So, as i always do for these, a formatting explanation to start out: So that these notes can be read in a single swoop in reverse chronological order, the top entry of notes in this post is the last speaker; the first speaker is at the bottom of the post. This is so that when the next session is posted, reading upwards goes smoothly from the end of this session (at the top of this post) to the beginning of the next (at the bottom of the next post), and so on through the entire weekend.
Under each speaker, though, the notes go in chronological order from the top down—i tried doing everything bottom-up one time, and it was painful to read. So it might work best, i suppose, if you consider each speaker to be a single discrete entry, a sort of mini-post of its own.
And with that, let’s begin!
Dallin H. Oaks, of the quorum of the first presidency
- When we search for truth, we should use methods of searching out the truth that are appropriate to that truth.
- Spiritual and religious truths cannot be learned by scientific and secular methods.
- We’re a family-centered church, but that isn’t just families in mortality—our focus is on families being sealed together for the eternities.
- Why do we focus so much on missionary work, but simultaneously offer humanitarian aid without connecting it to our missionary work? Both are because we view everyone as children of the same God, and worthy of our attention and care.
- [Honestly, this wasn’t anything new. At all. But i’m calling it right now, next Sunday a half dozen of the archconservatives in my ward will quote it as if it was.]
David A. Bednar, of the quorum of apostles
- Sunday meetings have not simply been shortened—we’ve been given opportunities to improve Sabbath observance.
- Administrative changes in the church aren’t simply administrative changes—they’re part of a unified effort to align the church with its fundamental mission of assisting in God’s work.
- We shouldn’t constrain ourselves by coming up with extensive checklists to measure our adherence to commandments and principles, rather than actually coming closer to God.
- [He said, “Let me provide both a doctrinal, and a church example” of what i’m talking about. I’m not entirely certain what he meant by that.]
- All of the basics of the gospel combine together into one great program to move the church and its mission forward—they aren’t just independent and discrete initiatives.
- Church programs and initiatives exist to help individuals and families, not as ends in themselves.
Ronald A. Rasband, of the quorum of apostles
- Is it actually good to bring children into a fallen world? Yes, it is.
- Fear is not new, and we have fears. This is normal.
- “Prayer can call down the strength and the revelation that we need to center our thoughts on Jesus Christ” and banish fear.
- Scripture says that when things seem terribly dark, we shouldn’t be troubled because God’s promises will be fulfilled.
- Remember we are promised the peace of God which passeth all understanding.
- [Does anybody else who used to watch Law & Order back in the day every once in a while look at Ronald A. Rasband and think they're looking at politician-turned-actor Fred Thompson? No? Okay, i'll just wander off back to my own corner…]
- When we stand with God, we are standing on holy ground.
An interlude…
- And amidst all this, i get a text from one of my sisters, reminding me of the joke prediction (made by my net.friend Craig Olson decades ago) that two-hour church would be announced in general conference, with time set aside afterward for the church’s nursery workers to give the Hosanna Shout. Her statement: “Yeah. I might have been overly excited about 50-minute nursery.”
Steven R. Bangerter, of the quorums of seventy
- Jesus Christ is the cornerstone and foundation of Zion.
- Parents should lead in teaching their children the importance of the gospel.
- Family traditions can be subtle, but important.
- Simple, wholesome family traditions lead to respect and unity and security, and protection from Satan’s power.
- It’s not so much an issue of whether children understand everything when we have gospel-inspired family activities and discussions, but rather whether we are leading in our families as we should and teaching as we should.
M. Joseph Brough, of the general presidency of the young men
- Alaska (mis)adventure story!
- Sometimes our challenges are caused by our own choices, and sometimes by the choices of others.
- Neal A. Maxwell faced leukemia, and struggled—but learned that it was ultimately a blessing, because it let him teach authenticity. [Yeah, i do miss his powerful propensity for dense diction and amazing alliteration.]
- We can, however, overcome all hard things through Jesus Christ.
Quentin L. Cook, of the quorum of apostles
- New Sunday meeting schedule: 60-minute sacrament meeting, 10-minute transition, 50-minute adult/youth/primary class (which will follow an alternating schedule Sunday to Sunday, except Primary is every week).
- [I’ve been hoping for 2-hour church meetings for literally (i mean, literally literally) years. As someone who grew up with a long ride to and from church, it’s a big deal, y’all.]
- [Wow, meetinghouse usage patterns are going to change in a big way, aren’t they?]
- Explicit statement that family home evenings don’t need to be held on Mondays, though that day will still be held free from church activities.
- The church’s curriculum has emphasized the Sunday church experience, but now that’s shifting to focusing on the home (and personal) religious experience.
- Each family should choose prayerfully how and when it will be implemented—including the possibility of gathering in informal groups, if they desire.
- No opening prayers needed in the second hour meeting.
- More wards should meet earlier in the day. [So the Mormon Cult of the Early Riser is still a thing, i see. <exhaustion />]
- [Curious whether there’s a co-occurring reduction of stake and ward leadership meetings, or if those are going to get heavier as a result of this.]
Russell M. Nelson, president of the high priesthood
- Praise for the youth of the church.
- How can we take the gospel and its ordinances to all of God’s children? To do this, we need to adjust from thinking of home supporting the learning in church to church supporting the learning in the home.
- So now there’s a home-centered churchwide curriculum [as previously announced, i’ll note].
- Parents have the responsibility to teach their children, and it is the responsibility of the church to support that.
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