General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony, The Doctrines and Principles Contained in the Articles of Faith, Personal Strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I Will Not Fail Thee, nor Forsake Thee, Lamentations of Jeremiah: Beware of Bondage, Teaching with the Power and Authority of God, The Power, Joy, and Love of Covenant Keeping. The Savior answers, Whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God (Doctrine and Covenants 11:4). A post shared by Dieter F. Uchtdorf (@dieterfuchtdorf), Subscribe for free and get daily or weekly updates straight to your inbox, The three things you need to know everyday, Highlights from the last week to keep you informed. Elder Uchtdorf commemorated International Friendship Day on July 30 with an Instagram post about focusing on the one and making the Church a place of blending.. Being grateful in our circumstances is an act of faith in God. Throughout the ages, God has spoken through His servants, the prophets. This time of bleakness after World War II left its mark upon the world. But we earnestly desire to overcome our faults and the tendency to sin. Jeffrey R. Holland. And your efforts are purifying your heart and preparing you for a glorious future. Dieter F. Uchtdorf Of the First Presidency January 13, 2013 If you follow the Spirit, your personal search for the truth inevitably leads you to the Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ, for He is "the way, the truth, and the life." This may not be the most convenient way, but it will be His waythe Savior's redeeming way. It is filled with people who desire with all their heart to keep the commandments, even if they havent mastered them yet. We openly acknowledge that in nearly 200 years of Church historyalong with an uninterrupted line of inspired, honorable, and divine eventsthere have been some things said and done that could cause people to question. Conflict is inevitable, but contention is a choice. They changed the world. It teaches you eternal truths of His restored gospeltruths about who you are, who He is, and what you can accomplish with His strength. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday morning session of October 2022 general conference. Gratitude is a catalyst to all Christlike attributes! You know how best to groom yourself. Beliefs Worship with Us News About Us. Tracy Y. Browning Seeing More of Jesus Christ in Our Lives Sister Browning encourages us to see our lives from a gospel perspective in order to see more of the Savior in our lives. As Latter-day Saints, we are often known for what we do and dont doour behaviors. He would recognize and honor honesty, humility, integrity, faithfulness, compassion, and charity. Our loving Heavenly Father knows that choosing to develop a spirit of gratitude will bring us true joy and great happiness. One look into His eyes and we would never be the same. Show more Show more He Will Place You on His. This new guide is subtitled A Guide for Making Choices and focuses on values, principles and doctrine rather than specific behavior. This is how we offer our whole soulsby sacrificing anything thats holding us back and consecrating the rest to the Lord and His purposes. They changed the lives of people everywhere. Dale G. Renlund They came not to blame, lecture, or shame. Your background or upbringing might seem different from what you perceive in many Latter-day Saints, but that could be a blessing. The statue remained without hands. Job 36:26 - no one can know the number of God's years. We do not shame or attack others. As I pondered this question, I thought about our young American missionaries who served among us during those years. This is the way it has always been and will be until the perfect day when Christ Himself reigns personally upon the earth. Everyones situation is different, and the details of each life are unique. In the hours following His Crucifixion, they were consumed with despair and grief, unable to understand what had just happened. Jointly published by the Deseret News and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church. Welcome to Conference. (See John 6:28 .) The airplane gains no altitude sitting on the runway. April 2014. Years later, following Elder Uchtdorf. Elder Gong teaches that as we follow Gods plan for us, we will find eternal joy with our families. I realize that He has not doomed His children to stumble through mortality without hope for a bright and eternal future. He realized that each religion had much that seemed desirable and worthy. To make this possible, He sent Jesus Christ to be your Savior. On April 2-3, millions worldwide will tune into the 192nd Annual General Conferenceof The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to hear messages from the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and other Church leaders. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Of course not. You might be surprised to find that we have yearnings and struggles and hopes similar to yours. But you can love and serve God. Talk summary: God lives and cares about all His children, even in hours of turmoil, confusion and chaos. President Nelson teaches about the importance of temples and announces plans to build more temples. Minutes and hours well spent are the building blocks of a life well lived., We can navigate our way through the darkness and trials of this life and find our way back to our loving Heavenly Father if we seek and accept the spiritual landmarks He has provided, embrace personal revelation and strive for daily restoration.. No matter how you choose to personally prepare for general . Its also important to know what For the Strength of Youth does not do. My dear brothers and sisters and my dear friends, there will be times when you wish you could do more. Callings Volunteer and Serve Temples Family History. President Nelson testifies that we can overcome the world and find rest, by the power of Jesus Christ, which we access through our covenants. If you are tempted to give up: Stay yet a little longer. One might ask, If the gospel is so wonderful, why would anyone leave?. Do you pay your people for all the work they do? the man asked. Or we can choose to be like Nephi, whose grateful heart never faltered. What the Pharisees got wrong was that they thought their rules would save them. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature (Born of God, Ensign, Nov. 1985, 6). Multicultural Conference Multicultural Conference. And yet He taught them many of the same things He taught in the Holy Land. When you feel weak, Jesus Christ is your strength.. We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. Also see other collected talks. Some struggle with unanswered questions about things that have been done or said in the past. How could we ever keep our eyes on the ground when the King of kings invites us to take flight into an unimaginable future of divine happiness?5. The important part of Mr. Uchtdorf's message at General Conference is what he didn't say. Over the years, I have had the sacred opportunity to meet with many people whose sorrows seem to reach the very depths of their soul. At a time when many churches throughout the world are experiencing significant decreases in numbers, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsthough small in comparison with many othersis one of the fastest growing churches in the world. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 284. When we see one thingloving and serving God and His children, in a hundred different waysthen we can work on those things with joy. Elder Holland teaches what it means to take up the cross as disciples of Jesus Christ. Those who follow this path faithfully avoid many of the pitfalls, sorrows, and regrets of life. Sustaining of General Authorities, Area Seventies, and General Officers, Follow Jesus Christ with Footsteps of Faith, Beauty for Ashes: The Healing Path of Forgiveness, Building a Life Resistant to the Adversary. Worldwide - English. We can choose to limit our gratitude, based on the blessings we feel we lack. The gospel message they offered transcended politics, history, grudges, grievances, and personal agendas. By David W. Smith. Yet Job responded by saying, Naked came I out of my mothers womb, and naked shall I return : the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.5. Important temporal and spiritual choices should not only be based on personal preference or what is convenient or popular.23 The Lord is not saying, Do whatever you want., He is saying, Live in a holier, higher, more mature way., He is saying, Keep my commandments.. Sometimes we volunteer; sometimes we are volunteered. We see assignments not as burdens but as opportunities to fulfill covenants we gladly make to serve God and His children. But perhaps there is another way to look at it. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints delivers a message Sunday morning, Oct. 3, 2021, during the 191st Semiannual General Conference held in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. You can build a joyful, happy life because Jesus Christ is your strength. There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine. They offer their time freely., Also, the couple continued, every six months our Church members spend a weekend attending or watching 10 hours of general conference.. Posted April 5, 2015. The following is a summary of what he said. It can happen to anyone. Ultimately, it is our desires that qualify us for the work of proclaiming the word of God (see Doctrine and Covenants 4:3). Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. One example comes from our prophet, President RussellM. Nelson. It teaches you how to make righteous choices based on those eternal truths.13. As it was with the citizens of Berlin, so it can be with us. It requires that we trust God and hope for things we may not see but which are true.8 By being grateful, we follow the example of our beloved Savior, who said, Not my will, but thine, be done.9. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, What sign do I want to give to God? That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear (The Sabbath Is a Delight, Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 130). His father was conscripted into the German Army, and his mother relocated the family to Zwickau, Germany. Nevertheless, I have learned that there is something that would take away the bitterness that may come into our lives. Staying balanced is all about moving forward. And the fulness of that gospel is taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When the Apostles recognized the risen Christwhen they experienced the glorious Resurrection of their beloved Saviorthey became different men. . He would tell you that you can do this. But some might say, What do I have to be grateful for when my world is falling apart?. He also introduces the new For the Strength of Youth guide. Balance and lift come as we press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.5. Presented by Seagull Book. Isaiah 41:4 - only God is the . Elder Sitati teaches how we can develop attributes that help us become better disciples of Christ. But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding. How priceless are these words to us today! Brothers and sisters, have we not reason to be filled with gratitude, regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves? The scriptures say that, to God, our sacrifices are more sacred than our accomplishments (see Doctrine and Covenants 117:13). When they receive sacred priesthood ordinances and make covenants with God, they can feel His power in their lives.2 When they enter the holy temple, they sense they are in His presence. I testify that here you will find the words of eternal life, the promise of blessed redemption, and the pathway to peace and happiness. President Lund describes the spiritual strength that comes from FSY conferences and teaches how youth can maintain that strength. Sometimes questions arise because we simply dont have all the information and we just need a bit more patience. Specific rules or applications of those principles work well in some places but not in others. This new version of For the Strength of Youth is subtitled A Guide for Making Choices. About Us. An Offering unto Him Just days before He gave His life for us, Jesus Christ was at the temple in Jerusalem, watching people make donations to the temple treasury. Viewed in this way, our commitment to Jesus Christ would be one of many things we need to fit into our busy schedules. The Savior would sense that, and I believe He would assure you with words He has spoken in the scriptures: I dont think He would make excuses for your mistakes. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen. Elder DavidA. Bednar taught that principles of righteousness help us to look beyond our personal preferences and self-centered desires by providing the precious perspective of eternal truth as we navigate the different circumstances, challenges, decisions, and experiences of mortality (The Principles of My Gospel, Liahona, May 2021, 12324). But I see youre back to giving only two slices of bread., My dear brothers and sisters, the choice is ours. 223. Read and listen here As a child, when I would look at the little forget-me-nots, I sometimes felt a little like that flowersmall and insignificant. For examples of pioneers who maintained a cheerful attitude despite intense difficulty, see AndrewD. Olsen, The Price We Paid: The Extraordinary Story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Pioneers (2006), 10, 36667. We can choose to be like the Mormon pioneers, who maintained a spirit of gratitude during their slow and painful trek toward the Great Salt Lake, even singing and dancing and glorying in the goodness of God.6 Many of us would have been inclined to withdraw, complain, and agonize about the difficulty of the journey. He is your strength. The Saviors infinite Atonement completely changes the way we may view our transgressions and imperfections. In our daily life it is our paramount task and blessed opportunity to encounter God. Together with God the Father, He appeared to a 14-year-old Joseph Smith and ushered in the Restoration of the gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ. I bear witness that our Heavenly Father lives, that Jesus Christ leads His Church, that President RussellM. Nelson is His prophet. Jesus might point out that your covenants with Himmade when you were baptized and renewed each time you partake of the sacramentgive you a special connection with Him. If we earnestly keep practicing, always striving to keep Gods commandments, and committing our efforts to repenting, enduring, and applying what we learn, line upon line, we will gather light into our souls.10 And though we may not fully comprehend our full potential now, we know that, when [the Savior] shall appear, we will see His countenance in us and shall see him as he is.11, Yes, the world is in turmoil. Invitations President Nelson has given since he became President of the Church By Sydney Walker And what about the many tasks and responsibilities that make our lives so busy? You know what to watch and read, where to spend your time, and with whom to associate. What does this mean for us as disciples of Jesus Christ? All of His commandments are given to make blessings available to us. Instead of dwelling on them and feeling irredeemable or hopeless, we can learn from them and feel hopeful.8 The cleansing gift of repentance allows us to leave our sins behind and emerge a new creature.9. We would be forever changed. He is pleading with us to increase [our] spiritual capacity to receive revelation.14 He is inviting us to hear Him.15 He is calling us to follow Him in higher and holier ways.16 And we are learning in a similar way every week in Come, Follow Me. There is one thing we can do to make life sweeter, more joyful, even glorious. Knowing this, how could we ever murmur or remain embittered? God is perfect, and His doctrine is pure. Elder Uchtdorf's conference talk summary All rights reserved. The Church has prepared a revised version of For the Strength of Youth to point young men and young women to Christ. Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You 6 years ago Overcome the World and Find. Doctrine and Covenants 78:19; emphasis added. At the heart of Gods plan for your happiness is your power to choose.7 Of course, your Heavenly Father wants you to choose eternal joy with Him, and He will help you to achieve it, but He would never force it upon you. I plead with all who hear or read these words: Come, join with us. Similar principles apply when it comes to finding balance in our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. The message was that God lived and cared about us, even in these hours of turmoil, confusion, and chaos. Our children and youth are invited to grow in a balanced way as they follow Jesus Christ, who as a young man increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man (Luke 2:52). The next day, the waiter doubled the bread again, without success. When we consecrate something, we dont leave it to be consumed upon the altar. He would know you as you are. Your testimony of Christ, born of the Holy Ghost, can help you look past the disappointing endings in mortality and see the bright future that the Redeemer of the world has prepared. My sins will not only be forgiven; they will not even be remembered. Come, join with us! Let us take this a step further. He teaches us to lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better.23, He urges us to seek joy, enlightenment, peace, truth, happiness,24 and the promise of immortality and eternal life.25. I always keep a copy in my pocket, and I share it with people who are curious about our standards. He will lead you the right way. Missionary Service Blessed My Life Forever, We Are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, A Mighty Change of Heart: I Have Nothing More to Give You, Sustaining of General Authorities, Area Seventies, and General Officers, He Is Risen with Healing in His Wings: We Can Be More Than Conquerors, Then Will I Make Weak Things Become Strong, Video: You Are the Women He Foresaw, Covenants with God Strengthen, Protect, and Prepare Us for Eternal Glory, Teaching Self-Reliance to Children and Youth, The Covenant Path: The Way to Eternal Life. Published Feb 27, 2023 5:30 p.m. EST Start today to prepare for April 2023 general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 1 and 2 by reviewing the talks from October 2022 general conference. Followers 0. This can be good, but its even better to be known for what we know (the truths that drive our behaviors) and for who we know (the Saviorand how our love for Him inspires our behaviors). We will all become better as a result. Throughout the ages, God has spoken through His servants, the prophets.1 This morning we have had the privilege to hear the prophet of God speak to all the world. He will lead you the right way. Elder Olsen teaches that the answer to our challenges and questions is Jesus Christ. They are part of our progress. I earnestly pray that your own search for truth will impress upon your heart the desire to come and join with us. Spending time with loved ones, going to school or preparing for an occupation, earning a living, caring for family, serving in the communitywhere does it all fit in? Are You Sleeping through the Restoration? In pain, we can glory in Christs Atonement. It blooms just as beautifully in the icy landscape of winter as it does in the pleasant warmth of summer. In his message directed to those of the rising generation, he reminded youth that Jesus Christ is their strength. The process of caring for others allows both rich and poor a way toward refining their characters and leads them both toward exaltation (see Doctrine and Covenants 104:1518). They are merely interruptionstemporary pauses that one day will seem small compared to the eternal joy awaiting the faithful. In fact, there is not just one reason that applies to the variety of situations. How long are they?, Oh, my, the man said. It has been updated and refreshed to better cope with the challenges and temptations of our day. You know what you want to accomplish. There seems to be something inside of us that resists endings. He wouldnt minimize them. In the October 2022 general conference, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf announced an updated version of the youth standards guidebook For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices.Elder Uchtdorf explained that the booklet "has been updated and refreshed to better cope with the challenges and temptations of our day." In spite of our human imperfections, I am confident that you will find among the members of this Church many of the finest souls this world has to offer. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heavens embrace. All rights reserved. Tools. The Savior always teaches timeless truths. Small, seemingly insignificant factors can make a major difference physically and spiritually. Conflict is inevitable, but contention is a choice, Elder Uchtdorf tweeted on Sept. 24. Do we need any greater reason to let our hearts be full of thanks unto God?14, Have we not great reason to rejoice?15, How blessed we are if we recognize Gods handiwork in the marvelous tapestry of life. He would remind you that 2,000 years ago He took those sins upon Himself so that you could repent. This may be one reason the Lord valued the widows mites more than the contribution of the wealthy.