Sunday morning session: Summaries from Latter-day Saint general conference 

President Dallin H. Oaks — Divine helps for mortality

President Dallin H. Oaks, the first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke about God’s plan and encouraged members to look for “divine helps” that God has provided.

He said opposition is essential in God’s plan for his children to grow.

“Just as our physical muscles cannot be developed or maintained without straining against the law of gravity, so mortal growth requires man to strain against Satan’s temptations and other mortal opposition,” he said.

President Oaks said “a loving God” also provided help for people who choose evil — specifically, Jesus Christ’s “merciful and glorious Atonement.”

“The plan of a loving Father and Son provides many other gifts to protect us, including protecting us from sinning in the first place,” he said.

President Oaks listed multiple additional “helps” the plan provides, including the light of Christ; scriptural directions in commandments, ordinances and covenants; and manifestations of the Holy Ghost.

“With so many powerful helps to guide us in our mortal journeys, it is disappointing that so many remain unprepared for their appointed meeting with our Savior and redeemer, Jesus Christ,” he said.

He related Christ’s parable of the 10 virgins, which suggests only half of those invited will be prepared for Christ’s return.

President Oaks encouraged members to pray, participate in regular scripture study, repent frequently, and renew covenants weekly with the sacrament — calling this a “fundamental spiritual maintenance plan.”

“Our part in this divine plan is to trust in God and seek these divine helps, most notably the Atonement of his beloved Son, our Savior and redeemer Jesus Christ,” he said.

— Emily Ashcraft

Elder John A. McCune — Joy through covenant discipleship

Elder McCune, a general authority seventy, related the story of a convert in Mongolia — Uyanga Altansukh. One day, the Mongolian mission president visited her workplace and she noted his kindness and a bright light in his countenance.

She wanted this joy and light for her children and eventually joined the church. Hers is one example of those who pursue the covenant path to become disciples of Jesus Christ.

Elder McCune said we can learn about God and his perfect love for individuals somewhat through mortal family relationships. However, God’s attributes go far beyond that and are perfect.

“He is perfectly loving, kind, patient, understanding and perfectly glorious. We can trust him perfectly, he said.

He pointed out that Heavenly Father’s and Jesus Christ’s divine attributes of justice and mercy are not in opposition.

He said covenant discipleship helps us understand the nature of God. Some may wonder how God can have joy when some of his children suffer great difficulties. He taught that the answer is God’s perfect perspective and his perfect plan.

Elder McCune shared an example of him and his wife meeting with President Russell M. Nelson, who extended their current church calling. President Nelson treated them with great reassurance, love and care. Later, the McCunes learned that President Nelson’s daughter had passed away that same day.

They realized President Nelson was still kind and loving because he understood that Christ is victorious and he would see his daughter again.

“As we bind ourselves to act as covenant disciples, in whatever our level of capacity, our relationship with the Father and the Son is enriched, our joy is enhanced, and our eternal perspective expanded,” Elder McCune said.

— Linda Williams

Elder Gerrit W. Gong — Eternity’s great gifts: Jesus Christ’s Atonement, Resurrection, Restoration

During an early-morning gospel class years ago, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was tasked with memorizing Bible verses and was “naturally” drawn to the shortest passage in scripture, John 11:35, which reads: “Jesus wept.”

He read the verse as he testified of the miracles of Jesus Christ’s time on Earth, how he “came into physical mortality and learned according to the flesh how always to be with and bless us.”

“When we cry out in grief or joy, Jesus Christ understands perfectly,” Elder Gong said. “He can be present in the moments when we most need eternity’s great gifts — Jesus Christ’s Atonement, Resurrection, Restoration.”

With Easter quickly approaching, Elder Gong spoke of what Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection mean to Latter-day Saints — providing opportunities to forgive and transcend physical death.

“Easter in Jesus Christ helps us mend, reconcile, make right our relationships, on both sides of the veil,” Elder Gong said. “Jesus can heal grief; He can enable forgiveness. He can free us and others from things we or they have said or done that otherwise bind us captive.”

After fasting for 40 days, Jesus Christ said he had the Spirit of the Lord to “preach the gospel to the poor.”

“Poor, brokenhearted, captive, blind, bruised — that’s each of us,” Elder Gong said.

The Easter season is a time to celebrate the gifts enabled through Jesus Christ. “May we each find in Jesus Christ Atonement, Resurrection and Restoration — peace, becoming and belonging — that which is enduringly real and joyful, happy and forever,” he concluded.

— Bridger Beal-Cvetko

Bishop Gérald Caussé — Compensating blessings

Bishop Gérald Caussé, presiding bishop of the church, said no one is beyond the reach of the Lord’s blessings, and encouraged church members to serve others to invite healing in their own lives.

“If you ever feel limited or disadvantaged by the circumstances of your life, I want you to know this: The Lord loves you personally. He knows your circumstances, and the door to his blessings remains wide open to you no matter the challenges you face,” he said.

He taught members that when fulfilling righteous desires is beyond their control, the Lord will compensate, allowing them to receive blessings.

“When our earnest efforts fall short of our aspirations due to circumstances beyond our control, the Lord may still accept the desires of our hearts as a worthy offering,” he said.

Bishop Caussé said whether people are willing is more important to the Lord than whether they are able — we will be judged by our desires.

He encouraged members to use their blessings to serve others, saying the Lord’s “compensating blessings” often come through service. He said one of the most powerful ways to do this is to perform ordinances in temples for our ancestors.

“The loving service we offer in holy temples reminds us that the Savior’s grace extends beyond this life. In the life to come we may be given new opportunities to accomplish what we could not do in this mortal life,” he said.

Bishop Caussé said no one can escape challenges of mortality, but children of God have a loving Savior.

“Through his atoning sacrifice, the Savior will compensate for every inability and injustice if we offer our whole souls to him,” he said.

— Emily Ashcraft

Sister Tamara W. Runia — Your repentance doesn’t burden Jesus Christ; it brightens his joy

Sister Tamara W. Runia, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, spoke to those who feel that repentance and forgiveness seem to work for everyone but them.

She taught that the decision to continue in a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ is more important than perfection. “Heaven isn’t for people who’ve been perfect; it’s for people who’ve been forgiven, who choose Christ again, and again,” she said.

God’s commandments and repentance are an indication of God’s love, and a “pathway away from pain,” Sister Runia said. She urged listeners to picture the Savior Jesus Christ, inviting them to turn to his light by turning from sin.

She said God delights to forgive people, but called Satan the thief of hope, who promotes negative and shameful messages to the penitent.

She demonstrated personal worth in comparison to daily actions, and showed worth is not tied to obedience, although obedience does bring blessings.

Sister Runia ended her address by encouraging listeners as they pray to imagine Jesus Christ close by and ask, “What would my Savior say to the Father about me?”

— Linda Williams

Elder Steven D. Shumway — Participate to prepare for Christ’s return

Elder Steven D. Shumway of the Seventy began his address by recounting a meeting with Elder Neil L. Andersen shortly after being called as a new general authority last year. He recalled Elder Andersen saying to him: “Well, there looks like a man who has no idea what he is doing.” He then added: “Don’t worry, Elder Shumway, it gets better — in five or six years.”

Elder Shumway spoke of the importance of preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

“When we say yes to serving, we’re saying yes to Jesus Christ,” he said. “And when we say yes to Christ, we’re saying yes to the most abundant life possible.”

Three principles demonstrate how participation in the Lord’s work can help Saints prepare for the return of Christ, according to Elder Shumway.

“First, as we participate we progress toward ‘the measure of (our) creation,'” he said.

Second, Elder Shumway said service “elevates our homes and churches into holy places where we can practice covenant living.”

And finally, that service helps members be open to gifts from God.

“We do not receive financial compensation for serving,” he said. “Instead, scripture teaches that for our ‘labor (we are) to receive the grace of God, that (we) might wax strong in the Spirit, (have) the knowledge of God, (and) … teach with power and authority from God.’ That is a very good trade!”

“In earnestly seeking to represent the Savior, we become more like him,” Elder Shumway concluded. “And that is the best preparation for the sacred moment when each of us will kneel and confess that Jesus is the Christ.”

— Bridger Beal-Cvetko

Sunday morning general conference session begins

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