Live Blogging General Conference, April 2018

The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
President Russell M. Nelson, center; and his counselors,
Dallin H Oaks, and Henry B. Eyring.
Source: Mormon Newsroom. © Intellectual Reserve. Used by permission.

Saturday Morning Session

With the passing of President Monson in January, this General Conference will include a "Solemn Assembly" to sustain the new First Presidency and two new members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Personally, I am hoping that we get some POC apostles at last. Zandra Vranes of "Sistas in Zion" wrote a great post about why so far all the members of our two highest quorums in the church have been white.

Gerritt W. Gong and Ulisses Soarez are called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles! I am so happy to be able to sustain these men, at this historic moment in the church.

The etiquette of solemn assembly is unusual, in that the sustainings are done by quorum and organization of the church, beginning with the First Presidency, and then on down through the general hierarchy of the church, rather than a single vote of all those present. The last solemn assembly was a decade ago, following the passing of Gordon B. Hinckley. My memory is a little bit fuzzy, but I thought that all the priesthood sustained the first presidency and apostles before the Relief Society took our turn sustaining. In this case, however, the Relief Society was asked to stand for the sustaining vote in between the Melchizedek and Aaronic priesthood holders. (update: found the solemn assembly from 2008 in the conference archive, and my memory was correct)

M. Russell Ballard
Elder Ballard has spoken many times about appropriate use of technology. His message today seems to be less positive on that front than in previous messages, perhaps because his emphasis here is on seeking and fulfilling opportunities to serve in our homes and communities. In my experience, mobile devices and social media can be conduits for personal service that is necessary and meaningful. But it can also get in the way of sustaining loving relationships with others, when we focus more on telling people what we think than we do on seeking to understand one another.

He especially encouraged us to avoid using our smartphones during Sacrament meeting. I struggle with this because I have a health condition that causes constant fatigue. In order to stay awake during long meetings, I often will fidget with something, or play a quiet game on my phone, which allows me to remain alert while I listen to the speakers' messages. I have found that for me, these unobtrusive activities work better than taking notes in a notebook. To be honest, though, sometimes sacrament meeting talks are stultifying, and instead of continuing to listen, I will turn to the scriptures or other gospel messages available on my phone. I guess Elder Ballard probably would disapprove of that.

Brian K. Taylor
To help individuals have the strength to endure the great physical and emotional trials of mortality, "teach them their identity as a child of God." Understanding our divine identity ought also to inspire us to do what we can to alleviate the causes of suffering in this world, I think. Living in a society where we're constantly inundated with discouraging messages via the news and social media, it's easy to think that the problems of this world are too great for us to do anything about. But as Elder Ballard taught, we have a moral duty to seek and fulfill opportunities to serve, including by seeking and voting for honorable government representatives, where possible. Understanding my divine identity helps me remember that although I cannot fix everything, I can do something. I can use my gifts as a daughter of God to make some corner of the world a little more like Zion.

Larry Echo Hawk
Elder Echo Hawk's talk also included a story of deeply personal tragedy; his focus is on the power of forgiveness. I think forgiveness is one of the hardest doctrines to understand and practice, especially for non-Christians. Not that non-Christians are less compassionate or merciful--in my experience, they are often as merciful, if not more, than many Christians I know. But the atonement of Christ provides a mechanism for forgiveness that I have found no equivalent for elsewhere. I appreciate Elder Echo Hawk's message that we can pray for, and cultivate, "a forgiving spirit."

Elder Gary E. Stevenson
He's sharing his own memories of the solemn assemblies that have occurred during his lifetime. Today's is the fifth that I have lived through, but I was too young to remember the sustaining of President Benson, and have only the vaguest memory of sustaining President Hunter. But I have a special memory of the passing of President Hinckley, who served as the head of the church for most of my youth, and of the calling of President Monson. I wrote a little about that time in a Facebook post on January 3rd, when President Monson passed. Because Facebook feels so much more ephemeral to me than this blog, I'm going to quote that post here:

I was lying in bed, trying to remember the thing I had forgotten to do today. I remembered, and opened my computer to do it, but then I saw in my news feed that President Thomas S. Monson passed away just a few hours ago. I guess most of my FB friends are asleep, and unless they checked the news right before going to bed, they won't know of President Monson's passing until they wake in the morning, but I cannot sleep without first sharing a little about what Thomas S. Monson has meant to me.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that the president of our church holds all priesthood keys given by Jesus Christ to men on Earth, and we sustain him as a prophet, seer, and revelator--someone called by God to express his will to the world. Though I'm acutely aware of the fallibility of all men, including prophets (something the scriptures themselves are quite frank about), I have often raised my hand to the square and affirmed that I sustained President Monson in this calling. But, in my experience, the "prophet, seer, and revelator" part of his calling has always been pretty abstract. To me, President Monson has always seemed more like a steward and a shepherd. He led by example, and the example that has stood out most to me over the past decade has been of kindness and service. Every one of his general conference talks in my memory has touched on this theme, and it was often the primary topic of his message. Those who knew him--some of whom I know personally--affirm that he lived what he preached. Again, I'm under no illusions that he was perfect--far from it, I suspect. But I do know that he was a true disciple of Christ, who dedicated his life to ministering to individuals despite whatever personal weaknesses he had.

Tonight my thoughts are also drawn to that day almost a decade ago when his predecessor, Gordon B. Hinckley, passed away. At the time I was serving as Relief Society president in my student ward at BYU-Idaho. I was several years older than my roommates and most other members of my little flock of Relief Society sisters. President Hinckley had served as president of the church for as long as they could remember, and some were anxious about what would happen when he passed. A few women in my apartment complex gathered in my apartment living room to share our memories of President Hinckley and to talk about the succession. One of my roommates had called our bishop, who came over to speak with us, too, and to reaffirm what I had explained--that the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles would be called as the next President of the Church. It was a sacred few hours for those of us who were there. We felt then, and I know now, that the church is in good hands.

Elder Stevenson continued to share his personal experience with President Nelson, and his knowledge of President Nelson's career as a heart surgeon. My roommate, Nancy, observed a principle highlighted by Elder Stevenson that I didn't pick up on. She called it "security with high expectations." That is, expectations for your performance are high, but your job is secure. The stakes are high not because your personal position is on the line, but because of the institution's collective care for those they serve. This isn't the experience she's had in academia, but I have experienced it. I think that "security with high expectations" is more likely to result in performance gains than either security without high expectations, or high expectations without security.

Lynn G. Robbins
Now Elder Robbins is also talking about high expectations and second chances. From a great professor, Elder Robbins learned to regard "failure as a tutor, not as a tragedy." I try to teach this way too--to be on the same side as my students, to give them ample opportunities to try again and succeed, and to focus on learning from trying, failing, and trying again, rather than merely seeking an easy grade. But given the structure of university semesters, I don't have the capacity to offer unlimited chances.

Christ is a God of second chances--countless second chances. He knows we will fail, either through sins of commission or of omission. And he has provided us a way to repent and keep trying, so that we can improve. With Christ, we get as many chances as it takes, for as long as we want them. Peter thought that seven chances were a pretty good number, but Christ declared that we ought to forgive "until seventy times seven," which is a rhetorical use of hyperbole to teach the principle that we should never stop forgiving one another.

Our limitless opportunity to be forgiven is not a license to sin. We are not supposed to merely go from failure to failure, but to grow from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. (I'm reminded of the aphorism, "Fail. Fail again. Fail better.") God's gift of repentance and forgiveness is what makes this possible. "Failure, and lots of failure, is not a bug, but a feature."

Neil L. Andersen
Like Elder Stevenson, Elder Andersen shares his personal knowledge about President Nelson--about the noble qualities developed through and exemplified in his professional experience, church service, family, and even his hobbies (he's an avid black diamond skier at the young age of 93). Both of them showed some candid photos of President Nelson. I think it's good that they are helping us to get to know our new prophet better, and to view him not just as a figure at the conference podium, but as a person like ourselves.

Elder Andersen also noted that a mere 3 years ago, President Nelson was fourth in line for the presidency. He affirms that the calling of our church presidents by seniority in the apostleship means that "God, who holds the power of life and death" determines who leads the church.

Our church does not adhere to a doctrine of prophetic infallibility, but at the same time, we place great weight on the importance of continuing revelation to the church through the prophet. These two doctrines create a tension within church culture, which many find uncomfortable, but which I think is healthy. The truth is that God does call servants from among fairly ordinary, imperfect people. And he gives inspiration to fairly ordinary, imperfect people. The scriptures are full of examples of imperfect prophets who nonetheless fulfilled God's callings. I think President Nelson is pretty extraordinary, as people go, but what's important, doctrinally, is that he has been called and set apart by proper priesthood authority, and that by virtue of that calling, he has the capacity and responsibility to lead the church.

I pick up conference traditions from roommates. So this afternoon, we'll be eating homemade personal pizzas, and tomorrow we'll have WAFFLES. But this morning it's Froot Loops all the way!

Saturday Afternoon Session

More sustainings! The Saturday Afternoon session's business is less exciting than this morning's solemn assembly, but it takes a long time, and it's mostly a lot of names that most of us won't recognize. Props to Elder Oaks for learning to pronounce so many names in relatively quick succession. I'm pleased to hear a lot of non-English names. Elder Oaks notes that we now have 116 general authorities, and nearly 40% of them are from outside the United States. Some will interpret this as PR, which it is, but not in the negative way that that's sometimes portrayed. It's really important to highlight the international makeup of the church and to have it reflected in our leadership.

The YW general presidency is released. I'm really sad about this, because I love those ladies and their service in the church. They have been leaders, not just to the young women, or even to the women of the church, but to the whole church, in so many ways. I'm going to miss their messages during conference. I hope that the new presidency is equally inspiring.

Also the audit report. Not much interesting here, as far as I'm concerned. But I get why we do it.

David A Bednar
That's a long pause before introducing his list (well, the first of his lists; I bet there'll be more than one). I wonder if he'll ever do a talk without a list. That would feel weird.

I love that he brought up that letter that Captain Moroni wrote, in which he inaccurately accused Pahoran of treason, and Pahoran's meek reply. It's a great example of the fallibility and humility of our nonetheless-inspired leaders. Characterizing it as meek is also instructive, because Pahoran did not just buckle under the accusation. He thanked Moroni for his concern for the nation, informed him of the true situation, and requested his help to save the nation from those who'd seized the government by force.

"Meekness is distinguished by righteous responsiveness, willing submissiveness, and strong self restraint.... Meekness is strong, not weak; active, not passive; courageous, not timid; restrained, not excessive; modest, not self-aggrandizing; & gracious, not brash.”

I want to highlight the word he chose to contrast with "modest." He chose "self-aggrandizing." What this teaches us is that modesty is about motives and actions, not about the effect our hemlines and necklines might have on other people. I really appreciate when church leaders use "modesty" in its correct sense, to teach true doctrine. It is more rare than it ought to be, and I hope to hear more apostles address meekness and modesty more extensively as the antidote to our cultural tendency toward "self-aggrandizement."

Taylor G. Godoy
What would I do if I knew I had one more day to live? This is indeed a good question to ask, though of course our answers will often appropriately differ if we know or believe we have a year, or a decade, or several decades yet to live. If I have only one day more to live, then there are a great many things I do not need to plan and prepare for, and some of the things I would normally need to do to sustain my life and fulfill my responsibilities to others become irrelevant. But when it comes to repentance, forgiveness, kindness, and building loving relationships with others, there are things I should not put off for even one more day, whether or not I am going to die tomorrow.

<<the internet connection is acting up and the live feed keeps pausing to buffer; I may miss some of his talk. thank goodness the messages will be published on lds.org right after conference ends!>>

“The key to being successful is being willing to sacrifice...sacrifice is to make things sacred.”

LOL! President Oaks accidentally left off two names from the long list of sustainings. I thought that only happened in our local ward sacrament meetings. But there he goes giving us a live example of the principle that our leaders are imperfect.

Bonnie L. Oscarson
So anyway this is how I feel right now, listening to Sister Oscarson's last talk as YW pres:

She's choosing to highlight the leadership and service of the young women in the church, and encouraging bishops and relief society presidents to see our young women as valuable, underutilized resources in fulfilling the needs of ward and community members as we organize the work of the church. And she notes that as we consider what roles we might ask these young women to perform, we should consider how assignments can help them prepare for their future roles as missionaries, scholars, parents and professionals. And she's specifically reminding the bishoprics of the church that their responsibilities include ministering to and mentoring the young women. 

She then turned her attention to address the young women directly, acknowledging the difficult challenges they face, including struggling with feelings of depression, anxiety, and inadequacy, and encouraging them to seek opportunities to serve in spite of these struggles. "By serving, you are proving that you have worth and have something wonderful to give."

“Turning your thoughts outward, instead of dwelling on your own problems, may not resolve all of these issues, but service can often lighten your burdens.”

"Our young women are amazing...They want to be of service. They need to know they are valued and essential in the work of salvation"

HOLY COW. WHAT A MIC DROP. 

Taniela B.Wakolo
I don't recall hearing him before but I'm sure enjoying his message. What a smile. What a spirit.
Many who claim to follow Christ have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. From such, turn away. We are the Savior's under-shepherds, and we must invoke the power of our Good Shepherd in order to fulfill our responsibilities as disciples. "Casualness in covenants leads to casualties," spiritually speaking. "Receiving the sacred ordinances and honoring the associated covenants fill us with marvelous light."

Devin G. Durrant
Family Home Evening creates an opportunity to build family unity, to teach and learn from one another, to practice preparation, listening, fulfilling assignments--for parents as well as children. Parents' responsibilities never cease, even when children are adults. But opportunities change as children grow older. From the pulpit, he declared, "I love you, Mom." He shared his father's teachings to him, to respect women, and specifically never to touch a woman inappropriately.

"Teach both acts and attitudes of obedience." Be “an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

Dale G. Renlund
He also began by highlighting family relationships, but specifically noted that many of us experience fractures within our families. He shared the story of Parley and Orson Pratt, from the early days of the restoration of the church. A book of family history inspired Parley to seek to heal the breach after many years. The atonement and gospel of Christ give us both reason and power to heal broken hearts and broken families. Doing family history and temple work brings increased love for ancestors and living relatives, so that we no longer feel alone. Lots of other increases promised from performing temple work for families.

So, story time. I learned a while ago that some of my ancestors on my dad's side not only were slave owners and slave traders, but were really influential in the slave trade in Barbados. This family history grieves me greatly. But it's important to me that I know it, and that I don't try to bury it or claim that it's not part of my legacy. These ancestors did terrible things, and doubtless destroyed many, many families in the process (little if any records remain for those families, alas). My great-great-great-great-grandmother, who was the first in her family to join the church (and the only one, as far as I know), was given a slave couple by her parents as a wedding present. She and her husband, John Lowe Butler, freed those slaves immediately. This action created a permanent rift between Caroline Skeen and her family. I don't know what happened to that slave couple; the family records didn't even include their names (I wish I could find out more, and maybe someday I will). When I wrote about this on Facebook, my ward's family history specialist asked me whether I would be willing to take their names to the temple, if any of their work had not yet been done. I said "yes," without hesitation, because I believe in second chances.

The gospel changes lives. So given the doctrine of redeeming ordinances for the dead, a salvific opportunity for those who did not receive the gospel and its ordinances in their lifetimes, of course I would want them to have that chance! I thought that most of the temple work on both sides of my family tree had already been done, because we've got a lot of older relatives who've been really active in genealogy and temple work. But I looked them up on Family Search, and there is indeed temple work along that family line that needs to be done, including during the period they were involved in the slave trade. I haven't done their work yet, though. I could list reasons why, but they mostly boil down to "life gets in the way." So I guess I need to get on that, and do what I said I would do.

Sunday Morning Session

My live blogging was delayed by my preparing the traditional Sunday Morning Conference breakfast of waffles with fruit and stuff. So I'll give one-line summaries of the first three talks.

Larry Y. Wilson
Don't wait until the storm comes to become familiar with the promptings of the Spirit; pray to know how you can help when the storm does come.

Reyna I. Aburto
Be of one accord; find your place in the kaleidoscope of love-directed service within the church.

Massimo De Fo
"If you are struggling to find the strength to forgive, don’t think of what others have done to you, but think of what the Lord has done for you, and you will find peace." Love is the foundation stone--of repentance, forgiveness, and service.

Claudio D. Zivic

I had a hard time following his talk, because of his accent and palsy. And then my mind wandered, because I was thinking about how the Sunday Morning session is typically the most-watched session of conference, and how President Nelson (I assume he chose the order of the speakers) chose to have three international speakers with pronounced accents in a row, and how yesterday morning President Oaks highlighted the international composition of the general authorities and officers of the church. It is significant that this first conference under his presidency is emphasizing that ours is a global church--not just in word but by example. And then President Nelson stood up and pointed out the international makeup of the speakers. So I am pretty certain it was deliberate.

Henry B. Eyring
I love hearing President Eyring read the Easter message from scripture. I love his tenderness. I have felt, and do feel the presence of the divine comforter, the Holy Spirit. It is our choice whether or not the spirit of the Lord will abide with us. "Obedience may mean to move quickly, it may mean to prepare, or it may mean to wait."

Mary Encounters Christ at the Tomb. lds.org. © 2018 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Dallin H. Oaks
The effect of small, simple changes, such as prayer, scripture study, and other spiritual observances over time is difficult to measure on a daily basis. But "over time they result in powerful spiritual uplift and growth." Seemingly insignificant private decisions, often only half-consciously made, also build up over time, either for good or ill. So we ought to be more intentional about such decisions. In addition, the currents of worldly culture will often try to push us in directions we do not want to go; so we must be continually exerting efforts to paddle in the direction we do want to go. Metaphors used to illustrate the pattern of small and simple things bringing forth great things include tree roots, paddling against the current, dripping water...I may have missed one.

Russell M. Nelson
There is no better way to celebrate the resurrection of the living Christ than to worship together this Easter Sunday.

I did not know that President Nelson was not raised in an active LDS home. I appreciate that he is sharing this personal story of his upbringing by loving, tender parents who did not live the word of wisdom or follow the teachings of the gospel. When they were in their 80s, he finally received the blessing of seeing them sealed together, and being sealed to them in the temple. So many members do not come from "model" LDS homes; this story of love and hope is so important to hear from our prophet. And he speaks with equal tenderness about his first wife, Dantzel, their children, her unexpected death, and his marriage to Wendy.

Another warning against "dangers and distractions" as we seek the influence of the Spirit in our lives.

I also appreciate his explanation of how he sought inspiration as to whom he should call to be his counselors, to fill the vacant seats in the quorum of the twelve apostles, and the regular process of counseling in these quorums for inspiration regarding the direction of the church. "The majority never rules," but rather, they carefully listen to one another, and counsel together until unanimity is reached.

He then reminded us of the example of the prophet Joseph Smith in seeking personal revelation--an example that all of us can follow. Revelation through the Holy Ghost is not limited to the general authorities of this church; God wants to speak to each of us. And he wants to hear from us--no matter what. I have a testimony of this. God wants me to pray, even if I'm angry with him, which I sometimes am. He can take it. And in return, he will give comfort (though sometimes it takes me a while to be able to feel it).

And now he returns to talking about the problems generated by social media and the 24/7 news cycle. He calls it a "constant bombardment," and notes that many seek to sow disinformation and discontent. The Holy Ghost can help us discern what deserves our attention, and can provide comfort in the face of so many messages of conflict.

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God! He is our savior and redeemer. He died and was resurrected.

...and another international voice offers our closing prayer. I'm thankful.

Priesthood Session

I didn't watch the Priesthood session, but I read about the merging of Elders quorums and High Priests groups. I think it's a great adjustment.

Sunday Afternoon Session

You know what I love about the Bloggernacle? Specifically, #ldsconf on Twitter? Fangirling whenever the choir sings their favorite hymn. Because every hymn is somebody's favorite. Which means even when they're singing something I don't particularly care for (I don't mean "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd; it's great), somebody on Twitter's squeeing about it, and that makes me happy. It's a reminder that messages and hymns that are not for me are signs of God's love for someone else.

Gerritt W. Gong
Wherever and whenever God has conferred priesthood power on Earth, he has also revealed gospel ordinances and covenants to be administered by the priesthood. To me, this helps to clarify the role and importance of the priesthood: it is in the administering of sacred ordinances.

Ulisses Soares
He has the coolest name of all the apostles (sorry, Dieter). He also has a lovely testimony.

Also, we're gonna get a Holland talk, and Sister Bingham!

Russell M. Nelson
Wow. That's like 5 major changes in these two days. He's hitting the ground running. They're retiring home and visiting teaching as they've been known. Instead, they are creating a program called "ministering."

Jeffrey R. Holland
He also noted the many changes, and promised additional information about the new program via email and on the church website.

These institutional changes, which Elder Holland calls "maturation," should engender individual maturation. The language change is partly a matter of changes in practice, and partly a matter of changes in attitude. Ministering will occur not just in the home, nor will it be primarily about "teaching." We will not necessarily focus on visiting every member every month, but will focus on what is necessary and possible. Rather than monthly reports from ministering brothers and sisters, the only reports will be the number of interviews that leaders have with ministering companionships. They don't need to know the hows and wheres and whats of our ministering, but rather the focus is on understanding the needs of the members. This is "an invitation to care for one another in a bold, new, holier way." True religion is bearing one another's burdens and comforting those that stand in need of comfort.

"A new name, new flexibility, and fewer reports will not make one ounce of difference in our service unless we see this as an invitation to care for one another in a bold new holier way."

I am very grateful for this change. My own situation makes it difficult for me to fulfill visiting teaching assignments in the traditionally prescribed way, and I know I'm not the only one. Under the old program, there was a lot of guilt for not doing things "by the book" that, for some, sometimes got in the way of doing anything at all. In the past couple of months I've pondered how I might talk with my VT companion and the sisters we were assigned to visit, to see if we could arrange something that met their needs and that I was able to consistently fulfill. I guess I was inspired, because it looks like that's the direction the whole church is going now.

Jean B. Bingham
Ministering begins with asking: how can I bring the light of the Spirit to this family? What is the Spirit inspiring me to do? How can I serve them in ways that best meet their current needs? Simple acts of kindness and service are often what is needed; sometimes, a great, coordinated effort of the ward is necessary. We will not be able to fulfill this calling to minister without getting to know each other better.

I love that Sister Bingham draws her examples from brothers and sisters of many ages.

This new program will involve partnering Young Women with the Relief Society. This service will help young women prepare for service and leadership in the church, community, and family. YES. I've been hoping and praying for this for ages.

Both she and Elder Holland note that emails, text messages, social media messages, phone calls, and simple conversations may all serve the purpose of ministering to one another.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"Recently, I asked the internet..." (the conference center fills with laughter) "...what was the most important day in history." My reply would be, it was the day of the resurrection. Elder Uchtdorf says that it was the night Jesus spent in Gethsemane, where our doctrine teaches the greatest portion of his atonement was performed, as he took upon himself all our sins and sorrows. Later that night, he was put on trial and crucified, and he died the following morning, to rise on the morning of the third day--the day of the resurrection. So I guess we agree, but he was stretching the definition of a "day."

Every one of us, one day, will die. And because of Jesus Christ, every one of us, one day, will rise from the grave and live again eternally. Even more importantly, every one of us has been separated from God, and it is through the atonement of Jesus Christ that we will see our God again, face to face. Because of Him, regardless of our past, we can repent and become like Him.

"This is what we celebrate on Easter. We celebrate life." Life everlasting, and in the glory of exaltation.

And now he is recounting the story of the crucifixion and resurrection. Thank you, Elder Uchtdorf. We need this message every day, but especially on Easter.

When Pilate presented Jesus, scourged and clothed in purple robes, he said, "Behold the man!" But, says Elder Uchtdorf, "They could see him, but could not behold him. They did not have eyes to see." Like them, we are invited to "behold the man." Let us have eyes to see him! When we truly "behold the man, we learn of him, repent, strive to refine our natures, and daily grow a little closer to him."

"Ecce Homo" or "Behold the Man" by Antonio Ciseri. Public Domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons

"The most important day in your life and mine is the day when we learn to 'behold the man.'" And this is why "we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:26)

So, Elder Uchtdorf didn't tell a story about being a pilot this time. Instead, he talked about Pilate.

I feel simultaneously exhausted and exhilarated by this conference, y'all. So many great changes. So many great messages.

Gérald Caussé

Our church infrastructure provides enormous opportunity to care for one another and for our neighbors. But the mission of the church is not about that infrastructure: it is about sanctifying the saints, or in other words, all of us, the disciples of Christ. Am I active in the gospel, or just busy in the church?

Our presence and influence can (and should) be enough to make wherever we find ourselves a holy place.

Instead of saying "the church is true," I will strive to be true to the gospel. When the members are true, the church is true.

Quentin L. Cook
Well, I'm awake, but I confess that my mind is sluggish as we move toward the end of 8-10 hours of church in one weekend. I caught something about the restoration of priesthood keys, and family history and temple work, denunciation of sexual immorality and specifically the objectification of women, and unity vs. tribalism (ty for that, Elder Cook), and lots of other things, and I'm just having trouble following this message.

It's like going to academic conferences; it's hard to take all the talks in. I'm grateful that these messages are published online, so that I can return to them, one at a time, to watch/listen/read and ponder.

Resources:
Watch/listen/read past conference messages at conference.lds.org
Deseret News has summaries of all the conference talks.

Russell M. Nelson
Concluding remarks--summarizing key events and messages this conference, and entreating us to study these messages, take courage, press on, and do the work we have been called to do. Announcing 7 more temples, in: Argentina, India, Nicaragua, Phillipines, Utah (lots of laughter after many gasps), Virginia, and Russia (biggest gasps of all). Prophetic blessings pronounced.

I'm back! Live Blogging General Conference: October 2017

After a hiatus last April, I once again have a way to watch conference and still have access to my laptop, thanks to my new roommates. I did miss the Women's Session, due to traveling, and have yet to have time to go back and listen to those talks. But by all accounts it was a wonderful session.

As always, you may watch all sessions of General Conference live (or time-delayed) online at lds.org, the Mormon Channel on YouTube, and on byutv.

This blog records what I hear and think as I listen; it is not intended to be a summary and my views are my own. I highly recommend that you watch or read conference for yourself. Talks can be watched and read at conference.lds.org, and you can also read summaries here.

Image credit: Merrill Humberg, "Idaho Falls Temple." Taken 25 Nov. 2006. Wikimedia Commons. CC-BY-2.5. (My younger brother and I used to take a blanket and a radio down to the Idaho Falls temple grounds to listen to a session of General Conference. This picture reminded me of those afternoons.)

Saturday Morning Session

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

President Uchtdorf reminds us that joy and purposefulness comes when we focus on our relationships with God and with other people, seek fellowship with the saints, remember that our skills and talents are needed and valued, and seek ways to serve and build up each other and the Kingdom of God. "How beautiful it is to know, though we are imperfect...God will be generous with us, and use us for his purposes" (not sure I got this quote exactly right; I'll edit later if needed). We must take responsibility for determining the correct path for our lives and steering toward it; "life is not a self-driving car." 

Bonnie L. Oscarson

We are often moved to serve and donate time, money, and material resources when we see disasters around the world--and this service is necessary and good. But we often forget to look for ways to serve closer to home on an everyday basis--in our homes, wards, and neighborhoods. I wish more people understood this principle. I wish I were better at enacting it in my own life. I struggle to know how I can serve others beyond my official work, church, and family responsibilities, without overwhelming myself. 

Dallin H. Oaks.

Those who know and understand God's plan of salvation are obligated to follow it, and their efforts to do so will sometimes lead to conflict with family, friends, and associates who do not know the plan of salvation. This kind of conflict happens in all ages of history, in all cultures. Elder Oaks focuses specifically on the LDS doctrine of the family. He notes the increasing cultural acceptance of cohabitation without marriage and same-sex marriage, both of which are contrary to LDS teachings about the family. His talk focuses heavily on the 1995 Family Proclamation, of which he is a signatory. He gave some insight into the composition and publication of that document. He calls this proclamation a "statement of eternal truths, the will of the Lord." And he suggests that our willingness to live by the precepts of that document is a test of faithfulness to the Lord in this generation.

This talk will be hard for a lot of people to hear; it's going to stir a lot of people up. Maybe that's a good thing.

John C. Pingree Jr.

Everyone is given gifts that bless our lives and provide opportunities to serve others. We have a responsibility to discover and develop our gifts, and to seek after gifts. Each of us has a personal ministry, regardless of age, gender, income level, education, physical ability, etc. God sometimes uses our trials to give us opportunities to develop gifts and lead us toward our personal ministry. And God will strengthen us so that we can fulfill our most important ministry. Personal worthiness gives us strength to fulfill our ministries, but distractions weaken our power to serve. Avoid the temptation of personal praise for our ministries, but follow the Savior's example and glorify God.

This is the third message so far this morning to focus on the usefulness of individuals, and our need to be of use, and the world's need for our service.

D. Todd Christofferson

I appreciate Elder Christofferson's reminder that we are all broken and torn in different ways. All of us suffer; all need healing. The symbol of eating Christ's flesh and drinking His blood through the sacrament is not only a remembrance of his atonement; it also represents the need to "internalize the qualities and characteristics of Christ." Jesus is the living bread and water. "We cannot be content to remain where we are." God doesn't only command us to be holy; he also provides the way for us to become holy, which is impossible to do by our own power. Jesus came to the world to minister. We come to this world not only to be ministered to, but to minister. The inscription "holiness to the Lord" is found not only on our temple doors, but in the pioneer era of Utah was inscribed on such everyday objects as a hammer and drum, as well as on sacrament plates and cups, banners, and the original ZCMI entrance. This is a reminder to me that whatever work we do, we ought to perform it as a vocation--a calling--an opportunity to minister to others and glorify God.

Jeffrey R. Holland

It seemed for a minute that Elder Holland was going to speak on sexual morality, but then he took a turn and is focusing on repentance and the atonement, without which the commandment to be perfect would lead inevitably to despair, but with it, we can have a perfect brightness of hope. "I need mercy, and the world needs peace." Sometimes scriptures and commandments can be discouraging, because we recognize how much we fall short of righteousness. But Elder Holland suggests that such scriptures and commandments can instead be a reminder of the perfection and power of God, and of the truth that our salvation is a supernal gift. Yet if we are unable to achieve total perfection, it's not unreasonable for God to ask us to strive to be a little more perfect, for steady improvement in doing good to others, and overcoming temptation in ourselves--and in so doing, not succumb to depression or demolished self esteem. Do not glory in our own righteousness, or point the finger of accusation or scorn at those who are struggling. We are all debtors. We are all fallen. We all need grace. And through Christ, we can be finished, complete, and whole.

Can Elder Holland just be the concluding speaker for every session?

Saturday Afternoon Session

That youth choir is looking and sounding good. I really dig their arrangement of #LoveOneAnother. 

Gary E. Stevenson

Nice shout-out to this summer's total eclipse! I enjoyed watching it with my family up here in Idaho. It was a really profound, almost spiritual experience. I like the idea of viewing "spiritual eclipses," or challenges, through the lens of the gospel. I also appreciate that instead of bashing social media, he's talking about putting it to good use, and not merely allowing it to use us. How do I use the resources at my disposal to meaningfully connect with others and add light to their lives?

Steven W. Owen

Repentance is always positive. Repentance is not merely self-improvement efforts or "miserable behavior modification" (it occurs to me that "miserable" might modify either "behavior" or "modification," or both, in that phrase). It's the process of accessing grace through the atonement of Christ. Repentance inspires a commitment to obedience to commandments and covenants because of love. It is meant to be a joyful experience. Sometimes fear of rejection--rejection by God and/or other loved ones--might cause us to hesitate from repentance. But where true love is present, as it is with our Eternal Father, we have nothing to fear. God will always welcome his repentant children with open arms. Repentance is for everyone--people beginning to believe, already believe, trying to believe again.

Quentin L. Cook

Elder Cook throws down a truth bomb about racism, sexism, classism, etc., reiterating this statement from August 2017 over the pulpit, thus putting the kibosh on fringe-right Mormons in the blogsphere who have claimed that the LDS Newsroom's statement was contrary to church doctrine. This comes from the Brethren. All are alike unto God, and those who claim inherent superiority do so in opposition to the doctrine of Christ. Elder Cook then turns to talk about the importance of humility and love in furthering missionary efforts. He also identified "modesty and understatement" as civic virtues, clearly using modesty in its correct meaning rather than using it in its current almost-exclusive sense of "conservative dress." Yay! "Authenticity" is not an excuse for un-Christlike behavior. He cautioned against "humble bragging," self-aggrandizement, and grudge-holding. Gratitude both cultivates and is a sign of humility.

Ronald A. Rasband

Elder Rasband says that God doesn't do things by coincidence, but by divine design. But I believe in coincidences too--how do I know what's God acting in my life and what's just a coincidence? If I'm drawing closer to God, does it matter? Should I just attribute stuff that draws me toward heaven to God, and label everything else coincidence? What about coincidences that only seem to draw one closer to God, but are really just a counterfeit--like when people see images of saints in their toast, because human pattern-recognition is a bit buggy? What about when bad stuff happens? Is that always/often/ever by God's design? I believe God can and does use our circumstances to help us grow and draw closer to Him, and that he places people and opportunities in our path, if we are seeking his will and his help. And I believe that sometimes, what we perceive as an obstruction in the path we've chosen for ourselves is God's way of setting us on a better path. But I'm not sure I believe in a God who orchestrates my every circumstance. I do believe that I should seek to design my life in a way that is pleasing to God. I also believe that because everyone's circumstances are unique to some degree, it is pleasing to God that our lives don't all follow exactly the same design (though there are some key elements that we all have in common, like embracing the gospel, being baptized, making temple covenants, etc.). Elder Rasband says that agency is the freedom to choose to follow or not follow the Lord and His servants. I think it is that, but also more than that. And yes, each of us has divinity within us.

O. Vincent Haleck

Hearing stories of saints who sacrificed so much because of their belief in the truthfulness of the gospel prompts me to ask, "what am I willing to sacrifice for the sake of the truth?" In my life, I have rarely been called upon to sacrifice much. But I have had moments where my commitment to the truth has been challenged. Not just gospel truth (though certainly that as well), but all kinds of truth. "Have the will to do and to give. I promise that the Lord will not leave you wanting."

Russell M. Nelson

"Conversion is an individual matter." How important is the Book of Mormon to your testimony? Without the BOM, what would you be like? What would you not know, and what would you not have? "The full power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is contained in the Book of Mormon." It corrects erroneous doctrines. Studying the Book of Mormon daily will allow you to receive spiritual power to help you in your daily life. Daily study of the scriptures can give you spiritual direction, help you make decisions, and help you overcome temptation. What good is it to say "I know the Book of Mormon is true" if you are not studying it?

This talk reminds me a little of President Benson's emphasis on reading the BoM during his tenure as president of the church in my childhood.

Sunday Morning Session

On Pajama Church Sunday, I eat waffles for breakfast! 

This is why my notes for the first couple of talks are short.

Jean B. Bingham

Lean on the Savior. The atonement not only redeems us from our own sins; it heals us from the hurt done as a consequence of the sins of others. The atonement brings healing, peace, and comfort. Coming to know Jesus Christ helps us understand our own relationship to God and purpose on Earth; it increases our capacity and desire to do good in the world.

Donald L. Hallstrom

Have miracles ceased? Definition of miracle: "A beneficial event brought about through divine power that mortals do not understand." Do we have the faith not to be healed from our physical afflictions, so that we might be healed spiritually for eternity? This is a hard one for me, because I want both. I'm mostly resigned to not being healed from some of my physical afflictions in this life, but I struggle with it sometimes.

David A. Bednar

Avoiding distractions seems to be another recurring theme this conference. "Sometimes we run so fast...we may forget what we are running toward and why we are running." The Sabbath is God's appointed time; a sacred time set aside to rest from worldly labors and contemplate the things of God. A day of rest allows us to reorient ourselves and remember our eternal purpose and destiny. Temples also provide a sacred space and time removed from worldly concerns, where we focus our attention upon, and learn about God the Father, his son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Hopefully, homes become another space where we take time to slow down and rest from the cares of the world, and build each other up spiritually. It's interesting how often hymns get quoted in conference talks. This time it's "Let the Holy Spirit Guide."

W. Christopher Waddell

How do we face challenges? Faith and righteousness does not guarantee we will have a life free of pain and hardship. But it can help us meet pain and hardship with added spiritual strength, and with greater hope for a bright, eternal future. Sometimes, God lifts our burdens, and sometimes, he gives us strength to bear them. Priesthood blessings of healing may restore health, or they may give us wisdom and perspective to know how best to seek medical care and other resources that will enable us endure our physical infirmities--this latter sort of help from priesthood blessings has mostly been my experience, though I've experienced some of the former as well. Sadly, often people in the grip of suffering turn away from their one best source of help--the Savior. Professional medical assistance and spiritual support and sustenance are both necessary.

W. Craig Zwick

A reference to The Lion King in conference? Heck yeah! Rafiki is awesome. And a reminder to look beyond what we see with mortal eyes, and avoid "easy assumptions and stereotypes." We must widen our lens. We rarely have the whole picture. Ask questions and get to know people! Hasty attempts to give counsel sometimes go awry--we must work hard to understand one another's circumstances to know best how to give good support and counsel. All of us come from different backgrounds; all of us experience the limitations of our cultural assumptions and traditions. Stop being a giant demolition ball. Truth should be our highest allegiance, though it should never be a barrier to kindness. *fist pump!!!* Resist comparisons, labeling, criticism so prevalent in the world. When they are directed toward us, they wound and may distort our perception of ourselves and others. When that happens, we must "let it go"--delete them and move on. Pray to have the scales removed from our eyes, and to see with the eyes of understanding.

Henry B. Eyring

Uchtdorf and Eyring hugged as they passed each other on their way to and from the pulpit. I love it! I love the example of our male leaders unselfconsciously expressing brotherly love--an example our culture sorely lacks.

Reading scriptures brings us greater faith, more ability to resist temptation, as well as peace and optimism for the future. In the midst of increasing tumult and doubt in the world, increasing the strength of our testimonies brings peace. "We have felt an increased desire to go to the rescue of others in need." I wasn't in Idaho when the Teton Dam broke--I wasn't even born. But as a resident of Southeast Idaho for most of my adult life, I'm very familiar with the story, and the indelible impact it had on the community. That spirit of looking out for and serving others remains, and is passed on to new members of the community. Perhaps it's one of the things that drew me back to Rexburg. I am certain that such an experience bringing out such a change is not unique to Rexburg, but it is the one that touches me most directly. President Eyring has visited cities affected by recent hurricanes--I had not considered before how close those flood victims must be to his own heart, as a fellow survivor of severe flooding. I feel a sense of personal pride for how willingly, even eagerly Mormons typically respond to such disasters. Yet I also remember Sister Oscarson's talk from yesterday. As essential as service in response to disasters is, it is sometimes harder to sustain consistent, smaller acts of service in our own neighborhoods. Both are necessary if we are to become a Zion people. Such selfless service is the fruit of faith in Jesus Christ, and it has power to change lives--both the lives of those who serve and the lives of those who are served. But "if we stop trying after one burst of effort, the change will fade." Continue to exercise faith in Jesus Christ and to do good. Doubt not, fear not--angels will bear you up. "The best days are ahead for the kingdom of God on the Earth." We will face opposition--we always have. But faith will overcome fear and opposition. God will be with us.

Sunday Afternoon Session

Elder Robert D. Hales passed away this afternoon. He'll be missed.

M. Russell Ballard

Jane Manning James!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I love hearing stories of POC pioneers in the church--too few know of them. Elder Ballard says that if we lose our ties to our pioneer forefathers and foremothers, we will lose a very special treasure. I also appreciate his emphasis on the importance of women's stories and women's testimonies. Jane Manning James is a wonderful example of faith despite trials and mistreatment by some within the church. She did not allow the frailties of men to divert her attention from her faith in the restored gospel. She trusted in God. 

Elder Ballard warns against those who preach false doctrines and those who would exploit members through get rich quick schemes, and those who promise special healing methods for money that are ethically or legally questionable (this brings MLMs to my mind, though he didn't mention them specifically). He urges members to seek medical help from those who are legally and medically qualified. 

Independence and self-reliance was essential for our pioneer ancestors; but their sense of community was no less important!

He denounced racism, sexism, and nationalism, and called on us to reach out to everyone and show love. This is the second such explicit condemnation of these evils during this conference.

Tad R. Callister

The Book of Mormon really is a remarkably complex book to have been the invention of a relatively unlearned man of 23, in the space of approximately two months, and only one draft with relatively minor grammatical changes. Theories about how he might have done it contradict eyewitness accounts. A number of incidental details once thought contrary to the archaeological and historical record, such as cement and records engraved on metal plates, have turned out to be accurate (though I note that many more such puzzling details remain; archaeological evidence alone is unlikely to ever confirm the Book of Mormon's authenticity). For me, the surest witness of the Book of Mormon lies in its witness of Jesus Christ, and the sweetness that studying its messages brings to my life.

Joni L. Koch

Avoid putting permanent labels on people. Allow people, includingf church leaders and members, the right to grow and change for the better. Support them in their efforts to do so, and do not reject them because of past or current errors. Sometimes correction is needed, but must be done in love and a spirit of unity.

Stanley G. Ellis

God's trust for fallible mortals is truly extraordinary. Do we trust God? Do we show our trust through faithfulness to His commandments? Do we maintain trust in God even when life is hard and needed blessings seem to be withheld? Hard is good; it's part of the gospel plan. Hard strengthens us. Adversity is inevitable, but our response to it varies. How we react to hardship determines how we will be changed by it, for better or worse. Do we flee or fight? Either choice may be dangerous; either choice may be right. We must be guided by faith and courage, not by a spirit of fear. What is hard will vary from person to person, but all of us will experience challenges. We ought not to judge others' hardships or compare ours to theirs. Regardless of circumstance, hard can be good for those who will move forward with faith, and trust in the Lord. Do not act or react in a spirit of fear.

Adilson de Paula Parrella

I am thankful for the precious truth that families can be eternal. I'm also sympathetic to those whose earthly families are dysfunctional to a degree that this gospel principle holds no appeal. Repentance and redemption is the central tenet of the gospel; all those who become part of eternal families will first have to develop Christlike relationships. And those relationships do change lives. Elder Parrella goes on to discuss other essential truths of the restored gospel and the Book of Mormon, such as the character of the Godhead. I am thankful to worship a God whom I can know, understand, and speak to. Our God encourages and entices us to follow His example and commandments without coercion. He gives us the gift of atonement and resurrection, so that I can be with Him and with my family eternally.

Ian S. Ardern

"Some people are like catterpillars...they gnaw at and and try to destroy our faith." And now he's quoting Elder Hales and his voice cracks with emotion. Unless you are fully engaged in living the gospel...you cannot generate enough spiritual light to push back darkness. I love how much these brethren love each other. Repent daily. Questions & doubts will arise; care must be taken about where we turn for answers. The "thin pages [of scripture are] thick with spiritual truths." I think that there are many good, reputable sources of answers to gospel questions in addition to the scriptures and the resources at lds.org. But there are a great many more very poor sources, and unfortunately a lot of people do not have the information literacy or historiographic training to assess available sources. We must do better at providing such training so that people can study out the questions they have. And through all, we ought not to allow doubts and confusion to drown out the witness of the spirit that we have received. Truth can withstand scrutiny, but I think it's much harder to withstand cynicism.

Jose L. Alonso

 Build one another up; express love and concern for one another in word and deed. Sending text messages and emails of encouragement and affection is good, but sometimes we need to put down our devices and express out love with our helping hands. "Love without service is like faith without works; it's dead indeed." Elder Alonso shared a tender story of losing his young son, who was hit by a car while waiting at a bus stop. His family met, forgave, and was able to love the young man who was driving the car, and they maintained a friendship with him. Forgiving is as sweet as being forgiven.

Neil L. Anderson

LOL Elder Anderson confirming that our conference marathon is almost at its conclusion--this is the final session, and he is the final speaker. The light of the gospel is moving across the world as the surely as the dawn. God has given authority to leaders of the church, and we trust in the voice of the Lord, whether it comes by direct revelation or through the voice of His servants. I'm loving this insight into the writing process of conference talks, which may include years of preparation and dozens of drafts--25 years, in one case! I am absolutely going to bring it up with my writing students tomorrow. It is a weighty matter to prepare for such a responsibility, and often we wonder whether we are prepared enough. "You don't know everything, but you know enough." Pres. Monson has said to take time to read and ponder conference messages, and I too bear witness of the power of doing so. I'm glad I have the LDS Gospel Library app so that I can read and listen to talks at opportune moments as I go about my days. And now he's quoting from his own notes from this conference; his insights are often different from mine, and I love hearing what stands out to others from conference (though I note that he repeated the condemnation of sexism, racism, and nationalism--no ambiguity there). This talk is so meta, I love it! Elder Anderson shares a message from the quote Elder Hales had prepared for this conference, "When we choose to have faith we are prepared to stand in the presence of God." And he closes by quoting a blessing from Thomas S. Monson in a previous conference.

Politics and Moral Reasoning (An Argument for and against Myself)

I grew up in a deeply conservative household. Most of my family remains conservative or very conservative. I live in a very conservative state and work on a very conservative campus. Yet some years ago, during one of those wonderfully long conversations you have on road trips, my younger brother observed (in a bemused rather than a judgmental tone) that I was "kind of liberal." I laughed at the absurdity of it, because having just finished my first two years of graduate study, during which I had almost daily experienced direct or indirect disparagement of my conservative and especially my Christian values, I was keenly aware that by liberal standards, I was much more likely to be regarded as "kind of conservative." And so it remains.

It's true that I've moved to the middle, and am, at present, probably a bit left-of-center, whereas at the time of that conversation I was more right-of-center. I am, as my brother perceived before I did, "kind of liberal," and it turns out I kind of always have been. I did not experience my shift toward the political center as a shift away from my core values, but rather a more nuanced and self-determined understanding of their application in the world. What has most changed is that I no longer feel at home among conservatives; nor do I think I will ever really feel at home among liberals. Whereas the attacks on my perceived conservatism that I experience among liberals have been sly and insidious, the attacks on my perceived liberalism that I have experienced within my conservative community have been direct and vicious. As painful and exhausting as this frequently is for me, maybe this inability to belong, politically speaking, isn't entirely a bad thing.

This next paragraph is the only paragraph in which I'm going to mention the presidential candidates by name, and then I'm going to write instead about broader principles, because that's what I want to talk about right now--not which candidate was wronger, or more corrupt. I'm tired of that.

I've read a lot of statements this week to the effect that for democrats (or those who voted for Clinton, not all of whom are democrats), this election was about deeply moral issues, while for republicans, it was largely about the economy, or about preserving their way of life. Of course that's no more true than the inverse would be: that for republicans (or those who voted for Trump,not all of whom are republicans), this election was about deeply moral issues, while for those who voted for Clinton, it was about the economy, or about preserving their way of life. While it's probably true that for a lot of voters, this was about the economy, it's worth noting that regardless of their political ideology, most people believe economic issues are moral issues (and they are), and obviously, so is preserving a way of life. It may be true that some people did vote primarily out of self-interest, but I think that's as likely to be the case for liberals as for conservatives.

However, I've really only seen one side of this political divide argue that voting out of self-interest is at least potentially acceptable, and that's the liberal side. Liberals don't usually argue that they vote out of self-interest. Rather they complain that their political foes are voting against their own interests, and that they must really not understand the fact that they are doing so. The implicit argument is either that conservatives are inherently selfish, and/or that self-interest is a valid reason for political decision making. To the conservative mind it must follow that either liberals themselves vote not out of principle but out of self-interest, or that they regard conservatives with outright contempt.

Which is maybe why conservatives have scoffed at liberal moral outrage throughout this whole election cycle. And who can blame them? Liberals make regular sport of scoffing at conservatives' moral outrage, and justify it in turn because conservatives regard them as morally bankrupt. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

To be clear: I believe that liberals vote out of self-interest no more than conservatives do, but also no less (an assertion that is unlikely to win me friends on either side, so I'll just add that I include myself in this unflattering assessment). That is to say, of course people vote out of self-interest, whether consciously or unconsciously. But however rational a political argument from self-interest might be, or however necessary to healthy political life it might be that we analyze the ways that self-interest plays a role in political decision-making, as a persuasive tool for conservatives it is much worse than a non-starter.

Much has been written about the moral reasoning of liberals and conservatives. It is a truism that conservatives tend to think in terms of moral absolutes, whereas liberals tend to be more comfortable with casuistic moral reasoning. To the degree that such a generalization is accurate, it should be obvious why accusing conservatives of voting against their own interests is sheer folly, if it is not malice.

I remember an argument, many years ago, between a cousin and another one of my brothers. This cousin could not understand why, given that both my parents are disabled, and this brother is himself disabled, my family tends to vote for politicians who promise to cut medicare, medicaid, and social security. How could it be logically or morally consistent to vote against the very programs on which my family depends just to get by from day to day? But it is absolutely logically and morally consistent to vote against such programs, even if you benefit from them, if you believe (as conservatives do, with a great deal of political philosophy behind them) that they are beyond the proper purview of government. For conservatives, what matters is voting for what is good, not simply what is good for them. Liberal readers will be quick to point out that this is what matters to them as well, and they'd be telling the truth, too. But to liberals (at least to white, middle- and upper-class ones), it often seems that only they have the moral courage to knowingly vote against their own self-interest; they have so much privilege to lose, and they are eager to lose it. We all see through a glass, darkly. Sometimes the glass is so dark it's more of a mirror than a window on the world.

But if conservatives don't believe in casuistic moral reasoning, what right had my parents to take government handouts which they believe it has no right to give? Pretty much the same right that a liberal who votes for strong gun control would have to shoot someone in the face to save the lives of their children. Put in less visceral terms, even the most ardent conservative can't completely avoid casuistic moral reasoning (and I don't believe that, if pressed, many of them would argue that they should), but they prefer a more clear-cut moral consistency. They would prefer a world in which people are free to keep more of their hard-earned money and choose how to bestow it charitably, rather than have the government take it and decide who deserves to have it, and how much, and for how long.

Having been welfare recipients since almost my earliest memory, my family knows better than most how precarious welfare is to rely on, and how unhealthy dependency on it is. The prospects of homelessness and hunger are terrifying, especially when thinking of your children. If a government is in control of your rent and your bread, you are at serious risk of being enslaved by it. A great many conservatives will tell you that this is why a majority of low-income and people of color vote democrat; they even call it "welfare slavery." Of course private charity can be precarious too, can foster unhealthy dependency too. And contrary to conservative protestations, private charity has never in recorded history been adequate on a widespread scale, which is why we have a social safety net in the first place. But given how well-versed liberals are in critiquing the mechanisms of power, is it really so hard to understand that government welfare is a twice-over exercise of alarming force? Is it really so hard to understand why conservatives who rely on it for survival would still vote to abolish it, not out of ignorance or foolishness but as a matter of principle? Is that not exactly what liberals urge us to do by enacting policies that they argue are necessary to abolish systemic racism, sexism, etc.? Is it not more worthy of respect than ridicule? Alfred P. Doolittle was wrong, you see: you are never too poor to afford moral principles.

Ironically, liberal bewilderment at low- and middle-income conservatives "voting against their interests" also makes it hard for conservatives to take liberals seriously when they talk about "the Patriarchy." What is more patriarchal than the assumption that conservative voters do not really know what is good for them? What is more patriarchal than liberal policies which aim to expand dependence on government to provide for basic necessities, rather than affirming that responsibility to provide food, shelter, and health care belongs with individuals, families, and communities? How can it be morally and logically consistent to uphold the right of self-determination (which liberals seem to hold above almost all others) while denying that huge swaths of Americans are capable of exercising it responsibly on their own behalf?

Well, we liberals and "kind of liberals" would answer, it's also pretty hard to exercise self-determination when you're chronically sick and can't get health care; or when you don't have access to a shower and clean clothes and a car so that you can get and keep a job; or when you have to choose between being able to feed yourself and your kids or getting out of an abusive marriage. Expanding the social safety net isn't about expanding dependence on but about expanding access to welfare, with the goal of helping people get back on their feet as quickly as possible, which we assume is what everyone involved wants.

Except it isn't necessarily what everyone wants--and I don't mean the debunked and extremely demeaning conservative myth of welfare queens and the undeserving poor. I mean the principle which both liberals and conservatives believe in: that people with power want to hold onto it. And if you put the power to help people increasingly in the hands of government, it's not really in government's interests for people to stop needing their help. There's a lot more power in giving than in receiving.

Conservatives, for their part, keep voting in ways that put us all ever more at the mercy of the ultra-rich, who are no less likely to do everything in their already terrifyingly considerable power to hold onto it, who are not answerable to the electorate, and who keep on amassing to themselves a greater and greater share of our nation's wealth, which is our only means of "voting" against them by refusing to buy what they're selling. But since most of their wealth now is self-generating via financial market manipulation, and since government demonstrated after the crash of 2008 that it has no interest in curbing their power to continue manipulating said markets, we're all basically screwed anyway, and that, dear readers, is another thing that conservatives and liberals basically agree about. Alas, it's also one of the many things we seem incapable of agreeing about how to solve.

I've offered a handful of examples of liberals and conservatives arguing from principles (some of them the very same principles) to reach very different conclusions, both of which are (sometimes, sometimes not) based on facts as well as moral reasoning. I assure you, I could offer more, but a thorough enumeration isn't my goal. My goal was to prove to myself, if not to the few people who occasionally read my blog, that it really is possible to find common ground between liberals and conservatives, on principles if not on policies. That ground is where I try to live.

I don't offer any solutions. Perhaps I ought to try, but I don't know what they are, and right now I'm too tired from having to defend my moral principles and my political choices from every direction. A lot of people seem to think that being moderate (like voting third-party) is a cop out, the most morally inconsistent position of all. Maybe sometimes it is. But it's also really hard. It's lonely. At least in the trenches you have lots of comrades to guard your back. It's pretty exposed out here in no-man's-land, and this war doesn't seem close to a cease-fire anytime soon.

So I'll just end this post with a meme that's been making the rounds recently among both my liberal and my conservative social networks. I don't know where the image came from; I wasn't able to track it to its source, but if anyone can point me to it, I'd love to give proper credit.

Not Live Blogging General Conference

Image: "Salt Lake Temple in Autumn" by Sascha Wenninger, (CC BY-SA 2.0)

I didn't live blog the Women's Session of conference last weekend, because I was watching it at my sister-in-law's stake center, along with my two other sisters-in-law and all my nieces but the youngest. It was a precious experience.

I fully intended to live blog my way though this conference weekend, as I have for the past few years. But my efforts to do so have been frustrated. I'm in the process of buying a house in Rexburg, and just renting a room meanwhile. Most of my stuff, including my desktop PC, is still in storage. And it turns out I can't use YouTube to cast a live stream from either my phone or my laptop to my TV. Thus, in order to watch conference on my TV, I had to plug my laptop in via an HDMI cable, which means I couldn't use it to type. So I had to choose between watching conference and not blogging, or listening to conference and blogging. After wasting too much of the Saturday morning session and the hours between it and the afternoon session struggling to get my tech to work the way I want it to, I reluctantly decided it's better to watch conference than to live blog it.

Not being able to blog during conference led me to ponder on the value of having done so. Blogging has been my way of note-taking. It's both easier for me than hand-writing notes, and also more communal. I love being able to share my thoughts on conference with the handful of folks who read my blog. Thinking about those people, and not just myself, altered the way I paid attention to conference. I don't know that the alteration was better, though it certainly wasn't worse. I have found it refreshing, though. And I've also really enjoyed the conversations that occasionally arise either in the comments here on my blog, or else on Facebook and elsewhere that I publish the blog.

This weekend I've been having a lot of fibromyalgia-related pain in my hands, possibly due to the rapid and frequent changes in the weather recently. Gripping a pen for long enough to take notes was decidedly unpleasant. So I didn't take any notes during conference sessions, and that made it harder for me to stay awake and attentive. I ended up doing some cleaning yesterday, and practiced tying a new bow-tie this morning (fortunately I made a passable bow by the time my hands hurt too much to continue). I'm doubly grateful for conference talk summaries, as well as the ability to watch and read conference talks at a later time, because I definitely don't remember any of the talks as well as I usually do.

Here, though, are some of the things that do stand out in my memory:

President Uchtdorf's "Fourth Floor, Last Door" talk during the Women's Session last weekend was wonderful. I appreciate his urging of us to press forward in following our spiritual promptings and gospel callings, even to the "fourth floor, last door." I guessed who the young woman was behind that last door, who pleaded with her mother to let the missionaries share their message, before he revealed that it was his beloved wife Harriet Uchtdorf. I did not learn until later that evening that one of the elders who came to her door to share the gospel is my great-uncle, Richard Kowallis.

President Uchtdorf's Saturday morning message also resonated with me. It was a great reminder of the plan of salvation, which is truly a plan of happiness. In that vein, too, was President Nelson's talk on joy and spiritual survival. I was glad that President Nelson taught plainly that we can have joy even in the midst of great hardship and suffering, without once suggesting that those who suffer from depression and anxiety are in any sense lacking in faith or righteousness. Joy is really a gift.

Elder Cook's talk in the Saturday afternoon session was direct, uncompromising, but also uplifting. I appreciated his stern yet loving reminder of the many different kinds of stumbling blocks we may encounter on our spiritual journey. I will certainly return to his message to ponder which stumbling blocks I am most prone to stubbing my toes on.

I confess that by the time Elder Christofferson stood at the podium, I had lost my battle with drowsiness. From the summary, though, I think I must place this one high on my list of talks to listen to soon (and Elder Yamashita's from this session as well). It is vital that we understand the nature of God's love, and I think Elder Christofferson is right that the adjective "unconditional" can be misleading. God's love is infinite, everlasting, and perfect. It is never in short supply, and will always be far more than sufficient for our needs. But we cannot abide in it unless we choose to do so, and in that sense (and only that sense) it is conditionally available to us.

Sister Reeves gave a great discourse on the power of repentance in the Sunday morning session, and I'll have to revisit that one too, because most of my thoughts on it were quickly diverted by Elder Ballard's talk, in which he spoke to those members of the church who are struggling with doubts. Quoting the apostle Peter, Elder Ballard asked, "to whom shall [you] go?" Now, when he said that, I stiffened in alarm--not so much for myself (though I've wrestled with many a troubling bit of doctrine or history) but for my friends whose faith crises or faith transitions have been acute and exacerbated by accusatory rhetoric from members of their own congregations and yes, not infrequently also by conference talks which could have been formulated with greater care. To my delighted surprise, Elder Ballard went on to specifically call out such lack of support from the membership to those whose journey along the path of discipleship has been arrested for one reason or another. It seems to me that he and many of his fellow general authorities have been doing something to listen to those members of the church who are struggling--I mean really listen to them! And to respond to their concerns more positively. In my experience, few of those I know in that situation are there because of unrighteousness or rebelliousness. They do not need admonition but nurture in truth and love--and patience! They need to have patience with human leaders and members, with ambiguous doctrine and troublesome history. And they need to receive patience from those who do not understand why they are troubled by things that so many members don't give a second thought to. Elder Robbins' talk built on a similar principle.

I loved Bishop Davies' and President Eyring's sermons on the joys of worship and Sabbath observance. Basically the whole Sunday morning session was full of Win.

I had to laugh when Elder Bednar made his list first thing in the Sunday afternoon session. I wanted to jump online and ask somebody to check if he's ever given a talk as a GA (or for that matter, when he was president of Ricks/BYU-I) that didn't include a list. I guess in that instance it was a good thing that I didn't have ready access to social media! It was, of course, a great talk on coming to know the Lord.

Then there's Elder Schmutz's talk. I believe this will go down in the annals of conference as one of the great ones, along side most of Elder Holland's sermons. I think it might be my favorite of this conference (though I still need to go back and watch/read the ones I missed due to tech or sleepiness problems). Elder Schmutz taught that while suffering is an unavoidable part of mortality, there is nothing inherently ennobling or sanctifying about it. Rather, suffering becomes ennobling and sanctifying when we consecrate our sorrows to Christ. Then, through the atonement, our suffering becomes transformative, and we can receive comfort and a greater measure of compassion, even in the midst of our afflictions. It really bothers me when people glorify suffering for its own sake. I have seen, in my own life and in the lives of those I know, that suffering can as easily be demeaning and destructive as it can be ennobling and sanctifying. It really is compassion--the pure love of Christ--that makes the difference.

By the time the next General Conference rolls around in April, I should be settled into a new home of my own, with plenty of space for my meager stuff, plus shenanigans. Today a friend on Facebook posted a photo of her and her daughter inside a "Conference fort." I don't have any kids as an excuse to build a Conference fort, but I think I'm just going to do it anyway. Because awesomeness is its own excuse.

Live Blogging General Conference: April 2016

Image Credit: "Salt Lake Temple Square Flower" by Jeff. Flickr. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
 

Hello again! As has been my tradition for the past few years, I will be live blogging General Conference, the twice-annual worldwide gathering of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when Mormons (and friends) around the world gather in our homes and church buildings and in Salt Lake City, to hear the general authorities and officers of the church speak. The first session is held the week before the remaining five sessions, and is a special session for the women of the church, ages eight and up. There is a Priesthood session for the men of the church on Saturday, April 2. You may watch all sessions of General Conference live (or time-delayed) online at lds.org, the Mormon Channel on YouTube, and on byutv.

This blog records what I hear and think as I listen; it is not intended to be a summary and my views are my own. I highly recommend that you watch or read conference for yourself. Talks can be watched and read at conference.lds.org, and you can also read summaries here.

General Women's Session 

My roommate Abby and I are having a little spaz-out during the musical number because the choir is so beautifully diverse, and also some of them have MAGENTA HAIR! And then Abby recognized one of her friends singing in the choir. Isn't it beautiful!

Cheryl A Esplin

Sister Esplin reminds us that service is a portal, or catalyst for empathy and love. Some kinds of service are very small and simple, and others require careful reflection, planning, and sometimes great effort. But whether small or great, acts of service born of compassion are always worthwhile.

Neill F. Marriot
"Love means making space for someone else in your life." One of the things I love about Sister Marriott's talk is how many women leaders of the church she is quoting--and this is, I am certain, a deliberate rhetorical choice, as was quoting a mention of Heavenly Mother. I love how Sister Marriott is talking about how we, in our imperfect ways, use our God-given gifts and inclinations to love and serve others. She is talking about a broad view of what motherhood means, while also celebrating traditional motherhood. "We must anchor ourselves to eternal principles, and testify of them, no matter what the world's response." And the examples she chooses are examples of testimony given in love and kindness, and which are attentive to the differences of experience and capability of those we seek to serve, nurture, and teach.

OK, I'm apparently going to tear up during every single video presentation during this session--all of them are about refugees.

Linda K. Burton
The General Relief Society, Young Women's and Primary presidencies have launched a new refugee relief effort. I'll post a link to this once it's available. She reminds me that as important as it is to love and serve our neighbors in faraway places, it is equally important to serve our neighbors next door.

The talks so far have reminded me, too, that the women who are among the general officers of the church are in many cases leading the way in boldly teaching and serving within the church and throughout the world.

How beautiful is this choir? It's just so beautiful. I love it.

Henry B. Eyring
President Eyring always speaks so tender-heartedly. I love what he has said about the women in his life. I'm a bit troubled by his telling us three feelings we have had tonight because of the messages we have heard. It's true (and unsurprising) that tonight I have felt love, the witness of the Holy Spirit, and a desire to go forth and serve as I've listened to the messages given by my church leaders. But past experience has taught me that not everyone who is listening has felt those things, and it feels uncomfortable to me to hear a man--even a man I love and respect and regard as having the gift of prophecy, as I do President Eyring--telling women what we feel. There's a long history of women being told what we feel, or should feel, and that brings a lot of baggage. So I appreciate the intent of this message, but I feel that the way it was expressed was unfortunate. But when he shifted to a witness of the Lord, and to expressing a hope and prayer for what we will feel and what we will do, my spirit shared that witness.

Saturday Morning Session

Henry B. Eyring
The spirit and practice of gathering is essential to the work of the church. At conference time, we gather virtually and in spirit together, and together seek to draw nearer to the Lord by listening to the messages that church leaders have prepared. Feeling the love of the Savior and the joy that accompanies it helps us endure trials of our faith--but what do we do if or when that feeling fades? President Eyring recounts the parable of the sower. We must not only receive, but continue to nourish the seed of faith that was given to us. I think about my roommate Stephanie's efforts in her garden here in Arizona, compared to the gardens I've seen in northern Utah and Idaho. Stephanie has to work much harder than my northern friends so that her garden will flourish. But even my friends who live in more fertile climates must regularly till, and water, and weed, and battle pests in order to receive a harvest. And in my own life it has seemed that sometimes I had good soil and other times I had hard and rocky soil. The great thing about this parable is that our souls, like the soil, can be cultivated. President Eyring also reminds us that the witness we receive during this conference may not be identical to the message that was given, but will be an affirmation of gospel truths that have been testified, and will show us what we need to do to draw closer to the Lord.

Mary R. Durham
Just as people have different "love languages" or "learning styles," not everyone feels the witness of the Holy Spirit in the same way. But we can see many patterns of revelation in the scriptures, which can help us to recognize how the Spirit might speak to us.

Donald L. Hallstrom
Ancient and modern prophets have borne witness that we are the offspring of deity. What does it mean to be a child of heavenly parents? Understanding our true relationship to God is not only necessary to salvation but, when it becomes the core of our identity, provides strength and stability in our mortal lives--other aspects of our identity may change over the years, but this relationship will never change, nor will the love our Father has for us ever cease. Many forces in the world try to make us forget who we really are--and some have never received a witness of their divine heritage. We have so many choices as to how we shape our own identities, and that's wonderful, as long as we never forget our first identity. I am a child of God!

Gary E. Stevenson
He began with a story of a ski trip and mislaid keys that prevented them from accessing and using their comfortable car. The minute he said "keys" I knew we were going to have a talk about the restoration of the priesthood. It's not a perfect analogy, I think, because a church without priesthood keys can still function well, bless the lives of its members, and do much to move the world toward Zion, whereas a car without keys is just a useless hunk of metal, plastic, glass, and upholstery. But it's indeed true that priesthood keys enable critical gospel work that would not be possible without them--the keys of gathering and sealing, for example. And while not all will hold the keys, all may access the power that comes through their use.

Kevin R. Duncan
Forgiveness brings healing to the one who forgives, not just the one who is forgiven. The principle and practice of forgiveness is an opportunity to exercise empathy, and to cultivate love for imperfect people. We are sometimes the victim and sometimes the offender. Forgiving is not excusing, but as we all fall short, we all need compassion and an opportunity to start over. And we all need to practice tolerance, which is an opportunity for learning! To forgive, we need to understand, and to understand, we need to listen to those whose perspectives and experience differ from our own. The atonement isn't just for those who need to repent, but also for those who need to forgive, and God will help us be able to do both.

Steven E. Snow
Our hymnal is a great blessing to our worship. This is certainly true for me--singing with my ward choir, or with a church congregation, is often when I feel the greatest spirit of communion. The hymns teach pure and simple truths. The 1985 edition of the LDS hymnal included what was then a new hymn, "Be Thou Humble." Humility is so important to the flourishing of all worthy and healthy relationships, and something that we seem to need continual reminders of. It's so easy for pride to seep into our hearts, and pride is fundamentally isolating. No amount of righteous living will exempt us from painful trials, but humility can help us to weather them.

Dale G. Renlund
Because of the spiritual distance between ourselves and God, we may come to feel entitled to grace and blessings, and to resent when things seem hard or unfair. But as we draw closer to God, the further we get from such childish notions, as our hearts are filled with gratitude and humility. While I certainly wish that material goods were distributed more equitably, for the good of my spirit I don't want life to be fair--I want something better. The blessings God provides are out of all proportion to what I could ever deserve. It's true that I also want to be free from grief and trials as much as possible. But I understand that enduring these hardships is an unavoidable part of mortality, and that the practice of enduring faithfully makes me stronger.

And now the choir is closing with my favorite hymn that's not in the hymnal: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing!

Saturday Afternoon Session

Some of the BYU-Idaho students in that choir could be my students this coming Fall! I'm so happy to be returning home to Idaho and to settle down at last. Being a student at BYU-Idaho is great, but being a professor will be even better.

During the sustaining of general authorities and officers of the church, a lone person voiced opposition. This happened during last conference, though there were more voices that time. It surprised some members for whom an opposing voice had not been heard in their lifetimes, but it's not a new phenomenon. The purpose of the sustaining vote is not to decide who will lead the church (it's not an election). Callings to serve in any office in the church, from the highest to the lowest, come by revelation and are extended by established priesthood authority. But as members, our vote is an opportunity to affirm our commitment to support and assist those whom the Lord has called in the work of building Zion. It does not necessarily mean that we always agree with everything they say or do, or that we think they are infallible, but that we recognize their authority and stewardship within the church. I am glad we have the opportunity to offer a sustaining vote--and, yes, also the opportunity to voice opposition. It is important to me to continue to have a chance to officially affirm where I stand, and not something I do lightly or automatically.

Ronald A. Rasband
2 Nephi 31:20 is my family's unofficial mission statement; my mom had it embroidered on a banner and it hangs just inside my parents' front door. I appreciate Elder Rasband's reminder that we cannot "endure to the end" alone, but that we need to support and sustain one another as we press forward together. Eternal life is not a solitary experience either; the associations we cultivate in this life will continue in the next. As Jesus reaches out to us to lift us up and rescue us from sinking beneath the waves of life, so we must also reach out to and lift up our brothers and sisters. I can imagine myself with one hand firmly grasped in the Savior's hand and another reached out to hold fast to those whom I love.

Neil L. Andersen
Family configurations increasingly do not match the pattern extolled by the church; while we will continue to teach toward the ideal, we must increasingly be sensitive to the knowledge that many in our congregations do not experience it themselves. It seems very difficult to me--but essential--to affirm the doctrine of eternal families in a way that is inclusive of and compassionate toward those whose experience doesn't match it. We can take solace in the knowledge that regardless of our mortal family's circumstances, we are all part of a heavenly family. And we can do everything in our power to help our spiritual brothers and sisters feel that they are a part of that family, and a part of ours.

Mervyn B. Arnold
I was touched by Elder Arnold's tenderness as he spoke of going to the rescue of those who are physically or spiritually suffering or in danger.

Jairo Mazzagardi
Many converts have powerful stories of seeking for truth and light that led them eventually to the restored gospel. Indeed, Joseph Smith's account of the first vision is a moving account of the power of spiritual searching. While being born and raised in the church is a precious blessing, I think those of us who were sometimes feel a kind of holy envy, or a longing to have such a powerful conversion experience ourselves. But of course we must all be converted to the gospel, and such conversion must involve earnest searching. Perhaps because I understand the necessity of diligent searching to the conversion process, I do not regard uncertainty or doubt as dangerous to faith but as essential to it. But the purpose of searching is to find, and God promises that those who seek him will find him.

David A. Bednar
Elder Bednar talks about revelation and rebirth almost continually. And he has a very recognizable rhetorical method, which is precise and logical--for instance in this case he constructs an argument (a claim with reasons, or a series of connected propositions leading to a conclusion) about the relationship between key ordinances and the powers of heaven. I appreciate that while the general authorities are unified in purpose and message, their individual methods allow them to speak to a diverse church body, so that listeners have an opportunity to receive teaching in a language they can understand. And his propositions tend to have two parts: the first takes one principle which is well understood and the second part expands it, illuminating a less-well-understood aspect or providing a new insight. For instance, there was his seminal talk on the cleansing and enabling power of the atonement, or part of today's message about the blessing and sanctifying of the emblems of the sacrament.

M. Russell Ballard
Elder Ballard has given many memorable talks, and written an important book about the importance of counseling within our councils within the church. Today he's talking about family councils. As important as the tradition of "family home evenings" is, so are family councils, and they serve different functions. FHE is about sharing a gospel message and enjoying activities together; councils are for planning, solving problems, building and strengthening relationships, and praying with and for one another. Family councils can be formal or informal, and be planned or happen spontaneously. But some family councils should be planned and prepared for on a regular basis. All members of the family should have opportunities to participate in and contribute to family councils, though at times a family council might occur between the whole family, just the parents, the parents and one child, or one parent and one child. Single members might participate in "roommate councils." Counseling with my family has been essential to meeting the challenges of our lives individually and as a family.

The Priesthood Session was broadcast Saturday at 6pm MDT, 5pm Arizona time. However, I am not asked to attend that session and did not watch it live so that I could get some grading and writing done before Sunday.

Sunday Morning Session

Thomas S. Monson

4 new temples: Ecuador, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Peru! 

The gift of free agency is precious, and should be used for righteous purposes. I appreciated that the choir sang "I Will Follow God's Plan for Me" prior to this talk, because the two messages complement each other. The plan of salvation involves crucial decisions that are essential for everyone, and those who have made sacred covenants share eternal goals--yet though the plan of salvation is universal, God's plan for me is individual. Choosing what is right, and right for me, is not always easy to know or to do. But the "easy wrong" is harder in the end.

Bonnie L. Oscarson
Knowing and believing are different things--we may know but not believe. And I think we can believe but not know. If we know and believe, then do we act according to that belief? We claim and believe that families can be sealed for eternity in the temple--do we engage in family history and attend the temple to perform ordinances for our ancestors? We claim and believe that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, and that together with the Bible they contain the fulness of the gospel, but do we diligently study the scriptures? We claim and believe that God stands at the head of this church and leads it. But do we attend our meetings and magnify our callings? Conversion, a change of heart, happens over time as we exercise our faith consistently. The spiritual perils of our day are the same as they have always been--pride, the cares of the world, the fear of men, which are represented in Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life as "the great and spacious building." After we have partaken of the fruit of the gospel, all is not done. We must daily choose faith over doubt.

W. Christopher Waddell
"Sometime's it's just hard for me to think about Jesus!" Sorrow touches everyone from time to time along our mortal journey. Three steps to peace: learn, listen, and walk. A proper understanding of the gospel and its ordinances does not eliminate sorrow, but gives us hope that can overcome that sorrow. While living the gospel brings peace and comfort to our lives, not every wound will be healed in mortality. Bishop Waddell, like Sister Oscarson, speaks about the vision of the Tree of Life, and warns of the dangers of heeding the calls from the great and spacious building. The proper response to the mocking and scorn of those in the great and spacious building is not to debate, but to ignore.

D. Todd Christofferson
We believe in fathers--in the ideal of the man who puts his family first! We teach it and strive to practice it. Fathers and mothers lead the family as equal partners. Men of the church know that the ideal of manhood is to be found not in worldly models of aggression, individualism, and autonomy, but in our Heavenly Father, who loves, provides for, and teaches His children by word and example. Elder Christofferson continues to describe examples of worthy men who not only serve their families but strive to serve their communities. Providing correction and discipline is part of parenthood, but must be exercised in soberness, love, and a desire to help a loved one to self-mastery; anything approaching abuse is wicked. "Loving the mother of his children—and showing that love—are two of the best things a father can do for his children.” There is no shame for those who, despite their best efforts, are unable to provide for their families by their own means. Seeking help from family, from the church, and from the community when circumstances warrant is an act of love and humility. Individual adaptations to the divine pattern for families are necessary. Even God the Father entrusted His own son to a foster father! I love that reminder that even the Holy Family did not actually match the "ideal nuclear family" model! Develop strong relationships, and continue to progress from good, to better, to best.

Quentin L. Cook
There are now 150 operating temples; when all announced temples are completed, there will be 177. This is cause for humble rejoicing. On this day in 1836, the first temple of this dispensation was dedicated in Kirtland, Ohio, and the Lord Jehovah, Moses, Elias, and Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to restore the keys of this dispensation (see D&C 110). Can you picture yourself in the temple? If not, what do you need to do to get there? The unprecedented availability of temples, and the technology to engage in family history work, are a tremendous blessing and obligation; through temple ordinances for the dead, salvation is available to all God's children throughout all of human history, and this generation is called to be "saviors on mount Zion." Live to be worthy of these blessings and obligations. The temple recommend questions are an opportunity to self-evaluate our spiritual health and progress. Though a certain standard of worthiness is required, imperfections & sins don't disqualify us from temple attendance. And temple attendance can help us overcome them. Earthly distinctions of wealth and status are left behind when we enter the temple, all dressed in white, united by a common desire and engaged in a common work. It would be a great blessing if we could take that spirit of the temple with us as we return to our regular lives.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf
At the end of the Sunday Morning session, after an hour and a half of conference, all the Mormons perk up again as the Silver Fox takes the podium! President Uchtdorf shares his experience of the Desden bombing when he was four years old. A beautiful Lutheran church was destroyed in the bombing, and much later rebuilt, in part using scarred and blackened stones from the original structure. The church stands as a witness that what is damaged and destroyed can be rebuilt. There is no life so shattered that it cannot be rebuilt. The best way to help sinners repent is not to condemn, ridicule, or shame them. Jesus provides the perfect example: he associated, loved, and served those whom his society shunned as sinners and unclean. As the Good Shepherd, he continually seeks after and finds the lost sheep and endeavors to bring them back to the fold. "The sheep is worthy of divine rescue simply because it is loved by the Good Shepherd.... You are his child, and he loves you. He loves his children. Because he loves you, he will find you...and bring you home." But he will force no-one to heaven; we must be willing to be saved. We show our willingness by turning toward him, and receiving baptism. To start with, it's enough merely to desire to believe, to have a spark of hope that God can save you. That is enough for the transformation to begin! Obedience itself does not save us, but by obedience we show our desire to receive God's blessings. He shares a German proverb: "There is nothing good unless you do it." (I love it when he speaks German--I can even understand it sometimes!) "If our faith does not change the way we live, our religion is vain."

Sunday Afternoon Session

Robert D. Hales

"The Holy Ghost honors the principle of agency" and speaks to our minds and hearts about many matters of consequence, but to seek or expect revelation through the Holy Ghost for every decision, no matter how trivial, is to misunderstand the purpose and power of the Holy Spirit. It is not good to be commanded in all things. In addition, we cannot receive revelation for others outside our stewardship. We can err, being deceived by the temptations of the adversary, or misled by heeding our own desires in opposition to the whispering of the Spirit. But if we will humble ourselves, and strive to live worthy, and seek diligently to understand what is right, the Holy Ghost will reveal what is needful for us to know and to do. The windows of heaven are open to all who will look; the word of the Lord may be heard by all who will listen, and when we heed the revelation we receive, we will receive more. The spirit of prophecy is alive in the church, and it is through the Holy Ghost that we receive it.

Gerrit W. Gong
Remembering and forgetting are an everyday part of life; they are also part of eternity. Time, agency, memory help us to learn and grow. When we take the sacrament each week, we covenant to "always remember Him." We can do so first, by having confidence in God's promises. Second, through gratefully acknowledging His hand in our lives. Third, by trusting when the Lord assures us that when we repent, God remembers our sins no more. But he does remember us, and knows us better than we know ourselves. Fourth, by remembering that God will always welcome us home, no matter how far or long we have strayed. Fifth, remembering to do the work we are called to do--to love, teach, and serve one another. Sixth, by remembering him as he remembers us.

Patrick Kearon
There are an estimated 60 million refugees in the world right now--that means roughly 1 in every 122 people on earth! And half of these are children. The need is great. These people have had to abandon homes, possessions, jobs, and leave behind friends and family, in order to preserve their lives. The church is engaged in a great effort to help relieve this enormous need. He reminds us of Sister Burton's call from last weekend to ask ourselves "What if their story were my story?" He asserts: their story is our story. All of us have found refuge in the arms of the Savior. And he reminds us that Jesus himself was a refugee, as his family fled to Egypt when he was a young child. He describes the relief efforts that members of the church throughout Europe are engaged in. This need will remain with us long after the initial shock is over; we must not flag in our efforts to aid those who are in such desperate need. It doesn't matter what our political affiliations are--we ought to be no respecters of person, but serve where the need is great. We should also remember that it isn't wise to run faster than we have strength--we must do what we can, but still provide for the needs of our families. Donating is good, but we should also consider what we can do close to home, to help refugees within or near our own communities. Refugees resettling in host countries have myriad needs, small and great--mentoring with something as simple as going to a grocery store or to school, as well as help learning a new language (and you can learn their language to help with communication too), practicing job interviews, and so on. We hope that refugee status will be only a period, hopefully a short period, in their lives--this experience does not define them, and they have been and will be brilliant contributors to their communities and world. But how we respond does help to define us.

President Uchtdorf, who is conducting, has been weeping. Elder Kearon's message has special resonance for him, because he and his family were refugees during and after WWII.

Dallin H. Oaks
Agency is a favorite topic for Elder Oaks, which is not surprising since in his former professional life he was a judge. Opposition is necessary to the exercise of agency, because the purpose of agency is not merely to have choices, but to have an opportunity to choose God, or anything else. In the council in Heaven, Satan suggested his own plan as a substitute to God's plan. In Satan's plan, all would be saved, without exception or choice. But his reason for suggesting this plan was not love but pride: he wanted God's glory for himself. In God's plan, we have the opportunity to choose for ourselves whether to follow God, but he has provided a way for all who choose it to be saved. Experiencing opposition, in the form of temptation or hardship, is not a reflection on our worthiness. No amount of righteousness exempts us from the necessity of opposition in our lives. It is through opposition that we learn and grow. Opposition sometimes comes from within the church, from those who style themselves "the loyal opposition." While "loyal opposition" may be appropriate within a political body, the administration of the church functions by revelation to those who've been called; it's not that we're expected to blindly follow, because we are promised and expected to seek personal revelation. But we are expected to sustain church leaders and assist in the work of building Zion. Speaking for myself, when I am unsure of direction that church leaders have given, I persevere in the knowledge that I do have, and patiently wait for further light and knowledge on the issue that troubles me.

Kent F. Richards
The temple points us to Christ, and there is real power in its ordinances. I have served as a recorder in the Mesa temple, and can testify of the added blessings, power, and knowledge that come from regular temple service. All that we do in the temple is done in reverence and love, with care and diligence, and we carry that spirit with us back into the world. I hope that no one is intimidated by the prospect of going to the temple and doing temple work. It is simple and beautiful.

Paul V. Johnson
The Savior's resurrection brought total victory over death. When loved ones die, we have hope through the resurrection. Our spirits will be reunited with our perfected, immortal bodies; there is no salvation without resurrection. The Bible and the Book of Mormon testify of the reality of Christ's bodily resurrection, and Joseph Smith and other latter-day prophets and apostles have likewise borne witness that they have seen the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh. Because we know the reality of the resurrection, we can have faith that Christ has power to cleanse us from our sins, to heal our spirits, and to work mighty miracles through his servants. The promise of the resurrection brings peace and hope to all those who have lost loved ones.

Jeffrey R. Holland
Yes, I know that we, the members of the church, are loved dearly by our leaders. I have served as a local leader and know that the capacity to love those you are called to serve is difficult to comprehend unless you have experienced it. Though they do not know us each individually, our leaders love us. And how much more does God, who knows us individually and perfectly, love us! The messages of general conference can, for some, feel overwhelming or discouraging. But that is not their purpose or intent--they ought to inspire and uplift, and yes, prompt us to do better. With the help of the Savior, we can improve, and the great thing about the gospel is, we get credit for trying, even if we don't always or completely succeed. If you fall, call out for mercy and help. God will answer. He will lift up, forgive, heal, and strengthen us. We will be blessed for our desire to do good, even as we strive to become good. Remember the first great companion: love God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. But the first great truth is that God loves us with all His heart, might, mind, and strength--which is infinite and eternal! God will not desert us; it is not his character to do so. God wants to bless us! An abundant and eternal life for each of us is his goal.

AMEN!

And that's it for the next 6 months. I'm so excited to re-read, and re-listen to these conference messages. I feel blessed to have this opportunity to worship and learn with all my brothers and sisters in the church throughout the world.