I’m at home for the afternoon session. My kids are bundled up in their blankets (as is my wife) and we will watch at least the first half hour or hour together. The kids will probably then go off and play while my wife and I watch the rest. We also have a friend from Church (one of my institute students) who came to see it with us.
President Dieter F Uchtdorf conducted
The choir sang Arise, O Glorious Zion
Elder Gerrit W. Gong offered the invocation
The choir sang I Am a Child of God
President Henry B Eyring did the sustainings
Elder L Tom Perry
- turned 90-years-old this summer
- some values today are slipping and need to be defended
- read a letter he wrote to his mother when he was in WWII
- lessons taught at home are increasingly important
- the adversary is attacking commitments to family life
- parents must resolve that teaching in the home is the most sacred responsibility
- strengthen our family cultures in these ways:
- parents can pray in earnest that love, understand guide their children
- hold Family Home Evening, scripture study, and eat together
- fully avail themselves of the Church support network (talk to teachers, leaders, presidencies) to provide essential understanding
- share testimonies with their children and commit them to keep the commandments of God
- organize our families based on clear simple family rules and expectations, traditions, rituals, and economics
- teach at the cradle-side
Elder M Russell Ballard
- said that Elder Perry must be the youngest 90-year-old in the Church
- spoke about how his father had bees to help pollinate peach trees
- to produce 1 lb of honey, the average hive of 20,000-60,000 bees must collectively visit millions of flowers and travel the equivalent of 2x around the world
- a single bees contribution is a mere 1/12 of 1 teaspoon
- although seemingly insignificant, each bees contribution is vital to the life of a hive
- they depend on each other
- the beehive has long been a symbol in our Church
- great things are brought about and burdens are lightened by the action of many hands
- our troubled world needs the love of Christ
- our minds and our hearts need to be anxiously engaged throughout the week
- we don’t need religious fanaticism; we need to assimilate the doctrines deep within our hearts
- in your morning prayer each new day ask Heavenly Father to recognize opportunities to serve
Elder Larry Echo Hawk
- told a story about his marine sergeant; the sergeant was ridiculing everyone, but when he saw his Book of Mormon, he left him alone
- shared his feelings about the Book of Mormon; he felt it was a history of his people
- the Book of Mormon is sacred scripture
The choir and congregation sang Let Us All Press On
Elder Robert C Gay
- would you sell your soul for a nickel?
- does one drink really matter?
- Satan tries to get us to justify what we’ve done
- we are to give up all of our sins, big or small
- we must always hearken to the voice of the Spirit within us, wherever it takes us
Elder Scott D Whiting
- told a story about the work on the Hawaii temple
- the contractor had to fix some things that were very minor because they were not up to temple standards
- the temples are built for our use, but there should be no doubt as to whose house it is
- we are each made of the finest materials, however our own temple can come in need of renovation and repair
Elder Neil L Andersen
- told story about the Marriott family losing their daughter
- the gift of faith is a priceless spiritual endowment
- our faith is protected in the Church (as we participate in the various programs/ordinances/meetings)
- when you tested, stay within the security of the household of God
- no trial is so large we can’t overcome it together
- God’s ways are higher than our ways
Elder Dallin H Oaks
- all children are children of God
- worldwide there are millions of children victimized by adults
- one of the most serious abuses of children is to deny them of birth
- low birthrates is not just a religious issue; cultures and nations will be hollowed out and disappear
- worldwide there are 40 million abortions per year
- making a child feel worthless or unloved can hurt them for life
- marriage isn’t just about the adults; the children are impacted for good or bad
- divorcing parents teach a negative lesson
- the family structure that produces the best outcome is two biological parents who remain married
- 41% of all births in the US were to unwed mothers
- for children, the stability of marriage matters
The choir sang On This Day of Joy and Gladness
Elder José L Alonso offered the benediction
Read the recaps and other notes from the 182nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
- 182nd Semiannual General Conference – Pre-conference notes
- 182nd Semiannual General Conference – Saturday Morning General Session
- 182nd Semiannual General Conference – Saturday Afternoon General Session
- 182nd Semiannual General Conference – Priesthood Session
- 182nd Semiannual General Conference – Press Conference Regarding Lower Missionary Service Age
- 182nd Semiannual General Conference – Sunday Morning General Session
- 182nd Semiannual General Conference – Sunday Afternoon General Session
- 182nd Semiannual General Conference – Post-conference notes
