Please post your thoughts and impressions from this weekend’s conference.
Don’t forget the related thread on who will fill the vacancy in the 12 left by Elder Wirthlin’s passing.
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179th Annual General Conference open thread
Elder Didier gave the prayer. The first time I met him when he created the Mesquite Nevada Stake in 1994, while I was stationed there on my mission.
Neil L. Anderson is the new apostle, as I implied in yesterday’s post. If the trend to call apostles from the Presidency of the Seventy continued, it won’t be long before we see an apostle from South America.
Elder Hales: avoid debt, live within our means, build a savings fund, don’t covet things of others.
Sister Lifferth: increase reverence
Elder Neider: Aaronic priesthood quorums.
Elder Packer: testimony and revelation
Elder Christofferson: we need strong Christians
President Eyring: tragedy should not erode our faith, but test and strengthen it.
Replacement for Elder Anderson: Donald Halstrom
Joseph Sitati is the first black African to be called to the First Quotum of the Seventy. Looking forward to his talk at October conference.
Elder Ballard: commandments of God are taking a beating. We need to decide to ignore the bad decisions of predecessors and learn for ourselves or learn from their experiences to avoid their bad choices.
Elder Pearson: we can give our children material possessions, but we don’t give them faith, we give them nothing.
Personal righteousness is a choice
6 destructive D’s: doubt, discouragement, distraction, lack of diligence, disobedience, disbelief
Elder Pino: nice story about his daughter
Elder Scott: those living near temple should plan to go to the temple as diligently as those who have to plan far in advance.
Leave your watch in your locker when you go to the temple
Elder Scott’s story reminds me of the death of our first baby.
Elder Nelson: public prayers should be short and formal; we should say an audible amen when we agree with what has been said.
We should pray to God: Thy will be done.
Elder Yoon Hwan Choi, Elder Brent H. Nielson, Elder Dale G. Renlund, Elder Michael T. Ringwood, Elder Joseph W. Sitati are the ones newly called to the First Quorum of Seventy. We will hear from them in the October conference.
Sweet Hour of Prayer is one of my favourite hymns.
President Uchtdorf: gospel is pearl beyond price
Strengthening a testimony takes time and work.
Discipleship is not a spectator sport.
Faith is required whether we are rich or poor, smart or naive.
Elder Anderson: we must remember who we are and what we have in our hands.
Elder Snow is the second speaker from the presidency of the 70.
Redeemer of Israel is another of my favourite hymns.
No shortened hymns; I wonder if they have been reading Our Thoughts.
Had to change a diaper, so I missed Sister Thompson’s talk.
I’m glad elder Holland is taking about Jesus’s last week; I wondered if any would.
I love President Monson’s stories.
First time I’ve seen President Monson cry.
Lovely montage of President Monson.
I really liked the Sunday am session, particularly Pres. Uchtdorf’s focus on the power of what Christ has done. (New) Elder Anderson’s reminder that we don’t have a monopoly on righteousness was also refreshing.
But I’d characterize the montage during the final hymn as cheesy and unnecessary. Save that sort of thing for posthumous tributes shown between sessions. Coupled with that atrocious “Brand New Year” thing they tried for the youth, it makes me wonder who’s running the A/V show.
I’m not saying the montage was necessary, but I still think it was lovely. As Mary said though, having the montage perpetuates the idea that “We Thank Thee O God For a Prophe”t is about prophets.
Yay, another favourite hymn: O My Father.
I think Elder Oaks will be the next president of the Church.
We need to put aside personal convenience for selfless sacrifice.
Sacrifice depends on: faith, inspired teachings of our leaders, and the covenants we make.
Interesting comparison between active and passive participation in church service (compared active/inactive).
Elder Bednar wasn’t the first to speak on the temple this weekend.
Now Elder Stevenson’s talking about the temple. Maybe there’s a message here. Maybe I need to take the temple more seriously.
Did they pick brain for my favourite hymns this weekend?
Elder Teixeira: our choices have the undeniable power to change our lives.
Decisions determine destiny.
Elder Watson: be strong, never give up, endure the end
I like how Elder Watson is going through all the presidents he worked with as secretary.
Elder Perry: we are all shepherds