10-6-12 Saturday Afternoon General Conference

10-6-12 Saturday Afternoon General Conference

Elder Perry

He turned 90 this past summer. Living this long is considered to be a great achievement. So much has changed in my lifetime. We earnestly pray and work that the values of the gospel of Jesus Christ endure. These include the traditional marriage and the sanctity of the family. Satan is attacking the family and the principles that will protect the family. The responsibility to teach the children rests heavily upon the parents. (I need to look at this talk and get the numbered particulars.)

Teach at the cradle-side. Teach by example as well as by precept.

It is amazing to me to think that millions of us are united right now through listening to the message of our prophet and apostles. I hope that we will stay united in our commitment to go and do what we hear today.

Elder Ballard

“Elder Perry, I think you must be the youngest 90-year-old in the whole church.”

The work of the honey bees is amazing. “Each bees 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey is vital to the hive.”

Jaredites carried the honey bee with them. President Young picked the honey bee as a symbol of industry. The symbol is found in the interior and exterior of many of our temples. The lectern is adorned with the honey bee. Many hands anxiously engaged in a good cause.

The first and second great commandments; on these two hang all the law and the prophets. We are to love God and to love and care for our neighbors as ourselves. Service is the very definition of pure religion.

What would be the accumulative effect of small little daily acts of love? Our troubled world needs this love of Christ now more than ever. It will need it even more in the days ahead. There is power in our love for God and for His children. We need to sweep and feed the world with acts of service like the busy honey bee.

Are we truly converted? How do we take the seed of faith that has been nurtured in our minds, and have it planted deep in our souls? Only when our testimony transcends what is in our mind and is deeply planted in our hearts can we reach out properly in love to others.

Be gentle, meek, and mild. Don’t hold grudges. (D&C 121) Be charitable. Take the next logical step in our conversion by assimilated the doctrines deep into our souls, so that we will live the things we believe.

In your morning prayers, ask God to guide you to a person you can help; then stay focused on that during the day. The Lord will strengthen your spiritual sensitivities, and you will be blessed to serve.

At the end of the day, may we be able to say yes to the question, "Have I done any good in the world today?"

Elder Echo Hawk

He served as a marine during Vietnam War. The sergeant held in his hand “The Book of Mormon.” He asked him if he were a Mormon. Do you believe in this book? He did not interrogate or ridicule him. He is thankful he could say that he is a member and that he knew the book is true.

In reading the Book of Mormon, he learned about his ancestors, the Lamanites. Echo Hawk was a Pawnee Indian. The Pawnee was scattered, smitten, and nearly destroyed. The promise in the Book of Mormon says that the Lamanite people will again come to the truth through the message written therein. Elder Echo Hawk read the Book of Mormon when he was 17 and focused on Moroni’s promise and found that it was true. He invites all to find out for themselves, with a special invitation to the remnant of Israel who are descendants of the Book of Mormon people. Read Moroni 10:3-5.

Elder Gay

“Son, would you sell your soul for a nickel?” He didn’t want to pay the extra 10 cents to see the movie when he turned 12, because that would mean two less candy bars.

King Lamoni’s father said that he would give away all of his sins to know God. This is what we need to do. We must act and not sit in thoughtless stupor.

God is mindful of each of us and never forsake us. We must always hearken to the Voice within us and go straightway and do, no matter the inconvenience. We must go to the rescue. We need to help others to conversion. We need to clothe and feed those who need our help. Don’t be a sophisticated neutral.

My testimony is my most precious position.

Elder Whiting

Holiness to the Lord; the House of the Lord. Extreme expectations for the standards of construction even to the minutest details.

When we become aware of things that are amiss in our own lives, we need to take action to correct them, not to cover them.

Elder Andersen

Our faith need not falter even when we lose our loved ones. This is life eternal: that they might know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Can you remain steadfast and immoveable during a trial to your faith? He gave a list of things to do. Do not distance yourself from the church. It is within the sanctuary of the church that we protect our faith. In the ordinances, the power of godliness is made manifest.

The Lord taught us to not condemn others. But he also told us, go and sin no more. The world protests, “How can you ask so much?” The Lord responds, “My ways are higher than your ways.” He also say, “My peace I give unto you…not as the world giveth, give I unto you.”

The leaders of the church are honest, but imperfect men. “I never told you I was perfect, but there is no error in the revelations.” (Joseph Smith) Build your foundation upon the Rock or our Redeemer. “With faith, come trials of faith, with increasing faith.” Hold on, fear not, for God will be with you forever and ever.

Elder Oaks

An apostle is responsible to witness to the entire world. All children are children of God. We are all under the Savior’s command to love and care for each other, and, especially, for the unprotected. One of the most common abuses of children is to deny them birth. (2 million are subject to children pornography or prostitution.)

Child abuses that occur after birth are more visible and noted. Children have stunted growth physically and mentally because of improper nutrition. Some continents have children whose caregivers have all died of AIDS. “And whoso receiveth one of these little children in my name, receiveth me.” We cannot diminish the effects of psychological abuse.

41% of live births have been to unwed mothers. 58% to couples that are cohabitating. We should unite in our concern for the welfare of the worlds’ children. We should humble ourselves as little children and reach out to protect children, for they are the future of our church and our nations.