WEBVTT 00:00:07.469 --> 00:00:09.630 Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference, 00:00:09.869 --> 00:00:12.070 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:12.070 --> 00:00:13.929 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:13.929 --> 00:00:16.870 Conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's 00:00:16.870 --> 00:00:28.940 jump into it. Today's talk, By This All Will 00:00:28.940 --> 00:00:31.780 Know That You Are My Disciples, by Elder Dieter 00:00:31.780 --> 00:00:35.060 F. Uchtdorf, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder 00:00:35.060 --> 00:00:38.020 Uchtdorf's talk centers on the idea that love 00:00:38.020 --> 00:00:40.299 is the defining characteristic of true discipleship 00:00:40.299 --> 00:00:43.280 of Jesus Christ. He starts with a personal story 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:45.259 about inviting a non -member friend to a small 00:00:45.259 --> 00:00:49.520 branch of the church. We all were like holding 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:52.200 our breath with him, right? I mean, he spoke 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:54.700 so much truth. He was like, you, you've got a 00:00:54.700 --> 00:00:56.479 non -member friend invited and you're really 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:58.320 worried. Like, what are the imperfection of the 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:00.140 meeting going to be? And it's like, oh, are they 00:01:00.140 --> 00:01:01.880 going to say their weird thing that they normally 00:01:01.880 --> 00:01:04.659 say? Or are the talks going to be appropriate? 00:01:04.739 --> 00:01:06.780 Or like, are people going to be friendly? Like 00:01:06.780 --> 00:01:09.180 all these thoughts of how exactly things are 00:01:09.180 --> 00:01:10.760 going to go because you've extended this invitation 00:01:10.760 --> 00:01:15.060 and it's so important to you, right? So. I'm 00:01:15.060 --> 00:01:17.079 sure that he was kind of being more critical 00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:19.079 of the meeting than not and kind of thinking, 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:20.459 oh, that's going to bug him, that's going to 00:01:20.459 --> 00:01:22.560 bug him. But when he spoke with his friend about 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:25.659 the meeting, the friend said that they just felt 00:01:25.659 --> 00:01:28.700 total love and unity amongst the members. And 00:01:28.700 --> 00:01:31.719 this is what she would imagine Christchurch would 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:35.659 be like. I love that part. So the key messages 00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:40.180 of this talk, do you want to hit that? Do you 00:01:40.180 --> 00:01:42.500 want me to go for it? Go for it. Okay. So one 00:01:42.500 --> 00:01:48.840 of the standouts was love is the mark of discipleship. 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:51.579 Jesus said, By this shall all men know that ye 00:01:51.579 --> 00:01:54.379 are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 00:01:55.239 --> 00:02:01.420 More impressive than meetings or doctrine, people 00:02:01.420 --> 00:02:04.319 are touched by how We treat one another. That 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:05.980 speaks volumes. I guess that's what I'm trying 00:02:05.980 --> 00:02:07.599 to say. For sure. You know, I thought it was 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:10.819 interesting, too, because he did say, you know, 00:02:10.860 --> 00:02:12.840 while there is the doctrine of the church, that 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:15.180 is true. Right. While there are principles and 00:02:15.180 --> 00:02:17.560 ordinances that we do, that's not the first thing 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:20.400 that's on their mind. I really like that he reminded 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:22.740 us of that. You know what I mean? Because that 00:02:22.740 --> 00:02:25.960 has to be there. He said, my dear brothers and 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:28.060 sisters, my dear friends, I love the Church of 00:02:28.060 --> 00:02:30.580 Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints. It is the 00:02:30.580 --> 00:02:32.780 Savior's true and living church, and it teaches 00:02:32.780 --> 00:02:34.400 the restored fullness of the gospel of Jesus 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:36.699 Christ. His priesthood, power, and authority 00:02:36.699 --> 00:02:39.340 reside here. So he's reminding us of, yes, all 00:02:39.340 --> 00:02:41.219 the reasons that the church is true. He says, 00:02:41.259 --> 00:02:43.979 Jesus Christ leads this church personally through 00:02:43.979 --> 00:02:47.620 servants he has called and authorized. And by 00:02:47.620 --> 00:02:49.979 a living prophet, even President Russell M. Nelson, 00:02:50.259 --> 00:02:52.759 the Savior has given the Latter -day Saints a 00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:55.060 unique mission to gather God's children and prepare 00:02:55.060 --> 00:02:58.740 the world for the Savior's second coming. I bear 00:02:58.740 --> 00:03:01.199 my witness that all this is true. And this is 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:02.740 the part I was talking about. But it's important 00:03:02.740 --> 00:03:05.020 to remember that when most people experience 00:03:05.020 --> 00:03:07.599 the Church of Jesus Christ for the first time, 00:03:07.719 --> 00:03:09.520 they aren't thinking about priesthood authority 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.370 or ordinances or the gathering of Israel. What 00:03:12.370 --> 00:03:14.949 they're likely to notice above all else is how 00:03:14.949 --> 00:03:17.669 they feel when they're with us and how we treat 00:03:17.669 --> 00:03:21.550 each other. And would you agree, like I learned 00:03:21.550 --> 00:03:23.689 a lesson earlier this week and it was like the 00:03:23.689 --> 00:03:25.889 Savior, he's talking, he's like, you've got the 00:03:25.889 --> 00:03:27.569 scriptures and you think reading the scriptures 00:03:27.569 --> 00:03:30.409 is what saves you. What he wanted them to know 00:03:30.409 --> 00:03:33.590 is he saves and how he saves is by taking what 00:03:33.590 --> 00:03:35.430 you read and then applying it into your life. 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:37.340 Bring it into your heart. And doing things. Yes. 00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:39.479 Love that, Abby. You don't just read the stories 00:03:39.479 --> 00:03:42.180 of Christ serving others. You read it and it 00:03:42.180 --> 00:03:44.800 hopefully sparks in your desire to serve. You 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:47.680 read about Christ, how he loves. Hopefully it 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:49.879 sparks in you. Yeah, translate into your life. 00:03:49.900 --> 00:03:51.740 Let me love more. That's really good, Abby. I 00:03:51.740 --> 00:03:59.319 like that. I do want to jump to the next point. 00:03:59.580 --> 00:04:02.539 Are we good on that one? Go for it. The next 00:04:02.539 --> 00:04:04.740 thing that he talked about was the ideal versus 00:04:04.740 --> 00:04:07.520 the real. Church members and congregations aren't 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:10.000 perfect. Glad he pointed that out. Yeah. It's 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:13.819 true. But that doesn't negate the truth or divinity 00:04:13.819 --> 00:04:16.339 of the church. He encourages patience, humility, 00:04:16.579 --> 00:04:18.699 and continually striving to align our hearts 00:04:18.699 --> 00:04:22.160 with Christ's. Let's look at the title page of 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:23.959 the Book of Mormon. It includes this important 00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:28.139 caution. If there are faults, these are mistakes 00:04:28.139 --> 00:04:30.360 of men. Wherefore, condemn not the things of 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:33.279 God. Can a book or a church or a person have 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:35.040 faults and mistakes and still be the work of 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:37.399 God? That's the question you're going to ask. 00:04:37.500 --> 00:04:40.759 My answer is a resounding yes. So while we hold 00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:42.720 ourselves to the Lord's high standards, let's 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:47.000 also be patient with one another. I really like 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:49.879 that he references that part of the Book of Mormon 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:53.779 because it's true that we've said before, the 00:04:53.779 --> 00:04:56.620 church is perfect. The people in it are imperfect. 00:04:56.920 --> 00:04:59.319 We all know that, right? We are each a work in 00:04:59.319 --> 00:05:02.319 progress and we all... rely on the Savior for 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:04.579 any progress that we make. That's true for us 00:05:04.579 --> 00:05:06.560 as individuals, and it's also true for the kingdom 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:09.420 of God here on the earth. I think that teaching 00:05:09.420 --> 00:05:12.139 above pretty much all else has brought me the 00:05:12.139 --> 00:05:16.000 most joy in this world to know I don't have to 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:19.500 be perfect. My imperfections is what have brought 00:05:19.500 --> 00:05:21.420 me closer to the Savior because He makes up the 00:05:21.420 --> 00:05:23.720 difference on that. And knowing that I'm not 00:05:23.720 --> 00:05:27.160 perfect allows me to allow others to not be perfect 00:05:27.160 --> 00:05:30.870 either. Right. It offers grace for both of us. 00:05:31.329 --> 00:05:33.810 Yeah. It's true. There's a lot more joy with 00:05:33.810 --> 00:05:40.110 that. Elder Uchtdorf reminds us that the Savior 00:05:40.110 --> 00:05:45.389 has asked us to be one. So it's worth stopping 00:05:45.389 --> 00:05:47.829 to think, what does that look like? Right. What 00:05:47.829 --> 00:05:50.069 exactly does it mean to be one? It's a simple 00:05:50.069 --> 00:05:53.329 phrase, but what is that going to look like if 00:05:53.329 --> 00:05:56.779 we apply it to everyday church life? Does that 00:05:56.779 --> 00:06:00.360 mean changing our hearts to align with his will? 00:06:01.180 --> 00:06:04.920 Does it mean changing our hearts to like everybody's 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:07.120 hearts to align with my will? You know, what 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:10.199 one? It means that we all change our hearts to 00:06:10.199 --> 00:06:13.180 align with the Savior. Yeah. I like that he emphasized 00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:16.480 that part. Just it doesn't mean that we all have 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:18.839 to have the same views and that we all have to 00:06:18.839 --> 00:06:22.079 serve in the same ways. Right. And maybe it's 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:25.300 like. worth stopping to think, what is my will 00:06:25.300 --> 00:06:28.680 on this one? What do I think the Savior wants 00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:33.019 it to be? And then what's my willingness to turn 00:06:33.019 --> 00:06:36.100 my desires into what His desires are? And still 00:06:36.100 --> 00:06:38.459 be happy, like I'm still getting what my heart's 00:06:38.459 --> 00:06:40.779 desire is because I've changed my heart. That's 00:06:40.779 --> 00:06:42.180 a really good point. It reminds me of what we 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:44.120 learned this week in Come Follow Me with Heart 00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:47.850 and Mind. And that the whole part, I actually 00:06:47.850 --> 00:06:50.069 shared that with my missionary as well, but just 00:06:50.069 --> 00:06:52.149 the whole part of us giving our heart and our 00:06:52.149 --> 00:06:55.129 mind, meaning our willingness and our will, right? 00:06:55.310 --> 00:06:57.949 And when your minds reconcile them one thing 00:06:57.949 --> 00:06:59.589 and your hearts reconcile them one thing and 00:06:59.589 --> 00:07:03.389 they're not copacetic, they're not in harmony 00:07:03.389 --> 00:07:06.310 with each other, that struggle is too real. You 00:07:06.310 --> 00:07:08.129 really can't get anything done. It kind of puts 00:07:08.129 --> 00:07:10.189 you at a standstill. When I didn't know that 00:07:10.189 --> 00:07:12.670 I was going to have you sub or you take care 00:07:12.670 --> 00:07:15.160 of the lesson, I... was studying that lesson. 00:07:15.259 --> 00:07:17.620 And I had ChatGTP make me, I'll have to show 00:07:17.620 --> 00:07:19.500 you at the end, because I can't leave these notes. 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:23.240 But it's like this heart, like brainy heart. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:25.259 I'm like, do you think the kids will get that 00:07:25.259 --> 00:07:26.879 message? I was like, is this for next? Because 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:28.420 I sent it to him to print. He's like, what's 00:07:28.420 --> 00:07:30.220 this for? I'm like, next week's lesson. That's 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:32.560 funny. Probably best that you taught the lesson 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:38.769 today. It didn't go that direction. The next 00:07:38.769 --> 00:07:41.970 thing that I saw in this talk that I think was 00:07:41.970 --> 00:07:45.250 so sweet, he added a gentle reminder. He said, 00:07:45.350 --> 00:07:47.949 if we're not there yet, remember with the Lord's 00:07:47.949 --> 00:07:51.129 help, nothing is impossible. That's a good reminder. 00:07:52.670 --> 00:07:54.509 The next thing that he talked about is fit and 00:07:54.509 --> 00:07:57.230 belonging. Regardless of background, culture, 00:07:57.310 --> 00:08:00.050 or perceived differences, everyone can find belonging 00:08:00.050 --> 00:08:02.709 in the church. And again, we're talking about 00:08:02.709 --> 00:08:05.629 the unity being one, like Jesus Christ has commanded 00:08:05.629 --> 00:08:08.430 us. Unity in the gospel is about facing Christ 00:08:08.430 --> 00:08:11.930 together, not becoming identical. He addresses 00:08:11.930 --> 00:08:14.250 the desire to be with, let's say, your people. 00:08:14.529 --> 00:08:17.029 It's natural to want to be around people who 00:08:17.029 --> 00:08:19.850 look, talk, act, and think the way that we do. 00:08:20.269 --> 00:08:22.439 There is a place for that. And then he teaches 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:24.860 us this. But in the Savior's church, we gather 00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:27.240 all of God's children who are willing to be gathered 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:30.199 and who seek the truth. It's not our physical 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:32.539 appearance, our political views, our culture, 00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:36.259 our ethnicity that brings us together. It is 00:08:36.259 --> 00:08:39.120 not our common background that unites us. It 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:41.700 is our common objective, our love for God and 00:08:41.700 --> 00:08:43.860 love for our neighbor, our commitment to Jesus 00:08:43.860 --> 00:08:47.440 Christ and his restored gospel. We are one in 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:50.809 Christ. The unity we seek is not to have everyone 00:08:50.809 --> 00:08:52.970 stand in the same place. It is to have everyone 00:08:52.970 --> 00:08:55.990 face in the same direction toward Jesus Christ. 00:08:56.330 --> 00:08:59.830 He really emphasizes this point over and over 00:08:59.830 --> 00:09:01.549 again. And it was when he was telling the story 00:09:01.549 --> 00:09:04.789 about when he was younger and he moved to another 00:09:04.789 --> 00:09:07.129 place and he said, you know, clearly I was German. 00:09:07.149 --> 00:09:09.169 I had an accent and I was from somewhere else 00:09:09.169 --> 00:09:11.429 and I didn't quite fit in and all the children 00:09:11.429 --> 00:09:14.759 knew it. You know what I mean? But he might have 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:17.179 felt a lot of peace like in his church activities. 00:09:17.419 --> 00:09:19.299 Perhaps. Where that might have mattered less 00:09:19.299 --> 00:09:21.279 because they were centered on Jesus Christ. For 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:22.860 sure. And I just feel like he was saying, you 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:24.220 know what? I know what it feels like to be an 00:09:24.220 --> 00:09:27.320 outcast. Like, I get it. And so that's why with 00:09:27.320 --> 00:09:32.519 that experience I've had in my life, we can all 00:09:32.519 --> 00:09:34.600 face the same direction, which is toward Jesus 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:37.080 Christ. We are, one, not because of where we've 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:40.820 been, but where we are striving to go. And not 00:09:40.820 --> 00:09:43.340 because of who we are, but who we seek to become. 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:48.340 I'm just coming off of FSY week. So great. The 00:09:48.340 --> 00:09:50.659 emotions are like maybe a little bit too tender 00:09:50.659 --> 00:09:52.879 to really talk much about it. But as you were 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:56.679 talking, I was thinking they create these family 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:59.100 groups, let's say, with like a female and a male 00:09:59.100 --> 00:10:01.779 counselor and usually like 10 guys, 10 girls. 00:10:01.980 --> 00:10:06.600 So just thinking of my daughter's group, cowboys, 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:12.419 tennis players, dancers, cheerleaders, choir. 00:10:15.109 --> 00:10:17.350 Different backgrounds. In a high school setting, 00:10:17.529 --> 00:10:19.730 you know, they'd find their way to like the group 00:10:19.730 --> 00:10:21.490 that would make the most sense for them. But 00:10:21.490 --> 00:10:25.190 in seven days, they formed like loving, lasting 00:10:25.190 --> 00:10:27.230 relationships. And it's because everything that 00:10:27.230 --> 00:10:29.529 they did, that's a label. That's like a thing 00:10:29.529 --> 00:10:32.210 that they do. But they were focused on learning 00:10:32.210 --> 00:10:33.669 more about their Savior, Jesus Christ, and growing 00:10:33.669 --> 00:10:35.950 their testimonies. And then you see that across 00:10:35.950 --> 00:10:40.129 over 200 youth. And everybody comments like. 00:10:40.509 --> 00:10:42.610 they're they're whole like hugging each other 00:10:42.610 --> 00:10:44.730 and doing their thing these like this closing 00:10:44.730 --> 00:10:46.450 wrap up or whatever and they're always like man 00:10:46.450 --> 00:10:48.990 i wish that it could be like this that you know 00:10:48.990 --> 00:10:50.629 when we go back home and it's like that's the 00:10:50.629 --> 00:10:52.629 whole point we want it to be like this and the 00:10:52.629 --> 00:10:57.169 thing that will make it like this is um continuing 00:10:57.169 --> 00:11:00.059 your discipleship Jesus Christ and making that 00:11:00.059 --> 00:11:02.779 like the most important thing above all of the 00:11:02.779 --> 00:11:05.320 other labels. Right. Why not? Right. Why not 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:07.399 have you like this so much? Take it home with 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:09.940 you. Do continue to do this at home. Don't be 00:11:09.940 --> 00:11:12.500 so afraid to say hi to the next person, even 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:14.519 if from the exterior, it looks like there's not 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:16.480 a lot in common. There probably is something 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:19.139 more in common than you would think. So that's 00:11:19.139 --> 00:11:22.379 so great. Thank you for sharing that. Let's see. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:25.639 Another thing. We all have a role. One body. 00:11:27.750 --> 00:11:30.730 Every individual, no matter how different, has 00:11:30.730 --> 00:11:34.850 something to contribute. Everybody, every single 00:11:34.850 --> 00:11:36.950 individual. There's something that they have 00:11:36.950 --> 00:11:39.730 that's special. The church is like a body or 00:11:39.730 --> 00:11:41.830 a choir. Each part plays a unique and necessary 00:11:41.830 --> 00:11:45.570 role, all working together in harmony. What if 00:11:45.570 --> 00:11:48.330 you're different from people around you? Does 00:11:48.330 --> 00:11:52.889 that make you a misfit? Not really. I think it 00:11:52.889 --> 00:11:56.580 makes you exactly the part that... is needed 00:11:56.580 --> 00:11:59.860 to be part of the body of Christ. All are needed 00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:01.980 in the body of Christ. The ears perceive things 00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:03.759 that the eyes never could. The feet do things 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:06.360 that the hands would be ineffective at. That's 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:08.620 true. I would not want to walk a mile with my 00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:15.919 hands. That's a great visual, Amy. So I see an 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:21.100 invitation next in the talk to be one voice. 00:12:23.210 --> 00:12:25.950 Elder Uchtdorf warmly invites all to come and 00:12:25.950 --> 00:12:27.970 see, to experience the Savior's love through 00:12:27.970 --> 00:12:30.730 his people. Whether you're new or have been in 00:12:30.730 --> 00:12:33.350 the church for years, your presence, your efforts, 00:12:33.509 --> 00:12:36.149 your faith matter. If you're not yet a member 00:12:36.149 --> 00:12:37.809 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day 00:12:37.809 --> 00:12:40.509 Saints, we invite you to join us as we rejoice 00:12:40.509 --> 00:12:43.370 in the Savior's song of redeeming love. We need 00:12:43.370 --> 00:12:45.990 you. We love you. The church will be better with 00:12:45.990 --> 00:12:47.809 your efforts to serve the Lord and his children. 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:51.080 If you have already shown through baptism, through 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:52.960 making covenants with God, your desire to come 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:55.139 into the fold of God and to be called his people, 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:57.299 thank you for being part of this great and divine 00:12:57.299 --> 00:12:59.220 work and for helping to make the Church of Jesus 00:12:59.220 --> 00:13:02.679 Christ what the Savior wants it to be. I think 00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:05.740 that's an awesome invitation. Yeah, right. And 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:08.080 again, I just feel like he used over and over 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:10.179 a different, here he's talking about, you know, 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:13.179 the choir and the body of Christ. And he's just 00:13:13.179 --> 00:13:15.580 reminding us, yes, we're all unique. We're all 00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:17.500 different. But as we come together in Christ, 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:19.700 then that's how we're one. I really appreciate 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:21.860 that. His specific assignment as an apostle right 00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:24.080 now is missionary. I was just going to say that. 00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:26.779 His talks definitely reflect that. Yeah, they 00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:28.759 definitely reflect that. And I'm curious, like, 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:30.539 wouldn't it be cool to know, like, how many? 00:13:31.230 --> 00:13:32.970 people hear this talk that aren't members of 00:13:32.970 --> 00:13:35.070 our faith right like how he just talks to them 00:13:35.070 --> 00:13:36.990 like if you have what if one what if one person 00:13:36.990 --> 00:13:38.309 heard that talk and they weren't a member and 00:13:38.309 --> 00:13:40.289 they were like oh i'm invited i'm welcome to 00:13:40.289 --> 00:13:42.730 come it's true as soon as i hear the he invites 00:13:42.730 --> 00:13:46.879 us to come and see I'm reminded again of missionary 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:49.740 efforts, you know, that sticks into my heart. 00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:52.600 Also, Abby, I was thinking and reflecting this 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:54.679 week. It's just so interesting because when you 00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:57.620 and I are on this podcast and we're talking and 00:13:57.620 --> 00:14:00.220 we are reading the words of the prophet and we 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:03.460 are reflecting our own and sharing our own testimonies, 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:06.980 it sounds like we're so just strong and resolute, 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:11.120 which we are in this moment. When I speak, it 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:15.659 is with absolute genuine testimony and fervor 00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:18.279 and faith in the lord jesus christ i just wanted 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:20.379 to share that there are definitely times in my 00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:24.980 week where um i am like this is a rough day. 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:27.120 This is really, really rough. And I would love 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:29.580 for someone to like stand and bear a quick testimony 00:14:29.580 --> 00:14:32.220 to me of how they know this is going to work 00:14:32.220 --> 00:14:34.360 out. You know what I'm saying? So Abby and I 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:36.620 get to be that voice like every week for each 00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:39.240 of you. Just know that we also have times when 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:42.759 it is a struggle and it is hard. And it just 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:45.000 so happens that every single time we do this, 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:50.100 we're feeling the words and we are truly just 00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:53.580 reminded of the Lord's power. But yes, we falter. 00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:55.840 So I just love that we can sometimes be the voice 00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:59.299 of anyone listening can be the voice of strength 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:01.960 for someone. And then it's totally fine if we 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:03.679 need someone else's voice of strength or just 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:05.360 to remember what did the prophet teach about 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:06.820 this specific thing I'm going through right now? 00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:08.679 What did Jesus Christ say about this specific 00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:10.360 thing right now? And it helps to buoy us up. 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:13.679 And as you were talking, I was thinking, feed 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:16.159 your faith, not your fears. And so obviously, 00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:18.860 you know, if I wanted to be down about something 00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:21.299 and go down a rabbit hole and feed the fear, 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:24.460 like my death scroll on my Instagram, Facebook, 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:27.440 whatever, these reels. But like you said, because 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:30.039 we're preparing for these talks, we're immersed 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:33.080 in modern day scripture, me being the conference 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:36.019 talks, it does something to buoy faith. It does. 00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:38.879 For sure, when I'm in the mindset, I'm preparing 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:43.539 for the podcast. it forces me into talks that 00:15:43.539 --> 00:15:45.539 maybe I wouldn't have otherwise taken as much 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:47.700 time for. And so that's been a huge blessing. 00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:50.440 Yeah. And you know what's so funny is that you're 00:15:50.440 --> 00:15:51.860 like, yeah, sometimes we get to be that voice 00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:54.279 for other people. I've listened to the podcast, 00:15:54.580 --> 00:15:56.720 other people's podcasts I'm so grateful for, 00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:59.820 but I've also listened to our podcast. And I'm 00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:02.870 like, we... like in your own voice i don't remember 00:16:02.870 --> 00:16:06.590 saying that but it's totally true you know i'm 00:16:06.590 --> 00:16:08.529 reminded of it again and again or like maybe 00:16:08.529 --> 00:16:10.730 i'm just like so nervous as we're podcasting 00:16:10.730 --> 00:16:14.110 that i'm kind of like okay just try not to misspeak, 00:16:14.149 --> 00:16:16.970 try not to stumble over my words. And so listening 00:16:16.970 --> 00:16:19.210 back later, then I'm like, oh, that would a neat 00:16:19.210 --> 00:16:21.710 testimony to have recorded because that is the 00:16:21.710 --> 00:16:23.509 word of my heart. But I didn't really know I 00:16:23.509 --> 00:16:25.429 was saying it in that minute. That's a good point 00:16:25.429 --> 00:16:27.549 because it's happened to me too. I'm like, what? 00:16:27.690 --> 00:16:29.889 Thank you, Heavenly Father. And again, when you're 00:16:29.889 --> 00:16:33.389 speaking of living scripture, then that's how 00:16:33.389 --> 00:16:35.850 you know, because in every moment it speaks truth 00:16:35.850 --> 00:16:37.830 and it buoys you up. And you remember that Jesus 00:16:37.830 --> 00:16:42.820 Christ is the reason we can do anything. I will 00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:45.000 just say, I can tell that we're about to wrap 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:47.480 up and you'll have the final word. I want to 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:50.600 bear my testimony that when you bring people 00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:54.600 together that have like nothing in common, just 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:57.360 on surface level, it looks like there's nothing 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:01.720 to be shared between these people. If you strip 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:05.119 it down to like the most basic layer and both 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:07.380 of them want to grow closer to Jesus Christ, 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:10.660 you can be 100 % different from another person. 00:17:11.829 --> 00:17:14.430 um one like the best relationship in the world 00:17:14.430 --> 00:17:17.690 this is true which i mean that speaks to the 00:17:17.690 --> 00:17:19.009 friendships you're trying to create you don't 00:17:19.009 --> 00:17:20.990 have to find somebody that's doing exactly the 00:17:20.990 --> 00:17:24.250 same things you're doing like when you think 00:17:24.250 --> 00:17:26.750 back at the friendships for me when i think back 00:17:26.750 --> 00:17:29.289 at the friendships that are the most enduring 00:17:29.289 --> 00:17:32.589 and and the best maybe i'm usually looking for 00:17:32.589 --> 00:17:35.170 friends that like soften like the sharp my sharp 00:17:35.170 --> 00:17:37.150 points or like bring a different skill set so 00:17:37.150 --> 00:17:41.220 we we aren't naturally inclined to be be friends, 00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:47.460 but the people that I love to be around, they 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:51.440 have a testimony of the Savior, and they make 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:55.559 it very comfortable to also just have a testimony 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:59.980 of the Savior without having to... act like it's 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:01.640 not the most important thing in my life. I guess 00:18:01.640 --> 00:18:03.140 I'm not saying I want to fake it, but I want 00:18:03.140 --> 00:18:04.680 to make people comfortable where I'm at. And 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:06.500 if they've definitely stepped away from their 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:10.339 covenants or living the gospel of Jesus Christ, 00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:15.299 that could technically be a hard thing. But I 00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:19.660 just want to say it does bring me joy to really 00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:22.559 put a lot of effort into those relationships. 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:26.099 where we're disciples of Jesus Christ. We've 00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:27.920 chosen that path and we're doing that together. 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:31.099 And obviously the whole point is if you're a 00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:32.740 disciple of Jesus Christ, you're following him, 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:34.700 you're living his way. And ideally it's going 00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:38.279 to invite other people to come, come along, come 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:41.619 and follow also. But do you know what I'm saying? 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:45.079 I do. And he actually used the phrase, we gather 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:47.559 those who choose to be gathered. That's exactly, 00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:49.819 he said it better than me. Let's go with his 00:18:49.819 --> 00:18:51.859 words. You're feeling that vibe. And that's what 00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:53.500 you're saying. Like, that's what we're talking 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:56.240 about here. It's just, it's so nice to have other 00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:58.359 disciples of Jesus Christ stand with you. It's 00:18:58.359 --> 00:19:00.900 a beautiful thing. It's a gift from Heavenly 00:19:00.900 --> 00:19:03.119 Father. Yeah. It really is. Because when there's 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:05.880 like a couple of you doing that thing, it does 00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:08.579 feel easier to then invite more. Absolutely. 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:11.480 Okay. I love that, Abby. Thank you for sharing 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:17.140 it. So in conclusion, the love that we show, 00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:19.420 especially to those around us, is one of the 00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:22.059 greatest witnesses that we are, in fact, disciples 00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:25.359 of Jesus Christ. Elder Uchtdorf urges us to be 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:28.900 patient, united, and focused on Christ so that 00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:31.740 all who come among us will feel his love and 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:34.240 his desire to follow him. And then I will just 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:36.579 end with his testimony. He says, may God bless 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:40.119 us. to patiently but diligently seek to live 00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:42.799 up to the ideals of our Savior, Redeemer, and 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:45.500 Master, the ones that He has set for us, so all 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:48.700 will know that we are His disciples. And He says 00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:50.920 that in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:53.539 Amen. Thanks for being with us. We'll catch you 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:53.940 next time.