“‘Does everyone need to repent?’ The answer is yes.”
This was President Russell M. Nelson’s declaration in the general priesthood session of the April 2019 general conference on Saturday, April 6. In his message to priesthood holders all over the world, he taught the true nature of repentance.
President Nelson noted several ways in which men of the Church can do better, including how they treat the women in their lives—beginning with wives, daughters, mothers, and sisters. He gave specific advice to those who are married.
Besides honoring the women in their lives, President Nelson also said men can do better at repenting daily, treating their bodies with respect, and being one with their spouses.
President Nelson then gave some memorable counsel.
He concluded his address with several prophetic blessings:
“I bless you to communicate the love of the Savior to your wife and children and to all who know you. I bless you to do better and to be better. And I bless you that as you make these efforts, you will experience miracles in your life.”
Watch President Nelson’s full message from the general priesthood session.
Asking “Where Will This Lead?” Helps Make Better Choices
President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, encouraged priesthood holders to consider how the choices they make today will affect their futures.
“Our present and our future will be happier if we are always conscious of the future. As we make current decisions, we should always be asking, ‘Where will this lead?’”
He mentioned several kinds of decisions that members face regularly. One is the choice “between doing something or doing nothing.” Another is the choice between two good things. “We need to measure thoughtfully what we are losing by the time we spend on one activity, even if it is perfectly good in itself.”
President Oaks’s closing counsel was to remember that as disciples of Jesus Christ, our choices should always lead to “the covenant path through the temple to eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God.”
Watch President Oaks’s full message from the general priesthood session.
Sustain Leaders, Other Priesthood Holders, and Family Members
President Henry B. Eyring, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, taught about the power that can come when we exercise our faith to sustain our leaders and our families.
He suggested several ways that priesthood holders could sustain their leaders in connection to counsel given during general conference. He taught that as they do so, the Lord will increase their faith in their leaders and they will become more unified as priesthood holders and as families.
“In the priesthood and in the family, increased faith to sustain each other is the way we build the Zion the Lord wants us to create. With His help we can, and we will. It will take learning to love the Lord with all our heart, might, mind, and strength and to love each other as we love ourselves.”
President Eyring closed by saying, “As we grow in that pure love of Christ, our hearts soften. That love will humble us and lead us to repent. Our confidence in the Lord and in each other will grow. And then we will move toward becoming one, as the Lord promises we can.”
Watch President Eyring’s full message from the general priesthood session.
To watch the full general priesthood session of the April 2019 general conference, click here.