The Weak and the Simple of the Church

Grandpa Robison's Experience Teaching Deacons

A number of years ago, just after moving to Provo, Utah, I was called to be the Deacons Quorum Advisor of the Sherwood Hills Ward. The month prior, I had been serving as the Bishop of the Burlington Ward in Ontario, Canada and then we moved to Utah.

Every Sunday, I would muster up my courage and go into that quorum of three boys and try to touch their hearts with something that would excite them about the gospel. I would follow the approved course of study, but sought for ways to reach the group, including our own son Jamie.

Each Sunday, the boys would lean back on their chairs, chew gum, and give me that "I dare you to teach me something I don't already know look." About six months later, I was called to be a Stake President. During my first week in that calling, I marveled at how the exact message I was giving to the high council and to the bishops of the Stake had been delivered to those deacons just a week prior. Only this time, rather than lean back on their chairs and chew gum, they leaned forward, took notes, and were reverently attentive. What a difference 40 more years makes added to the life of a deacon!

Well, those three boys all went on to serve valiant missions and it did not take 40 more years to produce wonderful servants of the Lord....it just took 7 more years (grin). This story came to my mind as I pondered the words of President Packer in the last General Conference. President Packer reminded us of these principles:

1) We sustain leaders and teachers in the Church whenever others are released. "It shall not be given to any one to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church, except he be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is know to the church that he has authority and has been regularly ordained by the heads of the church. "(D&C 42:11)

2) All positions to teach and to lead are filled by members of the Church. "Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him form heave, and gave him commandments...the weak things of teh world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones." (D&C 1:17, 19-24)

To Every Member of the Church:

President J. Rueben Clark taught that it does not matter where you serve in the Church, but how. He also taught that one neither seeks nor declines a calling. Everything that is done in the Church, is done by ordinary people, just like you and me, "the weak things of the world."

Once a person receives the Holy Ghost, He will teach and comfort them and then they are prepared to receive whatever guidance, teaching, instruction or assignment the Lord would have them receive.

So this is another principle that distinguishes us from all other Churches: "No one of us is to consider himself of more value than the other." (D&C 38:24-25)

Little Girl at Parade in Brigham City, Utah

The story was told about a young girl in Brigham City named Janie Steed. I had a friend at BYU named John Steed. This could be his great grandmother. Anyway, she kicked a rock in front of a wagon carrying the prophet Brigham Young, during a parade and muttered, "He ain't no better than my grandpa!" All of the other children had been tossing out flower petals in front of the wagon as it passed. Well, you can imagine the shock of everyone around her and the older people quickly tried to correct young Janie.

President Packer continued, however, by saying that he is sure that Brigham Young would agree had he heard the comment. He would never consider himself of more worth than anyone else.

Will a frog jump high? Picture it!

When President Packer was first called to be a general authority, one of his high school teachers said "That just proves that you can't tell by looking at a frog, how high he is going to jump!"
Think of this image in your mind, as President Packer did. Make sure you picture that in such a way that you would never feel better than someone else.

As a final lesson by President Packer, he related the experience of when after this call to be a general authority, the First Presidency of the Church invited him in their office and asked him to bear his testimony. He was overwhelmed. What should he say? Well, he just bore the same testimony that he would bear any Fast Sunday in his home ward....plain and simple...and in the same words. The Brethren were pleased and proceeded then to set him apart.

He learned that he had, as you and I have "an abiding testimony in his heart of the Restoration of the fullness of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith, that we have a Heavenly Father, and that Jesus Christ is our redeemer."

"It doesn't matter where you serve, but how"

This is what I knew when I taught those deacons and wondered if they were listening. These are the same words I used when a week later I counseled with bishops and stake presidents. It is the same message. None of us are more important in Heavenly Father eyes and as President J. Reuben Clark said "it doesn't matter where you serve, but how."

Good, Better, Best

Good, Better, Best

This is a reoccurring theme of Elder Oaks. It is one he considers of great importance. A number of years ago he spoke of choices as a law student and how to know when he had studied for a term paper that he had done enough research.

In this case, his counsel is as timely for us now as it was then.

He introduces this them by telling us the story of Martha and Mary. Remember when the Savior taught this principle in the home of Martha "while she was cumbered about much serving."(Luke 10:40) Her sister Mary, "sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word." When Martha complained that her sister had left her to serve alone, Jesus commended Martha for what she was doing, but taught her that "one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her." (verses 39-42). It was good for Martha to be "careful and troubled about many things" but it was better to learn the gospel from the Master. It was more "needful" as verse 41 says.

Consider the picture of Grandma Robison's pillows shown above. The bottom pillow is quite good, the middle pillow is better, but the top pillow is "down" and is best. In fact Grandma takes it on the plane in our suitcase whenever we travel because she needs it to get a good night's sleep. It costs more than other pillows, but for Grandma it is best because she gets a better rest.

Those people in sales are frequently plotting on graphs the comparison between good, better, and best. They know, as Elder Oaks taught, that it is not enough that something is good. Other products are better and still others are best. The most expensive ones often have great "features and capability" that make them the best selection.

Robison Family Vacation Memories
I remember a series of family vacations we took when the J's were growning up. We went to San Diego and saw Sea World, we went to Maui and swam in the ocean, we went to Florida and collected sea shells, we went to Petoskey in Northern Michigan and went water skiing. And we even went in a cramped motor home from Independence Missouri to Palmyra, New York. After those 5 wonderful trips, we asked each of the children what their favorite trip was. Each one of them answered that it was the trip in the cramped motor home. Super family trips are good for the family, but best is the family bonding on sacred sites.

Elder Oaks reminded us about a very important principle from a recent study. The number of families who report that the whole family usually eats dinner together has declined by 33%. This is alarming because studies also show that the time a family spends together eating meals at home is the strongest predictor of children's academic achievement and psychological adjustment. (Anderson and Dohert, Family Relations, 54:655). So there may be some important school activities or tennis, or golf events at the club, but the best thing we can do at dinner time is eat together.

Now, how does this apply to our Church service? First, remember that some uses of individual and family time are better, and others are best. We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families. (Elder Oaks)

Applications.

It is good to be a member of the Church, to keep all the commandments, and to fulfill all our assignments.
It is better to do things without being asked and anonymously.
It is best to do things with love and without any arrogance.

It is good to visit families to whom we have been assigned.
It is better to leave them with a message where you teach doctrine and principle during a brief visit.
It is best to make a difference in the lives of those we visit.

It is good to hold a meeting in the Church.
It is better to teach a principle.
It is best to actually improve lives as a result of the meeting.

Can you think of some good, better and best applications?

What about giving a talk?

It is good to prepare it yourself.
It is better to prepare it and include scriptures and quotes from living prophets.
It is best to teach it from the heart with very few notes.

What about teaching a lesson?

It is good to work on the lesson ahead of time.
It is better to have an outline and prepare much more material than you can cover.
It is best to think of the question that will improve lives and prepare to involve the student in the learning process.

Doctrine:

Heavenly Father, whose children everyone of us are, designed a plan for us to qualify for eternal life...the greatest of all the gifts of God. (D&C 14:7). Critical to this test are the choices we make between good, better, and best. As Elder Oaks once taught...it is not enough to be good, we must be good for something. We do that by making best choices.

Honoring the Sabbath Day

Honoring the Sabbath Day

Have you ever wondered about how to keep the Sabbath Day holy? Have you ever looked at Sunday more as a day when you can’t do things that as a day that is most special?

Doctrine:

Let’s first of all examine the question, what is the Sabbath Day?
There are at least three extremely important events in the history of the world

The first is the Creation. We learn about the Sabbath from following the example of our Heavenly Father.

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day form all his work which had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it” (Genesis 2:2-3)

From this verse we learn at least two things about our Heavenly Father.

He needed rest from the work of the creation. He needed a day to rejuvenate or renew.

1. He blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it. In other words, he made it holy and sacred.

Should we not want to follow the example of Heavenly Father in our desires to be like him.

A second important event was the Exodus. The Israelites were in bondage and as such were slaves. They could not do as they pleased on any day of the week. Heavenly Father delivered the Israelites from captivity and renewed a commandment to them saying “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8). They treated the Sabbath as a symbol of their deliverance and would not permit even their animals to work on that holy day. It is called a perpetual covenant. This means forever and reminds us all of our obligation to our Heavenly Father.

However, the most important event of all, is the third critical event that has shaped the world and our mortal existence forever…it is the Atonement. The Savior was resurrected on that day and from that time forth His followers appointed that day as the Sabbath. Until that time, the seventh day had been the Sabbath and to commemorate his resurrection on the Sunday, the first day, or Sunday was appointed as the Sabbath for the early Christians.

Principles:

So you see, the Sabbath is for man. It is a day appointed to remember God. We follow His example of setting aside one day for rest, we note the importance of the Sabbath as the fourth commandment, as given to the Israelites, and most importantly we remember the Atonement of the Savior as we renew sacred covenants of baptism each Sunday in partaking of the Sacrament.

Application:

Let’s examine the question, what is the Sabbath Day?

Answer: The word Sabbath means day of rest in Hebrew. The Sabbath day is every seventh day. In looking at the creation, the exodus, and the Atonement, three applications give us guidance as to how we should honor this day.

The Lord in modern day revelation counseled us “And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day; For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High.” (D&C 59:9, 10)

The following questions introduce to you three applications about the Sabbath. Each requires careful thought.

First, how is the Sabbath a day for our physical well-being?

(The Lord rested on the seventh day. He showed us the importance of renewing our bodies one day every week.)

Second, how is the Sabbath a day for our spiritual well-being?

(This is a commandment. It is what keeps us unspotted from the world. What a privilege it is to approach the Sacrament each Sunday with a repentant Spirit, knowing that we can become as clean from our sins as we were day we were baptized. It is the one day that we can clearly demonstrate to the Lord that we are different and we belong to His true church. It would be well to consider staying dressed for the Sabbath the entire day to remind ourselves of this holy day.)

Third, how does the Sabbath give us the opportunity to know God and to express our love for Him?

(What a great day set aside to pay devotions unto the Lord, to offer up our sacraments, and honor Him. We are given the gift of one day a week that we can give to others spiritually – we can gather in our families, we can visit the sick and the less active, we can honor our God through loving His children.)

Remember: The Sabbath is not a day to be a couch potato and lounge and do nothing. It is not a day to be preceded by late night activities on Saturday. President Kimball taught us that if we do nothing on the Sabbath, we are not keeping the day holy. The Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts and acts.”

Activity: Isaiah said that we should “call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable.” (Isaiah 58:13)

Discuss activities we can do to keep the Sabbath holy:

Attend Church meetings

• Read scriptures and words of living prophets
• Visit the sick, aged and our loved ones
• Listen to uplifting music and sing hymns
• Pray to Heavenly Father with praise and thanksgiving
• Perform Church service
• Prepare family history records and write personal histories
• Tell faith-promoting stories
• Bear testimony to our family and share spiritual experiences
• Write letters to loved ones
• Fast with a purpose
• Share time with children and others in the home

Discuss activities that would be best to avoid to keep the Spirit of the Sabbath?

Discuss the blessings that come from keeping the Sabbath Day holy.

The Great Commandment

The Great Commandment

Discuss: What best defines us as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Elder Wirthlin's teachings. In his October 2007 General Conference address, Elder Wirthlin taught that at the time Jesus walked the earth, the Pharisees tried to trick him with a question they thought was impossible to answer: "Which is the great commandment in the law?" This had been the subject of great debate and those Pharisees had made a list of over 600 commandments.

When the Savior responded, his answer dismayed them because he had identified their biggest weakness. He said"

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matt. 22: 37-40)

Can you think of examples where people have shown this type of love?

Two examples.

In his address, Elder Wirthlin gave a couple of stories. One was about a 14 year old boy that did not have anywhere to stay when he came to Nauvoo looking for his brother. It was winter and the boy did not have money or friends. When he asked about his brother, he was taken to a large house that looked like a hotel and was cared for. When he tried to leave the next day during a storm, the man of the house told him to wait for a while until a team of horses came. The boy responded that he did not have money, but the kind man said it would be taken care of. This man was none other than the prophet Joseph Smith.

Joseph Smith was asked one time why he had so many followers. His reply was simple. He said that it was because he possessed the principle of love.

Another example taught by Elder Wirthlin was of an elderly man who started painting his wife's finger nails as she became increasingly blind. For five years he painted her nails because of the joy it brought to her.

Ask: Can you think of another story of someone who showed charity?

On our mission, I often quote President Benson to the missionaries. "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that very moment God will endow us with power." To this quote, Elder Wirthlin gave another dimension in his talk. "When we love the Lord, obedience ceases to be a burden and becomes a delight." He explained that when we love the Lord, we seek less for things that benefit us and turn our hearts more toward blessing the lives of those around us.

So, Elder Wirthlin gives us the answer to the question: "what quality defines us as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Answer: We are a people who love the Lord with all our hearts, souls and minds, and we love our neighbors as ourselves. He said this is our signature as a people.

Look at the picture of the Savior.

When He meets with us on that final day, he will not ask us about our Church callings or about our things we have acquired or even about our accomplishments. He will ask if we have "ministered to the sick, gave food and drink to the hungry and succor to the weak. When we reach out to the least of these our brethren, we have done it unto Him." (Matt. 25:31-40)

Activity:

Can you make plans tonight to help someone you know? Can you visit someone that is sick, elderly, or in need of help?

Not Judging Others

Grandpa Robison teaches the story of the importance of not judging.

Many years ago, my family lived in Bozeman, Montana where I went to high school. Our father, Grandpa Robison used to stop at a truck stop to purchase a newspaper on his way into work each morning.

One day he saw a member of the bishopric, Brother Petitt, sitting at the counter in the truckstop drinking what Grandpa Robison could have assumed to be a cup of coffee. Grandpa Robison pretended he did not see Brother Petitt, because he did not want to cause him embarrassment. However, Grandpa Robison was frustrated deep down inside that this man would break the word of wisdom because especially members of bishoprics need to set good examples..

A couple of weeks later, Brother Petitt said "Hey, Brother Robison - I didn't get a chance to speak with you at the truck stop the other day. They have the best postum (a caffeine-free drink) there and I stop there all the time to get my postum. "

My father learned a valuable lesson that day in not assuming that others are in error when you do not know the entire story. Thankfully, he had not told anyone of his concern. That would have been gossiping and he never does that. Deep inside though, he had been bothered that a member of the bishopric would drink coffee. You can imagine his relief when he learned that was not the case.

Another example of the importance of not judging one another comes from the recent General Conference as shared in President Hinckley's talk on anger. He taught us that many make a great fuss of matters of small consequence - the offended or the person judging another. He said we would be much happier if we could brush aside the offending remarks of another person and just go on our way. He continues "grudges, if left to fester, can become serious maladies. Like a painful ailment, they can absorb all of our time and attention."

Guy de Maupassant wrote a story about this. It concerns Monsieur Hauchecome, who on market day went to town. He was afflicted with rheumatism, and as he stumbled along he noticed a piece of string on the ground in front of him. He picked it up and carefully put it in his pocket. He was seen doing so by his enemy, the harness maker. At the same time it was reported to the mayor that a pocketbook containing money had been lost. It was assumed that what Hauchecome had picked up was the pocketbook , and he was accused of taking it. He vehemently denied the charge.

A search of his clothing disclosed only the piece of string, but the slander against him had so troubled him that he became obsessed with it. Wherever he went he bothered to tell people about it. He became such a nuisance that they cried out against him. It sickened him. His mind kept growing weaker and about the end of December he took to his bed. He passed away early in January, and in the ravings of his death agony, he protested his innocence, repeating "A little piece of string--a littel piece of string. See, here it is, Monsieur le Mayor." (http://www.online-literature.com/Maupassant/270/.)

Another story from France is along the same lines: "A poor French woman was walking along the banks of the Seine River. On her stooped shoulders was draped a threadbare shawl. Suddenly she stopped, leaned down, picked up something that sparkled brightly in the sunlight and put it under her shawl.

A gendarme observed her actions and hurried over to her. In a very gruff voice, he said,"let me see what you are hiding under your shawl?"

The old woman drew out of the folds in the shawl a broken peice of glass, saying "It is only a sharp piece of broken glass. I picked it up so some barefoot boy might not step on it and cut his foot."

The policeman was doing his duty, but he was more willing to convict the woman of a misdeed before he could learn that she had acted with the nobility of a caring soul. (Marvin J. Ashton, May 1983 Ensign, p.30)

Questions:

As illustrated in Grandpa Robison's story, what main lessons can we learn? (not judging others, not gossiping, and not doing things that give the appearance to others that we are not living the gospel)

In the story of the "Piece of String" - why is it so important to not make a big deal about small things? (the little things can consume us and prevent us from drawing near unto our Savior)

The story of the French woman walking along the Seine River teaches us what principle about not judging our fellowman? (always assume the best in people)

What is the doctrine - what are the principles - and finally what applications can be learned from this lesson?

Doctrine - eternal truths - eternal life could be one of the doctrines

Principle - keeping the great commandment to love our neighbor as ourself

Application - don't obsess over matters of small consequence, don't judge, don't give the appearance of breaking a commandment

Conclusion:

If we judge our fellowman in error, we may be responsible for our delay in straightway heeding the call of our master to come follow Him. As we pursue the teachings of the Savior and as we live gospel principles, we may put aside the hurt and delay in happiness that may be caused by the people around us.

Personal Fact Sheet About the Church

Article of Faith #1

We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

Idea for Family Home Evening Lesson:
Write your own Fact Sheet about what we believe as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints AND brief responses to questions people might ask us about the Church.







This was a challenge or assignment given to each of us in the talk by Elder Ballard during the October 2007 General Conference.


What I believe? (be prepared to tell people what you believe)


First, get a copy of the Articles of Faith. Every child before the age of 12 is challenged to memorize them.

What are they?


Answer: In 1842, Joseph Smith was inspired to write a fact sheet about the Church in which he listed 13 statements of believe in response to a request by a newspaper editor. The list of beliefs called the Wentworth letter) was later titled the "Articles of Faith." These thirteen items were first published in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons in March 1842 and were later included in the 1851 British Mission pamphlet The Pearl of Great Price, compiled by Elder Franklin D. Richards.


That pamphlet was revised in 1878 and again in 1880. In the 1880 General Conference, the Church voted to add the Pearl of Great Price to the standard works of the Church, thus including the thirteen articles.


Second, Elder Ballard suggested we prepare a one page fact sheet to go along with our personal copy of the Articles of Faith (found immediately following the Pearl of Great Price in your scriptures).


Response: What did Nephi say in 1 Nephi 3:7 when he was given such assignments? "I will go and I will do." (So can you pull up a blank word document or get a blank sheet of paper and begin yours today?)

Personal Fact Sheet on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

• Mormon - a nickname for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members are often referred to as "Mormons" because of a belief in the Book of Mormon. They are also called "Latter-day Saints" or "LDS". The word Saint means "member" according to the Bible.
• Book of Mormon - a second witness for the Bible. A proof that Joseph Smith was a prophet. A record of the people who lived on the American continents at the same time prophets lived in Jerusalem.
• Church history - restored in 1830 in upstate New York by Joseph Smith who was the first prophet in these days. Today the headquarters of the Church is in Salt Lake City, Utah and Gordon B. Hinckley is the current prophet.
• Membership - there are over 13 million people who belong to the Church and they live in 176 countries. About 6 million members live in the United States where it is the fourth largest Christian denomination. It is one of the fastest growing Christian religions in the world and completes a new chapel every day of the year. Members follow the commandment of old in paying a tithe of their earnings making this possible.
• West Indies Mission - there are over 6,400 members living in the West Indies Mission. The mission includes the islands ofSt. Maarten, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago; and the countries of Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.
• No Paid Clergy - local congregations are led by volunteer, unpaid members. Both men and women serve in assigned leadership positions, but no position is more important than another.
• Family - Mormons place strong emphasis on the family as the basic unit of the Church and of society. We have a deep commitment to marriage (defined as a union between one man and one woman).
• Polygamy - a limited practice, also found in the Old Testament, discontinued by revelation in 1890, some 117 years ago.
• Sunday worship - anyone can attend Sunday services in our meeting houses. Here we worship together, instructing one another from the scriptures.
• Programs for all ages - The Church has auxiliary programs for women, youth and children as a support to the family.
• Geneology - the highest and most sacred ordinances of our faith relate to our families, both living and dead. Some of these ordinances take places in temples. For this reason there is much focus on extended family, geneological research, and personal family history.
• Health code - Mormons neither smoke, drink coffee, tea or alcohol, or take drugs. In 1833 the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith the Word of Wisdom, which is the way to live in order to enjoy a long and healthy life.
• Missionaries - over 70,000 members volunteer at their own expense to serve for 18 to 24 months in humanitarian efforts, Church service assignments and full-time missionary service throughout the world.
• Priesthood - in 1978 the Lord revealed the instruction that all worthy males should hold the Priesthood, which is the authority to act in God's name.

Highlights of October 2007 General Conference

In his closing remarks, President Hinckley said: "All of the proceedings of this conference will appear in a subsequent issue of the Ensign. We encourage you again to read the talks in your family home evenings and discuss them together as families. They are the products of much prayer and meditation and are well worthy of careful consideration."

The General Conference of this past weekend was historic. A new member of the First Presidency was called and a new apostle.

Who was named as the new 2nd counselor in the First Presidency?

Yes, it was Henry B. Eyring.

And who was sustained as the newest apostle in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles?

And that would be Elder Quentin L. Cook. When we were interviewed to be a mission president couple by Elder Wirthlin, he was joined in the interview by Elder Quentin Cook.

As a family, what would be the best way to study the conference talks and make them the walk and talk of your lives (Harold B. Lee quote) for the next six months?

Now, let's identify what themes stood out to you as a result of this General Conference?

Many would say that there were two general themes - one on Saturday and a different them on Sunday. On Saturday, it was if the theme focused on missionary work. It was a primer for this mission and all other missions about what our message is to the world.
On Sunday, the theme was more personal and gave insights and direction on how to draw closer to the Spirit.

Can you list the the Members of the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles in order and give a sentence or two about what they said?

Possible Answers:

First Presidency

President Hinckley - spoke to the Priesthood Brethren about anger and counseled about how to be more loving and less reactionary. Also spoke Sunday about how the Lord is fulfilling his promise to man that the gospel will roll forth as the stone cut out of the mountain (Dan 2;31-45).

President Monson - remembered a non-member in his neighborhood he had comforted about the death of her soldier son and taught about the plan of salvation.

President Eyring - spoke about the importance of remembering something wonderful Heavenly Father has blessed you with every day and recording it in a journal

Quorum of Twelve

President Packer - taught about how no person is more important in Church leadership than another person

Elder Perry - spoke about raising the bar and gave counsel on how to prepare for a mission

Elder Nelson - spoke about scriptural witnesses of the restoration. He taught how the Book of Mormon compliments the Bible.

Elder Oaks - reminded us about setting priorities between good, better and best

Elder Ballard - gave the Church talking points for how we should answer questions about the Church

Elder Wirthlin - almost fell down and was steadied by Elder Nelson as he so eloquently spoke about the Great Commandment - to have charity for our fellowman.

Elder Scott - taught about how truth is the foundation of correct decisions and how important it is to have the Spirit as we make choices.

Elder Hales - spoke on the topic of personal revelation and the examples that have been set for us by modern and ancient prophets.

Elder Holland - gave the bold talk. His talk blasted those who say Mormons are not Christians and how only the Latter-day Saints and the members of Christ's Church when He lived on the earth had the truth.

Elder Uchtdorf - addressed the conference about why we have reason to rejoice. He spoke of the joy this religion brings to all.

Elder Bednar - chose the topic of clean hands and a pure heart and pointed out that it is possible to have clean hands but not a pure heart

Elder Cook - gave his first address as an apostle in teaching about living by faith and not by fear.