Last updated on February 17th, 2025 at 12:05 am
General Conference Applied
S4 E22 – Sunday, February 16, 2025 | “Seek Him with All Your Heart” by Bishop L. Todd Budge; October 2024 General Conference
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Podcast Episode Outline
Introduction
Bio
- “L. Todd Budge was sustained as Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric on October 3, 2020.
“Bishop Budge was born in Pittsburg, California, on December 29, 1959. He married Lori Capener in 1981. They are the parents of six children.
“He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Brigham Young University in 1984.
“He has served in several Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Japan Fukuoka Mission, stake Young Men president, elders quorum president, stake executive secretary, counselor in a bishopric, bishop, stake president, president of the Japan Tokyo Mission, Area Seventy, and member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the Utah Salt Lake City Area.
“At the time of his call, he was serving as First Counselor in the Asia North Area Presidency. He was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 2019.
“Bishop Budge worked for Bain & Company Japan, Citibank N.A., and GE Capital in both Atlanta and Japan. In 2003 he became president and chief executive officer of Tokyo Star Bank Limited. From 2008 to 2011 he served as chairman of the board. He retired from the bank in 2011. During this time, he also served as a member of the board of directors for Hawaiian Airlines.” - This was Bishop Budge’s third general conference address (but his second as a member of the Presiding Bishopric). His most recent address was “Giving Holiness to the Lord” from the October 2021 General Conference.
Paradox: Hastening God’s Work “May Require That We Slow Down”
- “As we concentrate our hearts and minds on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and listen to the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost, we will have greater clarity about what is most needful, develop deeper compassion, and find rest and strength in Him. Paradoxically, helping God hasten His work of salvation and exaltation may require that we slow down. Being always in motion may be adding to the commotion in our lives and robbing us of the peace we seek.” -Bishop Budge
- 3 Nephi 11:3-7 – “[3] And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn. [4] And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not. [5] And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came. [6] And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them: [7] Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.”
Invitation One
What is the speaker inviting me to do?
- “God desires that we approach our time with Him with the same kind of heartfelt devotion.” -Bishop Budge
- In my own words: Carefully prepare for our time with God.
Why does it matter, or why is it important? (Doctrines, Principles, Christlike Attributes)
- Christlike Attribute: “I set goals and plan regularly. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:119)” (Diligence)
- “[119] Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.”
What’s in it for us? (Promises)
- “When we [approach our time with God with the same kind of heartfelt devotion], our worship becomes an expression of our love for Him.” -Bishop Budge
How will we take action? (Directives, Personal Revelation)
- “There is a word in Japanese, mui, that, for me, captures this more faith-filled, contemplative sense of what it means to be still. It is comprised of two characters (無為). The one on the left means ‘nothing’ or ‘nothingness,’ and the one on the right means ‘to do.’ Together they mean ‘non-doing.’ Taken literally, the word could be misinterpreted to mean ‘to do nothing’ in the same way ‘to be still’ can be misinterpreted as ‘not talking or moving.’ However, like the phrase ‘to be still,’ it has a higher meaning; for me it is a reminder to slow down and to live with greater spiritual awareness.
“While serving in the Asia North Area Presidency with Elder Takashi Wada, I learned that his wife, Sister Naomi Wada, is an accomplished Japanese calligrapher. I asked Sister Wada if she would draw for me the Japanese characters for the word mui. I wanted to hang the calligraphy on my wall as a reminder to be still and to focus on the Savior. I was surprised when she did not readily agree to this seemingly simple request.
“The next day, knowing that I had likely misunderstood her hesitance, Elder Wada explained that writing those characters would require a significant effort. She would need to ponder and meditate on the concept and the characters until she understood the meaning deeply in her soul and could give expression to these heartfelt impressions with each stroke of her brush. I was embarrassed that I had so casually asked her to do something so demanding. I asked him to convey my apologies to her for my ignorance and to let her know that I was withdrawing my request.
“You can imagine my surprise and gratitude when upon my leaving Japan, Sister Wada, unsolicited, gifted to me this beautiful piece of calligraphy featuring the Japanese characters for the word mui. It now hangs prominently on the wall of my office, reminding me to be still and to seek the Lord every day with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. She had captured, in this selfless act, the meaning of mui, or stillness, better than any words could. Rather than mindlessly and dutifully drawing the characters, she approached her calligraphy with full purpose of heart and real intent. …
“The gospel of Jesus Christ gives us opportunities to return to Him often. These opportunities include daily prayers, scripture study, the sacrament ordinance, the Sabbath day, and temple worship. What if we were to take these sacred opportunities off our to-do lists and put them on our ‘non-doing’ lists—meaning to approach them with the same mindfulness and focus with which Sister Wada approaches her calligraphy?” -Bishop Budge - “The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment” by Eckhart Tolle: “Just become intensely conscious of the present moment. This is a deeply satisfying thing to do. In this way, you draw consciousness away from mind activity and create a gap of no-mind in which you are highly alert and aware but not thinking. This is the essence of meditation. In your everyday life, you can practice this by taking any routine activity that normally is only a means to an end and giving it your fullest attention, so that it becomes an end in itself. For example, every time you walk up and down the stairs in your house or place of work, pay close attention to every step, every movement, even your breathing. Be totally present. Or when you wash your hands, pay attention to all the sense perceptions associated with the activity: the sound and feel of the water, the movement of your hands, the scent of the soap, and so on. Or when you get into your car, after you close the door, pause for a few seconds and observe the flow of your breath. Become aware of a silent but powerful sense of presence. There is one certain criterion by which you can measure your success in this practice: the degree of peace that you feel within.”
- Mitch: Before I go to bed each night, have a plan for where and when I will study the gospel the next day.
Invitation Two
What is the speaker inviting me to do?
- “Let me suggest that what may be needed is not necessarily more time but more awareness of and focus on God during the times we already set aside for Him.” -Bishop Budge
- In my own words: Be aware of and focus on God during our gospel study.
Why does it matter, or why is it important? (Doctrines, Principles, Christlike Attributes)
- Christlike Attribute: “I think about the Savior during the day and remember what He has done for me. (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79)” (Faith)
- “[77] O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen. …
“[79] O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.”
- “[77] O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen. …
What’s in it for us? (Promises)
- “When our focus is less on doing and more on strengthening our covenant connection with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, I testify that each of these sacred moments will be enriched, and we will receive the guidance needed in our personal lives. We, like Martha in the account in Luke, are often “careful and troubled about many things.” However, as we commune with the Lord each day, He will help us to know that which is most needful. …
“I testify that as we return often to the Lord with full purpose of heart, we will in quietness and confidence come to know Him and feel His infinite covenantal love for us.
“The Lord promised:
“‘Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me.’
“‘And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.’
“I testify that this promise is true.” -Bishop Budge
How will we take action? (Directives, Personal Revelation)
- “For example, when praying, what if we were to spend less time talking and more time just being with God; and when we were to speak, to give more heartfelt and specific expressions of gratitude and love?
“President Nelson has counseled that we not just read the scriptures but savor them. What difference would it make if we were to do less reading and more savoring?
“What if we were to do more to prepare our minds to partake of the sacrament and joyfully pondered the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ during this sacred ordinance?
“On the Sabbath, which in Hebrew means “rest,” what if we were to rest from other cares and to take time to sit quietly with the Lord to pay our devotions unto Him?
“During our temple worship, what if we were to make a more disciplined effort to pay attention or lingered a little longer in the celestial room in quiet reflection? …
“Even the Savior took time from His ministry to be still. The scriptures are replete with examples of the Lord retreating to a solitary place—a mountain, the wilderness, a desert place, or going “a little way off”—to pray to the Father. If Jesus Christ sought quiet time to commune with God and to be strengthened by Him, it would be wise for us to do the same.” -Bishop Budge - Church News Podcast Episode 226: The Sunday School general presidency on studying the ongoing Restoration with ‘Come, Follow Me’ in 2025: [Brother Chad H. Webb]: “President Nelson has taught us that we read the scriptures to hear Him. So it’s one thing to see the black-and-white printed page. It’s another thing to say, “What am I learning? How does this apply to me? What is the Spirit inviting me to do,” or “The comfort or the guidance, or whatever is coming, because I’m reading the scriptures.” It’s not, “I read the scriptures, check the box, I’m waiting for the blessing.” The blessing is reading the scriptures and the Spirit that comes and the promptings that come and the healing that comes, because when we hear the voice of the Lord, those blessings are part of our day, every day.”
- Mitch: Focus less on checking the box and more on nurturing the relationship.
What will you do?
How will you take action on the invitations extended in this General Conference address?
Conclusion
The focus of our next podcast episode will be the October 2024 General Conference address that was delivered by Brother Bradley R. Wilcox and was entitled “O Youth of the Noble Birthright.”
As we conclude this episode, we would invite you to refer to the podcast episode details for each podcast episode where we have provided important information for connecting with us and further supporting the General Conference Applied Podcast.
Please remember that General Conference Applied is meant to be a supplement for your review of General Conference Addresses. We promise that you will get more out of each General Conference Applied episode when you study the General Conference address first.
Thank you for joining us in this effort to become doers of the word and to take action on general conference invitations.
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Listening | Prayer | Worship
Additional Content
Next Podcast Episode (“O Youth of the Noble Birthright” by Brother Bradley R. Wilcox)