Here are brief first impressions of talks from the first day of General Conference, to be updated throughout the day.

Saturday Morning Session

President Hinckley: The Church continues to grow in strength and influence abroad—and at home, including an expensive development project (not financed by tithing funds) to revitalize the area around temple square.

Elder D. Oaks: Many are heavy-laden with all manner of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual burdens. Come unto the Savior, who will give rest by healing these afflictions or giving strength to endure, according to his will. Special application made to pornography addiction and same-gender attraction.

Elder Winkel: The temple is about families. Providing after-hours togetherness opportunities for even the busiest of families, all-night bowling alleys are the bomb.

Elder Pieper: First-generation members: you are half the membership of the Church. With few friends or family members who understand you, you do not have an easy time; but generations past, present, and future will be blessed through you.

Elder Baxter: Three lessons: (1) Faith is a gift from heaven, but can be sought and nurtured through righteous desire, belief, and obedience. (2) Serving others lightens our own burderns. (3) Discipleship does not ensure freedom from the storms of life, during which we must not be blown off course.

Elder R. Oaks: Patience is a core Christian virtue. For instance, of thirteen elements of charity listed by Paul, four of them relate to patience.

Elder Ballard: “O be wise. What can I say more?” Some spend too much time on Church service to the detriment of eternal family relationships and employment performance, or focus too much on programs instead of people.

President Faust: Disciples are disciplined. The price of obedience—or even of giving one’s life, or submitting to flesh-eating acid—is much less than the promised blessings.

The closing hymn sounded like vintage Wilberg. Brings back fond memories of Men’s Chorus…

Saturday Afternoon Session

The opening prayer referred to Jesus as “our Elder Brother.” I guess he wasn’t persuaded by the negative spin on this term in the latest issue of BYU Studies…

Elder Hales: How important are the scriptures? Civilizations perish without them; they contain the solution to modern genocides.

Elder Wirthlin: Recollections of family, including his recently deceased wife. In his sorrow he ponders eternal things, especially the resurrection—the core of Christian belief, without which faith is meaningless.

Sister Dalton: Live a worthy and pure life to fulfill your life’s mission. The Holy Ghost and a right to call on God for immediate blessings comes through worthiness.

During “High on the Mountain Top,” I can hear my dad’s voice saying ‘Grandpa Beesley wrote this song,’ as if we hadn’t already been informed of this about 100,000 times.

Elder Bowen: Even your landfill of a life can be reclaimed!

Elder Johnson: The law of tithing is the key given us to receive blessings that the Lord knew we would need to overcome the adversities he knew would come.

Elder Uchtdorf: Everyone has the responsibility to gain a certainty, through the Spirit and not logic or sterile facts, that Jesus is the resurrected Lord. This comes through desire, study of the word of God, and keeping the commandments—and not through scholarly debate.

Elder Scott: Don’t be foolish like this guy. Use the ropes and carabiners the gospel provides. Let the Savior belay you.

Priesthood Session

Elder Eyring: The strength of a priesthood quorum comes from how united its members are in righteousness. This unity comes from the quorum members’ hearts being changed through the atonement in response to the preaching of faith and repentance, and the service they render together.

Elder Christofferson: Arise from the dust of self-indulgence and be men. Our manhood is largely defined in terms of our proper relationships with women, taking on the responsibilities outlined in the proclamation on the family. The true man sacrifices and denies himself pleasure; he gives much, but receives more.

Elder Nash: Young men, as a child of God you have a spiritual nature which needs the gospel like a fish needs water. Don’t be deceived into nibbling at Satan’s shiny lures; he will set the hook and pull you out of the water.

Elder Ellis: The priesthood is the power and authority to do what the Lord would do if he were here: perform ordinances, administer the Church, and bless and heal. Like granting a power of attorney, it involves great trust on the Lord’s part, that it will be used with righteousness and charity as described in D&C 121—sometimes on a moment’s notice.

President Faust: The human spirit needs nourishment. The scriptures become a spiritual nutrient only when their principles are lived. Another nutrient is selfless service, including feeding the poor and serving missions. Spiritual nutrients lose potency when we are unworthy; beware inappropriate entertainment.

President Monson: Fear God and keep his commandments; this is the whole duty of man. Much is expected. Learn and worthily do your priesthood duties, illustrated as always with trademark stories and personal experiences. The king’s emerald is found while doing one’s lowly assigned duty…

President Hinckley: He was inspired by seeing the BYU Men’s Chorus singing “Rise Up O Men of God” on television. Rise above pornography, abuse, sloppy dress, and profane language. He is greatly concerned that the fraction of men relative to women who graduate from high schools and college is decreasing. Do you wish to marry a girl whose education is far superior to your own? Your education will improve your service in the Church. A letter about pornography addiction. Turn off cable channels and use self-discipline with computers. Each of us needs to improve our lives.

The closing hymn was a Wilberg arrangement of “Lead Kindly Light” we sung during my time in Men’s Chorus at BYU. It has been one of my favorite hymns since.

Permanent link Comments feed (this post only)