I love General Conference. Mark was working, so it was just the kids and me, but we had such a lovely weekend. I feel like there was so much to learn this time – so many speakers with so many varied topics.
I felt like the last General Conference slipped through my fingers a little. I let life get too busy and didn’t stay on top of my study and that makes me sad. But it has also given me renewed enthusiasm to NOT let that happen again this time, because I have missed that.
As always, the messages were focused on our Savior, Jesus Christ. But there was another message that I felt and heard over and over again – and that was FAITH. Faith in our Savior, faith in the plan of happiness, and faith that one day all of the hard of this world will be made right.
Another topic that I heard about was love. This was the major theme last conference as well and I am excited to focus more on loving our Savior and Father in Heaven better and letting that drive my actions, as well as loving others better and more fully.
The BIG THEMES I saw this conference were:
- Jesus Christ (always)
- Faith
- Love <– the main theme from last conference
- Covenants
- Discipleship
The Gospel of Jesus Christ Is for All
President Dallin H. Oaks’ message focused on FAITH. There were many tidbits in his talk, such as progressing on the covenant path, being patient with others (and ourselves), strengthening our humility, waiting on the Lord, the Atonement, the Book of Mormon, and sharing the gospel.
But what hit me the most was faith and demonstrating that faith again and again. To get closer to my Savior, again and again. I love that he shared that having “strong faith requires more than strong desire.” To trust in the Lord’s timing and promises. And all of that involves “daily trying, one step at a time, with prayer and scriptural learning.”
Invitations
- PRAYER – For what Heavenly Father wants for each of us – to be active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Sains, proceeding forward on the covenant path into the eternities.
- URGE – Keep the commandments and be true to the covenants I have made to guide me along the covenant path.
- INVITATION – Believe in the promises from the Book of Mormon and that they are true.
- CALL – Act on truth and share them with others that we may all draw closer to Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Prompting
I want to demonstrate my faith again and again. Try every day, through prayer and scripture study, to deepen my relationship and trust in my Savior. It has to go beyond a desire, the time to act and dig deep is now.
My Favorite Takeaways
“Latter-day Saints invite each other and all men and women everywhere to “come unto Christ.”
I pray for what our Heavenly Father wants for each of us – to be active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, proceeding forward on the covenant path into the eternities. We need one another’s prayers.
The way to overcome…is to get closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Again and again, He has taught us that He is the way. Focus on developing your faith in God and the mission of His Son, Jesus Christ. Strong faith requires more than strong desire. It means daily trying, one step at a time, with prayer and scriptural learning.
We are all a work in progress…We need to be patient with one another and, occasionally, even with ourselves…It involves building faith and strengthening humility…And while you wait, wait upon the Lord, which includes trusting in His timing as well as His promises.
The Lord God…is relentless in His loving pursuit of each of you…I urge you to keep the commandments and be true to the covenants so many of you have made to guide you along the covenant path.
We should work to draw closer to Jesus Christ by increasing our humility.
Protect yourself with the weekly renewing of your covenants by partaking of the sacrament and with consistent efforts to live according to those sacred covenants. Those who have been endowed should include regular attendance at the temple. These simple practices will protect and strengthen you.
If our sins are to be forgiven through His Atonement, we must comply with the conditions He has prescribed, including faith, repentance, and baptism. The fulfillment of these conditions depends on our desires, our choices, and our actions.
I call upon all to act on these truths and to share them with others that we may all draw closer to Jesus Christ, our Savior.”
FULL text and video of President Dallin H. Oaks’ message can be found HERE.
