Sorta-liveblogging general conference: Saturday afternoon session

As with the rest of these entries, the first speaker is at the bottom of the post, and then you can read up to follow chronologically.

Jeffrey R. Holland. of the quorum of apostles

• John the Baptist could have chosen any of a number of titles to greet Jesus, but chose the image of a sacrificial lamb.
• In advance of his sacrifice, Jesus introduced the ordinance of the sacrament as a more personal process than the killing of a lamb as a sacrifice.
• Even with the increased emphasis on gospel learning in the home, we are commanded to worship together, where our meetings have been restructured to more fully showcase the ordinance of the sacrament.
• A (very gentle, and even jovial) recommendation to come to sacrament meetings on time, and even early.
• It is good to visit, but remember that our chapels are supposed to be places of peace and worship—we oughtn’t be quite as loud as we often are. (Also, he notes, do we really need all the announcements we make before and during sacrament meetings?)
• When we attend our sacrament meetings, we need to keep in mind the suffering people around us—and there is enough that we can find it in whichever direction we look—and join the Great Physician in lifting their burdens and easing their pain.

David P. Homer, of the quorums of seventy

• At critical moments in our lives, we will hear multiple voices competing for our attention, and it is vital that we listen to the right ones.
• The Holy Ghost speaks to us in different ways at different times, and speaks differently to different people, and so it is a lifelong quest to learn to recognize those impressions.
• Answers are sometimes slow to come—and this can be because it isn’t time, or because an answer isn’t needed, or because God trusts us to do what’s right.
• If we’re living according to the commandments, we can move forward in faith, trusting that God won’t let us go too far in the wrong direction without warning us.

Takashi Wada, of the quorums of seventy

• Feasting on the word of God should bring us real joy and improve our relationship with the savior.
• How is this done? To begin with, the word leads us to be more likely to do good.
• As we (or are friends) feast on the words of Christ, our eyes will be opened (just as the disciples from the road to Emmaus had their eyes opened).

Neil L. Andersen, of the quorum of apostles

• There are, despite what some claim, absolute truths.
• There have always been counterfeits to distract us from the truths of authority.
• Spiritual truths can only be discerned by spiritual means.
• The proclamation on the family merits study, and recognition of the spiritual truths it contains.
• No matter whether any given individual understands your situation [he made this first-person, in fact—saying that he well might not understand], Jesus does.

Mathias Held, of the quorums of seventy

• An description of how he and his wife joined the church.
• So, what did they learn from that? That God will give us knowledge, and that we learn spiritual things through methods beyond our simple reason.

M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the quorum of apostles

• We can find peace, joy, and happiness despite the troubles that swirl around us.
• All that God asks of us is to do the best we can every day.
• There have been a lot of adjustments in the church over the past year and a half, but we have to be careful not to let the spiritual purposes underlying them get lost in the excitement about the adjustments themselves.
• Loving God and loving our neighbor is the foundation of all of the recent adjustments that have been made.
• Joy, rejoicing, cheerfulness, and such are all used in scriptures about the sabbath—sabbath day worship should bring a smile to our face.
• Keep your worship simple—don’t overcomplicate things.

Kevin R. Jergensen, of the church auditing department (annual financial report)

• Entirely serious question, and asked from a faithful point of view: Why do we even do this auditing “report” each year?

Dallin H. Oaks, of the first presidency (sustaining of church officers and authorities)

• I (and my 11-year-old daughter) will miss Tad R. Callister (who's been General Sunday School President)—the man gives a good speech.
• This is a long list of new area authorities.