Sorta-liveblogging general conference: Saturday morning session

So if you’re here, you probably already know the way these notes are laid out, because Google doesn’t give much weight in its search results to blogs that are only updated twice a year.

But in case you’re new to this, welcome! You should know that—because blogs read in reverse chronological order, these posts are also in reverse chronological order. That is, the first speaker of this session is at the bottom of the post, then the second speaker is above that, and so on to the final speaker of the session, which immediately follows this introduction. Then the next session’s summary will appear above this post, so you can continue to read upwards in chronological order, since the bottom entry in that post will be the first speaker of that session.

Henry B. Eyring, of the first presidency

• Keeping harmony/a lack of contention in our families can be difficult—but we need to strive for it.
• We should hope to live as the people in 4 Nephi, with their lack of contention—but remember that that book of scripture then offers a story of the decline of a good people. So how did that happen?
• Pride crept in and they divided themselves up into classes, they declined in their faith, they began to hate, and they fell into sin—basically, they gave in to the influence of Satan trying to lead good people astray.
• The key is that they began to decline in their faith in Jesus Christ—we need to help our families feel that faith, leading to humility and love.
• Faith in Jesus Christ is more likely to bring repentance than any preaching on symptoms of its lack.
• To help your family grow in faith, you must grow in faith yourself—it may not take root immediately, but it may later.
• Praying as a family can play a crucial part of making home a sacred place—when a prayer is truly to God, faith grows among everyone present, and even beyond.
• In the celestial kingdom, our family arrangements will be more wonderful than we can imagine.

W. Christopher Waddell, of the presiding bishopric

• We must minister to individuals as individuals as Jesus would.
• A minister is more than a friend.
• Don’t give up—people change, and no one is too far gone to merit our efforts.
• Jesus knew of people’s daily needs, and helped them with that—but also desired that they reach their divine potential, nd helped them with that.
• Minister by giving what you are capable of giving, and trust in the Lord to magnify that.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of the quorum of apostles

• We should not get too self-congratulatory about the progress of the gospel—wherever we live, there are people who don’t know the truth, giving us opportunities (and the responsibility) to share the good word.
• We have been told “every member a missionary” for years, but not everyone does it equally well. That’s okay, though—the Lord doesn’t want perfection in our missionary efforts, but rather our whole heart, and so that is what we should offer.
• Five simple “guilt free” (his words) things to do that will lead to better personal missionary efforts: Draw close to God, fill your heart with love for others, strive to walk the path of discipleship, share what is in your heart, and trust the Lord to work miracles.
• As we walk the path of discipleship, talking about the gospel with others will become natural.
• Don’t just pray that the missionaries will find the elect, but pray that you will find them. (And then when you do, keep the full-time missionaries in the loop.)
• It is not your job to convert people—and not succeeding in that isn’t a personal failure. Your job is to love God and love your neighbors—it is the Holy Ghost who works miracles of conversion.

Brook P. Hales, of the quorums of seventy

• Our Heavenly Father has perfect love for us, and so offers blessings to us based not only on our desires, but also on divine wisdom.
• God knows not just what our needs are, but what our needs will be.
• Sometimes our needs are fulfilled in ways that feel like our prayers have not been answered, but that actually result in our needs being fulfilled in a better way (cf. Joseph being sold into slavery).
• When misfortunes happen, God is still with us and is aware of us.

Becky Craven, of the general presidency of the young women

• Happiness doesn’t come from acquisition of cheap material things, but rather from living the gospel.
• “There is not a right way to do the wrong thing.”
• We should not change our standards to match the ways of the surrounding world.
• We need inspiration to know what changes we need to make to align our behavior with our covenants.
• Do not, though, use your personal journey in the gospel as grounds to criticize others for theirs.

Ulisses Soares, of the quorum of apostles

• We have a mandate to both learn and teach the gospel.
• At various times we need a teacher to strengthen us, and at others we need to strengthen others.
• Our object should be to strengthen faith and conversion.
• As we do this we will be strengthened ourselves.
• Being godly requires calling on God.
• Those we care for who are “lost” are not actually lost—God, after all, knows where they are.
• Be the friends of and rejoice with those who choose different paths than we would like. Do not cut them off, but love them.