Live-Blogging LDS General Conference - Sunday PM

In between sessions with kids home from college, we had Father's and Grandfather's Interviews. The latter were the highlight.

To a 4-year-old: "What happens when you grow up?"
"You die."
We talked about mission and marriage and all first.
Me: "What happens when you get married?"
"You have to kiss. My mom and dad have kissed."
"Do you want to have kids?"
"Yeah. Then you die."

And this from my 15-year-old when I asked what he thought about going on a mission at 18.
"If I could, I would go now."

Don't forget! You can watch the real thing live here. And later, official recordings and transcripts. My personal notes certainly should not serve as a substitute for the real thing!

Check the end of yesterday morning's session for my live-blog of the news conference with Elders Nelson and Holland on the change to the age to serve a Mission.

I'll keep updating.

President Eyring conducting.

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Faith in Jesus Christ. Through Him and the Father we can repent and obtain eternal life.
We can be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
Throughout the ages God's prophets have always testified of Jesus Christ.
The Savior & Father appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820 to begin the restoration of his church.
We know the Father and Son have glorified bodies of flesh and bones.
The Holy Ghost is a personage of Spirit.
Any doubt that we as Mormons are Christians?
Yet for every Christian the question remains, What kind of Christians are we?
Jesus walking by Sea saw two fishers, Peter and Andrew, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."
They left their nets and followed him.
Same call to us - also to forsake our sins
Whoso will come unto me let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Change of heart until we have no more disposition to do evil
If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness - humble before me - weak things become strong.
As we are made new in Christ our old natures change.
After the Crucifixion He appeared to the women and said the apostles would find them in Galilee.
Peter had gone back fishing. They fished all night. Jesus told them to let down the nets on the other side.
To Christians who have returned to their old ways, do not delay, come hear the Master's voice calling.
As they returned to shore, they found a feast.
Christ asked Peter three times "Do you love me." - feed my lambs, feed my sheep.
We feed his lambs in our homes we feed his sheep in the church - and throughout the world by being good Christian neighbors. visit widows, the fatherless, the poor.
It may seem overwhelming, but we do not feel afraid. The Savior will make us equal.
Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.
Share the gospel with neighbors. Rescue those who are lost. Mission. Temple. Serving child with special needs. Caring for a spouse. Answer his call by saying "I'll go where you want me to go ... I'll be who you want me to be"
Fear not. The Lord's first disciples were new to the church. He called them his friends. He laid down his life for them.
Christian love. The Savior valued all. He left the ninety and nine. Counts the hairs on the head.
Christian sacrifice. The Savior gave his time, his self, finally his life.
Christian caring. Like the Good Samaritan.
Christian service. Drawing water from a well, making a feast. washing the feet.
Christian suffering. Christ waited upon the Father and on us.
Christian peace. Through out his ministry - especially among his disciples.
Christian forgiveness. Bless those that curse us.
Christian conversion. Many recognize it as soon as they hear it.
These are some of the characteristics of those who heed the Savior's voice.
"Come follow me."

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve
The Lord revealed eternal truths to the prophet Joseph Smith.
Through proper priesthood authority, baptism could be performed on behalf of the dead.
Vicarious baptism can provide this opportunity for all who have died.
He made salvation available to every repentant soul.
The saints have the privilege of performing this ordinances on behalf of their dead, if not they will be cursed.
Elijah- plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers. Malachi 4:6
Every prophet since Joseph Smith have promoted these temple ordinances.
Temple and family history are two parts connected. Some may not be able to do both.
Pres. Hunter taught - we must accomplish temple work for our own salvation and then for others who did not have this opportunity.
First - Family history research
Second - performing temple opportunities.
Many have only limited access to temples. They can pursue the family history work. Some do temple work but fail to do family history work. they lose blessing by not seeking their own kindred dead. Those who do research and do work on their behalf receive both ends of the blessing.
He has led others to show us how to qualify - any temple work is time well spent - but it is more sacred and more blessings doing it for your own ancestors.
Seek out and identify our own ancestors - way to limit the influence of the adversary. Prepare the names for the temple. Then go to the temple and stand as proxy for baptism and gift of the Holy Ghost.
No greater protection from the influence of the adversary.
Russian Rostov mission youth doing indexing action and then challenged to do their own families.
One youth played a lot of internet games but had no more time - oh no, but he lost the desire.
Intent of reserving names is to allow members to do work for ancestors and collateral lines to get them done.
Ancestors who have been found are anxious and thrilled - but some delay in reserved names - they may not be happy with this. If you have large reservation, share them. Family and members. Distribute temple cards. Use family search to submit names directly to the Temple
Sister in Caspar, WY. only member of family in the church. Far to many names for her to complete so she submits them to Temple.
His wife loved doing family history work. She would trade babysitting to do the work. After youngest left home. She made a decision to make a bedroom the genealogy work room when her last left home.
(from her journal) miracle occurred when someone provided a pedigree from the ancestral file - mostly from the 4 generation work of past decades. Got them all in the computer for the first time. She was so thrilled she was stunned and began to cry.
He's excited about indexing.
He's tasted enough to understand the keys that Elijah restored permits our hearts to be bound to those ancestors waiting for our help.
In the past, individuals face challenges like harvesting all the grain in Nebraska. Now it's like mighty combines are at work. Spirit of Elijah touching the hearts of many in the world. Have you prayed about your own ancestors work? Decide to do something that will have eternal consequences. Can you see that you don't have to be a genealogist? Check around. There will be someone who can help you have success. This is a spiritual work a monumental cooperation on both sides of the veil. Anywhere in the world, you can make a powerful contribution. Begin now. The Lord will help you find a way and will make you fill wonderful.

Elder Russell Osguthorpe General Sunday School President.
New resources for teaching the youth now on line
Start using in January
Savior focused on needs of the learner - new resources will help us teach in the Lord's way
When the Savior taught he acted out of love for the one he was teaching.
We follow Him one step at a time.
Conversion is the goal of all gospel teaching. Not a one-time event. To know is not enough - need to do -Elder Oaks.
One goal - to help youth become converted to gospel of Jesus Christ.
When we teach we focus on scriptures and modern prophets.

Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Seventy
Family hike above Machu Pichu. Some have fallen off. But there's now a cable to hold on to.
Same in our life's climb
Faith in our Redeemer is the cable. All things fulfilled by faith. Not to have a perfect knowledge. hope for things not seen that are true. Faith brings us the power of the Lord. Hope of good things to come.
Story of Ann Rolley. Member of Willie Handcart Co. from England. her seven children literally starving. Ask God's help. Remembering two sea biscuits left over not enough to feed 8 people. Though of the loaves and fishes. Put them in Dutch oven and prayed. when opened full of food. She waited upon the Lord.
"Lead Kindly Light"
Challenges to Faith.
1) Unbelief causes us to resist the Spirit of God. Believe in God believe that He is believe that he created all. Faith and reason both necessary like two wings of an aircraft. Do not discard Faith anymore than you would detach a wing in flight. Seek learning by study and also by Faith. Faith precedes the miracle.
2) Fear distracts from our faith in the Savior. Peter on walking on the sea. don't focus on the waves and wind. Doubt not fear not.
3) Sin diminishes the presences of the Spirit in our life. Exercise faith unto repentance.
The Lord will fulfill his promises.

Elder Daniel J. Johnson of the Seventy
Baptized declared to be disciples of the Lord. Repeated with the Sacrament.
Story about losing fruit in Mexico and people up all night long went to the Colonia Juarez Temple anyway.
Making a covenant to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is a lifelong process.
"What manner of men ought ye to be? Even as I am." 3 Nephi 27:27
Abraham 3:25 We will prove them to see if they will do all the Lord commands them.

Elder Don R. Clarke of the Seventy
Grew up in Rexburg, Idaho. Good teachers. One teacher asked to write down on a card what they thought about during the Sacrament. He did this every week and thinking about the Savior's atonement was changing him. Always on his list now, first of all, is the Savior of mankind.
This cup is the blood which I have shed for you.
Sacrament meeting is the most important in the church.
1) Have a feeling of gratitude for the atonement.
2) Remember we are renewing our baptismal covenants. - become his people bear one another's burdens. Stand as witness to God. Mosiah 18:8
3) Feel forgiven of our sins. If we have repented, we can leave the meeting feeling clean and pure.
4) Receive inspiration for the solution to our problems. Study it out in your mind and ask if it is right.
5) Partaking worthily will fill us with the Holy Ghost.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve
Receiving a testimony and conversion.
We can learn much from
Whom say ye that I am?  Christ the son of the living God. father revealed it
Testimony is spiritual knowledge obtained from God - by exercising faith.
Requires asking seeking and knocking.
As the Savior taught at the last supper "Satan hath desired to sift yea as wheat" "When thou are converted, strengthen thy brethren" Peter still needed more than testimony.
True conversion brings a change in one's beliefs, heart and life
It is an enlarging of the undergirding base of testimony.
any honest seeker of truth can become convert through ordinance and faithfulness
Press forward with steadfastness of Christ
Conversion is an offering of self, love, and loyalty.
Amaleki Come unto Christ the Holy One of Israel - offer your whole souls as an offering.
Requires all of our heart, mind, might, and strength.
Spirit of Lord omnipotent hath exercised a mighty change in our hearts.
Book of Helaman "in the path of their duty" "walk circumspectly before God."
Key characteristics. Mighty change in hearts, desire to do good, faithful, commandments, service to others.
Our motives, our thoughts, deeds become in line with God.
Samuel the Lamanite
1) Believing in the holy prophets
2) faith in Christ
3) repentance
4) mighty change of heart
5) firm and steadfast in the faith.
Testimony alone will not be enough. some have left with testimony
Missionary labors of sons of Mosiah
"As many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth - converted - never did fall away - lay down weapons of their rebellion - did not fight against God anymore"
Powerful combination of both testimony and conversion. They never did fall away.
To set aside cherished weapons pride, selfishness, etc.
We need to repent, now.
Lamanites not converted to missionaries or leaders or culture but to the Savior and his doctrine. Continuing conversion is constant devotion to revealed truth. Knowing gospel is true is the essence of testimony. Consistently being true is conversion.
Parable of 10 Virgin. Think of the lamps as the lamps of testimony - the oil is conversion. Lamps of testimony have gone out give us of the oil of conversion. Oil of conversion cannot be borrowed.
Each of us must buy for ourselves - individual responsibility to keep our lamp of testimony burning. Line upon line, patiently and persistently. Be faithful praying always. Lamps trimmed and burning and oil with you.

[He has the amazing ability to take a known gospel principle or story and give it new life on the most basic and essential principles.]

President Thomas S. Monson
Close of another inspiring conference. Spiritually fed and lifted. Gratitude to all who have participated.
As we take messages into our hearts and lives - we will be blessed. Proceedings will be available in Ensign and Liahona magazines. He has gained more when he has studied them. The conference has reached across oceans and continents. Gratitude to those released. Just celebrated 85th birthday. very grateful. He has felt His hand guiding his efforts. Grateful for counselors. Willing and exceptionally able. Gratitude for the Twelve. They work tirelessly in the cause of the Master. Commends brothers and sisters throughout the world as they willingly fulfill callings building the Kingdom of God. Let's not be critical or judgmental - follow Savior's example of loving kindness. Pray for inspiration to know needs of those around us. Be of good cheer. Although we live in increasingly perilous times - the Lord loves us and is always on our side. Problems. The purpose of mortality is to learn to grow be like our Father. It is in the difficult times that we grow the most. our lives will be filled with joy "be of good cheer for I have overcome the world." He lived and died for us. May we emulate his example. Live lives that will qualify us to return and live with Him. Thanks for prayers on his behalf. The GAs pray for us.