e said,9resident 'onson, do (ou re%e%ber tat ) pro%ised (ou if ) e"er fell in lo"e, ) #ouldlet (ou .no#E7

) said, Kes, sir&7*e continued, 9resident, ) a"e fallen in lo"e&7

) replied, Good& it #o%E7

*e said, Kou=ll ne"er $uess&7

) #as discreet; ) didn=t $uess& ) said, Kou tell %e&7 And e na%ed te sister %issionar(#it #o% e #al.ed side b( side and and in and fro% our part( tat e"enin$& Te( a"e no# been %arried for 2 (ears and a"e "e cildren and %an($randcildren&

+o%e of (ou #itin te sound of %( "oice a"e alread( %arried; oters are stillsee.in$ tat special so%eone #it #o% (ou #ould #ant to spend eternit(& !or toseof (ou in te latter cate$or(, in (our uest for te %an or #o%an of (our drea%s, (ou%a( #ell eed te counsel $i"en b( in$ Artur in te %usical $amelot" !aced #it aparticularl( "e-in$ dile%%a, in$ Artur could #ell a"e been spea.in$ to all of us#en e declared, e %ust not let our passions destro( our drea%s&7J 'a( (oufollo# tis %ost essential counsel& ) ur$e (ou to old fast to (our standards& ) plead#it (ou not to #a"er&

As a (oun$ bo( ) ad a "er( special +unda( +cool teacer #o as since passeda#a(& *er na%e #as Luc( Gertsc&

Luc( #as lo"el( and e"er so s#eet& +e #as deser"in$ of a #ort( co%panion, (etnone ad co%e er #a(& Te (ears 3e# b( and Luc( #as beco%in$ resi$ned to tefact tat se #ould ne"er %arr(& And ten, #en se #as in er %id/forties, se %etBic.& )t #as a case of lo"e at rst si$t& Must one proble%: Bic. #as not a %e%ber ofte Curc& Bid Luc( succu%b to te a$e/old fallac( of %arr(in$ out of desperation,#it te 3eetin$ ope tat one da( e #ould beco%e a %e%berE <ot Luc(& +e #as#iser tan tis& +e si%pl( told i%, Bic., ) tin. (ou=re #onderful, but #e #ouldne"er be app( datin$ eac oter&7

( notE7 e countered&

ecause (ou=re not a 'or%on&7

*o# do ) beco%e a 'or%onE ) #ant to date (ou&7 *e studied te $ospel& +eans#ered is uestions& *e $ained a testi%on( and #as baptied&

Ten e said, Luc(, no# tat )=% a %e%ber, #e can be %arried at last&7

Luc( replied, O, Bic., ) lo"e (ou so %uc& <o# tat (ou are a %e%ber of teCurc, (ou #ouldn=t be content #it an(tin$ but a te%ple %arria$e&7

*o# lon$ #ill tat ta.e, Luc(E7



<o" 1, 2006

Tree Gates to Open To%as +& 'onson

)t=s u%blin$ to sit ere and $ae fro% left to ri$t and see o# %an( people are

asse%bled ere #aitin$ for #at te( %i$t ear fro% teir spea.er& )t re%inds %e ofa little bo( in our fast and testi%on( %eetin$ a couple of %onts a$o& ) #atced i%fro% te stand, and ) could tell e #as d$etin$, tr(in$ to $et up enou$ coura$e toco%e up and bear is testi%on(& *e #as Dust a little fello#& !inall( e %ade te %o"e&*e stood up, #al.ed sole%nl( up tat lon$ aisle, passed in front of %e and s%iled,stepped o"er to te pulpit, put is ands do#n, loo.ed at te audience, re%o"ed isands, and turned around and #al.ed bac. to is parents&

All ) could do toda( #ould be to turn around and #al. bac. to te ar%s of 9resident+a%uelson& ) tin. e #ould rater ) spea. no# tan a"e to ta.e o"er& Kou=re %(friends& ) feel close to (ou, and it is a pri"ile$e to be #it (ou and to spea. to (ou

toda(&

at a #onderful opportunit( (ou a"e to attend ri$a% Koun$ Uni"ersit( and to betau$t b( te ne facult( #e a"e ere& As ) tin. of learnin$, ) a% re%inded of afater and is son #o #ent sin$ one da(& After a couple of ours in te boat, tebo( suddenl( be$an as.in$ uestions about teir surroundin$s&

*o# does tis boat 3oatE7 e as.ed is fater&

*is fater tou$t for a %o%ent and ten replied, ) don=t ri$tl( .no#, son&7

Te bo( returned to is conte%plation, ten loo.ed a$ain at is fater& *o# do s

breate under#aterE7 e as.ed&

Once a$ain te fater replied, Bon=t ri$tl( .no#, son&7

<e-t te bo( as.ed, ( is te s.( blueE7

A$ain, te fater replied, Bon=t ri$tl( .no#, son&7

orried e #ould anno( is fater, te bo( said, Bad, do (ou %ind %( as.in$ (ou allof tese uestionsE7

Of course not, son& )f (ou don=t as. uestions, (ou=ll ne"er learn an(tin$&7

As ) a"e pondered #at %essa$e ) #ould #is to lea"e #it (ou toda(, ) a"etou$t of te scripture fro% cclesiastes, or te 9reacer: To e"er( tin$ tere is aseason, and a ti%e to e"er( purpose under te ea"en&71 Tis is (our ti%e& at #ill(ou do #it itE Are (ou #ere (ou #ant to be #it (our lifeE )f not, #at are (ou $oin$to do about itE

Te 9ropet Mosep +%it counseled:

&a!!iness is the obect and design of our eistence; and will be the end thereof, if we !ursue the !ath that leads to it; and this !ath is (irtue, u!rightness, faithfulness,holiness, and kee!ing all the commandments of *od"2



) a"e de"oted considerable ti%e re3ectin$ on (ears $one b(, #en ) #as (our a$eand facin$ (our callen$es, (our obDecti"es, (our opportunities, (our futures&

Burin$ %( i$ scool (ears, and into %( rst (ear at te Uni"ersit( of Uta, orldar )) #as ra$in$ in full con3ict& Te dail( ne#spapers carried te ne#s of %en d(in$,cities bein$ obliterated, ospitals lled #it $rie"ousl( burned and %ai%edser"ice%en& Te( faced futures altered, drea%s sattered, o%eco%in$s ruined&

)t didn=t see% to %atter tat $asoline #as se"erel( rationed& Tis #as a catal(st fordouble datin$ and carpoolin$& Te-tboo.s #ere dela(ed due to paper sorta$es& Te(#eren=t a"ailable until %id#a( trou$ our courses, and (et #e #ere e-pected to.no# e"er(tin$ in te% b( nal e-a%s&

)t #as te era of te bi$ bands, and e"er(one enDo(ed a date to te dance, altou$dancin$ ten #as uite dierent fro% dancin$ no#&

Loo%in$ in te bac.$round of e"er( tou$t for eac (oun$ %an #as te ine"itablecall to ser"e one=s countr(& Left beind #ere te co%forts of fa%il( and o%e, teteacin$s of classroo%s, and, of course, a special $irlfriend& ( te #a(, se and )a"e no# been %arried for 58 (earsFP

eter spea.in$ of (our $eneration or of %ine, tere are so%e constancies a%id tecan$es of te ti%es& Te past is beind#e %ust learn fro% it& Te future is aead#e %ust prepare for it& Te present is no##e %ust li"e in it&

Kears a$o, ) disco"ered a tou$t #ic is true and, in a #a(, propetic& )t is tis: Te$ate of istor( s#in$s on s%all in$es, and so do people=s li"es&

Toda( ) a"e cosen to discuss tree $ates #ic (ou alone can open& Kou %ust passtrou$ eac $ate if (ou are to be successful in (our Dourne( trou$ %ortalit(:

^ Gate <u%ber 1: Te Gate of 9reparation

^ Gate <u%ber 2: Te Gate of 9erfor%ance

^ Gate <u%ber >: Te Gate of +er"ice

The Gate of Pre%aration!irst, let us spea. of te Gate of 9reparation& Te Lord as counseled, )f (e areprepared (e sall not fear&7> !ear is te ene%( of $ro#t and acco%plis%ent&

)t is necessar( to prepare and to plan so tat #e don=t fritter a#a( our li"es& itout a$oal, tere can be no real success& Te best denition of success ) a"e e"er found$oes so%etin$ li.e tis: +uccess is te pro$ressi"e realiation of a #ort( ideal&7

+o%eone as said tat te trouble #it not a"in$ a $oal is tat (ou can spend (ourlife runnin$ up and do#n te eld and ne"er crossin$ te $oal line&

Kears a$o tere #as a ro%antic and fanciful ballad tat contained te #ords isin$#ill %a.e it so; Must .eep on #isin$ and cares #ill $o&7 ) #ant to state ere and no#tat #isin$ #ill not replace torou$ preparation to %eet te trials of life&9reparation is ard #or., but it is absolutel( essential for our pro$ress&

Concernin$ (our preparation, let %e sare #it (ou tis ti%e/onored ad"ice, #icas ne"er been %ore applicable tan it is ri$t no#: )t is not te nu%ber of ours (ouput in but #at (ou put in te ours tat counts&



*a"e discipline in (our preparations& *a"e cec.points #ere (ou can deter%ine if(ou=re on course& +tud( so%etin$ (ou li.e and #ic #ill %a.e it possible for (ou tosupport a fa%il(& ile tis counsel #ould appl( al%ost certainl( to e"er( (oun$ %an,it also as rele"ance to (oun$ #o%en& Tere are situations in life #ic #e cannotpredict #ic #ill reuire e%plo(able s.ills& Kou can=t $et te Dobs of to%orro# until(ou a"e te s.ills of toda(& usiness in te ne# econo%(, #ere te onl( $uaranteeis can$e, brin$s us to serious preparation&

'a.e certain as (ou prepare tat (ou do not procrastinate& +o%eone as said tatprocrastination is te tief of ti%e& Actuall(, procrastination is %uc %ore& )t is tetief of our self/respect& )t na$s at us and spoils our fun& )t depri"es us of te fullestrealiation of our a%bitions and our opes&

)n acade%ic preparation, ) found it a $ood practice to read a te-t #it te idea tat )#ould be as.ed to e-plain tat #ic te autor #rote and its application to tesubDect it co"ered& Also, ) tried to be attenti"e in an( lecture in te classroo% and topretend tat ) #ould be called upon to present te sa%e lecture to oters& ile tispractice is "er( ard #or., it certainl( elps durin$ test #ee.F

)t is aardous in te e-tre%e to count on a situation t(pical of one ) read about so%e(ears a$o pertainin$ to a lar$e, ecclesiasticall( oriented colle$e in te eastern part ofA%erica, #ere e"er( student ad to enroll in a class called Ieli$ion 101& Teprofessor of tat particular class ad been tere %an( (ears and lo"ed te #ritin$sand teacin$s of te Apostle 9aul& *e lo"ed te% #it suc "i$or tat tat is about alle tau$t in Ieli$ion 101& Conseuentl(, e #ould tell te class at te be$innin$ ofte se%ester, ) #ill not $i"e an( e-a%inations durin$ te se%ester e-cept te nal& Te result of te nal e-a%ination #ill deter%ine (our $rade for te course&7

<o#, tat #ould be .ind of o"er#el%in$, e-cept tat e"er( se%ester for 21 (ears ead $i"en te sa%e e-a%ination in e"er( class of Ieli$ion 101& Te e-a%inationconsisted of one uestion& And for all tose (ears, te uestion ad been te sa%e&

Can (ou belie"e itE at a snap classF Te uestion ad al#a(s been: 3escribe thetra(els and teachings of the A!ostle 1aul"

+o%e (oun$ people #ould co%e to class te rst da( and $et teir na%e on terecord& Tat #as about it until te nal e-a%ination& Ten te( #ould co%e, a"in$boned up on an ans#er to tat uestion&

One particular se%ester, tree (oun$ %en #o ad follo#ed tat practice ofre$isterin$ and ten absentin$ te%sel"es until te end of te se%ester sat #it teirpencils poised as te professor #ent to te cal.board and said, ) sall place on teboard te uestion on #ic (our entire $rade #ill depend&7 To teir $reat

astonis%ent e did not #rite te usual uestion& )nstead, e #rote, Criticie te+er%on on te 'ount&7

One of te tree (oun$ %en said, ) don=t e"en .no# #at boo. it is in&7 *e closed istest boo. and left te roo%&

Te second (oun$ %an tou$t for a %o%ent& *e didn=t .no# an(tin$ about te+er%on on te 'ount because e ad prepared for a dierent test uestion& *e leftte roo%, anticipatin$ a failin$ $rade&

Te tird one of tis trio sta(ed in te class& *e #rote line after line and pa$e afterpa$e& *is friends #ere outside in te all#a(, loo.in$ trou$ te door #indo#,



#onderin$ #at e #as #ritin$& Te( .ne# tat e ad no %ore .no#led$e of te+er%on on te 'ount tan did te(, tat e ad prepared for te uestion tat #asnot as.ed& Te( #ondered #at e #as #ritin$ in tat test boo.&

*e didn=t tell te% until te da( te papers #ere e-a%ined and returned& Te( alluddled around to see #at $rade e ad recei"ed& *e ad an A on te test andterefore an A in te course& As e opened te co"er of te e-a% boo., tere #as teuestion: Criticie te +er%on on te 'ount&7 And ere is #at tis enterprisin$

(oun$ %an ad #ritten: ) #ill lea"e it to so%eone far %ore .no#led$eable ande-perienced tan ) a% to criticie te $reatest ser%on fro% te $reatest life e"erli"ed& As for %e, ) #ould prefer to describe te tra"els and teacin$s of te Apostle9aul&7

'a( ) no# turn to te Gate of 9erfor%ance& Li.e te Gate of 9reparation, (ou alonecan open it&

The Gate of Performance Te Apostle 9aul pro"ided sound counsel to $uide our perfor%ance: Let no %andespise t( (out; but be tou an e-a%ple of te belie"ers, in #ord, in con"ersation,in carit(, in spirit, in fait, in purit(&75

Ie%e%ber tat te %antle of leadersip, %( broters and sisters, is not te cloa. ofco%fort but te robe of responsibilit(& Accountabilit( is not for te intention but for tedeed& Kou %ust continue to refuse to co%pro%ise #it e-pedienc(& Kou %ust %aintainte coura$e to def( te consensus& Kou %ust continue to coose te arder ri$t,instead of te easier #ron$& Te poet Mon Greenleaf ittier e-pressed tis trut#en e #rote tese lines:

.or of all sad words of tongue or !en,he saddest are these: ='t might ha(e been%> 6

Bon=t for$et: One of te saddest tin$s in life is #asted talent&

't is a good idea to be ambitious, to ha(e goals, to want to be good at what you do,but it is a terrible mistake to let dri(e and ambition get in the way of treating !eo!lewith kindness and decency" he !oint is not that they will then be nice to you" 't isthat you will feel better about yourself"J

ene"er #e are inclined to feel burdened do#n #it te blo#s of life, let usre%e%ber tat oters a"e passed te sa%e #a(, a"e endured, and ten a"eo"erco%e& en #e a"e done all tat #e are able, #e can rel( on God=s pro%isedelp&

Kou, %( broters and sisters, a"e access to te li$touse of te Lord& Tere is nofo$ so dense, no ni$t so dar., no %ariner so lost, no $ale so stron$ as to renderuseless te li$touse of te Lord& )t bec.ons trou$ te stor%s of life& )t see%s tocall, Tis #a( to safet(; tis #a( to o%e&7

ill (ou re%e%ber to select (our friends carefull(, for (ou #ill tend to be li.e te%and to be found #ere te( coose to $o& Consider te lo"e (our parents a"e for (ouand tat (ou a"e for te%& )nstead of si%pl( as.in$ te%, ere are te .e(s to(our carE7 (ou %i$t add, )=ll be a bit late toni$t&7 Often te cloc. tic.s %ore loudl(and te ands %o"e %ore slo#l( #en te ni$t is dar., te our is late, and a son ora dau$ter as not (et co%e o%e& A telepone calle=re o.a(; #e Dust stopped



for so%etin$ to eat& Bon=t #orr(; #e=re ne7is an indication of true lo"e of parentsand of te trainin$ of a Latter/da( +aint o%e&

Let %e relate anoter e-a%ple& At te funeral ser"ice of a noble General Autorit(, *&Werlan Andersen, a tribute #as e-pressed b( a son& *e related tat, (ears earlier, ead a special scool date on a +aturda( ni$t& *e borro#ed fro% is fater te fa%il(car& As e obtained te car .e(s and eaded for te door, is fater said, Ie%e%ber,to%orro# is +unda(& Te car #ill need %ore $as before ten& e sure to ll te tan.

before co%in$ o%e&7

lder Andersen=s son ten related tat te e"enin$ acti"it( #as #onderful& !riends%et, refres%ents #ere ser"ed, and all ad a $ood ti%e& )n is e-uberance, o#e"er,e failed to follo# is fater=s instruction and add fuel to te car=s tan. beforereturnin$ o%e& *e si%pl( for$ot&

+unda( %ornin$ da#ned& lder Andersen disco"ered te $as $au$e so#ed e%pt(& Te son sa# is fater put te car .e(s on te table& )n te Andersen fa%il( te+abbat da( #as a da( for #orsip and tan.s$i"in$, and not for purcases&

As te funeral %essa$e continued, lder Andersen=s son declared, ) sa# %( fater

put on is coat, bid us $ood/b(e, and #al. te lon$ distance to te capel, tat e%i$t attend an earl( %eetin$&7 But( called& Trut #as not eld osta$e toe-pedience&

)n concludin$ is funeral %essa$e, lder Andersen=s son said, <o son e"er #astau$t %ore eecti"el( b( is fater tan ) #as on tat occasion& '( fater not onl(.ne# te trut, but e also tau$t te trut and li"ed te trut&7

Kout need fe#er critics and %ore %odels to follo#& Kour o#n personal perfor%ance inall aspects of (our life, includin$ readin$ te scriptures re$ularl( and follo#in$ teirteacin$s, #ill elp (ou to beco%e suc %odels& Ten te Gate of 9erfor%ance #illopen before (ou as (ou proceed to Gate <u%ber >te Gate of +er"ice&

The Gate of Ser*iceAlbert +c#eiter, te noted teolo$ian and %issionar( p(sician, declared: ) don=t.no# #at (our destin( #ill be, but one tin$ ) .no#: te onl( ones a%on$ (ou #o#ill be reall( app( are tose #o a"e sou$t and found o# to ser"e&7

'a( ) sare #it (ou an e-perience ) ad #it a dear friend of %ine, Louis 'cBonald&Louis ne"er %arried& ecause of a cripplin$ disease, e ad ne"er .no#n a da(#itout pain nor %an( da(s #itout loneliness& One #inter=s da(, as ) "isited i%, e#as slo# in ans#erin$ te doorbell=s rin$& ) entered is #ell/.ept o%e; tete%perature in sa"e but one roo%te .itcen#as a cill( 0 de$rees& Te reasonE

)nsu4cient %one( to eat an( oter roo%& Te #alls needed paperin$, te ceilin$sneeded to be lo#ered, te cupboards needed to be lled&

) #as troubled b( Louis=s needs& A bisop #as consulted, and a %iracle of lo"e,pro%pted b( testi%on(, too. place& Te %e%bers of te #ardparticularl( te (oun$adults#ere or$anied and te labor of lo"e be$un&

A %ont later, %( friend Louis called and as.ed if ) #ould co%e and see #at adappened to i%& ) did and indeed beeld a %iracle& Te side#al.s #ic ad beenuprooted b( lar$e poplar trees ad been replaced, te porc of te o%e rebuilt, ane# door #it $listenin$ ard#are installed, te ceilin$s lo#ered, te #alls papered,



te #ood#or. painted, te roof replaced, and te cupboards lled& <o lon$er #as teo%e cill( and unin"itin$& )t no# see%ed to #isper a #ar% #elco%e&

Louis sa"ed until last so#in$ %e is pride and Do(: tere on is bed #as a beautifulplaid uilt bearin$ te crest of is 'cBonald fa%il( clan& )t ad been %ade #it lo"in$care b( te #o%en of te Ielief +ociet(& efore lea"in$, ) disco"ered tat eac #ee.te Koun$ Adults #ould brin$ in a ot dinner and sare a o%e e"enin$& ar%t adreplaced te cold, repairs ad transfor%ed te #ear of (ears, but, %ore si$nicantl(,

ope ad dispelled despair, and no# lo"e rei$ned triu%pant&

All #o participated in tis %o"in$ dra%a of real life ad disco"ered a ne# andpersonal appreciation of te 'aster=s teacin$ )t is %ore blessed to $i"e tan torecei"e&78

Te ol( scriptures are replete #it e-a%ples of ser"ice b( te ser"ants of te Lordand b( Mesus *i%self& Of *i% it is recorded: ?*e@ #ent about doin$ $ood, & & & for God#as #it i%&7 *e caused la%e be$$ars to #al. and blind %en to see& *e cleansedte lepers and ealed te centurion=s ser"ant& *e restored to te #ido# at <ain erdead son, #o trou$ *i% no# li"ed& *e raised Laarus fro% te to%b& *e for$a"ete #o%an ta.en in adulter(& *e atoned for te sins of all of us& *e died tat #e %i$teternall( li"e&

As #e $o about our dail( li"es, #e disco"er countless opportunities to follo# tee-a%ple of te +a"ior& en our earts are in tune #it *is teacin$s, #e disco"erte un%ista.able nearness of *is di"ine elp& e are on te Lord=s errand, and #en#e are on te Lord=s errand, #e are entitled to te Lord=s elp&

Trou$ te (ears, te o4ces ) a"e occupied a"e been decorated #it lo"el(paintin$s of peaceful and pastoral scenes& *o#e"er, tere is one picture tat al#a(san$s on te #all #ic ) face #en seated beind %( des.& )t is a constant re%inderof *i% #o% ) ser"e, for it is a picture of our Lord and +a"ior, Mesus Crist& en

confronted #it a "e-in$ proble% or di4cult decision, ) al#a(s $ae at tat picture ofte 'aster and silentl( as. %(self te uestion at #ould *e a"e %e doE7 <olon$er does doubt lin$er, nor does indecision pre"ail& Te #a( to $o is clear, and tepat#a( before %e bec.ons& +uc #ill also #or. for eac of (ou as (ou focus on #atte Lord #ould a"e (ou do&

Te noble in$ enDa%in counseled is %an( subDects, after a len$t( but po#erfulser%on on te subDect of ser"ice: en (e are in te ser"ice of (our fello# bein$s (eare onl( in te ser"ice of (our God&710

At ti%es #e %a( tin. tat no one caresbut so%eone always caresF Kour *ea"enl(!ater #ill not lea"e (ou to stru$$le alone but stands e"er read( to elp& 'ost often

suc assistance co%es uietl(, at oter ti%es #it dra%atic i%pact& lder 'arion B&*an.s, so%e (ears a$o, related an account of one #o recei"ed suc assistance& *etold of a (oun$ di"orced #o%an, te %oter of se"en cildren ten ran$in$ in a$esfro% "e to 16& One e"enin$ se #ent across te street to deli"er so%etin$ to anei$bor& +e indicated later tat as se turned to #al. bac. o%e, se could see erouse li$ted up& +e could ear ecoes of er cildren as se ad #al.ed out of tedoor a fe# %inutes earlier: 'o%, #at are #e $oin$ to a"e for dinnerE7 Can (outa.e %e to te librar(E7 'o%, ) a"e to $et so%e poster paper toni$t&7 Tired and#ear(, se tou$t of all of tose cildren #o #ere o%e #aitin$ for er to co%e



Toda( ) pra( earnestl( tat all of us %a( open #ide te tree $ates of #ic ) a"espo.ente Gate of 9reparation, te Gate of 9erfor%ance, and te Gate of +er"iceand #al. trou$ te% to our e-altation& )n te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&

homas " Monson was .irst $ounselor in the .irst 1residency of he $hurch of Cesus$hrist of 2atter-day aints when this de(otional talk was gi(en on LD 6o(ember IJJH"

<o" 1>, 200J

Guideposts for Life=s Mourne( To%as +& 'onson

'( (oun$ broters and sisters, #at a $lorious si$t (ou are& )t is an onor and apri"ile$e for %e to be ere #it (ou& '( responsibilit( toda( is $reat, for ) realie tat(our ti%e is "aluable, (our talents are %an(, and (our future is bri$t& arnestl( ) see.ea"enl( elp in respondin$ to tis callen$e&

) suppose e"er( one of us in tis con$re$ation as ad a fe# eart/stoppers7 in is orer life& ) .no# tat ) a"e& efore $oin$ for#ard #it %( $eneral te%e, ) %i$t %entionone or t#o of te%&

Tis past $eneral conference %ar.ed (ears since ) #as called to ser"e as a %e%berof te Nuoru% of te T#el"e Apostles in October of 16>& A fe# da(s follo#in$ tatconference, ) %et #it %( collea$ues for te rst ti%e in te fourt/3oor roo% of te +altLa.e Te%ple& "er(tin$ #as so ne# to %e& e #ere to parta.e of te sacra%ent tatda(& As #e prepared to recei"e it, 9resident Ba"id O& 'ca( said, efore #e parta.e ofte bread and #ater, ) #ould li.e to in"ite our ne#est %e%ber, roter 'onson, to

instruct te !irst 9residenc( and Council of te T#el"e on te atonin$ sacrice of te Lord Mesus Crist& e #ill ear fro% (ou no#, roter 'onson&7 Tat #as a eart/stopper for%e&

At te conclusion of te %eetin$, #e %o"ed to te luncroo% reser"ed for te !irst9residenc( and te T#el"e, #ere #e #ere to eat& As #e sat around te table, 9resident'ca( said, roter 'onson, do (ou belie"e tat illia% +a.espeare reall( #rote tesonnets attributed to i%E7

Kes,7 ) responded, ) do, 9resident 'ca(&7

*e ten e-clai%ed, onderfulF +o do ); so do )&7

) tou$t to %(self, ) ope e %o"es a#a( fro% +a.espeare&7 ) #as a business %aDor&

*o#e"er, e turned a$ain to %e and said, roter 'onson, do (ou read +a.espeareE7

) said, Occasionall(&7



!ine,7 e said& at is (our fa"orite #or. of +a.espeareE7

) tou$t uic.l(peraps %ore a desperate pra(er tan a reasoned tou$tandreplied, *enr( te i$t&7

ic is (our fa"orite passa$eE7 e as.ed&

) ad a eart/stoppin$ situation ri$t tere& Ten ) tou$t of Cardinal olse(, tat %an#o ser"ed is .in$ but ne$lected is God& ) recited to 9resident 'ca( #at Cardinalolse( la%ented #en e #as sorn of all is po#er:

*ad ) but ser"ed %( God #it alf te eal

) ser"ed %( .in$, e #ould not in %ine a$e

*a"e left %e na.ed to %ine ene%ies&1

9resident 'ca( said, O, ) lo"e tat passa$e, too&7 Ten e can$ed te subDect, for#ic ) sall be eternall( $rateful&

As #e Dourne( trou$ %ortalit(, eart/stoppers #ill co%e to eac of us&

'( (oun$ friends, ) co%%end (ou for pa(in$ te price in ti%e, in eort, in %one( toobtain (our education& Kour parents %a( be sacricin$, s.i%pin$, and $oin$ #itout sotat (ou %a( be $i"en te education #ic #ill enable (ou to e-cel in toda(=s #orld&

ate"er (our future pat#a( %a( be, %a( ) su$$est to (ou toda( four $uideposts toassist in (our respecti"e Dourne(s trou$ scool and trou$ life itself&

!irst: Glance bac.#ard&

+econd: Loo. ea"en#ard&

Tird: Ieac out#ard&

!ourt: 9ress on#ard&

Let us consider eac in its turn& !irst, $lance bac.#ard& A re"ie# of te past can beelpfultat is, if #e learn fro% te %ista.es and follies of tose #o a"e $one before,and if #e do not repeat te%& Mon Toland, a 9uliter 9rieS#innin$ autor, in su%%in$up is %onu%ental #or. Te Iisin$ +un, declared:

) a"e done %( ut%ost to let te e"ents spea. for te%sel"es, and if an( conclusion #asreaced, it #as tat tere are no si%ple lessons in istor(, tat it is u%an nature tatrepeats itself, not istor(&2



) a"e su$$ested %erel( a $lance at te past, for it is not practical to tin. #e canreturn& +o%e of (ou %a( be fa%iliar #it Tornton ilder=s classic dra%a Our To#n& )f(ou are, (ou #ill re%e%ber te to#n of Gro"er=s Corners& )n te pla(, %il( ebb dies incildbirt, and #e read of te lonel( $rief of er (oun$ usband, Geor$e, left #it teirfour/(ear/old son& %il( does not #is to rest in peace; se #ants to e-perience a$ainte Do(s of er life& +e is $ranted te pri"ile$e to return to eart and to reli"e er t#elftbirtda(& At rst it is e-citin$ to be (oun$ a$ain, but te e-cite%ent #ears o uic.l(& Te da( olds no Do(, no# tat %il( .no#s #at is in store for te future& )t is

unbearabl( painful to realie o# una#are se ad been of te %eanin$ and #onder oflife #ile se #as ali"e& efore returnin$ to er restin$ place, %il( la%ents, Bo an(u%an bein$s e"er realie life #ile te( li"e ite"er(, e"er( %inuteE7>

'a( eac of us learn to appreciate te $ift of life tat #e a"e been $i"en& And, in tatconte-t, at tis ti%e of (ear #en #e #ill soon be celebratin$ Tan.s$i"in$, ) #ould ur$eall of us to $lance bac.#ard in order to reco$nie tose tin$s for #ic #e are tan.fuland ten to e-press appreciation to an(one to #o% #e o#e a debt of $ratitude& 'a(#e e-press tan.s to parents for carin$, for sacricin$, for laborin$ in our bealf& 'a( #ee-press tan.s to friends, to professors, and to an( oters #o a"e elped alon$ te

#a(& 'a( #e e-press tan.s to our !ater in *ea"en for te blessin$ of life and tecance to return to *i%& And %a( #e e-press tan.s to *i% for te $ift of *is Onl(e$otten +on, #o died tat #e %i$t li"e&

'a( te lessons #e learn as #e $lance bac.#ard elp us to li"e %ore full( eac da( ofour future&

<o# tat #e a"e $lanced bac.#ard, let us loo. ea"en#ard& !ro% te ea"ens ca%ete $entle in"itation Loo. to God and li"e&7

e a"e not been left to #ander in dar.ness and in silence, uninstructed, uninspired,#itout re"elation& One #o .ne# and tau$t tis trut #as 9resident *arold & Lee, #o#rote tis inscription on te title pa$e of te triple co%bination of scripture #ic epresented to is teena$e dau$ter:

To '( Bear 'aurine,

Tat (ou %a( a"e a constant %easure b( #ic to Dud$e bet#een trut and te errorsof %an=s pilosopies, and tus $ro# in spiritualit( as (ou increase in .no#led$e, ) $i"e(ou tis sacred boo. to read freuentl( and ceris trou$out (our life&

Lo"in$l(, (our fater,

*arold & Lee

!ro% te scriptures, fro% te propets, co%es counsel for our ti%e as #e loo.ea"en#ard&



To nd real appiness, #e %ust see. for it in a focus outside oursel"es& <o one aslearned te %eanin$ of li"in$ until e as surrendered is e$o to te ser"ice of is fello#%an& +er"ice to oters is a.in to dut(te fulll%ent of #ic brin$s true Do(&

e do not li"e alonein our cit(, our nation, or our #orld& Tere is no di"idin$ linebet#een our prosperit( and our nei$bor=s #retcedness& Lo"e t( nei$bor7 is %oretan a di"ine trut& )t is a pattern for perfection& Tis trut inspires te fa%iliar car$e

Go fort to ser"e&7 Tr( as so%e of us %a(, #e cannot escape te in3uence our li"esa"e upon te li"es of oters& Ours is te opportunit( to build, to lift, to inspire, andindeed to lead&

Te <e# Testa%ent teaces tat it is i%possible to ta.e a ri$t attitude to#ard Crist#itout ta.in$ an unsels attitude to#ard %en& )nas%uc as (e a"e done it unto oneof te least of tese %( bretren, (e a"e done it unto %e&76 e %a( tin. as #eplease, but tere is no uestion about #at te ible teaces& )n te <e# Testa%enttere is no road to te eart of God tat does not lead trou$ te eart of %an&

Te 9ropet Mosep +%it tau$t tat a true Latter/da( +aint

is to feed te un$r(, to clote te na.ed, to pro"ide for te #ido#, to dr( up te tear ofte orpan, to co%fort te aicted, #eter in tis curc, or in an( oter, or in nocurc at all, #ere"er e nds te%&J

e cannot be careless in our reac& Li"es of oters depend on us& Te po#er to lead isindeed te po#er to %islead; and te po#er to %islead is te po#er to destro(&

'an( a"e co%e into te Curcor at least a"e co%e to .no# and respect te Curc

because so%eone %ade te eort to reac out#ard& ) sare #it (ou a treasuredfa%il( e-perience #ic ad its be$innin$ bac. in 15 #en ) #as called to presideo"er te Canadian 'ission, eaduartered in Toronto&

Our dau$ter, Ann, #o is in te audience toda(, turned "e sortl( after #e arri"ed inCanada& +e sa# te %issionaries $oin$ about teir #or. and se, too, #anted to be a%issionar(& '( #ife de%onstrated understandin$ b( per%ittin$ Ann to ta.e to class afe# copies of te Cildren=s !riend& Tat #asn=t su4cient for Ann& +e also #anted tota.e #it er a cop( of te oo. of 'or%on so tat se %i$t tal. to er teacer, 'iss9epper, about te Curc& ) tin. it rater trillin$ tat Dust a fe# (ears a$o, lon$ (earsafter our return fro% Toronto, #e ca%e o%e fro% a "acation and found in our %ailbo- a

note fro% 'iss 9epper #ic read:

Bear Ann:

Tin. bac. %an( (ears a$o& ) #as (our scoolteacer in Toronto, Canada& ) #asi%pressed b( te copies of te Cildren=s !riend #ic (ou brou$t to scool& ) #asi%pressed b( (our dedication to a boo. called te oo. of 'or%on&



) %ade a co%%it%ent tat one da( ) #ould co%e to +alt La.e Cit( and see #( (outal.ed as (ou did and #( (ou belie"ed in te %anner (ou belie"ed& Toda( ) ad tepri"ile$e of $oin$ trou$ (our "isitors= center on Te%ple +uare& Tan.s to a "e/(ear/old $irl #o ad an understandin$ of tat #ic se belie"ed, ) no# a"e a betterunderstandin$ of Te Curc of Mesus Crist of Latter/da( +aints&

'iss 9epper died not too lon$ after tat "isit& *o# app( our dau$ter Ann #as #en

se attended te Mordan Ii"er Te%ple and perfor%ed te te%ple #or. for er belo"edteacer to #o% se ad reaced out so %an( (ears a$o&

And #ile #e reac out#ard, #e a"e te responsibilit( to press on#ard&

<o one as described tis life as bein$ eas(& )ndeed, it as beco%e increasin$l( %oredi4cult& Te #orld see%s to a"e slipped fro% te %oorin$s of safet( and drifted fro%te arbor of peace& 9er%issi"eness, i%%oralit(, porno$rap(, and te po#er of peerpressure cause %an( to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crused on te Da$$ed reefsof lost opportunities, forfeited blessin$s, and sattered drea%s&

An-iousl( #e as., )s tere a #a( to safet(E Can so%eone $uide usE )s tere an escapefro% treatened destructionE7

Te ans#er is a resoundin$ (esF ) counsel (ou: Loo. to te li$touse of te Lord& Tereis no fo$ so dense, no ni$t so dar., no $ale so stron$, no %ariner so lost but #at itsbeacon li$t can rescue& )t calls, Tis #a( to safet(; tis #a( to o%e&7

9ress on#ard #e %ust& Te Apostle 9aul described life as a race& *e said, no# (e nottat te( #ic run in a race run all, but one recei"et te prieE +o run, tat (e %a(

obtain&78

Te #riter of te boo. of cclesiastes also #rote of tis subDect, sa(in$, Te race is notto te s#ift, nor te battle to te stron$&7 Actuall(, te prie belon$s to i% #oendures to te end&

)n te pri"ate sanctuar( of one=s o#n conscience lies tat spirit, tat deter%ination, topress on#ard and to %easure up to te stature of true potential& ut te #a( is ru$$ed,and te course is strenuous& +o disco"ered Mon *elander fro% G_tebor$, +#eden& Mon#as a (oun$ adult& *e ad te sa%e (earnin$s for te blessin$s of success as do all& ut

Mon is andicapped, in tat it is di4cult for i% to coordinate is %otions&

At an acti"it( of (oun$ people in un$sbac.a, +#eden, Mon too. part in an 800/%eterrunnin$ race& *e ad no cance to #in& Iater, is #as te possibilit( of bein$u%iliated, %oc.ed, derided, scorned& 9eraps Mon re%e%bered anoter #o li"ed lon$a$o and far a#a(& asn=t *e %oc.edE asn=t *e deridedE asn=t *e scornedE ut *epre"ailed& *e #on *is race& 'a(be Mon could #in is&

at a race it isF +tru$$lin$, sur$in$, pressin$, te runners bolt far be(ond Mon& Tere is#onder%ent a%on$ te spectators& o is tis runner #o la$s so far beindE Te



participants, on teir second lap of tis t#o/lap race, pass Mon #ile e is but alf#a(trou$ te rst lap& Tension %ounts as te runners press to#ard te tape& o #ill #inEo #ill place secondE Ten co%es te nal burst of speed; te tape is bro.en& Tecro#d ceers; te #inner is proclai%ed&

Te race is o"eror is itE o is tis contestant #o continues to run #en te race isendedE *e crosses te nis line on but is rst lap& Boesn=t e .no# e as lostE "er

on#ard e stru$$les, te onl( participant no# on te trac.& Tis is is race& Tis %ust beis "ictor(& <o one a%on$ te "ast tron$ of spectators lea"es& "er( e(e is on tis"aliant runner& *e %a.es te nal turn and %o"es to#ard te nis line& Tere is a#e;tere is ad%iration& "er( spectator sees i%self runnin$ is o#n race of life& As Monapproaces te nis line, te audience, as one, rises to its feet& Tere is a loudapplause of acclai%& +tu%blin$, fallin$, e-austed but "ictorious, Mon *elander brea.ste ne#l( ti$tened tape& O4cials are u%an bein$s, too&P Te ceerin$ ecoes for%iles& And Dust %a(be, if te ear is carefull( attuned, tat Great +core.eepere"en teLordcan be eard to sa(, ell done, tou $ood and faitful ser"ant&710

ac of us is a runner in te race of life& Co%fortin$ is te fact tat tere are %an(

runners& Ieassurin$ is te .no#led$e tat our ternal +core.eeper is understandin$&Callen$in$ is te trut tat eac %ust run& ut (ou and ) do not run alone& e ta.econdence fro% te (%n: !ear not, ) a% #it tee; o, be not dis%a(ed,!or ) a% t(God and #ill still $i"e tee aid&)=ll stren$ten tee, elp tee, and cause tee tostand,Upeld b( %( ri$teous, & & & o%nipotent and&& & & & & & &Te soul tat on Mesus atleaned for repose) #ill not, ) cannot, desert to is foes;Tat soul, tou$ all ell souldendea"or to sa.e,)=ll ne"er, no ne"er, no ne"er forsa.eF11

Let us sed an( tou$t of failure& Let us discard an( abit or trait tat %a( inder& Letus e"er press on#ard& Let us see.; let us obtain te prie prepared for alle"ene-altation in te celestial .in$do% of God&

Kour future is bri$t& )t is callen$in$& )t a#aits (ou& Bo not "enture fort alone& 'innieLouise *as.ins counseled:

) said to te %an #o stood at te $ate of te (ear, Gi"e %e a li$t, tat ) %a( treadsafel( into te un.no#n&7 And e replied, Go out into te dar.ness and put (our andinto te and of God& Tat sall be to (ou better tan a li$t and safer tan a .no#n#a(&712

+afe Dourne(, %( belo"ed friends, as (ou $lance bac.#ard, loo. ea"en#ard, reacout#ard, and press on#ard and nd (our #a( safel( o%e a$ain& Tis is %( pra(er foreac of us, in te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&

homas " Monson was rst counselor in the .irst 1residency of he $hurch of Cesus$hrist of 2atter-day aints when this de(otional address was gi(en on L 6o(emberIJJ"

Man 11, 200



Great -pectations To%as +& 'onson

'( dear (oun$ friends, te spirit #ic per%eates tis %eetin$ ere in te 'arriottCenter at ri$a% Koun$ Uni"ersit( and in undreds of oter locations trou$out te#orld is a re3ection of (our stren$t, (our de"otion, and (our $oodness& *o# $rateful) a% to be #it (ou tis e"enin$& Kou brin$ to %ind te #ords penned b( te poet

*enr( ads#ort Lon$fello#:

&ow beautiful is youth% how bright it gleamsWith its illusions, as!irations, dreams%/ook of /eginnings, tory without End,Each maid a heroine, and each man a friend%1

)n addition to bein$ #it all of (ou, )=% pleased to be #it %e%bers of %( fa%il(toni$t&

Iecentl( ) reread an old fa"orite of %ine b( Carles Bic.ens entitled *reatE!ectations" Kou #o a"e read tis classic #ill recall tat Bic.ens spea.s of a (oun$

bo( b( te na%e of 9ilip 9irrip, %ore co%%onl( .no#n as 9ip& Little 9ip #as anorpan #o could not re%e%ber e"er a"in$ seen is %oter or is fater& *e ad allte desires of a bo(& *e #ised #it all is eart tat e #ere a scolar& *e #isedtat e #ere a $entle%an& *e #ised tat e #ere less i$norant& Ket all of isa%bitions and all of is opes see%ed doo%ed to failure until one da( a Londonla#(er b( te na%e of Ma$$ers approaced little 9ip and told i% tat an un.no#nbenefactor ad beueated a fortune to i%& Ten tat la#(er said tat little 9ip #asa (oun$ fello# of $reat e-pectations&72

Toda(, as ) conte%plate #o (ou are and #at (ou are, #o (ou %a( beco%e and#at (ou %a( beco%e, ) sa( to (ou, as tat la#(er said about 9ip, (ou a"e great

e!ectationsFnot as te result of an un.no#n benefactor, but as te result of a.no#n benefactore"en our *ea"enl( !aterand $reat tin$s are e-pected of (ou&

Pre%are for the &ace of (ife'an( of (ou ere toni$t are close to co%pletin$ (our for%al education& e=ll a"e a%o%ent of ceer on tat one&P Oters of (ou a"e additional periods of acade%icpreparation aead& ac is in #at could be called te race of life&

Te #riter of te boo. of cclesiastes #rote, Te race is not to te s#ift, nor tebattle to te stron$7 cclesiastes :11P; it is to i% #o endures to te end& Te raceof life is so i%portant, te prie so "alued, tat $reat e%pasis %ust necessaril( beplaced on adeuate and torou$ preparation&

en #e conte%plate te eternal nature of our coices, preparation is a "ital factor inour li"es& Te da( #ill co%e #en #e #ill loo. upon our period of preparation and be$rateful tat #e properl( applied oursel"es&

'an( (ears a$o, before ) #as called to te Nuoru% of te T#el"e, ) ad teopportunit( to address a business con"ention in Ballas, Te-as.no#n as te cit( ofcurces&7 After te con"ention ) too. a si$tseein$ bus ride about te cit(=s suburbs&As #e #ould pass te beautiful curces, our dri"er #ould co%%ent, On te left (ousee te 'etodist curc,7 or Tere on te ri$t is te Catolic catedral&7 As #e



passed a beautiful red bric. buildin$ situated upon a ill, te dri"er infor%ed us, Tatbuildin$ is #ere te 'or%ons %eet&7

A lad(=s "oice fro% te rear of te bus as.ed, Bri"er, can (ou tell us so%etin$ aboutte 'or%onsE7 Te dri"er pulled te bus o"er to te side of te road, turned aroundin is seat, and replied, Lad(, all ) .no# about te 'or%ons is tat te( %eet in tatred bric. buildin$& )s tere an(one on tis bus #o .no#s an(tin$ about te'or%onsE7

) $aed at te e-pression on eac person=s face for so%e si$n of reco$nition, so%edesire to co%%ent& ) found notin$not a si$n& Ten ) realied te trut of testate%ent en te ti%e for decision arri"es, te ti%e for preparation is past&7 !orte ne-t 15 %inutes ) ad te pri"ile$e of $i"in$, as 9eter declared, a reason ?for@ teope tat is in (ou7 1 9eter >:15P& At tat ti%e ) de"eloped a %uc $reaterappreciation concernin$ te %atter of preparation&

Actuall(, %( (oun$ friends, te period of (our preparation did not be$in te da( (ou#al.ed into (our rst colle$e or uni"ersit( classes& )t be$an lon$ before (ou e"erca%e to %ortalit(, #en #e li"ed as spirit cildren of our *ea"enl( !ater& ) a% so$rateful tat in *is #isdo% *e as $i"en us a record, in te boo. of Abraa%, #ictells us so%etin$ of tat e-istence:

6ow the 2ord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organi+edbefore the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and greatones;

And *od saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, andhe said: hese ' will make my rulers; for he stood among those ?#o@ were s!irits, andhe saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them;thou wast chosen before thou wast born"

And there stood one among them that was like unto *od, and he said unto those whowere with him: We will go down, for there is s!ace there, and we will take of thesematerials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;

And we will !ro(e them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoe(er the 2ordtheir *od shall command them;

And they who kee! their rst estate shall be added u!on; and they who kee! not theirrst estate shall not ha(e glory in the same kingdom with those who kee! their rstestate; and they who kee! their second estate shall ha(e glory added u!on theirheads fore(er and e(er" ?Abraa% >:22S26@

Ten, in te #isdo% of our *ea"enl( !ater, (ou and ) #ere born into %ortalit( and#elco%ed into lo"in$ fa%ilies&

) pause to let (ou .no# o# %uc (our fa%ilies pra( for (ou& Te( #orr( about (ou& Te( #onder o# (ou=re $ettin$ alon$& Te( lo"e (ou so %uc& Bon=t disappointte%&

Te Lord tells us in te Boctrine and Co"enants tat durin$ te rst ei$t (ears of ourli"es, po#er is not $i"en unto +atan to te%pt us as little cildren see BQC 2:6SJP&e ad an ei$t/(ear ead start on Lucifer&



Tis infor%ation #as $i"en b( te Lord to te 9ropet Mosep +%it bac. in 18>0& )nour o#n ti%e Br& Glenn Bo%an, a reno#ned scolar and scientist #o as al%ostdenitel( ne"er eard of te re"elation uoted, as, trou$ is researc, co%e tote conclusion tat

a newborn child is almost an eact du!licate of ?a@ com!uter, although su!erior toone in almost e(ery way"

What is !laced in the child)s brain during the rst eight years of life is !robably thereto stay" 'f you !ut misinformation into his brain during this !eriod, it is etremelydiNcult to erase it"

*e belie"ed tat te %ost recepti"e a$e in u%an life is tat of t#o or tree (earsold&>

Kou %i$t as., ( is 9resident 'onson e%pasiin$ tisE Our rst ei$t/(ear periodof learnin$ is lon$ past&7 ut (ou, %( broters and sisters, are $oin$ to be parentsone da(, and (ou #ill #ant to e%pasie te i%portance to (our cildren and to (ourfuture $enerations of descendants of tat rst ei$t/(ear period&

en ) consider so%e of te tin$s (ou and ) no doubt did as cildren, as teena$ers,and as (oun$ adults, ) tin. it is a #onder at ti%es tat our parents sur"i"ed, let aloneretained teir sanit(& One #o%an #o ad been e-periencin$ a "er( callen$in$%ornin$ tr(in$ to .eep er cildren under control felt tat se #as about to lose ersanit(&

*er s%all son, 'atte#, ca%e to er and said bri$tl(, 'o%, (ou re%e%ber tat"ase tat (our $rand%oter $a"e to (our %oter, and se $a"e to (ou, and (ou areal#a(s #orried tat ) a% $oin$ to brea. itE7

Kes,7 se said&

ell,7 'atte# replied, (ou can uit #orr(in$F7

Pre%are caemicall! Kou, %( broters and sisters, a"e no# entered into anoter $reat preparation periodin order tat (ou %i$t ualif( for te race of life& ) spea. of acade%ic preparation& Tis is i%portant because it is ere tat #e learn te lessons #ic #ill elp us %eette callen$es of tis can$in$ #orld in #ic #e li"e&

Must a fe# $enerations a$o, if so%eone #ere appl(in$ for a position of responsibilit( inte business #orld, a personnel director #ould probabl( as.: Are (ou #illin$ to #or.ardE Are (ou ealt(E7 And if te ans#ers to tose uestions #ere Kes,7 cancesare e=d be ired&

Tis, of course, is not so toda(& Assu%in$ one=s applicationusuall( sub%itted onlineis cosen for a personal inter"ie#, te %odern u%an resource director #ill as.suc uestions as at sort of de$ree do (ou a"eE at contributions can (ou %a.eto our r%E ic co%puter pro$ra%s can (ou use s.illfull(E

Put Forth the #<ort'an( (ears a$o ) ad te opportunit( to teac at te uni"ersit( le"el, and ) re%e%bertat so%e students see%ed to .no# #ere te( #ere $oin$& Te( appliedte%sel"es, te( ad obDecti"es, te( ad $oals, and te( #or.ed to#ard teacie"e%ent of tese obDecti"es and $oals& ut oter students could not a"e cared



less& Te( see%ed to be driftin$ on a sea of cance, #it #a"es of failure treatenin$to en$ulf te%& !irst te( beca%e la(, ten discoura$ed, and ten indierent, andten te( beca%e dropouts&

One suc student #o dropped out of scool #ent o%e to is %oter and said,'o%, )="e uit scool& )=% $oin$ out to %a.e %( o#n #a( in te #orld&7 *e pac.edis suitcase and #ent out to %eet life ead/on& After tree #ee.s of %eetin$ life, ecalled is %oter& 'o%,7 e said, re%e%ber tellin$ %e #en ) left o%e tat if )

uit scool ) #ouldn=t be able to $et a DobE ell, (ou #ere #ron$& )="e onl( been outon te road for tree #ee.s, and )="e alread( ad si- DobsF7

)n (our pursuit of e-cellence, real eort is reuired& Ie%e%ber, e #ic so#etsparin$l( sall reap also sparin$l(; and e #ic so#et bountifull( sall reap alsobountifull(7 2 Corintians :6P&

Life is a sea upon #ic te proud are u%bled, te sir.er is e-posed, and te leaderis re"ealed& To sail it safel( and reac (our desired port, (ou need to .eep (our cartsat and and up/to/date& Kou need to learn b( te e-perience of oters, to stand r%for principles, to broaden (our interests, to be understandin$ of te ri$ts of oters tosail te sa%e sea, and to be reliable in te discar$e of (our dut(&

Kour eorts in scool #ill a"e a notable eect on (our opportunities after (ou lea"escool& As (ou stru$$le for tat $rade point a"era$e, don=t o"erloo. te i%portance ofreall( learnin$ to tin.& *enr( !ord, te $reat industrialist, said:

An educated man is not one whose memory is trained to carry a few dates in history Fhe is one who can accom!lish things" A man who cannot think is not an educatedman howe(er many college degrees he may ha(e acBuired" hinking is the hardestwork any one can doFwhich is !robably the reason why we ha(e so few thinkers"

Pre%are S%irituall!Greater tan our period of acade%ic preparation is te %atter of spiritual preparation&e %ust acuire for oursel"es a testi%on( of te $ospel of Mesus Crist, #ictesti%on( #ill be an ancor to our soul&

)n tis inuirin$, uncertain period of (our li"es, so%e of (ou %a( as., as did 9ilate, teIo%an procurator in Mudea at te ti%e of Crist, at is trutE7 Mon 18:>8P& Anda$ain #e turn to te re"elations for $uidance:

And that which doth not edify is not of *od, and is darkness"

hat which is of *od is light" ?BQC 50:2>S2@

Tousands of onest, searcin$ souls continue to be confronted b( tat penetratin$uestion #ic coursed trou$ te %ind of Mosep +%it as e sur"e(ed tedeclarations %ade b( te curces of is co%%unit( concernin$ #o is ri$t and #ois #ron$& Mosep said:

'n the midst of this war of words and tumult of o!inions, ' often said to myself: What isto be done7 Who of all these !arties are right; or, are they all wrong together7 'f anyone of them be right, which is it, and how shall ' know it7 " " "

At length ' came to the conclusion that ' must either remain in darkness andconfusion, or else ' must do as Cames directs, that is, ask of *od" ?Mosep +%it*istor( 1:10, 1>@



*e pra(ed& Te results of tat pra(er are best described in Mosep=s o#n #ords& Kou.no# te%:

' saw two 1ersonages, whose brightness and glory defy all descri!tion, standingabo(e me in the air" #ne of them s!ake unto me, calling me by name and said, !ointing to the otherF Tis is '( elo"ed +on& *ear *i%F ?Mosep +%it*istor( 1:1J;e%pasis in ori$inal@

Mosep listened; Mosep learned& *is uestion ad been ans#ered& To tose #o u%bl( see., tere is no need to stu%ble or falter alon$ te pat#a(leadin$ to trut& )t is #ell %ar.ed b( our *ea"enl( !ater& e %ust rst a"e a desireto .no# for oursel"es& e %ust stud(& e %ust pra(& e %ust do te #ill of te!ater& And ten #e #ill .no# te trut, and te trut #ill %a.e us free& Bi"ine fa"or#ill attend tose #o u%bl( see. it& Tat is a pro%ise #ic ) lea"e #it (ou& Tin.of it&

Ie%e%ber tat doubt and fait cannot e-ist in te %ind at te sa%e ti%e, for one #illdispel te oter& ereas doubt destro(s, fait fullls& An attitude of fait brin$s onecloser to God and to *is purposes&

9resident Ba"id O& 'ca( often %entioned:

Man)s earthly eistence is but a test as to whether he will concentrate his e<orts, hismind, his soul, u!on things which contribute to the comfort and gratication of his !hysical nature, or whether he will make as his life)s !ursuit the acBuisition ofs!iritual Bualities"5

!ait i%plies a certain trust, e"en a reliance, upon te #ord of our Creator&

)f (ou sould a"e doubtin$ tou$ts, re%e%ber te counsel $i"en b( 9resident+tepen L Iicards, a for%er counselor in te !irst 9residenc(, #o declared:

Cust say to those ske!tical, disturbing, rebellious thoughts, =' !ro!ose to stay with myfaith, with the faith of my !eo!le" ' know that ha!!iness and contentment are thereand ' forbid you, agnostic, doubting thoughts, to destroy the house of my faith" 'acknowledge that ' do not understand the !rocesses of creation, but ' acce!t the factof it" ' grant that ' cannot e!lain the miracles of the /ible and ' do not attem!t to doso, but ' acce!t *od)s word" ' wasn)t with Cose!h, but ' belie(e him" My faith did notcome to me through science and ' will not !ermit science to destroy it"> 6

As (our preparator( period at scool co%es to a close and (ou e%bar. on te $reatrace of life, %a( ) su$$est so%e elpful ints #ic #ill assist (ou to acie"e (our$reat e-pectations&

*oi (ife9s Pitfalls.irst, a(oid the !itfalls in the track" A"oid te detours #ic #ill depri"e (ou of (ourcelestial re#ard& Kou can reco$nie te% if (ou #ill& Te( %a( be labeled O, Dusttis once #on=t %atter7 or '( parents are so old/fasioned&7

ad abits also can be suc pitfalls& At rst #e could brea. te% if #e would" Later,#e #ould brea. te% if #e could" Mon Br(den, an in3uential n$lis poet andpla(#ri$t of te 1Jt centur(, #rote:



'll habits gather by unseen degrees, As brooks make ri(ers, ri(ers run to seas"J

Good abits, on te oter and, are te soul=s %uscles& Te %ore (ou use te%, testron$er te( $ro#&

Our *ea"enl( !ater as counseled us to see. after an(tin$ "irtuous, lo"el(, or of$ood report or praise#ort(7 Articles of !ait 1:1>P& 9er%issi"eness, i%%oralit(, and

te po#er of peer pressure cause %an( to be tossed about on a sea of sin andcrused on te Da$$ed reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessin$s, and sattereddrea%s&

ate"er (ou read, listen to, or #atc %a.es an i%pression on (ou&

A"oid an( se%blance of porno$rap(& )t is dan$erous and addicti"e& )f (ou continue to"ie# porno$rap(, (our spirit #ill beco%e desensitied and (our conscience #illerode&

Bon=t be afraid to #al. out of a %o"ie, turn o a tele"ision set, or can$e te radiostation if #at=s bein$ presented does not %eet (our *ea"enl( !ater=s standards& )n

sort, if (ou a"e an( uestion about #eter a particular %o"ie, boo., or oter for%of entertain%ent is appropriate, don=t see it, don=t read it, don=t participate&

Perse*ere To+ar Goalsecond, beware of the 9ashy start and the fade-out nish" ) lo"e te si%ple #isdo%found in tis poe% b( an un.no#n autor& ) don=t tin. it=s a literar( %asterpiece, but(ou can understand it&

tick to your task till it sticks to you;/eginners are many, but enders are few"&onor, !ower, !lace, and !raiseWill come, in time, to the one who stays"

tick to your task till it sticks to you;/end at it, sweat at it, smile at it too;.or out of the bend and the sweat and the smileWill come life)s (ictories, after awhile"8

!or%ula 7 is interestin$: or. #ill #in #en #is(/#as( #isin$ #on=t&7 Anattitude of #or. results in te capacit( to %a.e continuous eort to#ard teacco%plis%ent of a $i"en $oal&

)="e al#a(s been an ardent sports fan& Lon$ #ill ) re%e%ber one sportscaster as epraised te %ar"elous perfor%ance of K& A& Tittle, one of te all/ti%e $reatprofessional football uarterbac.s& *e said:

his will be the key !lay of the game" ittle has the sna! from center; he fades tothrow, but his line cannot hold" 't a!!ears the game is o(er"

Wait% Wait% ittle has eluded his tacklers; he)s fallen dee! behind the line" &e cockshis arm to throw, and the !ass is away and caught in the end +one for a touchdown"

hat was a great second e<ort by Y" A" ittle%



)n te $a%e of life, a second eort is often reuired& Te app( life is not usered inat an( a$e to te sound of dru%s and tru%pets& )t $ro#s upon us (ear b( (ear, littleb( little, until at last #e realie tat #e a"e it& )t is acie"ed b( a bod( of #or. doneso #ell tat #e can lift our eads #it assurance and loo. te #orld in te e(e&

!ollo# te e-a%ple of Cristoper Colu%bus& Ta.e a leaf out of te lo$ of is Dournalon is rst "o(a$e& Ba( after da(, as te( oped to nd land and ne"er found it, e#rote si%pl(, Tis da( #e sailed on&7 9erse"erance #ill pa( ric re#ards&

el% 4thershird, hel! others in their race of life" Ie%e%ber tat #en (ou elp anoter up a%ountain, (ou are a little nearer te top (ourself& Tr( to loo. at (our broter or (oursister in te ri$t perspecti"e& One %an said, ) loo.ed at %( broter trou$ te%icroscope of criticis%, and ) said, R*o# coarse %( broter is&= ) loo.ed at %( brotertrou$ te telescope of scorn, and ) said, R*o# s%all %( broter is&= Ten ) loo.edinto te %irror of trut, and ) said, R*o# li.e %e %( broter is&=7

An attitude of lo"e caracteried te %ission of te 'aster& *e $a"e si$t to te blind,le$s to te la%e, and life to te dead& 9eraps #en #e %a.e face/to/face contact#it our 'a.er, #e #ill not be as.ed, *o# %an( positions did (ou oldE7 but rater,*o# %an( people did (ou elpE7 )n realit(, (ou can ne"er lo"e te Lord until (ouser"e *i% b( ser"in$ *is people&

Seek the (or9s el%.ourth, and nally, seek the hel! of the 2ord" +ouls are precious(our soul and %(soul& Our *ea"enl( !ater *i%self as said so&

Ie%e%ber tat #e do not run alone in tis $reat race of life; #e are entitled to teelp of te Lord& To te *ebre#s te Apostle 9aul ur$ed:

2ay aside " " " sin " " " , and let us run with !atience the race that is set before us,

2ooking ?for an e-a%ple@ unto Cesus the author and nisher of our faith" ?*ebre#s12:1S2@

efore #e can ta.e *i% as our co%panion, before #e can follo# *i% as our $uide, #e%ust nd *i%& )n order to nd *i%, ) #ould li.e to su$$est, rst of all, tat #e %ust%a.e roo% for *i% in our li"es& *e said, Te fo-es a"e oles, and te birds of teair a"e nests; but te +on of %an at not #ere to la( is ead7 'atte# 8:20P&

Te p(sician Lu.e described te nati"it( scene: And se brou$t fort er rstbornson, and #rapped i% in s#addlin$ clotes, and laid i% in a %an$er; because tere#as no roo% for te% in te inn7 Lu.e 2:JP&

Te in"itation of te Lord is directed to eac of us& Tin. of it as te #ords of te Lordto (ou indi"iduall(: eold, ) stand at te door, and .noc.: if an( %an ear %( "oice,and open te door, ) #ill co%e in to i% ?and, ) %i$t add, to er@7 Ie"elation >:20P&

O, %( (oun$ broters and sisters, %a.e roo% for te Lord in (our o%es and in (ourearts, and *e #ill be (our co%panion& *e #ill be b( (our side& *e #ill teac (ou te#a( of trut& it *is elp, and #it te preparation about #ic #e a"e spo.en,(ou can $o for#ard in tis race of life and acie"e (our o#n $reat e-pectations& Ten,at te conclusion of it all, (ou=ll be able to sa(, ) a"e fou$t a $ood $t, ) a"enised %( course, ) a"e .ept te fait7 2 Ti%ot( :JP&



( so doin$, te blessin$s of ea"en #ill attend& *e #o notes te sparro#=s fall #ill,in *is o#n #a(, ac.no#led$e our ser"ice&

Let %e sare #it (ou an e-perience tat illustrates tis assurance&

roter d#in N& Cannon Mr&, #e call i% Ted, #as a %issionar( to Ger%an( in 1>8&*e lo"ed te people and ser"ed faitfull(& At te conclusion of is %ission, ereturned o%e to +alt La.e Cit(& *e %arried and co%%enced is o#n business&

!ort( (ears passed b(& One da( roter Cannon ca%e to %( o4ce and said e adbeen prunin$ is %issionar( poto$raps& Tat=s a $ood #ord& Kou $o trou$ all ofte%, tro# t#o a#a(, and .eep all rest&P A%on$ tose poto$raps e ad .eptsince is %ission #ere se"eral #ic e could not specicall( identif(& "er( ti%e ead planned to discard te%, e ad been i%pressed to .eep te%, altou$ e #asat a loss as to #(& Te( #ere poto$raps ta.en b( roter Cannon durin$ is%ission #en e ser"ed in +tettin, Ger%an(, and #ere of a fa%il(a %oter, afater, a s%all $irl, and a s%all bo(& *e .ne# teir surna%e #as erndt but couldre%e%ber notin$ %ore about te%& *e indicated tat e understood tere #as aerndt #o #as a Curc leader in Ger%an(, and e tou$t, altou$ te possibilit(#as re%ote, tat tis erndt %i$t a"e so%e connection #it te erndts #o adli"ed in +tettin and #o #ere depicted in te poto$raps& efore disposin$ of tepotos, e tou$t e #ould cec. #it %e&

) told roter Cannon ) #as lea"in$ sortl( for erlin, #ere ) anticipated tat ) #ouldsee Bieter erndt, te Curc leader, and tat ) #ould so# te poto$raps to i%to see if tere #as an( relationsip and if e #anted te%& Tere #as a possibilit( )#ould also see roter erndt=s sister, #o #as %arried to Biet%ar 'atern, a sta.epresident in *a%bur$&

Te Lord didn=t e"en let %e $et to erlin before *is purposes #ere acco%plised& )#as in Yuric, +#iterland, boardin$ te 3i$t to erlin, #en #o sould also board

te plane but Bieter erndt& *e sat ne-t to %e, and ) told i% ) ad so%e old potosof people na%ed erndt fro% +tettin& ) anded te% to i% and as.ed if e couldidentif( tose so#n in te poto$raps& As e loo.ed at te% carefull(, e be$an to#eep& *e said, Our fa%il( li"ed in +tettin durin$ te #ar& '( fater #as .illed #enan Allied bo%b struc. te plant #ere e #or.ed& <ot lon$ after#ard, te Iussiansin"aded 9oland and te area of +tettin& '( %oter too. %( sister and %e and 3edfro% te approacin$ ene%(& "er(tin$ ad to be left beind, includin$ an(poto$raps #e ad& roter 'onson, ) a% te little bo( pictured in tesepoto$raps, and %( sister is te little $irl& Te %an and #o%an are our dear parents&Until toda(, ) ad no poto$raps of our cildood in +tettin or of %( fater&7

ipin$ a#a( %( o#n tears, ) told roter erndt te poto$raps #ere is& *e placedte% carefull( and lo"in$l( in is briefcase&

At te ne-t $eneral conference, #en Bieter erndt "isited +alt La.e Cit(, e paid a"isit to roter and +ister d#in Cannon Mr& so tat e %i$t e-press in person is$ratitude for te inspiration tat ca%e to roter Cannon to retain tese preciouspoto$raps and for te fact tat e follo#ed tat inspiration in .eepin$ te% for 0(ears&

illia% Co#per penned te lines:



*od mo(es in a mysterious way &is wonders to !erform;&e !lants &is footste!s in the sea, And rides u!on the storm"" " " Cudge not the 2ord by feeble sense,/ut trust &im for &is grace;/ehind a frowning !ro(idence

&e hides a smiling face"10

Tis testi%on( ) bear to (ou, tis #itness ) $i"e unto (ou, tat God li"es, tat Mesus iste Crist, te +on of te Li"in$ God, tat *e is our lder roter, *e is our Iedee%er,*e is our +a"ior, and *e is te autor of (our $reat e-pectations&

) lea"e #it (ou %( blessin$; ) e-press to (ou %( lo"e& Kou are a coice $eneration#it $reat e-pectations& 'a( our *ea"enl( !ater e"er $uide and bless (ou; %a( (oustri"e al#a(s to acie"e tose $reat e-pectations, ) pra(, in te na%e of Mesus Crist,our +a"ior, a%en&

homas " Monson was !resident of he $hurch of Cesus $hrist of 2atter-day aints whenthis de(otional address was deli(ered on LL Canuary IJJO"

+ep 15, 200

9rinciples fro% 9ropets To%as +& 'onson

To%as +& 'onson #as 9resident of Te Curc of Mesus Crist of Latter/da( +aints #en

tis de"otional address #as deli"ered on 15 +epte%ber 200&

) a"e loo.ed for#ard to te opportunit( of acceptin$ te assi$n%ent and te in"itationto be #it (ou toda(, for ) realie (ou are te eart and soul of %an( of te parents oftis Curc, all o"er te #orld& at a $lorious si$t (ou areF ) a% also pleased toreco$nie te o4cers and facult( %e%bers of tis ne institution&

'( dear (oun$ broters and sisters, (ou are in te pri%e of (our li"es& Kou are on tecuttin$ ed$e of pro$ress& Kou li"e in a ti%e of e-tre%e di4culties but also a ti%e ofe-ceptional opportunities& ) tin. te nation and te #orld a"e ne"er been beset #it a

$reater "ariet( of callen$es to %eet and proble%s to sol"e, and (ou and tose si%ilarto (ou are destined to %eet tose callen$es and to sol"e tose proble%s& ) .no# (oucan, because te Lord #ill pro"ide te elp (ou need&

) lo"e te passa$e fro% te boo. of Acts in te <e# Testa%ent #ere #e read of teconfrontation bet#een a %an fro% tiopia, #o #as readin$ fro% scripture, and 9ilipof old& 9ilip as.ed te %an if e understood te #ords e #as readin$& Te %an repliedto 9ilip, *o# can ), e-cept so%e %an sould $uide %eE71 Of course 9ilip sat #it i%and $uided i% in is understandin$&



Must last Tursda( ) #as sittin$ in te roo% in te +alt La.e Te%ple #ere te !irst9residenc( and Nuoru% of te T#el"e %eet once eac #ee.& ) $aed up at te #all #icfaces te !irst 9residenc(, and tere ) obser"ed a portrait of eac 9resident of teCurc& As %( $ae %o"ed fro% te 9ropet Mosep ri$t do#n trou$ 9resident*inc.le(, ) tou$t, e a"e ad $reat 9residents of tis Curc& ac one as $uidedus; is #ritin$s a"e sti%ulated us; is %essa$es a"e inspired us& To so# us te #a(,#e a"e tose #o% te Lord as pro"ided&7

+o%e (ears a$o ) spo.e ere of te 9residents of te Curc ) a"e .no#n, $i"in$ briefpersonal $li%pses& Toda( ) #ould li.e to %ention eac one in $reater dept&

Te %an #o #as 9resident of te Curc #en ) #as born and #o #as president until )#as nearl( ei$teen (ears old #as te se"ent 9resident of te Curc, *eber M& Grant&*e #as ordained and set apart as 9resident on <o"e%ber 2>, 118, at te a$e of 62&

Te Curc #as a little dierent #en 9resident Grant #as 9resident& *is personal o4ce#as #at #e refer to no# as te !irst 9residenc( oardroo%& *e sat at a lar$e, rateri%posin$ des. in te enor%ous roo%, and Dust about an(one could drop in to see i%& Te Curc #as relati"el( s%all at te ti%e& A friend of %ine told %e tat e and anoter(oun$ %an ad been as.ed to "isit 9resident Grant to see if e #ould co%e to teir #ardand spea. at te co%%e%oration of te restoration of te Aaronic 9riestood te( #ereplannin$& *e said te( #al.ed trou$ te front door of te Curc Ad%inistrationuildin$, #al.ed to te bac. of te buildin$ #ere 9resident Grant=s secretar( sat, andsaid, )s te 9resident inE7

+e replied, Kes, #ould (ou li.e to see i%E7

Te( ans#ered in te a4r%ati"e and #ere so#n into tat beautiful boardroo%&

9resident Grant #elco%ed te% and said, at can ) do for (ou t#o (oun$ %en toda(E7 Te( %ade teir reuest, and 9resident Grant responded, Of course )=d be app( toco%e and spea. to te (oun$ %en& Gi"e %e te date and ti%e, and )=ll be tere&7 *estood, and te( tan.ed i% and left& 9resident Grant "isited teir #ard on te appointeddate&

Tis scenario probabl( too. place in te earl( 1>0s, and ) can assure (ou tate"er(tin$ is andled %uc dierentl( toda(&

9resident Grant presided durin$ a ti%e #en tere #as tre%endous can$e in te #orld,

includin$ te nancial callen$es of te Great Bepression& *e assisted in tede"elop%ent of te #elfare pro$ra% of te Curc and elped te %e%bers cope #itte tra$ed( of orld ar ))&

*e #as a persistent person& As a bo( e #anted to learn o# to tro# a baseball& *e #asnot as $ood as e desired to be, so e practiced our after our tro#in$ te ball at atar$et %ar.ed on te barn door& *e beca%e "er( procient& *e also #as a poor pen%an,but trou$ e-tensi"e practice e de"eloped beautiful pen%ansip&



9resident Grant lo"ed to stand before te priestood of te Curc& Tose #ere te da(s#en e"er(tin$ #as a little less structured, and e=d $o to te %icropone and sa(,e=re no# in priestood session& e=re o te record& Te press is not in attendance&7 Ten e=d discuss an( subDect e cose&

On one occasion e stood in priestood %eetin$ and said, ) a"e a letter fro% a %an#o %ade a su$$estion concernin$ #at subDect ) sould address at conference& Tis

%an said e felt ) ad spo.en too %an( ti%es concernin$ te ord of isdo% andstron$l( ur$ed %e to spea. on a dierent topic&7 9resident Grant continued, Tat is one%an #o ob"iousl( needs to ear %ore about te ord of isdo%, and terefore ) salladdress tat topic toni$t,7 and e did so&

9resident Grant=s fa"orite son$ #as Bo at )s Ii$t&7 And let %e add te #ords lette conseuence follo#&72 Tin. of tat: Bo #at is ri$t& 9resident Grant li"ed b( te#ords of tat son$& *is fa"orite food #as bread and %il."er( co%%on, si%ple fare& Afa"orite uotation of is is attributed to Ialp aldo %erson: Tat #ic #e persist indoin$ beco%es easier to do; not tat te nature of te tin$ as can$ed, but tat ourcapacit( to do as increased&7> at #ould be te trait of 9resident *eber M& Grant tat

e #ould probabl( a"e (ou re%e%ber and incorporate in (our lifeE ) feel it #ould bepersistence& 9ersist in all tose tin$s #ic are $ood and noble&

After 2J (ears as 9resident of te Curc, 9resident Grant passed a#a( on 'a( 1, 15,at te a$e of 88&

) %o"e ne-t to 9resident Geor$e Albert +%it, te ei$t 9resident of te Curc,ordained and set apart as 9resident on 'a( 21, 15, at te a$e of J5& *e #as presidentof te Curc #en ) ser"ed as a bisop, and e si$ned %( bisop=s certicate&

) belie"e one of 9resident +%it=s %ost noble acco%plis%ents #as after orld ar ))&+tar"ation #as ra%pant in Ger%an( and in oter nations of urope& 9resident +%it %et#it United +tates 9resident *arr( +& Tru%an and said, e=d li.e to send #elfaresupplies to te star"in$ people of urope, but te bureaucrac( and te red tape inpost#ar urope are .eepin$ us fro% doin$ so&7

9resident Tru%an eard is plea and opened te #a(& *e as.ed, *o# %an( %onts #illit ta.e for (ou to asse%ble (our suppliesE7

9resident +%it replied, 9resident Tru%an, te(=re alread( asse%bled& All (ou need do

is sa( $o, and te(=ll be rollin$ #itin t#ent(/four ours&7

9resident Tru%an #as ta.en abac. b( tis slender %an #o spo.e rater softl(but o,could e %o"e tin$s alon$& Te supplies #ere sent, and lder ra Taft enson #as alsosent to o"ersee teir distribution& Li"es #ere sa"ed as a result&

Tis $reat leader ad suc a co%passionate eart& A personal friend of %ine told %e ofan e-a%ple of suc co%passion& *e said is uncle Munius urt #or.ed on te streetdepart%ent cre# for +alt La.e Cit(, and on a "er( cold da( %an( (ears a$o, e and



said, `9resident 'ca(, ) a"e spent te entire su%%er paintin$ tis picture of (ourancestral o%e&=7 *e said e tan.ed er profusel( and accepted te $ift& Bo (ou .no#,roter 'onson,7 e continued, tat s#eet #o%an painted te #ron$ ouse& +epainted te ouse ne-t doorF ) didn=t a"e te eart to tell er& +e %a( co%e bac., sotat=s #( it=s an$in$ on te #all&7 ut ten e %ade tis co%%ent, and ere is a "itallesson for us& *e said, )n realit(, roter 'onson, se painted te ri$t ouse, because#en, as a (oun$ bo(, ) #ould lie on te bed #ic #as on te front porc of %(ancestral o%e, te "ie# ) ad trou$ tat screened porc #as of te "er( ouse se

painted& +e did paint te ri$t ouse for %e&7

9resident 'ca(=s fa"orite son$ #as O +a(, at )s TrutE75 *is fa"orite food:Cu%%in$s cocolates&

at #ould be an e-pression of isE !ro% is o#n eart and soul e said, TrueCristianit( is lo"e in action&76

A$ain, te noble principle fro% 9resident 'ca( tat ) #ould sare #it (ou toda( isconsideration& 'a( #e e"er be considerate&

9resident 'ca( ser"ed nineteen (ears as 9resident, until is deat Manuar( 18, 1J0, atte a$e of 6&

<e-t ) %ention Mosep !ieldin$ +%it, tent 9resident of te Curc& *e #as ordainedand set apart on Manuar( 2>, 1J0, at te a$e of >&

On one occasion ) #as tourin$ te %issions in te +out 9acic, a"in$ left %( #ife andfa%il( at o%e& ) re%e%ber tat #en ) arri"ed at Auc.land, <e# Yealand, after four or

"e #ee.s of %eetin$s in %an( countries, tere #as a letter for %e fro% Mosep !ieldin$+%it, #o at tat ti%e #as %( uoru% president& *e #rote, Bear roter 'onson, )="ebeen tin.in$ about (ou and tou$t (ou=d li.e to .no# tat all is #ell ere at o%e, and) a% "er( pleased tat (ou are in te +out 9acic area of te #orld& '( pra(ers a"ebeen #it (ou& e are read( to #elco%e (ou o%e #en (ou return& +incerel(, Mosep!ieldin$ +%it&7 at a .ind and tou$tful tin$ to do&

As one of te Curc=s %ost prolic #riters, 9resident +%it=s nu%erous boo.s andarticles elped educate $enerations of Latter/da( +aints concernin$ te istor( anddoctrine of te Curc& *e #as direct in is teacin$ of aderence to $ospel principles,and (et e #as particularl( tender in is attitude to#ard tose #o fell sort&

*is fa"orite son$ #as 9ra(er )s te +oul=s +incere Besire&7 And )=ll add te ne-t tou$t:uttered or une-pressed&7J And as for is fa"orite food, ) obser"ed i% at our lunceontable in te te%ple on Tursda(s, and e see%ed to lo"e s#eet pic.les& ) ate te%F )#ould see to it tat e $ot te s#eet pic.les, and )=d ta.e te dill pic.les&

at #ould be a fa"orite uotation fro% 9resident +%itE !ro% te boo. of Al%a in teoo. of 'or%on e e%pasied te scripture ic.edness ne"er #as appiness&78 )=llrepeat it: ic.edness ne"er #as appiness&7



at #ould be is $uidin$ principle for usE )t #ould be $ospel scolarsip& *e #as trul( ascolar& ) belie"e #e could sa( tat e #ould lea"e for (ou and for %e tis ad"ice: estudious& ) sa( tat to (ou as student bod( %e%bers too: be studious& en it is test#ee., (ou=ll be $rateful (ou #ere studiousF

9resident Mosep !ieldin$ +%it ser"ed as 9resident of te Curc for t#o and a alf(ears, until is deat on Mul( 2, 1J2, at te a$e of 5&

*arold & Lee, ele"ent 9resident of te Curc, #as ordained and set apart as 9residenton Mul( J, 1J2, at te a$e of J>&

) #as #it 9resident Lee on one occasion in <e# Kor. Cit(, #ere e ad an inter"ie##it Geor$e Cornell, te senior #riter of reli$ion for te Associated 9ress& As #e sattere, Geor$e Cornell said to 9resident Lee, )=d li.e to tal. to (ou about so%e of tecontro"ersial aspects of (our Curc&7

As e %entioned one or t#o of te%, roter Lee said, Geor$e, (our readers do not

#ant to ear about tat& at (our readers #ant to ear about is te $reat #elfarepro$ra% of te Curc and te outstandin$ education pro$ra% of te Curc&7 'r&Cornell be$an to ta.e notes, and as a result an al%ost full/pa$e stor( fro% teAssociated 9ress described our educational eort and our #elfare pro$ra%& <o %ention#atsoe"er #as %ade of te contro"ersial subDects of tat ti%e& Tis #as te persuasi"eabilit( of *arold & Lee&

9resident Lee also too. ti%e to teac& A lesson ) #ill recount is rater tender& On oneoccasion our oldest son ad a tu%or in is le$, and #e #ere naturall( "er( #orried, as#ere te doctors& Our son #as in te ospital to a"e sur$er(, #ic could possibl( leadto te a%putation of is le$& roter Lee ad been %( sta.e president as a bo(, so )

as.ed i% if e #ould Doin %e in $i"in$ a blessin$ to our son& *e consented, and as #e%et at te ospital one e"enin$ after #or., e stopped %e before #e #ent up testair#a( and said, To%, tere is no#ere in te #orld ) #ould rater be, and tere isnotin$ tat ) #ould rater be doin$ tan standin$ b( (our side in $i"in$ a priestoodblessin$ to (our son&7 Te operation #as successful; te tu%or #as beni$n& ) sall e"erbe indebted to *arold & Lee for bein$ #ere te Lord needed i% to be at a particularti%e&

One of 9resident Lee=s fa"orite son$s #as 9raise to te 'an7#o co%%uned #it Meo"aF7 )=ll pause for a %o%ent and sa( tat #en ) #as rst called to te T#el"e, )

noted tat roter Lee #as pla(in$ te or$an& And e said, roter 'onson, as ourne#est apostle, #ould (ou coose te son$ (ou=d li.e for us to sin$ toda(E7 And ) coseis fa"orite, and #e all san$ it #it $usto&

A fa"orite food of is #as bread and %il., and a fa"orite uotation of is #as +tand (ein ol( places, and be not %o"ed&710 Ie%e%ber tis& ) #ill repeat it: +tand (e in ol(places, and be not %o"ed&7 at #ould be a $uidin$ principle fro% i%E ) #ould sa( e#ould encoura$e us to be in tune #it and to be responsi"e to te #isperin$s of te*ol( +pirit&



*arold & Lee ser"ed Dust one and a alf (ears as 9resident of te Curc& *e passeda#a( on Bece%ber 26, 1J>, at te a$e of J&

After 9resident Lee ca%e 9resident +pencer & i%ball, t#elft 9resident of te Curc,ordained and set apart as 9resident on Bece%ber >0, 1J>, at te a$e of J8&

!or 9resident i%ball, obstacles beca%e is opportunities& *e #as totall( dedicated, a

#or.er suc as one seldo% sees& *e cared not at all about personal a$$randie%ent&

One da( ) #as sittin$ in te te%ple near 9resident i%ball& As ) loo.ed do#n, ) noticedtat e ad a lar$e ole in is soe& And ) %ean lar$eF *is stoc.in$ so#ed trou$&After te %eetin$ ) said to Artur *a(coc., 9resident i%ball=s secretar(, Artur, (oucan=t let te 9resident #ear tose soes&7

Artur responded, *as e $ot tat pair out a$ainE *e as %an( pairs of soes, and )freuentl( ide tat pair, but e searces and nds tat particular pair %ost of teti%e&7

9resident i%ball #as .no#n for is state%ent so#in$ is u%ilit(: '( life is li.e %(soesto be #orn out in ser"ice&711

9resident i%ball #as totall(, co%pletel(, uneui"ocall( dedicated to te Lord& *e #asdedicated to li"in$ te $ospel&

One of 9resident i%ball=s fa"orite son$s #as ) <eed Tee "er( *our&712 Let=sre%e%ber tat one particularl(& Tat coice de%onstrates is u%ilit(& Concernin$ isfa"orite food, ) #atced i% for all te (ears ) #as in te T#el"e #ile e #as li"in$& *e

#ould ll a $lass #it %il. and ta.e so%e date nut bread and cru%ble it into te $lassuntil it #as tic.& Ten e #ould ta.e a spoon and eat itF ) did not follo# is e-a%ple&

at #as a fa"orite uotation or a lesson fro% i%E Len$ten (our stride&7 e ad tolen$ten our stride in order to .eep up #it i%F ) as.ed 9resident i%ball #at #ouldbe a $uidin$ principle fro% is life& And ten ) ans#ered it: ) belie"e it #ould bededication&

+pencer & i%ball ser"ed as 9resident of te Curc for t#el"e (ears until is deat on<o"e%ber 5, 185, at te a$e of 0&

roter *inc.le( and ) ser"ed #it 9resident i%ball on te 'issionar( -ecuti"eCo%%ittee, so #e #ere #it i% e"er( Tuesda( %ornin$ assi$nin$ %issionaries, and tetree of us ad a "er( $ood ca%araderie to$eter&

One da( e said to roter *inc.le( and %e, )s tis te ni$t #ere te parents areco%in$ to "isit #it te %ission presidents #o are ere for conference and #e=re toa"e our o4ces read( for te%E7



roter *inc.le( and ) said, Kes, it is, 9resident&7

)s (our o4ce read(, To%E7

) said, Kes, it is&7

)s (our o4ce read(, GordonE7

Kes, it is&7

U, #ill te t#o of (ou carr( on #it te %eetin$ #ile ) %a.e %( o4ce read(E7

*e carried a tic. stac. of papers and #ould tu%b trou$ te% constantl( until te(#ere #orn out on te ed$es, and e be$an to ta.e care of cleanin$ up is o4ce so it#ould be read( for te parents and %issionaries& *e e%ptied te les, put te% in tecloset, and ten e %o"ed e"er(tin$ o of is des. and %o"ed it to is secretar(=s

des.& And ten e pic.ed up tat bi$ stac. of papers e usuall( carried and tre# it inis refri$erator& )t #as te onl( place left, so e refri$erated is notesF And ten e said,<o# )=% read(F7

Kou ad to lo"e i%& Kou ad to lo"e +pencer & i%ball& Kou Dust ad to&

)=ll introduce one little tou$t& *e said to %e one da(, To%, could (ou co%e in and elp%e #it a proble% ) a"eE7

) said, +ureF7

+o ) #ent into is o4ce, and e ad a %an sittin$ tere& ) ope e=s not related to (ou&Put roter i%ball in a s#eet #a( said, roter 'onson, tis is roter +o/and/+o, ande=s not app( #it te assi$n%ent #ic #e %ade for is son to $o on a %ission& (don=t (ou tell roter 'onson #( (ou=re not app( #it te call te apostles %ade&7

*e still didn=t catc on& *e said, ell, e=s assi$ned to te <e# n$land %ission& ) don=t#ant i% to $o to te <e# n$land %ission; ) #ant i% to $o to te old n$land%ission&7

And ten roter i%ball #it a s%ile said, And #ic %ission #ould (ou a"e i%assi$ned to of tose in Great ritainE7

O, an( of =e%, an( of =e%&7

And roter i%ball said, <o# let=s see& Tere=s ristol, tere=s London, tere=s London+out,7 and e na%ed te% all& <o# #ic oneE7

And te %an said, O no, (ou $o aead&7



<o, since (ou, as te fater, rater tan roter 'onson and ) as apostles, are %a.in$(our %issionar( son=s assi$n%ent, (ou na%e it&7

)=d ne"er seen a %an told o so adroitl(, (et e didn=t reco$nie e #as bein$ told o&

*e said, ell, tat one (ou %entioned, ristol& Tat sounds $ood& +end i% to ristol&7

After e left, roter i%ball said, Aren=t so%e parents unusualE7 *e #ould not use a#ord ) %i$t a"e used, but ten e #asn=t in te na"( li.e ) #asF Tat line is not in %(prepared %essa$eFP

<o# ) co%e to ra Taft enson, tirteent 9resident of te Curc& *e #as ordained andset apart as 9resident on <o"e%ber 10, 185& ) ad te pri"ile$e of ser"in$ as is secondcounselor durin$ te (ears e #as 9resident&

9resident enson #as a $enerous leader& ) #as in is o4ce one da( #en ) #as a%e%ber of te T#el"e, and #e #ere cattin$& ) noticed tat e ad a beautiful and/

tooled ridin$ saddle sittin$ on a displa( in is roo%& )t ad been $i"en to i% in onor ofis ser"ice as +ecretar( of A$riculture&

) said, '(, roter enson, tat=s te %ost beautiful saddle )="e e"er seen&7

*e replied, Bo (ou #ant itE ( don=t (ou ta.e itE Kou li.e to ride orses&7

) assured i% tat altou$ ) appreciated te $esture, ) couldn=t ta.e te saddle&

9resident enson #as te onl( 9resident of te Curc to a"e recei"ed te onor of'ost 9referred 'an7 at KU #en e #as a student ere& e=ll a"e a %o%ent ofsilence for tat one& ) tin. te fe%ale student bod( #ere te onl( ones allo#ed to "ote&

arl( in is apostolic (ears 9resident enson #as called b( 9resident Geor$e Albert+%it to lea"e o%e and fa%il( and ll a special %ission to #ar/torn urope& Te%a$nitude of is call #as o"er#el%in$& !or ten and a alf %onts 9resident ensonlabored ni$t and da(, blessin$ te %e%bers of te Curc in urope #o ad sueredtrou$ (ears of #ar, $i"in$ te% nouris%ent for teir bodies and e"erlastin$ ope forteir souls& !ro% te caos of #ar ca%e +aintsscattered, battered, and "er( %uc inneed& To te% ca%e ra Taft enson, #it is superb or$aniational s.ills and #it teinspiration of Al%i$t( God&

Trou$ te inspired #elfare pro$ra% of te Curc, undreds of tons of lifesa"in$ foodand clotin$ #ere transported across te "ast Atlantic Ocean and, under te direction oftis $ifted leader, distributed to te un$r(, te cold, and te o%eless&

at a personall( satisf(in$ and spirituall( re#ardin$ e-perience it #as for %e to ser"eas one of 9resident enson=s counselors in te !irst 9residenc( of te Curc&



9resident enson=s fa"orite son$ #as *o# Great Tou Art&71> *is fa"orite food #asfres raspberries, and #e ad te% as often as possible at our te%ple lunceons #ene #as 9resident of te Curc& *is fa"orite uotation #as fro% te oo. of 'or%on,#ords spo.en b( te Lord& )t=s in te for% of a uestion, and ) pose it to (ou: at%anner of %en ou$t (e to beE Weril( ) sa( unto (ou, e"en as ) a%&71 Tat #ould appl(to e"er( %an and #o%an ere toda(: "en as ) a%,7 said te Lord&

at is a $uidin$ principle fro% 9resident ensonE )=d a"e to sa( it is lo"e& Te %annerin #ic e treated is s#eet co%panion and, indeed, all #it #o% e ca%e in contactpro"ides an e-a%ple for all of us& Let us lo"e one anoter&

ra Taft enson ser"ed as 9resident of te Curc for ei$t and a alf (ears until isdeat on 'a( >0, 1, at te a$e of &

e co%e no# to *o#ard & *unter, fourteent 9resident of te Curc, #o #asordained and set apart on Mune 5, 1, at te a$e of 86& )t #as %( pri"ile$e once a$ainto ser"e as second counselor&

'( %ost tender %eetin$ #it *o#ard & *unter too. place on October >, 16>, as )entered te outer o4ce of 9resident Ba"id O& 'ca(, #o ad in"ited %e to co%e and"isit #it i% tat Tursda( afternoonfor #at purpose ) .ne# not at tat ti%e& *o#ard& *unter ad been cec.in$ so%e %atters #it 9resident 'ca(=s secretar(& roter*unter and ) $reeted eac oter and soo. ands& ) noted te tears in is e(es #it (et as%ile on is lips and a catc in is "oice& ) did not understand #( e #as so e%otional&After "isitin$ #it 9resident 'ca(, #ere e e-tended to %e %( call to te T#el"e, )understood& *o#ard & *unter ad .no#n #( ) #as tere tat afternoon& *e ad been#ere ) #as no# $oin$& *e ad felt te feelin$s ) #as soon to e-perience&

One of 9resident *unter=s all%ar.s #as tat of courtes(& eter in a %o%ent ofpleasant con"ersation or in ti%es of constant pain, e #as e"er courteous& On oneoccasion a %an #o ad been paintin$ in 9resident *unter=s o%e said to %e,9resident *unter is so re%ar.able& *e $raciousl( tan.ed %e and %( cre# for paintin$a roo%& *e co%%ented on te color %atc, te absence of brus or roller %ar.s, andrepeated a eart( tan./(ou as e soo. %( and #en #e nised our #or. anddeparted is presence&7

9resident *unter lo"ed all te (%ns, but one of is fa"orites #as *a"e ) Bone An(Good in te orld Toda(E715 One of is fa"orite foods #as Alas.an crab&

efore ) %o"e on: One da( ) #as #it i% and a %e%ber of te #elfare co%%ittee, androter *unter ad ta.en a lon$ ti%e settin$ people apart(ou .no#, it #as a di"isionof a sta.eand #e adn=t ad an(tin$ to eat& And te %an fro% te #elfare co%%itteesaid, Could #e $o to tis s restaurantE Te( a"e Alas.an crab, and tat=s %(fa"orite&7

roter *unter said, !ine coice, ne coice&7 Ten e #ent ri$t trou$ a red li$t&And e Dust s%iled& Ten e #ent trou$ a second red li$t, and ten e said, O, b(te #a(, )=% color/blind& ) a"e to see #ere te li$t is, ten ) .no# #ic color it is&7



) said, roter *unter, #ould (ou li.e %e to dri"eE7

*e said, ell, ) tin. (ou and te #elfare %an %i$t be a little appier if (ou did&7 +o )dro"e te rest of te #a(&

at #ould be one of is fa"orite uotationsE *e lo"ed te scripture found in 9ro"erbs,capter 2J, "erse 2: Let anoter %an praise tee & & & and not tine o#n lips&7 'odest(,

%odest(, %odest(&

at #ould be a $uidin$ principle fro% 9resident *unter=s lifeE ) belie"e it #ould be isabilit( al#a(s to loo. for te best in peoplesuc an i%portant ualit( to e%ulate&

9resident *unter died 'arc >, 15, at te a$e of 8J&

!inall(, broters and sisters, ) co%e to Gordon & *inc.le(, fteent 9resident of teCurc, ordained and set apart on 'arc 12, 15, at te a$e of 8&

T#o (ears after e #as ordained a %e%ber of te Nuoru% of te T#el"e Apostles in161, ) Doined i% in tat uoru%, and #e sat side b( side for %ost of te ne-t (ears&e ad .no#n eac oter for %an( (ears prior to our calls to te T#el"e& *e #as acoice and belo"ed friend, as #ell as a trusted and respected collea$ue&

9resident *inc.le( is te 9resident of te Curc %ost of (ou #ill re%e%ber best, for e#as 9resident durin$ %uc of te ti%e (ou #ere $ro#in$ to (oun$ adultood& *e #as a.ind %an #o tau$t and #o li"ed tolerance, ne"er dispara$in$ anoter person=sbeliefs&

9resident *inc.le( #as a #ords%it& ) #ill repeat te #ord: #ords%it& *e #as #ell readand a scolar, and e could put #ords and prases to$eter in suc a #a( tat it #as apleasure to listen to is %essa$es&

As %an( of (ou .no#, eac Tursda( %ornin$ te %e%bers of te !irst 9residenc( andte Nuoru% of te T#el"e Apostles a"e a %eetin$ in te +alt La.e Te%ple& e aredri"en in carts under$round fro% te Curc O4ce uildin$ par.in$ lot to te te%ple&Burin$ te cold #inter %onts, 9resident *inc.le( al#a(s #ore a coat and a at durin$te brief ride& As our cart passed under 'ain +treet, 9resident *inc.le( .ne# #en #e#ere #itin te connes of te te%ple, rater tan under te street& itout a #ord e

#ould re%o"e is at and place it in is lap& *e see%ed to .no# instincti"el( #en tat%o%ent arri"ed& )t #as suc a si%ple (et profound e-pression of re"erence and respectfor te ouse of te Lord, and it %ade a deep i%pression on %e&

All of (ou #ill recall tat durin$ te last fe# (ears of is life 9resident *inc.le( al#a(sad a cane #it i%& *e #ould #al. to is seat in te Conference Center #ile #a"in$ tote cro#d #it is cane or usin$ it to tap so%eone on te soulder& 9resident *inc.le(and ) for (ears #ent to te sa%e doctor, and durin$ one of %( "isits a fe# (ears a$o, tedoctor said to %e, Could (ou please do %e a fa"orE 9resident *inc.le( sould use iscane for #al.in$ because it steadies i%& Te last tin$ #e #ant is for i% to fall and



brea. a ip, or #orse& )nstead, e #a"es it around and doesn=t use it #en e #al.s& Telli% te cane as been prescribed b( is doctor, and e needs to use it as it #as %eantto be used&7

) listened to te p(sician=s reuest and ten replied, Boctor, ) a% 9resident *inc.le(=scounselor& Kou are is doctor& Kou tell i%F7

One of 9resident *inc.le(=s fa"orite (%ns as #ords #ritten b( Iud(ard iplin$tat=ste ritis in i%& Te (%n is God of Our !aters, no#n of Old&716 One of is fa"oritedesserts #as pie and ice crea%& *e lo"ed te 9ropet Mosep +%it; e lo"ed te +a"ior&A fa"orite uotation #as ta.en fro% te #ords of te 9ropet Mosep concernin$ te+a"ior:

And no#, after te %an( testi%onies #ic a"e been $i"en of i%, tis is tetesti%on(, last of all, #ic #e $i"e of i%: Tat e li"esF

!or #e sa# i%, e"en on te ri$t and of God; and #e eard te "oice bearin$ record

tat e is te Onl( e$otten of te !ater&1J

at #ould be a $uidin$ principle fro% 9resident *inc.le(=s lifeE )t is one #ic #e#ould all do #ell to follo#: Bo (our best&

Gordon & *inc.le( ser"ed as 9resident of te Curc for nearl( tirteen (ears until isdeat on Manuar( 2J, 2008, at te a$e of J&

at can #e learn fro% te propets #o% ) a"e .no#n and about #o% ) a"e "isited#it (ou toda(E e can learn tat te( ne"er #a"ered, ne"er faltered, ne"er failed; tat

te( are %en of God&

'a( #e be persistent in tose tin$s #ic are $ood and noble& 'a( #e e"er sta( safel(on te Lord=s side of te line& 'a( #e be considerate, studious, and responsi"e to te#isperin$s of te *ol( +pirit& 'a( #e be dedicated to te $ospel of Mesus Crist& 'a( #elo"e one anoter and al#a(s loo. for te best in people& 'a( #e do our best in all tat#e do&

God bless (ou, %( dear (oun$ friends& Ie%e%ber tat tere is anoter #o% (ou canfollo#e"en te Lord Mesus Crist& *e said, Co%e, follo# %e&7 Let us follo# *i%& *e as

sent 9residents of te Curc, #o% #e can a"e as $uides and #o% #e can follo#& *e*i%self e-tended tat .ind, $enerous, personal in"itation #en *e said, eold, ) standat te door, and .noc.: if an( %an ear %( "oice, and open te door, ) #ill co%e in toi%&718

As te si-teent 9resident of te Curc, %( stor( is (et to be su%%aried b( tose #o#ill follo#& )n te %eanti%e, ) pled$e %( life, %( stren$tall tat ) a"e to oerinser"in$ te Lord and in directin$ te aairs of *is Curc in accordance #it *is #ill andb( *is inspiration&



) in"o.e *is blessin$s upon (ou& ) bless (ou tat (ou %a( follo# te teacin$s ofpropets, tat (our li"es %a( tereb( be enriced& ) bless (ou tat (ou %a( a"e Do( in(our earts, tat (ou #ill a"e peace #itin (our souls, tat (ou #ill a"e content%entin seein$ te in3uence for $ood tat eac one of (ou as upon te li"es of oters, and )do so in te na%e of Mesus Crist, a%en&

<o" 01, 2011

e a Li$t to te orld To%as +& 'onson

at a $lorious si$t (ou areF )t=s an onor, %( (oun$ friends, to be ere #it (ou& ) feelte tre%endous #ei$t of te responsibilit( #ic is %ine to pro"ide (ou #it a %essa$e#ic #ill opefull( be elpful to (ou not onl( for toda( but, indeed, trou$out (ourli"es&

As ) $ae at tis "ast audience, )=% re%inded tat eac of (ou is one of a .ind& ac asad e-periences uniue to (ou and (ou alone& Kou a"e co%e to ri$a% Koun$Uni"ersit( fro% locations across te countr( and te #orld& Kou co%e fro% "ariedbac.$rounds& And (et tere is %uc tat #e a"e in co%%on one #it anoter& e .no##ere #e ca%e fro%, #( #e are ere, and #ere #e #ill $o #en #e lea"e tis life& e.no# tat #e are cildren of our *ea"enl( !ater and tat *e lo"es us& e .no# #e#ant to return to *i% after #e lea"e tis eartl( e-istence& e .no# tat #at #e doand don=t doere in %ortalit( is of ut%ost i%portance& e also .no# tat, sould #efall sort, our +a"ior as pro"ided us #it te precious $ift of te Atone%ent and tat, if#e can$e our li"es and our earts and ta.e ad"anta$e of te po#er of te Atone%ent,our sins and sortco%in$s #ill be for$i"en and for$otten&

e a"e in co%%on te $ospel of Mesus Crist& And #e .no# it is our responsibilit( tosare te truts of te $ospel #it oters& One of te cief #a(s in #ic #e can sarete $ospel is to be a ri$teous e-a%ple, and it is about tis tat ) #is to spea. to (outoda(& Te Apostle 9aul ad%onised, e tou an e-a%ple of te belie"ers, in #ord, incon"ersation, in carit(, in spirit, in fait, in purit(&71 *e also #rote tat te follo#ers ofCrist sould be as li$ts in te #orld&72

Tis is #at ) #ould ope for eac of ustat #e %i$t be a li$t to te #orld&

at is li$tE ebster=s dictionar( lists no less tan fteen denitions for te noun light &) prefer te si%ple so%etin$ tat illu%inates&7 Must as turnin$ on a li$t s#itc in adar. roo% #ill bate te roo% in li$t, so pro"idin$ an e-a%ple of ri$teousnessandterefore bein$ a li$tcan elp to illu%inate an increasin$l( dar. #orld&

ac of us ca%e to eart a"in$ been $i"en te Li$t of Crist& +aid 9resident *arold &Lee:



E(ery soul who walks the earth, where(er he li(es, in whate(er nation he may ha(e beenborn, no matter whether he be in riches or in !o(erty, had at birth an endowment of that rst light which is called the 2ight of $hrist, the !irit of ruth, or the !irit of *odFthatuni(ersal light of intelligence with which e(ery soul is blessed" Moroni s!oke of ?tatli$t,@ that !irit when he said:

=.or behold, the !irit of $hrist is gi(en to e(ery man, that he may know good from e(il;

wherefore, ' show unto you the way to udge; for e(ery thing which in(iteth to do good,and to !ersuade to belie(e in $hrist, is sent forth by the !ower and gift of $hrist;wherefore ye may know with a !erfect knowledge it is of *od"> PMoroni :LH"Q>

Unfortunatel(, for %an( tat li$t #it #ic all #ere endo#ed at birt as di%%edinso%e cases al%ost to te point of bein$ e-tin$uisedas outside in3uences a"e co%eto bear and te so%eti%es ars realities of life a"e been e-perienced& Ours is teresponsibilit( to .eep our li$ts a3a%e and burnin$ bri$tl(, tat te( %i$t sine foroters to see and follo#&

it te decline of reli$ion in our societ(, %an( people a"e co%e to feel tat te( aresu4cient unto te%sel"es and a"e no need of a i$er po#er& ron$& A loss of reli$iousfait i%plies a loss of fait in an(one $reater tan oneself&

)n 2 <epi #e read tese #ords, so pertinent toda(:

# the (ainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men% When they are learnedthey think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of *od, for they set itaside, su!!osing they know of themsel(es, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it !roteth them not" And they shall !erish"

)t can at ti%es be eas( to fall into te erroneous tin.in$ tat #e oursel"es are capableof andlin$ an(tin$ tat co%es our #a(, tat #e a"e all te ans#ers, and tat tere isno need for assistance fro% a i$er po#er& en #e realie, as one person put it, tat#e are not u%an bein$s a"in$ a spiritual e-perience; #e are spiritual bein$s a"in$ au%an e-perience,75 #e co%e to understand #ere our %ain e%pasis sould be andon #o% #e are reliant&

)n order for us to be e-a%ples of te belie"ers, #e oursel"es %ust belie"e& ) #ould tin.tat eac of us #itin te sound of %( "oice as a testi%on(, altou$ our testi%oniesare no doubt of "ar(in$ de$rees& )t is up to eac of us to de"elop te fait necessar( to

sur"i"e spirituall( and to proDect a li$t for oters to see& A%idst te confusion of oura$e, te con3icts of conscience, and te tur%oil of dail( li"in$, an abidin$ fait beco%esan ancor to our li"es& Ie%e%ber tat fait and doubt cannot e-ist in te sa%e %ind atte sa%e ti%e, for one #ill dispel te oter& A%on$ te %ost eecti"e #a(s to $ain and.eep te fait #e need #ould be to read and stud( te scriptures and to pra( freuentl(and consistentl(&

'an( (ears a$o ) #as so#n te 3(leaf of a triple co%bination $i"en to te late 'aurineLee il.ins b( er fater, 9resident *arold & Lee& *e ad inscribed it #it tese #ords:



A!ril O, LODDFo my dear Maurine: hat you may ha(e a constant measure by which to udge between truth and the errors of man)s !hiloso!hies, and thus grow in s!iritualityas you increase in knowledge, ' gi(e you this sacred book to read freBuently and cherishthroughout your life" 2o(ingly, your father, &arold /" 2ee

ise #ords #ic can appl( to eac of us&

roters and sisters, a"e (ou read te oo. of 'or%onE *a"e (ou put to te test tepro%ise found in 'oroni 10:, as.in$ (our *ea"enl( !ater #it a sincere eart, #itreal intent, a"in$ fait in Crist7 #eter or not tat #ic is found in tat boo. istrutE

'a( ) sare #it (ou te e-perience of roter Cla(ton '& Cristensen as e sou$t to.no# for i%self& roter Cristensen as ser"ed in %an( positions of leadersip in teCurc, includin$ as an Area +e"ent(& *e as recei"ed far too %an( acade%ic a#ards for%e to %ention ere& *e is currentl( te Iobert and Mane Cii. 9rofessor of usinessAd%inistration at te *ar"ard usiness +cool& *e is also an alu%nus of ri$a% Koun$Uni"ersit(, and ) belie"e is son +pencer and dau$ter Caterine are currentl( studentsere&

en roter Cristensen nised is scoolin$ at ri$a% Koun$ Uni"ersit(, erecei"ed a scolarsip to $o to O-ford Uni"ersit( in n$land as a Iodes +colar& ene arri"ed at O-ford, e realied tat it #ould be so%e#at callen$in$ to be an acti"e%e%ber of te Curc in O-ford& Te Iodes +colarsip Trust tat ad $i"en i% isscolarsip ad a lot of acti"ities for te recipients of te scolarsip, and if e #ere$oin$ to be acti"e in te Curc, it #ould be di4cult for i% to participate in toseacti"ities& *e intended to obtain in Dust t#o (ears a de$ree in applied econo%etricsapro$ra% #ic too. %ost students tree (ears to co%plete& Tis, of course, added to is

lac. of e-tra ti%e& *e realied, as e tou$t trou$ o# in"ol"ed in te Curc ecould be, tat e didn=t e"en .no# for certain if te oo. of 'or%on #as true& *erealied tat e ad read te oo. of 'or%on se"en ti%es up to tat point, and tatafter eac of tose se"en ti%es e ad .nelt in pra(er and ad as.ed God to tell i% if it#as true& *e ad recei"ed no ans#er& As e tou$t trou$ #( e adn=t recei"ed anans#er, e realied tat eac ti%e e ad read te oo. of 'or%on it #as because of anassi$n%enteiter fro% is parents or a KU instructor or is %ission president or ase%inar( teacerand is cief obDecti"e ad been to nis te boo.& ut no#, as e#as about to co%%ence is studies at O-ford, e realied tat e desperatel( needed to.no# if te oo. of 'or%on #as true& *e reco$nied as #ell tat e ad sustainedi%self on a belief in %an( of te doctrines of te Curc and in is parents because e

.ne# te( .ne# it #as true, and e trusted is parents& *ere e #as, o#e"er,desperatel( needin$ to .no# for i%self if it #as true&

O-ford Uni"ersit( is one of te #orld=s oldest uni"ersities& Te buildin$ roterCristensen li"ed in #as built in 110 and #as beautiful to loo. at but orrible to li"e in& Te onl( eat #ic #as pro"ided #as fro% a s%all eater inserted into a ole #icad been du$ in te #all& *e decided tat e #ould co%%it e"er( e"enin$ fro% 11 p&%&to 12 %idni$t to readin$ te oo. of 'or%ontis ti%e #it te purpose ofdeter%inin$ if it #as true& *e #ondered if e dared spend an entire our eac ni$t,because e #as in a "er( de%andin$ acade%ic pro$ra% and e Dust didn=t .no# if e



could aord allocatin$ suc an a%ount of ti%e to tis eort& <e"erteless,e did allocate te ti%e, and e be$an at 11 p&%& b( .neelin$ in pra(er b( te cair b(is little eater, and e pra(ed out loud& *e told God o# desperate e #as to nd out iftis #as a true boo., and e told *i% tat if *e #ould re"eal to i% tat it #as true, tene intended to dedicate is life to buildin$ tis .in$do%& And e told God tat if it #asn=ttrue, e needed to .no# tat for certain, too, because ten e #ould dedicate is life tondin$ out #at was true& Ten roter Cristensen #ould sit in te cair and read& *ebe$an b( readin$ te rst pa$e of te oo. of 'or%on, and #en e $ot do#n to te

botto% of te pa$e, e stopped, and e tou$t about #at e ad read on tat pa$e,and e as.ed i%self, Could tis a"e been #ritten b( a carlatan #o #as tr(in$ todecei"e people, or #as tis reall( #ritten b( a propet of GodE7 And e as.ed i%self#at did it %ean for Cla(ton Cristensen in is lifeE And ten e put te boo. do#n and.nelt in pra(er and "erball( as.ed God a$ain, 9lease tell %e if tis is a true boo.&7 Tene #ould sit in te cair and pic. up te boo. and turn te pa$e and read anoter pa$e,pause at te botto%, and do te sa%e tin$& *e did tis for an our e"er( ni$tni$tafter ni$tin tat cold, da%p roo% at te Nueen=s Colle$e in O-ford&

( te ti%e roter Cristensen $ot to te capters at te end of 2 <epi, one e"enin$

#en e said is pra(er and sat in is cair and opened te boo., all of a sudden tereca%e into tat roo% a beautiful, #ar%, lo"in$ spirit tat Dust surrounded i% andper%eated is soul and en"eloped i% in a feelin$ of lo"e tat e ad not i%a$ined ecould feel& *e be$an to cr(, and e didn=t #ant to stop cr(in$ because as e loo.edtrou$ is tears at te #ords in te oo. of 'or%on, e could see trut in tose #ordstat e ne"er i%a$ined e could co%preend before& *e could see te $lories of eternit(and #at God ad in store for i% as one of *is sons& Tat spirit sta(ed #it i% for te#ole our, and ten e"er( e"enin$ as e pra(ed and sat #it te oo. of 'or%on b(te little eater in is roo%, tat sa%e spirit returned, and it can$ed is eart and islife fore"er&

9resident ra Taft enson, tirteent president of te Curc, said, en (ou cooseto follo# Crist, (ou coose to be can$ed& & & & Te #orld #ould sape u%an bea"ior,but Crist can can$e u%an nature & & & , and can$ed %en ?and #o%en@ can can$ete #orld&76

roter Cristensen as indicated tat e lo"es to return to O-ford& 'ost of te peopletere are eiter students or tourists #o a"e co%e to loo. at a beautiful uni"ersit(& ute lo"es to return tere because it=s a sacred place to i%, and e can loo. at te#indo#s of tat roo% #ere e li"ed, and e reco$nies it as te place #ere e learnedtat Mesus is te Crist and tat Mosep +%it #as te propet of te restoration for te

true curc&

roter Cristensen as stated tat e loo.s bac. at te con3ict e e-perienced #ene #ondered if e could aord to spend an our e"er( da( apart fro% te stud( ofapplied econo%etrics to nd out if te oo. of 'or%on #as true& *e said, ) use appliedecono%etrics %a(be once a (ear, but ) use %( .no#led$e tat te oo. of 'or%on iste #ord of God %an( ti%es e"er( da( of %( life& )n all of te education tat ) a"epursued, tat is te sin$le %ost useful piece of .no#led$e tat ) e"er $ained&7J



roters and sisters, %an( of (ou probabl( ca%e to ri$a% Koun$ Uni"ersit( alread(.no#in$ tat te oo. of 'or%on is true, tat Mosep +%it is indeed a propet, and tattis is te true Curc of Mesus Crist& +o%e of (ou, o#e"er, %a( still be li"in$ on tetesti%on( of oters(our parents, (our friends, (our Curc leaders& 'a( ) su$$est tat,as roter Cristensen did, (ou set aside ti%e e"er( da( to nd out for (ourself if teoo. of 'or%on is a true boo., for it #ill can$e (our eart and can$e (our life& )f (ousee. tis .no#led$e #it a sincere eart, #it real intent, a"in$ fait in Crist,78 )pro%ise tat (ou #ill recei"e an ans#er& And once (ou .no# tat te oo. of 'or%on is

true, ten it #ill follo# tat Mosep +%it #as a propet of God& Kou #ill a"e tatburnin$ testi%on( and .no#led$e tat tis curc is true&

+uc .no#led$e, suc a personal testi%on(, is essential if #e are to safel( na"i$ate teso%eti%es treacerous pats trou$ life #it te ad"ersar( atte%ptin$ to decei"e us ate"er( turn& As (ou .eep te 3a%e of testi%on( burnin$ bri$tl(, (ou #ill beco%e abeacon of ri$teousnesse"en a li$tfor all to see& +aid te +a"ior: Let (our li$t sosine before %en, tat te( %a( see (our $ood #or.s, and $lorif( (our !ater #ic is inea"en&7

) sare #it (ou an e-a%ple of t#o indi"iduals #o let teir li$ts sine and #ose $ood#or.s #ere reco$nied and appreciated& +e"eral (ears a$o ) recei"ed a letter fro% a lad(#o% ) did not .no# but #o cose %e, for #ate"er reason, to #rite to concernin$ tee-a%ple of t#o %e%bers of te Curc #o ad ad an in3uence for $ood in er life&

*er letter be$an, Bear 9resident 'onson,7 and ten se #rote:

' would like to commend two of your church members for their etraordinary com!assionand faith" ' am a !racticing $atholic and grew u! in alt 2ake $ity" #ftentimes, as a youth, ' remember feeling ostraci+ed by the other children who li(ed on our block

because ' was not a member of the 23 $hurch" ' must admit that this im!ression hasstuck with me for many years, until my encounter with 4ick and 3an Mc'ntosh" 2ast yearmy sister)s husband, om /rown, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and wasgi(en one year to li(e" &e !assed away last week" #f course neither my sister nor herhusband are members of your church" .or the !ast year, 4ick, who is the bisho! of theward close to my sister, and 3an ha(e s!ent countless hours with my sister and herfamily" hey ha(e !rayed numerous times for om, and their wi(es ha(e brought food tothe house" hey sho(eled the walks in the winter" And each time they ha(e come theyha(e asked my sister if there was anything she needed or that they could do" And theymeant it" 't was not im!ortant to them that my family was not 23" om was theirneighbor and their friend, and they were there to do whate(er they could to hel!" hese

two men truly li(e their faith, and ' felt dee!ly mo(ed by their com!assion and eam!le".rom one who used to indulge in Mormon bashing, ' am writing this letter to tell you that through the eam!le of these two men, not only will ' ne(er again critici+e the 23 faith,but ' will not allow it to be critici+ed in front of me" Your church has my dee!est res!ect"

Our opportunities to sine are li%itless& Te( surround us eac da(, in #ate"ercircu%stance #e nd oursel"es& As #e follo# te e-a%ple of te +a"ior, ours #ill be teopportunit( to be a li$t, as it #ere, in te li"es of tose around us#eter te( be ouro#n fa%il( %e%bers, our co#or.ers, %ere acuaintances, or total stran$ers&



)t as been %( opportunit( trou$ te (ears to associate #it countless indi"iduals #o) #ould consider to be outstandin$ e-a%ples, e"en li$ts to te #orld& Tere is a specialspirit #e feel around suc people #ic %a.es us #ant to associate #it te% and tofollo# teir e-a%ple& ) #ould "enture to $uess tat so%e of (ou in tis audience are%e%bers of te Curc toda( or a"e beco%e acti"e in te Curc because of suce-a%ples& en #e encounter te%, te( are a po#erful in3uence, for te( radiate telo"e of te +a"ior and elp us to feel *is lo"e for us&

)n spea.in$ of tose #o are unafraid to li"e li"es of ri$teousness and e-a%ple, ) a%re%inded of one of te %issionaries #o ser"ed in astern Canada #en ) #as te%ission president tere& *e #as a special (oun$ %an b( te na%e of lder IolandBa"idson& *e #as dedicated and ard#or.in$ and ob"iousl( lo"ed te $ospel of MesusCrist& And ten e beca%e "er( ill& After #ee.s of ospitaliation, as te sur$eonprepared to underta.e e-tre%el( serious and co%plicated sur$er(, te sur$eon as.edtat #e send for te %issionar(=s parents& *e indicated tat tere #as a $reat li.elioodtat lder Ba"idson could not sur"i"e te sur$er(& *is parents ca%e& Te e"enin$ beforete sur$er(, is fater and ), in tat ospital roo% in Toronto, Canada, placed our andsupon te ead of tat (oun$ %issionar( and $a"e i% a blessin$& at appened te

follo#in$ da( pro"ided for %e a ne"er/to/be/for$otten e-a%ple of te in3uence of a truebelie"er&7

lder Ba"idson #as in a si-/bed #ard in te ospital& Te oter beds #ere occupied b("e %en #it a "ariet( of illnesses& On te %ornin$ of lder Ba"idson=s sur$er(, is bed#as e%pt(& ) learned later tat te nurse ca%e into te roo% #it te brea.fast teseus.( %en nor%all( ate& +e too. a tra( o"er to bed nu%ber one and said, !ried e$$stis %ornin$, and ) a"e an e-tra portion for (ou&7 ed nu%ber one #as occupied b( a%an #it is toe #rapped up in a banda$e& *e ad suered an accident #it isla#n%o#er& Oter tan is inDured toe, e #as #ell p(sicall(& *e said to te nurse, )=llnot be eatin$ tis %ornin$&7

All ri$t,7 said te nurse& e=ll $i"e (our brea.fast to (our partner in bed nu%ber t#oF7

As se #ent o"er to bed nu%ber t#o, e said, <o, tan. (ou& ) tin. )=ll not eat tis%ornin$&7

+e said, Tat=s t#o in a ro#& ) don=t understand (ou %en, and tere is no one tis%ornin$ in bed tree&7 +e $lanced at te bed Ioland Ba"idson ad occupied, and tense #ent on to bed four, bed "e, and bed si-& Te ans#er #as te sa%e fro% eac one:<o, tis %ornin$ )=% not un$r(&7

Te (oun$ lad( put er ands on er ips and said, "er( oter %ornin$ (ou eat us outof ouse and o%e, and toda( not one of (ou #ants to eat& at=s $oin$ on ereE7

And ten te %an #o occupied bed nu%ber si- ca%e fort #it te ans#er& *e said,Kou see, bed nu%ber tree is e%pt(& Our friend, Ba"idson, is in te operatin$ roo%under te sur$eon=s ands& *e needs all te elp e can $et& *e is a %issionar( for iscurc, and #ile e as been l(in$ on tat bed e as tal.ed to us about te principlesof is curcprinciples of pra(er, of fait, and of fastin$ #erein #e call upon te Lord



for blessin$s&7 *e continued, e a"e co%e to ad%ire Ba"idson as a person of $reat$oodness and co%passion and fait& *e=s an e-a%ple of #at a follo#er of Crist souldbe& *e as touced our li"eseac one of usand #e are fastin$ for i% toda(&7

the talks of thomas s. monson, 2006-2015

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