Here are some highlights of General Conference. I was unable to take notes in every session.
Elder Bednar (Priesthood session)
- The most distinguishing feature of the church is the divine authority of the priesthood. (David O. McKay)
- There can be no true church without the proper authority.
- We are agents to act as priesthood holders and not to be acted upon. It is our obligation to be actively and anxiously engaged in God’s kingdom.
- We violate our priesthood covenant when we do nothing. It is the same as not being worthy.
- Priesthood holders need both AUTHORITY and POWER. (On 1 October 2011, Keith McMullin said: The distribution of priesthood authority has outpaced the distribution of power. Power is found in obedience and in getting the spirit.)
- Ordination confers authority. Righteousness exercises power.
Bishop Edgley (Priesthood session)
It’s not easy for a less active member to come back to church. There is great fear that the return to Christ’s fold will transpire much like their life of sin, isolated. When a person sins, they isolate themselves from God, from the Spirit, and from the Saints. Upon acquiring a desire to return, it is daunting to the repentant sinner to walk into a church meeting having been separated for so long.
(rph) Socialization is part of the gospel and socializing is paramount to the acquiring of a testimony.
President Uchtdorf (Priesthood session)
- Importance of teaching the WHAT. It is more important to learn the WHY.
- What: informs
- Why: transforms
- (rph) How: empowers. It’s all about execution.
President Eyring (Priesthood session)
Advice to husbands. Four points to consider.
- Gain and keep a sure witness of the gospel’s truth and the role of the priesthood.
- Love your wife and put her interests above your own. Your love for her will grow.
- Enlist the entire family to love each other. The mother does ‘love’ best, but other children can add greatly to it. When they serve each other, there is greater love.
- Discipline (children) the Lord’s way.
- DC 121:36-43 paraphrased…when we punish because we think we are right and do so out of pride, ambition, or to exercise control over another person, to dominate or use compulsion [manipulation or coercion] the Spirit of the Lord is removed.
- When men receive a little power [positional] they often let it go to their heads and act out of harmony with their position. The power and authority of any position is conducted by righteousness, teaching (original etymology of the word persuasion) and long suffering.
- Reproving on occasion and in season with great clarity when you have the Spirit of God with you and not when you are angry, and when completed, show an increase of love.
President Monson (Priesthood session)
Priesthood power works best when selfless service replaces selflish striving.
President Uchtdorf (Sunday morning session)
- The moment we pass judgment against others, we condemn ourselves.
- The most difficult person to forgive is ourselves.
- (Bumper sticker) Don’t judge me because I sin differently than you.
- Forgiveness requires a change of heart.
- The purpose of mortality is to let go of our grievances.
