“Learning from Conference,” New Era, November 2015, 20–22
Learning from Conference
Sometimes a theme can stand out when you study several conference talks together. Here are some gospel words used frequently by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. What other themes did you hear in conference?
What will you do different?
As you review conference and think about what you’re learning, consider this invitation from Elder Hales:
“You may want to conduct what I’ll call a ‘personal council.’ Spend some time alone. Think about what is ahead. Ask yourself: ‘What areas of my life do I want to strengthen so that I can strengthen others? Where do I want to be a year from now? Two years from now? What choices do I need to make to get there?’ Just remember, you are the pilot. I testify that as you come to yourself, your Heavenly Father will come to you. By the comforting hand of His Holy Spirit, He will lead you along.”
When you do your part, the Lord adds His power to your efforts.
President Henry B. Eyring
First Counselor in the First Presidency
October 2015 general conference
“Confidence [that the Lord is with you in His work] grows as you come to see that He called you through His servants. My encouragement is to help you know that when you do your part, the Lord adds His power to your efforts.
“Any calling we receive in the Lord’s kingdom requires more than our human judgment and our personal powers. Those calls require help from the Lord, which will come. Even the new deacon will learn that is true, and he will go on learning over the years. …
“God will add His power to His servant’s efforts. Hearts of people will be touched to make the choices that will bring them along the gospel path toward happiness and away from sorrow. …
“… I testify that He has called you and me into His service knowing our capacities and the help we will need. He will bless our efforts beyond our fondest expectations as we give our all in His service.”
President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, October 2015 general conference
God never loses sight of our eternal potential, even when we do.
Carole M. Stephens
First counselor in the Relief Society general presidency
October 2015 general conference
“In the ‘premortal realm’ we used our agency to accept God’s plan, and we learned that obedience to God’s eternal law was vital to our success in His plan. Scriptures teach, ‘There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated.’1 If we obey the law, we receive the blessings.
“Even with all of the mistakes, opposition, and learning that accompany our mortal experience, God never loses sight of our eternal potential, even when we do. We can trust Him ‘because God wants His children back.’2 And He has provided a way through the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ. The Atonement ‘is the core of the plan of salvation.’3”
Carole M. Stephens, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, October 2015 general conference
Invitations to act
Look for invitations given in conference talks that can help you improve, like these:
President Monson: Read and study and ponder the scriptures.
President Uchtdorf: Simplify. … Focus on the basic doctrines, principles, and applications of the gospel.
President Nelson: Sisters … take your rightful and needful place in your home, in your community, and in the kingdom of God.
Elder Cook: Improve [your] Sabbath worship.
Elder Hales: Pay your tithing and then save! … Don’t buy what you can’t afford.
Elder Christofferson: Consider why [Jesus Christ] chooses to use … the Church … to carry out His and His Father’s work.
Elder Andersen: When was the last time that you read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover? Read it again. It will increase your faith.
Sister Marriott: Open [yourself] to the Spirit.
What others have you found?
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