After about 8-10 hours of general conference it can be difficult to keep track of all of the counsel our leaders give us. We got your back. We recently published an article that covered every bit of counsel that the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave us during the conference. This article acts as a sibling to the first, highlighting counsel from all of the talks not included in the first article. Take a look at the table of contents below (organized by session, in order of appearance) and click on whose counsel you’d like to jump to. Enjoy!
Saturday morning session
Terence M. Vinson: “True Disciples of the Savior”
Stephen W. Owen: “Be Faithful, Not Faithless”
Michelle Craig: “Spiritual Capacity”
Saturday afternoon session
Ruben V. Alliaud: “Found through the Power of the Book of Mormon”
Mark L. Pace: “Come, Follow Me—the Lord’s Counterstrategy and Proactive Plan”
L. Todd Budge: “Consistent and Resilient Trust”
Jorge M. Alvarado: “After the Trial of Our Faith”
Women’s session
Reyna I. Aburto: “Thru Cloud and Sunshine, Lord, Abide with Me!”
Lisa L. Harkness: “Honoring His Name”
Bonnie H. Cordon: “Beloved Daughters”
Sunday Morning session
Cristina B. Franco: “Finding Joy in Sharing the Gospel”
Walter F. Gonzalez: “The Savior’s Touch”
Sunday afternoon session
Hans T. Boom: “Knowing, Loving, and Growing”
Peter M. Johnson: “Power to Overcome the Adversary”
Terence M. Vinson: “True Disciples of the Savior“
- “In a recent sacrament meeting I attended, a returned missionary quoted a father who summed up this idea perfectly when he said to his children, ‘What we need here is less Wi-Fi and more Nephi!'”
- “We can feel enduring joy when our Savior and His gospel become the framework around which we build our lives. However, it’s so easy for that framework to become, instead, the things of the world, where the gospel sits as an optional extra or as simply attending church for two hours on Sundays. When this is the case, it is tantamount to putting our wages into ‘a bag with holes.'”
- “Haggai is telling us to be committed—to be, as we say in Australia, ‘fair dinkum’ about living the gospel. People are fair dinkum when they are what they say they are.”
- “Giving our all doesn’t mean that we will be continually enveloped in blessings or always have success. But it does mean that we will have joy. Joy is not fleeting pleasure or even temporary happiness. Joy is enduring and is founded on our efforts being accepted by the Lord.”
- “…it’s not our successes but rather our sacrifice and efforts that matter to the Lord.”
- “So, the question for each of us is, are we also fair dinkum about the gospel? Because being half-hearted is not being fair dinkum! And God is not known for showering praise on the lukewarm.”
- “There is no treasure, nor any hobby, nor any status, nor any social media, nor any video games, nor any sport, nor any association with a celebrity, nor anything on earth that is more precious than eternal life. So the Lord’s counsel to every person is ‘consider your ways.'”
- “Are we true followers of Him who gave His all for us? He who is our Redeemer and our Advocate with the Father? He who was Himself absolutely committed in His atoning sacrifice and is so now in His love, His mercy, and His desire for us to have eternal joy? I plead with all who hear and read these words: Please, please don’t put your total commitment off until you get around to it at some nonexistent, future time. Get fair dinkum now and feel the joy!”
Stephen W. Owen: “Be Faithful, Not Faithless“
- “Modern technologies bless us in many ways. They can connect us with friends and family, with information, and with news about current events around the world. However, they can also distract us from the most important connection: our connection with heaven.”
- “I repeat what our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, has said: ‘We live in a world that is complex and increasingly contentious. The constant availability of social media and a 24-hour news cycle bombard us with relentless messages. If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation.'”
- “President Nelson went on to warn that ‘in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.'”
- “Many of the messages that bombard us in the information age are the spiritual equivalent of feeding hay to deer—we can eat it all day long, but it will not nourish us.”
- “Where do we find true spiritual nourishment? Most often, it is not trending on social media. We find it when we ‘press [our] way forward’ on the covenant path, ‘continually holding fast to the rod of iron,’ and partake of the fruit of the tree of life. This means that we must deliberately take time each day to disconnect from the world and connect with heaven.”
- “It is possible for young people to be raised in a Latter-day Saint home, attend all the right Church meetings and classes, even participate in ordinances in the temple, and then walk away ‘into forbidden paths and [become] lost.’ Why does this happen? In many cases it is because, while they may have been going through the motions of spirituality, they were not truly converted. They were fed but not nourished.”
- “Yes, you face challenges. But so does every generation. These are our days, and we need to be faithful, not faithless. I testify that the Lord knows about our challenges, and through the leadership of President Nelson, He is preparing us to meet them. I believe that the prophet’s recent call for a home-centered church, supported by what we do in our buildings, is designed to help us survive—even thrive—in this day of spiritual malnutrition.”
- “Regardless of your circumstances, you can make your home the center of gospel learning and living. It simply means taking personal responsibility for your conversion and spiritual growth. It means following President Nelson’s counsel ‘to [remodel your] home into a sanctuary of faith.'”
- “The adversary will try to persuade you that spiritual nourishment isn’t necessary or, more cunningly, that it can wait. He is the master of distraction and author of procrastination. He will bring things to your attention that seem urgent but in reality aren’t that important. He would have you become so ‘troubled about many things’ that you neglect the ‘one thing [that] is needful.'”
- “Parents, please build strong relationships with your children. They need more of your time, not less. As you do, the Church is there to support you. Our experiences at church can reinforce the spiritual nourishment that happens at home.”
- “What other kinds of support does the Church provide? At church we partake of the sacrament, which helps us reestablish our commitment to the Savior each week. And at church we gather with other believers who have made the same covenants. The loving relationships we develop with fellow disciples of Jesus Christ can be a powerful support to our home-centered discipleship.”
- “Never underestimate the strength that comes from gathering with others who are also trying to be strong. Bishops and other leaders, please focus on nourishing the children and youth in your ward. They need more of your time, not less.”
- “Whether you are a leader, a neighbor, a quorum member, or simply a fellow Saint, if you have the opportunity to touch the life of a young person, help him or her connect with heaven. Your influence might be exactly the “Church support” that young person needs.”
Michelle Craig: “Spiritual Capacity“
- “President Russell M. Nelson has extended a simple, powerful invitation: ‘My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. … 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.'”
- “Be intentional about creating time and space to hear God’s voice.”
- “As you use your agency to carve out time every day to draw close to God’s voice, especially in the Book of Mormon, over time His voice will become clearer and more familiar to you.”
- “In contrast, the distractions and noise that fill the world and our homes and our lives can make it more difficult to hear His voice. These distractions can so occupy our minds and hearts that we leave no room for the gentle promptings of the Holy Ghost.”
- “Satan wants to separate us from God’s voice by keeping us out of those quiet places. If God speaks in a still, small voice, you and I need to draw close to hear Him. Just imagine what would happen if we were as intent on staying connected with heaven as we are on staying connected to Wi-Fi! Pick a time and place, and listen for God’s voice every day. And keep this sacred appointment with exactness, for so very much depends on it!”
- “Act without delay.”
- “When you receive promptings and then act with intention, the Lord can use you. The more you act, the more familiar the voice of the Spirit becomes. You will increasingly recognize God’s guidance and that He is ‘willing … to reveal His mind and will.’ If you delay, you might forget the prompting or miss the chance to help someone for God.”
- “Get your errand from the Lord.”
- “President Henry B. Eyring has taught us to seek revelation by asking God who we can help for Him. ‘If you ask questions like that, the Holy Ghost will come and you’ll feel nudges about things you can do for other people. When you go and do those things, you’re on the Lord’s errand, and when you’re on the Lord’s errand, you qualify for the gift of the Holy Ghost.’ You can pray and ask the Lord for an errand. As you do, He can use your ordinary skills to accomplish His extraordinary work.
- “Believe and trust.”
- “The Spirit spoke to my heart: each of us has a different mission to perform, and at times the Spirit may call us in ‘another way.’ There are many ways to build the kingdom of God as covenant-making, covenant-keeping disciples of Jesus Christ. As His faithful disciple, you can receive personal inspiration and revelation, consistent with His commandments, that is tailored to you. You have unique missions and roles to perform in life and will be given unique guidance to fulfill them.”
- “Do we miss or dismiss personal errands from the Lord because He has prepared ‘a way’ different from the one we expect?”
- “Trust God to lead you, even if that way looks different than you expected or is different from others.”
- “No matter who you are or what you’re dealing with, you are invited to the Lord’s table. As seeking and doing the will of the Father becomes the cadence of your daily life, you will, of course, be led to change and repent.”
- “The Church’s new program for children and youth is built on the foundation of learning to seek revelation, discovering what the Lord would have us do, and then acting on that direction. Each one of us, regardless of age or circumstance, can strive to seek, receive, and act. As you follow this eternal pattern ordained for our day, you will draw nearer to Jesus Christ—His love, His light, His direction, His peace, and His healing and enabling power. And you will increase your spiritual capacity to become an everyday instrument of His hands in accomplishing His great work.”
Ruben V. Alliaud: “Found through the Power of the Book of Mormon“
- “…in order to progress toward a true personal conversion, sooner rather than later, they all must experience and be found by the power of the truths contained in the Book of Mormon. At the same time, they must personally decide to make a serious commitment to God that they will strive to keep His commandments.”
- “‘And [so] we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, [and] we prophesy of Christ, … that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.’ The entire Book of Mormon is imbued with that same sacred purpose.”
- “For this reason, any reader who commits to a sincere study of it, with the spirit of prayer, will not only learn about Christ but will learn from Christ—especially if they make the decision to ‘try the virtue of the word’ and not reject it prematurely due to prejudiced unbelief by what others have said about things that they have never read.”
- “My invitation this afternoon to each of us, regardless of how long we’ve been a member of the Church, is to allow the power of the truths of the Book of Mormon to find us and embrace us once again and day after day as we diligently seek for personal revelation. It will do so if we allow it.”
- “I solemnly testify that the Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that the Holy Ghost will confirm the truth of it time after time to anyone who, with a sincere heart, seeks knowledge unto the salvation of their soul.”
Mark L. Pace: “Come, Follow Me—the Lord’s Counterstrategy and Proactive Plan“
- “I also bear testimony of Jesus Christ. He is God’s Only Begotten Son. He saved us from death, and He redeems us from sin as we exercise faith in Him and repent.”
- “As Latter-day Saints, we seek a similar firm and sure foundation in our lives—a spiritual foundation needed for our journey through mortality and back to our heavenly home. That foundation is established on the bedrock of our conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- “We recall the teachings of Helaman from the Book of Mormon: ‘And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, … it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.'”
- “A year ago, in his opening remarks of the October 2018 general conference, President Russell M. Nelson provided this declaration and warning: ‘The long-standing objective of the Church is to assist all members 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.'”
- Quoting Elder Quentin L. Cook: “The new home-study Come, Follow Me resource … is designed to help members learn the gospel in the home.”
- Quoting Elder Quentin L. Cook: “Our purpose is to balance the Church and the home experiences in a way that will greatly increase faith and spirituality and deepen conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- “With a weekly schedule, Come, Follow Me helps us study the scriptures, the doctrine of the gospel, and the teachings of the prophets and apostles. It is a marvelous resource for us all.”
- “After nine months of this worldwide scripture study effort, what do we see? We see Latter-day Saints everywhere growing in faith and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. We see individuals and families setting aside time throughout the week to study the words of our Savior. We see improving gospel instruction in our Sunday classes as we study the scriptures at home and share our insights at church. We see greater family joy and unity as we have moved from simply reading the scriptures to studying the scriptures in a profound way.”
- “Studying the scriptures with Come, Follow Me as a guide is strengthening our conversion to Jesus Christ and His gospel. We are not simply trading one hour less in church on Sunday for one hour more of scripture study at home. Learning the gospel is a consistent effort throughout the week. As one sister insightfully shared, ‘The goal is not to make church one hour shorter; it is to make church six days longer!'”
- Quoting President Nelson: “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.”
- Quoting President Nelson: “As you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, … the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease”
- “As President Nelson taught, ‘The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families.’ However, it does and will require our best efforts; we need to ‘[follow] through conscientiously and carefully to transform [our] home into a sanctuary of faith.’ After all, as President Nelson also said, ‘We are each responsible for our individual spiritual growth.'”
- “May our daily efforts in studying the scriptures fortify us and prove us worthy of these promised blessings.”
L. Todd Budge: “Consistent and Resilient Trust“
- “We knew that the happiness he described was not simply pleasure or an elevated mood but a peace and joy that come when we surrender ourselves to God and put our trust in Him in all things.”
- “In a paradoxical way, afflictions and sorrow prepare us to experience joy if we will trust in the Lord and His plan for us.”
- “As difficult as it is to understand, especially at the times in our lives when the headwinds are strong and the seas are turbulent, we can take comfort in knowing that God in His infinite goodness is always blowing us toward home.”
- “We live in a world where the monster waves of death, physical and mental illness, and trials and afflictions of every kind break upon us. Yet, through faith in Jesus Christ and choosing to trust in Him, we too can have light continually, whether above the water or under the water. We can have the assurance that God never does cease to blow us toward our heavenly home.”
- “Trusting in the Lord includes trusting in His timing and requires patience and endurance that outlast the storms of life.”
- “If we are faithful in keeping our covenants, we too will one day arrive safely home and will bow before the Lord and shed tears of joy for the multitude of His tender mercies in our lives, including the sorrows that made space for more joy.”
- “I testify that as we commend ourselves unto the Lord and consistently and resiliently trust in Jesus Christ and His divine purposes in our lives, He will visit us with assurances, speak peace to our souls, and cause us to ‘hope for our deliverance in him.'”
Jorge M. Alvarado: “After the Trial of Our Faith“
- “No matter the obstacles we face in life, we can trust that Jesus Christ will prepare a way forward as we walk with faith. God has promised that all who live according to the covenants they have made with Him will, in His time, receive all His promised blessings. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught, ‘Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.'”
- “Moroni taught that ‘faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.'”
- “In his first public remarks as President of the Church, President Russell M. Nelson taught: ‘As a new Presidency, we want to begin with the end in mind. For this reason, we’re speaking to you today from a temple. The end for which each of us strives is to be endowed with power in a house of the Lord, sealed as families, faithful to covenants made in a temple that qualify us for the greatest gift of God—that of eternal life. The ordinances of the temple and the covenants you make there are key to strengthening your life, your marriage and family, and your ability to resist the attacks of the adversary. Your worship in the temple and your service there for your ancestors will bless you with increased personal revelation and peace and will fortify your commitment to stay on the covenant path.'”
- “As we follow God’s voice and His covenant path, He will strengthen us in our trials.”
- “Ultimately, everything God invites and commands us to do is an expression of His love for us and His desire to give us the blessings reserved for the faithful. We cannot assume that our children will learn to love the gospel on their own; it is our responsibility to teach them. As we help our children learn how to use their agency wisely, our example can inspire them to make their own righteous choices. Their faithful living will in turn help their children to know the truth of the gospel for themselves.”
- “Young men and young women, hear the prophet today talking to you. Seek to learn divine truths and seek to understand the gospel for yourselves. President Nelson recently counseled: ‘What wisdom do you lack? … Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place. … Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers.’ As you seek guidance from your loving Heavenly Father, listening to the counsel of living prophets and watching the example of righteous parents, you too can become a strong link of faith in your family.”
- “To parents with children who have left the covenant path, gently go back. Help them comprehend the gospel’s truths. Start now; it is never too late.”
- “Our example of righteous living can make a great difference.”
- “The scriptures teach, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.'”
- “The influence we have on our children is more powerful as they see us walking faithfully on the covenant path.”
- “We are reassured that our efforts will bear fruit in the Lord’s own due time if we press forward through the trials of our faith.”
- “Brothers and sisters, let us help our children and all around us to follow God’s covenant path so that the Spirit might teach them and soften their hearts to desire to follow Him throughout their life.”
- “…our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will show us the way back to our heavenly home.”
Reyna I. Aburto: “Thru Cloud and Sunshine, Lord, Abide with Me!“
- “When our minds are suffering, it is appropriate to seek help from God, from those around us, and from medical and mental health professionals.”
- “My dear friends, it can happen to any of us—especially when, as believers in the plan of happiness, we place unnecessary burdens on ourselves by thinking we need to be perfect now. Such thoughts can be overwhelming. Achieving perfection is a process that will take place throughout our mortal life and beyond—and only through the grace of Jesus Christ.”
- “In contrast, when we open up about our emotional challenges, admitting we are not perfect, we give others permission to share their struggles. Together we realize there is hope and we do not have to suffer alone.”
- “As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have made a covenant with God that we “are willing to bear one another’s burdens” and “to mourn with those that mourn.” This may include becoming informed about emotional illnesses, finding resources that can help address these struggles, and ultimately bringing ourselves and others to Christ, who is the Master Healer. Even if we do not know how to relate to what others are going through, validating that their pain is real can be an important first step in finding understanding and healing.”
- “In some cases, the cause of depression or anxiety can be identified, while other times it may be harder to discern. Our brains may suffer because of stress or staggering fatigue, which can sometimes be improved through adjustments in diet, sleep, and exercise. Other times, therapy or medication under the direction of trained professionals may also be needed.”
- “It has taken me years to work through my grief, and it was only recently that I learned talking about suicide in appropriate ways actually helps to prevent it rather than encourage it.”
- “Sadly, many who suffer from severe depression distance themselves from their fellow Saints because they feel they do not fit some imaginary mold. We can help them know and feel that they do indeed belong with us. It is important to recognize that depression is not the result of weakness, nor is it usually the result of sin. It ‘thrives in secrecy but shrinks in empathy.’ Together, we can break through the clouds of isolation and stigma so the burden of shame is lifted and miracles of healing can occur.”
- “During His mortal ministry, Jesus Christ healed the sick and the afflicted, but each person had to exercise faith in Him and act to receive His healing.”
- “Let us follow the Savior’s path and increase our compassion, diminish our tendency to judge, and stop being the inspectors of the spirituality of others. Listening with love is one of the greatest gifts we can offer, and we may be able to help carry or lift the heavy clouds that suffocate our loved ones and friends so that, through our love, they can once again feel the Holy Ghost and perceive the light that emanates from Jesus Christ.”
- “If you are constantly surrounded by a ‘mist of darkness,’ turn to Heavenly Father. Nothing that you have experienced can change the eternal truth that you are His child and that He loves you. Remember that Christ is your Savior and Redeemer, and God is your Father. They understand. Picture Them close by you, listening and offering support. ‘[They] will console you in your afflictions.’ Do all you can, and trust in the Lord’s atoning grace.”
- “Your struggles do not define you, but they can refine you. Because of a ‘thorn in the flesh,’ you may have the ability to feel more compassion toward others. As guided by the Holy Ghost, share your story in order to ‘succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.'”
- “For those of us currently struggling or supporting someone who is struggling, let us be willing to follow God’s commandments so we may always have His Spirit with us. Let us do the ‘small and simple things’ that will give us spiritual strength. As President Russell M. Nelson said, ‘Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.’
- “Let us all remember that our Savior, Jesus Christ, ‘[has taken] upon him [our] infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know … how to succor [us] according to [our] infirmities.'”
Lisa L. Harkness: “Honoring His Name“
- “As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ‘we first pledge[d] our willingness to take upon us the name of Christ … by the ordinance of baptism.’ Through this covenant, we promised to always remember Him, keep His commandments, and serve others. Our willingness to keep this covenant is renewed each Sabbath day when we partake of the sacrament and rejoice once again in the blessing of ‘walk[ing] in newness of life.'”
- “Last year, President Russell M. Nelson extended ‘a prophetic plea’ to the sisters ‘to shape the future by helping to gather scattered Israel.’ He invited us to read the Book of Mormon and ‘mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior.’ He asked that we ‘be intentional about talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of Christ with [our family] and friends.'”
- “Our promise to always remember the Savior gives us strength to stand for truth and righteousness—whether we are in a large crowd or in our solitary places, where no one knows our actions except for God. When we remember Him and His name we bear, we have no place for self-degrading comparisons or overbearing judgments.”
- “Our covenant remembering quiets worldly worries, turns self-doubt into courage, and gives hope in times of trial. And when we stumble and fall in our progression along the covenant path, we have only to remember His name and His loving-kindness toward us.”
- “President Nelson taught: ‘The day is gone when you can be a quiet and comfortable Christian. Your religion is not just about showing up for church on Sunday. It is about showing up as a true disciple from Sunday morning through Saturday night. … There is no such thing as a “part-time” disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.'”
- “Our willingness to take upon us the name of Christ is more than a formal exchange of words. It is not a passive promise or a cultural contrivance. It is not a rite of passage or a name tag that we wear. It is not a saying that we simply place on a shelf or hang on a wall. His is a name that is ‘put on,’ written in our hearts, and ‘engraven upon [our] countenances.'”
- “The Savior’s atoning sacrifice should be remembered, always, through our thoughts, actions, and interactions with others.”
- “President George Albert Smith taught, ‘Honor the names that you bear, because some day you will have the privilege and the obligation of reporting … to your Father in heaven … what you have done with [those names].'”
- “Like the carefully chosen names of Nephi and Lehi, can it be said and written of us that we are true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ? Do we honor the name of Jesus Christ that we have willingly taken upon ourselves? Are we both ‘a minister and a witness’ of His loving-kindness and His redeeming power?”
- “The Lord has said, ‘Yea, blessed is this people who are willing to bear my name; for in my name shall they be called; and they are mine.'”
- “As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, may we ‘gladly [take upon us] the name of Christ’ by honoring His name with love, devotion, and good works.”
Bonnie H. Cordon: “Beloved Daughters“
- “As you draw closer to Him, even taking the smallest baby steps forward, you will discover the lasting peace that settles into your soul as a faithful disciple of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
- “President Russell M. Nelson, our dearly beloved prophet, has asked that I share some inspired changes that will help you “develop [your] sacred personal potential” and increase your righteous influence.”
- New Young Women theme: “I am a beloved daughter of heavenly parents, with a divine nature and eternal destiny. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I strive to become like Him. I seek and act upon personal revelation and minister to others in His holy name. I will stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places. As I strive to qualify for exaltation, I cherish the gift of repentance and seek to improve each day. With faith, I will strengthen my home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, and receive the ordinances and blessings of the holy temple.”
- “I invite you to study and ponder these words. I know that as you do, you will gain a testimony of their truthfulness. Understanding these truths will change the way you face challenges. Knowing your identity and purpose will help you align your will with the Savior’s. Peace and guidance will be yours as you follow Jesus Christ.”
- “Our classes must be sanctuaries from the storms, secure places of love and belonging.”
- “Beginning immediately, we invite Young Women leaders and bishops to prayerfully consider the needs of each young woman and organize them according to the ward’s specific circumstances.”
- “Be a light to those around you. Be the source of love and care you are hoping to receive from others. With a prayer in your heart, continue to reach out and be that force for good. As you do so, your life will be filled with kindness. You will have a better feeling toward others and will begin to see their goodness in return.”
- “Adult leaders, make the calling of class presidencies a priority and then lead side-by-side with them, mentoring and guiding them so they can succeed. Whatever level of leadership experience a class presidency has, start where they are and help them develop the skills and confidence that will bless them as leaders. Stay close to them, but don’t take over. The Spirit will guide you as you guide them.”
- “Class presidencies, you have been called of God and trusted to lead a group of His daughters. ‘The Lord knows you. … He chose you.’ You have been set apart by one who has priesthood authority; this means as you perform the duties of your calling, you exercise priesthood authority. You have an important work to do. Be sensitive to and act on the promptings of the Holy Ghost. As you do so, you can serve with confidence, for you do not serve alone!”
- “Class presidents, we need your wisdom, voice, and energy in the new ward youth council that Elder Quentin L. Cook announced today. You are an essential part of the solution to meeting the needs of your brothers and sisters.”
- “As we diligently implement these adjustments, may we never lose sight of our purpose: to strengthen our resolve to follow Jesus Christ and help others come unto Him.”
Cristina B. Franco: “Finding Joy in Sharing the Gospel“
- “‘Agency, or the ability to choose, is one of God’s greatest gifts to His children. … We must choose whether to follow Jesus Christ or follow Satan.’ These are simple truths we can share with others.”
- “President Dallin H. Oaks taught: ‘There are three things all members can do to help share the gospel. …
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‘First, we can all pray for desire to help with this vital part of the work of salvation. …
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‘Second, we can keep the commandments. … Faithful members will always have the Savior’s Spirit … with them to guide them as they seek to participate in the great work of sharing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
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‘Third, we can pray for inspiration on what we can do … to share the gospel with others … [and] pray with a commitment to act upon the inspiration [we] receive.'”
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- “Brothers, sisters, children, and youth, can we be like my friend Susana and share the gospel with others? Can we invite a friend who is not of our faith to come to church with us on Sunday? Or can we perhaps share a copy of the Book of Mormon with a relative or a friend? Can we help others find their ancestors on FamilySearch or share with others what we have learned during the week as we have been studying Come, Follow Me? Can we be more like our Savior, Jesus Christ, and share with others what brings us joy to our lives? The answer to all of these questions is yes! We can do it!”
- “In the scriptures we read that ‘members of the Church of Jesus Christ are sent forth “to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.” This work of salvation includes member missionary work, convert retention, activation of less-active members, temple and family history work, and teaching the gospel.'”
- “My dear friends, the Lord needs us to gather Israel. In the Doctrine and Covenants, He has said, ‘Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man.'”
- “I bear witness that these words are true and that we have a loving Father in Heaven, who is waiting for us to turn to Him to bless our lives and the lives of those around us. May we have the desire to bring our brothers and sisters to Christ…”
Walter F. Gonzalez: “The Savior’s Touch“
- “Much like the leper, we can find strength and comfort in this life by accepting His will and knowing that He wants to bless us.”
- “The leper did not make his request in a pretentious or demanding manner. His words reveal a humble attitude, with high expectations but also with a sincere desire that the will of the Savior be done. This is an example of the attitude with which we should come unto Christ.”
- “We can come unto Christ with the certainty that His desire currently is and always will be the best for our mortal and eternal lives. He has an eternal perspective that we do not have. We must come unto Christ with a sincere desire that our will be swallowed up in the will of the Father, as His was. This will prepare us for eternal life.”
- “Sometimes—in one way or another—we too can feel broken, whether due to our own actions or those of others, due to circumstances we can or cannot control. In such moments, we can place our will in His hands.”
- “Whatever our circumstances might be, we can exercise our faith to come unto Christ and find a God we can trust.”
- “As we come unto Him, God will come to our rescue, whether to heal us or to give us the strength to face any situation. At any rate, accepting His will—not our own—will help us understand our circumstances.”
- “A sincere desire that His will be done, along with an understanding of our Redeemer’s divine nature, helps us develop the kind of faith that the leper showed in order to be cleansed.”
- “That is why His voice echoes still: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.””
- “If you feel that in any way you are not clean, if you feel broken, please know that you can be made clean, you can be mended, because He loves you. Trust that nothing bad can come from Him.”
- “Let us come unto Christ, taking all necessary steps. As we do, may our attitude be one of saying, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” If we do so, we can receive the Master’s healing touch, alongside the sweet echo of His voice: ‘I will; be thou clean.'”
- “The Savior is a God we can trust.”
Hans T. Boom: “Knowing, Loving, and Growing“
- “Wherever you are on the path of life, some of you might feel so overburdened that you do not even consider yourself on that path. I want to invite you to step out of the darkness into the light. The gospel light will provide warmth and healing and will help you understand who you really are and what your purpose in life is.”
- “Some of us have been wandering on forbidden paths, trying to find happiness there. We are invited by a loving Heavenly Father to walk the path of discipleship and to return to Him. He loves us with a perfect love. What is the way? The way is to help each other understand who we are by ministering to each other.”
- “To me, ministering is exercising divine love. In that way we create an environment where both the giver and receiver obtain a desire to repent. In other words, we change direction and come closer to and become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. For instance, there is no need to constantly tell our spouse or children how they can improve; they know that already. It is in creating this environment of love that they will be empowered to make the necessary changes in their lives and become better people. In this way repentance becomes a daily process of refining that might include apologizing for poor behavior.”
- “We all know where we can do better. There is no need to repeatedly remind each other, but there is a need to love and minister to each other and, in doing so, provide a climate of willingness to change.”
- “If you are wondering about your part, I would like to invite you to find a place where you can be alone and ask Heavenly Father to make known to you which part to play. The answer will probably come gradually and then more clearly when we have set our feet more firmly on the covenant and ministering path.”
- “…Joseph ‘was persecuted by those who ought to have been [his] friends and [who were supposed] to have treated [him] kindly.’ And so we might expect some opposition as we are living a life of discipleship.”
- “If you currently feel you are not able to be part of the orchestra and the path of repentance appears difficult to you, please know that if we keep at it, the burden will be taken from our shoulders and there will be light again.”
- “So it is that love, that perfect love that we also call charity or ‘the pure love of Christ,’ which is needed in our homes where parents minister to their children and children to their parents. Through that love, hearts will be changed and desires born to do His will. It is that love that is needed in our dealings with each other as children of our Heavenly Father and as members of His Church… It is that love, that light that needs to shine and brighten our surroundings as we go about our daily lives.”
- “Please, when you have received your witness about this great work and our part in it, let us rejoice together with our beloved Prophet Joseph Smith, who declared, ‘For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it.'”
- “That we may all come to understand our part in this great ministering work so that we will become more like Him when the Savior comes again is my prayer…”
Peter M. Johnson: “Power to Overcome the Adversary“
- “It is my prayer that we will recognize the confirming influence of the Holy Ghost as we come to fully understand that we are children of God.”
- “We are created in God’s own image, and He has a work for us to do. The adversary attempts to deceive by having us forget who we truly are. If we do not understand who we are, then it is difficult to recognize who we can become.”
- “In our day, there are many distractions, including Twitter, Facebook, virtual reality games, and much more. These technological advances are amazing, but if we are not careful, they can distract us from fulfilling our divine potential. Using them appropriately can bring forth the power of heaven and allow us to witness miracles as we seek to gather scattered Israel on both sides of the veil.”
- “Let us be careful and not casual in our use of technology. Continually seek for ways that technology can draw us closer to the Savior and allow us to accomplish His work as we prepare for His Second Coming.”
- “My dear friends, please do not let anyone steal your happiness. Do not compare yourself to others. Please remember the loving words of the Savior: ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.'”
- “First, remember that the first and great commandment is to love God with our heart, might, mind, and strength. All that we do should be motivated by our love for Him and for His Son. As we develop our love for Them by keeping Their commandments, our capacity to love ourselves and to love others will increase. We will begin to serve family, friends, and neighbors because we will see them as the Savior sees them—as sons and daughters of God.”
- “…pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus Christ every day, every day, every day. It is through prayer that we can feel the love of God and show our love for Him. Through prayer we express gratitude and ask for the strength and the courage to submit our will to God’s and be guided and directed in all things.”
- “I encourage you to ‘pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, … that ye may become the sons [and daughters] of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him.'”
- “…read and study the Book of Mormon every day, every day, every day. My Book of Mormon studies tend to go better when I read with a question in mind. As we read with a question, we can receive revelation and recognize that the Prophet Joseph Smith spoke truth when he declared, ‘The Book of Mormon [is] the most correct of any book on earth, … and a man [or a woman will] get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.'”
- “…prayerfully partake of the sacrament every week, every week, every week. It is through covenants and priesthood ordinances, including the sacrament, that the power of godliness is manifest in our lives.”
- “Elder David A. Bednar taught: ‘The ordinance of the sacrament is a holy and repeated invitation to repent sincerely and to be renewed spiritually. The act of partaking of the sacrament, in and of itself, does not remit sins. But as we prepare conscientiously and participate in this holy ordinance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then the promise is that we may always have the Spirit of the Lord to be with us.'”
- “My friends, I promise that as we strive to love God with all our heart, pray in the name of Jesus Christ, study the Book of Mormon, and prayerfully partake of the sacrament, we will have the ability, with the strength of the Lord, to overcome the deceptive practices of the adversary, to minimize distractions that limit our divine potential, and to resist the discouragement that diminishes our capacity to feel the love of our Heavenly Father and His Son. We will come to fully understand who we are as sons and daughters of God.”
- “We have a divine appointment to gather Israel and prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Messiah.”
To review counsel from the April 2019 conference, check out these resources:
