1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,660 Welcome to Closer to Christ, a conference where two friends share our own approach to 2 00:00:09,660 --> 00:00:11,620 studying general conference. 3 00:00:11,620 --> 00:00:13,540 It's good to have you guys with us today. 4 00:00:13,540 --> 00:00:14,540 Thanks for being here. 5 00:00:14,540 --> 00:00:18,880 Today, we get to talk about Elder D. Todd Christopherson's talk entitled, The Testimony 6 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:23,780 of Jesus, and I thought, what a fitting talk for Amy to take the lead on. 7 00:00:23,780 --> 00:00:28,900 I'll open up with just kind of a synopsis, a little brief paragraph. 8 00:00:28,900 --> 00:00:33,440 Elder Christopherson noted in the opening of his talk that President Oaks had taught 9 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:38,960 about this in previous conference, and they weren't surprised that it was going to be 10 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:41,760 Elder Oaks and then Elder Christopherson at this conference. 11 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:42,760 We were all surprised. 12 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:44,760 I'm always like, who's going to be next? 13 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:46,400 But he wasn't so surprised by it. 14 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:51,240 And then we had already talked in our last one about how we think that talk in what October 15 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:57,820 really built on what we heard into this April conference. 16 00:00:57,820 --> 00:01:01,280 My months are confused right now, so I don't know if I was going to say that right. 17 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:05,840 Here's the quote, through the triumph and glory of the lamb, all but a relatively few 18 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:10,360 individuals are eventually redeemed into one of these kingdoms, according to the desire 19 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:12,720 manifested through their choices. 20 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,880 And then he reminds us that God's plan of redemption is a universal opportunity for 21 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:22,080 all his children because it is for every single person, whenever, wherever they may have lived 22 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:23,080 on the earth. 23 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:24,080 I love that, Abby. 24 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:25,520 This is compounding with Elder Karen's talk too. 25 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:26,720 I know, right? 26 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:28,040 That's the thing, the good and the bad. 27 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:33,140 We have just entered into not nothing bad, just the good, the great thing about studying 28 00:01:33,140 --> 00:01:35,580 conference talks and putting time into one. 29 00:01:35,580 --> 00:01:38,200 It's like the compounds. 30 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:39,200 It totally does. 31 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,000 And you find yourself saying, I already heard this. 32 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:43,320 I've already learned this. 33 00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:45,020 However, there's more there. 34 00:01:45,020 --> 00:01:50,040 There's another little line that just further deepens if you've got the weight behind, you 35 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,560 know, the one sentence, like, oh yeah, that just brought back all these memories. 36 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:54,280 And then like the next piece. 37 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:55,280 Totally. 38 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:57,240 It's true. 39 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:01,240 I'd love to... 40 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:05,200 Okay, let's see. 41 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:06,200 My mind just went blank. 42 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:11,240 I was trying to think of something from Elder Karen's talk, but I'm going to divert that 43 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:12,520 for a minute. 44 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:18,840 Tell me when I shared that quote with you about how through people's choices, we're 45 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,360 reminded that this is for every single person, whenever, wherever. 46 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:24,060 Like what does that spark in you? 47 00:02:24,060 --> 00:02:30,160 So it's so interesting because the thing that came to my mind, Abby, I love this so much. 48 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:31,160 Okay. 49 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:37,160 So I didn't get this on the first pass, but to be honest, it's a bit challenging. 50 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:42,340 Like we were just saying, it's challenging to study talk after talk and receive something 51 00:02:42,340 --> 00:02:44,840 new in every single talk, right? 52 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:49,520 Someone wouldn't be too far off if they said that each talk says the same thing, because 53 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,120 let's be honest, they have a lot of the same threads that are wound throughout because 54 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,120 we're talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ. 55 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:59,120 Or maybe I just feel that way because I prayed at the beginning of this when we jumped into 56 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:06,440 the podcast, I prayed that the similar threads being woven throughout each talk would come 57 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:07,440 to mind. 58 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:08,440 So maybe that's why I feel like it. 59 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:09,440 I don't know. 60 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:10,640 Maybe it's just because it already is that way. 61 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:11,640 Do you know what I mean? 62 00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:16,120 I think it's two part because I think just an initial passing, I can usually be able 63 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,540 to say, okay, they talked a lot about trials and overcoming trials and how we can find 64 00:03:19,540 --> 00:03:20,540 joy in our trials. 65 00:03:20,540 --> 00:03:24,800 We talked a lot about temples, you know, and covenant making, right? 66 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:26,580 That's kind of just like the face value. 67 00:03:26,580 --> 00:03:31,920 But then as we get into each talk, even pieces of like, you know, how to anchor ourselves 68 00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:37,560 for the foundation or the importance of a temple garment or yes, I can talk, I can talk 69 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:41,320 one after the next, but like the last few, especially because we're getting to this, 70 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:43,520 oh, that's what I was going to say. 71 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:44,900 That's where my mind was. 72 00:03:44,900 --> 00:03:47,440 We finished our last episode was Elder Oaks. 73 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:51,080 That was the finishing up of the last Sunday morning. 74 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:55,040 We're we've turned into the like the last, this is probably the one most of you got a 75 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:56,040 nice nap in. 76 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:57,040 So these are ones. 77 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,640 It's tiring to listen to all of them, right? 78 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:01,400 I actually stayed awake the whole time. 79 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:05,080 This time I was writing enough notes that I don't usually stay awake. 80 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:10,680 And even Elder Oakdorf talked about how like the best, like the best type of sleep is like 81 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:11,680 church sleep or whatever. 82 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:13,920 I don't know the way he said I was like, oh, good. 83 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:14,920 He's done it before too. 84 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:15,920 So I don't have to feel so bad. 85 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:16,920 But again, it's in print. 86 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:17,920 It's in listening form. 87 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:19,320 Like you can catch it again. 88 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:23,160 But what I think is great as for sure, as we're getting into these last talks, because 89 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:27,680 we have four other sessions of conferences kind of already been on our minds and we've 90 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:28,920 been thinking about them. 91 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:29,920 These are hitting differently. 92 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:30,920 They are. 93 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:32,760 And so you've made the point with that. 94 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,600 I'm glad that I find it only took four and a half minutes for me to remember what I was 95 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:37,600 trying to think of before. 96 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:38,600 Okay. 97 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:40,960 So let's, let's be serious. 98 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,040 You pray and ask the spirit to show you similar threads. 99 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,360 And I love that you did that. 100 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:50,560 And especially if there could be, there could be threads that you see that I don't see. 101 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,400 But if it relates to the question that you're asking, like, what am I ready for more information? 102 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:55,400 What do I want to grow in? 103 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:56,800 What if it's just my similar thread? 104 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,840 We've definitely gathered with women to discuss conference after the fact. 105 00:04:59,840 --> 00:05:01,160 And we do see different. 106 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,800 We do think that the main theme of conference was different. 107 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,560 And that means the spirit was testifying to us what those threads were. 108 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:12,080 But regardless of how we come about that to show us these threads, is there anything else 109 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,800 that you've learned as you've prayed or as we studied for this podcast? 110 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,040 Is there like further information that you've gathered from what those similar threads look 111 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:19,040 like to you? 112 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:20,040 Yes. 113 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,440 So, um, you know, I share this because it might help someone else. 114 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:25,320 This is just my process and what I've done. 115 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:31,000 Um, I pray that the spirit will help me identify the one thing that this talk teaches or that 116 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:35,440 teaches it differently than the other talks, because they do layer on each other. 117 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:41,560 Um, and so as I layer, sorry, as I recognize the similarities, I'm able to discern first 118 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:46,980 where they're the same and then discern where there is a slight change in each talk. 119 00:05:46,980 --> 00:05:48,800 And that's what stood out to me here. 120 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:53,560 So as Elder Christopherson spoke about God's final judgment, my brain first said, Oh, I've 121 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,680 heard about this before, you know, this is a similarity. 122 00:05:56,680 --> 00:06:02,080 And then when I heard according to the desires manifested through their choices, I recognize 123 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:04,840 that that was a difference right there. 124 00:06:04,840 --> 00:06:09,520 Like people will assume that they're getting rated or graded into a kingdom when you're 125 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:14,200 like, no, you had full control of having whatever you wanted of the father's offering. 126 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:15,200 So you understood that part. 127 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:16,200 I didn't know. 128 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:19,600 I mean, I'm having this conversation with you now as I'm like listening to what you 129 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:20,960 found as important. 130 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:27,200 I'm thinking, yeah, because a lot of times the conversation is somebody that like, um, 131 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:29,760 kind of half in half out there. 132 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:33,440 They kind of don't grasp the importance of why, why they're partaking of the gospel or 133 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:34,600 not partaking of it at a time. 134 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:38,440 And they want to just make whatever choices they want, but they also are fully aware of 135 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:40,080 all of the blessing God has to offer. 136 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,800 There are a lot of people that don't know about the kingdoms of glory. 137 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:44,560 They don't, they don't understand that. 138 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,760 So the life they're living is going to grant them the life that they're expecting. 139 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,320 This beautiful, like you die and you go to heaven and it's beautiful. 140 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:51,320 Yes. 141 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:55,000 But I think it's definitely people in our faith that only want to be like half in that 142 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,560 are like, why can't I just be half in, but get everything the father has to offer? 143 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:02,280 I love that because this is exactly what it brought me to because he does say it differently. 144 00:07:02,280 --> 00:07:03,280 Right? 145 00:07:03,280 --> 00:07:08,960 And the thing is that, um, I feel like the Holy ghost helped me like make the connection 146 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:09,960 there. 147 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:10,960 Right. 148 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:11,960 Yes. 149 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:12,960 And find the slight difference. 150 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,800 And like you said, so what I, same principle, but different words. 151 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:17,600 And so it's like hitting a little bit differently. 152 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,760 So what, what did you do with that next? 153 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:21,560 What was the next piece of that process for you? 154 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:22,560 Because it was different. 155 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:24,920 I was like, wait, I've heard this before, but it was a little bit different. 156 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:25,920 Right. 157 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,440 So then I Googled the phrase and I found DNC 137 eight, which that's where we were taught 158 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:30,440 this in the first place. 159 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,000 Just to reiterate the phrase being, okay. 160 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:38,880 The phrase was according to the desires manifested through their choices, according to the desires. 161 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:41,640 Normally we hear according to diet desires of the heart. 162 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:42,640 Right. 163 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:47,600 But this was different because he said manifested through our choices. 164 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:50,000 So I Googled it to find out where have I heard that before. 165 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,520 And it was in DNC 137 verse eight. 166 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:57,800 He says, for either Lord will judge all men according to their works, according to the 167 00:07:57,800 --> 00:07:59,280 desires of their hearts. 168 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:00,280 That's what resonated with me. 169 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:01,280 Cause that's what I knew before. 170 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:02,280 Right. 171 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:06,360 So I wondered before very specifically the desires of the heart and righteous desires 172 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:10,720 meant like what it meant in the scriptural contents that we just read, meaning in DNC 173 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:15,560 137, the desires of the heart refers to those who died without having the knowledge of Jesus 174 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:16,920 Christ in their lives. 175 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,340 If they had the restored gospel, they would have accepted it and lived it fully. 176 00:08:20,340 --> 00:08:23,800 So just like what you were saying, Abby, um, was exactly what I was thinking. 177 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:28,480 Cause I was like, okay, I understand that that's the scriptural content or context, 178 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:29,480 excuse me. 179 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:34,640 Um, if I was going to apply this right here to me and my life, would it look like this? 180 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:39,600 I didn't live a higher law even when it was made available, but I desired it eventually 181 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:42,840 and we're judged on our choices and the desire of our hearts. 182 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:47,040 So it says here, I'm judged as if I live the higher law because I desired to or meant 183 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:48,040 to. 184 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:49,040 Right. 185 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:50,520 And then I was like, oh yeah, that doesn't make sense. 186 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:51,520 Right. 187 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:52,520 Clearly. 188 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:55,040 So the spirit highlighted for me because I noticed the difference. 189 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,760 Your personal desires are manifested through your choices. 190 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:03,560 So at this point, they're no longer a question manifesting is where the spiritual becomes 191 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:07,520 physical the desires clearly seen in the choices we make. 192 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:08,680 So there's no question anymore. 193 00:09:08,680 --> 00:09:11,120 Whereas before I was kind of like, it felt nebulous. 194 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:13,320 It felt like it wasn't concrete. 195 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:17,560 And then the second one was just that I felt like the spirit taught me was the desires 196 00:09:17,560 --> 00:09:24,800 that are out of our control due to another person's agency or, um, and, um, president 197 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:29,880 Oaks talks about this as well or personal limitations on your body or your circumstances. 198 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:32,560 One of the circumstances might be where or when you were born. 199 00:09:32,560 --> 00:09:35,720 So just for an example, like desiring the full gospel of Jesus Christ, but it wasn't 200 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:36,720 on the earth. 201 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:37,720 Yeah. 202 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:38,720 Right. 203 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:39,720 That's out of your control. 204 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:42,240 Something that he's made a way possible to cover all that's the whole point, right? 205 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,400 How we know the nature of him, how beautiful, like how beautiful the plan is. 206 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:46,400 Absolutely. 207 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:47,400 Let's cover that. 208 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:48,400 It does. 209 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,260 So it was just saying in that moment from what they understood, right? 210 00:09:50,260 --> 00:09:53,720 Like if you were, if you lived your entire life and never lived a covenant while you're 211 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:55,760 on the earth, that's what this covers as well. 212 00:09:55,760 --> 00:10:00,560 Um, another one could be, um, desiring to be married in this life, desiring a parent 213 00:10:00,560 --> 00:10:01,560 to accept the gospel. 214 00:10:01,560 --> 00:10:04,520 Like we talked about in one of these past ones, Sister Porter, she prayed about that 215 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:05,600 her whole life. 216 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:10,280 That is someone else's agency desiring a spouse that makes and keeps covenants. 217 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:14,760 Her parents, uh, her, her father joining the church and making is an individual thing, 218 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:17,080 but she was praying for like an internal family, right? 219 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:18,080 So yeah. 220 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:19,540 So that's the other thing too. 221 00:10:19,540 --> 00:10:23,520 She did what was, what if her desire was that, but she didn't live her covenant. 222 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:26,680 That's what I had brought that up in just a couple of episodes ago that the things I've 223 00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:33,120 thought about since then, she desired an internal family so much for she wanted, she wanted 224 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:34,120 that that she did. 225 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:35,960 She did marry, she did have a covenant marriage. 226 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:40,000 She did establish an internal family with her own and her children going forward until 227 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:43,560 the blessing was finally able to be part hers when her father also did accept it because 228 00:10:43,560 --> 00:10:44,640 of his individual choices. 229 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:45,680 I love that you said that. 230 00:10:45,680 --> 00:10:50,880 So if we're putting it in this context, it would be that, um, where is that part, Abby? 231 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:54,840 I'm trying to find it so that her choices were made manifest. 232 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:55,840 What is it? 233 00:10:55,840 --> 00:11:01,120 Um, like where you only have control of your agency and her desires were made manifest. 234 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:03,880 There are limitations to what you can achieve on your own. 235 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:04,880 Love it. 236 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:05,880 Yeah, that's exactly it. 237 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:07,400 So I just liked that further clarification. 238 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:12,160 Um, I really appreciated it when, and because we're talking about common threads and what 239 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:17,640 we've gathered from other conference talks, as you're talking, I'm thinking, um, yes, 240 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,760 the mentality of like, I know what's there for me to inherit. 241 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:21,760 I want to do this. 242 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:22,760 I want to act in this way. 243 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:26,000 I want to make my daily choices reflect this type of lifestyle. 244 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:27,140 And I'm going to put a name to it. 245 00:11:27,140 --> 00:11:28,940 Like you're living a terrestrial law. 246 00:11:28,940 --> 00:11:30,240 You are not living a celestial law. 247 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:33,920 And if you're saying you want to do it, but you're not like, I know. 248 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:34,920 Yes. 249 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:35,920 That's what I'm saying. 250 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:40,160 This isn't to just, this isn't to judge anybody, but like somebody that's having that conversation 251 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:42,440 with you, cause I've definitely seen it happen. 252 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,880 Um, you were given an example of people just saying like, I know that there's a higher 253 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:48,960 law to be lived and I will have desired eventually. 254 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:50,400 Like I'll live the higher law eventually. 255 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,400 Cause I want to inherit that eternally. 256 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:59,040 You don't really know how, how can you really project when, like when it's too late? 257 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:02,720 How do you know that if you're thinking like next month, I'm going to, you know, put these 258 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,860 things away that are holding me back from making covenants with father. 259 00:12:05,860 --> 00:12:07,320 And then I'll pick them up in a month. 260 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:09,640 Who's to say that you, that's not the end of your days. 261 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:11,080 Like tomorrow isn't the end of your days. 262 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:12,080 Yes. 263 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:15,580 And I don't want to say that in a threatening way or like a scare tactic. 264 00:12:15,580 --> 00:12:20,760 What I'm trying to say is when you know what blessings are available to you living, thinking 265 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:23,400 celestial living celestial, why not? 266 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:25,720 Why not take advantage of those in the moment right now? 267 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:28,240 And I understand that things people have to give up. 268 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:32,560 They're like maybe addictions and they're harder things, but even just like even manifesting 269 00:12:32,560 --> 00:12:36,040 the desire that you want to give those up because you want to live a celestial law is 270 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:38,480 living celestial. 271 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:43,520 Even if that thing you're doing is a celestial thing, the desire of your heart will make 272 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:45,000 you that following day. 273 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:49,920 Like I've watched people in my profession, like quit smoking that nothing to do with 274 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:51,400 religion or church. 275 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:52,560 They're not in our church. 276 00:12:52,560 --> 00:12:54,040 So this is not a word of wisdom thing. 277 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:58,880 It's just they've felt the bonds of the addiction in their life and they've been doing it since 278 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:04,320 they were 13 and like they've gotten sick or like they recognize that it's like holding 279 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:06,960 them back physically and they choose to quit. 280 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:11,880 Like the next day they're experiencing some withdrawals, but some positive things like 281 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:16,680 they're already feeling a shift because they're thinking, their mindset's thinking in a different 282 00:13:16,680 --> 00:13:17,680 direction. 283 00:13:17,680 --> 00:13:18,680 Oh, absolutely. 284 00:13:18,680 --> 00:13:23,000 Anytime you're starting to get free of any bonds of addiction, you're going to feel that. 285 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:27,400 You're going to feel like what the spirit is kind of gaining more strength over the 286 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:28,400 body. 287 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:29,400 Yeah. 288 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:34,080 And when we're talking about gospel related principles, like the second that you demonstrate 289 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:37,880 your agency to say this is the desire of my heart, this is the direction I want to go, 290 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:42,000 I was like listening to like a church song this morning, so I was getting ready for church 291 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:46,400 and it talked about like how he's reaching out and I'm like, if I could rewrite that. 292 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:50,200 Really his hands always extended, but we have to actually do the reach. 293 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:52,400 I mean, it's like a centimeter. 294 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:53,680 Like sometimes he's like so close. 295 00:13:53,680 --> 00:13:56,480 He's like, I'm right here and I want to help you with whatever you want. 296 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:58,400 Help me just touch me. 297 00:13:58,400 --> 00:13:59,960 And the song's beautiful. 298 00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:02,680 I get the message of the song, but he's there. 299 00:14:02,680 --> 00:14:07,000 We kind of have to agency is in every aspect of this. 300 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,600 And so we just have to demonstrate that's what we want from it too. 301 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:10,600 I love that. 302 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:12,320 I loved it so much, Abby, truly. 303 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:16,240 I never have to worry about this whole, like I've thought about this my whole life and 304 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,160 I never have to worry from here on out. 305 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:19,720 What is a desire, Amy? 306 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:20,720 Guess what? 307 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:22,400 The desire is that thing that you are doing. 308 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:27,240 Like if you've manifested it by your choices, then that is the next action that you make 309 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:29,440 should demonstrate that that's your real desire. 310 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:30,440 So I love that. 311 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:31,800 There's no more question for me. 312 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:38,120 When somebody's trying to get out, like if somebody's addicted to alcohol or tobacco 313 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:43,280 and they try to get out of it, they'll have like their subgroup of friends that are like, 314 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:44,280 why are you doing that? 315 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:45,280 Why are you giving that up? 316 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:46,280 It doesn't make a difference. 317 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,040 It doesn't, you know, you're fine just the way that you are. 318 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:50,720 And they're not ready to give it up. 319 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:51,720 So it's hard. 320 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:52,720 Right. 321 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:53,960 And in no judgment in that way, like that's them. 322 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:58,080 But just even just verbalizing that you want to make that change, it's because you're 323 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:02,080 feeling something in you that's shifting, that's like, this is the thing that's holding me back. 324 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:07,360 And so you're going to go, you know, to the best of your ability, you're going to stop 325 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:09,320 that difficult thing. 326 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:14,680 Most people like statistically, like if smoking, like you pick it up, like you try to quit, 327 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,200 usually takes like seven times to be effective at quitting. 328 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:18,200 That's the average. 329 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,200 That means that some maybe take 10 and some people you hear quitting cold turkey. 330 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:25,200 But I guess all I'm saying is I've watched different, I've watched different people try 331 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,360 to give that up and have different levels of success with it. 332 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:33,680 But when I say different levels of success, I'm actually proud of every moment that they've 333 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:37,160 tried to exert like authority over their physical body and like the things their bodies tell 334 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:38,160 me, we need the nicotine. 335 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:43,920 And they're still just saying, no, like I wanted to make this change for myself. 336 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:47,600 And so then I can easily relate that to the gospel principles. 337 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:51,760 Like if you're, let's say, sinning, I'm not even going to put a name to like what sin we're 338 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:52,760 talking about. 339 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:56,320 If your friends is actively participating that and they want you to stay and doing that 340 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,640 thing, it makes them feel better about themselves, but you're wanting to change. 341 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:02,960 You don't have to be completely turned away from that thing. 342 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:06,560 You don't have to, I'm not saying not to go cold turkey on the thing that you need to 343 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:07,560 give up. 344 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:11,520 All I'm saying is just the moment that you make that decision to make that turn and your 345 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:13,680 heart changes, it's as good as done. 346 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,720 I love that you spiritually chosen it. 347 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:17,720 That's it. 348 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:19,720 And then sometimes it takes a minute for the physical body to catch up. 349 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:20,720 I totally agree with that. 350 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:22,560 Did we talk about that in Karen's? 351 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:23,560 Yes, we did. 352 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:24,560 That's resonated with me. 353 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:25,560 It's a true principle, man. 354 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:26,560 Yeah. 355 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:29,600 Just hold onto that spiritual part, right? 356 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:32,360 And he sees that part more, more isn't that great? 357 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:36,640 I think he sees the spiritual part way, way more than we're taught to care about the 358 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:40,280 physical like, oh, and you still, you still needed to smoke, but it's like, no, but I 359 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:43,520 gave it up in my, I gave it up in my heart and that's the direction that I'm working 360 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:44,520 towards. 361 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:48,680 Maybe I'm going to go from two packs of cigarettes a day to one, but in my mind, I'm like, I'm 362 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:52,160 doing this with the intent to be totally free of this addiction. 363 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:53,160 What a beautiful thing. 364 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:54,160 Totally. 365 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:55,160 I love it. 366 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:57,360 So let's, okay. 367 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:05,600 So really this right here, I feel like, I feel like we, he talked very much about some 368 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:08,760 of the same things that president Oaks talked about. 369 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:16,040 However, I love this part right here because it talks about, is this a, is this a sub point 370 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:17,040 in the talk? 371 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:18,960 Yes, that's exactly what he said. 372 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:19,960 Okay. 373 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:24,920 And from the talk there, there's a quote that he shared of elder Neil A Maxwell from 1996. 374 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:26,720 Am I getting that right? 375 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:27,720 I'm not getting that right. 376 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:28,720 I'm not having you tell me what. 377 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:30,840 We're just going to put that in the notes and that'll be fine. 378 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:33,320 I miss wrote that, but it doesn't suggest. 379 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:34,320 Okay. 380 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:39,000 So there is a talk that you, you find a connection with that you want people to share. 381 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:44,080 So we're going to put a pod in the podcast note, like we're the same place that I link 382 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,120 the conference talk for you guys to have easy access to. 383 00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:49,460 There'll also be a link to a talk that's called according to the desires of our hearts. 384 00:17:49,460 --> 00:17:52,960 And so it's something that Amy sees like a strong correlation between she recalled things 385 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:56,880 from that talk as she was like opening her mind to this new talk. 386 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,720 So I'll go on to share this. 387 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:04,480 Those in the celestial kingdom are they who received the testimony of Jesus, who are just 388 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:08,800 men made perfect through Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, the inhabitants of the 389 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:12,280 second or terrestrial kingdom are described as essentially good, including the honorable 390 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,600 men of the earth who were blinded by the craftiness of men. 391 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:19,760 Their principle limiting trait is that they are not valued in the testimony of Jesus. 392 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:23,840 By contrast, those in the lower terrestrial kingdom are those who received not the gospel 393 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,360 neither the testimony of Jesus. 394 00:18:26,360 --> 00:18:30,160 I feel like those are going to be very few and far between, between opportunities that 395 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,660 we have here and then all of the work that's done. 396 00:18:33,660 --> 00:18:35,480 That's still that probationary period after we die. 397 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:37,800 There's still so much missionary work happening. 398 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:39,080 There sure is. 399 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:42,560 Now this is like the crux of the entire talk. 400 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,760 Note that the distinguished characteristics of the inhabitants of each kingdom is how 401 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:52,000 they relate to the testimony of Jesus ranging from one wholehearted devotion to not being 402 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:57,960 valiant to or three outright rejection on each person's reaction hangs his or her, 403 00:18:57,960 --> 00:18:58,960 her eternal future. 404 00:18:58,960 --> 00:18:59,960 Isn't that so interesting? 405 00:18:59,960 --> 00:19:03,080 I added her, but that means that too. 406 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:04,080 Each person's reaction. 407 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:05,080 Oh, it does say that. 408 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:10,440 So literally everything hangs on our relationship with Jesus Christ. 409 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:11,440 I love it. 410 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:12,800 Number one, are we valiant? 411 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:14,000 Number two, are we not valiant? 412 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:15,000 Number three, do we reject? 413 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,520 And those are each of the kingdoms that we're assigned to and we will abide them meaning 414 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:22,160 we'll live comfortably in them according to the way we live and we want to live our 415 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:23,960 lives and our desires. 416 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:24,960 I love it. 417 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:29,760 And I've met so many people that I'm like, they, they have like the most sweet and pure 418 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:30,760 testimony of Jesus Christ. 419 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:36,560 They're not members of our faith, but it's easy to see how they can inherit like the 420 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:38,920 kingdom of glory and well deserved. 421 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:39,920 And they'll be happy with it. 422 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:40,920 Well, I'll be happy. 423 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:41,920 We'll all be happy. 424 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:42,920 We'll all be happy. 425 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:45,120 We choose what makes us happy. 426 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:48,360 We don't have to wait till we die to pick that, make that choice. 427 00:19:48,360 --> 00:19:51,800 We're making it every day in the way that we feel about Jesus Christ and the way we're 428 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:54,240 reflecting it in the actions that we're making. 429 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:59,880 And I really, if I could rewind, I'm hoping that I didn't say anything offensive if like 430 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:05,480 I'm calling out like your personal, like the thing that's like holding you back. 431 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,400 But we all have something you really do. 432 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:09,400 Call it whatever you want. 433 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:11,760 I've met many people that drink and smoke that love their savior, Jesus Christ. 434 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:15,840 And they'll be enjoying like heaven's and eternity's with him. 435 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:19,240 When I was talking about that, I was talking about people that recognize that it's not 436 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:20,640 what they want to be doing in their life. 437 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:27,720 And they fill that bondage that they're in the addiction that they want to break. 438 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:29,040 That's who I'm talking to. 439 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:33,160 In my profession, like if I know somebody, I'm done a hygienist by trade. 440 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:36,920 If I, if I see somebody they've indicated they smoke and I ask them if they smoke and 441 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:41,760 I say, do you want to quit? And they say, no, I do not spend another second being like, 442 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:43,000 oh, it's so bad for you. 443 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:44,400 You shouldn't be doing that. 444 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:46,280 If they say, I'm actually, I quit. 445 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:47,960 I'm trying to quit or whatever. 446 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:52,080 My conversation look very different with each of those people because at the heart of it, 447 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:53,760 I love them, whatever they want to be doing. 448 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:55,280 And it's definitely not my decision. 449 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:56,280 Right. 450 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:59,600 You'll facilitate whatever I'm there to support and encourage and cheerlead or whatever. 451 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:00,600 I love that. 452 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:04,520 And again, remind me like I quit before, but I just picked it back up, you know, and I 453 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:06,160 will say, I quote that stat. 454 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:07,640 I think it's average seven of quits. 455 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:09,600 So you've got one under your belt. 456 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:11,240 Of course you have the stats for that. 457 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:12,240 Well, I mean, who knows? 458 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:13,240 They could be old. 459 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:15,200 They could be old because I've been graduated 20 years from college. 460 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:17,120 So a minute. 461 00:21:17,120 --> 00:21:19,680 So let's, let's have you close it up for us, Amy. 462 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:20,680 Okay. 463 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:25,000 So, Abby, I just want to ask each person who's listening wherever you are, where were you 464 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:31,360 when you learned this truth that our desires are made manifest by our choices? 465 00:21:31,360 --> 00:21:35,440 Maybe you were in the conference center listening when elder Neely Maxwell talked about it in 466 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:37,760 the text, because he definitely touched on it. 467 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:40,040 Maybe you were listening or have read a talk. 468 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:45,360 Maybe you were reading scriptures on your own or, or were in a second meeting where 469 00:21:45,360 --> 00:21:47,600 it was talked. 470 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:52,840 My whole point is that once you learned that truth, what did you do with it? 471 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:53,840 Yes. 472 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:55,400 What do we do with it at that point? 473 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:57,600 And that's the other thing too. 474 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:02,600 Remember at the beginning we talked about that there's the same thread all throughout 475 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:08,080 truth is taught over and over and over because heavenly father wants to find each one of 476 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:10,320 us where we are. 477 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:13,500 And as we seek for him, we will learn these truths. 478 00:22:13,500 --> 00:22:17,320 There are no surprises in heavenly father's plan. 479 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:19,960 There are no surprises in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 480 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:24,960 He continues to teach us because he's merciful, the same lessons over and over. 481 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:30,320 And we receive them at the layer that we're supposed to hear it, hear them at. 482 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:31,560 He will find us. 483 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:36,440 I think it's such a merciful thing to do because we can, we can be listening to the same talk 484 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:40,280 and we can hear something a little bit differently based on what we're ready to hear, but we're 485 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:42,800 judged on what we hear and then take and do. 486 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:43,800 Absolutely. 487 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:47,400 And so somebody that's not in a place to like really like step up and live like the next 488 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:51,600 tire piece of a law, they'll be judged at the law that they are. 489 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:54,520 They're able to hear what there is at the place that they're ready according to where 490 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:55,520 they understand it. 491 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:56,520 Absolutely. 492 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:57,520 I love it. 493 00:22:57,520 --> 00:22:58,520 I do too. 494 00:22:58,520 --> 00:22:59,520 It tells me about the nature of God. 495 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:00,520 It does. 496 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:01,520 He's beautiful. 497 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:02,520 Thank you so much for being with us here today, everyone. 498 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:03,520 We hope you have a great week and we'll catch you next time. 499 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:04,520 Catch you next time guys. 500 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:32,160 Bum ba da bum.