Sorta-liveblogging general conference: Sunday afternoon session

So like i said in the intro to the Saturday morning session, it’s time to retire these sets of notes. (I’d planned to a bit ago, but decided to keep them going during the pandemic.) I’m not sure if i’m ever going to add anything else to this blog—time will tell.

So, as always, this post is done in reverse chronological order, with the first speaker at the bottom, the next speaker above that, and so one, “ending” with my final thoughts on this conference placed immediately below this intro, just above the concluding speaker. It’s semi-confusing, but it means that you can review the entire conference weekend by scrolling to the end of the first session and reading upwards from there.

Closing thoughts

• Okay, not gonna lie, i was surprised by that many temples being announced—i figured the pandemic would pause things.
• Lots—lots—of “teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves” this session, wasn’t there?
• My favorite address of the conference? Sister Aburto in the Sunday morning session. However, Elder Gong had the best individual lines, so he gets a medal, too.

Russell M. Nelson, president of the high priesthood

• [Starting with an overview of the path by which the temples are returning to full operation as the pandemic lessens.]
• The church will follow local government’s covid-related restrictions in our timetables for reopening temples.
• Twenty(!) more temples: Oslo, Norway; Brussels, Belgium; Vienna, Austria; Kumasi, Ghana; Beira, Mozambique; Cape Town, South Africa; Singapore; Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Cali, Colombia; Querétaro, Mexico; Torreón, Mexico; Helena, Montana; Casper, Wyoming; Grand Junction, Colorado; Farmington, New Mexico; Burley, Idaho; Eugene, Oregon; Elko, Nevada; Yorba Linda, California; Smithfield, Utah.

David A. Bednar, of the quorum of apostles

• [You’re the only thing standing between us and the sitting prophet? No pressure, dude!]
• We are supposed to be taught from and teaching the scriptures, which contain the fulness of the gospel.
• Gospel principles comes from the doctrine of the gospel.
• We aren’t provided with a long list of detailed rules, because our circumstances differ—but we are given principles and asked to understand them such that we can implement them properly for ourselves.
• If you know and understand the principle of being willing to let God prevail, all sorts of other things follow naturally.

Alan R. Walker, of the quorums of seventy, pre-recorded

• The ordinances of salvation are now available throughout the earth, and this is evidence of the power of God.
• As we make the temple pivotal in our lives, God is building a covenant people.

D. Todd Christofferson, of the quorum of apostles

• The covenant path extends beyond mortality.
• Too often, our mistakes are what tennis calls “unforced errors”. If we stay on the covenant path, we naturally sidestep those.
• [Joy as he name-checks J. Golden Kimball.]
• Faith is a commitment, not just good intentions.
• Salvation is an individual process, and involves attention to the individual (even if that isn’t particularly “efficient”).
• Those who stay loyal to their covenants are made perfect through Jesus Christ.

Timothy J. Dyches, of the quorums of seventy

• We came from the light of heaven to a darkened earth—but God didn’t leave us without light, granting the light of Christ to all who come into the world.
• The light of Christ prepares us to receive the ministration of the Holy Ghost. [I don't like the usual contrast between the light of Christ and the gift of the Holy Ghost as temporary vs. permanent. He's drawing connections that make a lot more sense to me.]
• If we’re in darkness, we can still “pull aside the curtain of darkness” and return to God through repentance—"you are never beyond the healing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ”.

Ronald A. Rasband, of the quorum of apostles

• Miracles are expressions of God’s limitless power, and verify that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
• [The 13-year-old: “So God and Jesus Christ are canonically beautiful?” Me: “Yep.” Her: “Well, i guess that’s useful if you’re trying to get people to like you.”]
• Miracles come from faith—as Moroni pointed out, God can do no miracles if the people have no faith.
• But remember: We are beloved of the Lord whether we have faith or not.
• Peace amidst tumult is a miracle.
• That we can achieve a place in the kingdom of heaven is a miracle extended to all of us.

Dallin H. Oaks, of the quorum of the first presidency

• Speaking today on the United States Constitution—not for a political purpose, or in alliance with any political position, but because it is important for this church.
• [The snarky side of my brain thinks: That international focus this morning? Yeah, just kidding, y’all!]
• We don’t believe that the Constitution isn’t inspired in its details, but rather overall.
• [My 13-year-old: “Dallin H. Oaks has been taking my social studies class.”]
• We should vote based on righteous principles, not things such as party affiliation.
• We should never judge other church members based on politics—as a church “we teach correct principles and leave it to our members to choose”.