WEBVTT 00:00:02.320 --> 00:00:04.660 Welcome to closer to Christ through general conference 00:00:04.660 --> 00:00:06.700 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:06.700 --> 00:00:08.539 approach to studying the most recent general 00:00:08.539 --> 00:00:11.500 conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's 00:00:11.500 --> 00:00:32.490 jump into it. Today we get to talk about taking 00:00:32.490 --> 00:00:35.270 on the name of Jesus Christ, and this is by Elder 00:00:35.270 --> 00:00:38.210 Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 00:00:38.689 --> 00:00:40.789 Welcome. So happy to be here. Abby, happy to 00:00:40.789 --> 00:00:45.270 have you here. So in 2018, the University of 00:00:45.270 --> 00:00:48.149 Utah established a Dr. Russell M. Nelson and 00:00:48.149 --> 00:00:51.590 Dancil M. Nelson Presidential Chair in Cardiothoracic 00:00:51.590 --> 00:00:54.049 Surgery to honor President Nelson's pioneering 00:00:54.049 --> 00:00:56.649 work as a heart surgeon. and the support of his 00:00:56.649 --> 00:01:00.130 wife, Danzel. Now, this was funded by a permanent 00:01:00.130 --> 00:01:03.310 endowment, and the professorship provides its 00:01:03.310 --> 00:01:05.969 recipient with professional recognition, salary 00:01:05.969 --> 00:01:08.049 support, and also research funding. This was 00:01:08.049 --> 00:01:11.569 such a great beginning of this. Dr. Craig H. 00:01:11.709 --> 00:01:13.730 Selsman was a highly respected heart surgeon, 00:01:13.989 --> 00:01:15.829 not a member of our faith, and he was selected 00:01:15.829 --> 00:01:17.689 as the first recipient of this professorship. 00:01:18.049 --> 00:01:20.640 And at the award ceremony, that was attended 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:22.659 by President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, 00:01:22.819 --> 00:01:24.900 then sister Wendy W. Nelson, President Nelson 00:01:24.900 --> 00:01:27.719 spoke humbly about his surgical career. Dr. Selsman 00:01:27.719 --> 00:01:29.819 then follows up and shares personal experience 00:01:29.819 --> 00:01:32.299 of learning after an exhausting day in surgery 00:01:32.299 --> 00:01:34.159 that one of his patients would require another 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:36.000 operation, meaning he would have to spend another 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:37.780 unexpected additional night at the hospital. 00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:42.640 So, a difficult event for him. And in that difficult 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:45.060 time, he had one of those life -changing conversations 00:01:45.060 --> 00:01:47.200 with himself, considering that in just a few 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:49.299 days, he would be the first recipient of this 00:01:49.299 --> 00:01:51.659 professorship. He considered the name Dr. Nelson 00:01:51.659 --> 00:01:54.180 had built for himself, and he had always known 00:01:54.180 --> 00:01:57.180 that someone, he knew President Nelson, Dr. Nelson 00:01:57.180 --> 00:02:00.280 in his line of work, was always someone who kept 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:02.159 his emotions in check, treated everyone with 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:04.980 respect, and never lost his temper. Soon, his 00:02:04.980 --> 00:02:07.420 name would be linked with his, and he needed 00:02:07.420 --> 00:02:10.689 to try to be more like him. So cool. So as the 00:02:10.689 --> 00:02:13.169 first recipient of this award, Dr. Selsman was 00:02:13.169 --> 00:02:16.710 already a very considerate surgeon, but this 00:02:16.710 --> 00:02:18.909 new designation made him want to become even 00:02:18.909 --> 00:02:21.389 better. He prepared for the surgery differently, 00:02:21.550 --> 00:02:24.009 even though he was fighting fatigue and frustration 00:02:24.009 --> 00:02:27.169 and exhaustion. He didn't want that to reflect 00:02:27.169 --> 00:02:30.289 to his team. In fact, he made every effort to 00:02:30.289 --> 00:02:32.610 be even more supportive to them during surgery. 00:02:32.810 --> 00:02:34.949 In his opinion, he felt it made a difference 00:02:34.949 --> 00:02:38.169 and resolved to continue trying to be more like 00:02:38.169 --> 00:02:41.629 Dr. Nelson. The fun part about this talk was 00:02:41.629 --> 00:02:43.569 we get a fast forward five years when we hear 00:02:43.569 --> 00:02:46.770 from Dr. Salzman again. This time is as President 00:02:46.770 --> 00:02:48.870 Nelson is being honored for donating his professional 00:02:48.870 --> 00:02:51.650 papers to the University of Utah. President Nelson's 00:02:51.650 --> 00:02:55.990 initials are RMN and those initials are connected 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:59.620 to an ethos that the cardiothoracic surgery department 00:02:59.620 --> 00:03:02.319 at the University of Utah have come to recognize 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:05.120 and live by. Particularly when things are frustrating, 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:07.120 they focus, they get over it, and they do the 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:09.879 best that they can with the circumstances. This 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:13.460 ethos lives with them every day to the point 00:03:13.460 --> 00:03:19.909 that the students, residents probably, They are 00:03:19.909 --> 00:03:22.789 given lapel pens to every member of the division 00:03:22.789 --> 00:03:25.169 and each new trainee. At the bottom of the pen 00:03:25.169 --> 00:03:28.849 are the letters R, M, N. It's foundational to 00:03:28.849 --> 00:03:32.210 their training. Everyone is taught what those 00:03:32.210 --> 00:03:35.469 initials mean, what it embodies. Love that. It's 00:03:35.469 --> 00:03:37.830 incredible to think that Dr. Nelson's intentional 00:03:37.830 --> 00:03:41.050 behavior lives on. Current and up and coming 00:03:41.050 --> 00:03:43.509 surgeons will continue to do so long after his 00:03:43.509 --> 00:03:46.680 passing. Dr. Salzman had intentionally improved 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:49.419 his prior attitude and aspirations because his 00:03:49.419 --> 00:03:51.939 name is now linked to that of President Nelson. 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:54.860 And I love hearing this perspective because we 00:03:54.860 --> 00:03:56.979 know him as our beloved prophet, but I love hearing 00:03:56.979 --> 00:04:00.439 it more about his profession and just like the 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:01.639 papers that he donated. How cutting edge he was, 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:05.319 how impactful he was. Yes, on many levels. It's 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:07.659 incredible for me to think about the impact of 00:04:07.659 --> 00:04:10.120 one man, but this experience caused Elder Renlund 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:12.909 to consider. this question, how have I changed 00:04:12.909 --> 00:04:14.990 since I linked my name with the name of Jesus 00:04:14.990 --> 00:04:17.189 Christ? So I think it's a great lead -in. We 00:04:17.189 --> 00:04:18.970 know so much about the prophet. He's a great 00:04:18.970 --> 00:04:21.889 person. People want to emulate him in that realm 00:04:21.889 --> 00:04:24.310 of life. But Elder Renlund says, you know, his 00:04:24.310 --> 00:04:26.750 personality is so tied to being a Christ -like 00:04:26.750 --> 00:04:29.589 example or a disciple of Jesus Christ that, you 00:04:29.589 --> 00:04:35.389 know, in that secular world, that those ideals 00:04:35.389 --> 00:04:39.110 translate to professionalism and something they 00:04:39.110 --> 00:04:41.490 want to emulate. But Elder Renlund said at the 00:04:41.490 --> 00:04:43.230 heart of it, it's because he's a man of Christ. 00:04:43.290 --> 00:04:46.329 And if we follow that example, he can find five 00:04:46.329 --> 00:04:53.970 parallels in the story that show what happens 00:04:53.970 --> 00:04:55.829 when we link our name to the name of Jesus Christ. 00:04:56.910 --> 00:04:59.430 He says, I've genuinely tried to become better 00:04:59.430 --> 00:05:05.350 and more like Christ. I think everybody should 00:05:05.350 --> 00:05:08.009 have the opportunity to think. When I adopted 00:05:08.009 --> 00:05:10.149 the name of Jesus Christ on myself, like a baptism, 00:05:10.290 --> 00:05:12.670 let's say, or made further covenants with Him 00:05:12.670 --> 00:05:17.269 in the temple, stop and think, how has your life 00:05:17.269 --> 00:05:20.370 changed by trying to become more like Him? This 00:05:20.370 --> 00:05:22.810 is such a great buildup of the talk, and like 00:05:22.810 --> 00:05:26.310 we discussed just a couple talks ago, taking 00:05:26.310 --> 00:05:29.170 His name upon us, when we truly do that, we're 00:05:29.170 --> 00:05:32.589 going to try each day to live like Him. And at 00:05:32.589 --> 00:05:34.290 the same time, we know that we're going to fall 00:05:34.290 --> 00:05:36.430 short, but in His perfect way, He's able to make 00:05:36.430 --> 00:05:38.410 up the difference of what we're not able to achieve. 00:05:38.810 --> 00:05:41.069 And each time that we try, we get iteratively 00:05:41.069 --> 00:05:43.310 better. That's something that Elder Renlund likes 00:05:43.310 --> 00:05:45.970 to emphasize a lot. This process begins with 00:05:45.970 --> 00:05:47.649 baptism, like I said, when we take our names 00:05:47.649 --> 00:05:50.290 upon ourselves, but it's not something that has 00:05:50.290 --> 00:05:53.170 a completion date done, check, I'm like him. 00:05:53.470 --> 00:05:56.250 It's something that we try every day our best 00:05:56.250 --> 00:05:58.410 at. We try to live by His example that He set 00:05:58.410 --> 00:06:02.019 while He was on this earth and recognize we're 00:06:02.019 --> 00:06:04.759 going to fall short of it, but, you know, tomorrow. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:07.860 Yeah. We always have tomorrow, especially if 00:06:07.860 --> 00:06:09.300 we're trying today. It's going to help propel 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:11.819 us for the next. Absolutely. Elder Renlon identifies, 00:06:11.819 --> 00:06:14.379 like Abby said, five parallels to the story above, 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:17.480 and then our relationship in taking upon ourselves 00:06:17.480 --> 00:06:20.680 the name of Jesus Christ. So the first one, the 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:23.660 first parallel is identification. When we take 00:06:23.660 --> 00:06:25.759 upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, we link 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:29.399 our name with His. We identify with Him. We gladly 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:31.779 become known as Christian. We acknowledge the 00:06:31.779 --> 00:06:35.379 Savior and unapologetically stand up to be counted 00:06:35.379 --> 00:06:39.620 as His." Closely related to identification is 00:06:39.620 --> 00:06:41.680 another parallel. That's remembrance. So for 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:43.480 us, we partake of the sacrament each week. That 00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:45.740 helps us remember Jesus Christ. As we partake 00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:49.439 of that sacrament, we do in remembrance of the 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:52.360 price that He paid to redeem us. We create covenant 00:06:52.360 --> 00:06:54.680 anew to remember Him, recognize His greatness, 00:06:54.860 --> 00:06:56.980 appreciate His goodness. We acknowledge repeatedly 00:06:56.980 --> 00:06:59.079 that it's only in and through His grace that 00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:00.959 we're saved from physical and spiritual death. 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:04.420 And you know, in a recent talk, just a couple 00:07:04.420 --> 00:07:06.779 back, we discussed how the holy garment is a 00:07:06.779 --> 00:07:09.779 daily reminder of that covenant link. So, no 00:07:09.779 --> 00:07:14.819 matter where we are, what we're doing, it's such 00:07:14.819 --> 00:07:18.899 a great opportunity to try our hardest to remember 00:07:18.899 --> 00:07:21.819 Him in everything that we're doing. So number 00:07:21.819 --> 00:07:25.139 three is emulation. Emulation precedes remembrance. 00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:28.560 Dr. Saltzman began to emulate President Nelson 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:32.879 and the RMN ethos. So the more we identify with 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:35.139 and remember Jesus Christ, the more we want to 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:37.839 be like him. As his disciples, we change for 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:40.180 the better when we focus on him, more so than 00:07:40.180 --> 00:07:42.759 when we focus on ourselves. We strive to become 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:46.079 like him and seek to be blessed with his attributes. 00:07:47.149 --> 00:07:49.189 We pray fervently to be filled with His charity, 00:07:49.230 --> 00:07:51.610 the pure love of Christ. And, just like President 00:07:51.610 --> 00:07:54.629 Nelson taught in April, as charity becomes part 00:07:54.629 --> 00:07:57.529 of our nature, we will lose the impulse to demean 00:07:57.529 --> 00:07:59.709 others. We will stop judging others. We will 00:07:59.709 --> 00:08:02.589 have charity for those for all walks of life. 00:08:03.189 --> 00:08:05.569 Charity towards all is essential to our progress. 00:08:06.029 --> 00:08:08.250 Charity is the foundation of a godly character. 00:08:08.370 --> 00:08:11.750 Alongside charity, we seek, cultivate, and expand 00:08:11.750 --> 00:08:14.230 other spiritual gifts from the Savior, including 00:08:14.230 --> 00:08:18.439 integrity, patience, and diligence. Alignment 00:08:18.439 --> 00:08:21.680 with His purpose is the next parallel in these 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:24.279 talks. We join with Him in His work willingly, 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:26.939 intentionally, enthusiastically, aligning our 00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:29.259 goals with His. We join Him in His work when 00:08:29.259 --> 00:08:31.459 we love, share, and invite. We join Him in His 00:08:31.459 --> 00:08:33.820 work when we minister to others, especially the 00:08:33.820 --> 00:08:36.080 vulnerable and those who have been wounded, shattered, 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:39.639 or crushed by their earthly experiences. The 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:43.840 fifth one and last is empowerment. We access 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:46.440 God's power and blessings in our lives when we 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:48.960 remember Him, live like Him, and join His work. 00:08:49.259 --> 00:08:51.159 When we take upon ourselves the name of the Savior, 00:08:51.320 --> 00:08:53.440 our Heavenly Father blesses us with His power 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:55.879 to help us fulfill our mission and mortality. 00:08:56.649 --> 00:08:59.710 When I think about those five points, I don't 00:08:59.710 --> 00:09:02.750 think that they're sequential necessarily. I 00:09:02.750 --> 00:09:04.970 mean, the way that he words is kind of like, 00:09:05.210 --> 00:09:07.110 and then you're thinking about him more, then 00:09:07.110 --> 00:09:09.350 you're doing more. When you know about him more, 00:09:09.590 --> 00:09:11.590 then you know what his purposes are, you join 00:09:11.590 --> 00:09:14.470 him in his purposes. It's so intertwined that, 00:09:14.649 --> 00:09:18.409 I mean, maybe I didn't stop to think about him, 00:09:18.409 --> 00:09:20.490 and then I stopped to help somebody. I have the 00:09:20.490 --> 00:09:21.870 impression to help somebody do something, and 00:09:21.870 --> 00:09:23.389 then in the process of helping them, I'm like, 00:09:23.429 --> 00:09:25.850 oh. That great feeling, oh, this reminds me of 00:09:25.850 --> 00:09:28.889 my savior, turns me back to remembering him and 00:09:28.889 --> 00:09:30.230 being grateful for the opportunity that I had 00:09:30.230 --> 00:09:35.879 to sort of like intertwine. As we make additional 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:37.960 covenants with God, we take upon ourselves more 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:40.179 fully the name of Jesus Christ, so consequently, 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:42.700 God will bless us with more of His power. As 00:09:42.700 --> 00:09:44.600 President Nelson taught, each person who makes 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:47.460 covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples and 00:09:47.460 --> 00:09:49.700 keeps them has increased access to the power 00:09:49.700 --> 00:09:52.279 of Jesus Christ. The reward for keeping covenants 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:54.639 with God is heavenly power that strengthens us 00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:57.120 to withstand our trials. Temptations and heartaches 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:00.450 better doesn't remove the trials. That's such 00:10:00.450 --> 00:10:03.110 a good lesson. I think we both testified of that 00:10:03.110 --> 00:10:05.169 time and time again. And if you haven't heard 00:10:05.169 --> 00:10:07.509 us say it, I might just say it again. The reward 00:10:07.509 --> 00:10:09.850 for keeping covenants with God is heavenly power 00:10:09.850 --> 00:10:11.730 that strengthens us to withstand our trials, 00:10:11.970 --> 00:10:13.809 temptations, and heartaches better. Not remove 00:10:13.809 --> 00:10:16.929 them. Amen, Abby. The more familiar we are with 00:10:16.929 --> 00:10:18.990 our Savior and the more we become like Him, the 00:10:18.990 --> 00:10:21.909 more spiritually receptive we become. the more 00:10:21.909 --> 00:10:24.549 courage to confront seemingly impossible circumstances. 00:10:25.009 --> 00:10:26.590 We're strengthened more in our resolve to follow 00:10:26.590 --> 00:10:29.490 Jesus Christ. We more speedily repent and return 00:10:29.490 --> 00:10:31.909 to Him when we transgress. So all of these things, 00:10:31.950 --> 00:10:34.070 like you said, are iterative, like we get better 00:10:34.070 --> 00:10:35.809 a little bit and a little bit and a little bit 00:10:35.809 --> 00:10:38.870 with each pass. We become better at sharing His 00:10:38.870 --> 00:10:41.429 gospel with His power and authority. We help 00:10:41.429 --> 00:10:43.570 those in need while being less judgmental, far 00:10:43.570 --> 00:10:46.090 less judgmental. We retain our mission of our 00:10:46.090 --> 00:10:49.389 sins. We have greater peace. We are more cheerful 00:10:49.389 --> 00:10:53.860 because we can always rejoice. This airs right 00:10:53.860 --> 00:10:57.480 in the thick of Easter season, and we're all 00:10:57.480 --> 00:10:59.159 coming up with different things that we can do 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:02.120 to draw closer to our Savior and make this season 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:04.419 last more than just a day, more than just Holy 00:11:04.419 --> 00:11:07.879 Week. And I'm thinking this might be the thing 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:10.259 that propels you. Maybe it's these words, maybe 00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:16.240 you put identification, remembrance, emulation, 00:11:17.059 --> 00:11:20.159 alignment, empowerment. maybe those five words 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:26.019 can be written on something that you're not just 00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:28.460 focusing on one of them, but they're just kind 00:11:28.460 --> 00:11:29.960 of in front of your face, you're just kind of 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:33.019 looking at them and you think, just like Christmas 00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:35.000 time, we're thinking about Christ more, we're 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:37.840 doing, we're more charitable, and then again, 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:41.559 it makes us nicer people. If that same spirit 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:44.639 could encompass this whole Easter season, and 00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:48.360 however that ... Take shape in your life. It's 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:49.899 gonna look different for each of us I'm sure 00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:52.039 but that's kind of what I'm feeling this talk 00:11:52.039 --> 00:11:56.679 is an opportunity for a lot of us to kind of 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:59.480 start the day with that challenge to Remember 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:01.799 him and do as he would do and make decisions 00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:04.379 that we would not Otherwise make if we weren't 00:12:04.379 --> 00:12:06.759 thinking about him and trying to be like him 00:12:06.759 --> 00:12:11.139 any thoughts from you In closing? No, I'm excited 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:14.059 for Easter, though, and like we talk about the 00:12:14.059 --> 00:12:16.919 Christmas spirit, the Easter spirit that is around 00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:22.259 and just, yeah, keeping Jesus Christ in our thoughts 00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:25.539 and in our hearts is going to make the season 00:12:25.539 --> 00:12:30.340 so much better. And the world better. Yeah. I 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:32.240 think I'll just close with his final thoughts. 00:12:32.700 --> 00:12:34.820 The Savior invites us, come unto the Father in 00:12:34.820 --> 00:12:37.120 my name and in due time receive of his fullness. 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:39.879 Come unto our heavenly Father. Take upon yourself 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:42.340 the name of Jesus Christ. Identify with him. 00:12:42.700 --> 00:12:46.100 Always remember him. Strive to be like him. Join 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:48.200 with him in his work. Receive his power and blessings 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:51.090 in your life. etch His name in your heart willingly 00:12:51.090 --> 00:12:53.690 and intentionally. This gives you standing before 00:12:53.690 --> 00:12:56.129 God and qualifies you for the Savior's advocacy 00:12:56.129 --> 00:12:59.370 on your behalf. You will become an exalted inheritor 00:12:59.370 --> 00:13:01.929 in the kingdom of our Father in heaven, a joint 00:13:01.929 --> 00:13:04.509 heir with His firstborn, our beloved Savior and 00:13:04.509 --> 00:13:07.289 Redeemer. He lives, I absolutely know it. He 00:13:07.289 --> 00:13:10.149 loves you. He gave His life for you. He pleads 00:13:10.149 --> 00:13:12.789 with you to come to His Father through Him." 00:13:12.789 --> 00:13:14.409 And this He said in the name of Jesus Christ, 00:13:14.490 --> 00:13:16.750 Amen. Amen. Thank you, Abby. Thanks for being 00:13:16.750 --> 00:13:18.309 with us, guys. Catch you next time.