179th Semiannual General Conference – Priesthood Session

October 3, 2009

179th_semiannual_general_conference

Before the Priesthood Session, we had our annual sub-sational. This is where YM and their fathers gathered for a dinner of submarine sandwiches. It’s always a good time.

President Dieter F Uchtdorf conducted

The choir sang “High on the Mountain Top”

The invocation was offered by Dennis B Neuenschwander (released from the Seventy today). Note: He said “Uh” in his prayer at one point.

The choir sang another song but I missed it as I went into the kitchen to see if the clean up was almost done.

Elder M Russell Ballard ** a great talk, but not one that would translate well for the RS to use in a 4th Sunday lesson)

Seeing the priesthood together is a visual reminder of two important parts of our theology: priesthood and family
Sons
1. Trust your father
2. Take an interest in your father’s life
3. Ask your father for advice
Fathers
1. Listen to your sons
  - There should be at least monthly focused conversation
  - Conversations where you do 90% of the talking is not a conversation
2. Pray with and for your sons
3. Dare to have the big talks with your sons
  - Talk about sexual matters
Return Missionaries
- Be where you can meet the right kind of friends
- Rediscover courting
- Do not drift to the ways of the world

Elder Walter F Gonzalez

Be a more powerful priesthood holder by using the Book of Mormon
3 ways to use Book of Mormon
1. Feast upon the words of Christ
2. Apply in our lives what we learn of Christ
3. Teach the doctrines and principles found in the Book of Mormon

Elder Yoon Hwan Choi

Told story as young men when he was a bishop
There leaders and wives became like mothers and fathers
Be obedient, even if you don’t know why yet
Attending their church meetings was very important
Teach our boys to change their lives
Be goodly parents to the rowdy boys

The choir and congregation sang “Praise to the Man”

President Dieter F Uchtdorf ** Might use this as a 4th Sunday lesson **

Winter will surely give way to spring
We must remain steadfast in hope
2 principles to get through tough times
Work
- The Lord loves the labourer
- Thrust in your sickle and your sins are forgiven you
- Work to your capability
- Cultivate a reputation of excellence
- There is no retirement in the kingdom
- Working diligently in the kingdom bolsters your “resume”
Learn
- Education is not just a good idea, it’s a commandment
- Intelligence rises with us in the resurrection

President Henry B Eyring ** a great talk, but not one that would translate well for the RS to use in a 4th Sunday lesson)

The call to give a blessing can come unexpectedly
The preparation is far more than having oil at hand
The preparation begins in families and quorums, but mostly in personal lives
You must have faith that you have won his confidence
Faith does not come in the moment. It is earned.
Have pure motives

President Thomas S Monson ** Might use this as a 4th Sunday lesson **

Much in the news is a result of anger
Cease from anger and forsake wrath
Anger doesn’t solve anything. It doesn’t build anything, but it can destroy everything
No one can make us angry; it is our choice

The choir sang “Rise Up, O Men of God”

Elder Lance B Wickman offered the benediction. Strangely enough, he also said, “Uh” during his prayer.

Read the recaps and other notes from the 179th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: