Stake Conference Saturday Evening 1-21-12 Unpolished notes
President Kinser
After the last supper and the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus conversed with Peter. I have prayed for thee; when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
2 great commandments: Love the Lord; love your neighbor as yourself.
What think ye of Jesus Christ? Most vital question for all mortals. Not giving an answer is an answer.
Whom do you Worship? (Find the poem)
We need to have a testimony of Jesus Christ and of the restored gospel through the prophet Joseph.
If we can teach with the Spirit, others will know that it is true by the testimony of the Spirit.
Desire—First key to gaining and strengthening a testimony.
After date, girl asked him, “Do you have a testimony of the Church?” “No, I don’t.” “Well, you better find out.” That challenge sparked an interest that made him want to find out. A seed was planted. He could see a difference in the lives of those who were living the gospel.
Son approached them and said, “I don’t have a testimony; I think I’m going to quit going to Church.” They kept loving him and hoping; he attended church begrudgingly. He had the opportunity to share his experiences in the church with his friends. (Born again) I have never had a missionary that was able to impact so many you people. He worked through the great and spacious building in his life.
Gaining a testimony equates to becoming more Christ-like.
An investigator, while he served in England, told about gaining a testimony of prayer. She became a wonderful, strong member of the church.
As we recognize the tender mercies of the Lord, we need to nourish them. Daily fervent prayer. As we pray regularly, the Spirit will touch our hearts. Meaningful involvement with the scriptures. “These are they which testify of me.” As we follow the counsel of our leaders, our testimonies will grow.
It is an easy thing to believe in dead prophets, but it is a greater thing to believe in living prophets. Man came to America because God told him to. He could accept that the former prophets were prophets of God, but he didn’t want to accept the current counsel.
Job, “I know that my Redeemer liveth…yet in my flesh shall I see God.”
1985—Elder McConkie shared a testimony just months before he died. Testified of Christ’s crucifixion, that He is the Son of the Living God and he was crucified of the world…I shall not know any better then than I know now….salvation comes from Him and in no other way.
As we strengthen our testimonies, we will be blessed beyond our understanding.
Brother Davis
Stake YM President
He loves working with the youth. He has a great support staff. They are there to help the youth. There job is to assist the parents in helping sons prepare for priesthood ordinations, temple endowments. , missionary service, temple marriage, fatherhood, etc. Assist.
Parents can strengthen youth through Duty to God. Receive priesthood, learn how to use it, act in office to which he is appointed.
Duty God—learning gospel principles; act on what they learn; share their experiences; prepare for later missionary work. Parents have the role to lead by example. You need to take control of your spiritual growth and your sons’ spiritual welfare.
Helaman’s warriors had been taught by their mothers if that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. They are faced with constant threats to their spiritual and temporal well-being. We can strengthen and protect our youth as we teach them by example. We will see miracles and blessings as we do this. Goals stated at beginning of talk.
Sister Bergesen
The youth programs, YM and YW, is a team effort. They are inspired programs to help youth learn to lead, follow, and be strengthened in the gospel.
Provide settings where youth can feel influence of Holy Ghost. Establish home where Holy Ghost can dwell. Encourage youth to attend their meetings. Help them become responsible, learn leadership and social skills. They will learn through the Spirit what Heavenly Father wants them to do and be. Personal Progress is about developing Christ-like attributes. Parents have opportunity to work with daughters as they work on goals together. When they use their intelligence to achieve these goals, they are destined to be successful. We must make sure that they are learning the gospel. One Bishop took it upon himself to also complete personal progress goals and have the girls sign off his achievements.
Instead of focusing on what is not right with our youth, we need to focus on what they are doing right and the good people that they are.
President Andrews
He used to play soccer as last defender. He liked last minute saves, but his coach didn’t. If the offensive is behind the defender, he is off-sides. As the last defender, you should crowd them up to the mid-line as long as possible. Pre-emptive action and safety.
As a father protecting a family from the world and from Satan, that message is clear. Never let him get close, and never let him get dangerous.
Elder Bednar—More Diligent and Concerned at Home; Watching with all Perserverance
Steli—Scriptures testify, express love, and invite.
2 Nephi 32:3—Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost…feast upon the words Christ.
Talk about the scriptures and the Book of Mormon.
Ask good questions. Inspired pauses give birth to revelation.
Testify spontaneously. Point out our children’s good qualities when we recognize the good things they are doing. Frequent spontaneous testimonies can be more powerful than once a month at the pulpit.
Express love. Moroni 7:48: Pray with all energy of heart that you may be filled with Charity. He bestows this on all who are true followers of His Son, Jesus Christ. That we may become the sons of God.
Be specific in your compliments. I appreciate…..(this about you). This builds love, builds Zion. Practice sincere compliments frequently. Express confidence that others can and others will do great things in their lives. Invite them to do great things. Let us do those things that strengthen home and family, church, etc.
Sister Godwin
They are surrounded every day by angels that testify of Jesus Christ. Sometimes the miracle is not just with investigators, but with the missionaries themselves.
As parents and grandparents, we need to be teaching our children. Take the gift of the gospel seriously. “I am a Child of God.” We can help them most by teaching them the doctrine of Christ. 2 Nephi 31: 2-21. This is the missionary purpose in inviting others to come unto Christ. Teach it 7 times, 7 ways.
President Godwin
The thing which distinguishes this church as His church are Priesthood keys. President Garvin holds those keys for the members of the stake and for the missionary work in this stake.
Mission president and wife are here to assist us in our missionary work.
D&C 123:12: Some kept from the truth because they don’t know where to find it.
Use pass-a-long cards. A missionary who gave a pass-a-long card was asked, “Do you have anything else to read.” The man finished reading the Book of Mormon in a week, except for a couple chapters. He was baptized a couple weeks later.
Create a profile on Mormon.org. You can put your url on pass-a-long cards. Share your testimony in private and comfortable ways, and in bold ways.
Testimony.
President Garvin
Story of remodeling awful bathroom in small trailer home. “Measure twice, cut once.”
“Well, do you feel better there.”
1. Measure once, cut twice.
2. Some mistakes are not eternal.
3. A
Tender mercies—scriptures. (700 favorite verses)
Symmetry in scriptures. Mark 15:28. Isaiah 9: Unto us a Child is born. Luke: He shall be great; the Son of the Highest. “Peace I leave with you…” D&C 121:7 “Peace be unto thy soul…”
The greatest revelation that we can ever receive is a testimony of the Savior.
Story of a man who represented Jesus for an artist. They traveled to Africa and brought hope to children in an orphanage there. A missionary gave Miner a blessing. He realized that the words of the blessing came from His Heavenly Father. Modeling as the Savior gave him a new lease on life. “He knows me and loves me. This Jesus guy is really important to a lot of people. I just happen to be one of those people.”
1 Nephi 17: 45 Feeling is higher than hearing.
Negative and positive commandments. “Thou shalt not.” “Thou shalt.” Commandment to repent. Remember. (One word commandments that are repeated the most often.)
Moroni 10:3-5
Precursor to knowing all things is remembering.
1 Nephi 11: Knowest thou the condescension of God? He beheld the Redeemer of the Lord, teaching, and condemned. Lifted upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world. Remembering Jesus as our Savior will help us gain the things we need to know and do.
President Garvin starts and ends every day with the Book of Mormon.
If we will live this counsel, we will be protected in our families, have the Spirit in our lives,,,,
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