Kansas City, Missouri
137th operating temple
Dedicated: 6 May 2012
By: Thomas S. Monson
Jesus Christ, Glory of
Alma 9:26
And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers.
Book of Mormon
Helaman 4:1-17
New Testament "Be Ye Reconciled to God" 2 Corinthians 1-7
2 Corinthians 7
General Conference
The Quorum: A Place of Belonging
Elder Carl B. Cook
"The Savior taught, 'Where two or three or more are gathered together in my name, ... behold, there will I be in the midst of them.' Heavenly Father is preparing the minds and hearts of people all around us. We can follow promptings, extend a hand of fellowship, share truth, invite others to read the Book of Mormon, and love and support them as they come to know our Savior."
During our temple preparation meeting this morning President Palmer, our temple president, mentioned that our theme for this month is: "More Holiness Give Me." For some reason that theme touched my heart and I began thinking of ways that I could become more holy. I want so much to please the Lord and to do those things that He has asked us to do.
I am still the veil director which means a lot of time sitting and waiting for the veil ceremony on all of the sessions. We only had one own endowment today and it was for Barry Flake's grandson who will be serving a mission in Houston, Texas. I got to talk with Barry for a few minutes. He is one of my high school heroes. He pulled my car out of the mud at the lake when no one else could. I will never forget that night and his willingness to help me, someone he barely knew. He and James were friends. They both lived in Snowflake and James used to go over to Barry's to ride bulls.
There was alot of buzz today about tonight's devotional with President Oaks. The brothers and sisters from Holbrook, Winslow, Joseph City, and Flagstaff and Payson are not invited to the devotional. We have several on our shift from those areas.
There are seven stakes involved: Show Low, Snowflake, Centennial, Silver Creek, White Mountain, St. Johns, and Eagar.
James and I went straight home after our shift was over. We had something to eat and then laid down to rest. Soon after I got settled in my recliner I got a phone call. It was my next door neighbor, Kathy. She wanted to know if we would like to ride with them over to Eagar for the devotional. Of course we did.
We left a little before 4 p.m. and with Chuck driving we made it there in about 30 minutes. We parked at the stake center and then waited for the bus to take us over to the Round Valley dome on the campus of Round Valley High School. (I wonder if my grandpa Arlee still holds the record for the 100 yard dash?).
We sat in the elderly handicapped area and the wait began. Kathy brought snacks and water for us.
The devotional was scheduled to begin at 6:30. At about 6:20 a huge hour glass appeared on the screens they had set up. About five minutes later a large black SUV drove in. The crowd became quiet as President Oaks, his wife, Elder Anderson and his wife, and Elder Heyman and Dianne exited the car and found their seats on the stage.
Elder Heyman conducted the meeting and was the first speaker. He spoke about the Holy Ghost and increasing our spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation. He said we should be like Joseph Smith after the First Vision when he said to his mother after she asked him if he was all right and he said he was all right and he had learned for himself what was true.
Dianne Heyman was the next speaker. I have to say that during Elder Heyman's talk and Dianne's talk the sound system was not working very well. There was an echo and it was hard to hear. I could hear but James said he couldn't.
Dianne spoke about the Covenant Path, recognizing the hand of the Lord in our lives and looking for evidence of his love for us. She said that the Lord is in the details of our lives and then she related the story of how she had a stroke while they were serving their mission in Argentina and was eventually sent home to Arizona. Before leaving President Oaks and Elder Bednar had come down to visit and Elder Bednar gave her a blessing. They told her that she shouldn't take lightly the fact that two of the Lord's anointed had come to bless her.
While in Arizona they were trying to determine if they should stay home or go back to Argentina. At that point they turned their lives over to the Lord and said they would trust in Him to direct them as to what they should do. They did go back to Argentina and were able to finish their mission. As Dianne was speaking I could see no evidence of a stroke. She looked to me as young and beautiful as she was 25 years ago whose counsel and advice of latter-day apostles and prophets.
Elder Andersen said his parents raised a large family and all of their children were active in the gospel. When he asked his dad how he did it his dad told him that they had always tried to follow the counsel of the Prophets.
Sister Andersen and Elder Andersen spoke together. Sister Andersen told the story of when Helaman's son Nephi was the prophet and the people were wicked. Nephi persuades the Lord to replace their war with a famine. Many people perish - They repent, and Nephi importunes the Lord for rain - Nephi and Lehi receive many revelations. (Helaman 11 heading).
When the people listened to the prophet they prospered. When they became wicked they began to perish and were left to their own devices when fighting the Lamanites.
The Andersen's then began to list all of the things President Nelson has asked us to do since he became the prophet.
As a result of this talk, I went back through all of President Nelson's talks since he became the Prophet, beginning with the most recent, and wrote down quotes and things he asked us to do. This was quite extensive but I feel it was one of the reasons I came to this meeting. It was a great reminder of our Prophet and the counsel he has given to us.
As a result of this talk, I went back through all of President Nelson's talks since he became the Prophet, beginning with the most recent, and wrote down quotes and things he asked us to do. This was quite extensive but I feel it was one of the reasons I came to this meeting. It was a great reminder of our Prophet and the counsel he has given to us.
April 2019 in the "Come Follow Me" talk he said:
"If you are not sure you even believe in God, start there. Understand that in the absence of experiences with God, one can doubt the existence of God. So, put yourself in a position to begin having experiences with Him. Humble yourself. Pray to have eyes to see God's hand in your life and in the world around you. Ask Him to tell you if He is really there - if He knows you. Ask Him how He feels about you. And then listen."
"Now, as President of His Church, I plead with you who have distanced yourselves from the Church and with you who have not yet really sought to know that the Savior's Church has been restored. Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out."
April 2019
Priesthood Session
"We Can Do Better and Be Better"
"Daily repentance bring purity and purity brings power."
Ways to improve:
1) Care for our bodies
2) Honor our spouses
3) Be a true disciple of Jesus Christ
4) Keep covenants with integrity
5) Communicate the Love of the Savior to your family
April 2019 Closing Remarks
"We hope and pray that each member's home will become a true sanctuary of faith, where the Spirit of the Lord may dwell. Despite contention all around us, one''s home can become a heavenly place, where study, prayer, and faith can be merged with love. We can truly become disciples of the Lord, standing up and speaking up for Him wherever we are.
God's objective should be our objective. He wants His children to choose to return to Him, prepared, qualified, endowed, sealed, and faithful to covenants made in holy temples."
Temples to be built in the following locations:
Pago Pago, American Samoa; Okinawa City, Okinawa; Neiafu, Tonga; Tooele Valley, Utah; Moses Lake, Washington; San Pedro Sula, Honduras; Antofagasta, Chile; Budapest, Hungary.
"As we speak of our temples old and new, may each of us signify by our actions that we are true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. May we renovate our lives through our faith and trust in Him. May we access the power of His Atonement by our repentance each day. And may we dedicate and rededicate our lives to serving God and His children - on both sides of the veil."
October 2018 General Conference
Opening Remarks
Saturday morning session
"As Latter-day Saints, we have become accustomed to thinking of 'church' as something that happens in our meetinghouses, supported by what happens at home. We need an adjustment to this pattern It is time for a home-centered Church, supported by what takes place inside our branch, ward, and stake buildings."
"The long-standing objective of the Church is to assist all ebers to increase their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and in His Atonement, to assist them in making and keeping their covenants with God, and to strengthen and seal their families. In this complex world today, this is not easy. The adversary is increasing his attacks on faith and upon us and our families at an exponential rate. To survive spiritually, we need counterstrategies and proactive plans. Accordingly, we now want to put in place organizational adjustments that will further fortify our members and their families.
For many years, Church leaders have been working on an integrated curriculum to strengthen families and individuals through a home-centered and Church-supported plan to learn doctrine, strengthen faith, and foster greater personal worship. Our efforts over these recent years to hallow the Sabbath - to make it a delight and a personal sign to God of our love for Him - will be augmented by the adjustments we will now introduce.
This morning we will announce a new balance and connection between gospel instruction in the home and in the Church. We are each responsible for our individual spiritual growth. And scriptures make it clear that parents have the primary responsibility to teach the doctrine to their children. It is the responsibility of the Church to assist each member in the divinely defined goal of increasing his or her gospel knowledge.
Elder Quentin L. Cook will no explain these important adjustments."
October 2018
General Women's Session
"Sisters' Participation in the Gathering of Israel"
"May I offer four invitations:
1.) First, I invite you to participate in a 10-day fast from social media and from any other media that bring negative and impure thoughts to your mind. Pray to know which influences to remove during your fast. The effect of your 10-day fast may surprise you. What do you notice after taking a break from perspectives of the world that have been wounding your spirit? Is there a change in where you now want to spend your time and energy? Have any of your priorities shifted - even just a little? I urge you to record and follow through with each impression.
2.) Second, I invite you to read the Book of Mormon between now and the end of the year.As impossible as that may seem with all you are trying to manage in your life, if you will accept this invitation with full purpose of heart, the Lord will help you find a way to achieve it. And, as you prayerfully study, I promise that the heavens will open for you. The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation.
As you read, I would encourage you to mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior. Then, be intentional about talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of Christ with your families and friends. You and they will be drawn closer to the Savior through this process. And changes, even miracles, will begin to happen.
This morning the announcement was made regarding the new Sunday schedule and home-centered, Church-supported curriculum. You, my dear sisters, are a key to the success of this new, balanced, and coordinated gospel-teaching effort. Please teach those whom you love what you are learning from the scriptures. Teach them how to turn to the Savior for His healing and cleansing power when they sin. And teach them how to draw upon His strengthening power every day of their lives.
3.) Third, establish a pattern of regular temple attendance. This may require a little more sacrifice in your life. More regular time in the temple will allow the Lord to teach you how to draw upon His priesthood power with which you have been endowed in His temple. For those of you who don't live near a temple, I invite you to study prayerfully about temples in the scriptures and in the words of living prophets. Seek to know more, to understand more, to feel more about temples than you ever have before.
4.) My fourth invitation, for you who are of age, is to participate fully in Relief Society. I urge you to study the current Relief Society purpose statement It is inspiring. It may guide you in developing your own purpose statement for your own life. I also entreat you to savor the truths in the Relief Society declaration published almost 20 years ago. A framed copy of this declaration hangs on the wall in the office of the First Presidency I am thrilled every time I read it. It describes who you are and who the Lord needs you to be at this precise time as you do your part to help gather scattered Israel.
My dear sisters, we need you! We 'need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices.' We simply cannot gather Israel without you."
April 2019 Sunday morning session
"The Correct Name of the Church"
"Today I feel compelled to discuss with you a matter of great importance. Some weeks ago, I released a statement regarding a course correction for the name of the Church. I did this because the Lord impressed upon my mind the importance of the name He decreed for His Church, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Following the Savior's Resurrection and the death of His Apostles, the world plunged into centuries of darkness. Then in the year 1820, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith to initiate the Restoration of the Lord's Church.
After al He had endured - and after all He had done for humankind - I realize with profound regret that we have unwittingly acquiesced in the Lord's restored Church being called by other names, each of which expunges the sacred name of Jesus Christ!
Every Sunday as we worthily partake of the sacrament, we make anew our sacred promise to our Heavenly Father that we are willing to take upon us the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. we promise to follow Him, repent, keep His commandments, and always remember Him.
When we omit His name from His Church, we are inadvertently removing Him as the central focus of our lives.
Taking the Savior's name upon us includes declaring and witnessing to others - through our actions and our words - that Jesus is the Christ. Have we been so afraid to offend someone who called us 'Mormons' that we have failed to defend the Savior Himself, to stand up for Him even in the nae by which His Church is called?
If we as a people and as individuals are to have access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ - to cleanse and heal us, to strengthen and magnify us, and ultimately to exalt us - we must clearly acknowledge Him as the source of that power. We can begin by calling His Church by the name He decreed."
April 2019 General Conference
Sunday afternoon session
"Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints"
"I urge you to study the messages given in this conference commencing this week. They express the mind and the will of the Lord for His people, today.
The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior's teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.
During this conference we have strengthened our resolve to execute the essential effort to honor the Lord Jesus Christ every time we refer to His Church. I promise you that our rigorous attention to use the correct name of the Savior's Church and its members will lead to increased faith and access to greater spiritual power for members of His Church.
My dear brothers and sisters, the assaults of the adversary are increasing exponentially, in intensity and in variety. Our need to be in the temple on a regular basis has never been greater. I plead with you to take a prayerful look at how you spend your time. Invest time in your future and in that of your family. If you have reasonable access to a temple, I urge you to find a way to make an appointment regularly with the Lord - to be in His holy house - then keep that appointment with exactness and joy. I promise you that the Lord will bring the miracles He knows you need as you make sacrifices to serve and worship in His temples.
Today we are pleased to announce plans to construct 12 more temples. Those temples will be built in the following locations:
Mendoze, Argentina; Salvador, Brazil; Yuba City, California; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Praia, Cape Verde; Yigo, Guam; Puebla, Mexico; Auckland, New Zealand; Lagos, Nigeria; Davao, Philippines; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Washington County, Utah.
Brothers and sisters, I thank you for your faith and sustaining efforts. I leave my love and blessing upon you, that you may feast upon the word of the Lord and apply His teaching in your personal lives.. I assure you that revelation continues in the Church and will continue until 'the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.'
I bless you with increased faith in Him and in His holy work, with faith and patience to endure your personal challenges in life. I bless you to become exemplary Latter-day Saints. I so bless you and bear my testimony that God lives! Jesus is the Christ! This is His Church. We are His people, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
April 2018 General Conference
Solemn Assembly
President Henry B. Eyring
President Russell M. Nelson was sustained as the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
April 2018 General Conference
General Priesthood Session
"Introductory Remarks"
President Russell M. Nelson
"I am very grateful for each man who bears the holy priesthood. You are the hope of our Redeemer, who desires that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world.' He wants all of His ordained sons to represent Him, to speak for Him, to act for Him, and to bless the lives of God's children throughout the world, to the end 'that faith also might increase in all the earth.'
Tonight we announce a significant restructuring of our Melchizedek Priesthood quorums to accomplish the work of the Lord more effectively. In each ward, the high priests and the elders will now be combined into one elders quorum. This adjustment will greatly enhance the capacity and the ability of men who bear the priesthood to serve others. Prospective elders will be welcomed in and fellowshipped by that quorum. In each stake, the stake presidency will continue to preside over the stake high priests quorum. But the composition of that quorum will be based on current priesthood callings, as will be explained later.
These adjustments are inspired of the Lord. As we implement the, we will be even more effective than we have ever been previously."
April 2018 General Priesthood Session
"Ministering with the Power and Authority of God"
"Brethren, we hold the holy priesthood of God! We have His authority to bless His people. Just think of the remarkable assurance the Lord gave us when He said, 'Whomsoever you bless I will bless.' It is our privilege to act in the name of Jesus Christ to bless God's children according to His will for them."
"A hallmark of the Lord's true and living Church will always be an organized, directed effort to minister to individual children of God and their families. Because it is His Church, we as His servants will minister to the one, just as He did.. We will minister in His name, with His power and authority, and with His loving-kindness."
"Brethren, there are doors we can open, priesthood blessings we can give, hearts we can heal, burdens we can lift, testimonies we can strengthen, lives we can save, and joy we can bring into the homes of the Latter-day Saints - all because we hold the priesthood of God. We are the men who have been 'called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of our exceeding faith' to do this work."
April 2018 Sunday morning session
"Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives"
"Without our Redeemer's infinite Atonement, not one of us would have hope of ever returning to our Heavenly Father. Without His Resurrection, death would be the end. Our Savior's Atonement made eternal life a possibility and immortality a reality for all."
"If we will truly receive the Holy Ghost and learn to discern and understand His promptings, we will be guided in matters large and small."
"The Prophet Joseph Smith set a pattern for us to follow in resolving our questions. He sought personal revelation, and his seeking opened this last dispensation.
In like manner, what will your seeking open for you? What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.
Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses - yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will 'grow into the principle of revelation.'"
"Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord's Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true."
"I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that 'if thou shalt seek, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things - that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.'"
"To be sure, there may be times when you feel as though the heavens are closed. But I PROMISE that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord's timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. Every blessing the Lord has for you - even miracles - will follow. that is what personal revelation will do for you."
"Let this Easter Sunday be a defining moment in your life.
Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly."
April 2018 Sunday afternoon session
"Ministering"
President Russell M. Nelson
"For months we have been seeking a better way to minister to the spiritual and temporal needs of our people in the Savior's way.
We have made the decision to retire home teaching and visiting teaching as we have know them. Instead, we will implement a newer, holier approach to caring for and ministering to others. We will refer to these efforts simply as 'ministering.'
Effective ministering efforts are enabled by the innate gifts of the sisters and by the incomparable power of the priesthood.. We all need such protection from the cunning wiles of the adversary.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Jean B. Bingham, General President of the Relief Society, will explain how assigned brethren of the priesthood and assigned sisters of the Relief Society and Young Women will now function in serving and watching over members of the Church throughout the world.
The First Presidency and the Twelve are united in endorsing their messages. Gratefully and prayerfully we open this new chapter in the history of the Church."
April 2018 Sunday afternoon session
"Let Us All Press On"
President Russell M. Nelson
"I exhort you to study the messages of this conference frequently - even repeatedly - during the next six months. Conscientiously look for ways to incorporate these messages in your family home evenings, your gospel teaching, your conversations with family and friends, and even your discussions with those not of our faith."
"Our message to the world is simple and sincere: we invite all of God's children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and qualify for eternal life."
"We are no pleased to anounce plans to construct seven more temples. Those temples will be located in the following locations: Salta, Argentina; Bengaluru, India; Managua, Nicaragua; Cagayan de Oro, Philippines; Layton, Utah; Richmond, Virginia; and a major city yet to be determined in Russia."
"I bless you to identify those things you can set aside so you can spend more time in the temple. I bless you with greater harmony and love in your homes and a deeper desire to care for your eternal family relationships. I bless you with increased faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a greater ability to follow Him as His true disciples. I bless you to raise your voice in testimony, as I do now, that we are engaged in the work of Almighty God! Jesus is the Christ This is His Church, which He directs through His anointed servants. I so testify, with my expression of love for each of you, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."
I knew Jani in high school
The Andersen's have a home in Hidden Meadow.
I might not walk, but I can sure stand!
Priesthood Session
"We Can Do Better and Be Better"
"Daily repentance bring purity and purity brings power."
Ways to improve:
1) Care for our bodies
2) Honor our spouses
3) Be a true disciple of Jesus Christ
4) Keep covenants with integrity
5) Communicate the Love of the Savior to your family
April 2019 Closing Remarks
"We hope and pray that each member's home will become a true sanctuary of faith, where the Spirit of the Lord may dwell. Despite contention all around us, one''s home can become a heavenly place, where study, prayer, and faith can be merged with love. We can truly become disciples of the Lord, standing up and speaking up for Him wherever we are.
God's objective should be our objective. He wants His children to choose to return to Him, prepared, qualified, endowed, sealed, and faithful to covenants made in holy temples."
Temples to be built in the following locations:
Pago Pago, American Samoa; Okinawa City, Okinawa; Neiafu, Tonga; Tooele Valley, Utah; Moses Lake, Washington; San Pedro Sula, Honduras; Antofagasta, Chile; Budapest, Hungary.
"As we speak of our temples old and new, may each of us signify by our actions that we are true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. May we renovate our lives through our faith and trust in Him. May we access the power of His Atonement by our repentance each day. And may we dedicate and rededicate our lives to serving God and His children - on both sides of the veil."
October 2018 General Conference
Opening Remarks
Saturday morning session
"As Latter-day Saints, we have become accustomed to thinking of 'church' as something that happens in our meetinghouses, supported by what happens at home. We need an adjustment to this pattern It is time for a home-centered Church, supported by what takes place inside our branch, ward, and stake buildings."
"The long-standing objective of the Church is to assist all ebers to increase their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and in His Atonement, to assist them in making and keeping their covenants with God, and to strengthen and seal their families. In this complex world today, this is not easy. The adversary is increasing his attacks on faith and upon us and our families at an exponential rate. To survive spiritually, we need counterstrategies and proactive plans. Accordingly, we now want to put in place organizational adjustments that will further fortify our members and their families.
For many years, Church leaders have been working on an integrated curriculum to strengthen families and individuals through a home-centered and Church-supported plan to learn doctrine, strengthen faith, and foster greater personal worship. Our efforts over these recent years to hallow the Sabbath - to make it a delight and a personal sign to God of our love for Him - will be augmented by the adjustments we will now introduce.
This morning we will announce a new balance and connection between gospel instruction in the home and in the Church. We are each responsible for our individual spiritual growth. And scriptures make it clear that parents have the primary responsibility to teach the doctrine to their children. It is the responsibility of the Church to assist each member in the divinely defined goal of increasing his or her gospel knowledge.
Elder Quentin L. Cook will no explain these important adjustments."
October 2018
General Women's Session
"Sisters' Participation in the Gathering of Israel"
"May I offer four invitations:
1.) First, I invite you to participate in a 10-day fast from social media and from any other media that bring negative and impure thoughts to your mind. Pray to know which influences to remove during your fast. The effect of your 10-day fast may surprise you. What do you notice after taking a break from perspectives of the world that have been wounding your spirit? Is there a change in where you now want to spend your time and energy? Have any of your priorities shifted - even just a little? I urge you to record and follow through with each impression.
2.) Second, I invite you to read the Book of Mormon between now and the end of the year.As impossible as that may seem with all you are trying to manage in your life, if you will accept this invitation with full purpose of heart, the Lord will help you find a way to achieve it. And, as you prayerfully study, I promise that the heavens will open for you. The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation.
As you read, I would encourage you to mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior. Then, be intentional about talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of Christ with your families and friends. You and they will be drawn closer to the Savior through this process. And changes, even miracles, will begin to happen.
This morning the announcement was made regarding the new Sunday schedule and home-centered, Church-supported curriculum. You, my dear sisters, are a key to the success of this new, balanced, and coordinated gospel-teaching effort. Please teach those whom you love what you are learning from the scriptures. Teach them how to turn to the Savior for His healing and cleansing power when they sin. And teach them how to draw upon His strengthening power every day of their lives.
3.) Third, establish a pattern of regular temple attendance. This may require a little more sacrifice in your life. More regular time in the temple will allow the Lord to teach you how to draw upon His priesthood power with which you have been endowed in His temple. For those of you who don't live near a temple, I invite you to study prayerfully about temples in the scriptures and in the words of living prophets. Seek to know more, to understand more, to feel more about temples than you ever have before.
4.) My fourth invitation, for you who are of age, is to participate fully in Relief Society. I urge you to study the current Relief Society purpose statement It is inspiring. It may guide you in developing your own purpose statement for your own life. I also entreat you to savor the truths in the Relief Society declaration published almost 20 years ago. A framed copy of this declaration hangs on the wall in the office of the First Presidency I am thrilled every time I read it. It describes who you are and who the Lord needs you to be at this precise time as you do your part to help gather scattered Israel.
My dear sisters, we need you! We 'need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices.' We simply cannot gather Israel without you."
April 2019 Sunday morning session
"The Correct Name of the Church"
"Today I feel compelled to discuss with you a matter of great importance. Some weeks ago, I released a statement regarding a course correction for the name of the Church. I did this because the Lord impressed upon my mind the importance of the name He decreed for His Church, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Following the Savior's Resurrection and the death of His Apostles, the world plunged into centuries of darkness. Then in the year 1820, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith to initiate the Restoration of the Lord's Church.
After al He had endured - and after all He had done for humankind - I realize with profound regret that we have unwittingly acquiesced in the Lord's restored Church being called by other names, each of which expunges the sacred name of Jesus Christ!
Every Sunday as we worthily partake of the sacrament, we make anew our sacred promise to our Heavenly Father that we are willing to take upon us the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. we promise to follow Him, repent, keep His commandments, and always remember Him.
When we omit His name from His Church, we are inadvertently removing Him as the central focus of our lives.
Taking the Savior's name upon us includes declaring and witnessing to others - through our actions and our words - that Jesus is the Christ. Have we been so afraid to offend someone who called us 'Mormons' that we have failed to defend the Savior Himself, to stand up for Him even in the nae by which His Church is called?
If we as a people and as individuals are to have access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ - to cleanse and heal us, to strengthen and magnify us, and ultimately to exalt us - we must clearly acknowledge Him as the source of that power. We can begin by calling His Church by the name He decreed."
April 2019 General Conference
Sunday afternoon session
"Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints"
"I urge you to study the messages given in this conference commencing this week. They express the mind and the will of the Lord for His people, today.
The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior's teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.
During this conference we have strengthened our resolve to execute the essential effort to honor the Lord Jesus Christ every time we refer to His Church. I promise you that our rigorous attention to use the correct name of the Savior's Church and its members will lead to increased faith and access to greater spiritual power for members of His Church.
My dear brothers and sisters, the assaults of the adversary are increasing exponentially, in intensity and in variety. Our need to be in the temple on a regular basis has never been greater. I plead with you to take a prayerful look at how you spend your time. Invest time in your future and in that of your family. If you have reasonable access to a temple, I urge you to find a way to make an appointment regularly with the Lord - to be in His holy house - then keep that appointment with exactness and joy. I promise you that the Lord will bring the miracles He knows you need as you make sacrifices to serve and worship in His temples.
Today we are pleased to announce plans to construct 12 more temples. Those temples will be built in the following locations:
Mendoze, Argentina; Salvador, Brazil; Yuba City, California; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Praia, Cape Verde; Yigo, Guam; Puebla, Mexico; Auckland, New Zealand; Lagos, Nigeria; Davao, Philippines; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Washington County, Utah.
Brothers and sisters, I thank you for your faith and sustaining efforts. I leave my love and blessing upon you, that you may feast upon the word of the Lord and apply His teaching in your personal lives.. I assure you that revelation continues in the Church and will continue until 'the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.'
I bless you with increased faith in Him and in His holy work, with faith and patience to endure your personal challenges in life. I bless you to become exemplary Latter-day Saints. I so bless you and bear my testimony that God lives! Jesus is the Christ! This is His Church. We are His people, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
April 2018 General Conference
Solemn Assembly
President Henry B. Eyring
President Russell M. Nelson was sustained as the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
April 2018 General Conference
General Priesthood Session
"Introductory Remarks"
President Russell M. Nelson
"I am very grateful for each man who bears the holy priesthood. You are the hope of our Redeemer, who desires that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world.' He wants all of His ordained sons to represent Him, to speak for Him, to act for Him, and to bless the lives of God's children throughout the world, to the end 'that faith also might increase in all the earth.'
Tonight we announce a significant restructuring of our Melchizedek Priesthood quorums to accomplish the work of the Lord more effectively. In each ward, the high priests and the elders will now be combined into one elders quorum. This adjustment will greatly enhance the capacity and the ability of men who bear the priesthood to serve others. Prospective elders will be welcomed in and fellowshipped by that quorum. In each stake, the stake presidency will continue to preside over the stake high priests quorum. But the composition of that quorum will be based on current priesthood callings, as will be explained later.
These adjustments are inspired of the Lord. As we implement the, we will be even more effective than we have ever been previously."
April 2018 General Priesthood Session
"Ministering with the Power and Authority of God"
"Brethren, we hold the holy priesthood of God! We have His authority to bless His people. Just think of the remarkable assurance the Lord gave us when He said, 'Whomsoever you bless I will bless.' It is our privilege to act in the name of Jesus Christ to bless God's children according to His will for them."
"A hallmark of the Lord's true and living Church will always be an organized, directed effort to minister to individual children of God and their families. Because it is His Church, we as His servants will minister to the one, just as He did.. We will minister in His name, with His power and authority, and with His loving-kindness."
"Brethren, there are doors we can open, priesthood blessings we can give, hearts we can heal, burdens we can lift, testimonies we can strengthen, lives we can save, and joy we can bring into the homes of the Latter-day Saints - all because we hold the priesthood of God. We are the men who have been 'called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of our exceeding faith' to do this work."
April 2018 Sunday morning session
"Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives"
"Without our Redeemer's infinite Atonement, not one of us would have hope of ever returning to our Heavenly Father. Without His Resurrection, death would be the end. Our Savior's Atonement made eternal life a possibility and immortality a reality for all."
"If we will truly receive the Holy Ghost and learn to discern and understand His promptings, we will be guided in matters large and small."
"The Prophet Joseph Smith set a pattern for us to follow in resolving our questions. He sought personal revelation, and his seeking opened this last dispensation.
In like manner, what will your seeking open for you? What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.
Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses - yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will 'grow into the principle of revelation.'"
"Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord's Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true."
"I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that 'if thou shalt seek, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things - that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.'"
"To be sure, there may be times when you feel as though the heavens are closed. But I PROMISE that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord's timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. Every blessing the Lord has for you - even miracles - will follow. that is what personal revelation will do for you."
"Let this Easter Sunday be a defining moment in your life.
Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly."
April 2018 Sunday afternoon session
"Ministering"
President Russell M. Nelson
"For months we have been seeking a better way to minister to the spiritual and temporal needs of our people in the Savior's way.
We have made the decision to retire home teaching and visiting teaching as we have know them. Instead, we will implement a newer, holier approach to caring for and ministering to others. We will refer to these efforts simply as 'ministering.'
Effective ministering efforts are enabled by the innate gifts of the sisters and by the incomparable power of the priesthood.. We all need such protection from the cunning wiles of the adversary.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Jean B. Bingham, General President of the Relief Society, will explain how assigned brethren of the priesthood and assigned sisters of the Relief Society and Young Women will now function in serving and watching over members of the Church throughout the world.
The First Presidency and the Twelve are united in endorsing their messages. Gratefully and prayerfully we open this new chapter in the history of the Church."
April 2018 Sunday afternoon session
"Let Us All Press On"
President Russell M. Nelson
"I exhort you to study the messages of this conference frequently - even repeatedly - during the next six months. Conscientiously look for ways to incorporate these messages in your family home evenings, your gospel teaching, your conversations with family and friends, and even your discussions with those not of our faith."
"Our message to the world is simple and sincere: we invite all of God's children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and qualify for eternal life."
"We are no pleased to anounce plans to construct seven more temples. Those temples will be located in the following locations: Salta, Argentina; Bengaluru, India; Managua, Nicaragua; Cagayan de Oro, Philippines; Layton, Utah; Richmond, Virginia; and a major city yet to be determined in Russia."
"I bless you to identify those things you can set aside so you can spend more time in the temple. I bless you with greater harmony and love in your homes and a deeper desire to care for your eternal family relationships. I bless you with increased faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a greater ability to follow Him as His true disciples. I bless you to raise your voice in testimony, as I do now, that we are engaged in the work of Almighty God! Jesus is the Christ This is His Church, which He directs through His anointed servants. I so testify, with my expression of love for each of you, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."
Wow! I am so glad that I did this as a reminder of all of the things President Nelson has said and asked us to do since he was sustained as the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Sister Oaks started her talk by saying that President Oaks loves it here. Today he saw 12 elk and 17 turkeys! She married President Oaks when she was in her mid 50's and is his second wife. They have been married for nineteen years. She spoke about being a convert and how as a child she loved Primary. Her parents allowed her to be baptized although they were not interested in the Church.
She said we must pay a price for faith and we must be consecrated and more holy. We are all becoming. If we are converted we "do" and "become." She said they have this scripture on their refrigerator: DC 88:63 - Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
She ended by saying that "President Oaks is here for a reason."
President Oaks began his talk by saying how he was impressed with "the Dome" and he understands it was built for football. He then said he was grateful that BYU beat USC today.
Blessings require a commitment from us. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ means to trust in the Lord and to trust in His timing. The Atonement gives us strength to get through our challenges.
He then spoke of the Major Initiatives of the last year and a half since President Nelson has been the Prophet:
1.) Restructuring of the Melchizedek Priesthood Quorums
2.) New Ministering program
3.) Being closer to the Savior on the Covenant Path is a 24/7 concern.
4.) Change the way we think in seeking and following the Spirit of the Lord.
5.) Home-centered, Church-supported teaching to unleash the power of families.
6.) Name of the Church
7.) Seeking Personal Revelation.
He spoke about the announcement in conference of new temples and that we wouldn't be disappointed in the upcoming announcements. Hmmm, I wonder what this means?
One of the most important things I got from this devotional was the importance of following the Prophet and listening to the voice of the Spirit. I am so grateful for the opportunity of sitting at the feet of a prophet and listening to him and those that were with him speak. It definitely strengthened my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the hastening of the work!
One of my favorite pictures of Dianne with
her chocolate, raspberry, almond cake. Delicious!
My Devotional Notes
One of my favorite conference talks!
Autumn's post:
We walked back to our car from the dome.
It was about a mile but it seemed longer!
