"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.

"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!