"This is My Work and Glory"

This talk was given by Elder M. Russell Ballard during the Saturday morning session of General Conference. This was another one that hit me the minute I heard it. I couldn't take notes fast enough! I fear that my notes on this talk are entirely inadequate, so I'm going to post a few direct quotes (with highlights of statements that I also took note of) from Elder Ballard and then will finish up with a few notes I took.

"Brothers and sisters, the power by which the heavens and earth were and are created is the priesthood. Those of us who are members of the Church know that the source of this priesthood power is God Almighty and His Son, Jesus Christ. Not only is the priesthood the power by which the heavens and the earth were created, but it is also the power the Savior used in His mortal ministry to perform miracles, to bless and heal the sick, to bring the dead to life, and, as our Father’s Only Begotten Son, to endure the unbearable pain of Gethsemane and Calvary—thus fulfilling the laws of justice with mercy and providing an infinite Atonement and overcoming physical death through the Resurrection.

"It is the keys of this priesthood authority and resultant power that He gave to Peter, James, and John and His other Apostles to bless others and to bind in heaven that which is bound on earth.

"The power of the priesthood is a sacred and essential gift of God. It is different from priesthood authority, which is the authorization to act in God’s name. The authorization or ordination is given by the laying on of hands. The power of the priesthood comes only when those who exercise it are worthy and acting in accordance with God’s will. As President Spencer W. Kimball declared, “The Lord has given to all of us, as holders of the priesthood, certain of his authority, but we can only tap the powers of heaven on the basis of our personal righteousness” (“Boys Need Heroes Close By,” Ensign, May 1976, 45)."

"In our Heavenly Father’s great priesthood-endowed plan, men have the unique responsibility to administer the priesthood, but they are not the priesthood. Men and women have different but equally valued roles. Just as a woman cannot conceive a child without a man, so a man cannot fully exercise the power of the priesthood to establish an eternal family without a woman. In other words, in the eternal perspective, both the procreative power and the priesthood power are shared by husband and wife. And as husband and wife, a man and a woman should strive to follow our Heavenly Father. The Christian virtues of love, humility, and patience should be their focus as they seek the blessings of the priesthood in their lives and for their family.

 

•  Elder Ballard shared a story of the tomato plant and how a seven-year-old granddaughter was talking to her grandfather about how millions of tomatoes can come from just one seed if it is nourished properly. Elder Ballard said: "Brothers and sisters, as the literal spirit children of our loving Heavenly Father, we have unlimited, divine potential. But if we are not careful, we can become like the wilted tomato plant. We can drift away from the true doctrine and gospel of Christ and become spiritually undernourished and wilted, having removed ourselves from the divine light and living waters of the Savior’s eternal love and priesthood power."
• Do NOT become spiritually undernourished. Do NOT neglect the things that will help you grow!
• The priesthood strengthens us ALL, regardless of circumstance.
• See to strengthen ourselves, our family, and the church through the power of the priesthood.

The Savior Wants to Forgive

This is such a beautiful talk given by Elder Craig A. Cardon. I will share three quote directly from his talk and then a few of the points that I jotted down that stuck out to me. 

“The Lord looks upon the light we have received, the desires of our hearts, and our actions, and when we repent and seek His forgiveness, He forgives. As we consider our own lives and the lives of our loved ones and acquaintances, we should be equally willing to forgive ourselves and others.” 

“Our Heavenly Father knows what we are facing, that we all sin and “come short of the glory of God”again and again. He sent His Son, who “knoweth the weakness of man and how to succor them who are tempted.” His Son teaches us to “pray always that [we] enter not into temptation.” We are told to “cry unto [God] for mercy; for he is mighty to save.” The Savior commands us to repent and to forgive. And although repentance is not easy, as we strive with all our hearts to obey His gospel, He gives this promise: “Verily I say unto you, notwithstanding [your] sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards [you]. I will not utterly cast [you] off; and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy.” The Savior wants to forgive.” 

“While speaking to elders assembled in Kirtland, the Lord said, “I will that ye should overcome the world; wherefore I will have compassion upon you.” The Lord knows our weakness and the eternal consequences of “the world” upon imperfect men and women. The word wherefore in this verse is His affirmation that it is only by virtue of His compassion that we may ultimately “overcome the world.” How is that compassion made manifest? To these same elders in Kirtland, He said, “I have forgiven you your sins.” The Savior wants to forgive.”

Before I share my notes, I just have to tell you how incredible it is that our Savior not only WILL forgive us, He WANTS to forgive us. I am SO grateful to have that knowledge.

• The Savior died and lives to forgive sin. He forgives sin not only in Heaven, but here on Earth. Don't wait to seek His forgiveness.
• The Lord loves us and wants us to understand that He does forgive. He does NOT excuse sins, but he will forgive when we repent.
• The Lord knows our weakness and the affect of the world on us. In His mercy, He allows (and expects) improvement.
• The Lord is always interested in our hearts.
• Bear in mind that people can change.
• See people not as they are, but as they can become!

 

These Things I Know

I REALLY loved General Conference this year. It was exactly what I've been needing. It helped me find clarity, the Spirit touched my heart and I learned so much. I was able to see where I need to make improvements in my life, and to see that though I'm far from perfect, I'm really on the right track and headed in the right direction. Over the next several weeks I'm going to highlight the various conference talks based on my notes.

I'm just going to have to apologize in advance on the length of this post, but I LOVED the poem that President Boyd K. Packer shared in his talk on Saturday morning. Directly from his talk he says:

In 1992, having served nine years as an Assistant to the Twelve and 22 years as a member of the Twelve, I reached the age of 68. I felt impressed to start what I called an “Unfinished Composition.” The first part of that work goes like this:

I had a thought the other night,

A thought profound and deep.

It came when I was too worn down,

Too tired to go to sleep.

I’d had a very busy day

And pondered on my fate.

The thought was this:

When I was young, I wasn’t 68!

I could walk without a limp;

I had no shoulder pain.

I could read a line through twice

And quote it back again.

I could work for endless hours

And hardly stop to breathe.

And things that now I cannot do

I mastered then with ease.

If I could now turn back the years,

If that were mine to choose,

I would not barter age for youth,

I’d have too much to lose.

I am quite content to move ahead,

To yield my youth, however grand.

The thing I’d lose if I went back

Is what I understand.

Ten years later, I decided to add a few more lines to that poem:

Ten years have flown to who knows where

And with them much of pain.

A metal hip erased my limp;

I walk quite straight again.

Another plate holds neck bones fast—

A wonderful creation!

It backed my polio away;

I’ve joined the stiff-necked generation.

The signs of aging can be seen.

Those things will not get better.

The only thing that grows in strength

With me is my forgetter.

You ask, “Do I remember you?”

Of course, you’re much the same.

Now don’t go getting all upset

If I can’t recall your name.

I would agree I’ve learned some things

I did not want to know,

But age has brought those precious truths

That make the spirit grow.

Of all the blessings that have come,

The best thing in my life

Is the companionship and comfort

I get from my dear wife.

Our children all have married well,

With families of their own,

With children and grandchildren,

How soon they all have grown.

I have not changed my mind one bit

About regaining youth.

We’re meant to age, for with it

Comes a knowledge of the truth.

You ask, “What will the future bring?

Just what will be my fate?”

I’ll go along and not complain.

Ask when I’m 88!

And last year I added these lines:

And now you see I’m 88.

The years have flown so fast.

I walked, I limped, I held a cane,

And now I ride at last.

I take a nap now and again,

But priesthood power remains.

For all the physical things I lack

There are great spiritual gains.

I have traveled the world a million miles

And another million too.

And with the help of satellites,

My journeys are not through.

I now can say with all certainty

That I know and love the Lord.

I can testify with them of old

As I preach His holy word.

I know what He felt in Gethsemane

Is too much to comprehend.

I know He did it all for us;

We have no greater Friend.

I know that He will come anew

With power and in glory.

I know I will see Him once again

At the end of my life’s story.

I’ll kneel before His wounded feet;

I’ll feel His Spirit glow.

My whispering, quivering voice will say,

“My Lord, my God, I know.”¹

Now on to a few notes I took during his talk (in all instances, these notes may be based on exactly what he said, or they may have been a thought I had while listening, just in case you get lost):

1. Age brings the things that make the Spirit grow. We are meant to age - it brings knowledge.
2. The family is under attack by forces seen and unseen. We will not always be safe from the adversary, even in our own homes. The priesthood in the home is there to work to protect the family.
3.Fathers, love your wife so your children can see that love!! (I love ALL quotes like this!!)
4. We, with our mortal bodies, have power over those who do not have bodies.
5. The Lord CANNOT look upon sin with the least degree of allowance - neither can I!
6. The Lord has a way of pouring pure intelligence into our minds and hearts
7. "I know He lives"

Full message can be found here.