Elder and Sister Holland not present due to Covid.
President Oaks conducting.
Elder Gary E Stevenson
Comparison of Easter and Christmas traditions.
Referred to FP letter freeing up time on Easter Sunday.
How do we model the teaching and celebration of the resurrection (Easter) vs celebration of Jesus birth (Christmas)
Biblical scholar NT Wright: …we should be taking steps to celebrate Easter in creative new ways: in art, literature, children’s games, poetry, music, dance, festivals, bells, special concerts, anything that comes to mind. This is our greatest festival. Take Christmas away, and in biblical terms you lose two chapters at the front of Matthew and Luke, nothing else.
The Book of Mormon Easter story.
Every time we read and study from the Book of Mormon we can expect remarkable outcomes.
Studying regularly from the Book of Mormon will change your life.
Through the witness of Jesus Christ found in the The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, no book does more to show that:
Because of Jesus Christ, everything changed.
Because of Him, everything is better. Because of Him life is manageable – especially in the painful moments.
Because of Him, everything is possible.
Sister Bonnie H Cordon
5 years since President Nelson sustained as President.
Counsel from her father – Never give up an opportunity to testify of Jesus Christ.
We live in a fallen world ….we need Jesus Christ.
Are we as anxious to witness for ourselves as the multitudes in the scriptures?
Shared experiences of young women around the world enjoying General Conference.
As we choose to seek Christ the Spirit will witness of Him on many occasions.
I have attended the temple many times but when I worship there it changes me.
As we consistently act on His teaching we gain a testimony of Him.
Look for Christ everywhere. I promise He is there. True joy rests on our willingness to come closer to Christ and witness for ourselves
Elder Carl B Cook (our friend!)
George A. Smith received the following counsel from the Prophet Joseph Smith at a time of great difficulty: “He told me I should never get discouraged, whatever difficulties might surround me. If I was sunk in the lowest pit of Nova Scotia and all the Rocky Mountains piled on top of me, I ought not to be discouraged but hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage and I should come out on the top of the heap at last.”
Persevering through difficulties.
The God of Heaven and earth will help us overcome discouragement …if we look to Him.
We all have times when we feel like stopping, leaving, escaping or possibly giving up. But exercising faith in our Saviour, Jesus Christ, helps us overcome discouragement no matter what obstacles we encounter.”
Experience with Elder Boyd K Packer at a Stake Conference. Speaking by the Spirit.
In spite of my weakness I learned that I can serve. I can contribute when teh Lord is by my side if I just keep going with faith.
Exercising faith in Jesus Christ helps us overcome discouragement.
“Stand fast, ye Saints of God, hold on a little while longer, and the storm of life will be past, and you will be rewarded by that God whose servants you are.” – Joseph Smith
Elder Gerrit W Gong
Shared stories of ministering to others.
Everywhere I go I gratefully learn from those who minister and care as Jesus would.
We become more like Jesus Christ when we ‘[do] unto … the least of these’ as we would unto Him [Matthew 25:40]; when we ‘love [our] neighbor as [ourselves]’ [Matthew 22:39]; when we ‘love one another; as I have loved you’ [John 13:34].
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. – James 1:27
As those who honour covenants minister hearts are unlocked and hearts are opened.
Faithful consistency brings miracles.
In some places in the Church we have a ministering gap – more say they are ministering than those who say they are ministered to.
Inspired invitations change lives.
Inspired ministering blesses families and individuals, It also strengthens wards and branches.
Ministering blesses generations.
Our Saviour is our perfect example…He is ministering personified.
God loveth a cheerful giver.
Elder Quentin L Cook
Missionaries first arrived in the British Isles in 1837.
By 1851 over half of the members of the Church were baptised converts living in the British Isles.
The gathering of Israel.
Abraham 2:9-10
721BC the scattering of the 12 tribes.
The descendants of father Lehi are spread throughout the whole of the Americas.
70AD -135 AD second scattering of Judah.
Our Heavenly Father’s plan for gathering his children to our heavenly home is not based on worldly success, economic status, education, race or gender. It is based on righteousness, keeping his commandments and receiving sacred ordinances and honouring the covenants we make.
Those who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, regardless of lineage, become part of gathered Israel.
62544 missionaries, 411 missions, 17 million members.
Growth continues everywhere, especially in South America and Africa.
We cannot be in camoflage.
There are remarkable blessings in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We respect agency. Many will not respond, but many will.
Allen D Haynie
Story of seeing General Conference on TV as a child when expecting to find Saturday cartoons.
Knowing by revelation that there is a living prophet on the earth changes everything.
We are never spiritually at risk in following prophetic counsel.
Current conditions in the world have caused some to panic.
We do not need to fear.
Story of President Nelson flattening plastic bottles.
If a parent goes a little off course the children are likely to exceed the parents’ example
Rejoice because once again there is a prophet in Israel.
We were anxious to come to the earth at this time.
President Henry B Eyring
Today I am going to speak about what I have learned about the miracle of finding personal peace whatever our circumstances.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
John 14:
15 ¶ If ye alove me, bkeep my ccommandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another aComforter, that he may babide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you acomfortless: I will bcome to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and akeepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be bloved of my Father, and I will love him, and will cmanifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will alove him, and we will come unto him, and make our babode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the aComforter, which is the bHoly Ghost, whom the Father will send in my cname, he shall dteach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 aPeace I leave with you, my bpeace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be ctroubled, neither let it be afraid.
- The gift of peace is given after we have the faith to keep the commandments
- The Holy Ghost will come and abide with us.The Spirit will be our companion
- The Saviour promises that as we keep our covenants we can feel the love of the Father and Son for each other and for us
- Keeping the Lord’s commandments requires more than obedience. We must love Him with all our heart might and soul
- The Lord loves us enough to pay for our sins.
There is an enemy of your soul who does not want you to find peace.
Children who choose to take the path of sorrow.
The Lord can guide to the wandering sheep.
The rising generation will become the nurterers of the generation to follow.
The Saviour’s invitation to come to Him is an offer of peace.
Latter-day Bloke 