Three Themes I Heard in General Conference

We just finished the spiritual feast of General Conference, and what a feast it was; the talks, the music, even the prayers!

Listening to, and taking brief notes of each talk I heard three themes repeated over and over.

1. Repent! Sometimes explicitly, often implicitly. 

2. Ministering! For those on both sides of the veil we need to do better, much better.

3. Becoming one in Christ! A Zion people is to be of one heart and one mind, and that heart and mind are Christ's. We are not only to follow Him, but to work constantly to become like Him. A tall order, but necessary for us to be ready to receive Him when He comes again.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson - Celebrate Easter with the same fervor and enthusiasm as Christmas.

Bonnie H. Cordon - Create muscle memory of discipleship.

Elder Carl B. Cook - "Let's do it again sometime!"

Elder Gerrit W. Gong - Our wards (and branches) are a spiritual ecosystem.

Elder Quentin L. Cook - Prepare for gathering to our heavenly home.

Elder Allen D. Haynie - Repent! Begin again to follow the prophet.

Pres. Henry B. Eyring - Seek for the Savior's peace, "I will not leave you comfortless."

Elder Dale G. Renlund - There is power in covenants, and protection from the adversary, when the temple is an important part of our life.

Elder Peter F. Meurs - We have access to the saving, redeeming, healing power of Jesus Christ.

Elder Randall K. Bennett - Patriarchal Blessings!

Elder Craig C. Christensen - We were created to have joy. Repentance is the pathway to joy because it leads us to the Savior.

Elder Evan A. Schmutz - Trust the doctrine of Christ and build your life on the rock!

Elder Benjamin de Hoyos - Temples and Family History!

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Daily bread is best prepared and consumed at home.

Elder Mark A. Bragg - Be a good man in a storm, develop spiritual, mental and physical poise.

Milton daRocha Camargo - The Savior solves problems! The more we focus on Jesus Christ, the more sin loses its appeal.

Elder K. Brett Nattress - Do we remember Father in Heaven and love Him?

Elder Juan A. Uceda - The Good, the Beautiful, the Magnificent Shepherd, Jesus Christ. With the Savior's help we can love and minister to each other. (This was one of my favorites!)

Elder D. Todd Christofferson - The only way to be unified is to become like Christ. Bend our efforts to the common cause.

Camille N. Johnson - Jesus Christ is relief!

Elder Ulisses Soares - Hearts knit together in unity and love; cease from contention; clothe ourselves in the bond of charity.

Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita - Patriarchal blessings are personal counsel from the Lord to you.

Elder Neil L. Andersen - Catch hold of the thought of Jesus Christ to be saved and healed.

Elder Kevin R. Duncan - In this mortal life we can never escape the war, but we can escape the adversary through worship in the temple.

President Russell M. Nelson - Be peacemakers now and always! Anger never persuades, contention never builds. Disciples of Christ should be examples of how to treat others. Charity is the antidote to contention. As we follow the Prince of Peace we become His peacemakers on earth.

President Dallin H. Oaks - We believe in Christ!

Elder M. Russell Ballard - Following the promptings of the spirit is one of the things that matters most in our relationships. A testimony of the Savior matters most! Testify often of what you know and believe, not just what you're thankful for.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband - Fill your "bucket list" with the oil of hearing and acting on the Doctrine of Christ.

Elder Vern P. Stanfill - Good enough! Perfectionism vs. Perfected in Christ.

Elder W. Mark Bassett - Learn from the story of Lazarus that there are things that we can and must do, then Christ can do for us what only He can do.

Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt - Learn for yourself the answer to the question "Why did Jesus have to die?" through studying the Plan of Salvation.

Elder David A. Bednar - Abide in and walk with the Son of God. Is the Word in us? Is the tree of Christ growing in us?

President Russell M. Nelson - Come unto the Savior and He can heal you! Jesus is the reason we build temples, they are His houses.

For dessert we had carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

Getting Members to the Temple

This post is part of the General Conference Odessey This week covers the Saturday morning session of the April 1997 conference.

We sustained a new branch president earlier in the year who announced that his vision for our branch is to get members to the temple. He felt that his calling from the Lord is to help all those who haven't ever been to become worthy and go to the temple, and encourage those who have been to keep their recommend current, and attend as often as they can.

President James E. Faust began his talk in this session telling about Brigham Young working hard to get as many through the Nauvoo temple as they could before they had to leave. He spoke of one particular couple, "humble, new converts to the Church, without wealth or position." This couple were ancestors of Pres. Faust. 

President Faust spoke of temples and their importance in giving strength to members as we face challenges.

Our challenges are more subtle but equally hard. Maintaining our spiritual strength is also a daily challenge. The greatest source of that spiritual strength come, as it did in their time, from our temples.

I urge all who have not yet received these greatest of all blessings within the walls of the temple to do whatever may be necessary to qualify to receive them. To those who have received these blessings, I invite you to savor again the experience of being within the sacred premises of the holy temples of God and have the visions of life eternal open again to your hearts, minds, and souls.

I went to the St. Paul temple just before this year's April General Conference and drank in the spirit and beauty, peace and calm that is found there.  It had been about three years since I'd been there and it sure felt good to be back.

Marilyn at Light in Leaves has more General Conference Odessey.