“Choose,” “seek,” “gain,” and “strive. ” Living prophets and apostles used words such as these during October 2014 general conference to invite us to not only ponder and pray about their inspired messages but also to act. *The following list may help remind us of what we’ve been asked to do:
☐ Choose to follow Jesus Christ.
President Thomas S. Monson encouraged us to choose to “become [Jesus Christ’s] disciples and do His work throughout our lives” by “learning His words, by following His teachings, and by walking in His path” of obedience, service, and prayer.
In the scriptures the Savior “tells us to be merciful, to be humble, to be righteous, to be pure in heart, to be peacemakers,” President Monson said. “He instructs us to stand up bravely for our beliefs … [and] be morally clean in both our thoughts and our actions” (“Ponder the Path of Thy Feet”).
☐ Seek personal revelation.
President Henry B. Eyring testified that to “get answers to the questions that matter most in life,” each of us needs continuing communication with God. To know how we can qualify for this blessing, President Eyring quoted D&C 121:45: “Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly.” The love we feel for the prophet will help us feel the confirming revelation when he speaks as the Lord’s prophet, he said (“Continuing Revelation”).
☐ Receive a testimony of light and truth.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave four steps toward receiving a testimony:
• “First, you must search the word of God. That means reading the scriptures and studying the words of the ancient as well as modern prophets … with a sincere desire to discover truth. Ponder upon the things you will feel, and prepare your minds to receive the truth.”
• “Second, you must consider, ponder, fearlessly strive to believe, and be grateful for … prophets, seers, and revelators to lead His Church and help us find the way back to Him.
• Third, you must ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, to manifest the truth … unto you. Ask with a sincere heart and with real intent, having faith in Christ.”
• Fourth, “put gospel doctrine and Church teachings to the test in your own life. Do it with real intent and enduring faith in God” (“Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth”).
☐ Seek to understand the Atonement and strengthen others’ testimonies.
President Boyd K. Packer said that because “we need the strength of conviction that is found in the heart of every loyal disciple of Christ,” we need to:
• “Come to a deep reverence for the Lord Jesus Christ, His earthly ministry, and His divine mission as our Savior.”
• “Seek to strengthen the testimonies of the young and old, the married and single.”
• “Teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to men, women, and children, those of every race and nationality, the rich and the poor” (“The Reason for Our Hope”).
☐ Build family and home on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
Reminding us that our homes must be “holy places in order to stand against the pressures of the world,” Elder L. Tom Perry said we must:
• “Carefully continue to evaluate our performance as parents. The most powerful teaching a child will ever receive will come from concerned and righteous fathers and mothers.”
• “Find within ourselves that same determined spirit and overcome the challenges we face with the same spirit of sacrifice.”
• “Instill in future generations an ever stronger reliance on the teachings of our Lord and Savior” (“Finding Lasting Peace and Building Eternal Families”).
☐ Sustain the prophets.
“Our sustaining of prophets is a personal commitment that we will do our utmost to uphold their prophetic priorities,” taught Elder Russell M. Nelson. Quoting then Elder George Albert Smith, he said that means:
• “We will stand behind him;
• We will pray for him;
• We will defend his good name,
• And we will strive to carry out his instructions as the Lord shall direct” (“Sustaining the Prophets”).
☐ Seek to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Elder Robert D. Hales testified that Heavenly Father wants us to seek knowledge about Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, now.
“As you seek a personal witness—your personal revelation—you will discover that Heavenly Father has provided a special way for you to know the truth for yourself: through the third member of the Godhead, a personage of spirit we know as the Holy Ghost” (“Eternal Life—to Know Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ”).
☐ Love our neighbors and avoid contention.
“Followers of Christ should be examples of civility,” Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught.
• “We should love all people, be good listeners, and show concern for their sincere beliefs.
• Though we may disagree, we should not be disagreeable.
• Our stands and communications on controversial topics should not be contentious.
• We should be wise in explaining and pursuing our positions and in exercising our influence.”
• And we should “be persons of goodwill toward all, rejecting persecution of any kind, including persecution based on race, ethnicity, religious belief or nonbelief, and differences in sexual orientation” (“Loving Others and Living with Differences”).
☐ Experience continuing conversion.
“We need to experience a continuing conversion by increasing our faith in Jesus Christ and our faithfulness to His gospel throughout our lives—not just once but regularly,” taught Elder M. Russell Ballard.
• “Become men and women ‘of a sound understanding’” by “search[ing] the scriptures diligently, that [we] might know the word of God” and “focus[ing] on studying, living, and loving the doctrine of Christ.”
• “Give ourselves ‘to much prayer, and fasting’ (Alma 17:3).”
• “Become kind, gentle, loving, forgiving, patient, and dedicated disciples” by “helping, supporting, understanding everyone, including the sick, the infirm, the poor in spirit and body, the seeker and the troubled, and also other member-disciples—including Church leaders” (Stay in the Boat and Hold On!).
☐ Exercise faith with four fundamental habits.
“We must take time to actively exercise our faith,” Elder Richard G. Scott taught. Four “fundamental habits” will invite the power of the Atonement in our lives and help us “find peace in the challenges of mortality”:
• Prayer. “Choose to converse with your Father in Heaven often. … Safeguard your children by arming them morning and night with the power of family prayer.”
• Scripture study. “Study the word of God in the scriptures and the words of the living prophets” as individuals and families.
• Family home evening. “Do not let … anything else become more important than that time you spend together at home with your family.”
• Temple attendance. “If you don’t have a temple recommend, qualify to get one. When you have a recommend, use it often. Schedule a regular time to be in the temple” (“Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority”).
☐ Do what we can for others in need.
Asking, “Don’t we all cry out for help and hope and answers to prayers? Don’t we all beg for forgiveness for mistakes we have made and troubles we have caused? Don’t we all implore that grace will compensate for our weaknesses, that mercy will triumph over justice at least in our case?” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland encouraged us to:
• Do “what we can” for the poor.
• Pray for those in need.
• “Cease withholding our means because we see the poor as having brought their misery upon themselves” (“Are We Not All Beggars?”).
☐ Gain a personal witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
“Gain a personal witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith,” Elder Neil L. Andersen challenged youth in particular:
• “First, find scriptures in the Book of Mormon that you feel and know are absolutely true.
• Then share them … , acknowledging that Joseph was an instrument in God’s hands.
• Next, read the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Pearl of Great Price or in this pamphlet. … Read it often.
• Consider recording the testimony of Joseph Smith in your own voice, listening to it regularly, and sharing it with friends” (“Joseph Smith”).
*Bullets and formatting added.
