"Your Next Step" by Elder Randall K. Bennett

General Conference October 2015 study notes

Your Next Step by Elder Randall K. Bennett Priesthood Session
 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/your-next-step?lang=eng

 

Two essential weekly signposts that mark our journey back to our Father in Heaven are the perpetual covenant of the ordinance of the sacrament and our Sabbath day observance.

action -----> blessing:

when we are willing to act with faith and take another step, especially an uncomfortable step requiring change or repentance, we are blessed with strength:
act in faith ---> strength

faith exercised ---> faith increased

willingness to try and try again ---> progress and success

be willing to act ---> strength to repent and strength to change

faith-filled step ---> help from heaven

love God and keep all of His commandments or just seek to do so --->spiritual gifts

taking the sacrament with a repentant heart and commitment --->  remission of sins and His Spirit to be with us

devoted Sabbath day observance ---> the fulness of the earth

prayer + relying on and follow Him + listening to the Holy Spirit ---> guidance
trust in the Lord's timing ---> wisdom and patience
following the living prophet ---> protection

Because of the Atonement ---> strength
Because of God's grace ---> healing and forgiveness

Meme-worthy:

Our loving Heavenly Father rejoices in each and every faithful step, and if we fall, He rejoices in each effort to get back up and try again.

The Lord more than matches our willingness to act in faith. Our willingness to take a step is not just met; it is exceeded by the Lord's promised blessings.

Our devoted weekly observance of the Sabbath is our sign to the Lord that we love Him.

We fail only if we fail to take another faithful step forward. We will not, we cannot, fail if we are faithfully yoked to the Savior--He who has never failed and will never fail us!

Meeting the Challenges of Today's World by Elder Robert D. Hales

General Conference October 2015 study notes

Meeting the Challenges of Today's World by Elder Robert D. Hales Saturday afternoon session
 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/meeting-the-challenges-of-todays-world?lang=eng

 


Good thoughts and counsel:

One of the purposes of the scriptures is to show us how righteous people respond to temptation and evil.... Heaven Father warns [the] believers.

He will help us know whether to fight, flee, or go with the flow of our unfolding circumstances.

When you earn more, save more.

Education puts you in a better position to serve and bless those around you.

Begin exercising your faith in every area of your life.

Conduct a "personal counsel." Ask yourself: "What areas of my life do I want to strengthen so that I can strengthen others? Where do I want to be a year from now? two years from now? What choices do I need to make to get there?" Just remember, you are the pilot, and you are in charge.

You are responsible to think about the consequences of every choice you make. Ask yourself, "If I make this choice, what is the wost thing that could happen?" Your righteous choices will keep you from getting off course.

The right marriage is not only about what I want; it's also about what he/she--who's going to be my companion--wants and needs me to be.

The Lord will keep His promise: "I will lead you along." The only question is, will we let ourselves be led? Will we hear His voice and the voice of His servants?

Meme-worthy:

We need to tighten our grip on the rod that leads us back to Him.

Never deliberately fly into a thunderstorm. Instead, fly around it, take another route, or wait for the storm to clear before landing.


If you are there for the Lord, He will be there for you.

None of us marry perfection; we marry potential.

Dating and marriage aren't final destinations. They are the gateway to where you ultimately want to go.

Only your resolve to be obedient can change your life.

Follow the example of the Savior, who simply "went about doing good."

 

A Plea to my Sisters by Pres. Russell M. Nelson

General Conference October 2015 study notes

A Plea to My Sisters by Pres. Russell M. Nelson Sunday morning session
 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-plea-to-my-sisters?lang=eng

 

Qualities or characteristics to seek after:
   ---gift of discernment
          ---be able to view the trends of the world and detect those that are shallow or dangerous
          ---ability to detect deception in all its forms
   ---faith to make things happen
   ---courage to defend morality and families
   ---devotion to shepherding God's children
   ---personal revelation
   ---understanding of the power and peace of the temple endowment
   ---ability to call upon the powers of heaven to protect and strengthen children and families
   ---ability to teach fearlessly and help raise a sin-resistant generation
   ---bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ
   ---ability to access God's power through covenant keeping
   ---ability to express beliefs with confidence and charity
   ---vision

Counsel with blessing:

Take your rightful and needful place in your home, your community, and in the kingdom of God--more than you ever have before.... as you do so, the Holy Ghost will magnify your influence in an unprecedented way.

Warnings:

Attacks against the Church, its doctrine, and our way of life are going to increase.

Meme-worthy:

"Are you finished crying? Then get dressed....Go to work! You need to learn more!"

Nothing is more crucial to your eternal life than your own conversion.

 

Turn to Him and Answers Will Come by Elder James B. Martino

General Conference October 2015 study notes:

Turn to Him and Answers Will Come by Elder James B. Martino Saturday afternoon session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/turn-to-him-and-answers-will-come?lang=eng
 Comparison:
Laman, Lemuel, Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni had been raised in righteous families, had gone astray, were called to repentance by an angel, but had different outcomes. After they were called to repentance:

Laman and Lemuel:
   murmued
   gave up
   returned to complaining
   refused to pray
Lack of certain spiritual habits seems to have caused them to forget the times when God had spoken to them.

Sons of Mosiah--Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni:
    searched the scriptures diligently
    prayed
    fasted
    were obedient
These personal religious habits strengthened them.

Formulas:
Nephi's counsel to his brothers on receiving continual answers to prayer:
soft heart + faith + belief + obedience ---> revelation
and
be obedient + remember the times you felt the Spirit + ask in faith --->  answers and  feeling the love and peace of the Savior

daily scripture study ---> opening the doors of revelation

obedience + scripture study + prayer + fasting---> strength from the Lord

disobedience + no prayer, scripture study or fasting ---> being left vulnerable to temptation (to murmur and doubt)

Warnings:
Lack of certain spiritual habits ---> forgetting the times when God has spoken to you

Meme-worthy:
We must have faith with works to receive answers.

Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God by Elder Von G. Keetch

General Conference October 2015 study notes

"Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God" by Elder Von G. Keetch Sunday afternoon session
 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/blessed-and-happy-are-those-who-keep-the-commandments-of-god?lang=eng

 


Favorite teachings:

     We show our love for God—and our faith in Him—by doing our very best every day to follow the course that He has laid out for us and by keeping the commandments that He has given to us. We especially manifest that faith and love in situations where we don’t fully understand the reason for God’s commands or the particular path He is telling us to take.

     As we trust in the Lord, exercise our faith, obey His commandments, and follow the course He has charted for us, we become more the person the Lord wants us to become. It is this “becoming”—this conversion of the heart—that is all-important. As Elder Dallin H. Oaks has taught us: “It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.”

     True obedience, therefore, is giving ourselves entirely to Him and allowing Him to chart our course both in calm waters and in troubled ones, understanding that He can make more of us than we could ever make of ourselves.

Meme-worthy:

Don't be too critical of the barrier. It's the only thing that's keeping you from being devoured.

The Holy Ghost as Your Companion by Pres. Henry B. Eyring

General Conference 2015 Study Notes

The Holy Ghost as Your Companion by Pres. Henry B. Eyring Sunday morning Session
 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/blessed-and-happy-are-those-who-keep-the-commandments-of-god?lang=eng
 

IF action...THEN blessing:

IF we partake of the sacrament THEN the Holy Ghost will be able to protect us and those we love from the temptations that come with increasing intensity and frequency.

IF we make a constant quest for the Spirit to be with us THEN we will never lack for knowledge of the truth, never be in doubt or in darkness, and our faith will be strong, our joy...full.

WHEN our hearts are full of charity and WHEN virtue garnishes our thoughts unceasingly THEN the Holy Ghost will be our constant companion.

WHEN you demonstrate your willingness to obey THEN the Spirit will send you more impressions of what God would have you do for Him. AS you obey, THEN the impressions from the Spirit will come more frequently AND your power to choose the right will increase.

By the reception of the Holy Ghost, we be sanctified.


Most important points for me:

---The most valuable inspiration will be for you to know what God would have you do.

---You can know when these impressions to act for Him are from the Spirit rather than from your own desires. When the impressions square with what the Savior and His living prophets and apostles have said, you can choose to obey with confidence. Then the Lord will send His Spirit to attend you.

My Heart Pondereth Them Continually by Elder Devin G. Durrant

General Conference October 2015 Study Notes:

My Heart Pondereth Them Continually by Elder Devin G. Durrant Sunday Afternoon session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/blessed-and-happy-are-those-who-keep-the-commandments-of-god?lang=eng



He asked us to:
   -save money each week
   -"ponderize" one verse of scripture each week
   -never let ponderizing replace scripture study

Promised blessings:
   -we will have:
     -a deeper understanding of gospel principles
     -an  uplifting place for our thoughts to go
     -new spiritual perspectives
     -words and phrases written on our hearts
     -added revelation
     -opportunities to assist others financially
   -memorization will take place easily and naturally
   -we will always remember Him--no room for filth and trash in our minds

Ask yourself:
   -Is there something you need to be doing today to prepare yourself spiritually for future opportunities to teach and bless your family and others?

Meme-worthy:
   -Don't be deterred. Hard can be good.
   -Exercise your faith, discipline yourself, and do it.


 

What Lack I Yet? by Elder Larry R. Lawrence

October 2015 Conference Study Notes:

What Lack I Yet? by Elder Larry R. Lawrence Saturday morning session:
 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/blessed-and-happy-are-those-who-keep-the-commandments-of-god?lang=eng

 

He asked us to:
   -Humbly ask the Lord the following questions:
     -What is keeping me from progressing?
     -What lack I yet?

Other questions:
   -What weaknesses need strengthening?
   -What can I do to improve my life?
   -What am I doing right?

Teachings:
   -The Holy Ghost doesn't tell us to improve everything at once.... The Spirit works with us at our own speed, one step at a time... and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts,... for unto him that receiveth I will give more.
   -Be persistent, brothers and sisters, but never be discouraged.

Meme-worthy:
   -To Him, our direction is ever more important than our speed.

 

It Works Wonderfully! by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf

General Conference October 2015 Study Notes:

It Works Wonderfully! by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf Saturday morning session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/it-works-wonderfully?lang=eng

 

He asked us to:
     -ponder our progress and evaluate how things are working for us
     -focus on the basic doctrines, principles, and applications of the gospel
     -simplify

He warned us about:
     -chasing after shadows
     -making our discipleship too complicated
     -gilding the lily with layers of man-made good ideas, programs, and expectations

Ponder:
     -Is my experience with the church bringing me closer to Christ?

Meme-worthy:
     -Exaltation is our goal; discipleship is our journey.

 

Link to how 21 apostles received their calls

http://m.deseretnews.com/top/3331/0/21-LDS-Church-leaders-describe-how-they-were-called-to-the-Quorum-of-the-Twelve-Apostles.html