By Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles If we want the Savior to lift us heavenward, then our commitment to Him and His gospel can't be casual or occasional. But we earnestly desire to overcome our faults and the tendency to sin. This takes steady effort. thou hast the words of eternal life.11. They came not to blame, lecture, or shame. You need to know the whys and the hows and then consider the consequences of your choices. I believe the Savior Jesus Christ would want you to see, feel, and know that He is your strength. In light of what we know about our eternal destiny, is it any wonder that whenever we face the bitter endings of life, they seem unacceptable to us? Elder Stevenson teaches about what a testimony is and the importance of keeping your testimony strong and bearing it in word and deed. It is filled with people who desire with all their heart to keep the commandments, even if they havent mastered them yet. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen. For here you will find what is precious beyond price. One look into His eyes and we would never be the same. The Savior answers, Whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God (Doctrine and Covenants 11:4). I believe He would start by expressing His deep love for you. Ultimately, it is our desires that qualify us for the work of proclaiming the word of God (see Doctrine and Covenants 4:3). So He allows you to choose: Light or darkness? At the heart of Gods plan for your happiness is your power to choose.7 Of course, your Heavenly Father wants you to choose eternal joy with Him, and He will help you to achieve it, but He would never force it upon you. Contents. Please embrace it as your own and share it with your friends. Lift Where You Stand, 2008. He will lead you the right way. Outward appearances would lose their importance. Often their grief is caused by what seems to them as an ending. He is demonstrating increased trust in His covenant people in the latter days. He would want you to see yourself the way He sees you. It left its mark upon me. No matter how you choose to personally prepare for general . Elder Rasband gives examples of President Nelson sharing the Book of Mormon, describes how he has tried to follow the prophets example, and invites all to do the same. In praising this faithful widow, the Savior gave us a standard to measure our discipleship in all of its many expressions. Also see other collected talks. We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. Truth is contained in the gospel of Jesus Christ and taught in His Church. Sustaining of General Authorities, Area Seventies, and General Officers, BishopsShepherds over the Lords Flock, What We Are Learning and Will Never Forget, Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains, Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution. If you expect to find perfect people here, you will be disappointed. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair. But some might say, What do I have to be grateful for when my world is falling apart?. To many of us, such a standard of whole-souled commitment seems out of reach. We are eternal beings, children of the Almighty God, whose name is Endless13 and who promises eternal blessings without number. Jointly published by the Deseret News and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church. Real and relatable conversations centered around the Come, Follow Me weekly lessons using the official curriculum of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dieter F. Uchtdorf Of the First Presidency January 13, 2013 If you follow the Spirit, your personal search for the truth inevitably leads you to the Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ, for He is "the way, the truth, and the life." This may not be the most convenient way, but it will be His waythe Savior's redeeming way. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior (Do Not Fear, Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 79). His father was conscripted into the German Army, and his mother relocated the family to Zwickau, Germany. That with His help, there are no limits to what you can accomplish. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. When they receive sacred priesthood ordinances and make covenants with God, they can feel His power in their lives.2 When they enter the holy temple, they sense they are in His presence. A third reason why people join the Church is because walking the path of discipleship leads to precious blessings. When you have questions, Jesus Christ and His restored gospel are the best answer. God is among usand is personally involved in our lives and actively guiding His children. Also President Uchtdorf doesn't speak in his native German (although he jokingly began to for a second while conducting). Now, for those who are avid bicyclists, comparing discipleship to riding a bike may be a helpful analogy. And what about the many tasks and responsibilities that make our lives so busy? Think of it as your personal, daily restoration., When darkness creeps in, as it often does, daily restoration opens ones heart to heavenly light, which illuminates the soul, chasing away shadows, fears and doubts. We made a commitment then, he said, to seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness [Matthew 6:33], feeling confident that everything else would be added unto us, as the Lord promised (Russell Marion Nelson, From Heart to Heart: An Autobiography [1979], 114). His family lost everything and had to escape for their lives. We all need them every day. The problem is that we dont always see things as clearly as we would like to. The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Love our neighbor. Sister Browning encourages us to see our lives from a gospel perspective in order to see more of the Savior in our lives. The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a starting question for us as we contemplate becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. Elder Renlund teaches how to receive personal revelation through the Holy Ghost and how to avoid deception. It sounds like an easy choice, doesnt it? Elder Eddy invites us to try the virtue of the word of God and drink deeply from the scriptures. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and donts. You can love and serve His children. Sustaining of General Authorities, Area Seventies, and General Officers, Follow Jesus Christ with Footsteps of Faith, Beauty for Ashes: The Healing Path of Forgiveness, Building a Life Resistant to the Adversary. Commandments are opportunities to exercise our agency and to receive blessings. Jointly published by the Deseret News and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church. The scriptures say that, to God, our sacrifices are more sacred than our accomplishments (see Doctrine and Covenants 117:13). Some might say, I dont think I could live up to your standards.. They rejoice in the knowledge that God speaks to mankind again. Viewed in this way, our commitment to Jesus Christ would be one of many things we need to fit into our busy schedules. The Church has prepared a revised version of For the Strength of Youth to point young men and young women to Christ. The statue remained without hands. In preparing for this message today, I have felt strong promptings to address the young women and young men. Come and add your talents, gifts, and energies to ours. Important temporal and spiritual choices should not only be based on personal preference or what is convenient or popular.23 The Lord is not saying, Do whatever you want., He is saying, Live in a holier, higher, more mature way., He is saying, Keep my commandments.. They bore the strain and suffering as best they could. It is the work of loving and serving God. When we see one thingloving and serving God and His children, in a hundred different waysthen we can work on those things with joy. It even takes falling down a time or two. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, What sign do I want to give to God? That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear (The Sabbath Is a Delight, Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 130). Those burdened with sin find forgiveness, liberty, and rest. As Latter-day Saints, we are often known for what we do and dont doour behaviors. But you can love and serve God. Presented by Seagull Book. Perhaps focusing on what we are grateful for is the wrong approach. I extend to you my love and blessing at this joyful Easter season. Thomas S. Monson. Elder Uchtdorf teaches that Jesus Christ is the best guide for making choices. Some might ask, But what about my doubts?, Its natural to have questionsthe acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding. He is your strength. Isaiah 41:4 - only God is the . Multicultural Conference Multicultural Conference. Our daily walk with Jesus Christ leads to peace and purpose in this life and profound joy and eternal salvation in the world to come. True, it is important to frequently count our blessingsand anyone who has tried this knows there are manybut I dont believe the Lord expects us to be less thankful in times of trial than in times of abundance and ease. There an elderly woman standing by Dieter's mother in a food line invited the Uchtdorf family to sacrament . One might ask, If the gospel is so wonderful, why would anyone leave?. Why would anyone want to join such a church?, The couple smiled and said, We thought you would never ask.. That He speaks to prophets again; that God is among usand is personally involved in our lives and actively guiding His children. Discipleship, like most things in life, can also be compared to flying an airplane. But we are all invited to consecrate our lives to Him. Saturday Morning Session. He will lead you the right way. And the fulness of that gospel is taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So, my dear friends and beloved fellow disciples of Jesus Christ, let us not be weary in well-doing, for [we] are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of our small things will proceed that which is great.14. Before I reached my 12th birthday, our family had been forced twice to flee our home and start over amid the chaos, fear, and uncertainties caused by war and political division. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday morning session of October 2022 general conference. But in spite of this, the eternal truth of the restored gospel found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not tarnished, diminished, or destroyed. Principles are eternal and universal. "The sheep is worthy of divine rescue simply because it is loved by the Good Shepherd," President Uchtdorf said. It doesnt give you a yes or no about every choice you might ever face. Gratitude to our Father in Heaven broadens our perception and clears our vision. Born on November 6, 1940, in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, Dieter F. Uchtdorf had a childhood colored by the horror of World War II. The problem is that it diverts our focus from the true Source of our strength, our Savior, Jesus Christ. He also introduces the new For the Strength of Youth guide. Is everyone given the . We see baptism as the starting point in our journey of discipleship. But that doesnt mean its easy.7 It requires both sacrifice and consecration. Jesus might point out that your covenants with Himmade when you were baptized and renewed each time you partake of the sacramentgive you a special connection with Him. We dedicate it to Him and His holy purposes.10 We receive the talents that the Lord has given us and strive to increase them, manifold, to become even more helpful in building the Lords kingdom.11. We havent even mentioned family history, youth camps, devotionals, scripture study, leadership training, youth activities, early-morning seminary, maintaining Church buildings, and of course there is the Lords law of health, the monthly fast to help the poor, and tithing., The man said, Now Im confused. When they read the holy scriptures3 and live the teachings of His prophets, they grow closer to the Savior they love so much. Put simply, an aircraft flies only when air is moving over its wings. These two laws are similar but not identical. For over 50 years, For the Strength of Youth has been a guide for generations of Latter-day Saint youth. There seems to be something inside of us that resists endings. It takes patience. I bear witness that our Heavenly Father lives, that Jesus Christ leads His Church, that President RussellM. Nelson is His prophet. I earnestly pray that your own search for truth will impress upon your heart the desire to come and join with us. The answer is forward thrust. Truth gets twisted to make evil seem good and good seem evil.10. The doubting He would infuse with faith and courage to believe. First, this Church was restored in our day by Jesus Christ Himself. This time of introspection is an opportunity for recalibration. 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