A Living Testimony

by President Henry B. Eyring (Young Women's General Meeting)

• President Joseph Fielding Smith taught that a testimony “is a convincing knowledge given by revelation to [a person] who humbly seeks the truth.” He said of testimony and the Holy Ghost, who brings that revelation, “Its convincing power is so great that there can be no doubt left in the mind when the Spirit has spoken. It is the only way that a person can truly know that Jesus is the Christ and that his gospel is true.

• Testimony will come to you in pieces as parts of the whole truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ are confirmed.

• Begin [your] quest for testimony with “a particle of faith” and with desire for it to grow.

• Like a growing plant, it must be nurtured or it will wither. Frequent and heartfelt prayers of faith are crucial and needed nutrients. Obedience to the truth you have received will keep the testimony alive and strengthen it. Obedience to the commandments is part of the nourishment you must provide for your testimony.

• The answer may not come in a single and powerful spiritual experience.

• Testimony requires the nurturing by the prayer of faith, the hungering for the word of God in the scriptures, and the obedience to the truth we have received. There is danger in neglecting prayer. There is danger to our testimony in only casual study and reading of the scriptures. They are necessary nutrients for our testimony.

• Feasting on the word of God, heartfelt prayer, and obedience to the Lord’s commandments must be applied evenly and continually for your testimony to grow and prosper.

• If you can look forward to such a day with enough desire born of testimony, you will be strengthened to resist the temptations of the world. Each time you choose to try to live more like the Savior, you will have your testimony strengthened. You will come in time to know for yourself that He is the Light of the World.

• You will come to feel light growing in your life. It will not come without effort. But it will come as your testimony grows and you choose to nurture it. Here is the sure promise from the Doctrine and Covenants 50:24: “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”

For the complete talk, go here.

Guardians of Virtue

by Elaine S. Dalton (General Young Women Meeting)

• What is virtue and what is a guardian? “Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It includes chastity and [moral] purity.” And what is a guardian? A guardian is someone who protects, shields, and defends. Thus, as a guardian of virtue, you will protect, shield, and defend moral purity because the power to create mortal life is a sacred and exalted power and must be safeguarded until you are married. Virtue is a requirement to have the companionship and guidance of the Holy Ghost.

• Your personal training has begun with your daily personal prayers, your daily reading of the Book of Mormon, and your working on Personal Progress.

• For each of you, there are many distractions, hurts, and obstacles along your path to the temple, but you too are determined and keep going.

• Your course is marked, and you can be assured that the Savior has not only walked the course but will again walk it with you—every step of the way.

• Young women, your fathers, your mothers, your bishops, and so many others will be your guardians as you walk your path to the temple. They will call out cautions and direct your course, and should you become injured or hurt or get off course, they will help you.

• It starts with believing you can make a difference. It starts with making a commitment.

• Making decisions in advance will help you be guardians of virtue.

• Being a guardian of virtue means you will always be modest not only in your dress but also in your speech, your actions, and your use of social media. Being a guardian of virtue means you will never text words or images to young men that may cause them to lose the Spirit, lose their priesthood power, or lose their virtue. It means that you understand the importance of chastity because you also understand that your body is a temple and that the sacred powers of procreation are not to be tampered with before marriage. You understand that you possess a sacred power that involves the holy responsibility of bringing other spirits to earth to receive a body in which to house their eternal spirit. This power involves another sacred soul. You are a guardian of something “more precious than rubies.” Be faithful. Be obedient. Prepare now so that you may qualify to receive all the blessings that await you in the Lord’s holy temples.

• For the mothers listening tonight, you are your daughters’ most important example of modesty and virtue—thank you. Never hesitate to teach them that they are royal daughters of God and that their value is not based on their sensual appeal. And let them see your belief modeled correctly and consistently in your own personal attitude and appearance. You are also guardians of virtue.

• Thomas S. Monson reminds us, “Remember that we do not run alone in this great race of life; we are entitled to the help of the Lord.”

For the complete talk, go here.

"Remember This: Kindness Begins with Me"

by Mary N. Cook (General Young Women Meeting)

• Benevolent is a lovely word that we don’t hear very often. Its roots are Latin, and it means “to wish someone well.” To be benevolent is to be kind, well meaning, and charitable.

• “The shade [each person] brought to the ward and the world was all their own. … They had their individual strengths and weaknesses, personal longings, private dreams. But together, they blended into a color wheel of spiritual unity. … Unity is a spiritual quality. It’s the sweet feelings of peace and purpose that come from belonging to a family. … It’s wanting the best for others as much as you want it for yourself. … It’s knowing that no one is out to harm you. [It means you will never be lonely.]”

• Do you notice those who are lonely, living in a black-and-white world? President Thomas S. Monson taught us how to interact with our peers and everyone we meet when he told the young women of the Church, “My precious young sisters, I plead with you to have the courage to refrain from judging and criticizing those around you, as well as the courage to make certain everyone is included and feels loved and valued.”

• It may require that you reach beyond your usual friends or overcome your shyness. You may courageously choose to serve someone who doesn’t treat you well. I promise that if you will extend yourself beyond what is easy to do, you will feel so good inside that kindness will start to become a part of your everyday life. You’ll see that benevolence can bring joy and unity to your home, your class, your ward, and your school.

• Recognize the value of a short visit, a ready smile, or a squeeze of a well-worn, wrinkled hand. Greet them by name, engage them in a short conversation, be available to assist them. Could you open a door or offer to help with their home or garden?

• Sometimes being benevolent is most difficult in our own families. Strong families require effort. “Be cheerful, helpful, and considerate of others. Many problems in the home are created because family members speak and act selfishly or unkindly. Concern yourself with the needs of other family members. Seek to be a peacemaker rather than to tease, fight, and quarrel."

• Thank you for your benevolent lives; for including those who may be different; for your kindness to your peers, the elderly, your family, and little children; for being neighbors to those who are lonely and those who have challenges and heartache. Through your benevolence, you are “pointing others to [the Savior’s] light.” Thank you for remembering “kindness begins with me.”

For the complete talk, go here.

I Believe in Being Honest and True

by Ann M. Dibb (General Young Women Meeting)

• What does it mean to be honest? The booklet True to the Faith teaches, “To be honest means to be sincere, truthful, and without deceit at all times.

• President Hunter asked, "Is there really any difference between dishonesty involving a thousand dollars or that which involves only a dime? … Are there really degrees of dishonesty, depending upon whether or not the subject is great or small?.... If we would have the companionship of the Master and the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, we must be honest with ourselves, honest with God, and with our fellowmen. This results in true joy.”

• The greatest blessing that comes from being honest is that we are able to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Our Heavenly Father always knows, and we are ultimately accountable to Him.

• The dictionary defines the word true as being “steadfast,” “loyal,” “accurate,” or “without deviation.”

• Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this. … If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth?

• Being true to our beliefs—even when doing so isn’t popular, easy, or fun—keeps us safely on the path that leads to eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

For the complete talk, go here.

At Parting

by President Thomas S. Monson

May we be good citizens of the nations in which we live and good neighbors in our communities, reaching out to those of other faiths as well as to those of our own. May we be examples of honesty and integrity wherever we go and in whatever we do.

For the complete talk, go here.

An Ensign to the Nations

by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

• No man or woman who speaks here is assigned a topic. Each is to fast and pray, study and seek, start and stop and start again until he or she is confident that for this conference, at this time, his or hers is the topic the Lord wishes that speaker to present regardless of personal wishes or private preferences. Each has wept, worried, and earnestly sought the Lord’s direction to guide his or her thoughts and expression.
• The audience is made up of members of the Church, those who are not members of the church, the children, the youth and young adults, the middle-aged, and the elderly. They must speak to families and parents and children at home even as they speak to those who are not married, without children, and perhaps very far from home, the poor in spirit, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the meek.
  

• President Harold B. Lee put it best years ago when he said that the gospel is “to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the [comfortable].

• As the path of discipleship ascends, that trail gets ever more narrow until we come to that knee-buckling pinnacle of the sermon of which Elder Christofferson just spoke: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

• We understand not everyone is viewing pornography or shirking marriage or having illicit sexual relationships. We know not everyone is violating the Sabbath or bearing false witness or abusing a spouse. We know that most in our audience are not guilty of such things, but we are under a solemn charge to issue warning calls to those who are—wherever they may be in the world. So if you are trying to do the best you can then give yourself high marks and, when we come to that subject, listen for another which addresses a topic where you may be lacking. If we teach by the Spirit and you listen by the Spirit, some one of us will touch on your circumstance, sending a personal prophetic epistle just to you.

• Every sermon given is always, by definition, both a testimony of love and a warning.

• You are one of those angelic messengers called from before the foundation of the world to wave the ensign of the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world.

To read the complete talk, go here.

The Miracle of the Atonement

by Elder C. Scott Grow

• The Savior’s Atonement is available to each of us—always.

• We access the Atonement through repentance. When we repent, the Lord allows us to put the mistakes of the past behind us.

• Through His Atonement, He heals not only the transgressor, but He also heals the innocent who suffer because of those transgressions.

• As we repent, the Savior removes the guilt from our souls. Through His atoning sacrifice, our sins are remitted. With the exception of sons of perdition, the Atonement is available to everyone all the time, no matter how large or small the sin, “on conditions of repentance.” Because of His infinite love, Jesus Christ invites us to repent so that we will not have to suffer the full weight of our own sins.

• Immerse yourself in prayer and scripture study. As you do so, you will feel the sanctifying influence of the Spirit.

For the complete talk, go here.

Called to Be Saints

by Elder Benjamin De Hoyos

To the degree that members of the Church live the gospel and follow the counsel of the prophets, they will, little by little and even without noticing it, become sanctified. Humble members of the Church who conduct daily family prayer and scripture study, engage in family history, and consecrate their time to worship in the temple frequently, become Saints. They are those who are dedicated to creating eternal families. They are also those who set apart time from their busy lives to rescue those who have become alienated from the Church and encourage them to return and sit at the Lord’s table. They are those elders and sisters and mature couples who respond to a call to serve as the Lord’s missionaries. Yes, my brothers and sisters, they become Saints to the degree that they discover that warm and wonderful feeling that is called charity, or the pure love of Christ (see Moroni 7:42–48).

For the complete talk, go here.

What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?

by Elder Lynn G. Robbins

• To become as He is, we must also do the things He did. To be and to do are inseparable.

• The Savior often denounced those who did without being—calling them hypocrites. To do without to be is hypocrisy, or feigning to be what one is not—a pretender.

• Conversely, to be without to do is void, as in “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17; emphasis added).

• Christlike to be’s cannot be seen, but they are the motivating force behind what we do, which can be seen.

• Because be begets do and is the motive behind do, teaching be will improve behavior more effectively than focusing on do will improve behavior.

• We will never have a greater opportunity to teach and show Christlike attributes to our children than in the way we discipline them. Discipline comes from the same root word as disciple and implies patience and teaching on our part. It should not be done in anger. We can and should discipline the way that Doctrine and Covenants 121 teaches us: “by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness and pure knowledge” (verses 41–42).

• Through discipline the child learns of consequences.

• When we teach children doctrine by the Spirit, that doctrine has the power to change their very nature—be—over time.

• Disappointing behavior, therefore, should be considered as something temporary, not permanent—an act, not an identity. We need to be careful, therefore, about using permanent phrases such as “You always …” or “You never …” when disciplining. Phrases like these make actions appear as an identity and can adversely influence the child’s self-perception and self-worth.

• In helping children discover who they are and helping strengthen their self-worth, we can appropriately compliment their achievement or behavior—the do. But it would be even wiser to focus our primary praise on their character and beliefs—who they are.

• Because Christlike attributes are gifts from God and cannot be developed without His help, in family and personal prayers, pray for those gifts.

• At the dinner table, occasionally talk about attributes, especially those you discovered in the scriptures earlier that morning. “In what way were you a good friend today? In what way did you show compassion? How did faith help you face today’s challenges? In what way were you dependable? honest? generous? humble?” There are scores of attributes in the scriptures that need to be taught and learned.

• The most important way to teach to be is to be the kind of parents to our children that our Father in Heaven is to us.

For the complete talk, go here.

The Lord's Richest Blessings

by Elder Carl B. Pratt

Lessons learned from his grandparents about tithing.

1. When we obey commandments we are blessed. Sometimes the payment of tithing is not related to the amount of cash income.
2. His grandparents paid tithing regardless of the poor conditions of their family finances. The surest way to pay tithing faithfully is to pay it as soon as we receive any income.
   
3. Tithing is not a matter of money, really; it is a matter of faith--faith in the Lord.
4. If we faithfully pay our tithing, we will not lack for the necessities of life, but He does not promise wealth. Money and bank accounts are not His richest blessings. The Lord's richest blessings are spiritual, and they often have to do with family, friends, and the gospel. He often seems to give the blessings of a special sensitivity to the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit, esp. in marriage and family matters like raising children. Such spiritual sensitivity can help us enjoy the blessings of harmony and peace in the home. President James E. Faust suggested that the payment of tithing is “an excellent insurance against divorce” (“Enriching Your Marriage,” Liahona, Apr. 2007, 5; Ensign, Apr. 2007, 7).
5. The payment of tithing helps us develop a submissive and humble heart and a grateful heart that tends to “confess … his hand in all things” (D&C 59:21).
6. Tithe-paying fosters in us a generous and forgiving heart and a charitable heart full of the pure love of Christ. We become eager to serve and bless others with an obedient heart, submissive to the Lord’s will. Regular tithe payers find their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ strengthened, and they develop a firm, abiding testimony of His gospel and of His Church. None of these blessings are monetary or material in any way, but surely they are the Lord’s richest blessings.

For the complete talk, go here.

As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten

by Elder D. Todd Christofferson

• Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained: “The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.”

• One particular attitude and practice we need to adopt if we are to meet our Heavenly Father’s high expectations. It is this: willingly to accept and even seek correction.

• Though it is often difficult to endure, truly we ought to rejoice that God considers us worth the time and trouble to correct.

• As Elder Paul V. Johnson said this morning, we should take care not to resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature.

• Divine chastening has at least three purposes: (1) to persuade us to repent, (2) to refine and sanctify us, and (3) at times to redirect our course in life to what God knows is a better path.

• If we are open to it, needed correction will come in many forms and from many sources. It may come in the course of our prayers as God speaks to our mind and heart through the Holy Ghost (see D&C 8:2). It may come in the form of prayers that are answered no or differently than we had expected. Chastening may come as we study the scriptures and are reminded of deficiencies, disobedience, or simply matters neglected.

• Correction can come through others, especially those who are God-inspired to promote our happiness.

• Correction, hopefully gentle, can come from one’s spouse.

• Parents can and must correct, even chasten, if their children are not to be cast adrift at the mercy of a merciless adversary and his supporters. President Boyd K. Packer has observed that when a person in a position to correct another fails to do so, he is thinking of himself. Remember that reproof should be timely, with sharpness or clarity, “when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy” (D&C 121:43).

• Remember that if we resist correction, others may discontinue offering it altogether, despite their love for us.

• Eventually, much of our chastening should come from within—we should become self-correcting.

For the complete talk, go here.

The Eternal Blessings of Marriage

by Elder Richard G. Scott

• Two of the vital pillars that sustain Father in Heaven’s plan of happiness are marriage and the family. Their lofty significance is underscored by Satan’s relentless efforts to splinter the family and to undermine the significance of temple ordinances, which bind the family together for eternity.

• If you are a young man of appropriate age and are not married, don’t waste time in idle pursuits. Get on with life and focus on getting married. Don’t just coast through this period of life. Young men, serve a worthy mission. Then make your highest priority finding a worthy, eternal companion.

• If you have found someone, you can form an extraordinarily wonderful courtship and marriage and be very, very happy eternally by staying within the bounds of worthiness the Lord has established.

• If you are married, are you faithful to your spouse mentally as well as physically? Are you loyal to your marriage covenants by never engaging in conversation with another person that you wouldn’t want your spouse to overhear? Are you kind and supportive of your spouse and children?

• Brethren, do you lead out in family activities such as scripture study, family prayer, and family home evening, or does your wife fill in the gap your lack of attention leaves in the home? Do you tell your wife often how very much you love her?

• Express gratitude for what your spouse does for you. Express that love and gratitude often.

• Righteous love is the foundation of a successful marriage. It is the primary cause of contented, well-developed children.

• As a mother you have been given divine instincts to help you sense your child’s special talents and unique capacities. With your husband you can nurture, strengthen, and cause those traits to flower.

• It is so rewarding to be married. Marriage is wonderful. In time you begin to think alike and have the same ideas and impressions.

• Marriage provides an ideal setting for overcoming any tendency to be selfish or self-centered. I think one of the reasons that we are counseled to get married early in life is to avoid developing inappropriate character traits that are hard to change.

To read the complete talk, go here.

The Holy Temple--a Beacon to the World

by President Thomas S. Monson

• The bishop of the ward is given the responsibility to care for those in need who reside within the boundaries of his ward.

• Our desire is to make the temple as accessible as possible to our members.

• Temples bring joy to our faithful members wherever they are built.

• Temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service.

• No sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings. There are never too many miles to travel, too many obstacles to overcome, or too much discomfort to endure. They understand that the saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our Heavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and to be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and every effort.

• Your sacrifice could be setting aside the time in your busy lives to visit the temple regularly.

• There is no more important goal for you to work toward than being worthy to go to the temple. Your sacrifice may be bringing your life into compliance with what is required to receive a recommend, perhaps by forsaking long-held habits which disqualify you. It may be having the faith and the discipline to pay your tithing.

• Until you have entered the house of the Lord and have received all the blessings which await you there, you have not obtained everything the Church has to offer.

• Always have the temple in your sights. Do nothing which will keep you from entering its doors and partaking of the sacred and eternal blessings there.

• I plead with you to teach your children of the temple’s importance.

• As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified.

• Each of our temples is an expression of our testimony that life beyond the grave is as real and as certain as is our life here on earth.

For the complete talk, go here.

The Spirit of Revelation

by Elder David A. Bednar

• The spirit of revelation is available to every person who receives by proper priesthood authority the saving ordinances of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost—and who is acting in faith to fulfill the priesthood injunction to “receive the Holy Ghost.”

• Sincere desire and worthiness invite the spirit of revelation into our lives.

• Because the Spirit whispers to us gently and delicately, it is easy to understand why we should shun inappropriate media, pornography, and harmful, addictive substances and behaviors. These tools of the adversary can impair and eventually destroy our capacity to recognize and respond to the subtle messages from God delivered by the power of His Spirit.

• President Joseph F. Smith counseled: “Show me Latter-day Saints who have to feed upon miracles, signs and visions in order to keep them steadfast in the Church, and I will show you members … who are not in good standing before God, and who are walking in slippery paths. It is not by marvelous manifestations unto us that we shall be established in the truth, but it is by humility and faithful obedience to the commandments and laws of God” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1900, 40).

• Sometimes the sun rises on a morning that is cloudy or foggy. Because of the overcast conditions, perceiving the light is more difficult, and identifying the precise moment when the sun rises over the horizon is not possible. But on such a morning we nonetheless have sufficient light to recognize a new day and to conduct our affairs.

• We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions. We frequently may press forward hoping and praying—but without absolute assurance—that we are acting in accordance with God’s will. But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps. And we can speak with the assurance that God will inspire our utterances. This is in part the meaning of the scripture that declares, “Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God” (D&C 121:45).

• Sometimes the spirit of revelation will operate immediately and intensely, other times subtly and gradually, and often so delicately you may not even consciously recognize it. But regardless of the pattern whereby this blessing is received, the light it provides will illuminate and enlarge your soul, enlighten your understanding (see Alma 5:7; 32:28), and direct and protect you and your family.

For the complete talk, go here.

The Essence of Discipleship

by Silvia H. Allred

• As we celebrate 75 years of the Church welfare program, we are reminded of the purposes of welfare, which are to help members help themselves become self-reliant, to care for the poor and needy, and to give service. The Church has organized its resources to assist members to provide for the physical, spiritual, social, and emotional well-being of themselves, their families, and others. The office of bishop carries with it a special mandate to care for the poor and needy and to administer such resources for the members in his ward. He is assisted in his efforts by priesthood quorums, Relief Society, and in particular, home and visiting teachers.

• Priesthood holders provide essential support for those needing spiritual guidance and help. Inspired home teachers bless lives and provide the blessings of the gospel to every family unit. In addition, they lend their strength and talents in other ways, such as helping a family in need of home repairs, in helping a family move, or in helping a brother find needed employment.

• Inspired visiting teachers watch over and care for sisters and families. They are often the first response in times of immediate need. Relief Society sisters provide meals, render compassionate service, and give constant support during times of trial.

• Every bishop has available to him the Lord’s storehouse, which is established as “faithful members give to the bishop of their time, talents, skills, compassion, materials, and financial means in caring for the poor and in building up the kingdom of God on the earth.”

• Short-term needs are met immediately, and a plan to help the recipient become self-reliant is established. Self-reliance is the ability to provide the spiritual and temporal necessities of life for self and family.

• To think that a humble sister or brother with a Church calling can go into a home where there is poverty, sorrow, sickness, or distress and can bring peace, relief, and happiness is astonishing.

For the complete talk, go here.

The Sanctifying Work of Welfare

by Bishop H. David Burton

• President Marion G. Romney explained: “Many programs have been set up by well-meaning individuals to aid those who are in need. However, many of these programs are designed with the shortsighted objective of ‘helping people,’ as opposed to ‘helping people help themselves.’”

• Self-reliance is a product of provident living and exercising economic self-discipline.

• Avoid debt, implement principles of thrift, prepare for times of distress, listen to and follow the words of the living oracles, develop the discipline to distinguish between needs and wants and then live accordingly.

• As sons and daughters of God, we cannot inherit the full measure of eternal life without being fully invested in caring for each other while we are here on earth. It is in the benevolent practice of sacrifice and giving of ourselves to others that we learn the celestial principles of sacrifice and consecration.

• The great King Benjamin taught that one of the reasons we impart of our substance to the poor and administer to their relief is so that we may retain a remission of our sins from day to day and walk guiltless before God.

• No matter how many temples we build, no matter how large our membership grows, no matter how positively we are perceived in the eyes of the world—should we fail in this great core commandment to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees,” or turn our hearts from those who suffer and mourn, we are under condemnation and cannot please the Lord and the jubilant hope of our hearts will ever be distant.

To read the complete talk, go here.

More Than Conquerors through Him That Loved Us

by Elder Paul V. Johnson

• Many have wondered why we must face difficult challenges. We know that one reason is to provide a trial of our faith to see if we will do all the Lord has commanded.

• They are vitally important to the process of putting on the divine nature. If we handle these afflictions properly, they will be consecrated for our gain.

• Elder Orson F. Whitney said: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. … All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable. … It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.

• At times it may seem that our trials are focused on areas of our lives and parts of our souls with which we seem least able to cope—almost laser guided to our particular needs or weaknesses.

• The furnace of affliction helps purify even the very best of Saints by burning away the dross in their lives and leaving behind pure gold. Even very rich ore needs refining to remove impurities.

• Many times the darkest, most dangerous tests immediately precede remarkable events and tremendous growth.

• In the midst of problems, it is nearly impossible to see that the coming blessings far outweigh the pain, humiliation, or heartbreak we may be experiencing at the time.

• We don’t seek out tests, trials, and tribulations. Our personal journey through life will provide just the right amount for our needs.

• We must be careful that we don’t resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature.
  

• Not one of the trials and tribulations we face is beyond our limits, because we have access to help from the Lord. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.

For the complete talk, go here.

Waiting on the Road to Damascus

by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

• There are many...who, for different reasons, find themselves waiting on the road to Damascus. They delay becoming fully engaged as disciples. They hope to receive the priesthood but hesitate to live worthy of that privilege. They desire to enter the temple but delay the final act of faith to qualify. They remain waiting for the Christ to be given to them like a magnificent Carl Bloch painting—to remove once and for all their doubts and fears.

• The truth is, those who diligently seek to learn of Christ eventually will come to know Him. They will personally receive a divine portrait of the Master, although it most often comes in the form of a puzzle—one piece at a time. Each individual piece may not be easily recognizable by itself; it may not be clear how it relates to the whole.

• When necessary the Lord will even carry you over obstacles as you seek His peace with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

• Another reason we sometimes do not recognize the voice of the Lord in our lives is because the revelations of the Spirit may not come directly to us as the answer to our prayers. Our Father in Heaven expects us to study it out first and then pray for guidance as we seek answers to questions and concerns in our personal lives. We have our Heavenly Father’s assurance that He will hear and answer our prayers. The answer may come through the voice and wisdom of trusted friends and family, the scriptures, and the words of prophets. It has been my experience that some of the most powerful promptings we receive are not only for our own benefit but also for the benefit of others.

• The Lord expects the members of His Church to “open [their mouths] at all times, declaring [His] gospel with the sound of rejoicing.”

For the complete talk, go here.

Priesthood Power

by President Thomas S. Monson (priesthood session)

• Many movies and television shows portray behavior which is in direct opposition to the laws of God. Do not subject yourself to the innuendo and outright filth which are so often found there.
• The lyrics in much of today's music fall in the same category.
  
• The profanity so prevalent around us today would never have been tolerated in the not-too-distant past.
  
• Sadly, the Lord's name is taken in vain over and over again.
• Stay completely away from pornography.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco or any other drugs, also addictions which you would be hard pressed to conquer.
• A strong testimony of our Savior and of HIs gospel will help see you through to safelty.
  
• If you have not read the Book of Mormon, read it.
• If you do not already have a testimony of these things, do that which is necessary to obtain one.
• Once obtained, a testimony needs to be kept vital and alive through obedience to the commandments of God and through regular prayer and scripture study.
• Attend church.
• Young people, attend seminary or institute.
• Be in the world but not of the world--reject false concepts and false teachings and remain true to that which God has commanded.
• There is no shame in a couple having to scrimp and save. You will grow closer together as you learn to sacrifice and to make difficult decisions. Have faith. Almost anything can be worked out if you are resourceful and if you are committed to making your marriage work.

• Perhaps you are having a little too much fun being single, taking extravagant vacations, buying expensive cars and toys, and just generally enjoying the carefree life with your friends. I’ve encountered groups of you running around together, and I admit that I’ve wondered why you aren’t out with the young ladies. Brethren, there is a point at which it’s time to think seriously about marriage and to seek a companion with whom you want to spend eternity. If you choose wisely and if you are committed to the success of your marriage, there is nothing in this life which will bring you greater happiness.
• When you marry, brethren, you will wish to marry in the house of the Lord. For you who hold the priesthood, there should be no other option. Be careful lest you destroy your eligibility to be so married.
• Choose a companion carefully and prayerfully; and when you are married, be fiercely loyal one to another. Commitment in marriage is absolutely essential.

• Your wife is your equal. In marriage neither partner is superior nor inferior to the other. You walk side by side as a son and a daughter of God. She is not to be demeaned or insulted but should be respected and loved. Said President Gordon B. Hinckley: “Any man in this Church who … exercises unrighteous dominion over [his wife] is unworthy to hold the priesthood. Though he may have been ordained, the heavens will withdraw, the Spirit of the Lord will be grieved, and it will be amen to the authority of the priesthood of that man.” President Howard W. Hunter said this about marriage: “Being happily and successfully married is generally not so much a matter of marrying the right person as it is being the right person.”
• We who are married in the house of the Lord do so for time and for all eternity, and then we must put forth the necessary effort to make it so.
• Do not let your marriage get to the point where it is in jeopardy.

For the complete talk, go here.

Learning in the Priesthood

by President Henry B. Eyring (priesthood session)

Three wonderful things in place to speed our growth in the priesthood:

1. A president who knows how to sit in council with the members of his quorum.

• Treat the opinions of your quorum as if they are the wisest men in the world. Wait until all who would speak has spoken. Listen. Follow the spirit.
  

2. Great faith in Jesus Christ that leads to great love for each other.

• The priesthood holders who learn well together always seem to me to have great peacemakers among them.
  
• It is a gift to help people find common ground when others are seeing differences, to see that what someone else said was a contribution rather than a correction.
  

3. A shared conviction that our overarching priesthood purpose is to labor for the salvation of men.

• This shared conviction brings unity.

If you will be diligent and obedient in the priesthood, treasures of spiritual knowledge will be poured out upon you. You will grow in your power to resist evil and to proclaim the truth that leads to salvation. You will find joy in the happiness of those you lead toward exaltation. Your family will become a place of learning.

To read the entire talk, go here.