General Conference - Oct 2018 - a Review

With General Conference upon us once again, I decided to sit down and look at my notes from last General Conference's talks and write out the gist of what each Apostle spoke about for my own review purposes.

I'm sharing it hear to help anyone who wants a quick review of the talks going in to the next General Conference this upcoming weekend.  Here are some notes/points to refresh us.  If any part of my notes spark your interest and you want to learn more, click on the link of the talk that I have included next to each name below:

Pres. Nelson:  "The Correct Name of the Church"

-Use the correct name of the church...The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

-When we discard the Savior's name, we are subtly disregarding all that Jesus Christ did for us--even His Atonement.

-If we allow nicknames to be used or adopt or even sponsor those nicknames ourselves, He is offended.

-For much of the world, the Lord's Church is presently disguised as the "Mormon Church."  But we as members of the Lord's Church know who stands at its head; Jesus Christ Himself....We are not Mormon's disciples. We are the Lord's disciples.


Pres. Eyring: "Try, Try, Try"

-Life is not meant to be easy, but a loving God who allowed these tests of mortality has also designed a sure way to pass through them.

-You are entitled, through your worthiness, to receive REVELATION.  Through Faith & Prayer you can qualify to speak in the sacred name of God.  There are many nearby right now who are waiting for our help.  The spirit will tell each of us who they are.

Pres. Oaks: "Truth and the Plan"

-Choose sources carefully (especially when trying to learn about spiritual matters).

-Spiritual truth is obtained by study and by faith.

-As members of Christ's church, the Plan of Happiness requires us to: honor agency, be missionaries, support marriage between a man and a woman, oppose abortion, oppose changing genders, etc, to bear children with joy, to contend for the best conditions for children.

-Opposition is PART OF THE PLAN.  The work goes forward despite constant opposition.

Pres. Ballard: "The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead"

-We can be comforted as we study what happens after death.

Holland: "The Ministry of Reconciliation"

-Re: MINISTERING - Don't wait for many more instructions.  Just jump in and swim.  Head to those in need.  If we seek the Holy Ghost to guide us, we cannot fail.

Uchtdorf: "Believe, Love, Do"

-We overcome "Weltzchmerz" (discontent with life and the world) when we "believe, love, do".

-Ministering takes on so many forms, including: missionary work, temple work, living the poor/needy, inviting others back to full participation in church, extending grace to our fellow imperfect saints.

Bednar: "Gather Together in One All Things In Christ"

-The gospel is not a "checklist" but a way of drawing closer to the Lord, Jesus Christ...This is the purpose of everything in the Gospel.

Cook: "Deep and Lasting Conversion to Heavenly Father, and the Lord, Jesus Christ"

-The new curriculum can create a deep and lasting conversion to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and help parents make their homes a place of joy & happiness and a center of gospel learning.

Christofferson: "Firm and Steadfast in the Faith of Christ"

-The Gospel must become the defining FOCUS of our LIVES & Character
- OUR GOAL: a conversion so complete that it cannot be undone
-We do not need to wonder about what is true - personal revelation through the Holy Ghost is available to each of us. 
-No one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind.

Andersen: "Wounded"

-Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
-The healer of our souls, in His time, and in His way, will heal all your wounds.

Rasband: "Be Not Troubled"

-FEAR IS NOT NEW/How to dispell fear:
1. Follow/Stand with the Prophet
2. Love Christ/His Gospel
3. Seek the constant influence of the Holy Ghost
4. Stand in Holy places (temple, church, home)
5. Be engaged in His work/Set aside worldly influences
6. Trust in the Lord/Love what He loves (temple ordinances, etc.)
7. Seek revelation
8. Trust His promises

Stevenson: "Shepherding Souls"

-Who is a shepherd?
-Every man, woman & child.  No calling is required.
-From the moment we immerge from the waters of baptism, we are commissioned to this work.

Renlund: "Choose You This Day"

-Our Heavenly Father's goal is not to have His children DO what is right; it is to have His children CHOOSE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT & ultimately become like Him.

-Obedience is not blind.

Definitions:
1. sin: choosing to get off the path
2. punishment: consequences of our choice which result in decreased blessings and decreased joy
3. repentance: choosing to get back on the path via Christ's Atonement
4. forgiveness: once we get back on the path, it is like we never were off (paid for by Christ)

-This process is HOW we ENDURE to the END.

Gong: "Our Campfire of Faith"

-Remembering the dawn/campfire of our faith *(or what kindled our faith in the first place) can bring joy, encourage us to minister to others in new, creative ways, help us to seek to love the Lord and others, help us establish patterns of righteous living, and remind us to seek perfection through Christ, not worldly perfection.

Soares: "One in Christ"

-When we are ONE, we are as strong as the Amazon river. 
-We can and should do much better in welcoming new friends into the Church.