WEBVTT 00:00:10.709 --> 00:00:12.929 Welcome to Closer to Christ, their general conference, 00:00:13.130 --> 00:00:15.310 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:15.310 --> 00:00:17.050 approach to studying the most recent general 00:00:17.050 --> 00:00:19.910 conference talks. This is Abbey and Amy. Let's 00:00:19.910 --> 00:00:24.929 jump into it. Today, we're going to talk about 00:00:24.929 --> 00:00:27.370 Sacred Scriptures, the Foundation of Faith by 00:00:27.370 --> 00:00:29.629 Elder Quentin L. Cook, a member of the Twelve. 00:00:30.710 --> 00:00:33.369 Abbey, so good to see you. It's been a minute. 00:00:33.850 --> 00:00:37.539 Amy's been dealing with some stuff. We hope she's 00:00:37.539 --> 00:00:39.359 on the mend, but in case she's not, keep praying 00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:43.380 for her for us. Thanks, Abby. Have you ever taken 00:00:43.380 --> 00:00:45.820 a second to think about what you accomplish with 00:00:45.820 --> 00:00:48.359 your phone? For most of us, they're a significant 00:00:48.359 --> 00:00:51.149 part of our lives. In fact, the other day, I 00:00:51.149 --> 00:00:53.289 just went to the eye doctor and he was, because 00:00:53.289 --> 00:00:55.149 I'm getting of an older age, we were talking 00:00:55.149 --> 00:00:57.210 about, he's like, everything you do now is right 00:00:57.210 --> 00:00:59.109 up close. So we got to make sure you can see 00:00:59.109 --> 00:01:00.770 up close. I'm like, okay. Are those glasses on 00:01:00.770 --> 00:01:02.649 your face like close -up readers or? They're 00:01:02.649 --> 00:01:04.609 not, but we switched to that just to kind of 00:01:04.609 --> 00:01:06.489 see. And I'm like, all right, sounds good. My 00:01:06.489 --> 00:01:08.689 sister, I FaceTimed her like yesterday and I 00:01:08.689 --> 00:01:10.069 was like, cute glasses. She's like, yeah, I can't 00:01:10.069 --> 00:01:12.829 see. It's unreal. Like over that age. It's true. 00:01:13.150 --> 00:01:15.689 So yes, our life is now right in front of our 00:01:15.689 --> 00:01:17.709 faces. We're moving into a world that is becoming 00:01:17.709 --> 00:01:20.560 dominated with artificial. intelligence and we 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:23.620 embrace it, or we get left behind as far as matters 00:01:23.620 --> 00:01:26.239 of working life go. However, there is something 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:29.340 that absolutely trumps AI and that is divine 00:01:29.340 --> 00:01:32.040 intelligence. This comes from divine revelation, 00:01:32.260 --> 00:01:35.620 which comes as we embrace divine sources. So 00:01:35.620 --> 00:01:38.340 there's AI and there's actual divine intelligence. 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:41.120 Today we get to appreciate the blessing of sacred 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:44.420 scriptures. I love this part. Elder Cook talked 00:01:44.420 --> 00:01:46.299 about a saying that he saw on a t -shirt and 00:01:46.299 --> 00:01:49.959 it said, book. The original handheld device. 00:01:50.760 --> 00:01:53.659 So good. How do you prefer to read scriptures, 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:55.980 Amy? Are you like a paper copy or a digital gal? 00:01:56.060 --> 00:01:59.500 I'm actually a digital gal. I love to have everything 00:01:59.500 --> 00:02:02.579 like just right within my fingertips. I tend 00:02:02.579 --> 00:02:05.939 to get sidetracked a little bit. So I love having 00:02:05.939 --> 00:02:09.580 my link to conference talks or different things 00:02:09.580 --> 00:02:11.629 that I like. topics that I've been studying. 00:02:11.689 --> 00:02:14.889 I love to be able to look at a note that was 00:02:14.889 --> 00:02:17.229 like from 2014. What was I learning then? You 00:02:17.229 --> 00:02:19.889 know, I write my testimony about a particular 00:02:19.889 --> 00:02:22.969 verse of scripture or whatever. So I love seeing 00:02:22.969 --> 00:02:26.300 that and having it all right in my hand. And 00:02:26.300 --> 00:02:28.080 then to see how like life experience has changed, 00:02:28.139 --> 00:02:29.979 maybe how you're seeing the verse in that moment. 00:02:30.139 --> 00:02:31.639 100%. As you're looking back. I add to it or 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:33.280 whatever. I'm doing a lot of editing. When I 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:36.000 look back at my older notes, I'm like, oh, I 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:38.020 spelled that wrong. No, not that my thoughts 00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:39.400 have changed. I'm like, I can barely read that. 00:02:39.620 --> 00:02:41.659 You know how that is when I write you something. 00:02:42.020 --> 00:02:47.419 I'm not a good proofreader. Abby E's. But I would 00:02:47.419 --> 00:02:49.099 say the same thing. I would say that I tend more 00:02:49.099 --> 00:02:51.460 to digital because I don't particularly care 00:02:51.460 --> 00:02:52.860 for my handwriting. It's hard for me to read. 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:55.740 I'm like writing so furiously. It's pretty illegible. 00:02:55.740 --> 00:03:00.319 And so I do find I can keep my thoughts. I can 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:02.659 read them years later. And even if they have 00:03:02.659 --> 00:03:05.939 to have a little bit of grammar editing, I can 00:03:05.939 --> 00:03:07.740 understand what I was trying to say. I can read 00:03:07.740 --> 00:03:10.780 through that. I have heard people, though, who 00:03:10.780 --> 00:03:13.539 tend to get distracted by. what other options 00:03:13.539 --> 00:03:15.800 are on their phone. Yeah. And so they'll set 00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:18.219 that aside for a time and gravitate to the paper 00:03:18.219 --> 00:03:20.419 scriptures. Totally. So they know they're not 00:03:20.419 --> 00:03:21.740 going to be going down rabbit holes. They just 00:03:21.740 --> 00:03:24.360 want to stay in like the pure and simple scripture. 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:27.659 That so makes sense. Yeah. And I think we all 00:03:27.659 --> 00:03:29.639 have seasons where we go to different things. 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:30.840 That's exactly what I would say. It's season. 00:03:31.020 --> 00:03:33.259 So like right now, I would say digital. That 00:03:33.259 --> 00:03:35.520 makes sense. But whether handheld or digital. 00:03:35.949 --> 00:03:37.810 The Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon, another 00:03:37.810 --> 00:03:40.270 testament of Jesus Christ, both provide us spiritual 00:03:40.270 --> 00:03:42.389 guidance and teachings from Jesus Christ, the 00:03:42.389 --> 00:03:44.629 Savior of our world. We treasure these books, 00:03:44.750 --> 00:03:47.250 their profound role in documenting God's direction 00:03:47.250 --> 00:03:49.550 to ancient prophets and people and the guidance 00:03:49.550 --> 00:03:52.389 they provide for our own personal lives. Combined 00:03:52.389 --> 00:03:54.030 with the teachings of living prophets, these 00:03:54.030 --> 00:03:56.110 sacred scriptures provide doctrinal direction 00:03:56.110 --> 00:03:59.090 for us in today's world. These scriptures are 00:03:59.090 --> 00:04:01.110 most powerful when they give instruction, correction, 00:04:01.409 --> 00:04:04.780 comfort. and consolation to individuals and also 00:04:04.780 --> 00:04:07.479 families who seek guidance from the Lord. First, 00:04:07.580 --> 00:04:09.400 we have to know what is available, what is out 00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:12.120 there. Then we have to hear it, read it. Next, 00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:15.379 we have to opt in and then implement those teachings 00:04:15.379 --> 00:04:17.639 that we found. Yeah. Sacred scriptures combined 00:04:17.639 --> 00:04:19.519 with inspiration from the Holy Spirit should 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:22.399 be our primary source. It should facilitate our 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:26.680 conversations. It should give us a desire to 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:28.980 follow Jesus Christ. If what we're putting in 00:04:28.980 --> 00:04:31.779 us isn't... Drawing us closer to Jesus Christ, 00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:33.819 there's better options out there for what's going 00:04:33.819 --> 00:04:37.779 in. Absolutely, Abby. Scriptures are the foundation 00:04:37.779 --> 00:04:40.000 that, if utilized, will allow us to withstand 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:42.860 the adversary's constant efforts to undermine 00:04:42.860 --> 00:04:45.540 faith. This is true due to current members and 00:04:45.540 --> 00:04:47.959 investigators. It's true for everybody. Elder 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:51.379 Cook recognized new members as the lifeblood 00:04:51.379 --> 00:04:53.860 of the church throughout its history. And I totally 00:04:53.860 --> 00:04:56.459 agree. It was so sweet where he said that. Yeah. 00:04:56.560 --> 00:04:59.220 I will also say that, Abby, I absolutely have 00:04:59.220 --> 00:05:03.279 a testimony of that the scriptures contain doctrinal 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:06.800 truth and that they really like if you're ever 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:08.980 wanting to course correct, you go back to the 00:05:08.980 --> 00:05:11.759 scriptures and you look up maybe a topic that 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:14.800 you're struggling with. And as you study that. 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:18.800 The Lord will give you a contrite heart. I'm 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:20.319 sorry, a broken heart and a contrite spirit. 00:05:20.459 --> 00:05:23.540 You will feel His words that are living and that 00:05:23.540 --> 00:05:25.639 they actually apply to you in your life right 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:27.660 then. This just happened to me the past couple 00:05:27.660 --> 00:05:33.259 of weeks, and I'm just grateful to tears that 00:05:33.259 --> 00:05:37.600 Heavenly Father is so loving. And whenever He 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:40.819 gives correction to me, it's so gentle that... 00:05:41.990 --> 00:05:44.829 Just that makes me feel so grateful for the atonement. 00:05:44.870 --> 00:05:47.449 And I'm thinking, I'm such an unprofitable servant 00:05:47.449 --> 00:05:50.230 in a lot of ways. And it kind of blows my mind 00:05:50.230 --> 00:05:52.389 that he deals with me so patiently instead of 00:05:52.389 --> 00:05:55.209 saying, hey, Amy, you're kind of a jerk. Or why 00:05:55.209 --> 00:05:57.949 did you do this? It's just what I've been getting 00:05:57.949 --> 00:06:01.610 over and over again is return to my word and 00:06:01.610 --> 00:06:03.949 repent. And I just keep getting that over and 00:06:03.949 --> 00:06:07.550 over again. It's not. horrible things I've done. 00:06:07.610 --> 00:06:10.610 It's just the, am I trying to be as Christlike 00:06:10.610 --> 00:06:14.209 as possible? Am I in his word? Do I, is it part 00:06:14.209 --> 00:06:16.870 of my bones? Is that what I really want every 00:06:16.870 --> 00:06:20.029 single day is to give mercy to people, to extend 00:06:20.029 --> 00:06:23.610 love and to recognize that every day I've been 00:06:23.610 --> 00:06:26.089 given mercy from a loving heavenly father. And 00:06:26.089 --> 00:06:27.610 that's possible because of Christ's atonement. 00:06:27.730 --> 00:06:30.629 I'm just so grateful for that. And that's all 00:06:30.629 --> 00:06:33.360 because the scriptures. And like you said, foundational. 00:06:33.459 --> 00:06:37.300 Yeah. If utilized in that way. We can, like we 00:06:37.300 --> 00:06:38.920 said, we can go down rabbit holes. We can read 00:06:38.920 --> 00:06:42.620 a lot of accessory things. We can steer off of 00:06:42.620 --> 00:06:46.480 sacred divine sources and get into a much deeper 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:48.339 rabbit hole of people's opinions about things. 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:51.100 I mean, even this podcast. Right. This is our 00:06:51.100 --> 00:06:54.800 opinion about things. It's everybody's. opportunity 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:56.759 to listen to that and say that the spirit is 00:06:56.759 --> 00:06:58.899 not resonating with me on that and steer clear 00:06:58.899 --> 00:07:00.899 from that or to say, yeah, the things that they're 00:07:00.899 --> 00:07:03.160 speaking are bringing me closer to Jesus Christ 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:05.740 and maybe continue to listen for that reason. 00:07:07.399 --> 00:07:10.180 But I love what you're saying. It's it always 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:12.019 goes back to the scriptures when something really 00:07:12.019 --> 00:07:14.730 shakes you. You have to peel those things back 00:07:14.730 --> 00:07:17.569 and say, okay, I've added that. I've added that 00:07:17.569 --> 00:07:20.269 onto scripture, but let me get back to the scripture 00:07:20.269 --> 00:07:23.410 and say, does this support the scripture truth 00:07:23.410 --> 00:07:27.250 that I know to be true? Totally, 100%. And I 00:07:27.250 --> 00:07:29.050 know what you've been dealing with the last couple 00:07:29.050 --> 00:07:34.709 of weeks. And it's unfortunate that you're going 00:07:34.709 --> 00:07:36.769 through a physical trial right now and trying 00:07:36.769 --> 00:07:41.019 to heal your body from some things. that is that 00:07:41.019 --> 00:07:42.899 is a bad that is hard thing but it's awesome 00:07:42.899 --> 00:07:44.980 to see like what it's really opened you up to 00:07:44.980 --> 00:07:47.600 is just peeling back the layers and also like 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:49.639 looking at your spiritual foundation and yeah 00:07:51.060 --> 00:07:53.500 You've had a lot of time. You have had to like 00:07:53.500 --> 00:07:55.860 hunker down at the house and I've missed you. 00:07:55.860 --> 00:07:57.879 It's been like three weeks. It's been two full 00:07:57.879 --> 00:07:59.660 weeks. Two full weeks. It felt longer than that. 00:07:59.699 --> 00:08:01.180 Yeah, because it was broken up, right? It was 00:08:01.180 --> 00:08:02.699 like half of one week, a full week, half of the 00:08:02.699 --> 00:08:04.939 next week. That's a long time. Like you said, 00:08:05.019 --> 00:08:06.600 it's a lot of time to sit and reflect and then 00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:08.899 reassess and address the things that come to 00:08:08.899 --> 00:08:12.379 top of mind. It is. After he talked about how 00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:14.420 new members were the lifeblood of the church, 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:17.139 he... jump right into a story on the William 00:08:17.139 --> 00:08:19.300 Edward Musselman family. Do you remember that? 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:21.779 Yes. He said that he came to know these people 00:08:21.779 --> 00:08:23.939 when he was a young bishop in California. The 00:08:23.939 --> 00:08:25.660 father was a lawyer, general counselor for a 00:08:25.660 --> 00:08:27.839 major corporation. He had a devoted wife named 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:30.600 Janet. She was helping her family to strive to 00:08:30.600 --> 00:08:32.759 be more Christ -like. So they were already living 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:35.120 a beautiful, blessed life. There was a son and 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:38.299 daughter, early 20s. And, you know, as a family, 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:41.559 they were enjoying the blessings of what it looks 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:47.019 like to follow Jesus Christ in their life. But 00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:48.580 there was something more that could be added 00:08:48.580 --> 00:08:55.120 to them. And they started investigating the church. 00:08:55.799 --> 00:08:57.759 They had received the lessons. They were attending. 00:08:58.039 --> 00:09:00.139 Sister missionaries had emphasized that reading 00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:01.899 the Book of Mormon and praying for a testimony 00:09:01.899 --> 00:09:04.279 of that sacred scripture would be the key to 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:05.799 their testimony or the foundational piece. Then 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:08.740 you did. And remarkably, the family preferably 00:09:08.740 --> 00:09:10.659 read the entire Book of Mormon. Isn't that amazing? 00:09:10.820 --> 00:09:14.059 Quickly, yeah. At the same time that they were 00:09:14.059 --> 00:09:17.620 doing this searching, They started getting a 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:19.639 ton of literature that was critical to the church, 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:25.620 enough to fill a cardboard box. Jeez. So Elder 00:09:25.620 --> 00:09:28.080 Cook, the bishop at the time, was asked to come 00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:29.759 in and help to answer some of these questions 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:33.700 that the literature was bringing up. So the literature 00:09:33.700 --> 00:09:36.440 is sitting there in a box in the middle of the 00:09:36.440 --> 00:09:38.860 room, I guess, and they open this discussion 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:41.960 with a prayer. While they're praying, Elder Cook, 00:09:42.179 --> 00:09:45.639 the spirit whispers to Elder Cook. that the father 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:47.820 already knew that the gospel of Jesus Christ 00:09:47.820 --> 00:09:50.679 was true. Love it. And this was important. The 00:09:50.679 --> 00:09:52.360 sisters had believed the rest of the family were 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:53.799 on board, but they weren't really sure where 00:09:53.799 --> 00:09:56.679 the dad stood as far as his testimony of the 00:09:56.679 --> 00:10:02.419 gospel. So they finished the prayer, and Elder 00:10:02.419 --> 00:10:04.139 Cook says, I've been impressed by the Spirit 00:10:04.139 --> 00:10:06.919 to know that you already have a testimony. Is 00:10:06.919 --> 00:10:09.019 this true? And the father looks at him intently 00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:11.159 and says that, yeah, the Spirit had confirmed 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:13.360 the truth of the Book of Mormon, and for him, 00:10:13.379 --> 00:10:15.440 that. was enough to know that the church was 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:19.360 true as well so then he said well now is it important 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:22.500 to discuss what is in these pamphlets and the 00:10:22.500 --> 00:10:25.100 dad agreed it's not important to even delve into 00:10:25.100 --> 00:10:27.220 that because i know for myself from what i've 00:10:27.220 --> 00:10:28.960 prayed that that foundation those scriptures 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:32.019 are true so that that's that's all that's all 00:10:32.019 --> 00:10:36.220 the information he needed from there and so if 00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:39.080 you know he's followed this family they were 00:10:39.580 --> 00:10:41.679 quickly baptized. They were sealed a year later, 00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:43.740 and he's watched their lives. They've remained 00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:46.100 faithful in the church. He's even been able to 00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:50.100 perform a temple ceremony for, I guess, one of 00:10:50.100 --> 00:10:52.159 the granddaughters at this point. Amazing. I 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:55.679 love that. The conversions that are occurring 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:58.850 in our day are equally remarkable. Elder Cook 00:10:58.850 --> 00:11:02.710 says that last June, Coach Andy Reid, head football 00:11:02.710 --> 00:11:05.230 coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, and I, along 00:11:05.230 --> 00:11:06.970 with others representing our faith and other 00:11:06.970 --> 00:11:09.409 faiths, spoke in a multi -faith event at the 00:11:09.409 --> 00:11:12.350 Riverside Church in New York City. Coach Reid 00:11:12.350 --> 00:11:15.450 emphasized second chances and responded to invitations 00:11:15.450 --> 00:11:18.419 and opportunity. opportunities, which is what 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:21.139 the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about. The 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:23.279 next morning with our wives, Tammy, Reed, and 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:25.419 Mary, we attended the sacrament meeting at the 00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:28.279 Manhattan Second Ward. It was a spiritual service. 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:30.299 There were many new converts in the congregation. 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:33.840 Five recently baptized members, four men and 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:36.320 one young man, were among the Aaronic Priesthood 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:38.820 members passing the sacrament. I am happy to 00:11:38.820 --> 00:11:41.019 report that a similar influx of new members is 00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:43.559 happening throughout the church. With the internet 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:46.120 being what it is, it seems like all you hear 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:48.440 are public announcements. It's true, right, that 00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:51.700 people are leaving the church. But hearts are 00:11:51.700 --> 00:11:53.980 being softened and people are becoming more vocal 00:11:53.980 --> 00:11:56.360 about Jesus Christ. And people throughout the 00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:58.639 world are joining the church in a significant 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:01.779 way. That is so beautiful, Abby. It did touch 00:12:01.779 --> 00:12:03.919 my heart when he said that, because like, I agree. 00:12:04.059 --> 00:12:06.539 That's what you see, people very vocal and they're 00:12:06.539 --> 00:12:08.870 leaving. But when you look at... you know, a 00:12:08.870 --> 00:12:11.230 handful of stories to that compared to thousands 00:12:11.230 --> 00:12:14.129 and thousands that are entering around the world 00:12:14.129 --> 00:12:15.950 and the opportunities that it's creating for 00:12:15.950 --> 00:12:17.950 them and knowing that that foundational piece, 00:12:18.129 --> 00:12:19.730 the Book of Mormon, is what's changing their 00:12:19.730 --> 00:12:22.370 lives. Yeah. You know, I don't know the exact 00:12:22.370 --> 00:12:24.929 quote, but I've always loved this, that the work 00:12:24.929 --> 00:12:28.519 of the Lord moves forward without fanfare. I 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:31.000 love that because it's just, it's kind of like 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:34.039 nature. It's just steady and there's steady progress. 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:36.059 And pretty soon the snow outside is going to 00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:38.519 melt and the river is going to get, you know, 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:40.360 it rushes more and we're going to get leaves 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:42.899 on the trees. It's without fanfare. It just goes. 00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:46.000 But on the other side, as far as Satan is concerned, 00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:49.799 he does a lot of fanfare. So it's easy to take 00:12:49.799 --> 00:12:53.059 notice. Make it look like this is the trend, 00:12:53.179 --> 00:12:55.700 that this is the majority. And it's just not. 00:12:57.280 --> 00:12:59.960 Yes. I'm thinking that if I was a new convert 00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:01.620 listening to Elder Cook speak, I would have felt 00:13:01.620 --> 00:13:03.779 extra special when he said this. We are grateful 00:13:03.779 --> 00:13:05.899 for the noticeable increase in those who respond 00:13:05.899 --> 00:13:07.960 to sacred invitation, change their lives, and 00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:09.879 accept the opportunity to follow Jesus Christ. 00:13:10.179 --> 00:13:12.240 They enter the covenant path through faith, repentance, 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:14.460 baptism, and confirmation as taught in the Holy 00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:17.059 Bible and the Book of Mormon. That last line, 00:13:17.059 --> 00:13:18.779 you know, might serve as a reminder to all of 00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:20.440 us what the covenant path looks like. And it's 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:23.179 much easier to stay on when this sacred scriptures 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:27.139 end. allowing the Spirit to confirm the truths 00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:30.419 of those sacred scriptures. You know, don't just 00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:32.320 get thrown aside for some passing comment or 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:36.399 some influencer on the internet. We cannot underestimate 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:39.639 the significance of sacred scriptures, both in... 00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:42.720 conversions and also in remaining faithful to 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:44.980 the gospel. What did ancient prophets know? They 00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:47.240 knew about the mission of Jesus Christ and they 00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:50.320 taught his gospel. The book of Mormon helps us 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:53.440 draw closer to God as we learn, understand, and 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:55.860 apply its teachings. The prophet Joseph Smith 00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:58.899 taught a man or woman would get nearer to God 00:13:58.899 --> 00:14:01.460 by abiding by the book's precepts than by any 00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:04.720 other book. Amen. I'm glad that that scripture 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:07.419 was shared with us. Do you remember it being 00:14:07.419 --> 00:14:11.720 Sharon? Sharon? Sharon? I'm making up words here. 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:14.440 Do you remember a time in your childhood when 00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:18.700 that was presented to you? Shared. That's the 00:14:18.700 --> 00:14:22.100 word. You mean the quote by Joseph Smith? That 00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:24.779 you become no closer to God than any other book. 00:14:25.059 --> 00:14:27.399 Yeah, it was always like, wow. I wasn't even 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:29.039 great at reading the Book of Mormon back then 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:31.440 when that was shared with me. But shared, I used 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:34.509 it correctly right there. But as an adult. I've 00:14:34.509 --> 00:14:36.570 seen it multiple times. And I know for a fact 00:14:36.570 --> 00:14:40.509 that if I need something, if I need to recenter 00:14:40.509 --> 00:14:43.870 myself, if I need some firm footing, all I have 00:14:43.870 --> 00:14:45.649 to do is open the Book of Mormon. And the answer, 00:14:45.750 --> 00:14:48.610 it's there in some form. It takes me opening 00:14:48.610 --> 00:14:51.450 it. It takes me opting in and spending some time 00:14:51.450 --> 00:14:53.970 there. But the answers, I've never been failed. 00:14:54.049 --> 00:14:55.529 The answers have been there. I totally agree, 00:14:55.649 --> 00:14:58.960 Abby. He bore a simple yet powerful testimony. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:01.539 Next, he said, to know that the Book of Mormon 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:03.899 is the Word of God, we need to read, ponder, 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:05.779 and pray about it, and then act according to 00:15:05.779 --> 00:15:08.220 the precepts. The prophet Moroni promised that 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:10.360 God will reveal the truth of the book to us as 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:12.179 we pray with a sincere heart, with real intent, 00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:14.779 and with faith in Christ. Studying the Book of 00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:16.860 Mormon is essential for enduring conversion. 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:19.440 You can't read it and have a testimony of it 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:23.559 and think that that's going to withstand. you 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:25.039 know, the things that life's going to throw at 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:28.279 us. It's a constant, continuous process. Because 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:31.379 at the same time, you think my testimony that 00:15:31.379 --> 00:15:33.759 is so rock solid that nothing's going to happen 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:36.340 to it, Satan's going to take that as an opportunity 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:39.600 to put something else in its place. Oh, yeah. 00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:42.200 Especially when President Nelson said that he's 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:46.720 quadrupling his efforts and his tactics are varied 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:48.879 and they're different now. I mean, it's like 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:53.899 his game is on, ours needs to be too. Thank you. 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:57.259 Something to reflect on is how blessed we are 00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:59.240 to have the Bible and also the Book of Mormon, 00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:02.059 another testament of Jesus Christ. The Book of 00:16:02.059 --> 00:16:04.539 Mormon provides fundamental doctrine that enhances 00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:07.039 and builds upon the Bible. The doctrine of the 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:09.120 atonement of Jesus Christ is a profound example. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:11.759 The Bible provides an accurate account of the 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:13.820 mortal ministry of Jesus Christ, including his 00:16:13.820 --> 00:16:16.120 death and his resurrection. The Book of Mormon 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:18.419 is more explicit about the atonement of Jesus 00:16:18.419 --> 00:16:21.080 Christ, absolutely, something prophets explain 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:24.879 in detail prior to his death. I just this this 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:28.200 week, I was studying a talk that President Russell 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:30.980 M. Nelson gave back in 1995. And I absolutely 00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:34.240 love the way he masterfully he first shared a 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.539 scripture from Christ's mortal ministry from 00:16:36.539 --> 00:16:39.759 the Bible is Matthew five something. And then 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:42.340 the very next one that he shared was from the 00:16:42.340 --> 00:16:46.000 Book of Mormon. And it like. It just worked so 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:48.179 perfectly together. And I just love how it was 00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:50.480 seamless. It was like, well, this is what happened 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:52.100 here. But then it was different. Like he said, 00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:54.779 notice the change of words. It was actually, 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:57.419 he was saying, be therefore perfect, even as 00:16:57.419 --> 00:17:00.820 our father is perfect. Right before he died, 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:03.000 he said that. Then after his resurrection, he 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:06.180 says to the Nephites, be therefore perfect, even 00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:09.690 as I. He's like, notice the difference. He didn't. 00:17:09.690 --> 00:17:12.450 So he was talking about how that showed him about 00:17:12.450 --> 00:17:14.589 the resurrection, completed his perfection. I 00:17:14.589 --> 00:17:16.410 just loved it that that was available to us. 00:17:16.490 --> 00:17:19.670 So it's totally true that the Book of Mormon 00:17:19.670 --> 00:17:22.210 is explicit about the atonement of Jesus Christ. 00:17:22.430 --> 00:17:24.930 We get to learn so much from it. Another testament. 00:17:25.009 --> 00:17:27.390 It adds to it. It doesn't take away from it. 00:17:27.450 --> 00:17:31.710 I was reading some comments on some social media 00:17:31.710 --> 00:17:35.630 stuff and was informed that members of The Church 00:17:35.630 --> 00:17:37.410 of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints can't feel 00:17:37.410 --> 00:17:39.190 the Spirit. They're devoid of the Spirit because 00:17:39.190 --> 00:17:41.569 they've added Scripture to what was already there 00:17:41.569 --> 00:17:43.650 and perfect. And I was like, man, if you read 00:17:43.650 --> 00:17:45.509 the book, you'd let the Spirit tell you whether 00:17:45.509 --> 00:17:48.329 that was true or not. Amen. And, you know, I 00:17:48.329 --> 00:17:50.289 don't like to dabble in that. It's not like I 00:17:50.289 --> 00:17:52.289 was like looking for anti -Mormon literature. 00:17:52.650 --> 00:17:55.470 I was reading some comments just briefly. Just 00:17:55.470 --> 00:17:57.769 what are people's thoughts on this thing? A good 00:17:57.769 --> 00:17:59.809 temperature check. Yeah, what that did to me 00:17:59.809 --> 00:18:01.869 was just to help me reaffirm the testimony that 00:18:01.869 --> 00:18:04.609 I have of the sacred Scripture working in tandem. 00:18:05.049 --> 00:18:08.490 as they were always meant to. It makes perfect 00:18:08.490 --> 00:18:11.690 sense to have both of them to enhance the things 00:18:11.690 --> 00:18:14.390 that we already know, to bring out details that 00:18:14.390 --> 00:18:16.829 would be lost otherwise. I just love it. A full 00:18:16.829 --> 00:18:21.769 picture. I'm so grateful for it, Abby. A reminder 00:18:21.769 --> 00:18:24.130 about prophetic promises. Elder Russell M. Nelson 00:18:24.130 --> 00:18:26.490 said, I promise you that as you prayerfully study 00:18:26.490 --> 00:18:29.690 the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better 00:18:29.690 --> 00:18:32.660 decisions. Every day. He also promises that if 00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:34.519 you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, 00:18:34.619 --> 00:18:37.059 you can be immunized against the evils of the 00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:39.299 day. So to know that efforts are going to be 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:43.920 quadrupled on Satan's side and to know that the 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:46.240 immunization, the only immunization we need is 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:48.279 some time in the Book of Mormon. Yeah. That seems 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:50.819 like a pretty easy antidote, remedy, whatever 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:55.759 to take. It really is amazing. It is wise to 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:58.819 consider an action item here. Okay, so whether 00:18:58.819 --> 00:19:01.240 paper or electronic, what is working for each 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:03.819 of us in our own scripture study? How are we 00:19:03.819 --> 00:19:06.160 making time for it? Do we notice a difference 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:08.640 when we read? Are we approaching it systematically 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:12.119 or by topic? Are we asking questions as we go? 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:14.599 What is working? Abby, what's working for you 00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:18.230 right now? I think I kind of mentioned I had 00:19:18.230 --> 00:19:19.890 some time to think about this. The electronic 00:19:19.890 --> 00:19:22.930 copy is working for me. I love starting my week 00:19:22.930 --> 00:19:25.829 with the Come Follow Me chapters and some suggested 00:19:25.829 --> 00:19:28.650 things to study. I love reading the conference 00:19:28.650 --> 00:19:32.250 talks that are more dated that they insert into 00:19:32.250 --> 00:19:35.369 the Come Follow Me stuff so that I can see how 00:19:35.369 --> 00:19:37.890 all of that kind of works in tandem. And I like 00:19:37.890 --> 00:19:40.130 to get that done really early in the week because 00:19:40.130 --> 00:19:42.039 I feel like it. presents me with opportunities 00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:44.519 to have discussions with my kids in very normal 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:45.920 and natural ways. Like it's on your heart, right? 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:48.960 And it's not a checkbox thing for me, but that 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:52.059 kind of takes priority. And then I can move into, 00:19:52.339 --> 00:19:56.059 like, I've already shared this. On Sundays, I'm 00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:57.680 spending more time in the topical guide, working 00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:02.079 through all of the titles and things associated 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:03.940 with Jesus Christ. How's that going? It's great. 00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:06.619 I've already evolved it to the point where it's 00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:08.690 like... I was like, well, what's it going to 00:20:08.690 --> 00:20:10.390 take to do this in a year? What do I need to 00:20:10.390 --> 00:20:12.769 get it done for in a year? I love it. I got half 00:20:12.769 --> 00:20:15.470 my life left. So it may take a little bit longer 00:20:15.470 --> 00:20:19.250 and I may spend more time on like a certain like 00:20:19.250 --> 00:20:21.210 the birth of Jesus Christ. I'll tell you, that 00:20:21.210 --> 00:20:23.029 was that was a cool one for me just to think 00:20:23.029 --> 00:20:27.130 about him coming as a child and his condescension 00:20:27.130 --> 00:20:29.170 of Jesus Christ. Like alphabetically, I'm coming 00:20:29.170 --> 00:20:31.109 up with the words. I'm thinking it's amazing 00:20:31.109 --> 00:20:33.789 to stop and think on every facet of his life 00:20:33.789 --> 00:20:35.789 to think how important all of that was into. 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:39.019 gain whatever I can of that particular quality 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:42.059 or trait or experience that he had in this life. 00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:44.759 So yeah, it's electronic for me right now. But 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:47.519 I will say, I do love that you mentioned seasons 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:50.400 change. If at some point I feel like I'm getting 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:53.259 too far off the path of just a simple sacred 00:20:53.259 --> 00:20:56.700 doctrine, I might stick to my copy of an enzyme 00:20:56.700 --> 00:20:59.299 and a copy of the Book of Mormon imprint. That 00:20:59.299 --> 00:21:01.779 could be a thing. And if that's what people are 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:03.079 thinking, that's what I'm doing. And it's really 00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:06.160 working for me. Yay. I'm glad for you. What about 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:08.940 you? I will say this. I love when you just shared 00:21:08.940 --> 00:21:11.819 what your approach is right now. And I like how 00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:13.839 you said like you amended it. Yeah. You know, 00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:15.920 like being open to the spirit and being open 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:18.059 to. It's changed. And that's the thing, too. 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:19.859 You don't always know what it's going to look 00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:21.519 like until you jump into it. And then you're 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:23.960 like, oh, I understand why I had the impression 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:26.240 to start. And now I have a clearer vision of 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:28.359 what I'm doing with this. I'm the same way in 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:31.680 my study. I'll tell you why it evolved. I was 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:33.400 sitting there in sacrament and it did help me 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:36.140 like zero in on the beauty of the sacrament being 00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:39.960 passed because I was like, you know, on my phone 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:42.859 in a youthful way, not like in a game, which 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:44.640 I might tend to want to be into or something. 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:48.200 And I thought, you know, if I push through these 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:50.559 scriptures and don't spend the time like really 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:53.400 thinking about them and making them, you know, 00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:56.960 Adam, I'm developing. Being my testimony of each 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:58.720 of these words is what I'm doing. But anyway, 00:21:58.839 --> 00:22:02.559 if I try to blast through that too fast, the 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:04.940 Spirit was telling me, like, that's very checkboxy. 00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:06.380 That's not what we're going for. You're going 00:22:06.380 --> 00:22:09.640 for what lessons you can learn to become more 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:12.480 like Him. Yeah. And so I kind of had to take 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:14.640 the time restraint off of it. And that is just 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:16.200 going to take a while. I'm not even sure how 00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:17.900 long it's going to take. Totally. That's fine. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:19.880 And that is just fine. Being in the Scripture 00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:23.420 is wonderful. Elder Cook said, I'm particularly 00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:27.269 grateful that it allowed sacred. allows sacred 00:22:27.269 --> 00:22:30.130 books and church materials to be available digitally. 00:22:30.410 --> 00:22:33.509 Amen. They do a lot of work, like to make those 00:22:33.509 --> 00:22:35.329 apps successful. They've updated it recently, 00:22:35.430 --> 00:22:37.210 kind of make it more appealing. They want to 00:22:37.210 --> 00:22:41.269 be like every other app to draw your attention 00:22:41.269 --> 00:22:44.990 and suck you into it in a good way. He said, 00:22:45.150 --> 00:22:47.430 the internet is a powerful tool for studying 00:22:47.430 --> 00:22:49.549 the gospel. Today, many people share scriptures 00:22:49.549 --> 00:22:51.789 with friends using technology. There's a Book 00:22:51.789 --> 00:22:55.660 of Mormon app, for example. You can... you know, 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:57.559 share that out with people, just the same as 00:22:57.559 --> 00:23:00.099 handing like a paper copy of the book. And it's 00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:01.900 a great way that you can introduce friends to 00:23:01.900 --> 00:23:04.140 the Book of Mormon and easily share it in natural 00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:06.700 ways. Another huge blessing about technology 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:10.339 that came to me as I was preparing for this talk 00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:13.960 was how we can get the gospel into people's own 00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:16.240 tongue. They'll take those Book of Mormon videos. 00:23:16.599 --> 00:23:18.859 Years ago when those were coming out, we were 00:23:18.859 --> 00:23:20.799 on a church district tour with this guy named 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:22.220 Justin, and he was heavily involved with that 00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:27.519 project. So he showed us this. like, intro video 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:28.880 to get you excited about it. And I was like, 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:30.400 Oh, that's so amazing. And he brought out the 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:32.380 idea that when people are illiterate, they never 00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:34.460 get to have the Book of Mormon for themselves. 00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:36.819 They're counting on you telling them about it. 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:39.380 Right? Yeah. So the way that they did the Book 00:23:39.380 --> 00:23:43.660 of Mormon videos was to be so precise in, you 00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:46.319 know, what was said and really set the stage 00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:48.299 for people. So for the first time, people that 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:51.920 were illiterate could see it. Well, A gal in 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:54.779 our ward shared that her son, he's in Mexico. 00:23:55.740 --> 00:24:00.420 And so when you're in Peru, you've got Spanish 00:24:00.420 --> 00:24:02.259 and then you've got Quechua because it's the 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:04.619 ancient Incan language. When you're in Mexico, 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:07.240 you've got the Aztecs. You've got an ancient 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:10.019 Aztec dialect. Dialect, totally. You can never 00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:11.779 get the Book of Mormon into that. Oh, you could. 00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:13.700 It could take years. But actually, you can't 00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:16.119 because it's not a written language. It's impossible 00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:18.140 to translate the book into an oral. It would 00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:20.420 be someone who still speaks it, who would translate 00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:22.200 it. And good luck with that. So the right people 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:24.720 fell into the right ways. And I'm going to link 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:27.200 this article from LDS Living. But for $5 ,000, 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:30.319 they can take the videos that we have already 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:33.400 for the Book of Mormon. And then they can use 00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:36.559 these people that have this spoken language. 00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:40.039 And so then you've got the camera panning on 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:42.380 the eyes of these people who speak that language. 00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:45.869 Wow, Abby. And watch them. experience the Book 00:24:45.869 --> 00:24:47.589 of Mormon for themselves for the first time. 00:24:47.950 --> 00:24:51.250 It's so touching. So I was like, that's the truth. 00:24:51.589 --> 00:24:54.950 He's promised that he would get it into the hands 00:24:54.950 --> 00:24:58.460 of these ancient ancestors of the book. this 00:24:58.460 --> 00:25:00.339 is the way that it's happening right now because 00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:03.640 of technology. So as awful as it can be, isn't 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:06.039 it so amazing? That it's also a blessing. Yes. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:08.940 We know with these amazing benefits of technology 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:11.440 and the gospel that we have to be aware and prepared 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:14.059 for the digital boxes full of anti -literature 00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:15.579 out there, kind of like you touched on earlier. 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:19.359 Content meant to create doubt and undermine faith 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:22.099 in precious gospel principles. If it can be part 00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:24.259 of the evils of the day that President Nelson 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:27.089 mentioned, the adversary And those who assist 00:25:27.089 --> 00:25:30.109 him, knowingly or either unknowingly, have created 00:25:30.109 --> 00:25:32.190 on the internet the equivalent of the box of 00:25:32.190 --> 00:25:33.869 written material critical of the church that 00:25:33.869 --> 00:25:36.109 he described earlier. Yeah, rooms full of them, 00:25:36.109 --> 00:25:38.930 right? Intended to draw you away, each of us 00:25:38.930 --> 00:25:44.049 away from God's truth. Yeah. If you want to find 00:25:44.049 --> 00:25:46.710 anti -content, you can find a host of it. People 00:25:46.710 --> 00:25:50.259 poking fun at our leaders. One of the latest 00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:52.920 things they'll say, oh, your leaders, they don't 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:55.319 want you to question anything outside of what 00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:57.019 they're saying. They don't want you to look outside 00:25:57.019 --> 00:26:00.559 for information. I feel like that's a gross exaggeration 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:02.599 of what they're actually counseling us. Agreed. 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:05.279 This talk lays out the fact that it's scriptures 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:08.859 that must be our foundation. And when questions 00:26:08.859 --> 00:26:11.779 arise. To start with the sacred scripture. If 00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:13.359 you don't believe the Bible to be the word of 00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:15.880 God, certainly don't be pondering over the Bible 00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:17.180 to get your answers. Certainly don't be pondering. 00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:19.240 But if you do agree that the Bible has valid 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:21.759 content and can bring you closer to Jesus Christ, 00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:24.019 read that. If you're me and you know that the 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:25.660 Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus 00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:29.299 Christ, you'd be stupid to not, you know, accept 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:31.299 that as a primary source for the questions that 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:34.640 you're undertaking. Absolutely. They literally, 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:37.220 they just want you to feel bad about, about. 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:42.279 They want you to just not agree with the scriptures 00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:43.940 or what the prophet's saying and jump right to 00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:46.140 their content. No, listen to me. I'm much smarter 00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:48.140 than your prophet. What do I know about you? 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:52.099 You have my best intent at heart? I don't think 00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:55.359 so. Allow the spirit to guide your studies and 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:57.059 answer your questions rather than algorithms 00:26:57.059 --> 00:26:59.740 and social media that never work in your favor. 00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:02.619 They never uplift and edify. Can you go to the 00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:04.980 internet for answers? Absolutely. But if you 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:07.119 approach it with a heart determined to step off 00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:08.940 the covenant path, Satan's going to be more than 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:11.140 happy to lead you to people eager to get you 00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:13.140 there. Absolutely. Constantly checking yourself 00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:15.880 if the information that you're taking in is even 00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:19.720 credible, is a necessary key. What's their motivation 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:21.960 for providing the content that they are? What 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:25.109 sources are they referencing? And remember, not 00:27:25.109 --> 00:27:27.029 all sources are equal. Not everyone has your 00:27:27.029 --> 00:27:29.490 best interest at mind. 100%. It's interesting 00:27:29.490 --> 00:27:31.970 you say that, too, when he says determined to 00:27:31.970 --> 00:27:35.490 step off the covenant path. So when I have questions 00:27:35.490 --> 00:27:38.690 and I'm actually looking on the internet or something, 00:27:38.730 --> 00:27:41.339 I'm Googling something. I'll always start with 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:43.519 a prayer and I say, Heavenly Father, my intent 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:48.180 is to find truth that absolutely 100 % is in 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:50.440 line with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am not 00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:53.759 looking for anything to supplement or other than. 00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:56.299 I'm looking for truth. We'll call that divine 00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:58.420 Google search. Yep, divine Google search. So 00:27:58.420 --> 00:28:00.180 if it falls within there, then that's great. 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:03.380 I go ahead. And if your heart's constricted, 00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:05.480 it's hard. You want to be out and you're looking 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:07.680 for a reason to be out and you think that stacking 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:10.859 it with more... literature to get you there is 00:28:10.859 --> 00:28:13.579 going to be helpful, you're going to be begging 00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:17.019 for Satan to put that material in your face. 00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:19.980 It'll be definitely available to you. Agreed, 00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:22.759 Abby. He said this, both long -term members and 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:26.359 those newly studying the gospel need to be intentional 00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:29.380 about what they view. Do not entertain immoral, 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:32.240 dishonest, or unrighteous material. If you do... 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:34.740 algorithms can lead you down a path that destroys 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:37.420 your faith and impairs your eternal progression. 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:40.400 You can be acted upon positively or negatively, 00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:42.880 of course, right? Seek righteousness and avoid 00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:45.900 dark internet rabbit holes and doom scrolling. 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:49.359 Fill your life with positive, righteous ideas. 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:52.839 Be joyful, have fun, but avoid foolishness. There 00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:55.259 is a difference. The 13th Article of Faith is 00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:57.799 a marvelous guide. Above all, immerse yourself 00:28:57.799 --> 00:29:00.559 regularly in the Book of Mormon, which will draw 00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:02.759 the Spirit into your life and help you discern 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:07.420 truth from error. So, you know, what the question 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:09.680 we might ask is, what if a loved one has gone 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:12.750 down that rabbit hole? His apostolic counsel 00:29:12.750 --> 00:29:15.869 comes to us here. He says, return to the sacred 00:29:15.869 --> 00:29:18.430 scriptures, prophetic guidance, religious observance 00:29:18.430 --> 00:29:20.369 in the home and the music of faith. What he's 00:29:20.369 --> 00:29:23.450 saying is you individually do that. Yes. They're 00:29:23.450 --> 00:29:25.009 not in a mindset where they're going to want 00:29:25.009 --> 00:29:27.950 to do that, but you choose to do that. And that's 00:29:27.950 --> 00:29:31.849 going to change how you respond, support, love, 00:29:32.109 --> 00:29:34.829 despite, you know, now your differences and opinions 00:29:34.829 --> 00:29:36.839 about. about things that you're holding sacred. 00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:39.420 Every soul is precious to the Lord. We need you. 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:41.559 The Lord needs you and you need him. You will 00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:43.599 always be welcome. During my many years of church 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:46.000 service, he said, I have cherished the wonderful 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:48.079 people who returned to the covenant path and 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:50.079 then served and blessed everyone they loved or 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:52.279 with whom they came in contact with. I want to 00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:54.240 add my testimony to that. Somebody that strayed 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:56.279 from the gospel of Jesus Christ and found their 00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:58.769 way back. are my favorite people in the world 00:29:58.769 --> 00:30:01.029 because they've done the hard work without me 00:30:01.029 --> 00:30:03.730 having to. And I can see the testimony that they've 00:30:03.730 --> 00:30:08.930 grown in that process. I'm just grateful. Right 00:30:08.930 --> 00:30:12.470 now, I can't hold my life together without the 00:30:12.470 --> 00:30:15.289 gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't want to intentionally 00:30:15.289 --> 00:30:18.890 steer off of it, but I'm hoping that people that 00:30:18.890 --> 00:30:21.029 have been off and they're looking for a reason 00:30:21.029 --> 00:30:23.869 to come back or a way to come back, know that 00:30:23.869 --> 00:30:26.380 it's as simple as starting with. with the scriptures 00:30:26.380 --> 00:30:30.440 and knowing that they come with so much valuable 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:33.500 knowledge on the backswing of things. Don't you 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:36.339 think? Very powerful. Yes, Abby. Always remember 00:30:36.339 --> 00:30:38.279 that the sacred scriptures and living prophets 00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:41.079 are love notes from heaven. Love it. They are 00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:43.220 the vehicle by which Heavenly Father makes His 00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:45.819 plan of happiness available to all of His children. 00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:49.319 Any last thoughts? No. Do you have anything for 00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:51.000 us in closing? I'm going to close with this testimony. 00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:53.839 He said, I bear sure witness of the divinity 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:55.880 of Jesus Christ. And I'm just going to end with 00:30:55.880 --> 00:30:59.039 his sweet, simple testimony. What he said was, 00:30:59.180 --> 00:31:01.259 I bear my sure witness of the divinity of Jesus 00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:03.819 Christ and the reality of his atonement because 00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:06.319 of the things we have learned for ourselves through 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:08.579 scripture study. Amy and I add our testimony 00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:11.099 to that testimony as well. And we do that in 00:31:11.099 --> 00:31:13.599 his name, Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen.