President Henry B. Eyring, “‘Fear Not, I Am with Thee’”
“The hymn we just heard sung by the choir speaks of promises which will become more important and more precious in the time ahead for all of us and for those we love.”
“In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health,
“In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,
“At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—
“As thy days may demand, … so thy succor shall be.”
“My wise mother taught me that when I was a little boy. I had asked her, ‘Mother, why is life so hard?’
“She smiled and said firmly, ‘Hal, of course it’s hard. It’s supposed to be. Life is a test.’”
“You might reasonably wonder why a loving and all-powerful God allows our mortal test to be so hard. It is because He knows that we must grow in spiritual cleanliness and stature to be able to live in His presence. To make that possible, Heavenly Father gave us a Savior and the power to choose for ourselves by faith to keep His commandments and to repent and to come unto Him.”
Isaiah 53:4
4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Alma 7:11–12
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
“The combination of trials and their duration are as varied as are the children of our Heavenly Father. No two are exactly alike. But what is being tested is the same, at all times in our lives and for every person: Will we do whatsoever the Lord our God will command us?”
“As President Spencer W. Kimball taught: ‘God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs.’”
“the Lord [fulfils]l His promise to succor those in need in His earthly kingdom. Many of you offer such consecrated service in a variety of ways.”
“You are an important part of the Lord’s answers to their prayers for assurance.”
“Another great opportunity can come when you invite the Holy Ghost to help you find ways to help the Lord comfort those who are pleading for it.”
Mosiah 18:8–9
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
President Rosemary K. Chibota, “A Child of God”
“Throughout His ministry, He truly saw the people around Him.”
Mark 10
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23 ¶ And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
President Dallin H. Oaks reminded us that “all mortals are beloved children of God.”
“I plead with you as disciples of Jesus Christ to pray to see others as He sees them and to treat them accordingly.”
“When we see others through the Savior’s eyes, love and service naturally follow.”
“The Savior sees our divine potential and, as the scriptures teach, ‘calleth those things which be not as though they were.’ He sees not only who we are but who we can become. Through His atoning sacrifice, He makes that divine potential possible for all of us.”
“The world invites us to focus on labels rather than eternal identity.”
“Whatever labels may weigh heavily upon you today, Jesus Christ can raise you above them. His grace is sufficient to lift you above every label and limitation.”
“He loves you. He knows you. He sees you as you are now and sees who you will become. He has a plan for your life, and Jesus Christ is at the center of that plan!”
“President Russell M. Nelson taught us that embracing our divine identity influences every major decision in our lives. As we seek the Savior’s perspective, He will often guide us to those who need to be seen.”
Elder Neil L. Andersen, “Courage Born of Our Faith in Jesus Christ”
“Faith and courage are hallmarks of disciples of Jesus Christ.”
“Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God. He came to earth in the humblest of circumstances. He lived a perfect life. He taught us how to live our mortal lives and how to prepare for our eternal lives. Because of His incomparable love for each of us, He gave a gift only He could give, suffering for our sins, allowing us to repent and be forgiven.”
“Because He rose from the tomb, we too will be resurrected. How sublime are the purposes of our God and how immense is our reverence for our Savior.”
“It has always taken spiritual courage, born of faith in Jesus Christ, to be His disciple.”
Moroni 1:3
3 And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life.
“Our world is in constant commotion. Our phone seems almost attached to our hand, bringing a flood of information, misinformation, and now artificial information.”
“Times have changed, but our spirits have not changed. We need stillness to nourish our faith in Christ.”
“It is our faith in Jesus Christ that gives us the desire to humbly kneel alone and pray to our Heavenly Father. In those quiet moments when we speak with our Heavenly Father privately, independently, we are given the increased courage to choose the right.”
“As a young man, I heard President David O. McKay say, ‘The greatest battle of life is fought within the silent chambers of your own soul.’”
“It is our faith in Jesus Christ that gives us the courage to accept a calling from our priesthood leaders even when we feel inadequate or without sufficient time to accept the responsibility.”
“It is the faith of tens of thousands of remarkable young men and women across the world that gives them the courage to get up before the sun rises to attend seminary and then to serve missions and, upon returning, to marry and begin a family. And for those not able to marry, their courage helps them to remain true to their covenants.”
2 Corinthians 4:8
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
John 14:23
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Elder James G. O. Fantone, “Take Upon Us His Name”
Mosiah 3:17
17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
3 Nephi 27:5
5 Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day;
“How do we, as covenant children of God, truly take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ? How does that manifest in our daily lives?”
Moroni 6:3
3 And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.
Mosiah 2:17
17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
“President Marion G. Romney taught this eternal truth: ‘Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made’ (“The Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance,” Liahona, Mar. 2009, 19).”
“My beloved brothers and sisters, the Savior’s invitation is not for us to merely add His name to our names. His invitation is for us to take upon us His name by covenant and to serve Him with all our heart, might, mind, and strength—by lifting, loving, and serving our fellow men.”
“I testify that He lives, that this is His restored Church, and that as we lose our lives in His service, we will find Him and we will find ourselves.”
Elder Edward Dube, “Come unto Christ”
“He suffered for me in Gethsemane; ‘his sweat was as it were great drops of blood.’ He suffered for me on the cross at Golgotha. I cannot comprehend that suffering, but I testify of His divinity.”
“President Oaks taught, ‘Jesus Christ did all of this because He loves all of the children of God.’”
“Three key truths to note:
Come: It’s an action. We choose to move from our current place to a better place.
Deny yourselves: Surrender. Let go of the things that are holding us back.
Be perfected in Him: Come as we are with a willing heart. He will give us a new heart.”
“President Russell M. Nelson taught: ‘Perfection is pending. It can come in full only after the Resurrection and only through the Lord. It awaits all who love Him and keep His commandments.’”
“The Savior, through His grace, helped him to let go of what was holding him back.”
“As you lose yourself in helping him or her come unto Christ, you will find solutions to your current problems.”
Elder Quentin L. Cook, “Integrity and Virtue Lead to Happiness”
“Lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ best reflect the Savior’s teaching and direction when they joyfully live lives of integrity and virtue.”
“The virtuous, Christlike life necessary to sustain us and propel us along the covenant path has never been more important or challenging. If we are to be spiritually prepared to have the integrity and virtue required of disciples of Jesus Christ, we can stay on the path and continue to follow wise, righteous principles that lead to happiness.”
“that some conduct which is not inherently evil can keep us from engaging in spiritual matters that will bless us now and throughout eternity.”
“Preach My Gospel teaches, ‘Integrity includes being honest with God, yourself, your leaders, and others.’”
“President Spencer W. Kimball taught that ‘integrity (the willingness and ability to live by our beliefs and commitments) is one of the foundation stones of good character, and without good character one cannot hope to enjoy the presence of God here or in the eternities.’”
“Living a virtuous life with integrity aligns us with God’s will. True happiness, often translated as blessedness, is the actual outcome of integrity and being virtuous. Virtue includes not only a strong personal moral compass but also cleanliness, modesty, goodness, holiness, and reverence for the sacred.”
“The idea of happiness is a predominant goal of most people. The means of achieving the goal have been impacted in recent years by conduct and choices that do not result in happiness. A major concern is the lack of interest in the concept and pursuit of virtue.”
“Some scholars have noted that the reference to “happiness” was understood by the [constitution] founders to be based on living a virtuous life.”
Doctrine and Covenants 121:45
45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
2 Nephi 2:25
25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
“The Lord wants us to experience the joy of a virtuous life. He provides us with many beautiful gifts both physical and spiritual. Those who make sacrifices in His name will be richly rewarded.”
“Any use of the internet to bully, destroy a reputation, or place a person in a bad light is reprehensible.”
“The Church has experienced physical and verbal attacks over the years. We cannot control the conduct of others, but we can strive to be a peaceable people who live in accordance with the Christlike conduct and virtues taught by our Savior, Jesus Christ. Both President Russell M. Nelson and President Dallin H. Oaks have been inspired to consistently talk about being righteous peacemakers.”
John 3:16
16 ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Doctrine and Covenants 34:3
3 Who so loved the world that he gave his own life, that as many as would believe might become the sons of God. Wherefore you are my son;
“The Savior explained that He had not come to condemn the world but to save the world.”
Luke 6:46
46 ¶ And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Matthew 7:21
21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Philippians 4:8
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Articles of Faith 1:13
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
“Part of having integrity is acknowledging our faults to the Lord and repenting of transgressions.”
“Integrity, virtue, and ongoing repentance are the answer in a world where coarse language and serious challenges are so prevalent.”
“I testify that Jesus Christ accomplished the eternity-shaping sacrifice necessary for our salvation and exaltation”
Elder Alfred Kyungu, “Using the Language of Peacemakers”
“President Dallin H. Oaks said: ‘My brothers and sisters, as followers of Christ, let us follow Him by forgoing contention and by using the language and methods of peacemakers. In our families and other personal relationships, let us avoid what is harsh and hateful.’”
“President Oaks extended an invitation to all of us. He said, ‘As the messages from this conference are published, we invite all to study and ponder them prayerfully and to act in faith on the principles they explain.’”
“It is a spiritual exercise to identify the language and expressions we need to forgo and then replace them with words and phrases that bring peace wherever we are and at all times.”
Proverbs 6:16–17, 19
16 ¶ These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Matthew 12:36–37
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Ephesians 4:29
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Colossians 4:6
6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
“Rather than choosing words and language that escalate feelings of anger, disappointment, and frustration, let us use words that encourage understanding and peace. We must choose language that strengthens confidence and preserves relationships. Words such as: ‘Please.’ ‘Thank you.’ ‘I appreciate that.’”
“I must speak the loving word, ere the sun goes down.” (“I Have Work Enough to Do,” Hymns, no. 224.)
“Therefore, let us fill our hearts with the true doctrine of Christ, which has the power to change our language and help us speak more as peacemakers today, tomorrow, and always.”
“Elder Ulisses Soares said, ‘We can become instruments of His peace in the world.’”
John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Elder Ciro Schmeil, “Consider Your Ways, and from This Day Will the Lord Bless You”
“And God did not leave us alone in this journey. As President Dallin H. Oaks has taught, God gave us ‘divine helps for mortality’ that can help us back to His presence. I will mention two of these divine helps: the Savior Jesus Christ and our covenants.”
“Our Savior, Jesus Christ, and our covenants are essential to guide us through the covenant path and help us overcome our challenges and weaknesses. Jesus Christ knows us individually, and He will help us if we seek Him:”
Ether 12:27
27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
“President Oaks said: ‘By far, God’s strongest mortal help was His provision of a Savior, Jesus Christ, who would suffer to pay the price and provide forgiveness for repented sins. That merciful and glorious Atonement explains why faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel.’”
“We show our faith in Christ by making and keeping covenants with God.”
“A covenant is a sacred promise between God and His children. God gives the conditions for the covenant, and His children agree to obey those conditions. God promises to bless His children as they fulfill the covenant.” (General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3.5.2, Gospel Library.)
Matthew 11:28–30
28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
“Elder Dale G. Renlund has reminded and warned us that ‘the time will come, in each of your lives, when there will be a hesitation to go to church and partake of the sacrament. If it hasn’t happened yet, it will. But know this: if you follow the Savior’s direction and go and partake of the sacrament, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, blessings will pour upon you that will keep you firm, that will keep you solid, that will keep you established on that firm foundation that is Jesus Christ.’”
“In Preach My Gospel we also learn that ‘as we make our Sabbath activities compatible with God’s intent for the day, we will feel joy and peace. We will be spiritually nourished and physically refreshed.’”
Haggai 1:5–7, 9
5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7 ¶ Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.
President Dallin H. Oaks, “The Gospel of Jesus Christ Is for All”
“God the Father, the great Elohim, is the Father of our spirits, the framer of heaven and earth, and the author of the plan of our salvation. Jesus Christ is His Only Begotten Son, Jehovah, and the Messiah, ‘the God of the whole earth.’”
3 Nephi 11:14
14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.
Mosiah 3:18
18 For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
Moses 6:52, 59
52 And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you.
59 That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory;
Omni 1:26
26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.
“As your President, I pray for what our Heavenly Father wants for each of us—to be active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, proceeding forward on the covenant path into the eternities. We need one another’s prayers. I feel the positive effect of your prayers. I am thankful, and I love you.”
“Focus on developing your faith in God and the mission of His Son, Jesus Christ. Strong faith requires more than strong desire. It means daily trying, one step at a time, with prayer and scriptural learning.”
“We are all a work in progress. We are all at different places on what President Russell M. Nelson called ‘the covenant path.’”
“A major source of concern to your prophet leaders are those members of diminishing faith in Jesus Christ. We love you, young and old, men and women.”
“Never let your secular learning limit your spiritual horizons.”
“We are grateful to know that there are two methods of gaining needed knowledge: (1) the evolving disclosures of man through the scientific method and digital information, which may be inaccurate, and (2) the truths discovered through the spiritual method, which begins with faith in God and relies on scriptures, inspired teaching, and personal revelation. There is no ultimate conflict between knowledge obtained by these different methods because God, our omnipotent Eternal Father, knows all truth and expects us to learn by both methods.”
“Along the way we should work to draw closer to Jesus Christ by increasing our humility. President Spencer W. Kimball defined humility as ‘teachableness.’ He explained: ‘Teachableness [is] an ability to realize that all virtues and abilities are not concentrated in one’s self. … [Humility] is forgiving others in the realization that there may be errors of the same kind or worse [that we ourselves commit].’”
“The Book of Mormon teaches that the great Creator died ‘for all men, that all men might become subject unto him.’ This means that if our sins are to be forgiven through His Atonement, we must comply with the conditions He has prescribed, including faith, repentance, and baptism.”
2 Nephi 9:21
21 And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.
“This means that if our sins are to be forgiven through His Atonement, we must comply with the conditions He has prescribed, including faith, repentance, and baptism.”
2 Nephi 9:21
21 And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.
2 Nephi 29:7
7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?
“Other Book of Mormon teachings contradict the erroneous assertion that the grace of God saves only a chosen few.”
2 Nephi 26:33
33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.
Alma 5:49
49 And now I say unto you that this is the order after which I am called, yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren, yea, and every one that dwelleth in the land; yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you the aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea, to cry unto them that they must repent and be born again.
Moses 7:62
62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.
“As declared on its title page, the Book of Mormon has come forth that we ‘may know [of] the covenants of the Lord’ and also for the convincing of all ‘that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.’”
