Saturday Morning Session
Elder David A. Bednar praised the vital but less well known efforts of the humble, conscientious members of the church serving quietly and faithfully behind the scenes. He referred to them as "they of the last ___________"
Wagon
Elder Neil L. Andersen told an account of a destructive earthquake in Venezuela. When one family learned that their shop had been spared their 12 year old son said, "Papa! I know why our store was protected. You and Mama always ________ ____ ________ .”
"pay your tithes"
Elder Ulisses S. Soares
There is a tale of a certain Jewish rabbi who was enjoying the sunrise with two friends. He asked them, “How do you know when the night is over and a new day has begun?”
One of them replied, “When you can look into the east and can distinguish a sheep from a goat.”
The other then responded, “When you can look into the horizon and distinguish an olive tree from a fig tree.”
They then turned to the wise rabbi and asked him the same question. After long reflection, he replied, “When you can look into the east and see the face of a woman or the face of a man and can say, ‘She is my _______; he is my ________.’”
Sister, Brother
President M. Russell Ballard bore testimony of what important truth about the restored gospel throughout his talk.
That Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.
Elder Dale G. Renlund compared the idea of “looking beyond the mark" or missing the precious gospel truths right in front of us with the archeologists who spent years searching for something that turned out to be right underneath their own base camp. What were they searching for?
King Tutankhamun’s tomb, the greatest archeological find of the 20th century.
Sister Amy Wright used this parable of Jesus to teach:
My dear friends, we cannot share our oil, but we can share His light. Oil in our lamps will not only help us “abide the day” but can also be the means of illuminating the path that leads those we love to the Savior, who stands ready “with open arms to receive” them.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Elder Joaquin E. Costa said, "How do we begin exercising a little bit of faith every day? For me it begins in the morning: When I wake up, instead of looking at my ______, I say a ______."
Phone, Prayer
How did Elder Gary E. Sabin compare our exercising our best efforts to his son earning his archery merit badge?
His son had cystic fibrosis and pulling back the bow would be challenging. He ended up getting a bulls eye, although on the wrong target. The instructor simply said "good job" and awarded him the merit badge. He said our Father in Heaven sees our weaknesses and will reward our best effort.
President Emily Belle Freeman said, "pace or placement on the path are not as important as _______."
Progress
Elder John C Pingree taught that us that this "helps us avoid deception, discern good from evil, receive protection, and find comfort and healing...and can also guide our actions, make us free, sanctify us, and lead us to eternal life.
Truth.
He also taught, "Truth is absolute, fixed, and immutable. In other words, truth is eternal."
Elder Robert M. Daines Compared this physical condition where a person loses the ability to recognize the faces of people they know, to when we "look heavenward and see not the face of love and mercy but a thicket of rules through which you must wend your way."
Face Blindness
or becoming
Spiritual Face Blind
Elder Gary E. Stevenson taught these four principles to help in seeking to exercise spiritual gifts and learning to recognize promptings of the Spirit.
1. Stand in Holy Places
2. Stand with Holy People
3. Testify of Holy Truths
4. Listen Carefully to the Holy Spirit
Elder Joni L. Koch learned humility when he was prevented by a security guard from entering the building where he worked due to not having his security badge. Elder Koch became upset with the guard, but afterward apologized. How did the security guard respond?
“You’re forgiven,” he said, “but without a company ID, you’re not coming in today!”
Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella mentioned hearing members of the church similarly testify of Jesus Christ while visiting church meetings in 3 different countries. Name 1 of them.
Spain, Brazil, (Salt Lake City) USA
President Russell M. Nelson announced temples in 20 new locations. Name 3
Savai’i, Samoa
Cancún, Mexico
Piura, Peru
Huancayo, Peru
Viña del Mar, Chile
Goiânia, Brazil
João Pessoa, Brazil
Calabar, Nigeria
Cape Coast, Ghana
Luanda, Angola
Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Laoag, Philippines
Osaka, Japan
Kahului, Maui, Hawaii
Fairbanks, Alaska
Vancouver, Washington
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Roanoke, Virginia
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Elder Carlos A. Godoy told a story of meeting and helping a man and his family back into the church. The man had been inactive in the church for many years prior. He sang I am a Child of God to Elder Godoy while they were talking. Where/how did Elder Godoy meet this man?
The man was his taxi driver
Elder Yoon Hwan Choi asked, "My dear brothers and sisters, do you want to be happy? Stay on the _______ ______. Your life will be easier, happier, and filled with joy.
Covenant Path
What is the "overview effect" described by Sister Tamara W. Runia and what did she compare it with
The sense of oneness and unity with all the world, despite it's conflicts, gained by astronauts when viewing the Earth from space. She compared this with viewing things with an eternal perspective which allows us to know everything will be okay.
Elder Quentin L. Cook highlighted what newly updated divinely appointed source in his talk?
the new second edition of Preach My Gospel.
Elder Gerrit W. Gong spoke of "3 languages of gospel love". Name all 3.
1. the language of warmth and reverence,
2. the language of service and sacrifice,
3. and the language of covenant belonging.
President Dallin H. Oaks described the 3 degrees of glory. He said those who inherit a Telestial glory will not be able to abide the glory of the Terrestrial or the glory of the Celestial. What doctrinal mastery scripture relates to this?
1 Corinthians 15:40–42:
In the Resurrection, there are three degrees of glory.
Elder Allan T. Phillips taught us to:
1. Know your Father in Heaven. He is perfect and loving.
2. Know who Jesus Christ is. He is our Savior and Redeemer. Bind yourself and those you love to Him.
3. And know who ________ _________.
"you are"
Know your true divine identity. God’s plan of happiness is all about you. You are His precious child and of great worth. He knows and loves you.
Elder Ulisses S. Soares compared the Iguaçú Falls, which start from a single river source but flow into a large system of water falls, to what?
"God’s family on earth, for we share the same spiritual origin and substance, derived from our divine heritage and kinship. However, each of us flows in different cultures, ethnicities, and nationalities, with different opinions, experiences, and feelings."
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, "No, our path will not be free from grief, sorrow, or sadness."
The wives of which 2 apostles passed away this year?
Jeffery R. Holland's wife, Patricia (July 20, 2023)
and
Henry B. Eyring's wife, Kathleen (yesterday)
President Russell M. Nelson spoke on the importance of "Thinking Celestial". He said our choices today will determine what 3 things?
1. where you will live throughout all eternity,
2. the kind of body with which you will be resurrected,
3. and those with whom you will live forever.