WEBVTT 00:00:02.359 --> 00:00:04.639 Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference, 00:00:04.860 --> 00:00:06.719 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:08.539 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:08.539 --> 00:00:11.480 Conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's 00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:32.659 jump into it. We are talking about, this is a 00:00:32.659 --> 00:00:36.979 special, special talk and it was actually a BYU 00:00:36.979 --> 00:00:39.820 devotional with President Dallin H. Oaks. He 00:00:39.820 --> 00:00:41.960 is the president of the Church of Jesus Christ 00:00:41.960 --> 00:00:45.590 of Latter -day Saints. topic is coming closer 00:00:45.590 --> 00:00:49.030 to Jesus Christ. This was such a treat for all 00:00:49.030 --> 00:00:51.329 of us, and we are so excited. It is not technically 00:00:51.329 --> 00:00:54.289 a conference talk, however, because he addressed 00:00:54.289 --> 00:00:57.049 the entire world. We just wanted to fit this 00:00:57.049 --> 00:00:59.609 right in. We think it fits in very nicely. So 00:00:59.609 --> 00:01:02.270 he was speaking to those in the Marriott Center, 00:01:02.390 --> 00:01:04.969 but Also, this was for a wider audience. It was 00:01:04.969 --> 00:01:07.569 for the entire world. We were all invited to 00:01:07.569 --> 00:01:10.010 hear this. He says, you are an audience greatly 00:01:10.010 --> 00:01:12.689 loved by the Lord, and He desires all of you 00:01:12.689 --> 00:01:15.390 to return to His presence. He prayed for inspiration 00:01:15.390 --> 00:01:17.250 in what the Lord would have them say to each 00:01:17.250 --> 00:01:19.370 of us. I was giddy, Abby, just listening to this. 00:01:19.510 --> 00:01:22.439 It was so much fun. And I've heard them express 00:01:22.439 --> 00:01:24.180 the things that they think that they want to 00:01:24.180 --> 00:01:27.180 talk about change when all of a sudden they become 00:01:27.180 --> 00:01:29.140 the mouthpiece for the Lord. And he directs the 00:01:29.140 --> 00:01:31.920 message a little bit differently. He told us 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:33.500 that he was present at the 100th anniversary 00:01:33.500 --> 00:01:36.299 of BYU. Now fast forward another 50 years, we're 00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:38.280 celebrating the 150th anniversary of the same 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:41.180 university. And he invited us to think, what 00:01:41.180 --> 00:01:43.760 have we become over the last half century? Some 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:45.700 of us haven't even lived a half century yet. 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:47.859 But the point being, when we reflect back on 00:01:47.859 --> 00:01:51.170 our lives, You know, are we more prepared to 00:01:51.170 --> 00:01:53.150 meet the Savior today than we were yesterday, 00:01:53.430 --> 00:01:57.849 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 50 years ago? Meet 00:01:57.849 --> 00:02:01.349 the Savior and our parents in heaven. His words 00:02:01.349 --> 00:02:04.409 were this, what I have to say applies to all 00:02:04.409 --> 00:02:07.129 who follow the words of a prophet. So let's see 00:02:07.129 --> 00:02:10.810 what our current prophet has for us. Great. So 00:02:10.810 --> 00:02:13.490 first, gratitude for those around the world who 00:02:13.490 --> 00:02:15.330 have felt to pray for him. I felt that deeply 00:02:15.330 --> 00:02:19.020 that he was humbled by that. Those prayers have 00:02:19.020 --> 00:02:22.360 been felt, he said. Then we get to hear his reflection 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:25.759 on a teen, on a term frequently referred to as 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:28.439 the mantle, and what a significant term this 00:02:28.439 --> 00:02:30.319 is. So in the Bible, we learn that the cloak 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:33.240 of the prophet Elijah descends on Elisha as a 00:02:33.240 --> 00:02:35.400 symbol of the passage of prophetic authority. 00:02:35.979 --> 00:02:38.180 We first experienced that mantle in our church 00:02:38.180 --> 00:02:40.860 when the prophet Joseph Smith became the first 00:02:40.860 --> 00:02:43.379 prophet of this dispensation. Not then, but rather 00:02:43.379 --> 00:02:45.919 after the challenges, turmoil, and years after 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:48.960 his passing, when reports of the meeting in Navu 00:02:49.229 --> 00:02:52.830 in Nauvoo of who should succeed the murdered 00:02:52.830 --> 00:02:56.550 Prophet Joseph Smith. So witnesses of this mantle 00:02:56.550 --> 00:03:00.949 settled, it settled on Brigham Young and witnesses, 00:03:01.110 --> 00:03:03.930 those who watched, I really love this part because 00:03:03.930 --> 00:03:07.990 he made it very clear that some had visual experiences, 00:03:08.710 --> 00:03:13.319 some Heard Joseph's voice and many had a feeling 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:15.479 and then this is the point that I really appreciated 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:18.419 that He said each of us receives revelation differently. 00:03:18.419 --> 00:03:20.979 They all experience the same thing They all felt 00:03:20.979 --> 00:03:23.360 it differently each of us had this opportunity 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:26.539 this week to recognize that same mantle settling 00:03:26.539 --> 00:03:29.120 on president oaks Maybe it's in the truth. He 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:31.719 speaks maybe it's in the message that you hear 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:34.180 maybe with your physical eyes, but you literally 00:03:34.180 --> 00:03:37.979 see you know We experienced the mantle being 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:41.340 She just did. It was really great. I thought 00:03:41.340 --> 00:03:43.319 it was really tender to reflect on watching the 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:46.240 mantle of prophethood settle upon President Nelson 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:49.780 is what he said. He was reminiscing. He said 00:03:49.780 --> 00:03:51.659 he watched this mantle settle on President Nelson 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:53.900 after 34 years of rubbing shoulders with this 00:03:53.900 --> 00:03:57.139 man. He said, I felt that his prophetic gifts 00:03:57.139 --> 00:04:00.919 were magnified. And we all have witnessed his 00:04:00.919 --> 00:04:03.719 profound leadership. It was a sweet moment to 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:06.219 appreciate all that we learned through President 00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:09.379 Nelson. I felt God's love. preparing him and 00:04:09.379 --> 00:04:11.520 sending him at the exact time that he did. And 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:13.419 I knew that he also prepared and sent President 00:04:13.419 --> 00:04:15.960 Oaks in that same way. For sure. It was best 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:17.819 to hear how that transfer of the mantle felt 00:04:17.819 --> 00:04:20.680 to him as a very physical thing. To observers, 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:22.779 it symbolizes a transfer of priesthood authority. 00:04:22.839 --> 00:04:24.639 To the person who receives that authority, it 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:28.399 is a very different and real, very real. Within 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:30.199 a few minutes after learning of the president's 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:32.339 death, I felt the heaviness of responsibility 00:04:32.339 --> 00:04:34.720 settle upon me along with important impressions 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:38.000 of what I was required to do now. I love that. 00:04:38.920 --> 00:04:41.300 The first order of business that he had is he 00:04:41.300 --> 00:04:44.180 said, Heavenly Father wants us to be or become 00:04:44.180 --> 00:04:46.420 active members of the Church of Jesus Christ 00:04:46.420 --> 00:04:49.180 of Latter -day Saints. So, proceeding forward 00:04:49.180 --> 00:04:51.360 on the covenant path into the eternities, I also 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:54.560 did think it was very a nice nod to President 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:56.199 Nelson that he said, you know, what President 00:04:56.199 --> 00:04:59.019 Nelson refers to as the covenant path. I just 00:04:59.019 --> 00:05:01.300 like that he's going to carry on to carry that 00:05:01.300 --> 00:05:04.540 on. Yeah, very sweet. Russell M. Nelson issued 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:08.519 So he emphasized this. In coming days, it will 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:10.459 not be possible to survive spiritually without 00:05:10.459 --> 00:05:12.500 the guiding, comforting, and constant influence 00:05:12.500 --> 00:05:14.560 of the Holy Ghost. And we all remember this as 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:17.540 being a quote from President Nelson. A couple 00:05:17.540 --> 00:05:19.560 years back, President Nelson re -emphasized the 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:22.100 importance of serving missions. And I remember 00:05:22.100 --> 00:05:23.839 we were teaching a mission prep class at the 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:25.379 time and these kids would be like, well, I was 00:05:25.379 --> 00:05:27.100 wondering about whether I should go. And then 00:05:27.100 --> 00:05:29.620 the prophet said that, you know, I have like 00:05:29.620 --> 00:05:31.259 a covenant that I made a covenant that I said 00:05:31.259 --> 00:05:33.259 that I would serve. And like Amy, you and I, 00:05:33.420 --> 00:05:35.959 we've heard that many prophets, but it mattered 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:39.279 when these kids heard it from the prophet of 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:41.759 their day for themselves. At the time they were 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:43.579 thinking of a mission. But I was just thinking 00:05:43.579 --> 00:05:46.899 how cool it is when a previous prophet says something 00:05:46.899 --> 00:05:50.660 and then the subsequent prophet Like President 00:05:50.660 --> 00:05:52.879 Oaks reaffirms what President Nelson's saying 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:56.180 about the idea of surviving spiritually with 00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:58.079 the guidance of the Holy Ghost becoming a priority. 00:05:59.420 --> 00:06:02.100 it reaffirms that it's just as important. It's 00:06:02.100 --> 00:06:05.740 nice to hear from the succeeding prophet. A quote, 00:06:05.980 --> 00:06:08.000 one of the many reasons you will need the constant 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:09.920 influence of the Holy Ghost is that you live 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:12.360 in a season where the adversary has become so 00:06:12.360 --> 00:06:14.980 effective at disguising truth that if you don't 00:06:14.980 --> 00:06:17.240 have the Holy Ghost, you will be deceived. Many 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:19.480 obstacles lie ahead. The distractions will be 00:06:19.480 --> 00:06:23.680 many. And we've all felt it. So it's not like 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:25.980 doom and gloom. It's just him affirming that 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:28.379 yeah, this is a hard time to live and we have 00:06:28.379 --> 00:06:30.860 to be on our guard and we have the tools that 00:06:30.860 --> 00:06:33.639 we need to stay ahead of absolutely the Satan's 00:06:33.639 --> 00:06:35.620 plan. Yes, this is what's happening. This is 00:06:35.620 --> 00:06:38.620 the focus, right? He wants to help all our members 00:06:38.620 --> 00:06:41.379 overcome present. or future doubts. I really 00:06:41.379 --> 00:06:44.379 appreciated the way he said that. Whatever those 00:06:44.379 --> 00:06:47.100 doubts, the way to overcome them is to get closer 00:06:47.100 --> 00:06:49.379 to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Again and again, 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:52.399 He has taught us that He is the way. I think 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:54.240 it's something I have found a lot of peace in 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:56.319 for myself. I might hear something that doesn't 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:58.160 settle in a right way, or I think, hmm, that's 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:00.379 new information to me. But through experience, 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:02.579 I have learned that because I have a desire to 00:07:02.579 --> 00:07:04.889 believe the words of God's called leaders, I 00:07:04.889 --> 00:07:07.389 have found peace in knowing that eventually I 00:07:07.389 --> 00:07:09.410 will learn for myself the truths of those things. 00:07:09.769 --> 00:07:12.850 So I particularly love that he says there is 00:07:12.850 --> 00:07:14.870 a way to overcome future doubts. He knows that 00:07:14.870 --> 00:07:16.829 they will be there. It's just part of human nature, 00:07:17.449 --> 00:07:20.050 right? Abby, do you want to share his impressions 00:07:20.050 --> 00:07:23.129 on this? Yeah, he said he had four impressions 00:07:23.129 --> 00:07:24.889 and I'm already seeing this on memes and so I'm 00:07:24.889 --> 00:07:26.370 loving it when they come up because I can just 00:07:26.370 --> 00:07:28.889 be reminded of the four main. Talk this will 00:07:28.889 --> 00:07:31.550 dissect into each of them and our experiences 00:07:31.550 --> 00:07:33.550 that come to our mind as we're kind of going 00:07:33.550 --> 00:07:36.149 through each of these to say Yeah, I've experienced 00:07:36.149 --> 00:07:39.149 the blessing of that thing will will be different 00:07:39.149 --> 00:07:42.730 for each of us, but the impressions They're powerful. 00:07:42.750 --> 00:07:46.129 He says first strength in our faith in him Second 00:07:46.129 --> 00:07:48.290 increase our humility third seek help from others 00:07:48.290 --> 00:07:50.949 and fourth be patient. So like I said, we'll 00:07:50.949 --> 00:07:53.470 touch on each of these points and Want me to 00:07:53.470 --> 00:07:55.750 take the first one go for it faith in the Lord 00:07:55.750 --> 00:07:59.600 Jesus Christ and his son Do we know what their 00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:04.339 mission was and still is? He has wanted us to 00:08:04.339 --> 00:08:07.740 know the truths that they have taught, and there 00:08:07.740 --> 00:08:10.699 are sources to look to overcome our doubts for 00:08:10.699 --> 00:08:13.040 ourselves. We can do things like daily prayer 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:15.600 and scripture study. We can focus on the first 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:17.519 article of faith. We believe in God, the Eternal 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:19.300 Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the 00:08:19.300 --> 00:08:21.819 Holy Ghost. It's the first article of faith for 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:24.220 a reason. putting our effort into this key principle 00:08:24.220 --> 00:08:27.459 of gospel opens us up to all other gospel truths. 00:08:28.139 --> 00:08:29.819 And from my own experience, when I'm trying to 00:08:29.819 --> 00:08:34.019 learn something and I don't know it for myself 00:08:34.019 --> 00:08:38.539 yet, that truth is my anchor. The truth of the 00:08:38.539 --> 00:08:41.600 Godhead. The truth of, you know, eternal parents 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:44.460 and a Savior and the companionship of the Holy 00:08:44.460 --> 00:08:48.440 Ghost. Those anchor me and I hold that. It's 00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:50.960 kind of a placeholder until I can know This new 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:53.799 truth for myself and I feel like just what you 00:08:53.799 --> 00:08:57.259 mentioned earlier Like I I want to know for myself 00:08:57.259 --> 00:08:59.379 that it's true. Maybe it doesn't come immediately 00:08:59.379 --> 00:09:01.659 some things people say i'm like, yep I've got 00:09:01.659 --> 00:09:03.659 that totally feels right. I can run with it. 00:09:03.659 --> 00:09:05.519 Sometimes they just don't settle right You don't 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:06.899 know where to put it, but I know that I want 00:09:06.899 --> 00:09:08.879 to know Yeah, and I want it to feel comfortable. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:12.080 I just need a little more information. So I've 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:13.639 done that myself. I've just been like, I'm not 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:15.659 really sure, but I know that that's a prophet 00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:18.320 of God and I put my trust in him. So let me, 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:20.919 let me open that in my prayer. Like help me, 00:09:20.980 --> 00:09:22.899 help me find the things that I need to reconcile 00:09:22.899 --> 00:09:24.519 that to know that truth for myself. Totally. 00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:28.360 Not just blind faith. Like, not the blind faith's 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:31.250 bad. That sounded terrible. Not just. blindly 00:09:31.250 --> 00:09:33.389 following. I just want to take the word faith 00:09:33.389 --> 00:09:38.129 out of it. You can take someone's word and you 00:09:38.129 --> 00:09:39.929 can weigh that against what you know about God 00:09:39.929 --> 00:09:42.549 and you can also say, God show me how this is 00:09:42.549 --> 00:09:44.710 true. I like to pray to Heavenly Father and say, 00:09:44.830 --> 00:09:47.570 Heavenly Father, the prophet said this, please 00:09:47.570 --> 00:09:50.389 show this how it applies to my life and help 00:09:50.389 --> 00:09:52.789 me to see how it's real in my life because it's 00:09:52.789 --> 00:09:53.990 going to feel a little bit different for every 00:09:53.990 --> 00:09:58.850 person I feel like. Totally. So humility, here 00:09:58.850 --> 00:10:02.240 we are. great way to go at this. Humility draws 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:04.559 us closer to Jesus Christ. When we are humble, 00:10:04.700 --> 00:10:07.100 we can more clearly hear the Lord's voice. We 00:10:07.100 --> 00:10:09.379 all need helpers to teach us humility. Oh my 00:10:09.379 --> 00:10:11.980 gosh, love this story that he said. President 00:10:11.980 --> 00:10:14.000 Oaks shared a lesson in humility that he learned 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:15.639 from himself, and I'm just going to read his 00:10:15.639 --> 00:10:18.179 exact words. He says, my first year as a professor 00:10:18.179 --> 00:10:20.720 at the University of Chicago Law School, a famous 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:23.039 faculty member died and the dean asked me to 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:26.440 teach his classes for several weeks until a suitable 00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:30.399 substitute could be provided. The legal subject 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:32.500 was one with which I was not very familiar, so 00:10:32.500 --> 00:10:35.139 I struggled hard and finally felt like congratulating 00:10:35.139 --> 00:10:37.360 myself on fulfilling an assignment. Afterwards, 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:39.159 a student gave me what I thought was going to 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:41.559 be a compliment. He said, Mr. Oaks, I was in 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:43.360 that class you taught for a professor so -and 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:45.659 -so, and I must tell you, I was really impressed. 00:10:45.940 --> 00:10:50.240 You'll make a good teacher someday." So good. 00:10:52.179 --> 00:10:55.740 He's a very precise man, and he does pride himself 00:10:55.740 --> 00:11:00.309 on doing his best. The fact that he's bringing 00:11:00.309 --> 00:11:02.789 it up all these years later, it makes me laugh. 00:11:03.409 --> 00:11:05.769 We all need experiences like that. I think kids 00:11:05.769 --> 00:11:08.850 are the best. Right? They're the best at keeping 00:11:08.850 --> 00:11:12.049 us humble. They only speak truth. President Ezra 00:11:12.049 --> 00:11:16.769 Taft -Nelson... Benson. Oh my goodness. Sorry, 00:11:16.909 --> 00:11:19.590 guys. President Ezra Taft -Benson... Oh my gosh. 00:11:19.690 --> 00:11:22.070 What is it? No, it is right. President Ezra Taft 00:11:22.070 --> 00:11:24.750 -Benson said, the antidote for pride is humility, 00:11:25.169 --> 00:11:28.009 meekness, submissiveness, humility responds to 00:11:28.009 --> 00:11:31.039 God's will. To the fear of his judgments and 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:32.980 to the needs of those around us. Let us choose 00:11:32.980 --> 00:11:35.779 to be humble, he pleaded. Yes, choose to be humble. 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:38.480 Humility is a foundational virtue that enables 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:40.639 us to develop other Christ -like qualities and 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:43.039 become who our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:45.960 intend us to be. Spencer W. Kimball taught that 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:48.519 humility is teachableness, free from contention 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:51.799 or self -justification. It is repentant, forgiving, 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:54.399 and aware that we all make mistakes. A humble 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:57.159 person does not seek attention, honor, or popularity 00:11:57.159 --> 00:12:00.919 as a guiding commandment in mortality. Humility 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:03.320 prepares us to meet our savior and helps us stay 00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:07.190 focused on what matters most. The Lord loves 00:12:07.190 --> 00:12:09.429 all his children and desires their return, yet 00:12:09.429 --> 00:12:11.610 some hinder their spiritual growth through inactivity, 00:12:11.669 --> 00:12:13.929 distancing themselves from church teachings and 00:12:13.929 --> 00:12:15.970 covenants. This might be returned missionaries, 00:12:15.990 --> 00:12:17.669 this might be youth who lack commitment to marriage 00:12:17.669 --> 00:12:19.809 and family, this might be adults who seek priesthood, 00:12:19.990 --> 00:12:22.110 who do not seek priesthood blessings or covenant 00:12:22.110 --> 00:12:24.529 responsibilities. Prophetic leaders are deeply 00:12:24.529 --> 00:12:26.529 concerned for those whose faith is declining, 00:12:26.789 --> 00:12:29.309 but they emphasize that God lovingly and persistently 00:12:29.309 --> 00:12:31.990 seeks each person. Kind of felt like Elder Caroline, 00:12:32.230 --> 00:12:34.610 he's in relentless pursuit of us. Yes. Staying 00:12:34.610 --> 00:12:36.710 true to commandments and covenants. and not letting 00:12:36.710 --> 00:12:39.970 secular learning restrict spiritual vision keeps 00:12:39.970 --> 00:12:43.309 us on the covenant path. And again, we're at 00:12:43.309 --> 00:12:45.549 a university, we know people are in the midst 00:12:45.549 --> 00:12:50.190 of seeking secular knowledge at a religious institution, 00:12:50.309 --> 00:12:52.389 but it's something that a lot of people battle. 00:12:52.669 --> 00:12:54.250 And I think when you don't have that balance 00:12:54.250 --> 00:12:57.000 of... being an institute of religion that you're 00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:59.480 attending, you have to fight even harder to gain 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:03.039 secular knowledge and not let your faith be squelched. 00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:05.039 Absolutely, Abby. So here we are, we're going 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:07.220 to talk about this balance of attaining knowledge. 00:13:07.659 --> 00:13:09.299 So we're grateful to know that there are two 00:13:09.299 --> 00:13:12.600 methods of gaining needed knowledge. One, the 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:15.039 evolving disclosures of man discovered by the 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:18.080 scientific method. And then number two is the 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:21.159 truth. the truths disclosed by this spiritual 00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:24.019 method, which begins with faith in God, relies 00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:26.820 on Scripture, inspired teaching, and also personal 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:29.340 revelation. There's no ultimate conflict between 00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:31.019 knowledge gained by these different methods, 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:33.480 because God, our omnipotent, eternal Father, 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:39.320 knows what all truth is, and it beckons us to 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:41.980 learn by both methods. Love that! The balance 00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:45.440 of both of those are needed. quote by Elder Richard 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:47.940 L. Evans really just sets it off perfectly as 00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:50.259 far as balance goes. He has a really good answer 00:13:50.259 --> 00:13:52.120 for those who are caught off balance by some 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:54.440 scientific evidence that seems to be contrary 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:57.240 to what we interpret from the scriptures. He 00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:59.940 says, there may be some seeming discrepancies. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:03.039 Do not worry about them. Eternity is a long time. 00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:05.820 I have a great respect for learning. for academic 00:14:05.820 --> 00:14:08.360 endeavor and the university atmosphere. I have 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:10.500 a great respect for science and scientists and 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:13.419 for the search of truth. But remember this, science 00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:16.120 after all, even when it is true and final and 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:19.039 factual, is simply man's discovering of a few 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:21.899 things that God already knows and controls and 00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:24.500 is ordering of the universe. God has not told 00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:27.279 us all that he knows. Could you imagine? We wouldn't 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:29.399 be able to hold it all. We believe in continuous 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:32.769 revelation. Be patient. keep humble and balanced 00:14:32.769 --> 00:14:36.289 in all things. I felt like that was just a perfect 00:14:36.289 --> 00:14:40.730 thing to hear in a university setting. It was 00:14:40.730 --> 00:14:44.690 my favorite maybe up to that point. Same. It 00:14:44.690 --> 00:14:47.529 was so beautifully said, articulated. It touched 00:14:47.529 --> 00:14:49.950 my heart. I'm a science major in college. How 00:14:49.950 --> 00:14:52.269 did I not know that? Yeah. I have my bachelor 00:14:52.269 --> 00:14:54.909 of science in dental hygiene. Specifically. So 00:14:54.909 --> 00:14:57.309 tons of science classes, heavily weighted. And 00:14:57.309 --> 00:14:59.929 so it was a big part of my education. And I felt 00:14:59.929 --> 00:15:02.269 like, as I didn't attend an Institute of Religion, 00:15:02.409 --> 00:15:05.129 my professors spent a lot of time trying to tell 00:15:05.129 --> 00:15:08.289 me that I would need to set aside my religion 00:15:08.289 --> 00:15:11.350 for my scientific pursuits. You know, this is 00:15:11.350 --> 00:15:14.710 an orb over here. And it's nice what you think, 00:15:14.750 --> 00:15:17.149 but really to be a scientist that you kind of 00:15:17.149 --> 00:15:19.750 need to be over here and try to use quotes from 00:15:19.750 --> 00:15:23.370 apostles to say like, Religion has its place 00:15:23.370 --> 00:15:24.809 and science has its place, but they're never 00:15:24.809 --> 00:15:27.809 meant to co -mingle Interesting and I performed 00:15:27.809 --> 00:15:30.789 particularly horrible on the test, you know Stuff 00:15:30.789 --> 00:15:33.509 that was related to the origin of man like bombed 00:15:33.509 --> 00:15:35.830 it and so I turned to prayer and I asked Heavenly 00:15:35.830 --> 00:15:38.330 Father for the ability to learn the material 00:15:38.330 --> 00:15:40.129 for the sake of the test and not because I held 00:15:40.129 --> 00:15:42.769 it to be truth and Earned myself a hundred percent 00:15:42.769 --> 00:15:46.210 on the second pass. Nice. Yeah, I have the opportunity 00:15:46.210 --> 00:15:49.909 to homeschool my children the critical the I 00:15:49.909 --> 00:15:56.840 like It's okay. It's critical to me that I educate 00:15:56.840 --> 00:16:02.759 them in all of their studies with secular and 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:04.659 religious knowledge intertwined, that when we 00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:07.519 teach science that I'm saying the master scientist, 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:09.899 the master organizer, a mathematician, that you 00:16:09.899 --> 00:16:12.840 know all math, in art, in symmetry, in beauty. 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:15.179 Like I can involve him in all of those ways. 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:17.899 And I love that. Certainly they're going to enter 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:20.000 the world that they're going to have to, they're 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:21.399 going to have to listen to people that want to 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:22.960 educate them in a different way. But I'm hoping 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:24.960 that they know how to recognize truth for truth. 00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:28.399 But again, just to reemphasize the quote you 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:31.659 shared. All of the studies that we do are simply 00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:34.139 man's discovering of a few things that God already 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:36.320 knows and controls in his ordering of the universe. 00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:38.840 Absolutely. I love that. Totally. As the Book 00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:41.320 of Mormon teaches, the Lord doth bless and prosper 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:43.659 those who put their trust in him. Trusting in 00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:46.059 the Lord is a particular need for all who wrongly 00:16:46.059 --> 00:16:47.720 discount the commandments of God and the teachings 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:50.240 of his prophets by measuring them against the 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:54.759 latest findings and wisdom of man. A third way 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:56.940 to draw closer to the Savior is to associate 00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:59.759 with other believers. Who are these people in 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:01.919 our lives? Are they trusted associates, local 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:04.079 church members, other faithful friends, a spouse, 00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:06.500 a significant other? We know that Satan has become 00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:08.380 increasingly crafty at how he aims to get us 00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:11.920 in his grafts. To quote the talk, an abundance 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:14.039 of speculation and false information in podcasts 00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:16.380 and on social media surround us. Some may protest 00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:18.740 to question the truth of church doctrine without 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:20.440 knowing or even understanding the fullness of 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:22.619 that doctrine. Don't be persuaded by false or 00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:24.779 inaccurate information. Discuss your concerns 00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:28.049 with faithful well -informed friends, and always 00:17:28.049 --> 00:17:30.349 take those concerns to the Lord. Absolutely. 00:17:31.390 --> 00:17:34.430 He made a very good point. We know very little 00:17:34.430 --> 00:17:37.369 about the spirit world before or after mortality, 00:17:37.549 --> 00:17:39.789 and relying on speculation beyond what God has 00:17:39.789 --> 00:17:42.670 revealed can lead to confusion and doubt. Trusting 00:17:42.670 --> 00:17:45.009 God both in what He has revealed and what He 00:17:45.009 --> 00:17:47.910 has not is protection against mistaken beliefs. 00:17:48.390 --> 00:17:50.690 Then he shares a story, a stake president's experience, 00:17:50.970 --> 00:17:52.750 that illustrates this. When a young man said 00:17:52.750 --> 00:17:54.670 he was leaving the church after spending time 00:17:54.670 --> 00:17:57.009 with unbelieving friends, he was deeply moved 00:17:57.009 --> 00:17:59.769 simply by hearing a sincere testimony again by 00:17:59.769 --> 00:18:01.930 this stake president. The story shows how faith 00:18:01.930 --> 00:18:03.710 can be strengthened by surrounding ourselves 00:18:03.710 --> 00:18:06.930 with belief rather than doubt. I love when the 00:18:06.930 --> 00:18:09.569 boy said he was just so taken by this pure testimony 00:18:09.569 --> 00:18:11.750 because he said it's been a long time since he'd 00:18:11.750 --> 00:18:13.910 heard in a long time since I've heard this I've 00:18:13.910 --> 00:18:15.569 been hanging out with those who don't believe 00:18:15.569 --> 00:18:17.490 it was just a very stark contrast and I love 00:18:17.490 --> 00:18:21.410 how the spirit pricked his heart and He says 00:18:21.410 --> 00:18:24.089 what if that sick president hadn't chose to speak 00:18:24.089 --> 00:18:25.970 right in that moment that he's like I don't want 00:18:25.970 --> 00:18:28.509 to I don't want to force my beliefs on him, but 00:18:28.509 --> 00:18:30.549 just testifying of something, you know to be 00:18:30.549 --> 00:18:33.309 true is the best way to invite the spirit and 00:18:33.309 --> 00:18:36.589 clearly And we are struggling boy felt it. Yes, 00:18:36.630 --> 00:18:38.750 and we already know that this boy respected him 00:18:38.750 --> 00:18:40.670 to a degree. He asked him to be his mentor. Yeah, 00:18:40.769 --> 00:18:44.049 and so I just think it was a beautiful way to 00:18:44.049 --> 00:18:47.509 To that relationship sort of fostered that you 00:18:47.509 --> 00:18:49.069 know what I mean, and it's the spirit knew that 00:18:49.069 --> 00:18:56.089 and told him to speak up So what he says is The 00:18:56.089 --> 00:18:57.750 story shows how faith can be strengthened by 00:18:57.750 --> 00:18:59.690 surrounding ourselves with belief rather than 00:18:59.690 --> 00:19:02.130 doubt. Our prophet shared this. I say to all 00:19:02.130 --> 00:19:04.769 of you, seek friends and associates who are striving 00:19:04.769 --> 00:19:06.569 to follow the Lord with whom you can feel the 00:19:06.569 --> 00:19:09.170 Spirit and reinforce your faith. Surround yourself 00:19:09.170 --> 00:19:11.150 with people who believe. Renew your covenants 00:19:11.150 --> 00:19:13.930 by taking partaking of the sacrament weekly and 00:19:13.930 --> 00:19:16.329 consistently try to live according to those sacred 00:19:16.329 --> 00:19:18.990 covenants. Regularly attend the temple. Stay 00:19:18.990 --> 00:19:21.109 on the covenant path. These simple practices 00:19:21.109 --> 00:19:24.089 will protect you and strengthen you. Again, we've 00:19:24.089 --> 00:19:26.289 heard this simple but wise counsel from other 00:19:26.289 --> 00:19:29.390 prophets of God. And now to hear it from our 00:19:29.390 --> 00:19:33.349 prophet, to have him reaffirm these brings reassurance 00:19:33.349 --> 00:19:36.289 to me that we are in great hands. Which all that 00:19:36.289 --> 00:19:37.730 time and time again, and looking back, I mean, 00:19:37.829 --> 00:19:40.410 you saw me slaughter the prophet, President Nelson, 00:19:40.589 --> 00:19:42.589 or President Benson's name, but there's just 00:19:42.589 --> 00:19:45.049 quotes from prophets throughout the ages. And 00:19:45.049 --> 00:19:47.789 so when he, when he and his first address as 00:19:47.789 --> 00:19:51.349 the prophet to the world, is speaking and he 00:19:51.349 --> 00:19:52.930 references all of these other prophets to the 00:19:52.930 --> 00:19:54.750 generation. I just like, it's just linking them 00:19:54.750 --> 00:19:57.549 all together. Knowing that that succession has 00:19:57.549 --> 00:20:02.009 carried on flawlessly. The final point of the 00:20:02.009 --> 00:20:05.369 talk was maybe the one I felt maybe the most 00:20:05.369 --> 00:20:08.410 called out on, that was patience. We are all 00:20:08.410 --> 00:20:10.470 a work in progress. We are all at different places 00:20:10.470 --> 00:20:12.190 on what President Nelson called the covenant 00:20:12.190 --> 00:20:14.609 path. We need to be patient with one another. 00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:17.140 and occasionally even with ourselves. Love that. 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:19.380 Overcoming doubt, resolving complex between the 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:21.680 evolving understanding of science and sometimes 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:23.960 incomplete teaching and religion can be a lengthy 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:26.740 process, like building faith requiring humility. 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:29.220 Hold on to the first article of faith, even if 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:31.220 something else is uncertain. And while you wait, 00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:33.059 wait upon the Lord, which includes trusting in 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:35.680 his timing as well as his promises. And he says, 00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:37.579 what should we do in the meantime? How can we 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:40.299 best use our time while we wait? While we wait, 00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:43.160 we should be busy busying ourselves. with service. 00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:45.559 Again and again, Jesus taught and demonstrated 00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:49.200 the power of service to others. I just loved 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:54.440 this talk. Like you said, how he referenced prophets 00:20:54.440 --> 00:21:00.029 through the latter days. It was just very I guess 00:21:00.029 --> 00:21:02.950 the best word to say was just a very natural 00:21:02.950 --> 00:21:06.329 progression of, now he's the next prophet and 00:21:06.329 --> 00:21:08.789 he's going to continue on the word of God, just 00:21:08.789 --> 00:21:10.809 like the ones before him have. And I just felt 00:21:10.809 --> 00:21:13.869 very strongly, I'm grateful for the specific 00:21:13.869 --> 00:21:17.289 gifts that he has in this specific time that 00:21:17.289 --> 00:21:20.210 we have. One of the ones I've noticed is that 00:21:20.210 --> 00:21:25.170 by profession, he is a lawyer. Yes, he's a lawyer 00:21:25.170 --> 00:21:31.369 and a judge. and expounds on the law and interprets 00:21:31.369 --> 00:21:37.200 it, that's the word. scripture that way in the 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:40.299 Word of God, he takes a lot of sources and he 00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:42.460 brings them together and says, what we can learn 00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:45.440 from this. I just love that researching that 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:47.359 he has with bringing lots of sources together 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:50.039 and giving us a very full picture of what has 00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:52.640 come before us. Christopherson's also a lawyer. 00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:55.359 Absolutely. And then Eyring, he's just the touch 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:59.819 of sweetness. So I look at that development of 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:01.259 the first presidency and I'm like, yeah, that's 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:04.119 what we need. So great. We need to have the law 00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:07.740 on our side. And, oh yeah, he is a scientist. 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:11.700 Totally. What a perfect first presidency. So 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:18.180 I just love, I absolutely endorse, what's the 00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:20.480 word? Sustain. Sustain. I had my hand up, guys. 00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:21.900 I couldn't think of the word, but I absolutely 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:23.859 sustain him as our prophet. And I'm just so grateful 00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:25.440 that there is a prophet in Israel and that the 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:31.829 Lord loves us enough to give us guidance. The 00:22:31.829 --> 00:22:34.230 last podcast that we did, I'm saying her name 00:22:34.230 --> 00:22:36.190 wrong. I cringed every time I heard myself say 00:22:36.190 --> 00:22:38.450 it, because I think it's maybe Spaniards or is 00:22:38.450 --> 00:22:41.710 it Spaniards? Maybe Spaniards. I'm really sorry. 00:22:42.369 --> 00:22:44.369 However it is, however it makes you feel less 00:22:44.369 --> 00:22:46.190 cringy about me saying it. That's how I want 00:22:46.190 --> 00:22:49.750 to say her name. We prepared for, we thought 00:22:49.750 --> 00:22:53.329 it was amazing how President Nelson. She prepared 00:22:53.329 --> 00:22:55.210 this with President Nelson Still as our prophet 00:22:55.210 --> 00:22:58.609 and talking about the mantle and talking about, 00:22:58.710 --> 00:23:01.309 you know, inviting a prophet into your home or 00:23:01.309 --> 00:23:03.670 to sup and then fully inviting a prophet into 00:23:03.670 --> 00:23:05.410 your home. And there's a lot of thoughts were 00:23:05.410 --> 00:23:07.430 coming to me as we were preparing for that and 00:23:07.430 --> 00:23:10.130 Amy announced, hey, the prophet's going to speak 00:23:10.130 --> 00:23:12.430 in his first address on the 10th. We'd love you 00:23:12.430 --> 00:23:15.210 to listen to it, invite him into your homes and, 00:23:15.210 --> 00:23:18.549 you know, either get a testimony of him or start 00:23:18.549 --> 00:23:21.109 to build your testimony of him being prophet 00:23:21.109 --> 00:23:23.349 of God called. on Earth today. And so I knew 00:23:23.349 --> 00:23:26.009 that I wanted that for myself. And I feel like 00:23:26.009 --> 00:23:32.930 I felt very comfortable when that time passed, 00:23:32.990 --> 00:23:35.750 we buried President Nelson and the new first 00:23:35.750 --> 00:23:37.690 presidency was announced. I was like, yeah, he's 00:23:37.690 --> 00:23:41.089 our prophet and that's great. I definitely had 00:23:41.089 --> 00:23:44.730 special moments in this talk, hearing him speak, 00:23:45.349 --> 00:23:47.529 just retestifying. So I'm not going to say that 00:23:47.529 --> 00:23:49.089 it took this talk for me to know he's the prophet 00:23:49.089 --> 00:23:52.220 of God, but such a sweet I'm hoping that you 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:54.380 all take the chance to hear it. At this moment 00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:57.559 in time, it's still on the main page of the gospel 00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:59.839 library and the written words are also transcribed. 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:02.799 Before it was just the video, my husband teaches 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:06.259 seminary and so they paused their scripture study 00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:08.599 and tuned into the prophet when he gave the address 00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:12.279 and then the following day when it was like archived 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:14.400 or whatever, they showed it to all their subsequent 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:16.559 classes and it sounds like it was something that 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:21.160 all seminaries were encouraged to do. If you 00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:23.160 haven't taken the opportunity yet to hear that 00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:25.839 first address, go into it with a prayer that 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:28.619 you'll hear what you need to, to be comfortable 00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:32.240 in your testimony that a prophet of God walks 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:35.359 this earth today. I would love to close with 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:38.380 his testimony. He said, I testify of Jesus Christ 00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:40.900 as apostles are taught to testify of His name, 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:43.680 meaning His sacred work in all the world. I testify 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:45.859 of the truth taught by the restored church. I 00:24:45.859 --> 00:24:48.099 share with you and testify to the truth of these 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:50.980 things. as I have today in the name of Jesus 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:54.539 Christ. Amen. Amen. Thanks for letting us divert 00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:58.779 from conference talks, but this was really a 00:24:58.779 --> 00:25:02.420 fun one to go through you. We'll see you next 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.599 time. Hope you have a blessed week.