Why All Grades Are Subjective

It's been quite a long time since I posted a blog entry. My life has been very busy with a full-time job, a dissertation to write, and a household to maintain. Today I'm going to share a reply I sent to a student email about why all grades are subjective.

Image Source: Alexander Russo. "This Week in Education: Cartoons: 'Climb That Tree.'" Scholastic. Accessed 24 April 2019. Note: The attribution of the above quote to Albert Einstein is almost certainly false. See its entry on Quote Investigator for more information on its probable origin.

For context, Monday was the first day of BYU-Idaho's Spring semester. As usual, we went over the syllabus, and as I explained my somewhat heterodox grading policy (which I implemented in part to address the challenges of subjectivity and grade disputes), I declared that grades have nothing at all to do with learning, and that all grades, not just English grades, are subjective. At this point, I paused. I told them that one of my grad school professors, James Paul Gee, often says that "Academics is an evidence game," which means that when we make claims, we provide reasons and evidence to support our claims, and in so doing, we subject our judgment to scrutiny. However, there was insufficient time at that juncture for me to provide evidence to support my claim that all grades are subjective. I said if any of them would like me to do so, they could email me, and I would be happy to oblige. One student did (the first to take me up on my offer in three years, hurrah!). Below, I copy my reply:

Dear Student,

I'm so glad you asked!  

All grades are subjective because teachers (or administrators, or state and national standards boards) have to make choices about what to measure, how to measure it, how to weight each thing they are measuring, and so on. Let’s take math as an example.

Most people consider math to be the least subjective of all academic disciplines, because, at least at the level of arithmetic and simple algebra, it is clear whether a student got the answer correct or not—whether their final calculation “adds up.” However, math teachers still have to decide whether to grade solely on whether students calculated the correct result, or whether to include the student’s process of calculating their result. In other words, they have to consider whether students should get partial credit depending on how well their calculations demonstrate that they are grasping the concepts, even if they make errors along the way and ultimately may not get the correct result. If teachers decide to grade on both process and result, they have to decide how to weigh process vs. result in determining a score.

One problem with grading based only on getting the correct result is that any student with a calculator and an understanding of how to use it can get a correct result, even if they do not understand the underlying mathematical principles. If we only care about whether students can use calculators correctly, then why teach math at all? The reason is because we need people who understand mathematical principles in order to conceptualize and solve difficult quantitative problems that machines cannot do all by themselves—we need mathematicians who can think holistically and creatively. That requires that we measure process—but standardized tests, which measure outcome, do not measure process. In fact, if you ask a professional mathematician whether process matters less than, as much as, or more than outcome, I guarantee they will say that process matters as much as or more than outcome. Some ways of formulating a calculation are better, “more elegant” than others, even when they both get the same result. Thus process matters, and expert judgment, which is to some degree always subjective, is required to evaluate students’ answers to set problems. But as any builder or engineer can tell you, getting the right answer to a mathematical calculation matters a great deal! So we can't grade solely on process, either.

In creating exams, teachers have to decide not only what sorts of problems to set, and in what form (i.e. written out, multiple choice, etc.), but also how to weight different kinds of questions. They have to decide how to prioritize the importance of different mathematical concepts in determining how well students are demonstrating learning the core objectives of the class. They have to decide what those objectives are. They have to decide whether to “curve” their grades or not. Furthermore, even when a test and its scores are “standardized,” the teaching itself may not be. Different teachers will naturally emphasize different aspects of a standardized curriculum, and will be better at teaching some concepts than others. That will likely affect student outcomes on standardized tests—so then, how much are the tests measuring student outcomes vs. teacher performance? This is one (misguided) reason why some national school standards programs have tried to penalize teachers when their students underperform on standardized tests. But that, too, is problematic, because teachers control very, very little of what our students come into our classes with and take away from our classes.

So let’s consider some aspects of the student half of the equation. Going back to the question of results vs. process, some students start out “ahead” of others. The students at the top may make very few gains over the course of a semester—in other words, they did not learn much. In contrast, students closer to the bottom may make lots of progress. Yet if grades are based on outcome, the students who started out ahead and learned little would get an A, while the students who started near the bottom and learned much might still only manage a C. On the other hand, if we measure process, then the student who learned the most but still has a poorer grasp of the subject would get an A, and the student who learned little but has a better grasp of the subject would get a C. That also seems unfair, doesn’t it? Would it be fair to measure both process and outcome, and give both students a B? I don’t know—that’s why it’s subjective.

But wait, there’s more! Evidence demonstrates that students who get a good night’s sleep and eat a good breakfast before an exam will score much better than those who don’t. And students who experience greater stress in their environments tend to struggle more in school—it’s hard to stay focused on math when you’re worried about whether your older brother is going to get killed by someone just because they think he “looks suspicious,” or whether your unemployed dad will be drunk when you get home, or whether you mom will have managed to save enough money from being spent on alcohol to buy you and your siblings some fast food for dinner (because your electricity has been turned off and you have no way to cook meals at home). It’s hard to get enough sleep when you get woken up by the sounds of gunfire. It’s hard to stay focused when your stomach is gnawed with hunger because your parents can barely afford to provide one meal per day, and the hard classes you have to take are all scheduled before you get to eat your school lunch. And so on.

Thus, if a student who lives in a secure neighborhood, in a secure home, with parents who are financially secure enough to provide regular meals and other kinds of support gets an A on the exam, and a student who lives in a dangerous neighborhood, who has had to move three times already this year (changing schools along the way), who sleeps on a mat on the floor in an apartment with thin walls through which she can hear the neighbors fighting until well after midnight, and whose mom is working three jobs just to make ends meet and cannot afford to provide breakfast gets a C on that same standardized exam—does that really reflect the academic merit of each student? If a teacher takes such obstacles into account, though, then those grades are obviously subjective. They are tailored by the expert judgment of a particular teacher about the needs, circumstances, strengths, and growth of a particular student. If the teacher does not take any of these environmental factors into account (perhaps even relying on a blind grading mechanism to ensure they don’t know which exam was marked by which student), then the grade appears more objective, but as I said: it measures outcome, not learning; and that is itself a subjective judgment call about what matters.

All of these factors influence the subjectivity of grades. Nevertheless, we must have a way to measure students’ learning and their grasp of core concepts. We must have a way to give them feedback about their progress. Administrators and school officials like grades because, as numbers, they seem objective. Furthermore, they’re easy to add up and track over time (which is advantageous to teachers as well as administrators and school boards). They’re scalable in a way that more specific written feedback is not. These administrators and school officials rarely stop to ask what those letters and numbers mean—what they are actually measuring. Learning is far more complex than can be measured by any set of numbers, let alone a cumulative course grade or GPA.

And speaking of GPA, let’s talk about the way it’s calculated. Here’s a standard* grading scale:

Percent Grade	Letter Grade	4.0 Scale
97-100	A+	4.0
93-96	A	4.0
90-92	A-	3.7
87-89	B+	3.3
83-86	B	3.0
80-82	B-	2.7
77-79	C+	2.3
73-76	C	2.0
70-72	C-	1.7
67-69	D+	1.3
65-66	D	1.0
Below 65	E/F	0.0

Scores for all graded assignments are totaled up (using weighted algorithms that vary from one class to another) into a final percentage, which is then converted into a letter grade. This reduces the complexity of the data, because it’s the letter grade that gets converted into a GPA. Note that in some cases, a difference of only 1% on a final grade (a score of 89% vs. 90%) results in a loss of .4 points in the calculated GPA—the same as a difference of 5% (an 87% vs. a 92%). The final grade and its attendant GPA tell us nothing about the relative difficulty of the class, what specifically the student actually learned and can implement outside the context of a regimented classroom, or how much progress they made from the beginning of the class to the end. It’s just a letter. It’s just a number.

Anyway, that’s why all grades are subjective.

Sincerely,

Sister Robinson

*Note that I said a standard grading scale, not the standard grading scales. There are variations from one school, academic department, and even one course to another. 

This is my new Betta, Irving Braxiatel. He earns an A+ in Being A Fish. This is the only grade that is completely objective.

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.