Biographical information from the Church website:

Elder Wan-Liang Wu was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the April 2025 general conference.

At the time of his call, he had been serving as president of the Chile Antofagasta Mission. Elder Wu has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the China Hong Kong Mission, bishop, and stake president.

Elder Wu received a bachelor of business administration degree from the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa in 2014 and a master of business administration degree from the Universidad del CEMA in 2020. He has worked for the Church since 2007, first in the Meetinghouse Facilities Department and then, beginning in 2016, as the operations and maintenance manager for the South America South Area.

Wan-Liang Wu was born in Taipei, Taiwan, on December 22, 1970. He married Marcela Beatriz Castellani in 1995. They are the parents of three children.

Summary

Elder Wan-Liang Wu’s talk centered on true conversion to Jesus Christ and the willingness to repent and change in order to truly know God. Drawing from his own conversion story and the account of King Lamoni’s father in Alma 22, Elder Wu taught that eternal life comes through Jesus Christ as we choose faith, act on truth, and “give away” anything that separates us from God.

Key quotes

‘The gospel of Jesus Christ changed my life for the better. It gave me an eternal purpose—to prepare to return to God’s presence with my family.’ (Paragraph 5)

‘If we have a sincere desire, being meek and lowly in heart, we can come to know the true God the Father and gain eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ, for the power is in us—in choosing to believe and deciding to act accordingly.’ (Paragraph 14)

‘Coming unto Christ is much more than just learning of Christ. It includes faith and works; it means to be converted to Him and to His restored gospel.’ (Paragraph 17)

‘We cannot know God without a sincere desire and real intent. We need to have faith in Jesus Christ, continuously repent, and strive to obey the commandments.’ (Paragraph 20)

‘The Savior loves us more than we can comprehend, and He pleads with us again and again, “Come, follow me.”’ (Paragraph 20)

Questions to discuss or ponder

How has the gospel of Jesus Christ changed your life for the better? (Paragraph 5)

Why do you think King Lamoni’s father was willing to ‘give away’ all his sins to know God? (Paragraph 12)

What does it mean to be meek and lowly in heart? (Paragraph 14)

Why is coming unto Christ more than just learning about him? (Paragraph 17)

‘What are we willing to give up or change to truly know God and be saved at the last day?’ (Paragraph 18)

Why do you think ‘repent’ is the most frequent message in the gospel of Jesus Christ? (Paragraph 19)

What does real intent look like in daily discipleship? (Paragraph 20)

Invitations and application

‘What are we willing to give up or change to truly know God and be saved at the last day?’ (Paragraph 18)

‘Whether you are a child or a king, and regardless of your background or your status, I invite you to choose to have faith in Jesus Christ and to decide to follow Him.’ (Paragraph 21)

Additional thoughts

As we reach search for meaning and understanding, one question inevitably arises: What is the purpose of life? It is a question that has engaged the minds and hearts of countless individuals throughout history. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has restored truths that shed light on this timeless question. 

1. Created with Divine Purpose:

We are all cherished children of a caring Heavenly Father. We lived with Him as his spirit children before we were born on this earth. Because He loves us, God wants to give each of us His greatest blessings, namely immortality and eternal life. Because He loves us, He created a plan for us that would make it possible to receive these blessings.  In this plan, each of us is on an eternal journey that takes us from our premortal life through birth, mortal life, death and life after death. God has provided for our needs on this journey so that when we pass away, we can eventually come back to Him and know the fulness of joy.

Our life here on the earth is an opportunity for us to grow, learn, and progress through the experiences that come to us. When we understand this truth we can find hope and meaning in the midst of life’s trials.

2. Earthly Experiences and Personal Growth:

On earth we are no longer in the presence of God and have to learn to walk by faith. Whether through joy or sorrow, success or failure, every experience contributes to our spiritual growth. Our experiences can help us develop virtues such as faith, humility, compassion, and patience. Through our choices and actions, we can edge closer to our divine potential.

3. Relationships and Eternal Connections:

One of the greatest purposes of life is forming connections with others. We are meant to build meaningful relationships, create families, and foster a sense of belonging within our communities. Recognising the divine nature of our relationships helps us understand that we are all connected as children of God. This knowledge encourages us to treat one another with kindness, respect, and love.

4. Preparing for Eternal Life:

Each of us sins, and each of us will die. These are universal facts. Because God loves us, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to redeem us from sin and death. Because Jesus paid the price for us we can be forgiven and cleansed of our sins.

The ultimate purpose of our mortal journey is to prepare for eternal life in the presence of God. The gospel of Jesus Christ offers us the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate this earthly existence and make decisions that align with our divine potential. Through faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, we can receive all of the eternal blessings that our Heavenly Father has in store for us.

Conclusion:

Discovering the purpose of life is a deeply personal and spiritual endeavour. Each day is an opportunity to grow, learn, and align ourselves with heavenly truths. With faith, patience, and an open heart, we can find peace, joy, and fulfillment as we strive to fulfill our divine purpose. Remember, as we journey through life, we are not alone. Our loving Heavenly Father and our Saviour, Jesus Christ, are always there to guide us and walk by our side.

You can watch Elder Lu’s talk here.

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