Saturday Morning General Conference, 4-6-13

4-6-13 Saturday Morning General Conference

Unrevised notes

President Thomas S. Monson

Cedar City; Rio De Janerio Two new temples.

Response of young people remarkable

65,634 full-time missionaries; over 20,000 more who have received their calls; 6,000 more in process.

Contribute to general missionary fund of church.

President Packer

When I was young, I wasn’t 68. Find poem. I would not barter age to youth; I’d have to much to lose.

Unfinished Composition
Part I 1992—Written in England

I had a thought the other night;
A thought profound and deep.
It came when I was too worn down,
Too tired to go to sleep.

I’d had a very busy day
And pondered on my fate.
The thought was this:
When I was young, I wasn’t sixty-eight!

I could walk without a limp;
I had no shoulder pain.
I could read a line through twice
And quote it back again.

I could work for endless hours
And hardly stop to breathe.
And things that now I cannot do
I mastered then with ease.

If I could now turn back the years,
If that were mine to choose,
I would not barter age for youth,
I have too much to lose.

I am quite content to move ahead;
To yield my youth, however grand.
The thing I’d lose if I went back
Is what I understand.

Now a few months ago, ten years later, I added Part II of this “Unfinished Composition.”

Part II 2002

Ten years have flown to who knows where
And with them much of pain.
A metal hip erased my limp;
I walk quite straight again.

Another plate holds neck bones fast—
A wonderful creation!
It backed my polio away;
I’ve joined the stiff-necked generation.

The signs of aging can be seen,
Those things will not get better.
The only thing that grows in strength
With me is my forgetter.

You ask, Do I remember you?
Of course, you’re much the same.
Now don’t go getting all upset—
I don’t recall your name.

I would agree I’ve learned some things
I did not want to know,
But age has brought those precious truths
That make the Spirit grow.

Of all the blessings that have come,
The best thing in my life
Is the comfort and encouragement
I get from my dear wife.

Our children all have married well,
With families of their own.
With children and grandchildren,
How soon they all have grown.

I have not changed my mind one bit
About regaining youth.
We’re meant to age, for with it
Comes a knowledge of the truth.

You ask, What will the future bring?
Just what will be my fate?
We’ll go along and not complain.
Ask when I’m eighty-eight!

Part III—To be continued



Family is under attack from forces seen and unseen. Few things more powerful than the faith of a righteous mother. Teach your children to recognize the Spirit. We are on this earth to be tested. We have power over those who do not have bodies. We are free to choose how to act; we are not free to choose our consequences; they will come as they come. We need to use our agency wisely.

Do not get swallowed up in the tolerance trap. The Spirit of Christ is given to every man to know good from evil; every thing that persuades to believe in Christ…know with perfect knowledge it is of God.

Learn to receive and to act on inspiration. He lives; I know He lives; I am His witness.

Elder Davies

We must build on a sure foundation. The foundation of Jesus Christ. And now my sons, Remember.

The Plan lays out a sure way. Faith, repentence, baptism, receiving Holy Ghost, eduring to the end—part of the blue print of life. Then there are specificationt to help implant the plan.

Feast upon the words of Christ; tell you all things what you should do; bring wisdom and understanding; strengthen spiritual commitment. Worthily partake of the sacrament each week. Ponder life in advance; consider actions to do or not to do; take humbly; be cleansed and sanctified. Spirit acts as a type of mortar. Testifies of Jesus Christ. Strengthens foundation to Rock, Jesus Christ. Anchor lives to Jesus Christ and His atonement. We will be strengthened.

Sister Dalton

Whate’er thou art, act well thy part.

Her mother called down the powers of heaven to bless their home. Her father died young at 42. D&C 82:10. She understood who she was and whose she was.

Mosiah 18:9

Elder Craig A. Cardon

The Son of Man forgives sins; the Savior forgives sins on earth, and not just in the final judgment.

Forgive until 70 x 7. Jesus told his disciples numerous times in the Dotrine and Covenants, “Thy sins are forgiven thee.” The Savior wants to forgive us; but, we need not suppose that He will forgive us without repentance.

Repent and live; though your sins be as scarlet, He’ll forgive.

Elder M. Russell Ballard

The source of this Priesthood power is God Almighty. Power by which heavens and earth were created. Power used by Jesus in His mortal ministry to perform miracles and to atone and be resurrected for us. The keys of this Priesthood authority to bless others and bind on heaven and on earth. It is different from priesthood authority—to act in God’s name. Power of the priesthood comes only when those who exercise it act worthily and exercise it according to God’s will. Only tap powers of heaven with personal righteousness. These, keys, authority, and power were restored. Christ is at the head, with Thomas S. Monson and newly called apostles. Men have the unique responsibilty to administer the priesthood; but they are not the priesthood. Just as a women cannot have children without a man; a man cannot fully exercise the priesthood without a woman. Love, humility, and patience should be our focus and we seek to have the priesthood in our lives. “This is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Priesthood used to lift mankind—succor weak, lifting up hands that hang down, strenthening feeble knees.

As the literal spirit children of our loving Heavenly Father, we have unlimited divine potential.

Do the things that the Savior would do if He were living among us today.

Watch his video on Leadership Training. Learn how to be strenthened through the priesthood.

I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall have the light of life. He is the living water.

Be wise; strenthen our own lives; the lives of our families, etc through the priesthood.

President Eyring

Simple acts of obedience bring us closer to the Savior.

O Savior, Stay this Night with Me. He felt the closeness of the Savior in that evening Sacrament meeting.

Faithful women saw that the rock was rolled away from the tomb, and He was not there. Why seek you the dead among the living?

Go your way; tell His disciples and Peter===there shall you see Him as He said unto you.

Road to Emmaus --Did not our hearts within us burn?

Stand as witnesses at all times, in all things, and at all places. Mosiah 18.

As we are faithful to the covenants we have made, we will feel His love for us. Whoso receiveth you—I will go before thy face; right hand and left; angels round about to bear you up.

As President Eyring was serving the Lord, the Lord was blessing his wife and his children. Depend on the Lord to draw close to your loved ones as you serve Him in faith. I will do for them as seemeth me good, for all things are in my power.