*Personal commentary, thoughts and inspirations are underlined
One other note ... for the other sessions I was able to listen and type my notes. During the Priesthood session, I had to hand write my notes and I'm just not as fast writing as I am typing, so my notes are a little less copious.
Elder Richard G. Scott
We should feel deeply humble to hold the Priesthood, especially when we consider how few men have held the Priesthood through the ages.
Jesus Christ is the perfect role model. He humbly served others without thought to himself.
Private Priesthood Interview
Are you holy & worthy to hold the Priesthood?
How often do you use it?
Are you private thoughts whole? Do you eleveate your mind?
Do you control what enters your eyes and mind?
Are you mentally and physically faithful to your wife?
Are you kind and supportive to your wife and family?
Do you lead your family in FHE, prayer?
Do you tell your wife that you love her?
How Priesthood Should be Used to Bless Others
We should have an equal partnership with wife.
Widows in need.
Some women are short-changed. A son or Priesthood holder carries more weight than a woman. This should not be! No unrighteous dominion (D&C 121:37, 39).
The most splendid, extreme creation is the woman. Of all creations, none is more beautiful. He quoted President Hinckley "Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth. God will hold us accountable if we neglect His daughters. He has given us a great and compelling trust. May we be faithful to that trust." (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Our Responsibility to Our Young Women,” Ensign, Sep 1988, 8)
Is it no wonder, then, that one of Satan's most powerful tools is that of degrading women in the media available to virtually anyone today ... especially p****ography.
Express your gratitude often to your mother, wife ... be tender and appreciative.
The Priesthood is to be used not kept. Have I ever freely offered to give a blessing to anyone? We always seem to wait until called upon to give blessings. Can we not be angels too?
He quoted President Hunter. "As special witnesses of our Savior, we have been given the awesome assignment to administer the affairs of his church and kingdom and to minister to his daughters and his sons wherever they are on the face of the earth. By reason of our call to testify, govern, and minister, it is required of us that despite age, infirmity, exhaustion, and feelings of inadequacy, we do the work he has given us to do, to the last breath of our lives." (Howard W. Hunter, “To the Women of the Church,” Ensign, Nov 1992, 95)
Elder Jay E. Jensen
Arms of safety is the Savior's love (see Alma 34:16)
A girl fell from a lookout point above the Grand Canyon. A 19-year old boy named Ian, who had been trained in emergency recues, immediately knew what to do. The girl was able to climb up a little bit, but was now stuck again. Ian climbed down to where she was and held her in his arms until the rescue teams could help them.
He reference the section heading of D&C 110 "Visions manifested to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery in the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, April 3, 1836. HC 2: 435–436. The occasion was that of a Sabbath day meeting. The Prophet prefaces his record of the manifestations with these words: “In the afternoon, I assisted the other Presidents in distributing the Lord’s Supper to the Church, receiving it from the Twelve, whose privilege it was to officiate at the sacred desk this day. After having performed this service to my brethren, I retired to the pulpit, the veils being dropped, and bowed myself, with Oliver Cowdery, in solemn and silent prayer. After rising from prayer, the following vision was opened to both of us.”
There is too much informality and casual dress in those who administer the sacrament.
True servants of Jesus Christ are properly dressed.
Elder James J. Hamula
The war in heaven was instigated by Satan. This war continues on the earth today. Blood and horror fill the earth. We are in the final day. This time, the restoration of the Church will triumph.
Some of the most valient and noble are on the earth today. Young men are the valient and noble. Satan knows his time is short and is using all tools to prevent the noble from keeping the commandments of God.
Today and days to come are perilous.
We should not fear, but be sober. We should exercise good judgement and have measured conduct.
There is one way to overcome Satan. It is through the blood of the Lamb ... faith in Jesus Christ ... testimony of the Gosepl and consecration of self to the work (see D&C 88)
Three things to do:
1) Do as Joseph Smith and pray privately and regularly ... this will inspire revelation.
2) Learn to hear the voice of the Lord ... you must be still in your mind.
3) Obey the word of the Lord as it is given to you.
"stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" (see Exodus 14:13, 2 Chronicles 20:17, D&C 123:17)
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Some members had the task of moving a grand piano from the chapel to the cultural hall. They tried all sorts of methods, but could not do it. Then one brother suggested, "stand close together and lift where you stand" Roll up your sleeves and get to work.
Some struggle ... two ways.
1) Some seek to lead and seek a crown of power.
2) Some seek to hide and seek a cave ... they are too busy.
Some turn down callings, while some accept and do not magnify them.
The root cause of these problems is the same for both --> selfishness
The opposite of selfishness is charity.
The Lord is pleased with the humble servant. One such servant was John Roe Moyle. He was a stone mason. He walked six hours from his house to work on the Salt Lake Temple. One day on his farm, a cow kicked him in the leg. The leg had to be amputated. He survived and healed. When he was well enough, he began carving a wooden leg. Eventually he built up his endurance to walk the 22 miles to the temple despite the pain it caused him.
Do you care more for the kingdom of God or for yourself?
In the story, the piano is the Lord's work, therefore, no one does it alone. We all do it together.
President Henry B. Eyring
Each of us is asked to stretch our limit. The more faithful service you give, the more the Lord asks of you.
You push muscles to the point of exhaustion in order to build them up.
You can't do this work by yourself. "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up" (D&C 84:88)
Confidence replaces doubt.
"The promise of angels to bear you up is real."
"And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
"And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." (2 Kings 6:16-17)
More references to angels ... this conference is talking a lot about angels. Are more and more coming in these Latter Days?
President Thomas S. Monson
He received a call from the MTC president regaring an elder who was determined to go home because he could not learn Spanish. President Monson suggested to the MTC president that he send the elder to a Japanese class and then have him report back at noon. After the elder attended the Japanese class, he reported that he could learn Spanish!
We must feed those who go through rough times. We must be prudent in our spending.
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
"And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
3 Imperatives for our Considertion
1) Learn what we should learn.
Paul taught, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
"Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you." (Philippians 3:13-15)
Paul taught the Hebrews, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)
The Priesthood is the power of God delegated to man. It is the perfect plan of service.
He who neglects it shall not be counted worthy to stand. Use it or lose it.
2) Do what we should do
D&C 107:99-100... let every man learn his duty. Put forth your best effort. There are eternal consequences to our actions. John Taylor quote ... you will be held responsible for those you could have saved.
3) Be what we should be
"be thou an example of the believes, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (2 Timothy 4:12)
Man must seek that power which is higher than him.
"What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am" (3 Nephi 27:27)
The hireling fleeth. The shepard does not, but lays down his life for the sheep.
Bro. Borrup (sp?) was part of a bomber crew over the Pacific in WWII. He knew he would be called to be a part of a sorty and he knew they would be shot down. Sure enough, they were shot down. He tried to inflate his raft, but it wouldn't inflate. He was drowning. He passed out. He woke up, pled to God and the raft inflated. They floated for 3 days with no food or water. They saw a submarine go by one day. The next day they saw it again. They knew it was going to leave the area. Then a thought came to his head ... use the Priesthood to command the submarine to stop. He spoke the words and it stopped. The captain was in awe. They weren't even looking for the downed crew.
So my notes weren't necessarily less copius. I guess I was able to write a lot. I filled in the gaps too as I remember things.
