Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference,
where two friends who love Jesus share our own
approach to studying the most recent General
Conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's
jump into it. Today's talk, By This All Will
Know That You Are My Disciples, by Elder Dieter
F. Uchtdorf, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder
Uchtdorf's talk centers on the idea that love
is the defining characteristic of true discipleship
of Jesus Christ. He starts with a personal story
about inviting a non -member friend to a small
branch of the church. We all were like holding
our breath with him, right? I mean, he spoke
so much truth. He was like, you, you've got a
non -member friend invited and you're really
worried. Like, what are the imperfection of the
meeting going to be? And it's like, oh, are they
going to say their weird thing that they normally
say? Or are the talks going to be appropriate?
Or like, are people going to be friendly? Like
all these thoughts of how exactly things are
going to go because you've extended this invitation
and it's so important to you, right? So. I'm
sure that he was kind of being more critical
of the meeting than not and kind of thinking,
oh, that's going to bug him, that's going to
bug him. But when he spoke with his friend about
the meeting, the friend said that they just felt
total love and unity amongst the members. And
this is what she would imagine Christchurch would
be like. I love that part. So the key messages
of this talk, do you want to hit that? Do you
want me to go for it? Go for it. Okay. So one
of the standouts was love is the mark of discipleship.
Jesus said, By this shall all men know that ye
are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
More impressive than meetings or doctrine, people
are touched by how We treat one another. That
speaks volumes. I guess that's what I'm trying
to say. For sure. You know, I thought it was
interesting, too, because he did say, you know,
while there is the doctrine of the church, that
is true. Right. While there are principles and
ordinances that we do, that's not the first thing
that's on their mind. I really like that he reminded
us of that. You know what I mean? Because that
has to be there. He said, my dear brothers and
sisters, my dear friends, I love the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints. It is the
Savior's true and living church, and it teaches
the restored fullness of the gospel of Jesus
Christ. His priesthood, power, and authority
reside here. So he's reminding us of, yes, all
the reasons that the church is true. He says,
Jesus Christ leads this church personally through
servants he has called and authorized. And by
a living prophet, even President Russell M. Nelson,
the Savior has given the Latter -day Saints a
unique mission to gather God's children and prepare
the world for the Savior's second coming. I bear
my witness that all this is true. And this is
the part I was talking about. But it's important
to remember that when most people experience
the Church of Jesus Christ for the first time,
they aren't thinking about priesthood authority
or ordinances or the gathering of Israel. What
they're likely to notice above all else is how
they feel when they're with us and how we treat
each other. And would you agree, like I learned
a lesson earlier this week and it was like the
Savior, he's talking, he's like, you've got the
scriptures and you think reading the scriptures
is what saves you. What he wanted them to know
is he saves and how he saves is by taking what
you read and then applying it into your life.
Bring it into your heart. And doing things. Yes.
Love that, Abby. You don't just read the stories
of Christ serving others. You read it and it
hopefully sparks in your desire to serve. You
read about Christ, how he loves. Hopefully it
sparks in you. Yeah, translate into your life.
Let me love more. That's really good, Abby. I
like that. I do want to jump to the next point.
Are we good on that one? Go for it. The next
thing that he talked about was the ideal versus
the real. Church members and congregations aren't
perfect. Glad he pointed that out. Yeah. It's
true. But that doesn't negate the truth or divinity
of the church. He encourages patience, humility,
and continually striving to align our hearts
with Christ's. Let's look at the title page of
the Book of Mormon. It includes this important
caution. If there are faults, these are mistakes
of men. Wherefore, condemn not the things of
God. Can a book or a church or a person have
faults and mistakes and still be the work of
God? That's the question you're going to ask.
My answer is a resounding yes. So while we hold
ourselves to the Lord's high standards, let's
also be patient with one another. I really like
that he references that part of the Book of Mormon
because it's true that we've said before, the
church is perfect. The people in it are imperfect.
We all know that, right? We are each a work in
progress and we all... rely on the Savior for
any progress that we make. That's true for us
as individuals, and it's also true for the kingdom
of God here on the earth. I think that teaching
above pretty much all else has brought me the
most joy in this world to know I don't have to
be perfect. My imperfections is what have brought
me closer to the Savior because He makes up the
difference on that. And knowing that I'm not
perfect allows me to allow others to not be perfect
either. Right. It offers grace for both of us.
Yeah. It's true. There's a lot more joy with
that. Elder Uchtdorf reminds us that the Savior
has asked us to be one. So it's worth stopping
to think, what does that look like? Right. What
exactly does it mean to be one? It's a simple
phrase, but what is that going to look like if
we apply it to everyday church life? Does that
mean changing our hearts to align with his will?
Does it mean changing our hearts to like everybody's
hearts to align with my will? You know, what
one? It means that we all change our hearts to
align with the Savior. Yeah. I like that he emphasized
that part. Just it doesn't mean that we all have
to have the same views and that we all have to
serve in the same ways. Right. And maybe it's
like. worth stopping to think, what is my will
on this one? What do I think the Savior wants
it to be? And then what's my willingness to turn
my desires into what His desires are? And still
be happy, like I'm still getting what my heart's
desire is because I've changed my heart. That's
a really good point. It reminds me of what we
learned this week in Come Follow Me with Heart
and Mind. And that the whole part, I actually
shared that with my missionary as well, but just
the whole part of us giving our heart and our
mind, meaning our willingness and our will, right?
And when your minds reconcile them one thing
and your hearts reconcile them one thing and
they're not copacetic, they're not in harmony
with each other, that struggle is too real. You
really can't get anything done. It kind of puts
you at a standstill. When I didn't know that
I was going to have you sub or you take care
of the lesson, I... was studying that lesson.
And I had ChatGTP make me, I'll have to show
you at the end, because I can't leave these notes.
But it's like this heart, like brainy heart.
I'm like, do you think the kids will get that
message? I was like, is this for next? Because
I sent it to him to print. He's like, what's
this for? I'm like, next week's lesson. That's
funny. Probably best that you taught the lesson
today. It didn't go that direction. The next
thing that I saw in this talk that I think was
so sweet, he added a gentle reminder. He said,
if we're not there yet, remember with the Lord's
help, nothing is impossible. That's a good reminder.
The next thing that he talked about is fit and
belonging. Regardless of background, culture,
or perceived differences, everyone can find belonging
in the church. And again, we're talking about
the unity being one, like Jesus Christ has commanded
us. Unity in the gospel is about facing Christ
together, not becoming identical. He addresses
the desire to be with, let's say, your people.
It's natural to want to be around people who
look, talk, act, and think the way that we do.
There is a place for that. And then he teaches
us this. But in the Savior's church, we gather
all of God's children who are willing to be gathered
and who seek the truth. It's not our physical
appearance, our political views, our culture,
our ethnicity that brings us together. It is
not our common background that unites us. It
is our common objective, our love for God and
love for our neighbor, our commitment to Jesus
Christ and his restored gospel. We are one in
Christ. The unity we seek is not to have everyone
stand in the same place. It is to have everyone
face in the same direction toward Jesus Christ.
He really emphasizes this point over and over
again. And it was when he was telling the story
about when he was younger and he moved to another
place and he said, you know, clearly I was German.
I had an accent and I was from somewhere else
and I didn't quite fit in and all the children
knew it. You know what I mean? But he might have
felt a lot of peace like in his church activities.
Perhaps. Where that might have mattered less
because they were centered on Jesus Christ. For
sure. And I just feel like he was saying, you
know what? I know what it feels like to be an
outcast. Like, I get it. And so that's why with
that experience I've had in my life, we can all
face the same direction, which is toward Jesus
Christ. We are, one, not because of where we've
been, but where we are striving to go. And not
because of who we are, but who we seek to become.
I'm just coming off of FSY week. So great. The
emotions are like maybe a little bit too tender
to really talk much about it. But as you were
talking, I was thinking they create these family
groups, let's say, with like a female and a male
counselor and usually like 10 guys, 10 girls.
So just thinking of my daughter's group, cowboys,
tennis players, dancers, cheerleaders, choir.
Different backgrounds. In a high school setting,
you know, they'd find their way to like the group
that would make the most sense for them. But
in seven days, they formed like loving, lasting
relationships. And it's because everything that
they did, that's a label. That's like a thing
that they do. But they were focused on learning
more about their Savior, Jesus Christ, and growing
their testimonies. And then you see that across
over 200 youth. And everybody comments like.
they're they're whole like hugging each other
and doing their thing these like this closing
wrap up or whatever and they're always like man
i wish that it could be like this that you know
when we go back home and it's like that's the
whole point we want it to be like this and the
thing that will make it like this is um continuing
your discipleship Jesus Christ and making that
like the most important thing above all of the
other labels. Right. Why not? Right. Why not
have you like this so much? Take it home with
you. Do continue to do this at home. Don't be
so afraid to say hi to the next person, even
if from the exterior, it looks like there's not
a lot in common. There probably is something
more in common than you would think. So that's
so great. Thank you for sharing that. Let's see.
Another thing. We all have a role. One body.
Every individual, no matter how different, has
something to contribute. Everybody, every single
individual. There's something that they have
that's special. The church is like a body or
a choir. Each part plays a unique and necessary
role, all working together in harmony. What if
you're different from people around you? Does
that make you a misfit? Not really. I think it
makes you exactly the part that... is needed
to be part of the body of Christ. All are needed
in the body of Christ. The ears perceive things
that the eyes never could. The feet do things
that the hands would be ineffective at. That's
true. I would not want to walk a mile with my
hands. That's a great visual, Amy. So I see an
invitation next in the talk to be one voice.
Elder Uchtdorf warmly invites all to come and
see, to experience the Savior's love through
his people. Whether you're new or have been in
the church for years, your presence, your efforts,
your faith matter. If you're not yet a member
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day
Saints, we invite you to join us as we rejoice
in the Savior's song of redeeming love. We need
you. We love you. The church will be better with
your efforts to serve the Lord and his children.
If you have already shown through baptism, through
making covenants with God, your desire to come
into the fold of God and to be called his people,
thank you for being part of this great and divine
work and for helping to make the Church of Jesus
Christ what the Savior wants it to be. I think
that's an awesome invitation. Yeah, right. And
again, I just feel like he used over and over
a different, here he's talking about, you know,
the choir and the body of Christ. And he's just
reminding us, yes, we're all unique. We're all
different. But as we come together in Christ,
then that's how we're one. I really appreciate
that. His specific assignment as an apostle right
now is missionary. I was just going to say that.
His talks definitely reflect that. Yeah, they
definitely reflect that. And I'm curious, like,
wouldn't it be cool to know, like, how many?
people hear this talk that aren't members of
our faith right like how he just talks to them
like if you have what if one what if one person
heard that talk and they weren't a member and
they were like oh i'm invited i'm welcome to
come it's true as soon as i hear the he invites
us to come and see I'm reminded again of missionary
efforts, you know, that sticks into my heart.
Also, Abby, I was thinking and reflecting this
week. It's just so interesting because when you
and I are on this podcast and we're talking and
we are reading the words of the prophet and we
are reflecting our own and sharing our own testimonies,
it sounds like we're so just strong and resolute,
which we are in this moment. When I speak, it
is with absolute genuine testimony and fervor
and faith in the lord jesus christ i just wanted
to share that there are definitely times in my
week where um i am like this is a rough day.
This is really, really rough. And I would love
for someone to like stand and bear a quick testimony
to me of how they know this is going to work
out. You know what I'm saying? So Abby and I
get to be that voice like every week for each
of you. Just know that we also have times when
it is a struggle and it is hard. And it just
so happens that every single time we do this,
we're feeling the words and we are truly just
reminded of the Lord's power. But yes, we falter.
So I just love that we can sometimes be the voice
of anyone listening can be the voice of strength
for someone. And then it's totally fine if we
need someone else's voice of strength or just
to remember what did the prophet teach about
this specific thing I'm going through right now?
What did Jesus Christ say about this specific
thing right now? And it helps to buoy us up.
And as you were talking, I was thinking, feed
your faith, not your fears. And so obviously,
you know, if I wanted to be down about something
and go down a rabbit hole and feed the fear,
like my death scroll on my Instagram, Facebook,
whatever, these reels. But like you said, because
we're preparing for these talks, we're immersed
in modern day scripture, me being the conference
talks, it does something to buoy faith. It does.
For sure, when I'm in the mindset, I'm preparing
for the podcast. it forces me into talks that
maybe I wouldn't have otherwise taken as much
time for. And so that's been a huge blessing.
Yeah. And you know what's so funny is that you're
like, yeah, sometimes we get to be that voice
for other people. I've listened to the podcast,
other people's podcasts I'm so grateful for,
but I've also listened to our podcast. And I'm
like, we... like in your own voice i don't remember
saying that but it's totally true you know i'm
reminded of it again and again or like maybe
i'm just like so nervous as we're podcasting
that i'm kind of like okay just try not to misspeak,
try not to stumble over my words. And so listening
back later, then I'm like, oh, that would a neat
testimony to have recorded because that is the
word of my heart. But I didn't really know I
was saying it in that minute. That's a good point
because it's happened to me too. I'm like, what?
Thank you, Heavenly Father. And again, when you're
speaking of living scripture, then that's how
you know, because in every moment it speaks truth
and it buoys you up. And you remember that Jesus
Christ is the reason we can do anything. I will
just say, I can tell that we're about to wrap
up and you'll have the final word. I want to
bear my testimony that when you bring people
together that have like nothing in common, just
on surface level, it looks like there's nothing
to be shared between these people. If you strip
it down to like the most basic layer and both
of them want to grow closer to Jesus Christ,
you can be 100 % different from another person.
um one like the best relationship in the world
this is true which i mean that speaks to the
friendships you're trying to create you don't
have to find somebody that's doing exactly the
same things you're doing like when you think
back at the friendships for me when i think back
at the friendships that are the most enduring
and and the best maybe i'm usually looking for
friends that like soften like the sharp my sharp
points or like bring a different skill set so
we we aren't naturally inclined to be be friends,
but the people that I love to be around, they
have a testimony of the Savior, and they make
it very comfortable to also just have a testimony
of the Savior without having to... act like it's
not the most important thing in my life. I guess
I'm not saying I want to fake it, but I want
to make people comfortable where I'm at. And
if they've definitely stepped away from their
covenants or living the gospel of Jesus Christ,
that could technically be a hard thing. But I
just want to say it does bring me joy to really
put a lot of effort into those relationships.
where we're disciples of Jesus Christ. We've
chosen that path and we're doing that together.
And obviously the whole point is if you're a
disciple of Jesus Christ, you're following him,
you're living his way. And ideally it's going
to invite other people to come, come along, come
and follow also. But do you know what I'm saying?
I do. And he actually used the phrase, we gather
those who choose to be gathered. That's exactly,
he said it better than me. Let's go with his
words. You're feeling that vibe. And that's what
you're saying. Like, that's what we're talking
about here. It's just, it's so nice to have other
disciples of Jesus Christ stand with you. It's
a beautiful thing. It's a gift from Heavenly
Father. Yeah. It really is. Because when there's
like a couple of you doing that thing, it does
feel easier to then invite more. Absolutely.
Okay. I love that, Abby. Thank you for sharing
it. So in conclusion, the love that we show,
especially to those around us, is one of the
greatest witnesses that we are, in fact, disciples
of Jesus Christ. Elder Uchtdorf urges us to be
patient, united, and focused on Christ so that
all who come among us will feel his love and
his desire to follow him. And then I will just
end with his testimony. He says, may God bless
us. to patiently but diligently seek to live
up to the ideals of our Savior, Redeemer, and
Master, the ones that He has set for us, so all
will know that we are His disciples. And He says
that in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Amen. Thanks for being with us. We'll catch you
next time.