Category Archives: General Conference Book Club

GCBC Week 11: Watching with all Perseverance

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Watching with All Perseverance by Elder David A. Bednar

Fist of all, I am a slacker. I didn’t even realize until yesterday that I totally forgot to do GCBC last week. So anyway, it’s been a very busy couple of weeks for me and now it’s almost midnight and I have to be at church by 5 a.m. tomorrow to send youth off on a History Trek, so this will be a little thrown together. How’s that for a long list of disclaimers?

This talk by Elder Bednar is fantastic. I love how he always gives very specific, direct, and often repetitive counsel.  Read, watch or listen to it here.

Study it this week and tell us what you learn.

GCBC Week 10: When the Lord Commands

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General Conference Book Club Week 10:


“When the Lord Commands” by Elder Bruce A. Carlson

First, a little congratulations to all of you who commented on last week’s General Conference post:

1. Jessica,

2. Kristen M. and…

(crickets chirping)

Huh, I guess that’s it.  Thanks, Jessica and Kristen.  Now for the rest of you, get your GCBC pants back on and join us!  Because we miss you.

We live in a society of convenience, sometimes called entitlement.  “If you don’t feel like it, don’t do it.  It’s your choice.” I’ve written before about the danger in treating obedience like a buffet– we can’t just pick and choose the commandments we like the most and expect to receive a fullness of blessings.  Elder Carlson teaches in this talk that :

“Faithful obedience, regardless of the apparent size of the task, will bring the Lord’s guidance, assistance, and peace.“

He outlines the reasons we often use to release ourselves from the obligations of our covenants and points out the folly in our excuses.  Simply put, he testifies that to access the blessings, we must obey.  Period.  It’s a refreshing reminder of a basic gospel principle and a stern warning against lame excuses.  What do you like about 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 9: Helping Hands, Saving Hands

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General Conference Book Club Week 9:


“Helping Hands, Saving Hands” by Elder Koichi Aoyagi

President Monson has encouraged all of us to reach out to others and serve more.  He has invited us to ask ourselves often, “Have I done any good in the world today?”  In this General Conference talk, Elder Aoyagi revisits this theme and exhorts us to follow our prophet’s challenge:

“May we follow the counsel and example of the prophet and each day seek out those in need, that we might be the hands of the Lord in helping and saving His children.“

This talk is brief and full of personal experiences where he and his loved ones were saved by selfless others.  What are some of your own experiences where another person’s service or love have rescued you?  What about this talk is meaningful to you?

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 8: The Blessing of Scripture

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General Conference Book Club Week 8:


“The Blessing of Scripture” by Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Elder Christofferson summarizes the history of scripture and how blessed we are to have such a great quantity of holy words within our reach, more so than any previous generation.

“The central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ—faith that They exist; faith in the Father’s plan for our immortality and eternal life; faith in the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which animates this plan of happiness; faith to make the gospel of Jesus Christ our way of life; and faith to come to know ‘the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent’ (John 17:3).”

This talk makes me grateful for the abundance of truth and guidance that sits right on my nightstand table.  It makes me realize how much more I can do with what I’ve been given.  What does Elder Christofferson’s talk say to you?

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 7: Mothers Teaching Children in the Home

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General Conference Book Club Week 7:

Elder Perry testifies of the mother’s crucial role in raising up children to the Lord, and he gives several different examples of things his mother did that helped him to learn throughout his life.
I believe it is by divine design that the role of motherhood emphasizes the nurturing and teaching of the next generation . . .
Teaching in the home is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, where the influence of the adversary is so widespread and he is attacking, attempting to erode and destroy the very foundation of our society, even the family. Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility.
What inspires you in this talk?  What are you motivated to do by studying it?

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.