Another session, another tie from President Uchtdorf:

“It is kind of a family tradition that started years ago when between conference sessions, I stained my tie and worriedly searched for a replacement. Fortunately, I had one in my office. My grandsons enjoyed it so much that they changed their ties too, and since then it became almost a sport to do it.”

For this session it is pink with an American stripe. Perhaps we will see a European stripe in the evening session.

Beautiful singing by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir directed by Mack Wilberg.

Sister Jean B Bingham

Having a fulness of joy.

It seems the whole earth is in commotion…It can be difficult to feel the joy that Lehi taught is the purpose of life….Lasting joy is found in our Saviour Jesus Christ and in living the gospel as taught by him.

Memorising the Living Christ document.

Jesus truly is the Light, the Life and the Hope of the world.

As you study the life and teachings of Jesus Christ in a myriad if ways your faith in him will increase.

Story of bird flying into house.

Jesus Christ is also the source of peace….Peace will come as we trust that God’s Only Begotten Son can soothe our aching souls.

When we put  our faith into action the Holy Ghost bears witness of truth.

Are our testimonies built on the bedrock of Jesus Christ and his gospel?

What brings you joy?….Take a private moment to reflect on your blessings.

As you centre your life on Jesus Christ you will find joy in your circumstances whatever they may be.

Elder Donald L Hallstrom

Story of man injured falling off a mountain. Miracles in his rescue. Multiple fractures, punctured lung. Described by agnostic surgeon as a miracle.

What about those…..whose miracle never comes?

What about those who die so very young?

‘Has the day of miracles ceased?’

Perhaps we lack an understanding of what constitutes a miracle.

Ether 12:18 And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith;

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego  – Daniel 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to ^adeliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not ^aserve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Being a child of God is a miracle.

The atonement of Jesus Christ is a miracle.

Our supreme focus should be on the spiritual miracles.

All of us have equal access to these miracles.

Elder David A Bednar

We can be too easily diverted from focusing on essential spiritual priorities.

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Proclamation on Family: ‘ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life.’

As we press forward submissively with faith in the Saviour…we are born again…being redeemed of God

Priesthood ordinances and covenants are essential.

God promises us according to our faithfulness the  constant companionship of the third member of the Godhead.

Lorenzo Snow: One of the chief difficulties that many suffer from is, that we are too apt to forget the great object of life, the motive of our Heavenly Father in sending us here to put on mortality, as well as the holy calling with which we have been called; and hence, instead of rising above the little transitory things of time, we too often allow ourselves to come down to the level of the world without availing ourselves of the divine help which God has instituted, which alone can enable us to overcome them.

The sabbath is God’s time…We can look to God and live.

The Lord has always commanded his people to build temples…A temple, literally is the House of the Lord, a sacred space…

A principle purpose of the temple is to elevate our vision.

Sabbath day and temple – sacred time and sacred space – two divine sources of help.

Our sabbath and temple experiences should be spiritual catalysts…..The sabbath and the temple can help us to establish in our homes ‘a more excellent way’

The gospel is….a magnificent tapestry of truth.

The exceeding great promises connected with our ordinances and covenants are sure.

Bishop W Christopher Waddell

There will be times in our life when we will find ourselves on an unexpected path.

Story of blinded soldier Hyrum Shumway. Served as bishop, stake patriarch and senior missionary.

Hope and peace are always available through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The Saviour not only sympathises with us but also empathises with us perfectly.

Mosiah 24: 13 And it ^acame to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14 And I will also ease the ^aburdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as ^bwitnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their ^cafflictions.

The brazen serpent – we have a choice when faced with difficult circumstances.

We are invited to look to the Saviour and live.

Whatever change in life circumstances may come our way…how we respond is always a choice.

Elder W Craig Zwick

The Lion King. ‘Look beyond what you can see’

We must look at others through the eyes of the Saviour.

We must look past the easy assumptions and stereotypes.

Story of missionary who wanted to go home…Elder, what is hard for you? President, I can’t read.

Elisha and the invisible chariots of fire.

We live in a world that feeds on comparisons…we need to look inward..

Truth…should never be a barrier to kindness.

Story of Beau Richey – teenager killed in ATV accident. Had reminder on phone to read scriptures every day.

Story of wife keeping list on her phone of things that irritated her about her husband. It took me a while to hit select all and even longer to select delete… Her vision changed.

Through the power of Jesus Christ we become able to look spiritually beyond what our eyes can see literally.

President Henry B Eyring

President Monson’s challenge last conference to read the Book of Mormon.

I have read the Book of Mormon every day for over 50 years.

The spirit he promised has produced a sense of optimism.

We have felt an increase in the desire to go to the rescue of others.

D&C 6:33-37

33 ^aFear not to do ^bgood, my sons, for whatsoever ye ^csow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow ^dgood ye shall also reap good for your ^ereward.

34 Therefore, fear not, little ^aflock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are ^bbuilt upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

35 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and ^asinno more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.

36 ^aLook unto me in every ^bthought; ^cdoubt not, fear not.

37 ^aBehold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the ^bnails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall ^cinherit the ^dkingdom of heaven. Amen.

Story of Teton Dam breaking in Idaho in 1976. Service given by family who had lost their own home.

Aftermath of Hurricane Irma. The Yellow Angels.

Joseph Smith: A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.

Our hearts remain changed only as long as we continue to follow the Prophet’s counsel.

We know that in the last days the world will be in commotion…the Lord will need faithful latter-day saints to take the gospel to every nation, tongue and people.

The Lord expects more from us and from the generations after us.

We are to ponder and apply the Book of Mormon and the words of prophets.

We are to be consistent and persistent in following prophetic counsel.

The best days are ahead for the kingdom of God on the earth.