Tag Archives: prophets

GCBC Week 2: “An Ensign to the Nations” by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

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Well, here we go folks.  Let’s get this book club rolling!  I thought it would be timely to start off with Elder Holland’s testimony about general conference itself and the Lord’s hand in its messages.

“An Ensign to the Nations” by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

As our conference comes to a close, I ask you to reflect in the days ahead not only on the messages you have heard but also on the unique phenomenon that general conference itself is—what we as Latter-day Saints believe such conferences to be and what we invite the world to hear and observe about them. We testify to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people that God not only lives but also that He speaks, that for our time and in our day the counsel you have heard is, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, “the will of the Lord, … the word of the Lord, … the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.”

All of the talks from general conference are now available to watch, listen to, or read at this link. The Church also puts out a fantastic highlights video that is a montage of main points from the talks of the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles. So, until the Ensign conference edition arrives in the mail, we can still get a jump on studying these great talks.

To any of you who are new to the General Conference book club, we welcome you and love your insights, comments, and participation.  Here’s a link to help newcomers understand how it all “works.”  We look forward to a fine discussion in the comment thread below.

Thanks to those of you who participated in the General Conference Trivia Contest, and congratulations to the winner, “An Ordinary Mom.” Here are all the questions, reposted with the correct answers.  I tried to link the answers to the talks that they came from.

  1. Name two of the three new temples that were announced. Fort Collins, CO; Winnipeg, Canada; Meridian Idaho
  2. Elder Cook told a story about a young woman who misplaced her purse at an activity.  Name one of the items that her leaders found in her purse. For the strength of Youth pamphlet, notebook of scriptures, recipe, breath mints, soap, lotion, and a brush.
  3. Who was Elder Holland referring to when he said “Bedlamites”? children
  4. Whose grandson blew kisses at the TV when he watched general conference?  Russell M. Nelson
  5. What did the prospector teach the young gold-digger that he was missing while he was looking for gold nuggets?  the small flecks of gold
  6. This conference marked the 75th anniversary of what? Welfare program
  7. What did the church donate in Japan to help people search for loved ones despite the difficult-to-travel roadways? Scooters
  8. Finish this phrase from a quoted poem (in general words is fine/main idea).  “When sheep go wrong, it won’t take long  . . . __________.” It won’t take long till the lambs are as wrong as they.
  9. Name Elder Richard G. Scott’s belated wife. Jeanene
  10. President Eyring announced an upcoming, church-wide day of what? Humanitarian service
  11. Fill in the blank:  Desires –> Priorities –> __________ –> Actions Choices
  12. What was Pres. Uctdorf afraid people might be texting during his talk? that he hasn’t made a reference to aviation yet
  13. What specific item did Elder Pratt’s Mexican ancestor receive from a wealthy traveler just one week after paying his own tithing? a bag of 100 pesos in silver
  14. Finish this quote by St. Francis de Asissi:  “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use ____.” Words
  15. What hymn did Elder Bednar take as a “hint” about his own talk? Have I done any good in the world today
  16. Only one of the twelve apostles did not speak during general conference.  Who was it?  (And does anyone know why?)  Robert D. Hales, I saw him there on Saturday with a leg brace or something, but I’m still not sure why he didn’t speak.
  17. What powerful hymn did the tabernacle choir sing right after President Monson’s talk about temples? The Spirit of God
  18. Elder Grow spoke about a family member who had just passed away after turning around his/her life.  Who was it? His younger brother
  19. Elder Maynes quoted his grandson’s primary talk where he said, “My family is like a ____ (what?).” Rope
  20. Elder Bednar compared revelation to which two sources of light? Light switch and the sunrise

Matching.  Topic —> Speaker
21.  Accept and Seek Correction   B.  Elder D. Todd Christofferson
22. The Church has an obligation to help poor and needy   D. Bishop H. David Burton
23.  Keep Sabbath Day Holy    E. Elder L. Tom Perry
24.  Forgive and Let Offenses Go    C.  President Boyd K. Packer
25.  Combat Fears by Strengthening Faith   A.  Elder Russell M. Nelson

GCBC Week 4: Follow the Prophet

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“Obedience to the Prophets”
Elder Claudio R. M. Costa
Of the Presidency of the Seventy
Saturday morning session

and

“Our Very Survival“
Elder Kevin R. Duncan
Of the Seventy
Saturday afternoon session

 

It was interesting that both of these speakers based their talks on this same talk by President Ezra Taft Benson:  Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet

I thought it would be appropriate to study both of their talks together this week and take an up-close look at the importance of placing our trust in the Lord by heeding the words of his servants.  President Henry B. Eyring said the following specifically about listening to the messages we hear at General Conference:

“There seems to be no end to the Savior’s desire to lead us to safety. And there is constancy in the way He shows us the path. … Those means always include sending the message by the mouths of His prophets whenever people have qualified to have the prophets of God among them. Those authorized servants are always charged with warning the people, telling them the way to safety…

“In our own time, we have been warned with counsel of where to find safety from sin and from sorrow. One of the keys to recognizing those warnings is that they are repeated.

“One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention…”  — Henry B. Eyring, “Finding Safety in Counsel,” Ensign, May 1997, 24

So, since this message was repeated so obviously in these two talks, and then also mentioned in several other talks during general conference, it certainly begs our careful attention.

“This world is full of so many self-help books, so many self-proclaimed experts, so many theorists, educators, and philosophers who have advice and counsel to give on any and all subjects. With technology today, information on a myriad of subjects is available with the click of a keystroke. It is easy to get caught in the trap of looking to the “arm of flesh” for advice on everything from how to raise children to how to find happiness. While some information has merit, as members of the Church we have access to the source of pure truth, even God Himself. We would do well to search out answers to our problems and questions by investigating what the Lord has revealed through His prophets.”  — Elder Duncan

“We are privileged to have the words of our living prophets, seers, and revelators during this wonderful general conference. They will speak the will of the Lord for us, His people. They will transmit the word of God and His counsel to us. Pay attention and follow their instruction and suggestions, and I testify to you that your life will be completely blessed.”  — Elder Costa

What rivets your attention in these talks?  Is there anything you learned here that you had not considered before?  What stood out to you as you studied them?  What do you think is the warning associated with this repeated message?  What did it make you feel or want to do?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below. If this is your first time to General Conference Book Club, click here to learn more about it, and then join us.

General Conference Book Club Week 18: Elder Perry

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Today in Sunday School, we talked about Noah, and how people lacked the faith to act on prophetic advice that would prepare them for dangers that were coming, dangers that they could not see nor anticipate.  The teacher made an analogy about his high school football days when the coach would have them watch game film of their upcoming opponent to prepare them to compete against them.  I thought about the analogy for a while and raised my hand (I’m one of those really annoying can’t-keep-my-mouth-shut kind of Sunday School participants):  “The game film is actually much like the scriptures.  It shows us patterns from the past and gives us the examples of what works and what does not.  A living prophet, then, would be like if the coach watched a film of what WILL happen and explains to the team exactly what should be practiced and prepared in order to meet the opponent and all that will occur.”  And I mentioned this talk that I only vaguely remembered, but now I want to study.

The talk is “The Past Way of Facing the Future” by Elder L. Tom Perry, from the Sunday morning session of the October 2009 conference.  He said, “The lessons of the past . . . prepare us to face the challenges of the future.” Upon reviewing the talk, it wasn’t quite what I had remembered, but he relates some specific accounts from the lives of pioneers and other historical events, and then harvests important lessons from them that we should learn and remember.  And as living apostle, sustained as a seer, he must speak of principles pertinent to our future.

You can read the talk here,  listen to it here, or watch it here.  Visit here to learn more about General Conference Book Club.

Referring back to Noah, what things to you find in Elder Perry’s talk that would help us to build our own arks or be protected from the coming floods or calamities?