Elder Holland's talk was one of the most powerful testimonies of the Book of Mormon you will likely hear in your life!
Prophecies regarding the last days often reveal calamities - political and economic.
The Savior warned that even the very elect could be deceived in the last days. Think of the heart as the poetic location of our loyalties and values. Heavenly Father knows all of our troubles of the heart and soul. The Book of Mormon begins with a great parable of life - hope vs. fear, salvation vs. destruction, etc. Mists of darkness arose to make the hard way even harder. There was a rod of iron that led the way - it was a manifestation of God's love - it was His word.
The power of Christ [will counter] all troubles in all times, including the end of times. That is the safe harbor God wants for us in public or personal despair. As we are faithful, we can be made strong.
Elder Holland told of the martyrdom of Hyrum and Joseph. Many testify of the truth of the Book of Mormon and of the truthfulness of Joseph's calling as a prophet of God. Joseph and Hyrum were willing to die rather than deny the divine origin of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon has been denied and attacked since its publication and no attack has ever held.
"No wicked man could write a book like this [the Book of Mormon] and no good man would write it, unless it were truth and he had been commanded of God."
The Book of Mormon is a stone of stumbling and rock of offense to the unbeliever.
"My testimony is as binding and unequivocal as [Joseph's]...I give my witness to the world [that the Book of Mormon is true...I lie not."
God always provides safety for the soul and with the Book of Mormon He has again done that.
We have the freedom to choose our course in this life...but we will be accountable for our choices.
We are stewards over our minds, bodies...
Stewardship for ourselves and family.
"We live in a time when virtue and chastity are not safeguarded." The wellsprings of life are to be kept pure. This is one of the reasons why virtue and chastity are so important in our Father's Plan. When our thoughts or actions are impure, we violate His standard.
Those who rationalize, remind us of little children who cover their eyes convinced that they can't see us and we can't see them.
All can repent and return to a state of cleanliness. "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is repented and I remember them no more." We have a duty to secure the physical and spiritual well-being of our children. Having religious observance in our home is as important as having food, shelter, and clothing.
Stewardship for the poor and needy.
We are accountable as stewards over earthly blessings.
Story of 80 year old Sarah who was one of first to give service or donations. He also spoke of the Church's humanitarian efforts, including fast offerings.
We should be diligent. Because of contributions, the church can respond quickly without fanfare to needs/disasters around the world. In all our stewardship actions, we try to follow the Savior.
We all possess the God-given gift of moral agency. For positive outcomes, moral agency must be coupled with moral discipline.
The root of the word discipline is shared with the word "disciple." Our moral discipline is rooted in loyalty and devotion to the Father and Son. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ that provides the foundation of moral discipline.
The world sees moral as relative. This leads to lack of internal control, which requires external coercion by governments. We rely on external laws to regulate behavior, which shows how uncivilized we have become.
We need an internal moral compass within each individual that can deal with the root causes of personal and societal ills. Moral discipline is learned at home. We can't dictate what others will do [but we can what we do]. There must be constant teaching, mostly by example [of the gospel]. The intelligent use of agency requires knowledge of truth to see things how they are.
Satan and his followers are not promoting objectivity. We should not have to learn by sad experience that wickedness never was happiness. Early discipline [of children] can bring an abrupt end to crime [or prevent it outright].
"While therapy can support a person's will, it cannot substitute for it."
We live in a time when many in the world have slipped from the moorings of safety. Many are routinely disregarding the laws of God.
May we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually. "I love you my brothers and sisters. I pray for you. I ask that you would remember me and all the general authorities [in your prayers]." Jesus guides and directs His church here upon the earth.
4 comments:
Thank you for sharing/compiling these! Such powerful talks. Great conference!
Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. Feel free to come back often! I still think the experiences you share on your blog are amazing - painful, difficult, mind-boggling, funny, happy - just amazing.
Great summaries! I agree, Elder Holland's talk was powerful. Snapped me completely out of my mild afternoon dozing! ;-)
Thanks Scott! I don't know how Elder Holland does it (well, I have a pretty good idea) but his talks have always been amazing - but even more so within the past couple years. For me, I think he did a wonderful series of conference talks in 199-2001 or so and then has done some marvelous ones in the past few years. Also, if you haven't check out his recent BYU Devotional talks (http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=browse&speaker=Holland%2C+Jeffrey+R.&topic=&type=&year=&x=5&y=9) - his Lot's wife and Lessons from Liberty Jail talks are classics.
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