General Conference Applied
S4 E32 – Sunday, March 23, 2025 | “Embrace the Lord’s Gift of Repentance” by Elder Jorge M. Alvarado; October 2024 General Conference
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Podcast Episode Outline
Introduction
Bio
- “Elder Jorge M. Alvarado was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 2019. At the time of his call he had been serving as a high councilor. He has served as in the Caribbean Area Presidency and is currently serving at Church Headquarters in various councils and committees.
“Elder Alvarado has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Florida Tampa Mission, ward mission leader, branch president, district council member, mission executive secretary, stake president, Area Seventy in the North America Southeast and Caribbean Areas, president of the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission, and counselor in a bishopric.
“Elder Alvarado studied management at the University of Puerto Rico in 1992. He has worked as a manager for Sam’s Club, regional training manager for Walmart Puerto Rico Inc., and Organizational Development manager/Partner and Senior Consultant for Franklin Covey. Most recently he worked as an international manager for Self-Reliance Services at Church headquarters.
“Jorge Miguel Alvarado Pazo was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on November 21, 1970. He married Cari Lu Rios in 1992. They are the parents of three children.” - This was Elder Alvarado’s second general conference address. His most recent address was “After the Trial of Our Faith” from the October 2019 General Conference.
- “Puerto Rican General Authority Seventy knows blessings await his beleaguered island“
- Elder Jorge M. Alvarado, “Your Covenant Love“, BYU-Idaho Devotional, March 18, 2025
A Book of Mormon Robbery Leads to Conversion
- “It was in my hometown of Ponce that a sister in the Church, Célia Cruz Ayala, decided that she was going to give a Book of Mormon to a friend. She wrapped it and went to deliver this gift, more precious to her than diamonds or rubies, she said. On her way, a thief approached her, grabbed her purse, and ran away with the special gift inside.
“When she told this story at church, her friend said, ‘Who knows? Maybe this was your opportunity to share the gospel!'” -Elder Alvarado
“I testify of a loving Heavenly Father. In the April 2019 general conference, moments after I was sustained in my new responsibility as a General Authority Seventy, the choir sang a rendition of ‘I Stand All Amazed’ that pierced my heart and soul.
“‘I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
“‘To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
“‘That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
“‘Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.
“As I heard those words, I was all amazed. I felt that despite my inadequacies and flaws, the Lord blessed me to know that ‘in his strength I can do all things.’
“The common feeling of inadequacy, weakness, or even unworthiness is something with which many of us sometimes struggle. I still struggle with this; I felt it the day I was called. I have felt it many times, and I still feel it right now speaking to you. However, I have learned that I am not alone with these feelings. In fact, there are many accounts in the scriptures of those who seem to have felt similar feelings. For example, we remember Nephi as a faithful and valiant servant of the Lord. At times, even he struggled with feelings of unworthiness, weakness, and inadequacy.
“He said: ‘Notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.’
“The Prophet Joseph Smith spoke of often feeling ‘condemned,’ in his youth, ‘for [his] weakness and imperfections.’ But Joseph’s feelings of inadequacy and worry were part of what led him to ponder, study, learn, and pray. As you may remember, he went to pray in the grove near his home to find truth, peace, and forgiveness. He heard the Lord say: ‘Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee. Go thy way, walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments. Behold, I am the Lord of Glory. I was crucified for the world that all those who believe on my name may have eternal life.’
“[DIRECTIVE] Joseph’s sincere desire to repent and seek the salvation of his soul helped him come to Jesus Christ and receive forgiveness of his sins. This continuous effort opened the door to the continuing Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“This remarkable experience of the Prophet Joseph Smith illustrates how feelings of weakness and inadequacy can help us recognize our fallen nature. If we are humble, this will help us come to recognize our dependence upon Jesus Christ and stir within our hearts a sincere desire to turn to the Savior and repent of our sins.
- Corresponding Invitation (Directive): “Like Joseph and Nephi, we can ‘cry unto [God] for mercy; for he is mighty to save.'”
“My friends, repentance is joy! Sweet repentance is part of a daily process through which, ‘line upon line, precept upon precept,’ the Lord teaches us to live a life centered in His teachings. [INVITATION] Like Joseph and Nephi, we can ‘cry unto [God] for mercy; for he is mighty to save.’ [PROMISE] He can fulfill any righteous desire or longing and can heal any wound in our lives.
What is the speaker inviting me to do?
- In my own words: Consistently cry unto God for forgiveness like Nephi and Joseph Smith.
Why does it matter, or why is it important? (Doctrines, Principles, Christlike Attributes)
- Christlike Attribute: “I repent of my sins and strive to overcome my weaknesses. (Doctrine and Covenants 49:26–28; Ether 12:27)” (Virtue)
- “[26] Behold, I say unto you, go forth as I have commanded you; repent of all your sins; ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you. [27] Behold, I will go before you and be your rearward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded. [28] Behold, I am Jesus Christ, and I come quickly. Even so. Amen.”
- “[27] And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”
What’s in it for us? (Promises)
- “[God] can fulfill any righteous desire or longing and can heal any wound in our lives.” -Elder Alvarado
- “The light of the Savior can reach us all, no matter our circumstances.” -Elder Alvarado
- “Serving regularly in the house of the Lord and striving to keep the sacred covenants we make there will increase both our desire and our ability to experience the change of heart, might, mind, and soul necessary for us to become more like our Savior.” -Elder Alvarado
How will we take action? (Directives, Personal Revelation)
- “Joseph’s sincere desire to repent and seek the salvation of his soul helped him come to Jesus Christ and receive forgiveness of his sins. This continuous effort opened the door to the continuing Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“This remarkable experience of the Prophet Joseph Smith illustrates how feelings of weakness and inadequacy can help us recognize our fallen nature. If we are humble, this will help us come to recognize our dependence upon Jesus Christ and stir within our hearts a sincere desire to turn to the Savior and repent of our sins.” -Elder Alvarado - “Serving regularly in the house of the Lord and striving to keep the sacred covenants we make there will increase both our desire and our ability to experience the change of heart, might, mind, and soul necessary for us to become more like our Savior.” -Elder Alvarado
- President Dallin H. Oaks, “Kingdoms of Glory“, October 2023 General Conference: “The Apostle Paul taught that the Lord’s teachings and commandments were given that we may all attain ‘the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.’ That process requires far more than acquiring knowledge. It is not even enough to be convinced of the gospel; we must act so that we are converted by it. In contrast to other preaching, which teaches us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.
“From such teachings we conclude that the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is based on the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. We qualify for eternal life through a process of conversion. As used here, this word of many meanings signifies a profound change of nature. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.” - Mitch: Journal for 15 minutes on the following topic: ‘How have my prayers shaped my life into what it is today?’
“In the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, you and I can find countless accounts of individuals who learned how to come unto Christ through sincere repentance.
“I’d like to share with you an example of the tender mercies of the Lord through an experience that occurred in my beloved home island of Puerto Rico.
“It was in my hometown of Ponce that a sister in the Church, Célia Cruz Ayala, decided that she was going to give a Book of Mormon to a friend. She wrapped it and went to deliver this gift, more precious to her than diamonds or rubies, she said. On her way, a thief approached her, grabbed her purse, and ran away with the special gift inside.
“When she told this story at church, her friend said, ‘Who knows? Maybe this was your opportunity to share the gospel!’
“Well, a few days later, do you know what happened? Célia received a letter. I hold that letter, which Célia shared with me, in my hand today. It says:
“‘Mrs. Cruz:
“‘Forgive me, forgive me. You will never know how sorry I am for attacking you. But because of it, my life has changed and will continue to change.
“‘That book [the Book of Mormon] has helped me in my life. The dream of that man of God has shaken me. … I am returning your five [dollars,] for I can’t spend them. I want you to know that you seemed to have a radiance about you. That light seemed to stop me [from harming you, so] I ran away instead.
“‘I want you to know that you will see me again, but when you do, you won’t recognize me, for I will be your brother. … Here, where I live, I have to find the Lord and go to the church you belong to.
“‘The message you wrote in that book brought tears to my eyes. Since Wednesday night I have not been able to stop reading it. I have prayed and asked God to forgive me [and] I ask you to forgive me. … I thought your wrapped gift was something I could sell. [Instead,] it has made me want to [change] my life. … Forgive me, forgive me, I beg you.
“‘Your absent friend.’
- See footnote 11. This story is shared in Saints Volume 4.
- Chapter 28: The Lord’s Path – Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, Volume 4, Sounded in Every Ear, 1955–2020: “Not long after being robbed, Celia Ayala de Cruz checked her mailbox. Inside she found a one-page letter with no name attached. ‘Forgive me, forgive me,’ it read. ‘You will never know how sorry I am for attacking you.’
“Celia kept reading. The young man described how the Book of Mormon he stole had changed his life. When he first saw the gift-wrapped book, he thought it was something he could sell. But then he opened it and read the testimony Celia had written for her coworker. ‘The message you wrote in that book brought tears to my eyes,’ he told Celia. ‘Since Wednesday night, I have not been able to stop reading it.’
“The young man had been particularly moved by the story of Lehi. ‘The dream of that man of God has shaken me,’ he wrote, ‘and I thank God that I found you.’ He did not know if God would forgive him for stealing, but he hoped Celia could. ‘I am returning your five dollars,’ he added, ‘for I can’t spend them.’ The money was with his letter.
“He also wrote of his desire to learn more about the Church. ‘I want you to know that you will see me again, but when you do, you won’t recognize me, for I will be your brother,’ he wrote. ‘I am not from your city, but here where I live, I have to find the Lord and go to the church you belong to.’
“Celia sat down. Ever since the attack, she had been praying for the young man. ‘If God is willing,’ she said, ‘may that boy be converted.’
“A few months later, the new year started. Sunday Schools throughout the Church began a yearlong study of the Book of Mormon. To assist the Saints in their studies, the Church News devoted its first issue of the year to the book. The issue included an overview of the Book of Mormon’s teachings about Jesus Christ, various charts and articles to help readers better understand its peoples and events, and information about a new videocassette containing nine short Book of Mormon films to supplement Sunday School lessons. With Celia’s permission, the final page of the newspaper featured a short account of her experience with the young man, including the full text of his letter.
“In February 1996, Celia received another letter from the young man. He was still too embarrassed about the robbery to tell Celia his name, but he had seen the story in the Church News, and he wanted her to know that he was doing well and trying to change his life. He thought often about her and the Book of Mormon. ‘I know that it is true,’ he wrote. In fact, he had recently joined the Church and received the priesthood. ‘I am working for the Lord,’ he told her.
“He let her know that he now lived near a temple, which he had recently visited. Although he did not go inside the building, he had felt the Spirit powerfully there, and he knew it was the Lord’s house.
“The young man signed the letter as Celia’s ‘brother of faith.’ He expressed his love for her and her family. He knew the Lord had a purpose for him.
“‘I don’t want to leave the Lord’s path,’ he told her. ‘I feel very happy.'” - Mitch: The Spirit has prompted me to prioritize finishing Saints Volume 4. I allowed someone’s negative opinion to derail me from listening to the book. (They said that it was hard to follow with so many different perspectives). Heavenly Father wants me to prioritize listening to the book and finding ways to apply its instructions in my life.
- Christlike Attribute: “I seek to understand the truth and find answers to my questions. (Doctrine and Covenants 6:7)” (Knowledge)
- “[7] Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.”
- Christlike Attribute: “I seek to understand the truth and find answers to my questions. (Doctrine and Covenants 6:7)” (Knowledge)
“Brothers and sisters, [PROMISE] the light of the Savior can reach us all, no matter our circumstances. ‘It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines,’ said President Jeffrey R. Holland.
- Corresponding Invitation (Promise): “Like Joseph and Nephi, we can ‘cry unto [God] for mercy; for he is mighty to save.'”
“As for the unintended recipient of Célia’s gift, the Book of Mormon, this brother went on to witness more of the Lord’s mercy. Although it took time for this brother to forgive himself, he found joy in repentance. What a miracle! One faithful sister, one Book of Mormon, sincere repentance, and the Savior’s power led to the enjoyment of the fulness of blessings of the gospel and sacred covenants in the house of the Lord. Other family members followed and accepted sacred responsibilities in the Lord’s vineyard, including full-time missionary service.
- Note that footnote 13 contains an invitation. Footnote 13: “May we stop for one second and think about our posterity? Because of our myopic view, we cannot see it now, but our willingness to turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart—to change, repent, and embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ—can influence generations! Imagine the additional blessings that may blossom from one soul’s humility, meekness, and faith in Jesus Christ under even the most inconvenient of circumstances!”
“As we come unto Jesus Christ, our path of sincere repentance will eventually lead us to the Savior’s holy temple.
“What a righteous motive to strive to be clean—to be worthy of the fulness of the blessings made possible by our Heavenly Father and His Son through sacred temple covenants! [DIRECTIVE] Serving regularly in the house of the Lord and striving to keep the sacred covenants we make there [PROMISE] will increase both our desire and our ability to experience the change of heart, might, mind, and soul necessary for us to become more like our Savior. President Russell M. Nelson has testified: ‘Nothing will open the heavens more [than worshipping in the temple]. Nothing!’
- Corresponding Invitation (Directive): “Like Joseph and Nephi, we can ‘cry unto [God] for mercy; for he is mighty to save.'”
- Corresponding Invitation (Promise): “Like Joseph and Nephi, we can ‘cry unto [God] for mercy; for he is mighty to save.'”
- Truman G. Madsen, “A House of Glory“, BYU Devotional, March 5, 1972: “‘A house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of study, a house of learning.’ One of the men who touched my life was the late Elder John A. Widtsoe, a man who graduated summa cum laude from Harvard after three instead of four years, who was given that last year an award for the greatest depth specializing in his field (which was chemistry); but they also gave an award that year for the student who had shown the greatest breadth of interests, which he also received. Brother Widtsoe has written perceptively about the temple and temple worship. I heard him say in sacred circumstances that the promise was given him by a patriarch when he was a mere boy in Norway: ‘Thou shalt have great faith, in the ordinances of the Lord’s House.’ And so he did. I’ve heard him say that the temple is so freighted with depth understanding, so loaded with symbolic grasp of life and its eternal significance, that only a fool would attempt in mere prosaic restatement to give it in a comprehensive way. I’ve heard him say that the temple is a place of revelation. And he did not divorce that concept from the recognition that the problems you and I have are often very practical, very realistic, down-to-earth problems. He often said, ‘I would rather take my practical problems to the house of the Lord than anywhere else.’ And in his book In a Sunlit Land he describes a day when, having been frustrated for months, I assume, in trying to pull together a mass of data he had compiled to come up with a formula, he took his companion, his wife, to the Logan Temple to forget his failure. And in one of the rooms of that structure, there came, in light, the very answer he had heretofore failed to find. Two books on agrarian chemistry grew out of that single insight-a revelation in the temple of God. The temple is not just a union of heaven and earth. It is the key to our mastery of the earth. It is the Lord’s graduate course in subduing the earth, which, as only we understand, ultimately will be heaven—this earth glorified.”
“My dear friends, do you feel inadequate? Do you feel unworthy? Are you second-guessing yourself? Perhaps you might worry and ask: Do I measure up? Is it too late for me? Why do I keep failing when I am trying my absolute best?
“Brothers and sisters, surely we will make mistakes in our lives along the way. But please remember that, as Elder Gerrit W. Gong has taught: ‘Our Savior’s Atonement is infinite and eternal. Each of us strays and falls short. We may, for a time, lose our way. God lovingly assures us [that] no matter where we are or what we have done, there is no point of no return. He waits ready to embrace us.’
“As my dear wife, Cari Lu, has also taught me, [INVITATION] we all need to repent, rewind, and reset the time to ‘zero o’clock’ every single day.
What is the speaker inviting me to do?
- In my own words: Conclude each day with repentance. Begin each day with energy and a commitment to become more like Jesus Christ.
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.”
How will we take action? (Directives, Personal Revelation)
- “Let us not wait for things to get hard before turning to God. Let us not wait until the end of our mortal lives to truly repent. Instead, let us now, no matter which part of the covenant path we are on, focus on the redemptive power of Jesus Christ and on Heavenly Father’s desire for us to return to Him.” -Elder Alvarado
- “You and I can pause, be still, look to the Savior, and seek to find and act on what He would have us change. If we do so with full intent, we will witness His healing. And think of how our posterity will be blessed as we embrace the Lord’s gift of repentance!” -Elder Alvarado
- President Russell M. Nelson, “Now Is the Time“, April 2022 General Conference: “The future is always uncertain. Weather changes. Economic cycles are unpredictable. Disasters, accidents, and illness can change life quickly. These actions are largely beyond our control. But there are some things we can control, including how we spend our time each day. …
“Yes, we should learn from the past, and yes, we should prepare for the future. But only now can we do. Now is the time we can learn. Now is the time we can repent. Now is the time we can bless others and ‘lift up the hands which hang down.’ As Mormon counseled his son Moroni, ‘Let us labor diligently; … for we have a labor to perform [while] in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.'” - “The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy” by Jon Gordon: “CEO doesn’t stand for Chief Executive Officer anymore, it stands for Chief Energy Officer. Why energy? Because energy is the currency of personal and professional success today. If you don’t have it, you can’t lead, inspire, or make a difference. And the great thing about being a Chief Energy Officer is that anyone in your company, including you, can become one. Deciding to become a Chief Energy Officer means that you share positive, powerful, and contagious energy with your coworkers, employees, and customers.”
- Mitch: Following the inspiring example of my mission president, I will start each day by making a to-do list on a 3×5 note card. I will then prioritize the items on the list and methodically make my way through the list each day. I also want to do a better job of having more positive energy.
“Obstacles will come. [DIRECTIVE] Let us not wait for things to get hard before turning to God. Let us not wait until the end of our mortal lives to truly repent. Instead, let us now, no matter which part of the covenant path we are on, focus on the redemptive power of Jesus Christ and on Heavenly Father’s desire for us to return to Him.
- Corresponding Invitation (Directive): “We all need to repent, rewind, and reset the time to ‘zero o’clock’ every single day.”
“The Lord’s house, His holy scriptures, His holy prophets and apostles inspire us to strive towards personal holiness through the doctrine of Christ.
“And Nephi said: ‘And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man [and woman] can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.’
“Our process of ‘at-one-ment’ with God may feel challenging. But [DIRECTIVE] you and I can pause, be still, look to the Savior, and seek to find and act on what He would have us change. If we do so with full intent, we will witness His healing. And think of how our posterity will be blessed as we embrace the Lord’s gift of repentance!
- Corresponding Invitation (Directive): “We all need to repent, rewind, and reset the time to ‘zero o’clock’ every single day.”
“The Master Potter, taught my dad, will mold and refine us, which can be difficult. Nonetheless, the Master Healer will also cleanse us. I have experienced and continue to experience that healing power. I testify that it comes through faith in Jesus Christ and daily repentance.
“‘Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
“I testify of God’s love and of the infinite power of His Son’s Atonement. We can feel it profoundly as we sincerely and wholeheartedly repent.
“My friends, I am a witness of the glorious Restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith and the current divine guidance of the Savior through His prophet and mouthpiece, President Russell M. Nelson. I know Jesus Christ lives and that He is the Master Healer of our souls. I know and I testify that these things are true, in the holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
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 Elder Brook P. Hales and was entitled “Mortality Works!“
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Repentance
Additional Content
Previous Podcast Episode (“The Man Who Communed with Jehovah” by Elder Kyle S. McKay)
Next Podcast Episode (“Mortality Works!” by Elder Brook P. Hales)