WEBVTT 00:00:07.179 --> 00:00:09.480 Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference, 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:11.880 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:13.619 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:13.619 --> 00:00:16.460 Conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's 00:00:16.460 --> 00:00:31.820 jump into it. Happy Palm Sunday. We're so excited 00:00:31.820 --> 00:00:34.820 to kick off the April 2025 session of General 00:00:34.820 --> 00:00:37.500 Conference. And as we promised, we have moved 00:00:37.500 --> 00:00:40.740 the prophet's address to the very front of the 00:00:40.740 --> 00:00:43.280 stack. So today we'll be discussing confidence 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:45.619 in the presence of God by our prophet, President 00:00:45.619 --> 00:00:49.640 Russell M. Nelson. Let me start with one of my 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:53.399 favorite first line themes. He says, we live 00:00:53.399 --> 00:00:55.570 in a day of great momentum. in the Church of 00:00:55.570 --> 00:00:57.250 Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints. Don't you 00:00:57.250 --> 00:01:00.310 love that word? I do. And it kind of made me 00:01:00.310 --> 00:01:02.649 think of all of the things that are like momentum. 00:01:02.710 --> 00:01:04.849 As momentum is, it's just growing, it's building, 00:01:04.969 --> 00:01:07.629 and it's going with like fastness and urgency 00:01:07.629 --> 00:01:11.049 as it keeps building and building. And he listed 00:01:11.049 --> 00:01:12.890 a few things. He talked about the youth and their 00:01:12.890 --> 00:01:16.310 service in the temple, just service in the communities 00:01:16.310 --> 00:01:18.170 and the work that they're doing in the temples 00:01:18.170 --> 00:01:21.450 and family history. He talked about missionary 00:01:21.450 --> 00:01:25.719 applications really increasing. And he said very 00:01:25.719 --> 00:01:27.840 flattering words. He said, this generation is 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:30.040 rising up. I love that. The rising generation 00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:33.500 is rising up. I was like, yes. And probably like 00:01:33.500 --> 00:01:36.060 a lot of you, we had some of those rising generations 00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:39.000 kind of about our feet as the conference kicked 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:42.060 off. And I thought, I do feel good about where 00:01:42.060 --> 00:01:45.680 we're at. And I think we are in good hands. He 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:47.879 showed the picture of his great grandbaby. And 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:51.159 my kids were just like, oh, that's so cute. And 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:53.579 he brought something up about. you know, looking 00:01:53.579 --> 00:01:56.019 at this baby, maybe some fears or concerns that 00:01:56.019 --> 00:01:58.159 she's going to experience in her life. Did you 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:00.620 have that experience when you and Garrett were 00:02:00.620 --> 00:02:02.359 thinking of bringing children into the world? 00:02:02.780 --> 00:02:05.299 Did you for once hesitate? I didn't, which is 00:02:05.299 --> 00:02:08.639 hilarious. Once I had the children, yes, I definitely 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:11.460 thought that way. Yeah. I just felt like that 00:02:11.460 --> 00:02:13.240 was something I've always wanted to do, so I 00:02:13.240 --> 00:02:15.259 didn't question it. You know what I mean? Beforehand. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:16.860 But yeah, afterwards, when I look at their sweet 00:02:16.860 --> 00:02:19.629 little faces. You bet. And it just brought to 00:02:19.629 --> 00:02:23.030 remembrance, like on my own, like I was 24 at 00:02:23.030 --> 00:02:26.229 marriage, 26 when we had our first kid. So like 00:02:26.229 --> 00:02:28.849 somewhere, you know, around age 25, I know that 00:02:28.849 --> 00:02:30.830 I contemplated that. I was like looking at the 00:02:30.830 --> 00:02:32.889 world around me and I'm like, is it wise to bring 00:02:32.889 --> 00:02:35.550 children into this earth? And I got a confirmation 00:02:35.550 --> 00:02:38.110 from the spirit that it would all be all right 00:02:38.110 --> 00:02:40.030 and that we would have the tools necessary. And 00:02:40.030 --> 00:02:41.710 it was really cool. It was like a sweet moment 00:02:41.710 --> 00:02:44.189 for me to think we're 16 years into this and 00:02:44.189 --> 00:02:47.219 we've brought five children into the world. you 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:50.240 know, yeah, they're faced with some challenging 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:55.840 things. But we all have to counter that fear 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:58.340 with something better. And the prophet suggested, 00:02:58.659 --> 00:03:02.419 and it's just age -old advice, that faith in 00:03:02.419 --> 00:03:06.439 Jesus Christ is what parents need to make that 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:09.719 decision, to make that leap into parenthood and 00:03:09.719 --> 00:03:12.500 teaching their children. faith in Jesus Christ 00:03:12.500 --> 00:03:15.580 for them to be able to sustain, to help provide 00:03:15.580 --> 00:03:18.080 the greatest opportunity for future happiness 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:22.219 for them. He said, we can count on these things 00:03:22.219 --> 00:03:24.379 in our earth life experience. We can count on 00:03:24.379 --> 00:03:27.199 challenges, illness, disappointment, temptation, 00:03:27.419 --> 00:03:32.379 and loss. I'm like, sign me up, man. He's real. 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:35.300 He's so real. These challenges can knock our 00:03:35.300 --> 00:03:38.319 self -confidence. However, bolded this, disciples 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:41.400 of Jesus Christ have access to a different kind 00:03:41.400 --> 00:03:46.379 of confidence. Love it. I love that. Do you have 00:03:46.379 --> 00:03:49.219 a favorite piece or part that you want to share? 00:03:49.419 --> 00:03:52.939 Do you want me to? So you're pretty much sharing 00:03:52.939 --> 00:03:57.500 what it is. I love how he says, now, how do we 00:03:57.500 --> 00:03:59.759 gain such confidence? He said, the Lord answers 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:02.180 this question with these words, let thy bowels 00:04:02.180 --> 00:04:05.180 be full of charity toward all men and let virtue 00:04:05.180 --> 00:04:08.219 garnish thy thoughts unceasingly. Then shall 00:04:08.219 --> 00:04:10.500 they confidence wax strong in the presence of 00:04:10.500 --> 00:04:13.099 God. And I love it too, because right here he 00:04:13.099 --> 00:04:15.860 talks about confidence with the words that the 00:04:15.860 --> 00:04:17.600 Lord said. And then I loved it because when I 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:19.560 looked up charity in the Bible dictionary, it 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:23.040 says the highest, noblest, strongest kind of 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:26.079 love, not merely affection, the pure love of 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:28.199 Christ. Oops, wrong one. I was looking at purity. 00:04:29.220 --> 00:04:32.620 Sorry, virtue. No, charity was good. But this 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:35.819 is what he said. This is the virtue says the 00:04:35.819 --> 00:04:39.180 Latin root word. Virtuous means strength. And 00:04:39.180 --> 00:04:41.339 then he says, virtuous women and men possess 00:04:41.339 --> 00:04:44.399 a quiet dignity and inner strength. They are 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:47.000 confident because they are worthy to receive 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:50.660 and be guided by the Holy Ghost. So I loved the 00:04:50.660 --> 00:04:54.100 fact that the word confident was part. Was in 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:56.759 the definition of virtue. Yes, of virtue. He 00:04:56.759 --> 00:04:59.379 has it right on talking about confidence this 00:04:59.379 --> 00:05:02.439 whole time because covenantal confidence is definitely 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:05.680 a thing. Yeah, those two paired together really. 00:05:06.250 --> 00:05:10.970 If we're constantly assessing ourselves, how 00:05:10.970 --> 00:05:14.569 am I being charitable and am I letting virtue 00:05:14.569 --> 00:05:18.290 garnish my thoughts? Kind of always giving yourself 00:05:18.290 --> 00:05:20.910 a check and balance of the decision you're making 00:05:20.910 --> 00:05:23.730 daily. So do you have more on that? Did you kind 00:05:23.730 --> 00:05:25.769 of deep dive into those two things for yourself? 00:05:25.949 --> 00:05:28.110 Or do you feel like you covered what you wanted 00:05:28.110 --> 00:05:29.269 to say about that? Yeah, I pretty much covered 00:05:29.269 --> 00:05:31.930 what I wanted to say. I do love what Marvin J. 00:05:32.110 --> 00:05:35.470 Ashton said back in 1992 about charity. He says, 00:05:35.490 --> 00:05:37.670 real charity is not something you give away. 00:05:38.149 --> 00:05:41.050 It is something that you acquire and make part 00:05:41.050 --> 00:05:45.040 of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes 00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:47.120 implanted in your heart, you are never the same 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:49.839 again. And I love this because President Nelson 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:52.899 also said these words. He says, it makes the 00:05:52.899 --> 00:05:54.899 thought of being critical or verbally abusive 00:05:54.899 --> 00:05:57.899 repulsive. For sure. It changes your nature. 00:05:58.120 --> 00:06:01.620 For sure. Love that. That stuff that you would 00:06:01.620 --> 00:06:05.079 normally be inclined to say gives you second 00:06:05.079 --> 00:06:07.139 pause and thought to be like, that's not the 00:06:07.139 --> 00:06:11.370 person that I want to be here. I love that. So 00:06:11.370 --> 00:06:13.790 did you see the paragraph? I mean, he didn't 00:06:13.790 --> 00:06:15.850 mince words here. He said regular worship in 00:06:15.850 --> 00:06:18.110 the house of the Lord increases our capacity 00:06:18.110 --> 00:06:20.569 for both virtue and charity. So you could say 00:06:20.569 --> 00:06:22.569 like, how am I going to increase in charity and 00:06:22.569 --> 00:06:24.350 virtue? And you can think of a million things. 00:06:24.470 --> 00:06:26.790 I think I'd actually like to go into some baby 00:06:26.790 --> 00:06:29.269 steps to get there. But what I loved was that 00:06:29.269 --> 00:06:32.839 at the very end of it. or the way that it cycles 00:06:32.839 --> 00:06:35.560 back is that it's all going to point towards 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:37.680 the temple and the temple points towards Jesus 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:40.800 Christ. And so he's who we want to emulate. He's 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:44.100 who we want to strive to be like. And this is 00:06:44.100 --> 00:06:47.680 the prophet that has announced, dedicated, whatever, 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:51.139 half of the temples that are functioning on the 00:06:51.139 --> 00:06:53.730 earth. Since his presidency. Serious. I took 00:06:53.730 --> 00:06:55.649 a little quiz. Like this guy was like putting 00:06:55.649 --> 00:06:58.490 these things on. It's like 55 % of the temples 00:06:58.490 --> 00:07:00.990 that are announced or dedicated have happened 00:07:00.990 --> 00:07:02.629 since President Nelson became the prophet. Since 00:07:02.629 --> 00:07:05.649 2018. Is there any question in your mind what 00:07:05.649 --> 00:07:09.870 his specific goal and mission is? I mean, I know 00:07:09.870 --> 00:07:11.769 everybody's trying to get us ready to meet our, 00:07:11.850 --> 00:07:15.269 you know, ready for the great and terrible day. 00:07:17.189 --> 00:07:20.889 He's had the resources available and the momentum 00:07:20.889 --> 00:07:26.050 and the gusto to be the prophet of our day that 00:07:26.050 --> 00:07:27.930 is just making this happen for people all over 00:07:27.930 --> 00:07:31.110 the world. And I think that's so exciting. And 00:07:31.110 --> 00:07:33.310 he said that we do not know the day or the hour 00:07:33.310 --> 00:07:36.970 of his coming, but the Lord has prompted and 00:07:36.970 --> 00:07:39.970 urged him to tell everybody, be ready for that 00:07:39.970 --> 00:07:43.050 great and dreadful day. I love when he said his 00:07:43.050 --> 00:07:50.040 words were, just like you said, he didn't know 00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:53.060 when it was, but I do know that the Lord is prompting 00:07:53.060 --> 00:07:57.980 me to urge us to get ready. It made it very personal. 00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:02.480 And like when he said the word that the Lord 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:05.360 is prompting me, I had the spirit bear witness 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:09.740 to my heart that he is God's mouthpiece on the 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:12.639 earth, that he speaks directly with Jesus Christ. 00:08:13.930 --> 00:08:16.250 The Spirit just confirmed in my heart that they 00:08:16.250 --> 00:08:20.129 have a very close bond and that I trust President 00:08:20.129 --> 00:08:22.990 Nelson with all of my heart. I know he receives 00:08:22.990 --> 00:08:25.810 personal revelation and revelation for the entire 00:08:25.810 --> 00:08:30.790 world. He said, prayer is one way. He said, imagine 00:08:30.790 --> 00:08:32.730 the comfort of having confidence in the presence 00:08:32.730 --> 00:08:34.970 of God. So what you're saying to me, that line 00:08:34.970 --> 00:08:37.610 pops out that I'm like, what he's saying is he 00:08:37.610 --> 00:08:40.110 has absolute confidence to have these conversations 00:08:40.110 --> 00:08:42.649 in a very real and personal way. And he said, 00:08:42.669 --> 00:08:44.690 imagine knowing right now, right this second, 00:08:44.769 --> 00:08:47.350 that you would be confident enough to approach 00:08:47.350 --> 00:08:50.990 him. I love it. So he says this of Heavenly Father. 00:08:51.129 --> 00:08:53.399 He hears us. He understands our needs better 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:56.379 than we do. I'm referring to having confidence 00:08:56.379 --> 00:08:58.559 that He loves us more than we can comprehend 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:01.659 and that He sends angels to be with us and with 00:09:01.659 --> 00:09:04.500 those that we love. I'm referring to having confidence 00:09:04.500 --> 00:09:07.600 that He yearns to help each of us reach our highest 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:12.240 potential. Isn't that amazing? It is. It does 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:14.379 bring me comfort to hear those words. A little 00:09:14.379 --> 00:09:18.100 different line, but a little farther down. He 00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:21.279 makes an invitation to us. He says, Take intentional 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:24.279 steps to grow in your confidence before the Lord. 00:09:25.419 --> 00:09:28.240 He invites us. I love when he uses the word, 00:09:28.259 --> 00:09:30.759 I invite, before that. You know, he's like, I 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:33.039 want to take every invitation that he gives to 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:35.980 us. And I thought, well, he's really asking us 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:38.399 to assess how we're showing charity and how we're 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:40.820 demonstrating virtue, little changes day by day. 00:09:40.919 --> 00:09:43.519 But then I thought, you know, what might that 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:47.820 look like for some of us? And so I spent some 00:09:47.820 --> 00:09:50.320 time thinking about prayer. consistent prayer 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:53.100 and and the type that where you're not just asking 00:09:53.100 --> 00:09:55.820 for things but you're also listening you're also 00:09:55.820 --> 00:09:58.480 you're also just making yourself present another 00:09:58.480 --> 00:10:01.159 conference talk that we'll get into talked about 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:05.320 just Imagine sitting there with the Savior right 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:07.960 there and having this conversation with Him. 00:10:08.059 --> 00:10:10.340 We'll get deeper into that when we land on that 00:10:10.340 --> 00:10:12.879 talk again. But I was like, it's such a beautiful 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:15.299 thing to do because it makes the conversation 00:10:15.299 --> 00:10:18.519 much different. It makes prayer not a laundry 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:21.100 list of asking for things, but it's a real conversation 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:27.259 with a friend. It says our confidence grows when 00:10:27.259 --> 00:10:29.220 we feel connected to God and prayer is the direct 00:10:29.220 --> 00:10:31.080 line to building that intimate relationship with 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:34.659 Him. I'm going to come to you with my things 00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:37.500 and I'm going to listen as you have some thoughts 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:41.240 back for me. And you'll see me take that to heart 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:43.860 and implement that. And, you know, our next session 00:10:43.860 --> 00:10:45.360 together is going to look a little bit different. 00:10:45.779 --> 00:10:48.419 I love all of that. So they're honest conversations 00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:50.299 and you're talking about your doubts and your 00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:53.039 fears and your hopes, all of the things. And 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:57.200 like any good parent, he's, I would pretty much 00:10:57.200 --> 00:11:04.519 say. 99 % of the time, he's not going to overstep 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:07.399 the boundary of agency to tell us something unless 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:11.000 we invite that. Totally. And so, I mean, I'm 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:12.580 thinking of, you know, Alba the Younger with 00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:15.399 an angel, right? He didn't necessarily ask for 00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:17.299 it, but his parents did. And so that's kind of 00:11:17.299 --> 00:11:19.659 a blessing of compensation for his parents' righteousness. 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:22.399 But yeah, he's not going to just sit there and 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.960 start talking to you and just lay everything 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:26.299 out when, number one, you haven't asked. And 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:28.519 number two, you haven't made space and said, 00:11:28.539 --> 00:11:31.799 like, I value your input and I want it and I'm 00:11:31.799 --> 00:11:33.929 ready to act right now. That's not how it works. 00:11:33.950 --> 00:11:36.289 The prophet perfectly emulates exactly how they 00:11:36.289 --> 00:11:38.990 would be. He invites us to take these steps forward, 00:11:39.129 --> 00:11:41.350 to be intentional and to do this thing. So you 00:11:41.350 --> 00:11:43.049 might look at him and be like, of course, he's 00:11:43.049 --> 00:11:45.450 confident to meet the Lord. But what he's saying 00:11:45.450 --> 00:11:47.649 is you can be just as confident. You don't have 00:11:47.649 --> 00:11:51.570 to be a prophet of God. And he also didn't list 00:11:51.570 --> 00:11:54.210 these things. I'm sharing with you some things 00:11:54.210 --> 00:11:56.210 that I've pondered on as I'm looking into the 00:11:56.210 --> 00:11:59.789 talk. He points you to the temple, whatever it's 00:11:59.789 --> 00:12:01.350 going to take to get you into the temple doors. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:06.480 that's key for him. But I thought, you know, 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:08.440 I love the word intentional and I like to think 00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:10.139 about the things I'm doing and how I'm intentionally 00:12:10.139 --> 00:12:12.919 doing them. So that's, this is me. I'm not really 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:16.220 making a checklist of things, but I'm just sharing 00:12:16.220 --> 00:12:18.019 like what, how I think, you know, a really society 00:12:18.019 --> 00:12:19.879 lesson would go that somebody would say, you 00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:21.799 know, I'm, how I'm being intentional and becoming 00:12:21.799 --> 00:12:24.419 more confident with the Lord is in how I communicate 00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:27.159 with them in prayer. Maybe it's a prayer journaling 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:29.860 situation where it's not like it's a more open 00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:31.720 dialogue and you're really just opening yourself 00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:33.500 the whole day to hear what he has to say for 00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:35.720 you. Love that. Or that you're bringing, you're 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:39.000 telling him things that he already knows, but 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:40.840 you're feeling comfortable knowing that he's 00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:42.539 the person that wants to know these things. For 00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:46.240 sure. Yes. So, you know, our engagement in the 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:48.259 scriptures, we've dabbled in this a few different 00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:51.519 ways, a few different times, but finding maybe 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:55.769 finding some scripture verses that. point to, 00:12:55.870 --> 00:12:59.809 you know, virtue and charity of our Savior and 00:12:59.809 --> 00:13:01.769 thinking on those, reflecting on those a little 00:13:01.769 --> 00:13:04.029 bit more. Do a little deep dive into those for 00:13:04.029 --> 00:13:06.450 sure. And also I was thinking as we bring, and 00:13:06.450 --> 00:13:08.809 I think you agree, as we bring the prophet's 00:13:08.809 --> 00:13:10.409 message, even though it was the last talk of 00:13:10.409 --> 00:13:12.269 the session, when we bring it to the top of it, 00:13:12.350 --> 00:13:15.769 kind of see, we'll kind of see how it weaves, 00:13:15.769 --> 00:13:18.389 every talk weaved into this perfect tapestry 00:13:18.389 --> 00:13:23.110 of the message that he shared at the end. which 00:13:23.110 --> 00:13:25.269 was prerecorded and he didn't exactly know what 00:13:25.269 --> 00:13:26.970 everybody was going to be talking about. But 00:13:26.970 --> 00:13:28.889 I have confidence that as we go through each 00:13:28.889 --> 00:13:32.269 conference talk, we'll be drawn to the prophet's 00:13:32.269 --> 00:13:36.309 words and be like, oh, that's how we can amplify 00:13:36.309 --> 00:13:38.409 the prophet's words and reflect what he said. 00:13:38.509 --> 00:13:41.210 So that'll be kind of a mission of mine, maybe 00:13:41.210 --> 00:13:43.990 of yours too, as we're doing each conference 00:13:43.990 --> 00:13:48.929 talk that we say, how is this helping us accept 00:13:48.929 --> 00:13:51.919 the prophet's invitation too? increase in charity 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:56.919 and virtue right um so conference talks i would 00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:58.899 put that in in scripture because it is modern 00:13:58.899 --> 00:14:02.000 scripture absolutely that it it's not like something 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:05.860 to just be consumed in one weekend it's i i definitely 00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:08.500 heard one of the conference talks suggest that 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:11.100 over the next six months that we're going to 00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:15.409 dive into them glean what we can from them. And 00:14:15.409 --> 00:14:17.169 I love that because I felt like that's exactly 00:14:17.169 --> 00:14:19.470 what I felt blessed with in this podcast, that 00:14:19.470 --> 00:14:21.509 I can just enjoy conference weekend for what 00:14:21.509 --> 00:14:23.850 it is. Just the overall theme, you can see some 00:14:23.850 --> 00:14:25.629 themes. I'm sure we all had different things 00:14:25.629 --> 00:14:28.029 that we saw, but that as we go and we deep dive 00:14:28.029 --> 00:14:29.409 into them, we're like, that's what I'm ready 00:14:29.409 --> 00:14:31.750 to hear right now. That's the step that I'm ready 00:14:31.750 --> 00:14:35.210 to make. I thought it was a really neat idea 00:14:35.210 --> 00:14:39.250 to reflect on past faithfulness, meaning when 00:14:39.250 --> 00:14:41.070 you stop and you think of moments in your life 00:14:41.070 --> 00:14:44.309 where God's presence was given to you in small 00:14:44.309 --> 00:14:45.870 and simple ways. Sometimes you journal that, 00:14:45.970 --> 00:14:49.409 sometimes it's just a memory in a photo, just 00:14:49.409 --> 00:14:52.990 a passing thought. But when you can look back 00:14:52.990 --> 00:14:55.509 on little pieces of your life that remind you 00:14:55.509 --> 00:14:57.389 of what he's done for you in the past, it helps 00:14:57.389 --> 00:14:58.929 you know what he will do for you in the future. 00:14:59.049 --> 00:15:01.370 Absolutely. I love it too, because I feel like 00:15:01.370 --> 00:15:04.129 there were a lot of times that someone said, 00:15:05.629 --> 00:15:08.230 The phrase that was used was preparatory experiences. 00:15:08.409 --> 00:15:11.090 Love it. That's exactly what that is, is every 00:15:11.090 --> 00:15:13.909 experience, every spiritual experience, every 00:15:13.909 --> 00:15:16.750 connection with God is a preparatory experience 00:15:16.750 --> 00:15:19.870 and it builds upon and builds upon what comes 00:15:19.870 --> 00:15:21.090 next. And you don't really know that it was a 00:15:21.090 --> 00:15:23.029 preparatory experience until you have the big 00:15:23.029 --> 00:15:24.529 shebang. No, it feels like the final end. You 00:15:24.529 --> 00:15:26.649 think that and you think your capacity is at 00:15:26.649 --> 00:15:28.370 its max, but then you get to the big shebang 00:15:28.370 --> 00:15:30.350 and you're like, oh, that experience prepared 00:15:30.350 --> 00:15:33.000 me for. This one that I'm having now. Whether 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:35.000 you like it or not, Abby. And unfortunately, 00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:37.100 it may also just be another preparatory experience 00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:40.059 for the next bigger one. For sure. I love the 00:15:40.059 --> 00:15:42.720 idea of practicing small and simple steps. So 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:45.559 whatever you're doing now that you think is drawing 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:48.299 you closer to the Lord, it's like a 1 % better 00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:51.600 idea. Like, what can you do a little bit? What 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:54.820 can you do to, you know, if your prayers seem 00:15:54.820 --> 00:15:57.000 kind of like short, simple, and which is there's 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:59.529 nothing wrong with that, but rote. Like, you're 00:15:59.529 --> 00:16:01.649 just saying the same thing time after time. That's 00:16:01.649 --> 00:16:03.610 one step. And that's the only thing that you 00:16:03.610 --> 00:16:06.330 should make. Like, really, the only thing you 00:16:06.330 --> 00:16:07.929 need to focus on right now. Oh, yeah. And it 00:16:07.929 --> 00:16:09.070 would change everything. It doesn't have to be 00:16:09.070 --> 00:16:12.409 15 different things. It can be one thing in small 00:16:12.409 --> 00:16:14.450 and simple ways. I love that you're saying small 00:16:14.450 --> 00:16:16.409 and simple ways. That was something that came 00:16:16.409 --> 00:16:18.210 to my mind over and over again as I studied this 00:16:18.210 --> 00:16:20.970 talk. The first thing that came to mind was I 00:16:20.970 --> 00:16:23.389 was like, President Nelson is so real. He is 00:16:23.389 --> 00:16:26.340 saying. Things are hard. This is the current 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:28.100 challenge. Like, for example, one of them was 00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:29.899 he said, brothers and sisters, as the world grows 00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:32.679 more wicked, we need to grow increasingly pure. 00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:34.860 Does he have his head in the sand about how things 00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:37.600 are? No, he's saying, I know this is one of your 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:41.840 challenges of right now. And then I love he has 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:44.059 prophetic anecdotes. And like you said, small 00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:46.779 and simple things. I loved this part. Like I 00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:50.169 geek out over it. Our thoughts, words, and actions, 00:16:50.269 --> 00:16:52.850 those are all very small, need to be unfailingly 00:16:52.850 --> 00:16:55.169 virtuous and filled with the pure love of Jesus 00:16:55.169 --> 00:16:57.990 Christ towards all men. And then he even gave 00:16:57.990 --> 00:17:01.090 us a practice in thought management, which I 00:17:01.090 --> 00:17:03.730 thought was amazing. I loved it. He's 100 years 00:17:03.730 --> 00:17:06.329 old and he's doing this. He says, imagine the 00:17:06.329 --> 00:17:08.569 boost you'll receive to any positive thought 00:17:08.569 --> 00:17:11.269 when you enhance it with virtue. In my mind, 00:17:11.269 --> 00:17:14.539 I'm like seeing. the thought and then like a 00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:16.759 little plus and then virtue afterwards and it 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:19.579 grows exponentially. And then he said, virtue 00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:22.420 makes everything better and happier. On the other 00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:25.019 hand, imagine what will happen when you add virtue 00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:27.720 to an impure thought. So we have a negative, 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:29.579 an impure thought, but then when you're adding 00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:31.960 virtue to it, it cancels it out, right? A cruel 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:34.960 thought, a depressing thought. Virtue will drive 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:38.279 away those thoughts. Virtue will free you from 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:41.599 anxiety. or sorry, anxious, troublesome thoughts. 00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:46.059 Honestly, who sitting at the feet of the prophet 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:49.519 has not had or currently having right now anxious, 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:52.079 troublesome thoughts about the world we live 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:54.599 in? So I just love that. It was like, he was 00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:58.759 so real. He addressed a problem that we all have 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:02.099 right now and then gave very practical, small 00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:06.059 and simple steps. Can you quickly reference the 00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:09.609 definition of? Virtue one more time. Absolutely, 00:18:09.710 --> 00:18:15.450 I will. The Latin root word virtus means strength. 00:18:16.109 --> 00:18:19.589 Virtuous women and men possess a quality or sorry, 00:18:19.650 --> 00:18:22.690 a quiet dignity and inner strength. They're confident 00:18:22.690 --> 00:18:25.049 because they are worthy to receive and be guided 00:18:25.049 --> 00:18:29.630 by the Holy Ghost. So you said a thought and 00:18:29.630 --> 00:18:33.740 the plus sign and then. And then you put in all 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:35.680 those other words and I was like trying to think 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:39.220 back to the exact phrasing of that. But like 00:18:39.220 --> 00:18:41.420 you said, it's like a math equation and it cancels 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:43.710 all the negative thoughts out. And that's so 00:18:43.710 --> 00:18:45.690 great. Like to have that in my mind and to teach 00:18:45.690 --> 00:18:48.150 my kids and remind them of that. That's a pretty 00:18:48.150 --> 00:18:50.410 simple thing to do to truly turn your day around. 00:18:50.509 --> 00:18:52.150 For sure. Because if the thought process leads 00:18:52.150 --> 00:18:54.170 us to one of those negative attributes that we're 00:18:54.170 --> 00:18:56.190 not really shooting for, then we say, okay, how 00:18:56.190 --> 00:18:58.549 can I bring virtue into this equation so that 00:18:58.549 --> 00:19:00.490 I can cancel that thought out? Which really is 00:19:00.490 --> 00:19:03.069 an inner strength and a quiet dignity. Love it. 00:19:03.509 --> 00:19:06.960 Yeah. And would you agree that? For each individual, 00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:08.500 like the thing that we're going to immediately 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:10.220 gravitate to is going to be kind of a little 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:12.220 different to cancel out. Absolutely. I understand 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:13.960 that the word is virtue that we're going for, 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:16.680 but would you agree like this list of ideas, 00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:19.940 prayer or reflecting on a conference talk or 00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:23.140 something to like boost your morale, boost your 00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:26.420 focus, point you closer to Jesus Christ? What 00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:28.819 is your thing of virtue, whether it's a hymn 00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:34.309 or a primary song? Yes. That's a good idea. spending 00:19:34.309 --> 00:19:37.150 time praising God with song. Love it. Listening. 00:19:37.309 --> 00:19:39.369 I think sometimes songs have the best way of 00:19:39.369 --> 00:19:42.029 articulating thoughts. I love like in the sacrament 00:19:42.029 --> 00:19:44.750 when I'm listening to a sacrament hymn in a beautiful 00:19:44.750 --> 00:19:47.130 way, like it weaves the story of our Savior. 00:19:48.890 --> 00:19:51.410 I a lot of times would like to just like read 00:19:51.410 --> 00:19:53.950 the hymns through as a poem or whatever right 00:19:53.950 --> 00:19:56.549 after. If I wasn't busy in the topical guide 00:19:56.549 --> 00:19:58.450 right now, I'd be doing that more. But that's 00:19:58.450 --> 00:20:01.430 always a great thing because usually it brings 00:20:01.430 --> 00:20:03.250 our heart to gratitude and it shifts our focus 00:20:03.250 --> 00:20:06.210 from where it's been to where it should be. I 00:20:06.210 --> 00:20:10.470 agree. So, you know, another thing I was thinking 00:20:10.470 --> 00:20:16.680 is. I guess it kind of ties into the prayer component 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:19.859 of this, but really embracing our vulnerability, 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:22.880 embracing the things that we're not secure and 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:25.660 satisfied in. Because when you're honest with 00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:27.380 God about the struggles, He already sees them. 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:33.660 But when you put them out to the world or out 00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:36.539 to Him, I guess it's up to Him. Like on the altar. 00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:38.279 To Him, on the altar. That's a great way to say 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:41.359 it. I'm visualizing that. This is what I'm insecure 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:45.240 about. um it's kind of the opposite of having 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:47.420 confidence in something right like confidence 00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:49.720 doesn't mean that you have everything together 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:51.700 confidence means that you can come to god with 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:54.079 anything right that's like confident in him in 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:57.880 his ability thank you yes confident in um what 00:20:57.880 --> 00:21:02.079 was the title of this talk did i write it down 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:05.400 yes um confidence in the presence of god right 00:21:05.930 --> 00:21:08.509 Yep. So that's what I'm trying to articulate, 00:21:08.589 --> 00:21:10.549 that it's not that you're confident all the time. 00:21:10.589 --> 00:21:15.430 It's that you're confident at the altar with 00:21:15.430 --> 00:21:18.289 my vulnerabilities. I'm insecure about this. 00:21:18.329 --> 00:21:21.130 I don't have it all together. But knowing that 00:21:21.130 --> 00:21:24.470 he accepts us and loves us and trusts us where 00:21:24.470 --> 00:21:30.970 we are. Totally. So I think, okay, last thing. 00:21:31.190 --> 00:21:33.750 Well, probably the last thing that I've been 00:21:33.750 --> 00:21:36.190 thinking of. Surrounding yourself with people 00:21:36.190 --> 00:21:39.329 that will help you increase your confidence in 00:21:39.329 --> 00:21:42.789 front of God. Meaning finding a community of 00:21:42.789 --> 00:21:45.029 like -minded believers who can uplift you. Like 00:21:45.029 --> 00:21:51.150 if you constantly find yourself in the disturbing, 00:21:51.509 --> 00:21:54.309 like, I don't know, how did the prophet word 00:21:54.309 --> 00:21:55.710 it? He was just talking about the contention 00:21:55.710 --> 00:21:57.829 that's out there and particularly in our social 00:21:57.829 --> 00:22:00.750 medias and stuff. There's so much good too. Like 00:22:00.750 --> 00:22:03.789 if you spend some time liking positive content, 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:07.079 you will see more positive content. Right. It 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:10.819 is. And if you engage with the negative, it's 00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:15.099 going to be really easy to find. So on your online 00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:17.319 communities, try to surround yourself with people 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:19.160 who encourage, who are like -minded, who can 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:21.400 uplift you. Love it. There's nothing wrong with 00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:24.680 hearing other people's stories. And particularly, 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:28.640 there are bloggers that have stories of faith 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:30.829 that aren't particularly our religion. That's 00:22:30.829 --> 00:22:32.490 still the community I'm talking about surrounding 00:22:32.490 --> 00:22:36.109 yourself with. That's a positive thing. And it's 00:22:36.109 --> 00:22:38.130 nice because you were reminded that we're not 00:22:38.130 --> 00:22:40.970 alone in this journey. When you just listen to 00:22:40.970 --> 00:22:43.390 negative content and it's what's being fed into 00:22:43.390 --> 00:22:46.309 your feed or even negative people in real life, 00:22:46.329 --> 00:22:51.589 in real life scenarios, like you want to be the 00:22:51.589 --> 00:22:53.589 positive and you want to encourage the positive. 00:22:53.630 --> 00:22:55.329 And it's not to say that you can't be around 00:22:55.329 --> 00:22:57.269 people that are a little grumbly every time, 00:22:57.289 --> 00:22:59.960 you know, all the time. I guess that's where 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:02.079 you know that you need to step in and try to 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:04.319 elevate the conversation. Be charitable towards 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:08.299 them. Have virtuous thoughts. Bring that into 00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:11.259 the conversation and try to elevate. Sure. I've 00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:13.759 been strengthened by groups of women in the past. 00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:16.420 You know, we've had the study group and certainly 00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:18.400 love Relief Society when I have the opportunity 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:20.900 to attend, which we're not there now. We're in 00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:24.259 the primary. But we do rub shoulders with other 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:26.420 brothers and sisters that are serving in the 00:23:26.420 --> 00:23:29.059 primary that fill that. Absolutely. Fill that 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:34.319 cup. Final thoughts, Amy. I love that another 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:37.259 invitation that he said, I take this as an invitation 00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:39.839 because he says, let us, let us plead with our 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:42.160 heavenly father to fill our hearts with greater 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:44.559 charity, especially for those who are difficult 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:48.599 to love. Loved it. For charity is a gift. That 00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:50.480 might be me a lot of times too. I might be the 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:52.400 difficult one to love. Right? Sometimes we're 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:55.180 the ones that are very difficult. for charity 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:57.599 as a gift from our Heavenly Father for true followers 00:23:57.599 --> 00:24:01.119 of Jesus Christ. And then his parting promise, 00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:04.500 as we diligently seek to have charity and virtue 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:06.779 fill our lives, our confidence in approaching 00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:09.359 God will increase. Then as we go to our Heavenly 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:11.700 Father with increasing confidence, we will be 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:14.109 filled with more joy. and your faith in Jesus 00:24:14.109 --> 00:24:16.809 Christ will increase. We will begin to experience 00:24:16.809 --> 00:24:20.049 spiritual power that exceeds our greatest hopes. 00:24:20.269 --> 00:24:22.650 I don't know about you, but when I hear that 00:24:22.650 --> 00:24:26.210 last sentence, I'm like, oh, I'm in. I opt in 00:24:26.210 --> 00:24:28.809 here. We will begin to experience spiritual powers 00:24:28.809 --> 00:24:32.869 that exceed our greatest hopes. I can think of 00:24:32.869 --> 00:24:36.470 some pretty great hopes. And he has even better 00:24:36.470 --> 00:24:39.910 ones. So I just love that. I love that too. And 00:24:39.910 --> 00:24:42.210 I can't remember if it was you. Or another friend 00:24:42.210 --> 00:24:45.750 that was talking about wanting to increase their 00:24:45.750 --> 00:24:49.069 relationship with Heavenly Father. Or in a different 00:24:49.069 --> 00:24:51.150 way, but we'll go back to this thing. You just 00:24:51.150 --> 00:24:53.930 read it. When we go to Heavenly Father with confidence, 00:24:54.190 --> 00:24:57.650 it fills us with joy and faith in our Savior, 00:24:57.730 --> 00:25:01.650 Jesus Christ. It's a cool blessing that as you 00:25:01.650 --> 00:25:04.250 increase your efforts with the Father, that your 00:25:04.250 --> 00:25:06.730 relationship with the Son improves simultaneously. 00:25:07.230 --> 00:25:09.930 And it feels true. I was also thinking when you 00:25:09.930 --> 00:25:12.269 were talking about... you know, loving people 00:25:12.269 --> 00:25:14.809 that are hard to love. It is a neat thing. I'm 00:25:14.809 --> 00:25:17.170 sure people have to do that for me. So it's, 00:25:17.170 --> 00:25:19.269 it's a, you know, it's a give and take. It's 00:25:19.269 --> 00:25:21.990 a give and take. It totally is. I mean, I don't, 00:25:21.990 --> 00:25:24.369 we wouldn't list names of people, but when there's 00:25:24.369 --> 00:25:26.690 somebody that you're like, you know, that they, 00:25:26.730 --> 00:25:29.369 that they really great every nerve that you have 00:25:29.369 --> 00:25:32.549 and they're hard to be around, but you like have 00:25:32.549 --> 00:25:35.009 chosen to look at them like the savior looks 00:25:35.009 --> 00:25:38.109 at them, love them like the charity, but the 00:25:38.109 --> 00:25:41.660 pure love of Christ. that's a blessing because 00:25:41.660 --> 00:25:43.160 you're like, they didn't really change, but it's 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:47.180 changed me in being able to love. Yes. And I'm, 00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:50.019 I'm thinking of like, this isn't, this isn't 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:52.200 a hate. This is like, you know, you have a primary 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:54.519 class. I'm not my primary class. They're perfect, 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:57.759 but not even primary. I should scratch that. 00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:59.900 But I'm just saying maybe sometimes you're, you're 00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:03.220 called to serve somebody and just like at face 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:05.519 value. It's like, that's, they are, they're hard. 00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:09.019 They, they grate on my nerves. And they ask hard 00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:11.220 questions that are like really detracting or 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:14.319 whatever. Then you're like, okay, love like Jesus. 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:17.180 And they don't really change. But the way you 00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:19.160 treat them changes. Oh, yeah. And it changes 00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:21.140 the relationship. Absolutely. It can be a very 00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:23.579 one -sided equation. It can. Because the only 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:25.920 thing we can control is ourselves. So might as 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:29.640 well start there, right? It's perfect. Let's 00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:32.259 close with his testimony. Love it. After a reminder 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:35.279 that he announced 15 more temples. Love that 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:38.029 too. Is that 365? I don't even know. Because 00:26:38.029 --> 00:26:40.730 it was 350 before. Then a yes. That's insane. 00:26:40.950 --> 00:26:46.670 It is. And like one of these days, it would be 00:26:46.670 --> 00:26:48.390 so funny. I'm like, well, he's got 15 more minutes. 00:26:48.450 --> 00:26:49.849 Like he kind of cut off early and I was like, 00:26:49.970 --> 00:26:53.970 how many temples is he saving to list? But 15 00:26:53.970 --> 00:26:55.430 is still a lot. I think that's pretty amazing. 00:26:55.589 --> 00:26:59.490 It is. He said, I testify that Jesus Christ, 00:26:59.630 --> 00:27:01.589 the Redeemer of Israel, leads this church, his 00:27:01.589 --> 00:27:04.890 church. He is preparing to come again. May we 00:27:04.890 --> 00:27:07.480 likewise prepare to receive him. For this prayer, 00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:10.619 I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Amen.