Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but the hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Staying balanced is all about moving forward. And what about the many tasks and responsibilities that make our lives so busy? How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father that in His plan there are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings. Pres. There is an old story of a waiter who asked a customer whether he had enjoyed the meal. Eternal life or spiritual death?8. Contents. (See John 6:28.). Here you will find the authority to act in His nameto baptize for the remission of sins, to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost, and to seal on earth and in heaven.1. In these moments, I have listened to my beloved brothers and sisters and grieved with them over their burdens. Elder Andersen teaches that we can prepare for the Second Coming by making covenants and strengthening our commitment to the Savior. Elder Johnson teaches that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be cleansed of our sins and imperfections. He will lead you the right way. Another reason a principle-based approach is needed today is the increasing cultural diversity of the Lords Church. It takes practice. He is not a rest stop in our journey. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. This is what the widow at the temple treasury seemed to understand. Would such an approach truly prepare you for a lifetime of Christlike living? One might ask, If the gospel is so wonderful, why would anyone leave?. When the Book of Mormon prophet Alma saw evil in the world around him, he turned to the word of God because he knew it had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto themtherefore Alma thought it was expedient [to] try the virtue of the word of God (Alma 31:5). Callings Volunteer and Serve Temples Family History. Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You 6 years ago Overcome the World and Find. Doctrine and Covenants 78:19; emphasis added. 33. And at the center of it all is His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ,7 and His sacrifice for us. I will always think of them as being bigger than lifeangels of light and glory, ministers of compassion, goodness, and truth. Elder Uchtdorf posted on Facebook on Aug. 11 about the 60-year anniversary of the beginning of construction on the Berlin Wall. Some might say, I just dont fit in with you people in the Church.. Sometimes we assume it is because they have been offended or lazy or sinful. It focuses on values, principles, and doctrine instead of every specific behavior. The Church is designed to nourish the imperfect, the struggling, and the exhausted. They rejoice in the knowledge that God speaks to mankind again. And so he took a nine-foot-long (3-m) loaf of bread, cut it in half, and with a smile, served that to the customer. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday morning session ofOctober 2021 general conference. Read and listen here As a child, when I would look at the little forget-me-nots, I sometimes felt a little like that flowersmall and insignificant. I suppose the guide could give you long lists of clothes you shouldnt wear, words you shouldnt say, and movies you shouldnt watch. Confidence, peace, safety, happiness and belonging can be found in Jesus Christ, His gospel and His Church. When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. Very few of us will ever be asked to sacrifice our lives for the Savior. Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. You can do your best to keep His commandments. The guest replied that everything was fine, but it would have been better if they had served more bread. From that day forward, the heavens opened, and heavenly messengers descended from halls of immortal glory. That has been the pattern from the days of Adam until now., Spiritual landmarks like daily prayer, scripture study and approaching God in humility and honesty can help keep one on the path. Sister Craig teaches us three truths that can help us grow as disciples and trust in the Lord through our trials. Come, join with us! This is how we offer our whole soulsby sacrificing anything thats holding us back and consecrating the rest to the Lord and His purposes. By David W. Smith. Many years ago, President BoydK. Packer spoke these powerful words: True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. It will be a significant help for making choices in your life. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. And the invitation to earnestly seek His will and live by His truths is the highest standard possible! I extend to you my love and blessing at this joyful Easter season. Elder Zeballos teaches that with the help of the Lord, we can be resistant to sin and temptation and find lasting happiness in this life. That is how we learn. The Savior has very high standards for those who follow Him the highest of which is the invitation to earnestly seek His will and live by His truths. But somehow, here on earth, it seems more complicated than it ought to be. It is contained in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some might say, I dont think I could live up to your standards.. Elder Soares teaches that as women and men work together in true and equal marriage partnerships, they will enjoy the unity taught by the Savior. Often their grief is caused by what seems to them as an ending. 83K views 4 months ago Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf speaks at the 192nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 1-2, 2022. In preparing for this message today, I have felt strong promptings to address the young women and young men. I testify that here you will find the words of eternal life, the promise of blessed redemption, and the pathway to peace and happiness. As Latter-day Saints, we are often known for what we do and dont doour behaviors. In the hours following His Crucifixion, they were consumed with despair and grief, unable to understand what had just happened. He would teach us to open our hearts to God and reach out to others. They accepted with courage and determination the torture, humiliation, and even death that would come to them because of their testimony.12 They were not deterred from praising and serving their Lord. Elder Morrison teaches us how the Lord strengthens us and helps us when we exercise faith in Him during difficult times. On April 2-3, millions worldwide will tune into the 192nd Annual General Conferenceof The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to hear messages from the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and other Church leaders. See Romans 5:3; 2Corinthians 4:17; 12:10. Some struggle with unanswered questions about things that have been done or said in the past. The waiter could scarcely wait for the mans reaction. And the fulness of that gospel is taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But what then of those times when what we wish for seems to be far out of reach? In other words, Im suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstanceswhatever they may be. No matter how strong our spiritual experiences have been in the past, as human beings we tend to wander. As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and as one who has seen firsthand the councils and workings of this Church, I bear solemn witness that no decision of significance affecting this Church or its members is ever made without earnestly seeking the inspiration, guidance, and approbation of our Eternal Father. President Ezra Taft Benson taught a similar truth: The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. Followers 0. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, What sign do I want to give to God? That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear (The Sabbath Is a Delight, Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 130). In our daily life it is our paramount task and blessed opportunity to encounter God. Born on November 6, 1940, in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, Dieter F. Uchtdorf had a childhood colored by the horror of World War II. That He actually appeared in our time to restore truth and lightHis gospel and His Church. When we look at our lives and see a hundred things to do, we feel overwhelmed. In his message directed to those of the rising generation, he reminded youth that Jesus Christ is their strength. We openly acknowledge that in nearly 200 years of Church historyalong with an uninterrupted line of inspired, honorable, and divine eventsthere have been some things said and done that could cause people to question. Some of our dear members struggle for years with the question whether they should separate themselves from the Church. Elder Sitati teaches how we can develop attributes that help us become better disciples of Christ. True, it is important to frequently count our blessingsand anyone who has tried this knows there are manybut I dont believe the Lord expects us to be less thankful in times of trial than in times of abundance and ease. But we can choose our response. As Elder DaleG. Renlund taught, Our Heavenly Fathers goal in parenting is not to have His children do what is right; it is to have His children choose to do what is right and ultimately become like Him (Choose You This Day, Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 104). Light and knowledge poured forth from the celestial throne. First, this Church was restored in our day by Jesus Christ Himself. The Savior answers, Whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God (Doctrine and Covenants 11:4). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. True gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony. Throughout history, faithful Saints have sacrificed personal desires, comforts, and even their lives for the Savior. After explaining that he has often wondered what Jesus would teach if He was among us today, Elder Uchtdorf listed a few timeless truths taught by the Savior including, "He teaches us to love one another and to be 'full of charity towards all men.'" Recognizing the demands of his professional life, they said to him, If you feel that you are too busy and shouldnt accept the call, then thats your privilege. He answered that his decision about whether or not to serve when called was made long ago, when he and his wife made temple covenants with the Lord. The message was that God lived and cared about us, even in these hours of turmoil, confusion, and chaos. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Subscribe for free and get daily or weekly updates straight to your inbox, The three things you need to know everyday, Highlights from the last week to keep you informed. In fact, there is not just one reason that applies to the variety of situations. I suppose the Church would be perfect only if it were run by perfect beings. That is part of the plan of happiness gifted to us from our loving Heavenly Father. The following is a summary of what he said. Need some inspiration to lift your soul? Join with us! But whenever I watch someone learning to ride a bike for the first time, Im reminded that its not easy balancing yourself on those two narrow wheels. Doctrine and Covenants 121:45. We havent even mentioned family history, youth camps, devotionals, scripture study, leadership training, youth activities, early-morning seminary, maintaining Church buildings, and of course there is the Lords law of health, the monthly fast to help the poor, and tithing., The man said, Now Im confused. We are eternal beings, children of the Almighty God, whose name is Endless13 and who promises eternal blessings without number. I often have wondered, What would Jesus teach and do if He were among us today? I testify that this is true, as I also testify that Jesus Christ is our Master, our Redeemer, and our one and only Way back to our beloved Father in Heaven. Elder Cook teaches about the importance of gaining our own testimonies of Jesus Christ, repenting of our sins, and staying true to God and His work. It comes from acknowledging that we do not always understand the trials of life but trusting that one day we will. Elder Pino suggests four habits to help members of the Church stay on the covenant path. With our heart and soul we yearn to become better with the help of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. At a time when many churches throughout the world are experiencing significant decreases in numbers, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsthough small in comparison with many othersis one of the fastest growing churches in the world. In essence, he's called God a liar. What he should have said is, 'Mormons believe the Bible has lied to us, and everything you read about God is wrong'. The process of caring for others allows both rich and poor a way toward refining their characters and leads them both toward exaltation (see Doctrine and Covenants 104:1518). Despite past heartache, each of us can begin again, he wrote. Its the purpose behind His great plan of happiness, His Church, His priesthood, the scripturesall of it. It even takes falling down a time or two. This is the bull's-eye of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is easy to be grateful for things when life seems to be going our way. But we do not need to hang our heads in despair, because we can trust God, we can trust His Son, Jesus Christ, and we can accept the gift of the Spirit to guide us on this path toward a life filled with joy and divine happiness.12. Are You Sleeping through the Restoration? God is among usand is personally involved in our lives and actively guiding His children. We will all become better as a result. He met a nice couple who represented The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and asked, What do you require of your members?, We do not require anything, they replied. It has been updated and refreshed to better cope with the challenges and temptations of our day. Brothers and sisters, dear friends, we need your unique talents and perspectives. Dieter F. Uchtdorf Of the First Presidency January 13, 2013 If you follow the Spirit, your personal search for the truth inevitably leads you to the Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ, for He is "the way, the truth, and the life." This may not be the most convenient way, but it will be His waythe Savior's redeeming way. Knowing this, how could we ever murmur or remain embittered? You do not need to see the Savior, as the Apostles did, to experience the same transformation. He wouldnt minimize them. a revised version of For the Strength of Youth, Church releases revised For the Strength of Youth guide based on principles, agency, See the full text of Elder Uchtdorfs talk: Jesus Christ Is the Strength of Youth, pilot, captain and corporate executive for the German airline Lufthansa, Elder Uchtdorf, a former refugee, promises Ukrainian refugees in Poland: You are not alone, 2022 Sharing the Gospel broadcast: Invitations from Elder Bednar, Elder Uchtdorf, Elder Cook to love, share, invite, Elder Uchtdorf offers apostolic assurance to FSY participants in Seattle: Your strength is the Savior, Elder Uchtdorf visits Navajo community where the Church is helping bring electricity and water, Elder Uchtdorfs general conference addresses, Read more October 2022 general conference coverage, He met his wife, Sister Harriet Reich Uchtdorf, in their teens while attending a branch in Frankfurt, Germany, soon after she and her family joined the Church. 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