October 2013 Conference Notebook

“What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken; … whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38).

As you review the October 2013 general conference, you can use these pages (and Conference Notebooks in future issues) to help you study and apply the recent teachings of the living prophets and apostles and other Church leaders.

To read, watch, or listen to general conference addresses, visit conference.lds.org.

Prophetic Promise

“It’s natural to have questions—the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding. There are few members of the Church who, at one time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. Faith is to hope for things which are not seen but which are true [see Hebrews 11:1].

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters—my dear friends—please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, “Come, Join with Us,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 23.

Prophetic Words on Marriage

“Marriage between a man and a woman is fundamental to the Lord’s doctrine and crucial to God’s eternal plan. Marriage between a man and a woman is God’s pattern for a fulness of life on earth and in heaven. God’s marriage pattern cannot be abused, misunderstood, or misconstrued [see Matthew 19:4–6]. Not if you want true joy. God’s marriage pattern protects the sacred power of procreation and the joy of true marital intimacy. We know that Adam and Eve were married by God before they ever experienced the joy of uniting as husband and wife.”

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Decisions for Eternity,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 108.

Answers for You

Each conference, prophets and apostles give inspired answers to questions Church members may have. Use your November 2013 issue or visit conference.lds.org to find answers to these questions:

• What can I do if a family member has strayed from the gospel? See Henry B. Eyring, “To My Grandchildren.”

• Is there a safe place to raise our children? See Boyd K. Packer, “The Key to Spiritual Protection.”

• Why is the influence of women important? See D. Todd Christofferson, “The Moral Force of Women.”

Drawing Parallels: God’s Love

Some of the most important topics are addressed by more than one general conference speaker. Here is what three speakers said about God’s love for us:

• “Your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. … It is simply there.”¹—President Thomas S. Monson

• “[The Savior] is always near, especially in sacred places and in times of need; and sometimes, when I least expect, I feel almost like He taps me on the shoulder to let me know He loves me.”²—Elder Terence M. Vinson of the Seventy

• “I bear witness that no one is a stranger to our Heavenly Father. There is no one whose soul is not precious to Him.”³—Bishop Gérald Caussé, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric

Notes

1. Thomas S. Monson, “We Never Walk Alone,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 123, 124.

2. Terence M. Vinson, “Drawing Closer to God,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 106.

3. Gérald Caussé, “Ye Are No More Strangers,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 51.

Ward and General Missionary Funds

“I thank you for your generous contributions. The need for help is ongoing, that we might continue to assist those whose desire to serve is great but who do not, by themselves, have the means to do so.”

President Thomas S. Monson, “Welcome to Conference,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 4–5.