183rd Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Sunday

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: It is part of our condition as mortal beings to sometimes feel as though we are surrounded by darkness. But even though we may feel lost in the midst of our current circumstances, God promises the hope of His light — He promises to illuminate the way before us and show us the way out of darkness.



Elder Neil L. Andersen: Seek the Lord's help in finding opportunities to share the gospel. "I promise you as you pray to know with whom to speak, names and faces will come into your mind. Words to speak will be given in the very moment you need them. Opportunities will open to you. Faith will overcome doubt and the Lord will bless you with your very own miracles."

Sister Rosemary M. Wixom: Pray to know a child's needs. Parents should take the time to tell their children, "You are a child of God" and "I love everything about you." Heavenly Father called His Son "beloved … in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).

Elder L. Whitney Clayton: Shared principles he has learned from examples of faithful marriages. Treasure. Faith. Repentance. Respect. Love.



Elder L. Tom Perry: The world changes constantly and dramatically, but God, His commandments, and promised blessings do not change. They are immutable and unchanging.



President Thomas S. Monson: The knowledge which we seek, the answers for which we yearn, the strength which we desire today to meet the challenges of a complex and changing world can be ours when we willingly obey the Lord's commandments.



Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: From the NT story of the man who beseeches Christ to have compassion on his son possessed with devils:
1) When facing the challenge of faith, the father asserts his strength first (Lord, I believe!), and only then acknowledges his limitation (help Thou mine unbelief). 2) When problems come and questions arise, individuals should not start their quest for faith by saying how much they do not have, leading with their "unbelief." 3) When doubt or difficulty come, do not be afraid to ask for help.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks: Followers of Christ: Jesus gave commandments and affirmed that keeping the commandments would require His followers to leave what He called "that which is highly esteemed among men" (Luke 16:15) and "the tradition of men" (Mark 7:8, 13).



Elder Christoffel GOlden, Jr.: "The Father and the Son are distinctly separate beings, but They are perfectly united and one in power and purpose. Their oneness is not reserved for Them alone; rather, They desire this same oneness for everyone who will, with devotion, follow and obey Their commandments."



Elder Enrique R. Falabella: Six lessons he has learned in his home: 1. The temple is the place. 2. To contend, you need two people (and I will not be one of them). 3. A child who sings is a happy child. 4. I need you to hug me. 5. I love the Book of Mormon and my Savior Jesus Christ. 6. It is not enough to know the scriptures, we have to live them.

Elder Erich W. Kopischke: Seek the Lord's acceptance by following the pattern He gave through the prophet Joseph Smith. It includes three main points. 1. Know that our hearts are honest and broken. 2. Know that our spirits are contrite. 3. Be willing to observe our covenants by sacrifice as commanded by the Lord.



Elder Bruce D. Porter: "Tribulation and difficult times may lie ahead, yet we too have cause for good cheer and rejoicing. For, we live in the last dispensation when God has restored His Church and kingdom to the earth in preparation for the return of His Son. If we humbly, quietly trust in the Lord, He will give us guidance and strength in every challenge we face. When our only desire is to please Him, we will be blessed with a deep inner peace."



Elder D. Todd Christofferson: Inasmuch as we follow Christ, we seek to participate in and further His redemptive work. "The greatest service we can provide to others in this life, beginning with those of our own family, is to bring them to Christ through faith and repentance so that they may experience His Redemption — peace and joy now, and immortality and eternal life in the world to come."

183rd Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Saturday

President Thomas S. Monson: "We will hear inspired messages today and tomorrow. Those who will address us have sought prayerfully to know that which the Lord would have us hear at this time. I urge you to be attentive and receptive to the messages which we will hear. That we may do so is my prayer."

President Boyd K. Packer: A snake invaded ivy on an outside wall of his home, seemingly a safe place. Catching it preying on his finches in the nest caused him to consider the warnings spoken by the prophets. "We will not always be safe from the adversary's influence, even within our own homes. We need to protect our nestlings." A dangerous world threatens those things which are spiritual, he cautions.

Bishop Dean M. Davies: Faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, enduring to the end are the blueprints that shape the structure of a person's life.


Sister Elaine Dalton: "'What e'er thou art, act well thy part.' Sister Dalton's mother "kept her covenants and, because she did, she called down the power of heaven to bless our home and to send miracles. She understood who she was and whose she was — a daughter of God. Indeed it can be said of our mother that she acted well her part."

Elder Craig A. Cardon: "The Lord knows what we are facing, that we all sin and 'come short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23) again and again. He 'knoweth the weakness of man and how to succor them who are tempted' (Alma 7:12). And although repentance is not easy, as we strive with all our hearts to obey His gospel, He gives this promise: 'Verily I say unto you, notwithstanding your sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards [you]. I will not utterly cast [you] off; and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy' (Doctrine and Covenants 101:9). The Savior wants to forgive."



Elder M. Russell Ballard: It is crucial for all to understand that Heavenly Father has provided a way for all of His children to have access to the blessings of and be strengthened by the power of the priesthood. "Central to God's plan for His spirit children is His own declaration: 'This is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man'" (Moses 1:39).



President Henry B. Eyring: "We are under covenant both to lift up those in need and to be witnesses of the Savior as long as we live. We will only be able to do it without fail as we feel love for the Savior and His love for us. As we are faithful to the promises we have made, we will feel our love for Him."

Elder Richard G. Scott: "Living an obedient life, firmly rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ, provides the greatest assurance for peace and refuge in our homes. There will still be plenty of challenges or heartaches, but even in the midst of turmoil, we can enjoy inner peace and profound happiness."

Elder Quentin L. Cook: True peace is not just temporary tranquility — it is an abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment. "Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are, knows that we have faith in Him, love Him, and keep His commandments, even in and especially amid life's devastating trials and tragedies."



Elder Stanley G. Ellis: Emphasized the critical importance of doing things the Lord's way. "…in the gift of His Son hath God prepared a more excellent way… (Ether 12:11)."

Elder John B. Dixon: Recounted the Savior's admonition for the gospel to be taken first to the House of Israel and then to the gentiles; spoke of further instruction from the Lord for furthering His work; how, in 1978, "following the established pattern of revelation through the Senior Apostle, President Spencer W. Kimball," came the Revelation on Priesthood allowing all worthy males across the world to receive the priesthood and assist their family and other in receiving every blessing of the restored gospel.



Elder David A. Bednar: "Will I respond to the inclinations of the natural man, or will I yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit and put off the natural man and become a saint through the Atonement of Christ the Lord?" That is the test.



Elder Russell M. Nelson: Encouraged members of all ages to "catch the wave" of unprecedented enthusiasm for missionary work that is sweeping the earth.

General Conference

the first day of April

April, April,
Laugh thy girlish laughter;
Then, the moment after,
Weep thy girlish tears!
April, that mine ears
Like a lover greetest,
If I tell thee, sweetest,
All my hopes and fears,
April, April,
Laugh thy golden laughter,
But, the moment after,
Weep thy golden tears!
~William Watson

Dieter F. Uchtdorf: The pure love of Christ can allow us to see others the way our Heavenly Father sees us:  flawed and imperfect mortals who have potential and worth far beyond our capacity to imagine. Because God loves us so much, we too must love and forgive each other. Because we all depend on the mercy of God, how can we deny to others any measure of the grace we so desperately desire for ourselves?



Russell M. Nelson: Our spirits existed in the premortal realm and will continue to live after the body dies. The spirit provides the body with animation and personality. In this life and in the next, spirit and body when joined together become a living soul of supernal worth.



Ronald A. Rasband: Brothers and sisters, it is my hope and prayer that we will continue to bear nobly our burdens and to reach out to those among us who are suffering and in need of being lifted and encouraged.



D. Todd Christofferson: A brilliant dawn of Restoration broke upon the world - and the gospel of Christ, full and complete, was once again on the earth. This glorious day began when, in a pillar of light "above the brightness of the sun," God the Father and His Beloved Son Jesus Christ visited young Joseph Smith and initiated what would become a virtual flood of revelation linked with divine power and authority.



Julie B. Beck: Relief Society is a not a program. It is an official part of the Lord's Church that is divinely ordained of God to teach, strengthen and inspire sisters in their purpose regarding faith, family and relief.



President Thomas S. Monson: In our zeal, let us not overlook the sage counsel from Ecclesiastes: 'The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong." (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Actually, the prize belongs to him who endures to the end.



L. Tom Perry: I wish to speak about how the Book of Mormon - which is a tender mercy of the Lord preserved for these latter-days - delivers us by teaching us in a pure and "most correct" way the doctrine of Christ.



M. Russell Ballard: The Church remains a mooring in a tempestuous sea — an anchor in the churning waters of change and division. So what can be done to avoid becoming lost?



O. Vincent Haleck: How do we, amidst the challenges of our lives, gain the vision necessary to do those things that will bring us closer to the Savior? "I know that as we gain a vision of ourselves as the Savior sees us and as we act on that vision, our lives will be blessed in unexpected ways."



Larry Y. Wilson: When setting firm limits for another person is in order, those limits should always be administered with loving patience and in a way that teaches eternal principles.



David F. Evans: If we will pray and ask Heavenly Father who we can help and promise to act on the promptings He gives us letting us know how we can help, He will answer our prayers and we will become instruments in His hands to do His work.



Paul B. Pieper: As in ancient times, there is a battle for priority between the sacred and the secular in each human heart.



Neil L. Andersen: Each and every person will one day stand before the judgement seat of Christ. Each will have face the important question: "What thinks Christ of me?"



President Monson: May you ponder the truths you have heard, and may they help you to become even better than you were when conference began two days ago.

General Conference

the last day of March

How thoughtless of March
To have brought us more snow.
We distinctly asked for the sun.
And the wind! How rude
Of those gales to intrude.
Who requested the wind? No one.

Now, did anyone sigh
For this dreary gray sky?
Or implore the snow to remain?
Who ordered the border of puddles
And mud,
And this dismalish drizzle of rain?

Have you heard from April?
From flower or bird?
Is she coming at all?
Has anyone heard?

News. Send us news.
From petal or wing.
Where in the Universe,
Where is Spring?
~Claire Boiko

President Thomas S. Monson:  We come together as one, speaking many languages, living in many lands, but all of one faith and one doctrine and one purpose. This great cause in which we are engaged will continue to go forth, changing and blessing lives as it does so. No cause, no force in the entire world, can stop the work of God.



President Boyd K. Packer: The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is to see a husband and his wife and their children happy at home, protected by the principles and laws of the gospel, sealed safely in the covenants of the everlasting priesthood.



Cheryl A. Esplin: The Lord doesn't just say to teach the doctrine, but to teach children to understand the doctrine. (Doctrine and Covenants 68:25, 28).



Donald L. Hallstrom: Sometimes we use the terms "gospel" and "Church" interchangeably, but they are not the same. The Church was established by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry, built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets. But the gospel is even more than the organization of the Church; the purpose of the Church is to help us live the gospel.



Paul E. Koelliker: As we more clearly understand our Heavenly Father's plan for us, we begin to acknowledge our responsibility to help others learn and understand His plan. Closely tied to helping others remember is the way we personally live and apply the gospel in our own lives. When we actually live the gospel in the pattern taught by the Lord Jesus Christ, our ability to help others increases.



Dallin H. Oaks: Members are making sacrifices of their own time and priorities.

- Lay membership
- Missionaries
- Temple workers and patrons
- Caring for the poor; contributions
- Donating professional skills
- Mothers and fathers in service to families

"As you sacrifice for each other and your children the Lord will bless you."



Henry B. Eyring: Choosing the right creates the solid ground under one's faith. Our choices, hundreds in most days, prepare the solid ground on which our edifice of faith is built. The framework around which the substance of our faith is poured is the gospel of Jesus Christ with all its covenants, ordinances and principles.



Jeffrey R. Holland: God's concern is for the faith you arrive with when you come rather than the time of day... (as in the parable of the laborers, of whom Christ invited some to work in the vineyard as late as the 11th hour and paid them in full). "However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made, or talents you think you don't have, or distance from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love."



Robert D. Hales: Come to ourselves at last, as did the prodigal son in the parable Jesus taught. Prepare to worthily partake the Sacrament, obtain a temple recommend and sacrifice to serve one another and lift.



David S. Baxter: Single parents, your journey through life has had bumps, twists, detours and turns. In the kingdom of God there are no second-class citizens. When you move forward, Providence will move with you.



Ulisses Soares: "You can't be right by doing wrong. You can't be wrong by doing right." (President Monson)  If we exercise faith and are diligent in obeying in the Lord's commandments, we will easily find the correct direction to follow, especially when we face our day-to-day choices.



Quentin L. Cook: In tune with the music of faith... And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.



Richard G. Scott: As you continue to live righteously you will always be prompted to know what to do. Sometimes the discovery of what action to take may require significant effort and trust on your part. Yet you will be prompted to know what to do as you meet the conditions for such divine guidance in your life.