Finding Answers

If you listen to general conference, you can often find answers to the questions that concern you.

How can I recognize the promptings of the Spirit?

That sweet, quiet voice of inspiration comes more as a feeling than it does as a sound. … The Holy Ghost communicates with our spirits through the mind more than through the physical senses. This guidance comes as thoughts, as feelings through promptings and impressions. We may feel the words of spiritual communication more than hear them, and see with spiritual rather than with mortal eyes.

President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Impressions of the Spirit can come in response to urgent prayer or unsolicited when needed. Sometimes the Lord reveals truth to you when you are not actively seeking it, such as when you are in danger and do not know it. However, the Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise your agency to authorize the Spirit to teach you. As you make this a practice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance. …

The inspiring influence of the Holy Spirit can be overcome or masked by strong emotions, such as anger, hate, passion, fear, or pride. When such influences are present, it is like trying to savor the delicate flavor of a grape while eating a jalapeño pepper. Both flavors are present, but one completely overpowers the other. In like manner, strong emotions overcome the delicate promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

How can I help improve the feeling in my home?

We can begin to become more diligent and concerned at home by telling the people we love that we love them. Such expressions do not need to be flowery or lengthy. We simply should sincerely and frequently express love. … Parents, when was the last time you sincerely expressed love to your children? Children, when was the last time you told your parents that you love them? …

We should remember that saying “I love you” is only a beginning. We need to say it, we need to mean it, and most importantly we need consistently to show it. We need to both express and demonstrate love.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Why should I serve a full-time mission?

The Savior, through His prophet today, President Thomas S. Monson, has renewed the call as he declared:

“Our keynote was sounded by our Lord and our Savior, who stands at the head of the great army of missionaries worldwide. After His Resurrection, He appeared to His 11 disciples. He could have given them any counsel, any expression, any warning that He chose to give. But what did He say? It’s recorded in Matthew 28:18–20. He said as follows: …

“‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

“‘Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’”

President Monson continued:

“What a promise! If we respond affirmatively to that sacred call, that binding authority, ‘I will be with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’ I can’t think of a greater promise” (“The Five M’s of Missionary Work,” New Era, Mar. 2007, 42).

Elder Brent H. Nielsen of the Seventy

How can I keep from being discouraged?

Any believing Latter-day Saint is an optimist about what lies ahead for him or her, however difficult the present may be. We believe that through living the gospel of Jesus Christ we can become like the Savior, who is perfect.

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency

How can I believe God loves me? I don’t feel worthy of His love.

Some have said such things as: … “If God loved me, He would help me find a worthy husband I could be married and sealed to in the holy temple.” … “I have sinned and so God couldn’t possibly love me anymore.”

… You need to know that there is nothing that can “separate [you] from the love of Christ.” The scriptures clearly tell us that no tribulation, distress, persecution, power, nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God [see Romans 8:35–39].

Barbara Thompson, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency

How should I react to the bad economic times we are in?

In most of the world we have been experiencing an extended and devastating economic recession. … Reactions have focused on enacting more and stronger regulation. …

In the end, it is only an internal moral compass in each individual that can effectively deal with the root causes as well as the symptoms of societal decay. …

Moral discipline is learned at home. While we cannot control what others may or may not do, the Latter-day Saints can certainly stand with those who demonstrate virtue in their own lives and inculcate virtue in the rising generation.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Where can I get help in coping with peer pressure?

When [we face] challenges in coping with peer pressure, we can read the [Book of Mormon] looking specifically for teachings that will help [us] with this kind of challenge. One of those teachings could be taken from Lemuel’s experience. Lemuel made some wrong choices because he yielded to Laman’s pressure [see 1 Nephi 3:28]. He did not do the right thing because he “knew not the dealings of that God who had created them” [1 Nephi 2:12]. A principle that we can draw from this incident is that learning doctrine about how God deals with us will help us to cope with peer pressure.

Elder Walter F. Gonzalez of the Seventy

Why is education so important?

You have a duty to learn as much as you can. … If a formal education is not available, do not allow that to prevent you from acquiring all the knowledge you can. Under such circumstances, the best books, in a sense, can become your “university”—a classroom that is always open and admits all who apply. Strive to increase your knowledge of all that is “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy” [Articles of Faith 1:13]. Seek knowledge “by study and also by faith” (D&C 109:7). Seek with a humble spirit and contrite heart. As you apply the spiritual dimension of faith to your study—even of temporal things—you can amplify your intellectual capacity.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency

How can I get answers to my prayers?

As you reach out to your Heavenly Father and pray to Him in the name of Christ, He will answer you. He speaks to us everywhere. As you read God’s word as recorded in the scriptures, listen for His voice. During this general conference and later as you study the words spoken here, listen for His voice. As you visit the temple and attend Church meetings, listen for His voice. Listen for the voice of the Father in the bounties and beauties of nature, in the gentle whisperings of the Spirit. In your daily interactions with others, in the words of a hymn, in the laughter of a child—listen—for His voice may be there.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency

How can I receive personal revelation?

To access information from heaven, one must first have a firm faith and a deep desire. One needs to “ask with a sincere heart [and] real intent, having faith in [Jesus] Christ” (Moroni 10:4). “Real intent” means that one really intends to follow the divine direction given.

The next requirement is to study the matter diligently. This concept was taught to leaders of this restored Church when they were first learning how to gain personal revelation. The Lord instructed them, “I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right” [D&C 9:8].

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Sometimes I doubt my testimony. How can I stay strong?

There will always be some seemingly intellectual crisis looming on the horizon as long as faith is required and our minds are finite, but likewise there will always be the sure and solid doctrines of the Restoration to cling to, which will provide the rock foundation upon which our testimonies may be built.

Elder Tad R. Callister of the Seventy

How can I know I’m making the right decisions?

Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability to decide correctly. In His plan of happiness, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness.

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

How can I know the Book of Mormon is true?

For 179 years this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history—perhaps like no other book in any religious history. And still it stands. Failed theories about its origins have been born and parroted and have died—from Ethan Smith to Solomon Spaulding to deranged paranoid to cunning genius. None of these frankly pathetic answers for this book has ever withstood examination because there is no other answer than the one Joseph gave as its young unlearned translator. In this I stand with my own great-grandfather, who said simply enough, “No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.” …

… Now, I did not sail with the brother of Jared in crossing an ocean, and settling in a new world. I did not hear King Benjamin speak his angelically delivered sermon. I did not proselyte with Alma and Amulek nor witness the fiery death of innocent believers. I was not among the Nephite crowd who touched the wounds of the resurrected Lord, nor did I weep with Mormon and Moroni over the destruction of an entire civilization. But my testimony of this record and the peace it brings to the human heart is as binding and unequivocal as was theirs. Like them, “[I] give [my name] unto the world, to witness unto the world that which [I] have seen.” And like them, “[I] lie not, God bearing witness of it.”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Why should I honor my parents?

The Lord gave you a commandment with a promise: “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” [Mosiah 13:20]. It is the only one of the Ten Commandments with a promise. … You may not have parents that are living. In some cases, you may not feel that your parents are worthy of the honor and respect of their children. You may not even have ever known them. But you owe them life. And in every case, even if your life is not lengthened, its quality will be improved simply by remembering your parents with honor.

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency

I loved this conference because I was able to receive personal answers to my questions. There had been a question in mind as I came into conference, and in the talk given by Elder Richard G. Scott, my question was answered. I love how the Lord works through His servants to answer your questions and concerns because He cares about you and how you feel.

Brianna H., 17, Utah

I’ve never really planned on serving a mission, and now I am actually considering the option.

Bessie B., 13, Idaho

I got some questions answered that I was worrying about in my life.

Alyssa J., 15, Utah

I took my seminary teacher’s challenge to pray that I might get the answers to my questions and problems from general conference. When I was listening, I gained a totally different outlook!

Spencer O., 14, Nevada

I was amazed by Elder Holland’s strong declaration of his testimony of the Book of Mormon. His words of the truthfulness of and his feelings for the Book of Mormon are forever etched in my mind.

Claire C., 14, Washington

NEmore

For more answers from general conference, go to newera.lds.org.