President Eyring conducted the Saturday morning session. Direct quotations are in quotation marks (from my notes). Other text is my summary of what was said.<\/p>\n
Song: The Morning Breaks<\/strong><\/p>\n Song: High on the Mountain Top<\/strong><\/p>\n Prayer: Bonnie Oscarson<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaker: President Thomas S. Monson<\/strong><\/p>\n Speakers have “sought heaven’s help and felt inspiration”<\/p>\n Milestones<\/p>\n Song: Beautiful Zion Built Above<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaker: Elder Packer<\/strong><\/p>\n Looking for records of seventh great-grandfather, John Packer in Oxford. Chaplain seemed to question if he was a Christian. Elder Packer turned to the topical guide and showed the chaplain various references to Jesus Christ, 18 pages (his birth, his life, his resurrection, his atonement).<\/p>\n The Book of Mormon is \u201cAnother Testament of Jesus Christ\u201d– we teach of Christ. Many, many references proclaim divine roles of Jesus Christ in the standard works<\/p>\n \u201cWe may not live perfect lives and there are penalties for our mistakes\u201d but we agreed in preexistence to accept his law. Savior wrought atonement, which provides a way. He did so with an \u201ceternal understanding\u201d of his role. Those who listen and heed his words and words of his servants receive grace. Mercy and grace are not limited to those who commit sin. His mercy is the \u201cmighty healer.\u201d<\/p>\n Woman\u2014very hurt, difficult situation. Cried out, \u201csomeone must pay for this terrible wrong.\u201d There was an immediate reply, \u201cSomeone has already paid.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf we seek to understand His atonement, we will come to a deep reverence for the Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n No matter how many new members, how many different languages, etc., the true measure of this Church is found in the \u201cspiritual strength of individual members.\u201d \u201cEach member of the church . . . is a critical member\u201d– body of the church metaphor. We need every single person if we are to \u201csucceed in the work\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Speaker: Lynn G. Robbins<\/strong><\/p>\n Elder Packer asked him, \u201cWhich way do you face?\u201d A Seventy does not represent the people to the prophet, but the prophet to the people<\/p>\n Isaiah\u2014fear ye not the reproach of men. Lehi\u2019s dream \u2013 Peer pressure.<\/p>\n \u201cWe seek respectful coexistence with those who point fingers,\u201d but be careful not to look wrong way, to fear. Remember order of first and second commandments<\/p>\n Joseph Smith \u2013 Martin Harris and 116 pages<\/p>\n if you \u201csave face with men,\u201d you may \u201close face with God.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel– courage as a \u201cgift of the Spirit\u201d; Esther– same courage<\/p>\n CS Lewis \u2013 \u201ccourage is the form of every virtue or at the testing point.\u201d<\/p>\n King Noah, King Saul, Aaron, many New Testament chief rulers\u2014feared men<\/p>\n Mormon– speak with both having authority from God; Nephi \u2013 wherefore the things that are pleasing and the world I do not write; Capt. Moroni \u2013 I seek not for the honor of the world<\/p>\n Prophets often under attack because \u201cthe guilty taketh the truth to be hard.\u201d Scornful reaction of others is guilt. Scornful say prophets are bigoted, pressure prophets to lower standards. \u201cLowering standards\u201d to society\u2019s inappropriate behavior is \u201capostasy.\u201d Some people lobby for gospel to bow to local or ethnic customs, for bishops to lower temple recommend standards or ecclesiastical endorsements \u2013 they must be careful that they are not \u201cfalling into the same snare\u201d (of apostasy).<\/p>\n Savior is the \u201cmost fearless\u201d being who ever lived. He is the only person \u201cwho never forgot which way He faced.\u201d How many times the Savior refers to the \u201cFather.\u201d \u201cHe flawlessly knew which way he faced.\u201d<\/p>\n Go about doing good. Remember which is the first and great commandment. \u201cWhen others demand approval . . . Remember which way we face.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Speaker: Sister Cheryl A. Esplin<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI wish when I was your age I understood the significance of the sacrament better than I did.\u201d I wish I understood what Jeffrey R Holland says about the sacrament, that it can be a \u201ctruly spiritual experience, holy communion, a renewal for the soul\u201d<\/p>\n Listen to the sacrament prayers and recommit to our covenants. Be willing to take upon us the name of Christ. Elder Eyring says \u201cyou must see yourself as his . . .\u201d You must want what He wants. Remember Christ always, \u201cnot just during the sacrament.\u201d Sacrament gives us an opportunity for \u201cintrospection,\u201d for turning heart and will to God, \u201ctime for truly spiritual experience as we reflect upon the Savior\u2019s redeeming and enabling power.\u201d<\/p>\n Story: young woman who realizes \u201cenabling power\u201d \u2013 Savior helps us be who we need to be and serve beyond our own capacity.<\/p>\n Melvin Ballard: who is there who does not want his spirit? You do things and are sorry and you want to repent and be forgiven\u2026 Repent and then \u201crepair to the sacrament table\u201d and find true forgiveness. You can \u201cfeel the wounds of the spirit being healed and the load being lifted\u201d at the sacrament table.<\/p>\n Bread reminds us he will always be our bread of life and living water.<\/p>\n 3 Nephi \u2013 the people are \u201cfilled\u201d\u2013 spirit heals and renews our souls. Promise of sacrament is to always spirit with us. \u201cMy arm up mercy is extended toward you and whosoever will come\u201d<\/p>\n Aaronic priesthood holders \u201crepresent the Savior\u201d as they prepare, bless, and pass. It is as if the Savior himself is extending his atonement to you. \u201cThe more we ponder the gift of the sacrament,\u201d the more sacred it will be to us. Prepare, so we can have a truly spiritual experience.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Song: Guide Us Oh Thou Great Jehovah<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaker: <\/strong>Elder Chi Hong Wong<\/strong><\/p>\n speaking in Cantonese– English subtitles, English voice over<\/p>\n Parable of Mark 2:1-5. \u2013 Comparison how members and missionaries can work together in ward councils to reach out and rescue<\/p>\n Man with palsy. The man had to wait for help. In our day, like this: four people– relief, EQ, Aaronic priesthood and a full-time missionary. Bishop gave out \u201crescuing assignment.\u201d They needed to make a home visit \u2013 not wait for the sick person to come by himself to church. The man was being brought to Jesus. Things did not go smoothly (just like in the parable). How can we bring them to Jesus Christ to be healed? The work to save souls is \u201cnever too demanding.\u201d In the parable, they took him to the roof. Perhaps the young man from ward climbed up; perhaps the EQ and full-time missionary help. RS sister \u201creminds them to be careful and gives words of encouragement.\u201d RS continues to comfort sick man as he waits to be healed. This requires all to work together. Careful coordination. The four people \u201chave to work in harmony.\u201d If one person released his or her corner of the bed, the man would fall out of bed.<\/p>\n \u201cTo assist the Savior, we have to work in unity and harmony.\u201d We must work together, united in the Lord, Jesus Christ. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, \u201cSon, thy sins be forgiven thee\u201d \u2013 healed spiritually and physically. We would all like this to happen to us. Do we know anyone in our lives who is \u201cspiritually paralyzed\u201d? It would be wise for bishops to make better use of their ward councils. Each could come with list of names of people who may need assistance. Counsel how to best help. Full-time missionaries are great resources. They are young and full of energy. They love lists of specific names.<\/p>\n One more hidden treasure in Scripture account \u2013 verse five \u2013 \u201cwhen Jesus saw THEIR faith.\u201d Combined faith makes a difference for others. Jesus Christ loves us all and has the power to do save and heal us physically and spiritually. When we assist him, we, too, \u201cwill be rescued in the process.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Speaker: Elder D. Todd Christofferson<\/strong><\/p>\n Says, \u201cBeunos Dias\u201d to laughter<\/p>\n Henry V– night before the battle. King talks to his soldiers. Because they do not realize who he is, they tell the truth. Who bears responsibility? The king or the soldiers? Is the king\u2019s cause just? Our obedience to the king wipes the crime out of us. King Henry disagrees\u2014\u201cevery subject\u2019s duty is the king\u2019s, but every subject\u2019s soul is his own.\u201d<\/p>\n Who bears responsibility in our lives? Some blame others, God. Some suppose God will save everyone because he loves us.<\/p>\n Brigham Young said, \u201cI do not wish anyone to be satisfied with what I do…\u201d unless the spirit of revelation confirms it to him or her.<\/p>\n God \u201cwill not act to make\u201d us something that our actions do not choose for us to become. We must act and take the consequences. We can choose to become the kind of person that we will. With God\u2019s help, that kind of person can be like Him. Through Jesus Christ, our failures can be \u201cerased.\u201d Salvation is not the result of \u201cdivine whim,\u201d but neither can it be forced to happen by \u201cdivine will.\u201d<\/p>\n As the consequence of being perfectly just, God cannot be arbitrary, look on sin with allowance, allow mercy to rob justice. Christ\u2019s atonement satisfies the demands of justice. But even so, according to justice, the plan can only be brought about by repentance.<\/p>\n \u201cChrist died not to save indiscriminately but to offer repentance.\u201d<\/p>\n Acting to repent is a \u201cself-willed change\u201d; it honors agency. Only those who have \u201cfaith unto repentance\u201d will have the plan of salvation brought about in their lives.<\/p>\n \u201cThe God who makes no demands is the functional equivalent of a God who does not exist.\u201d Relativism \u2013 each person is his or her own highest authority. Some people who believe in God think they decide who is right and wrong. Objective, fixed and universal truth feels like coercion to some. But denying the law of gravity does not keep you from falling if you step off a cliff.<\/p>\n Personal responsibility \u201cis a God given gift.\u201d Personal accountability is both \u201ca right and a duty.\u201d We must defend against those who might make us dependent.<\/p>\n Story: Man who expects church or government or both to care for him. Some going to take him to the cemetery and let him die. One friend says, \u201cwe cannot do this. I have corn to give him.\u201d The man asks, \u201cHave the husks been removed?\u201d They had not. The man says, \u201cThen, drive on.\u201d<\/p>\n By \u201cgrace we are saved after all we can do.\u201d To find help can be ours no matter where we are in path. But we must repent and choose God. Take responsibility and go to work so there is something God can help us with.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Song: If I Listen With My Heart<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaker: President Uctdorf<\/strong><\/p>\n some asked if he would speak in German, but he said no– though it may sound like it.<\/p>\n Airplane story: how it looks flying at night \u2013 seeing stars of Milky Way, \u201cworlds without number.\u201d Only a few years ago scientists thought nothing was outside the Milky Way. Telescopes advance \u2013 now we know that the universe is \u201cmind-bogglingly bigger\u201d than anyone had ever believed. Today we can see some of these distant galaxies. We know they are there. They have been there for a very long time, but before we had instruments, we did not believe such a thing was possible. \u201cThe immensity of the universe did not suddenly change, but our ability to see and understand this truth\u201d did change.<\/p>\n What if we travel back in time and try to explain technology to those 100 years ago? Misguided, foolish, even dangerous– but they would be mistaken, even if well-meaning and sincere, positive of their opinion. But they do not \u201csee clearly.\u201d Many of us \u201cassume we are right even when we are wrong.\u201d Are we destined to drift?<\/p>\n Joyful message is that God himself says we can know truth. Dreams, visions, thoughts, feelings. He will speak in a way that is \u201cunmistakable and transcends human experience.\u201d Of course there will be those who scoff and say this is impossible. God has better things to do than answer our prayer. \u201cGod cares about you. He will listen. He will answer your prayers.\u201c But answers come in his way and in his time.<\/p>\n God wants you to come back to him. The Savior is the way. It is a \u201cfairly straightforward experiment.\u201d First, search the word of God– with a sincere desire to discover truth, not with intent to criticize. Then ponder prepare your mind to receive the truth. Second, consider, ponder, fearlessly strive to believe, be grateful. Third, ask heavenly father in the name of Jesus Christ to manifest the truth of the church of the Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints unto you with a sincere heart and real intent, having faith in Christ. Fourth, if any man will do God\u2019s will, he will know of the doctrine. You must first live the principles. Put them to the test in your own life– with real intent and enduring faith. God will manifest truth to you by the power of the Holy Ghost. You have his word.<\/p>\n Are the steps too hard? Not worth the effort? No. A personal testimony \u201cis the most important thing you can earn in this life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want to recognize spiritual truths, you have to use the right instruments.\u201d You cannot come to an understanding of spiritual truths with instruments that are unable to detect it. When we earnestly seek light, we get more light. Gradually things that were difficult become light, bright, and familiar. If we remove ourselves from light of the gospel, our light dims– not in the day or week, but gradually. Sometimes some get to the place that they wonder how they ever thought the church was true. Message of the gospel is foolishness to those who do not understand.<\/p>\n Church is a place for all \u201cregardless of height or depth of testimony.\u201d No sign that says how tall your testimony has to be to enter. All may come unto Christ and be \u201cperfected in Him.\u201d Church is a place of \u201cwelcoming and nurturing, not separating.\u201d In the end, \u201cwe are all children seeking God\u2019s light.\u201d We do \u201cnot condemn others for the amount of light they may or may not have.\u201d We just seek to help. Gaining a testimony is not the test of \u201ca minute, an hour, at day \u2026. [but] the quest of a lifetime.\u201d It may not come as quickly as you desire, but \u201cI promise that if you do your part, it will come and it will be glorious.\u201d Savior promised, if you seek, you will find. What may appear dim, out of focus, and distant will gradually be revealed. This spiritual life is within the reach of every child of God. Your personal testimony of light and truth will not only bless you and children in this life, but will also accompany you into the next life and to worlds without end.<\/p>\n Closing prayer: Bradley D Foster<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" President Eyring conducted the Saturday morning session. Direct quotations are in quotation marks (from my notes). 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