Saturday Morning Session
Russel M. Nelson
Please note that he was surprised about the world events that mark this conference session. He isn't claiming that his, “Eat your vitamin pills. Get some rest. It's going to be exciting.” was a prophecy of COVID-19 or earthquakes or anything. We shouldn't do it either.
How do we endure trials? If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear. Personal spiritual stores.
Solemn Assembly after Sunday morning session – hosanna shout, praise Father and Son
Russell M. Ballard
200 year anniversary of the revelation in the grove.
Joseph's father, father's father, etc. God has watched them. (Did he watch their mothers?)
Used four accounts of the first vision to relate the story.
James R. Rasband
Faith in Christ and trust in the atonement.
Demands of justice.
Restoring what you cannot restore – is the purpose of the atonement.
Alma could be made clean and all those he had harmed could be healed as well.
Righteous judgment requirements. Atonement is a free gift if we use our agency. Repentance and faith are required.
Parents not just fear of judgment but of harming our children. Mistakes as parents he will heal children and give mercy. Make restitution as much as possible.
Apology or years of humble effort. Sometimes we cannot heal those whom we have hurt, but the Savior can mend all that we have broken and can heal us with repentance.
Joy D. Jones
Influence on the church of women is great.
Women must “live up to your privileges.” Divine errand from the Lord for our divine work. Righteous woman's impact can be tenfold what it might have been “in more tranquil times.”
Take your place in your homes and church. How? Are we generally deficient?
Of course it's hard to be a prophet. Everything about becoming more like God is hard. The Lord loves effort and effort brings rewards. We are always progressing as long as we are striving.
Effort, hard work, and study bring eternal rewards.
Offer up our hearts to God. He knows each of us by name and has individual roles for each of us. He expects us to receive revelation.
Learning is integral to progression. Avoid that which can distract us or delay our progression.
Women should step forward to receive and act on revelation. We are promised a crown of righteousness. We can know that the path we are pursuing is approved of God.
Women wear many hats, but it is impossible and unnecessary to wear them all at once. The Spirit helps us determine which work to focus on today.
Heeding personal revelation leads to personal progression. Personal. Our roles  is to receive continuing personal revelation.
Beautiful unity with women and men. Every woman and every man who makes covenants and keeps them has direct access to the power of God.
Priesthood power through covenants.
Preeminent role is to hear him, follow him, trust him, and be an extension of his love.
Neil L. Andersen
First vision.
Remember spiritually refining experiences.
Honestly, I have a huge problem with “God answers our prayers” stories as if God is a genie. If God is bustling about locating glasses (keys, wallets, puppies, etc.), why does he let children be abused in sexual slavery and on and on. I think the only reasonable answer is that God does not micromanage our lives (or what we lose or find) and allows us the agency to live in a fallen world. Teaching us the principles of salvation and allowing us to work with them the best we can.
Perhaps your prayers have been answered again and again, but you expect a sign so big or a voice so loud that you don't see the answer when it comes.
Douglass D. Holmes
Restoration of more of what is needed.
Children and Youth Initiative – purpose to get the gospel deep into the heart of the children.
Relationships: important in our ongoing journey of Jesus Christ, we need love and support of parents, family members, friends, and leaders. Laugh, play, live, learn, open, honest, strive to be better together. Foundation for effective ministering.
To effectively serve others we must see others through Heavenly Father's eyes.
How to help others see themselves through God's eyes – see who they really are and who they can become. Come from feelings of who they are and what they can become.
Identity and purpose – knits our hearts together in unity and love.
Secular forces can be overcome by good relationships. Not just any unity, but being one with Christ. Holy Ghost carries the love of God to our hearts.
Word of God is spiritual power.
If you want to, you can be part of something majestic.
Henry B. Eyring
Ongoing restoration. More optimistic due to preparations.
God will lift each of us to rise to the challenges in the world.
The work in the last days is vast. More united with more conflict.
Power of God is upon the church and disciples of Christ.
How can we help?
- Repentance is a joyful opportunity.
- Believe that Heavenly Father hears our prayers
- Keep commandments and pray in faith to grow in power and receive continuing revelation
What would you have me do?
Saturday Afternoon Session
Ulisses S. Soares
Book of Mormon miraculous. Translated by the gift and power of God.
Witnesses chosen. “In the mouth of two or three witnesses…” Witnesses never denied that they had seen the plates.
Emma's role.
John A. McCune
Lehi stayed with the Lord and invited his family to join him.
We cannot stay firmly on the covenant path on our own. We must do it through Christ's church.
Gérald Caussé
Lives can be changed through faith and the atonement. The savior's redemptive power will come into my life.
Dale G. Renland
Heart from grandson. 💔 Ugh.
Change of heart—literally—when he got his grandson's heart.
I don't think God is insulted when we forget him. I think he is deeply disappointed.
Contemplate God's empathy and endure to the end.
He loves to fix what is irreparable broken. Mend even shattered hearts. I couldn't type that fast enough, but it was beautiful. I will update when I get the full quote. Mirrors a quote from earlier today.
Benjamin MZ Tai
Know what we do and do what we know.
Video/audio difficulties.
Brother Huang story. Quitting smoking. Difficulty but made his life better.
As you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open and you will receive answers to your life, even difficult ones.
Gary E. Stevenson
Pioneer story, Brigham Young entering Salt Lake Valley. William Clayton quote.
“Here shall stand the temple of our God.” Wilford Woodruff marked the spot. Heber C. Kimball dedicated.
I want to see the temple built in a way that will last the millenium.
We all know the SL Temple is the true temple, right? ðŸ˜
Temple seismic upgrade underway.
- Testimony of godhead
- Testimony of the atonement
- Testimony of restoration
- Testimony of prophet
Not sure I got that list right?
Sick woman on social media. Did he name her? God is in the details. I have witnessed darkness, but far more light. Future may be unknown, but my faith is not. Without faith, darkness is all that is left.
Spiritual foundation is strong and immovable. How firm a foundation…
The wise man built his house upon the rock…the house on the rock stood still.
Lay up in store for ourselves a good foundation against the time to come, that we may lay hold of eternal life.
Saturday Evening Session
My notes for this were in a notebook. I may add them later. Full blog post coming on portions.
Gerrit W. Gong
Laudy Ruth Kaouk Alverez
Enzo Serge Petelo
Jean B. Bingham
Henry B. Eyring
Dallin H. Oaks
Russell M. Nelson
Sunday Morning Session
Ronald A. Rasband
168 temples – spirit of Elijah
We are charged with ushering in the second coming of Jesus Christ. Greatest challenge, cause, work today.
Knew his mission call was right for him.
Prophesies of Joseph Smith are being fulfilled.
Bonnie H. Cordon
(The subtitle actually named her “President Bonnie H. Cordon.” Titles used for women is still rare.)
Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.
Shine your light in a way that helps others or that does good. The Savior is the ultimate light. We shine our own small lights to help other see. The Lord will help us step out of our comfort zones to serve others.
Compassionately aware of those around us.
Jeffrey R. Holland
Parental character of God, first law of heaven.
Why not address Heavenly Parents, but only the Father? Where is my role model?
Technical difficulties
Russell M. Nelson
Past prophets have declared great and marvelous things that people have not believed. Most people do not embrace truths.
Satan makes evil look good and good look evil.
Hear him. Pattern for success, happiness, and joy in this life and the next.
Our efforts to Christ need to be intentional, given the world we live in. “We cannot simply rely on information we run into on social media.”
Daily immersion in the word of God is imperative in days of increasing upheaval. Teaches us how to deal with situations we never anticipated.
Temple teaches us to part the veil and speak more directly to God. Take time to ponder what you hear and feel in the temple. Increase your participation in family history and indexing. This will increase your ability to hear him.
It has never been more imperative to learn how the Spirit speaks to you than now. The Spirit can teach you how to move forward with your life.
What will happen when you more intentionally heed what the Savior has said? Addition power to resist temptation, deal with struggles, etc.
Monument of words. Sacred proclamation. Gather scattered Israel in preparation for the second coming of Christ.
The Restoration of the Fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World
Restitution of all things, according to the Bible. Christ's New Testament church restored. Ordinances of salvation and joy. God's work moves forward with continuing revelation. Heavens are open. God is making known his will. Those who study the message, will be blessed and gain their own witness of its divinity.
Sunday Afternoon Session
Dallin H. Oaks
Atonement is central to God's plan.
Offspring of God is to become as he is.
But, I cannot become as my Heavenly Father. I can only become as my Heavenly Mother. Does he want me to be like her? Does she want me to be like her?
Must make choices to reject sin and evil. We also suffer sins of others, defects of birth. Divine intervention will not remove all trials and suffering.
Four great assurances through atonement (centerpiece of gospel):
- We can be cleansed of our sins through repentance.
- Took upon him all mortal infirmities.
- Resurrection will come to all.
- Progress need not conclude at the end of mortality.
Sexual relations outside marriage is a perversion.
Quentin L. Cook
Heartfelt desire to reunite with those struggling.
Holy Ghost is the revealer.
Ricardo Patricio
Saints can be happy under every circumstance. Focus on God's plan.
Deiter F. Uchtdorf
Online church resources. Strive to become the best version of yourself.
Jesus cares about each of us. Christ is waiting for your return with love and compassion. Come and belong.
We must believe and figure out many things for ourselves. Develop resolve and backbone and step forward.
Most of us do not want heavenly micromanagement. We want to choose and learn and grow.
Our mistakes do not condemn us. We can repent and mistakes can become stepping stones to greater glory.
God's will that accomplishes his plan on earth.
You don't have to be perfect, you need a desire.
L. Whitney Clayton
Finest homes.
Image of Christ reflected in the homes of the residents.
Daily repentance is a transformative tool.
Sorry, it's just bogus that doing the right things on the checklist will not have problems they cannot solve on their own. That is incredibly different from saying there are benefits of righteousness. I know exactly how that paragraph hit some people who are doing all they can and still experience abuse and harm. You can only control yourself.
D. Todd Christofferson
Samuel Smith mentioned and then Samoa. My husband and my son are named after (and descendants of) that Samuel. My husband served his mission in Samoa (and lived there for three years as a kid).
- What was #1? 😅
- What is it that will make your invitation appealing to someone? Is it you? The example of your life?
- Liberal use of the Book of Mormon.
Redemption is the ultimate promise of the restoration.
Another reference to the second coming. I'm not typically into this stuff, but I can't remember as many references in recent years.
Russell M. Nelson
When temples are closed, you can still call upon your temple covenants. Continue to live a temple worthy life.
- BahÃa Blanca, Argetina
- Tallahassee, Florida
- Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Benin City, Nigeria
- Syracuse, Utah
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
Peace, increasing faith. Repent and become more like Christ. Testimony of Joseph Smith. Illness, I bless you with healing consistent with will of the Lord.
While not a reflection on the speakers or stories of this conference, it's disheartening to hear (per usual) such an overwhelming number of men speaking mostly about men. I think we have to consciously include women speaking, stories about women, quotes from women, if we ever think we can really be seen as equally valued. We are told to “take your place in the church.” What is that place? Mostly unheard and unseen? The creation story without a Mother is such a non sequitur. 😔
“Honestly, I have a huge problem with “God answers our prayers†stories as if God is a genie. If God is bustling about locating glasses (keys, wallets, puppies, etc.), why does he let children be abused in sexual slavery and on and on. I think the only reasonable answer is that God does not micromanage our lives (or what we lose or find) and allows us the agency to live in a fallen world.”
You miss a huge other option. God has a Perfect Plan that not only allows but requires suffering. We might want the cup to pass by us, and those around us, but there is no other way to return to Him. By answering the ‘lost keys’ prayers, He shows us that He is listening and that He can answer our prayers. He often does it in ways that also communicate that He loves us.
So, when we are crushed by grief and our prayers feel to go unanswered, we can know that God hears us, loves us, and so if He is not intervening it is because that even the worst suffering is to our benefit (‘all these things’).
Thanks for your comment. I don’t miss that, really, I just disagree that it’s a significant thing.
Sincerely, I’ve seen so many lose faith when people claim (all things I’ve heard) that they find lost things (so common), are directed to what to eat for breakfast, are told what to major in, have revelations of whom to marry (if I had a nickel…), what job to take, what to wear, which road to take, which [house,car,etc.] to buy, and on and on.
Then their “revealed” spouse ends up cheating on them and abusing them. Because…God wanted them to be abused? They got fired from the job and the damage to their reputation caused sever financial issues. Because God wanted them to start over at minimum wage at age 40 with four kids? Their child is run over by a car the week after moving to the “chosen” house. Because God wanted their child to die in sever pain?
Or is it that the “revelation” was just fine, but they weren’t righteous or faithful enough in some way after the revelation, and the bad things happened as a result. You know, like how parents were responsible for children born with birth defects.
On the flip side, there are those who don’t find the lost things, aren’t healed (because they “don’t have enough faith”), never marry, etc. God doesn’t care enough to help them or show them that same love?
We tend to present “hears and answers our prayers” in this way. Elder Gene R. Cook had a whole book that was full of this. Wallets, hats, puppies found. Divine intervention over every interaction, multiple times a day. And even when the magic didn’t happen, it really did, a bit later, in an even more miraculous and better way.
Mostly—and I hate to invoke the “privilege” card, but here I do—I find the position indefensible and irrational. While I live in a nice home in the US, with food, shelter, and even free time, I should be healed from a sickness or find my car keys (my car keys!), while innocent children all over the world are literally being raped daily for years (until they wear out and die), because their suffering is for their benefit and so God withholds protection and intervention.
That is precisely why I have become something of a mostly deistic latter-day saint. Our Heavenly Parents set up the universe, intervene minimally (to give us the needed knowledge or help when most needed), and otherwise let natural law and agency reign until Christ returns.
That isn’t a comprehensive explanation of my beliefs, more of a quick nutshell.
Again, thank you for your thoughts.
***so excited*** to have had youth speakers. I was surprised at how “polished” their talks sounded and I would have loved if it sounded more like they were speaking in their normal voice/vernacular, but I assumed the talks have to go through some sort of revision or polishing? One of the things that I love about youth talks in church is hearing their “real” voices, if that makes sense.
It was a nice addition. I’m sure their talks were vetted, as you said. And reading off a teleprompter is likely unfamiliar to them, so it lends to somewhat stilted speech.
I use one in some of my vlogs (to make editing easier) and no matter that I try to write it in my typical speaking voice, it’s easy for me tell the difference. 🙂
Alison Moore Smith recently posted…Spring 2020 General Conference Open Thread
I think that, more than anything, I hope this means that youth talks in conference will be “normal” now.
I was wondering the same about the combined evening session. There have been youth speakers in evening sessions in the past (unless I’m mistaken?).
Alison Moore Smith recently posted…My Definition of God and a Possible Response to Homosexuality in Church Policy
Agreed about the Clayton talk (and your other commentary as well). I guess we now get to chastise any/all of those who need to use Church aid, because if they’d been better people they wouldn’t be in a position to need help from the Church? However he meant it, it’s going to get used as a spiritual cudgel in more than a few quarters. The Pres Monson quote used at the beginning of the Church’s new self-reliance manual is used out of context to say the same thing–while I felt the program as a whole had much good to offer and am not surprised it’s getting great results, misuse of that quote and also D&C 104:15 to suggest that temporal and spiritual self-reliance is something that all good Saints possess tainted the whole thing for me. So we can conclude that Pres Monson’s many needy widows were spiritually lacking?