"Tested and Tempted--but Helped" by Elder Hugo Montoya

General Conference October 2015 study notes

Tested and Tempted--but Helped by Elder Hugo Montoya Saturday afternoon session


Four ways our burdens are lightened as we help each other:

1-"Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain"
For example, we are asked to attend the temple regularly....this sacrifice could be considered part of the first mile.

We begin walking the second mile when we...search for and prepare the names of our ancestors for temple ordinances, when we help in indexing, when we serve as temple workers, and when we look for ways to help others have meaningful temple experiences.

2. Smile.

3. Express compassion to others.

4. The cornerstone of God's plan is the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. At least once a week, we should meditate...on the "great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the Redeemer into the world. Inviting others to come to church and to worthily partake of the sacrament will allow more of Heavenly Father's children to reflect on the Atonement. And if we are not worthy, we can repent.

It does not matter what our personal struggles are--whether they are disease or prolonged loneliness or suffering the temptations and tests of the adversary--the Good Shepherd is there. He calls us by name and says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

 
 

"The Joy of Living a Christ-Centered Life" by Elder Richard J. Maynes

General Conference October 2015 study notes

The Joy of Living a Christ-Centered Life by Elder Richard J. Maynes Saturday  morning session


Although I thoroughly enjoyed Elder Maynes talk, I didn't find that I underlined much as I read it over, perhaps because he shares a few scripture stories in order to share his message. This is what I have to post:


Living a Christ-centered life means we learn about Jesus Christ and His gospel and then we follow His example and keep His commandments with exactness.

The joy we experience in this life will be in direct proportion to how well our lives are centered on the teachings, example, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

 

"God is at the Helm" by Elder M. Russell Ballard

General Conference October 2015 study notes

"God is at the Helm" by Elder M. Russell Ballard Saturday morning session



Too many people think Church leaders and members should be perfect or nearly perfect. They forget that the Lord's grace is sufficient to accomplish His work through mortals. Our leaders have the best intentions, but sometimes we make mistakes.

Looking for human weakness in others is rather easy. However, we make a serious mistake by noticing only the human nature of one another and then failing to see God's hand working through those He has called. Focusing on how the Lord inspires His chosen leaders and how He moves the Saints to do remarkable and extraordinary things despite their humanity is one way that we hold on to the gospel of Jesus Christ and stay safely about the Old Ship Zion.

By understanding who our Heavenly Father is and our realtionship to Him and to His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, we will accept Their commandments and make covenants with Them that will lead us back into Their eternal presence.

What will you become through the Atonement of Christ?

Another important doctrine that we should cling to is to observe the Sabbath day. This helps us remain unspotted from the world, provides us with physical rest, and gives each of us the spiritual refreshment of worshipping the Father and the Son every Sunday. When we delight in the Sabbath day, it is a sign of our love for Them.

Fast and testimony meetings--a place to briefly express gratitude, love, and appreciation for our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the restored gospel and to bear personal witness of these things. It is a time to share brief inspirational thoughts and bear solemn testimony. It is not a time to give a speech.

Exaltation is the goal of this mortal journey, and no one gets there without the means of the gospel of Jesus Christ: His Atonement, the ordinances, and the guiding doctrine and principles that are found in the Church.

"A Summer with Great-Aunt Rose" by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf

General Conference October 2015 Study Notes

A Summer with Great-Aunt Rose by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf  General Women's Session





The Savior taught using simple stories.

Listen with the Spirit so He can help you find the message for you.

"There is enough that doesn't go right in life, so anyone can work themselves into a puddle of pessimism and a  mess of melancholy. But I know people who, even when things don't work out, focus on the wonders and miracles of life. These folks are the happiest people I know." ~ Great-Aunt Rose

"God didn't design us to be sad. He created us to have joy! If we trust Him, He will help us to notice the good, bright, hopeful things of life.... No, it doesn't happen instantly, but honestly, how many good things do? Seems to me that the best things, like homemade bread or orange marmalade, take patience and work."  ~Great-Aunt Rose

Faith leads to hope. And faith and hope can give us confidence that one day everything will make sense, that because of the Savior, all the wrongs will be made right. 

"Faith in the Savior taught me that no matter what happened in the past, my story could have a happy ending."  ~Great-Aunt Rose

"Now is part of eternity."  ~Great-Aunt Rose

"I exercised faith in God's promises by filling my life with meaningful things."  ~Great-Aunt Rose

"You see, everything else in the gospel--all the shoulds and the musts and the thou shalts--lead to love. When we love God, we want to serve Him. We want to be like Him. When we love our neighbors, we stop thinking so much about our own problems and help others to solve theirs.... This is what makes us happy."  ~Great-Aunt Rose


Meme-worthy: 



Meme-worthy, but from a different conference:

"It's Never Too Early and It's Never Too Late" by Elder Bradley D. Foster

General Conference October 2015 Study Notes

It's Never Too Early and It's Never Too Late by Elder Bradley D. Foster Saturday afternoon session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/its-never-too-early-and-its-never-too-late?lang=eng




Counsel and Teachings:
We cannot let society give our family a makeover in the image of the world.

We must be engaged in “intentional parenting."

Do we recognize that our children are the largest group of investigators of the Church? What must we do to bring about their lasting conversion?

There is a difference between hearing and understanding. If our children merely hear but do not understand the gospel, then the door is left open for Satan to remove these truths from their hearts. However, if we can help them grow roots of deep conversion, then in the heat of the day, when this life gets tough—and it will—the gospel of Jesus Christ can give them something within that cannot be affected from without.
 
Our Heavenly Father wants us to succeed because really, after all, they were His children before they were ours.

As you pray for guidance, “[The Holy Ghost] will show unto you all things what ye should do” in teaching your children.



His testimony:
Our Heavenly Father loved us so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son to live the life of a mortal so that Jesus could say to us, “I’ve been where you are, I know what comes next, and I’ll help you through it.” I know He will.

Meme-worthy:
It’s never too early and it’s never too late to lead, guide, and walk beside our children, because families are forever.



 

"Keep the Commandments" by Pres. Thomas S. Monson

General Conference October 2015 Study Notes

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/keep-the-commandments?lang=eng
Keep the Commandments by Pres. Thomas S. Monson   Priesthood Session
 

Great teachings and counsel:

I am confident that each of us has as his ultimate goal life everlasting in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. It is imperative, therefore, for us to make choices throughout our lives that will lead us to this great goal. We know, however, that the adversary is committed to our failure.


Disregard for the commandments has opened the way for what I consider to be the plagues of our day. They include the plague of permissiveness, the plague of pornography, the plague of drugs, the plague of immorality, and the plague of abortion, to name just a few.


You have heard the messages of the adversary. He cunningly calls: Just this once won’t matter; everyone is doing it; don’t be old-fashioned; times have changed; it can’t hurt anyone; your life is yours to live. The adversary knows us, and he knows the temptations which will be difficult for us to ignore. How vital it is that we exercise constant vigilance in order to avoid giving in to such lies and temptations.


We cannot allow ourselves the slightest bit of leeway in dealing with sin. We cannot allow ourselves to believe that we can participate “just a little” in disobeying the commandments of God, for the sin can grab us with an iron hand from which it is excruciatingly painful to free ourselves.


Throughout our lives we will need to nurture strong testimonies by studying the scriptures and by praying and by pondering the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.