Sorta-liveblogging general conference: Sunday morning session

Sunday morning. Anyone out there remember back when you pretty much got to watch one session and it was generally this one? (Whether because you only got one session broadcast in your area, or because you got the videotapes delivered to you and you spent one Sunday at church watching one session? Anyone? Anyone? No, i’m just old? Okay, then.) Anyway, continuing the pattern of the rest of these, the speakers are listed in reverse chronological order, which means that if you read directly after this paragraph without scrolling to the bottom of the entry first, you’ll be reading the end of it and going backward.

Henry B. Eyring (of the first presidency)

• The sacramental prayers promise that we will always have the Spirit with us.
• We need the Spirit to discern truth, and to make what is good and true more compelling.
• Having the Spirit with us can spare us moments of doubt.
• “When you demonstrate your willingness to obey, the Spirit will send you more impressions of what God would have you do.”
• A description of some of the experiences of his father as evidence that it isn’t the callings someone has that determine one’s access to revelation, or how spiritual someone claims to be, but how close they remain to the Spirit and follow its promptings.
• The Spirit can offer us the purification that leads to eternal life, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

Claudio R. M. Costa (of the presidency of seventy)

• [Why aren’t any of the non-native English speakers speaking in their native languages at this conference? Were there issues when they did it before?]
• By keeping the Sabbath day holy, we strengthen ourselves and protect our families.
• An extended discussion of his meditation on the wording of the sacramental prayers. [Lots of content there, probably easier to follow in the written record.]
• The sacrament is a time to ponder on the atonement, and to receive revelation and knowledge.

Gregory A Schwitzer (of the quorums of seventy)

• “One man or woman who is willing to testify when the world is going in the opposite direction can make a difference.”
• True disciples desire to inspire, not just to impress.
• [He said that attacks on the gospel from the great and spacious building have qualitatively changed recently. I wonder, though—is this actually the case? I mean, a lot of what’s going on now sounds a lot like what was going on in, say, 1870, if you read it and the church’s responses. But maybe that's just me.]

Russell M. Nelson (president of the quorum of apostles)

• Starting out with a tribute to the member of the quorum of apostles who died over the preceding three months.
• Transition to a tribute to the wives of those apostles.
• Spencer W. Kimball offered a prophecy [i’ve noticed that general authorities don’t throw that word around lightly, by the way] in 1979 that the future growth of the church would come from the women of the church being “distinct and different in happy ways” from other women.
• We need women in this church who are devoted, who keep covenants, who are administrators, who can teach fearlessly, who know how to receive revelation and call upon the powers of heaven (among lots of other things).
• Whatever their callings or stations, we need the input and inspiration of the women of the church on our councils and in our families.
• [The need for women to have an equal voice in church and family councils is something Russell M. Nelson has talked about a lot the last few years, not just in general conferences but in leadership trainings and such. He really appears to have no patience with men who don’t listen to what women have to say.]
• A promise to women that as they contribute to church and family councils, God will magnify their contributions.

Dale G. Renlund (of the quorum of apostles)

• The calling as an apostle—or, in fact, any calling in the church—isn’t about what the person being called has done, but rather about what needs to be accomplished through that person.
• We can receive the pure love of Jesus Christ only when we see through Heavenly Father’s eyes.

Gary E. Stevenson (of the quorum of apostles)

• Some discussion of feelings of inadequacy upon being called as an apostle, and the need to find his “anchor” in the gospel of Jesus Christ with his wife.
• [He’s young enough to have a child who’s currently a full-time missionary? Yeah, it’s his youngest, but still.]

Ronald A. Rasband (of the quorum of apostles)

• The one message to leave with everyone today: “The Lord has said, ‘Love one another as i have loved you.’”
• There is no choice or sin that can place us beyond the love of God.

Thomas S. Monson (president of the high priesthood)

• You are to be an example of the believers; to do this you must be a believer.
• As we follow the teachings of Jesus, our light will shine forth.
• Speak to others with love and respect—both in terms of avoiding profanity and taking the name of God in vain, and not using language in ways designed to wound and offend.
• We need to possess and nourish our belief and faith, so that we can remain solidly anchored and influence all around us.
• We should be willing to be different.
• At times our challenges may be overwhelming and our light may dim, but with help from our Heavenly Father and those around us we can regain the light we had before.