Category Archives: General Conference Book Club

GCBC Week 2: Because of Your Faith

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“Because of Your Faith”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
October 2010 General Conference
Saturday Morning Session

This is it, friends:  the official beginning of a new round of General Conference Book Club!  I am excited to have so many new people join us, and it’s sincerely my hope that participation in this book club will help us personally in our gospel study goals, and collectively as we share testimony, encouragement, and insight.  We will begin with Elder Holland’s beautiful talk, “Because of Your Faith.”  It seemed to me that the goal of this talk was simply validation– the bearing of testimony that our righteous efforts are seen by a loving Heavenly Father and appreciated by Him, by His servants, and by His church.  It was a lovely reminder that whatever contributions we make, no matter how small or insignificant or unnoticed they may seem, they are puzzle pieces in building God’s kingdom and in building ourselves.  When we offer our hearts and our service to Him, we are becoming what He wants us to be.  And He is pleased.

“I have struggled to find an adequate way to tell you how loved of God you are and how grateful we on this stand are for you. I am trying to be voice for the very angels of heaven in thanking you for every good thing you have ever done, for every kind word you have ever said, for every sacrifice you have ever made in extending to someone—to anyone—the beauty and blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

What are your favorite moments or quotes from this talk?  Is there anything you learned here that you had not considered before?  What stood out to you as you studied it?  And, most importantly, what did it make you feel or want to do?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.  The comment thread is set up so that you can comment on and reply to each other’s comments as well.  Below each comment is a “reply” button.  If you are interested in receiving everyone’s responses, there is a box to check in the comment form that allows you to get all the follow-up comments by email.  Or you can come back and check out the progress of the post at anytime.

When you click on the link at the top of this post to read Elder Holland’s talk, you’ll see a page that looks like this:

Notice that on the right side, there are links that allow you to watch the video, listen to audio, print, download, etc.  There is also a link to the Study Notebook feature so that you can highlight and comment on the talk “in the margins.”

General Conference Book Club Week 1: Your Favorites

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Wasn’t it fantastic?
Don’t you feel like you want to remember everything you learned and felt?

Join us this time around in our General Conference Book Club. We will study one talk each week until the next Conference in April. We can discuss them in the comments, share our insights, and express our testimonies. It’s a way to encourage and uplift one another, and a pacemaker for your personal gospel study. Click here for more information on how GCBC works.

Today, at the close of General Conference, President Monson gave us this challenge:

“Take the time to read the conference talks. . . . They are deserving of our careful study.”

Tune in tomorrow for our General Conference trivia contest and a meme post you can cut and paste onto your own blog to discuss your personal Conference favorites. (More details here.)

So for week one, as we wait for all the talk texts to be posted, please share in the comments below some of the highlights for you as you watched General Conference this weekend— messages, impressions, testimony, favorites, etc.  What things stand out most in your mind and heart?

GCBC Week 23: He Is Risen!

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Okay, people, only one more week until General Conference. (yay!!)  This week we will study our final talk and then we start all over again. Please join us.

General Conference Book Club Week 23:

I saved President Monson’s talk for last.  We kind of skipped over it a while back when I was in the middle of my move, and it certainly deserves time to be considered.  He spoke at the Sunday morning session, sharing his testimony of the living Savior in “He is Risen!”

“To understand the meaning of death, we must appreciate the purpose of life. The dim light of belief must yield to the noonday sun of revelation, by which we know that we lived before our birth into mortality. In our premortal state, we were doubtless among the sons and daughters of God who shouted for joy because of the opportunity to come to this challenging yet necessary mortal existence. We knew that our purpose was to gain a physical body, to overcome trials, and to prove that we would keep the commandments of God. Our Father knew that because of the nature of mortality, we would be tempted, would sin, and would fall short. So that we might have every chance of success, He provided a Savior, who would suffer and die for us. Not only would He atone for our sins, but as a part of that Atonement, He would also overcome the physical death to which we would be subject because of the Fall of Adam.”

In the comments, please share your thoughts about this talk, your feelings about President Monson, or what you’re most looking forward to in Conference next week.

Go here to find the media versions of the talk (audio, video, mp3, etc.).  If this is your first visit to the General Conference Book Club,  click here to learn more about it.  Next week will begin a whole new round of GCBC; please consider joining us again.  Invite friends, neighbors, your readers etc. to join us in pondering and discussing the words of God as spoken through our living prophets.

GCBC Week 22: Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

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General Conference Book Club Week 22:


Today was kind of a rough day at our house– one of those days where you wonder whether or not your children are going to turn out alright after all.  There were tears and time-outs and lots and lots of reminders of rules and expectations.  It was not easy to do scripture time tonight, and bedtime was a welcome relief.  As I read “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” by Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, I felt so reassured of the lasting impact our instruction can and will have on our children.

“If a child is not listening, don’t despair. Time and truth are on your side. At the right moment, your words will return as if from heaven itself. Your testimony will never leave your children.

As you reverently speak about the Savior—in the car, on the bus, at the dinner table, as you kneel in prayer, during scripture study, or in late-night conversations—the Spirit of the Lord will accompany your words.

As you do your best, the testimony of Jesus will gently distill upon your children’s hearts.”

Share in the comments what you love and learn as you study this talk.

Go here to find the media versions of the talk (audio, video, mp3, etc.).  If this is your first visit to the General Conference Book Club,  click here to learn more about it.

GCBC Week 21: Developing Good Judgment and Not Judging Others

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General Conference Book Club Week 21:
I know someone who was offended at church by a closed-minded comment made during Sunday School.  The comment was not directed at her, but it was still thoughtless, and it stung.  We probably all know (or have been) someone in a similar situation.  Since we are not perfect and all have need of a Savior, we often forget to be more like Him, not only in the things we say, but also in forgiving the things we hear.Elder Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer of the Seventy gave his talk, “Developing Good Judgment and Not Judging Others“, during the last session of the most recent General Conference.  He made some great points about judgment that made me realize several areas where I could improve.  For example:

“We may often find ourselves making quick judgments about people, which can change or redefine our relationships with them. Often incorrect judgments are made because of limited information or because we do not see beyond that which is immediately in front of us.”

“Good judgment is needed not only in understanding people but also in facing decisions that often lead us to or away from our Heavenly Father.”

What insights did you gain as you studied this talk?

Only TWO weeks left before another round of conference.  Is anyone as excited as I am?

Go here to find the media versions of the talk (audio, video, mp3, etc.).  If this is your first visit to the General Conference Book Club,  click here to learn more about it.