Sunday Morning Session Review

President Henry B. Eyring, 1st Counselor in the First Presidency
'To my grandchildren'



Joy is guaranteed for the faithful, said President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency.

“Whatever our personal characteristics or whatever will be our experiences, there is but one plan to happiness,” he said. “That plan is to follow all the commandments of God.”

Speaking during the Sunday morning session of conference, President Eyring said this year two of his grandchildren will be married. “Within a few years as many as 10 of their cousins will follow into the wonderful world of family creation.”

President Eyring said that happy prospect has caused him deep contemplation as they have asked, “What choices could I make that will lead me to happiness?”

“For all of us, including my grandchildren contemplating marriage, there is one overarching commandment that will help to meet the challenges and lead to the heart of a happy family life,” he said. “It applies to all relationships regardless of circumstances.”

The Lord’s advice to all who want to live together forever in loving happiness is: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy mind. … Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

From that simple statement, it is not hard to summarize what choices lead to happiness in families, he said.

“For me it has been to choose to put myself where I felt the joy of forgiveness through the Lord’s Atonement.”

He said accepting and magnifying every calling offered in the Church is a choice that is “one of the great keys to family happiness.”

“The pressures at every stage of life can tempt us to reject or neglect calls to serve the Savior. That can put us in spiritual peril for ourselves, our spouse, and our families. Some of those calls may seem unimportant, but my life and my family was changed for the better by my accepting a call to teach a deacons quorum. I felt the love of those deacons for the Savior and His love for them.”

While serving others, Latter-day Saints are most likely to plead for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. “Success in His service always produces miracles beyond our own powers.”

It is only with the companionship of the Holy Ghost that Church members can hope to be equally yoked in a marriage free from discord. “The miracle of becoming one requires the help of Heaven and it takes time. Our goal is to live together forever in the presence of Heavenly Father and our Savior.”

President Eyring said that Heavenly Father “has perfect foresight, knows each of us, and knows our future. He knows what difficulties we will pass through. He sent His Son to suffer that He would know how to succor us in all our trials.

“We know that Heavenly Father has spirit children in this world who sometimes choose sin and great unhappiness. That is why He sent His Firstborn to be our Redeemer, the greatest act of love in all creation. That is why we must expect that it will take the help of God and time to polish us, to prepare us for eternal life, to live with our Father.”

Life in families will test God’s children, he said. “That is one of God’s purposes in giving us the gift of mortality — to strengthen us by passing through tests. That will be especially true in family life where we will find great joy and great sorrow and challenges which may at times seem beyond our power to endure them.”

President Eyring said God has devised means to save each of His children.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
'No Other Gods'



Placing God first should be the ultimate priority in one's life, taught Elder Dallin H. Oaks in his conference address on Sunday morning.

The apostle identified several examples of things that are often being served ahead of God: cultural and family traditions, political correctness, career aspirations, material possessions, recreational pursuits and power, prominence and prestige.

"Are we serving priorities or gods ahead of the God we profess to worship?" he asked. "Have we forgotten the Savior who taught that if we love Him we will keep His commandments? If so, our priorities have been turned upside down by the spiritual apathy and undisciplined appetites so common in our day."

God's commandments are based on and inseparable from God's plan for His children — the great plan of salvation.

"This plan, sometimes called the 'great plan of happiness,' explains our origins and destiny as children of God — where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going," said Elder Oaks. "The plan of salvation explains the purpose of creation and the conditions of mortality, including God's commandments, the need for a Savior, and the vital role of mortal and eternal families. If we Latter-day Saints, who have been given this knowledge, do not establish our priorities in accord with this plan, we are in danger of serving other gods."

Knowledge of God's plan for His children give members a unique perspective on marriage and family. The Church is known as a family-centered church. Marriage of a man and a woman is necessary for the accomplishment of God's plan. The ultimate treasures on earth and heaven are one's children and posterity.

"Because of what we understand about the potentially eternal role of the family, we grieve at the sharply declining numbers of births and marriages in many western countries whose historic cultures are Christian and Jewish," he said.

The apostle cited responsible sources reporting historic declines in birth rates in the United States, many European nations and other developed countries. Marriage rates and the role and perceived necessity of fathers are also diminishing in many countries.

"We believe that, as an essential part of His plan of salvation, God has established an eternal standard that sexual relations should occur only between a man and a woman who are married," he said.

The importance the Church places on the law of chastity explains its commitment to the pattern of marriage that originated with Adam and Eve and establishes God's pattern for the procreative relationship between His sons and daughters for the nurturing of His children.

"There are many political and social pressures for legal and policy changes to establish behaviors contrary to God's decrees about sexual morality and are contrary to the eternal nature and purposes of marriage and child-bearing. These pressures have already permitted same-gender marriages in various states and nations."

Laws legalizing so called "same-gender marriage," he added, do not change God's law of marriage of His commandments and standards.

"We remain under covenant to love God and keep His commandments and to refrain from bowing down to or serving other gods and priorities — even those becoming popular in our particular time and place."

Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, General Young Women's President
'Be Ye Converted'



Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women general president, began her remarks with a conversion story of her great-great grandmother, Agnes Hoggan, who joined the Church in Scotland in 1861 and moved to America after the persecution her family faced. Her daughter Isabelle began working for a wealthy, non-LDS family to help provide for her family. Eventually, the wealthy family wanted to legally adopt Isabelle, while still giving wages to Agnes. Although Isabelle would have a better life with material goods, education and wealth, Agnes could not bear the thought of Isabelle losing the gospel in her life.

"Isabelle Hoggan is my great-grandmother and I am most grateful for the testimony and conviction that burned so brightly in her mother's heart, which did not allow her to trade her daughter's membership in the Church for worldly promises," she said.

Sister Oscarson explained, "The decisions you make in your daily life will determine what happens to you later. If you do not yet have a firmly-rooted testimony and conviction that The Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on the earth, now is the time to do what it takes to gain that conviction."

Sister Oscarson taught, "True conversion is more than merely having a knowledge of gospel principles and implies even more than just having a testimony of those principles.… Being truly converted means we are acting upon what we believe and allowing it to create 'a mighty change in us, or in our hearts,' " (True to the Faith).

Sister Oscarson cautioned "the Lord expects us to exercise faith" and that members need to follow the commandments in order to gain a testimony.

She explained how having a testimony of the gospel helped her keep the commandments throughout her youth, being a good example to her peers.

"Conversion comes as we live pure and virtuous lives and enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost," she said. "Conversion comes as we understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and acknowledge Him as our Savior and Redeemer, and allow the Atonement to take effect in our lives."

Once we are converted, Sister Oscarson said that members are more willing to share the gospel with others. "As you are converted, you will have a desire to share with others what you have learned and your confidence and ability to testify to others with conviction and power will increase."

Elder Richard J. Maynes, Presidency of the Seventy
'The Strength to Endure'



Spiritual strength comes as individuals learn to successfully endure challenges they face in life.

“Every morning when we wake up we face a new day filled with the challenges of life,” he said.

“These challenges come in many forms: physical challenges, financial setbacks, difficulties with relationships, emotional trials and even struggles with one’s faith.”

Many challenges can be solved and overcome; however, others might be difficult to understand and impossible to overcome until the next life, Elder Maynes said.

“As we temporarily endure the challenges we can solve and as we continue to endure the challenges we cannot solve, it is important to remember that the spiritual strength we develop will help us successfully endure all the challenges we face in life,” he said.

The journey of life is a test of character, where individuals are exposed to both good and evil influences and are given the moral agency to choose for themselves which path they will take.

Because all make mistakes, the Savior’s atoning sacrifice makes it possible for salvation and exaltation through the principle of repentance.

“Endurance is an important principle found within the doctrine of Jesus Christ,” he said. “It is important because the quality of our eternal future is proportional to our ability to endure our challenges.”

In order to receive the greatest of all the blessings of Heavenly Father — eternal life — individuals must successfully endure.

“Our ability to endure to the end in righteousness will be in direct proportion to the strength of our testimony and the depth of our conversation,” he said. “When our testimonies are strong and we are truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, our choices will be inspired by the Holy Ghost, they will be Christ-centered, and they will support our desire to endure in righteousness. If our testimonies are weak and our conversion superficial, the risk is much greater than we will be enticed by the false traditions of the world to make poor choices.”

Spiritual endurance comes at a price, Elder Maynes taught. It is through dedication, perseverance and self-discipline that individuals are able to keep their testimonies in shape and become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

“Because we face challenges every day, it is important that we work on our spiritual stamina every day,” he said. “When we develop spiritual stamina, the false traditions of the world, as well as our personal daily challenges, will have little negative impact on our ability to endure in righteousness.”

Elder Richard G. Scott, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
'Personal Strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ'



Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, members can build spiritual fortifications between themselves and past mistakes that Satan attempts to exploit.

That was the message shared by Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve in his Sunday morning general conference talk. The apostle utilized the Book of Mormon account of the people of Ammon to illustrate how people can find strength in the Atonement during difficult times.

The people of Ammon were converted to Christ's church and chose to leave behind their sinful behavior. So complete was their conversion that they buried their weapons and covenanted with the Lord that they would never use them again.

Later, their unconverted brethren attacked them and began to slay them. They needed great spiritual strength to resist the temptation to break their covenant and defend their families. Their priesthood leader, Helaman, counseled them to honor their sacred covenant and, instead, enlisted their faithful sons to take up arms in defense of their people.

Why, asked Elder Scott, were the people of Ammon counseled not to defend their families?

"It is a fundamental truth that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be cleansed. We can become virtuous and pure. However, sometimes our poor choices leave us with long-term consequences. One of the vital steps to complete repentance is to bear the short- and long-term consequences of our past sins. Their past choices had exposed these Ammonite fathers to a carnal appetite that could again become a point of vulnerability that Satan would attempt to exploit."

Satan will try to use one's memory of any previous guilt to lure one back into his influence, he said.
 
"We must be ever vigilant to avoid his enticements. Such was the case with the faithful Ammonite fathers. Even after years of faithful living, it was imperative for them to protect themselves spiritually from any attraction to the memory of past sins."

Through the Atonement, Christ is able to protect and fortify those who repent and follow His commandments. "The spiritual protections built around the Ammonite fathers blessed and strengthened themselves, their families, their country and future generations. The same can be true with us."

Elder Scott taught that members can enjoy such eternal fortifications through sincere, thorough and complete repentance.

"Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ each of us can become clean and the burden of our rebellion will be lifted. Remember repentance is not punishment. It is the hope-filled path to a more glorious future."

The apostle suggested several tools that help one build fortifications between vulnerabilities and faithfulness:

• Make covenants, receive personal ordinances and perform ordinances for others in the temple.

• Share the gospel with others.

• Serve faithfully in Church callings, especially home teaching and visiting teaching.

• Serve the members of your family.

"In each of these suggestions there is a common theme: fill your life with service to others. As you lose your life in the service of Father in Heaven's children, Satan's temptations lose power in your life."

President Thomas S. Monson
'I Will Not Fail Thee, Nor Forsake Thee'



President Thomas S. Monson told Latter-day Saints gathered worldwide on Sunday morning that whenever they are inclined to feel burdened down with the blows of life, to remember that others have passed the same way, have endured and then have overcome.

“The history of the Church in this, the dispensation of the fullness of times, is replete with the experiences of those who have struggled and yet who have remained steadfast and of good cheer,” he said. “The reason? They have made the gospel of Jesus Christ the center of their lives.

"This is what will pull us through whatever comes our way. We will still experience difficult challenges, but we will be able to face them, to meet them head on, and to emerge victorious.”
President Monson said that six months ago, as Church members gathered for general conference, his sweet wife lay in the hospital, having suffered a devastating fall just a few days earlier. “In May, after weeks of valiantly struggling to overcome her injuries, she slipped into eternity,” he said. “Her loss has been profound.”

President Monson said he married his wife Oct. 7, 1948, in the Salt Lake Temple. “Tomorrow would have been our 65th wedding anniversary. She was the love of my life, my trusted confidant and my closest friend. To say that I miss her does not begin to convey the depth of my feelings.”



President Monson said his testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the knowledge that his wife lives still is of utmost comfort to him during this tender time of passing.

“I know that our separation is temporary,” he said. “We were sealed in the House of God by one having authority to bind on earth and in heaven. I know that we will be reunited one day and will never again be separated. This is the knowledge that sustains me.”

No person has ever lived entirely free of suffering and sorrow, nor has there ever been a period in human history that did not have its full share of turmoil and misery, President Monson explained.

“The difficulties which come to us present us with the real test of our ability to endure,” he said. “A fundamental question remains to be answered by each of us: Shall I falter, or shall I finish? Some do falter as they find themselves unable to rise above their challenges. To finish involves enduring to the very end of life itself.”

While traveling the world as the leader of the Church, President Monson said he has come to know many things — not the least of which is that sadness and suffering are universal.

“I cannot begin to measure all of the heartache and sorrow I have witnessed as I have visited with those who are dealing with grief, experiencing illness, facing divorce, struggling with a wayward son or daughter or suffering the consequences of sin,” he said. “The list could go on and on, for there are countless problems which can befall us.”

President Monson said whenever he thinks of challenges his thoughts turn to Brother Brems, one of his boyhood Sunday School teachers. In 1968, he lost his wife. As the years went by, two of his children also passed away. At age 105, Brother Brems asked his family to call President Monson to his bedside. Brother Brems was blind and deaf and communicated as letters were traced on the palm of his hand. President Monson gave Brother Brems a blessing. “Afterward, tears streamed from his sightless eyes. He grasped our hands in gratitude. Although he had not heard the blessing we had given him, the Spirit was strong, and I believe he was inspired to know we had provided the blessing which he needed.

“This sweet man could not longer see. He could no longer hear. He was confined night and day to a small room in a care center. And yet the smile of his face and the words he spoke touched my heart. ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘My Heavenly Father has been so good to me.’”