Note: These are the instant, post-conference, mildly-filtered things that ran through my brain and heart as I watched this session of General Conference. If you are looking for deep, spiritual analysis, this is not the place. Drive on.
• Before I get started, I have to tell you that I had a dream about Conference last night. In it, Elder Stevenson was speaking, but they had a split-screen with some stoner-looking dude showing how to install ceramic tile. (Yeah, that’s how my brain works sometimes.) It looked like this:
• The warm-up organist is playing “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” I love it so much.
Elder Oaks conducting, President Nelson watching from home. 🙁
• I wonder why we need to sustain Area Authorities that don’t correspond to our areas.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland opened by speaking about Jesus teaching his apostles, instructing, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Becoming as a child does not mean being childish. Spoke to the purity and humility of little children – “Is there anything sweeter, more pure, more humble than a child at prayer? It is as if Heaven is in the room. God and Christ are so real, but for others later on, the experience can become more superficial.”
—>. How different life could be if the world esteemed Jesus above the level of a profane swearing streak from time to time.”
Told a beautiful story about a young deacon named Easton, who had serious health issues and the difficult first time he passed the sacrament.
“I bear witness that priesthood and prayers are restoring my life – Christ’s priesthood and your prayers.”
• Personally, I don’t understand the assumption that Jesus and the apostles didn’t know each other before He began His ministry – it was a small area with a relatively small population. ?
President Camile Johnson (RS General President) spoke about the idea that we can be healed spiritually even though we aren’t healed physically yet. We will be made whole, eventually. “The Master Healer will heal all our afflictions – physical and emotional – in His time. But in the waiting to be healed, can one be whole?” Answer: Yup.
“Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we can seek to be spiritually whole while we wait and hope for physical and emotional healing.”
Reviewed the parable of the 10 virgins and showcased the new sculpture at the SLC temple of the five wise virgins. “They were not described as wicked, they were described as foolish.” (interesting)
Keep oil in your lamp, share your light.
“Many are called, few choose to be chosen.”
“We can choose to be made whole by exercising our faith in Him.”
“I am sure that all things will be restored, and healing will come, in His time, because He lives.”
Elder Ronald A. Rasband: “The Lord is hastening His work.” President Nelson last conference: “My dear brothers and sisters, do you see what is happening right before our eyes? I pray that we will not miss the majesty of this moment! The Lord is indeed hastening His work.”
“Hastening His work. Hastening is a word that matters. It suggests moving quickly, accelerating, even urgency.”
Repeated the most excellent Joseph Smith declaration: “The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”
“Brothers and sisters, we are hastening our holiness as we live temple worthy, as we worship in the House of the Lord, and as we make covenants with God for ourselves and on behalf of our ancestors on the other side of the veil.”
Spoke about growth of temples and the associated blessings from attending. “Take a prayerful look at how you spend your time”
“The temple opens the way to the highest blessings God has for us… Our need to be in the temple on a regular basis has never been greater.”
“We see the Lord hastening His work in missions. In 2024, 80,000 missionaries were serving in 450 missions.”
308K new members: “More than numbers, the spirit of the gathering is bringing souls to Jesus Christ and His gospel.”
“Currently, more than 800,000 students are enrolled in seminary and institute. The highest enrollment in the history of the church.”
“Whatever is on your ‘to-do’ list, give equal time to the Lord.” Spoke to “spiritual momentum” (I love that concept.)
“The more prepared we are temporally and spiritually, the more we can thwart the adversary’s cunning attacks.”
“Faith in Jesus Christ can lift you up and heal your wounded soul.”
“Do you see what is happening, right before our eyes?” “I pray that we don’t miss the majesty of this moment as the Lord is hastening His work.”
• I loved how upbeat Elder Rasband’s talk was. The naysayers will be a tiny footnote in history.
• Singing “High on a Mountaintop” alone with my sweetie is the real deal.
Elder Quentin L. Cook. Talked about the pioneers who made the trek west, and the WIllie/Martin companies who struggled. He showed three paintings from the Casper, WY temple. One of struggle, one of nature’s beauty, and one of the Savior.
“The Atonement of Jesus Christ provides the ultimate rescue from the trials we face in this life.”
“In a world of great beauty, there are also enormous challenges. As we turn to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, He rescues us from the storms of life through His Atonement in accordance with the Father’s plan.”
“The Father’s plan of happiness is based on the Savior’s atoning rescue.”
Told the story of the Willie/Martin struggles and rescue.
“All must pass through the refiner’s fire. No one escapes tribulation & sorrow in this life. Yet faith in Jesus Christ gives us hope that helps us endure these trials.”
“Without the atonement, we cannot save ourselves from sin and death.”
“All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”
3 Recommendations
- Don’t underestimate the importance of rescuing people from physical and spiritual challenges.
- Accept the Savior’s atonement – our goal should be to live optimistically on the sunny side of the street.
- Set aside consistent time to fully contemplate the Savior’s atonement. Sacrament/temple
“Temple attendance allows us to provide a spiritual rescue for our deceased loved ones and more distant ancestors.”
“The Atonement of Jesus Christ provides the ultimate rescue from the trials we face in this life.”
Ricardo P. Giménez: Pay attention to the invitations from President Nelson and the Savior.
“It is interesting that sometimes because we have consistently done things to the point that they have turned into traditions, we allow these traditions or activities to dictate our efforts to build faith in Jesus Christ.”
“I invite you to open your hearts and minds to the opportunity and blessing of understanding why we do these things and how we practice our religion.”
Counseled to figure out the “why” behind what we do. For example, “We use Easter traditions as a means to learn more about the Savior and remember His Resurrection.”
—> He didn’t demean checklists, rather, he asked us to figure out the “why” behind those things. (love it)
“I hope you can feel and see the importance of connecting our actions with our love for the Savior.”
“I love the Savior, and my love for Him is my ‘why.’”
Elder Henry B. Eyring is looking sharp and healthier.
Christ taught, “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.” D&C 88:63
“We are mortals, subject to sin and death. Yet, in His love for each of us, the Savior invites us to come closer to Him.”
“Jesus Christ loves each of us. He offers that opportunity to draw closer to Him.”
Spoke of a spiritual feeling he received while taking the sacrament back when the meetings were late in the evening. (I remember those days.)
Told the story of the Savior appearing to the two men on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24) Great story.
“Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”
“Every covenant-servant of Jesus Christ will receive His direction from the Spirit as they bless and serve others for Him. Then they will feel the Savior’s love and find joy in being drawn closer to Him.”
“By helping others, for the Savior, you will find that you are drawing nearer to Him.”
“Many of you have loved ones who are wandering off the path to eternal life. You wonder what more you can do to bring them back. Well one thing, you can depend on the Lord to draw closer to them as you serve Him in faith.”
“I know that He lives. This is His true church, the Church of Jesus Christ. We will, on the day of judgment, stand before the Savior face-to-face; it will be a time of great joy for those in this life who have drawn close to Him.”
• Choir closed out with “Come, Come Ye Saints.” Love that they are bringing the classics.
• Always good to hear the teachings of our modern prophets. What a blessing and privieldge to live in these last days!
• See you this afternoon!
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Brad YOU are amazing!! Your summaries are phenomenal. Thanks for your dedication to these summaries. To those of us who are unable to take notes, your work is priceless. K. Hedge