Elder Bednar
What is the most defining characteristic of the church?
The priesthood
D&C 58:29 But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.
Priesthood is selfless. Require obedience.
His father was not a member of the church. He asked, why, if the priesthood was restored and unique to our church, didn't members of our church differ more from people in other churches, especially in performing their duty?
However old he was when he baptized his dad, he looked exactly like he does now.
He used to ask sisters somewhere what support they needed from him and the answer was always about helping their husbands to know/understand their responsibility as a priesthood leader in their homes. The specific examples were around scripture study, family prayer, and family home evening.
Does Betsy wish I did more to lead the family?
Richard Edgley formerly first counselor in the presiding bishopric
Helping less active members return to full fellowship. Told a story about a dude who went inactive early in life but came back late in life. Lamented that none of his kids, grandkids, or great-grandkids are active in the church. He traced the progeny of some less active great uncle or other in his family tree, and found something like 20,000 people by 6 generations later. I just did that math, and great uncle and all his progeny would have had to average 6.1 children each to get to 20k. I wonder how far back that uncle was. If you go too far, mortality rates prevent a larger portion of those kids from reaching adulthood, and if it was too recent, you run into declining birth rates, also preventing that from happening.
Adrian Ochoa - Second counselor in YM presidency
Combo message on the fact that this is a war and thy should arise and use the power of god.
President Uchtdorf
When he was called as deacons quorum president, there was either one or two deacons in the branch. His branch president took the time to tell him not only what, but why, and the why holds the keys to understanding the power. The what informs, the why transforms.
He was called to be a stake president when he had just been promoted at work, and expected to be extremely busy. Church activities should be based on the why, and not on flashy trends. (Flashy trends was extremely hard to understand through his accent.)
How shall we know where to focus our efforts, activities? Study scriptures, pray seek revelation. Pure hearts, seek glory of God. It is in the application of doctrine that the purifying flame of something grows.
Consider the words spoken here. Pray and ask for guidance in daily life and church responsibilities and specific challenges. Few the promptings of the spirit.
President Henry Eyering
Keys of the sealing power.
Gave some pointers, #2 was love your wife.
President Thomas S. Monson
Thoughts and teachings from former church leaders on the priesthood. John Tayler called the priesthood the government of God. He loves duty. When God speaks and man obeys, that man will always be right.
I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was duty (dharma). I acted, and behold, duty was joy! (Dharma is sometimes translated "service" but president Monson said it "duty".)
Back when he was a new bishop (age 22) there were a lot of people serving in the military (23 from his ward) and the church asked that the ward come up with funds to cover subscription to the church news and magazines. He said that the priesthood quorums, with difficulty, covered the cost of the subscriptions. I am blessed to live in a ward where covering the cost of something like that would not be a challenge. Do your duty, that is best. Leave unto the Lord the rest. President Monson is an amazing speaker.
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