Sorta-liveblogging general conference: Sunday morning session

Sunday morning! Historically, the “big leagues” session, because if people away from the Mormon Dominance Area only heard/saw one session, it was this one. Not so much anymore, though—but it still has sort of an aura, you know?

But yeah, 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.

Russell M. Nelson, president of the high priesthood

• Even in the face of tragedy (specifically: the death of his daughter), there is the knowledge that the work continues, and the faithful are helping it progress.
• When approaching the end of our mortal lives, we will be brought face to face with the question: Where is my family?
• Salvation is an individual matter, but exaltation is a family matter.
• The great tragedy is that many people—even good people!—reject the invitation to make covenants with God and have the opportunity to be reunited with their families and have the blessing of neverending joy and happiness as they progress forever.
• Figure out where you are, and start there—if you don’t know if you even believe in God, start there and seek for experiences with God.

Tad R. Callister, recently released as general president of the Sunday school

• How can the savior satisfy justice when healing us of our sins?
• Consider skydivers, who jump from airplanes and are subject to the law of gravity—but can land safely because they have parachutes that work within the law of gravity to permit a safe landing.
• When people refuse to forgive themselves, they are converting an infinite atonement into a finite one.
• How does Jesus succor us in our afflictions? Sometimes by removing them—but also by comforting us in them, or giving us an eternal perspective.
• Ultimately, even our weaknesses can become perfections.

D. Todd Christofferson, of the quorum of apostles

• After the second coming, there will be no evil or pain—even the pain of death will be done away.
• So let us do all we can to relieve suffering now, and let us do all we can to prepare for the day in which all suffering will end.
• We must prepare ourselves as a people for the great day of the Lord—both to increase righteousness on the earth, and to gather together as a refuge against the day of wrath.
• We must take part in the gathering—we must share the gospel to all around us.
• The Lord labors with us when we share the gospel—or, more accurately, the Lord permits us to join in the work.

Quentin L. Cook, of the quorum of apostles

• We need to make invitations to learn more of our faith lovingly.
• The new Sunday meeting schedule provides opportunities to make invitations to gather with us.
• Men and women have different stewardships, but they are equal in importance, and they have equal power to receive revelation for their families.

Sharon L. Eubank, of the general presidency of the relief society

• Life can be difficult and exhausting—but Jesus promises us that if we come to him, we will be given rest.
• Recall that Jesus reached out to those who weren’t traditionally accepted in society.
• Assurance comes in ways that aren’t always easy to analyze, but it gives us light in our darkness.
• Even if our sins are scarlet—even if they’re dyed in the wool scarlet, and can never by rational means be removed—Christ is wool made white.
• No matter how hard it tries, the darkness can never put out the light that is Christ.

Dale G. Renlund

• How do we obtain blessings from God? Are they completely earned by our own activity, or are they completely unearned?
• For an analogy, consider a bonfire all set to go, which must be ignited by something small like a match (and that match has to be applied to the kindling), and it needs oxygen to continue burning.
• Similarly, the receipt of blessings—usually—requires an act of faith on our part, which is small (like the match) in comparison to the blessings (the potential energy contained in the wood).
• Our acts of faith, while small in comparison to the blessings, are not small—consider that a match can be seen in the dark for miles.
• Some blessings are contingent only on something as small as asking, but other times they require something more.
• To continue receiving blessings, we need to keep moving forward (which can take a number of different forms, even including being still, knowing that God is God, and being patient).