Sorta-liveblogging general conference: Sunday morning session

Back when i was growing up in the Washington DC area, the Sunday morning was the only one i ever got to see, and so i still think of it as the main session, when all the big-deal new stuff gets announced (even though that isn’t really the case anymore).

Anyway, it’s the same here as in the other ones: The speakers are chronologically bottom-up, comments within each speaker chronologically top-down. (Confusing, but it works.) So enjoy MoTab’s intensely purple look today and scroll down…

Henry B. Eyring of the first presidency

• We are to give thanks and love to God on the sabbath.
• If we are not grateful to God, we are in danger of God’s wrath.
• We have much to be grateful for on the sabbath—even, for those who are in a sacrament meeting, the fact that we are there at all, when there are others who cannot join with us, whether through illness or being in a position of protecting health and safety at that time.
• [I’ve mentioned before that i really do think that Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s early experiences as a refugee have been helpful for the church; it occurs to me that Henry B. Eyring’s formative experiences in the then-still-astonishingly-tiny church in the eastern United States are probably similarly helpful.]
• God has promised that all blessings are available to us—and those who receive them with gratefulness will have glory given them.
• We should find ways to be grateful; in particular, we should pray to find ways to be of service to those who need it, and we will find gratitude in that service.
• God and Jesus Christ know your name, just as they knew Joseph Smith’s name when they appeared to him.

Lynn G. Robbins of the presidency of the seventy

• Jesus Christ is the “righteous judge”—and he gave the counsel to be as he is in the context of judging righteously.
• Today’s common judges should respond with compassion and understanding, not with shame and condemnation—to do otherwise may unintentionally drive the lost sheep further into the wilderness.
• When we willfully sin, we imprison ourselves and are in need of keys of forgiveness for our release.
• Kindness is the power we have been given to soften hard hearts.
• There is only one way to judge righteous judgment, and that is to be as Jesus is. (And we need to be particularly aware of this when dealing with our own children.)

Dean M. Davies of the presiding bishopric

• “Worship is essential and central to our spiritual life.”
• Every day—especially on the sabbath day—we have the opportunity to worship.
• “True worship transforms us into true and earnest disciples” of Jesus Christ.
• It is impossible to love God while hating and dismissing those around us
• True worship leads inevitably to charity.

M. Russell Ballard of the quorum of apostles

• When many decided to “walk no more” with Jesus, he asked the apostles whether they would also leave, to which Peter responded, “Lord, to whom shall we go?”
• If we’re tempted to leave, we should ask ourselves, “To whom shall we go?” Where else could we find what we have in this church?
• Remember that the restoration isn’t an event, but an ongoing process.
• If you have doubts that won’t go away, you should be wary of making rash decisions—as you experience more of life, you learn that things like that actually generally work themselves out.
• Just as we should embrace new converts, we should embrace those who are struggling through their own doubts.
• “In the end we must believe, trust and hope.”

Linda S. Reeves of the relief society general presidency

• When we sin, Satan often tries to convince us that confessing will devastate others, and thus prevent us from repenting.
• Repentance isn’t condemnation—it means that we can become better.
• “Whatever the cost of repentance , it is swallowed up in the joy of forgiveness.”
• Whatever you may have done, you have not traveled beyond the reach of God’s love.
• The greatest miracles aren’t the parting of the Red Sea, or even the healing of the body—they are the healing of the soul that comes from true repentance.

Peter F. Meurs of the quorums of seventy

• “Participation in the sacrament ordinance provides an opportunity to more fully yield our hearts and souls to God.”
• Are we willing to actually live up to the covenants we make in the sacramental prayers?
• [Whoever selected the pictures for the broadcast of this address was totally on point.]
• We should prepare for the sacrament and sacrament meeting well before Sunday.

Russell M. Nelson president of the quorum of apostles

• As we face challenges from fear and corruption around us, how can we remain steadfast?
• Remember that Lehi faced many challenges and heartaches, but still taught that we exist such that we might have joy.
• Saints can (and should) be joyful under every circumstance
• Our joy has little to do with the circumstances of our lives, and more to do with the focus of our lives.
• Why do our missionaries preach the gospel? Not simply to increase the number of church members, but rather to increase joy.
• “Joy is powerful, and focusing on joy brings God’s power into our lives.”
• Joy is what allowed Jesus Christ to endure the atonement.

Thomas S. Monson president of the high priesthood

• It is not enough to just believe, but we also need to study and learn God’s laws, and follow them.
• We have a mandate to share God’s truth—and remember that God gives us no commandments that are not for our good.