WEBVTT 00:00:07.460 --> 00:00:09.640 Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:12.080 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:13.960 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:16.879 Conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:27.079 jump into it. Today we get to discuss Beware 00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:29.820 of the Second Temptation by Elder Scott D. Whiting 00:00:29.820 --> 00:00:32.390 of the Seventy. I think he's my relative. Love 00:00:32.390 --> 00:00:34.670 that. Teasing though. Welcome to the listeners. 00:00:34.729 --> 00:00:36.649 Amy, it's so good to be with you today. Thanks. 00:00:36.710 --> 00:00:39.250 Good to be here. We were talking about this talk 00:00:39.250 --> 00:00:41.170 and we couldn't remember what the second temptation 00:00:41.170 --> 00:00:45.210 was. So not that it wasn't impactful, but I honestly 00:00:45.210 --> 00:00:48.490 just attribute it to being late Sunday afternoon 00:00:48.490 --> 00:00:51.729 after so many other amazing talks. But it's so 00:00:51.729 --> 00:00:54.310 nice to review the talks because of this. It's 00:00:54.310 --> 00:00:56.070 been five months almost since we heard it is 00:00:56.070 --> 00:00:58.270 the conference address and it is just time to 00:00:58.270 --> 00:01:01.380 really see what awesome pieces of of knowledge 00:01:01.380 --> 00:01:04.439 we can gain from it agreed we start in the garden 00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:06.519 of eden with adam and eve we know that the garden 00:01:06.519 --> 00:01:09.879 life limited their need to progress but what 00:01:09.879 --> 00:01:12.500 a soft landing after leaving his presence and 00:01:12.500 --> 00:01:14.719 not knowing much so it was good so whatever time 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:16.280 they needed there who knows how long that was 00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:18.739 but whatever time they needed that wasn't meant 00:01:18.739 --> 00:01:21.340 to be their final destination it was a test first 00:01:21.340 --> 00:01:23.980 of many that would prove and prepare and allow 00:01:23.980 --> 00:01:27.140 them to progress on their final destination to 00:01:27.140 --> 00:01:29.200 returning to the presence of Father and the Son. 00:01:29.540 --> 00:01:31.780 And we know that there was opposition in the 00:01:31.780 --> 00:01:35.959 garden. really the only way to have that plan 00:01:35.959 --> 00:01:38.540 progress is to be given some choices. Lucifer 00:01:38.540 --> 00:01:41.319 was allowed to try Adam and Eve. He first tempted 00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:43.140 Adam to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge 00:01:43.140 --> 00:01:44.920 of good and evil. And that's where we learned 00:01:44.920 --> 00:01:47.659 that that was the first temptation. Satan trying 00:01:47.659 --> 00:01:49.500 to tempt Adam and Eve to partake of the fruit 00:01:49.500 --> 00:01:51.700 that Heavenly Father had specifically commanded 00:01:51.700 --> 00:01:55.200 them not to eat. So we read in Moses 5, 10, and 00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:57.920 11 that both Adam and Eve both declared that 00:01:57.920 --> 00:02:00.280 this decision was necessary to fulfill Heavenly 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:04.420 Father's plan. Adam, blessed be the name of God, 00:02:04.540 --> 00:02:06.980 for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, 00:02:07.060 --> 00:02:08.960 and in this life I shall have joy, and again 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:12.520 in the flesh I shall see God. And Eve. Were it 00:02:12.520 --> 00:02:14.719 not for our transgression, we never would have 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:16.780 had seed and we never should have known good 00:02:16.780 --> 00:02:19.060 and evil and the joy of our redemption and the 00:02:19.060 --> 00:02:21.840 eternal life which God giveth to all the obedient. 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:25.680 Abby, I love these scriptures because they bring 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:27.599 the element of Jesus Christ and his atonement 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:31.580 back to the forefront of our minds. After transgression 00:02:31.580 --> 00:02:33.599 and shame, we find redemption through Christ 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:36.240 who makes repentance and forgiveness possible. 00:02:37.340 --> 00:02:39.840 And there's just such a stark contrast between 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:42.000 the way that Satan treats us when there's a mistake 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:44.939 made or a sin made and the way that God and Jesus 00:02:44.939 --> 00:02:48.900 Christ treat us. This brings us to the second 00:02:48.900 --> 00:02:52.530 temptation. Ever the opportunist, Lucifer, knowing 00:02:52.530 --> 00:02:54.710 their exposed and weak state, tempted them yet 00:02:54.710 --> 00:02:57.969 again, this time to hide from God. This temptation, 00:02:58.210 --> 00:03:00.050 he says, I will call it the second temptation, 00:03:00.330 --> 00:03:03.490 is the temptation that may bring the greatest 00:03:03.490 --> 00:03:07.110 consequence if we succumb. So it's, again, the 00:03:07.110 --> 00:03:09.349 fact that we will fall many times and sin and 00:03:09.349 --> 00:03:11.849 make mistakes. It's what we do after the mistake. 00:03:12.379 --> 00:03:14.780 That will define us. Do we hide or turn from 00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:18.500 God or will we return to God and repent? I think 00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:20.699 the biggest lesson we can all apply here is just 00:03:20.699 --> 00:03:22.939 living in humility, knowing ahead of time that 00:03:22.939 --> 00:03:25.319 we are going to make mistakes. And then just 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:27.400 if we can recognize and return to God as quickly 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:29.780 as possible afterwards, that's the best outcome. 00:03:30.219 --> 00:03:32.199 He says some of us might attempt to hide from 00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:34.479 God because we don't want to be discovered or 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:36.759 exposed and we feel shame or guilt. However, 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:39.060 numerous scriptures teach us that hiding from 00:03:39.060 --> 00:03:42.680 God is impossible. We should jump into the scriptures 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:47.900 to accentuate that point. So if we go, David 00:03:47.900 --> 00:03:50.240 the psalmist says, Whither shall I go from thy 00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:52.419 spirit, or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:56.039 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there. If 00:03:56.039 --> 00:03:58.120 I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 00:03:58.810 --> 00:04:00.909 You can't hide. You can't hide. Elder Whiting 00:04:00.909 --> 00:04:02.710 speaks to the new members of the church who have 00:04:02.710 --> 00:04:05.009 converted to our faith and address the difficulties 00:04:05.009 --> 00:04:07.189 of leaving behind the old life to embrace the 00:04:07.189 --> 00:04:09.650 gospel fully. It's challenging to stop doing 00:04:09.650 --> 00:04:11.949 the things that were part of our everyday life 00:04:11.949 --> 00:04:14.430 and for many, many years sometimes. He says the 00:04:14.430 --> 00:04:16.970 adversary knows that you may be vulnerable to 00:04:16.970 --> 00:04:18.889 his subtle attacks, and he's going to make your 00:04:18.889 --> 00:04:23.569 past life, which you know left you unsatisfied 00:04:23.569 --> 00:04:27.250 in so many ways, now fill. unrealistically attractive. 00:04:27.529 --> 00:04:33.709 That's one of his tactics. Or make you think 00:04:33.709 --> 00:04:36.149 that you really can't ever shed that old coat 00:04:36.149 --> 00:04:38.490 that you used to wear. Yeah, he's got a lot of 00:04:38.490 --> 00:04:41.129 different tactics. But take a step back into 00:04:41.129 --> 00:04:43.069 your previous life and remember that there is 00:04:43.069 --> 00:04:44.910 repentance and the atonement of Jesus Christ 00:04:44.910 --> 00:04:46.949 is there to help fortify you and bring you back 00:04:46.949 --> 00:04:50.910 into your new life. A quote from the talk, we 00:04:50.910 --> 00:04:54.350 plead with you not to heed the accuser's voice. 00:04:54.449 --> 00:04:58.170 We love you. You can do it. We accept you. And 00:04:58.170 --> 00:05:00.189 with the Savior, you will have strength to do 00:05:00.189 --> 00:05:02.910 all. That's a fun little power chant. Right? 00:05:03.290 --> 00:05:06.610 Totally. Powered chant. I love that, Abby. Another 00:05:06.610 --> 00:05:09.509 thing to remember is community that the Church 00:05:09.509 --> 00:05:11.550 of Jesus Christ offers and brings to the life 00:05:11.550 --> 00:05:13.970 of its members. As far as the second temptation 00:05:13.970 --> 00:05:16.709 goes, Elder Whiting had this to say to converts 00:05:16.709 --> 00:05:19.230 who would want to return to their previous lives 00:05:19.230 --> 00:05:21.550 because that might have felt more comfortable. 00:05:21.670 --> 00:05:23.910 He says, if you hide from Him and distance yourself 00:05:23.910 --> 00:05:26.769 from your newfound faith community, then you're 00:05:26.769 --> 00:05:29.730 distancing yourself from the very source that 00:05:29.730 --> 00:05:31.589 can and will give you the strength to overcome. 00:05:31.870 --> 00:05:34.250 So now, Abby, this begs the question, as I was 00:05:34.250 --> 00:05:36.389 reading this, I just had the question, you know, 00:05:36.389 --> 00:05:39.269 am I being the best version of myself in looking 00:05:39.269 --> 00:05:41.850 out for converts and fellowshipping them and 00:05:41.850 --> 00:05:44.389 being a soft place to land or asking them how 00:05:44.389 --> 00:05:47.329 they're doing? I feel like that could be something 00:05:47.329 --> 00:05:49.269 that each of us could ask, kind of like the last 00:05:49.269 --> 00:05:51.329 talk that we did, just in, you know, kind of 00:05:51.329 --> 00:05:54.139 seeing where we are as far as... of fellowshipping 00:05:54.139 --> 00:05:56.019 and ministering, and then this specifically, 00:05:56.259 --> 00:05:59.339 looking out for our friends who are newest converts. 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:01.519 This talk has given me some things to ponder 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:04.040 on and see where I can prove, and I do aspire 00:06:04.040 --> 00:06:07.019 to live up to his call. He says, as his saints, 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:10.360 each of us must foster a culture of belonging 00:06:10.360 --> 00:06:13.060 in the church that is loving, accepting, and 00:06:13.060 --> 00:06:15.680 encouraging of all who desire to progress along 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:18.500 his path. There's so much strength that comes 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:20.779 as we remain part of a supportive community. 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:23.920 We're all stumbling at some time or another, 00:06:24.100 --> 00:06:26.819 but we're progressing, you know, slowly and steadily. 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:31.439 And we're often blessed by the love others demonstrate 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:34.240 to us, which is exemplifying charity and the 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:37.519 love of Jesus Christ. Love that, Abby. What if 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:40.000 we all embodied this? We're all stumbling, yet 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:41.920 progressing while blessed with the love of Christ. 00:06:42.279 --> 00:06:46.860 I will say, like one of my reels this week was 00:06:46.860 --> 00:06:48.939 a little snippet from a podcast. It's called 00:06:48.939 --> 00:06:51.399 Lean In With Lizzie. And she's got to be a member 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:52.899 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day 00:06:52.899 --> 00:06:54.480 Saints. And she has different guests on. And 00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:56.420 the gal, don't know her name, but the gal that 00:06:56.420 --> 00:06:58.959 was a guest, her story was that she was at BYU 00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:02.220 and she fell pregnant, sophomore, junior year 00:07:02.220 --> 00:07:04.420 or something. So she has to make that call home. 00:07:05.250 --> 00:07:07.870 mom, dad, worst news possible. And they say, 00:07:07.930 --> 00:07:09.750 you're pregnant. And she's like, how did you 00:07:09.750 --> 00:07:12.269 know? And dad says, can I come and get you? Comes 00:07:12.269 --> 00:07:14.790 and gets her, helps her. She's like waiting for 00:07:14.790 --> 00:07:16.850 like the hammer to drop, like some anger, some 00:07:16.850 --> 00:07:20.430 like, like just to be so disappointed and upset 00:07:20.430 --> 00:07:22.529 or whatever. And she's down in a room one night 00:07:22.529 --> 00:07:25.290 and he comes down there and he's like, you don't 00:07:25.290 --> 00:07:27.250 feel like you should pray. That's exactly what 00:07:27.250 --> 00:07:28.759 you should do. You don't feel like you should 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:30.360 go to church. You think that it'll embarrass 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:32.680 us. Like we want nothing more than for you to 00:07:32.680 --> 00:07:37.139 be with us in our church. And like what an impact 00:07:37.139 --> 00:07:38.699 that made. I don't know how she felt in that 00:07:38.699 --> 00:07:40.740 moment. I don't know if that was like enough. 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:42.939 Like the fact that she's doing this podcast with 00:07:42.939 --> 00:07:45.240 Lynn and with Lizzie must mean that it was a 00:07:45.240 --> 00:07:47.500 turning point for her or just such a tender moment 00:07:47.500 --> 00:07:50.839 in her life. And I thought a lot of times it's 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:53.579 our kids that teaches those things. You know, 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:55.980 how are you going to respond in a situation when 00:07:55.980 --> 00:07:58.180 you've taught your kids a certain way, they choose 00:07:58.180 --> 00:08:00.420 another one, like that's when real love is demonstrated. 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:02.519 Not when they're doing things perfectly and exactly 00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:05.759 like you imagine this perfect plan going. You 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:07.259 know, they're going to make different decisions. 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:08.899 They're going to make opposing decisions. And 00:08:08.899 --> 00:08:10.720 if you can react, if you can prepare yourself 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:12.939 to react like the Savior would, He absolutely 00:08:12.939 --> 00:08:17.639 wouldn't do it by shame, anger, disappointment. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:20.279 I'm like, there's a lot of words that could come 00:08:20.279 --> 00:08:24.329 to mind. But this talk was such a great reminder. 00:08:24.449 --> 00:08:26.430 Sometimes we're going to be the sinner, and it's 00:08:26.430 --> 00:08:31.529 going to be love and acceptance and the opposite 00:08:31.529 --> 00:08:34.909 of shame and fear to bring us out of that. And 00:08:34.909 --> 00:08:38.129 hopefully we can prime ourselves to be that same 00:08:38.129 --> 00:08:42.970 saving being for somebody else. Yeah, that's 00:08:42.970 --> 00:08:45.210 a really good thought. So this goes for every 00:08:45.210 --> 00:08:47.409 member of the church, all of us. This is the 00:08:47.409 --> 00:08:50.820 quote. To those who may be in hiding. We implore 00:08:50.820 --> 00:08:53.139 you to come back. You need what the gospel and 00:08:53.139 --> 00:08:55.080 the atonement of Jesus Christ offer, and we need 00:08:55.080 --> 00:08:57.200 what you have to offer. God knows your sins. 00:08:57.299 --> 00:08:59.100 You cannot hide from Him. Reconcile yourself 00:08:59.100 --> 00:09:02.279 before Him. And I would say, just from personal 00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:04.480 experience, sometimes people, they're there, 00:09:04.580 --> 00:09:06.580 they're still attending, but there is a piece 00:09:06.580 --> 00:09:08.360 and part of them that they feel like they have 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:10.299 to hide. That's a good point. And it would be 00:09:10.299 --> 00:09:13.220 so cool to know that in our congregations, in 00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:16.360 our families, in our circles, that we make people 00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:18.639 feel safe enough. Like the love of our Savior 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:21.509 is... is evident in us enough that they feel 00:09:21.509 --> 00:09:24.750 safe to bring the hidden parts out. That is a 00:09:24.750 --> 00:09:28.029 very good point. I love that. Yes, yes to that. 00:09:28.610 --> 00:09:32.169 I love what President Nelson says above when 00:09:32.169 --> 00:09:34.669 you talked about the idea of all stumbling yet 00:09:34.669 --> 00:09:36.750 progressing while being blessed by the love of 00:09:36.750 --> 00:09:38.409 Jesus Christ. Very easy to visualize that. I 00:09:38.409 --> 00:09:42.009 know, right? Another way to put it is the process 00:09:42.009 --> 00:09:44.570 that we take in overcoming the world. So he says, 00:09:45.049 --> 00:09:47.490 Overcoming the world is not an event that happens 00:09:47.490 --> 00:09:50.710 in a day or two. It happens over a lifetime as 00:09:50.710 --> 00:09:52.750 we repeatedly embrace the doctrine of Christ. 00:09:52.909 --> 00:09:55.710 We cultivate faith in Jesus Christ by repenting 00:09:55.710 --> 00:09:58.269 daily and keeping covenants that endow us with 00:09:58.269 --> 00:10:00.809 power. And then he says this, we stay on the 00:10:00.809 --> 00:10:03.070 covenant path and are blessed with spiritual 00:10:03.070 --> 00:10:06.210 strength, personal revelation, increasing faith, 00:10:06.470 --> 00:10:09.029 and the ministering of angels. And when I read 00:10:09.029 --> 00:10:12.690 this quote, it brought me back to my year of 00:10:12.690 --> 00:10:15.590 cancer. We almost would laugh. at the word process. 00:10:16.029 --> 00:10:18.350 It seemed like every month or every week I'd 00:10:18.350 --> 00:10:19.850 receive a priesthood blessing where the Lord 00:10:19.850 --> 00:10:24.429 reminded me that this is a process. I say it 00:10:24.429 --> 00:10:26.610 all the time now. I would have loved to have 00:10:26.610 --> 00:10:29.350 it be one and done or just have it been a lot 00:10:29.350 --> 00:10:31.750 shorter, but that was not the way that the Lord 00:10:31.750 --> 00:10:34.730 worked this miracle. It required time, patience, 00:10:34.830 --> 00:10:37.169 humility, waiting on the Lord, skills learned 00:10:37.169 --> 00:10:39.909 that layered on top of each other later, and 00:10:39.909 --> 00:10:42.690 it also required daily faith in Jesus Christ. 00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:47.480 of President Nelson's quote, through it all, 00:10:47.500 --> 00:10:50.399 I was absolutely blessed with spiritual strength, 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:53.039 personal revelation, and the ministering of angels. 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:55.700 So when I read this quote, it sounded to me that 00:10:55.700 --> 00:10:58.000 every challenge that we face in this life is 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:00.220 an opportunity for us to overcome this world. 00:11:00.340 --> 00:11:02.379 That's kind of what it felt like to me. We aren't 00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:05.120 expected to do it perfectly. Stumbling yet progressing 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:08.139 while blessed by the love of Jesus Christ is 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:11.309 good enough. And maybe add to that quote, and 00:11:11.309 --> 00:11:14.850 not meant to do it alone either, with ministering 00:11:14.850 --> 00:11:18.690 angels, paired with, yoked with our Savior Jesus 00:11:18.690 --> 00:11:22.389 Christ. Absolutely. And ideally, we're blessed 00:11:22.389 --> 00:11:25.960 with families that can be that strength. Unfortunately, 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:29.039 some people aren't, but you can create a community, 00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:31.759 a family community in your church congregations. 00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:35.159 Yes. Totally reminds me, as you said that, it 00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:36.820 reminds me of Elder Holland's quote, which I 00:11:36.820 --> 00:11:39.279 absolutely love, that said, because Jesus walks 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:43.379 such a lonely path, you do not have to. That's 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:48.059 true. And I would say... You know when somebody 00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:50.639 has to give up a lot to join the church and like 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:53.059 an old way of life and then Satan starts using 00:11:53.059 --> 00:11:55.360 the tactic like you love that life. Like why 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:58.179 did you give it up and entice you with it? Sometimes 00:11:58.179 --> 00:12:02.879 those friends are very good at like kicking it 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.639 into high gear and really making you feel loved 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:10.419 and welcome. It's not a bad idea, especially 00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:12.840 around new members or members that are struggling, 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:14.919 to be that community for them. You know, the 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:16.879 opposing force, the opportunity for them to have 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:19.779 other people see them, see them for who they 00:12:19.779 --> 00:12:21.159 are, and know that they're trying to turn away 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:22.779 from things that they used to be. They have to 00:12:22.779 --> 00:12:25.440 have something to turn to. Callings, activities, 00:12:25.940 --> 00:12:28.980 temple work, you know, that's part of the missionary 00:12:28.980 --> 00:12:31.980 program, right? That in really making a full 00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:34.440 conversion and a full turn of heart, that we're 00:12:34.440 --> 00:12:37.590 filling the old. the old used to be with better 00:12:37.590 --> 00:12:40.909 things that really bring lasting joy and happiness 00:12:40.909 --> 00:12:45.029 and, and, you know, snuffing out the thoughts 00:12:45.029 --> 00:12:46.690 that Satan wants to put in there that, that, 00:12:46.750 --> 00:12:49.590 Oh, what you were experiencing before was great 00:12:49.590 --> 00:12:52.610 and joyful. Yeah. That's so good. The rain in 00:12:52.610 --> 00:12:54.929 the background picked up a little bit and it's 00:12:54.929 --> 00:12:57.570 just tender. Like that's, that's a, can you all 00:12:57.570 --> 00:12:59.929 hear that rain? Those are prayers and blessings. 00:13:00.289 --> 00:13:04.460 It's so great. Did you get to finish everything 00:13:04.460 --> 00:13:08.039 that you thought of? Yeah. Okay. Do you have 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:09.779 anything else you want to add? I think I've said 00:13:09.779 --> 00:13:12.019 enough. I love it. Thank you so much for sharing 00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:16.179 your thoughts and just your heart, Abby. In closing, 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:20.600 this is the end of the talk. Beware the second 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:23.519 temptation. Avail yourself of the miraculous 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:25.860 healing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ. 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:29.879 This is the very purpose of our existence. Thanks 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:32.990 for being with us. We'll see you next time. Thank 00:13:32.990 --> 00:13:33.350 you.