Sunday Afternoon Session
Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom
Elder Robert D. HalesOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
As we walk the path of spiritual liberty in these last days, we must understand that the faithful use of our agency depends upon our having religious freedom. …
Brothers and sisters, we are responsible to safeguard these sacred freedoms and rights for ourselves and our posterity. What can you and I do?
First, we can become informed. Be aware of the issues in your community that could have an impact on religious liberty.
Second, in your individual capacity, join with others who share our commitment to religious freedom. Work side by side to protect religious freedom.
Third, live your life to be a good example of what you believe—in word and deed. How we live our religion is far more important than what we may say about our religion.
Our Savior’s Second Coming is drawing nearer. Let us not delay in this great cause. Remember Captain Moroni, who hoisted the title of liberty inscribed with the words “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children” (Alma 46:12). Let us remember the people’s response: exercising their agency, they “came running together” with a covenant to act (Alma 46:21).
My beloved brothers and sisters, don’t walk! Run! Run to receive the blessings of agency by following the Holy Ghost and exercising the freedoms God has given us to do His will.
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Stay by the Tree
Elder Kevin W. PearsonOf the Seventy
Enduring to the end is a hallmark of true discipleship and is essential to eternal life. But when trials and challenges come our way, we are often told to simply “hang in there.” Let me be clear, to “hang in there” is not a principle of the gospel. Enduring to the end means constantly coming unto Christ and being perfected in Him. …
Lehi’s vision of the tree of life is a powerful parable on enduring to the end. Please prayerfully study and ponder Lehi’s dream; then liken it unto yourself. As you do, carefully consider six important principles that help us endure to the end.
1. Don’t forget to pray. …
2. Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him. …
3. Press forward with faith. …
4. The Book of Mormon is key to spiritual survival. …
5. Don’t be distracted and deceived. …
6. Stay by the tree. …
Brothers and sisters, enduring to the end is the great test of discipleship. Our daily discipleship will determine our eternal destiny. Awaken unto God, cling to truth, keep your sacred temple covenants, and stay by the tree!
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The Eternal Perspective of the Gospel
Elder Rafael E. PinoOf the Seventy
The Father’s desire is to give everyone the opportunity to receive a fulness of joy. Latter-day revelations show that our Heavenly Father created a great plan of happiness for all His children, a very special plan so that we can return to live with Him. …
… Understanding the plan will help people keep the commandments, make better decisions, and have the right motivation.
During the time that I have served in the Church, I have witnessed the devotion and faithfulness of Church members in different countries, some of which have political, social, or economic conflict. One common factor that I have often found in these faithful members is the perspective that they have of eternity. The eternal perspective of the gospel leads us to understand the place that we occupy in God’s plan, to accept difficulties and progress through them, to make decisions, and to center our lives on our divine potential. …
The Lord knows what He wants to accomplish with each one of us. He knows the kind of reform He wants to achieve in our lives, and we do not have the right to counsel Him. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.
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Thy Kingdom Come
Elder Neil L. AndersenOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
We live in days of wars and rumors of wars, days of natural disasters, days when the world is pulled by confusion and commotion.
But we also live in the glorious time of the Restoration, when the gospel is being taken to all the world. …
Brothers and sisters, seeing and believing the Lord’s miracles as He establishes His kingdom on earth can help us see and believe that the Lord’s hand is at work in our own lives as well.
The Lord declared, “I am able to do mine own work” (2 Nephi 27:20). We each try to do our part, but He is the grand architect. Under the direction of the Father, He created this world. “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made which was made” (Joseph Smith Translation, John 1:3 [in the Bible Appendix]). …
Our faith grows as we anticipate the glorious day of the Savior’s return to the earth. …
… May His prayer be our prayer: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9–10).
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If You Will Be Responsible
Elder Jorge F. ZeballosOf the Seventy
What responsibility do we have as members of the Church of Jesus Christ? President Joseph Fielding Smith expressed it as follows: “We have these two great responsibilities. … First, to seek our own salvation; and, second, our duty to our fellow men” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith [2013], 294).
These, then, are the main responsibilities that our Father has assigned to us: seeking our own salvation and that of others, with the understanding that salvation means reaching the highest degree of glory that our Father has provided for His obedient children. These responsibilities that have been entrusted to us—and which we have freely accepted—must define our priorities, our desires, our decisions, and our daily conduct. …
Discipleship requires us not only to learn our duty, make correct decisions, and act in accordance with them, but also essential is our developing the willingness and the ability to accept God’s will, even if it does not match our righteous desires or preferences.
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Be Fruitful, Multiply, and Subdue the Earth
Elder Joseph W. SitatiOf the Seventy
Our mortal journey began with both a divine charge and a blessing. A loving Father gave us the charge and the blessing to be fruitful and to multiply and to have dominion so that we can develop and become even as He is. …
First, God charged us to be fruitful. …
We become fruitful as we abide in Christ and as we “take upon [ourselves His] name [and] … serve him to the end” (D&C 20:37) by helping others come unto Him. …
Second, God charged us to multiply. …
… Bearing children gives other spirit children of God the opportunity to also enjoy life on earth. …
Third, God charged us to subdue the earth.
To subdue the earth and have dominion over every living thing is to control these things so they fulfill the will of God as they serve the purposes of His children. Subduing includes gaining mastery over our own bodies. …
Developing the ability to subdue the things of the earth begins with humility to recognize our human weakness and the power available to us through Christ and His Atonement.
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The Sabbath Is a Delight
Elder Russell M. NelsonOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
I am intrigued by the words of Isaiah, who called the Sabbath “a delight” (Isaiah 58:13). Yet I wonder, is the Sabbath really a delight for you and for me? …
… The Sabbath was His gift to us, granting real respite from the rigors of daily life and opportunity for spiritual and physical renewal. God gave us this special day, not for amusement or daily labor but for a rest from duty, with physical and spiritual relief. …
How can you ensure that your behavior on the Sabbath will lead to joy and rejoicing? In addition to your going to church, partaking of the sacrament, and being diligent in your specific call to serve, what other activities would help to make the Sabbath a delight for you? …
The Sabbath provides a wonderful opportunity to strengthen family ties. …
We make the Sabbath a delight when we teach the gospel to our children. …
… Study of the gospel makes the Sabbath a delight. …
… You can experience true delight on the Sabbath from family history work. …
Make the Sabbath a delight by rendering service to others, especially those who are not feeling well or those who are lonely or in need.
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