General Conference Applied
S1 E2 – Sunday, August 6, 2023 | “The Answer Is Always Jesus Christ” by President Russell M. Nelson; April 2023 General Conference
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Powerful Stories
In a recent REVIVAL podcast episode, David Butler shared how he wishes that it would be possible to see the name of the General Conference speaker’s talk while they are delivering the message. That thought resonated with me, especially when I saw the name of this talk. I immediately thought of Elder Ryan K. Olsen‘s October 2022 General Conference talk entitled “The Answer Is Jesus.”
Because President Nelson did not share any stories in this talk, I thought I might share a powerful story from Elder Olsen’s talk. He said:
“Not too long ago, I was working on our farm with my nephew Nash. He is six and has a pure heart. He is my favorite nephew named Nash, and I believe I am his favorite uncle speaking in conference today.
“As he helped me come up with a solution for our project, I said, “Nash, that is a great idea. How did you get so smart?” He looked at me with an expression in his eyes that said, “Uncle Ryan, how do you not know the answer to this question?”
“He simply shrugged his shoulders, smiled, and confidently said, “Jesus.”
“Nash reminded me that day of this simple and yet profound teaching. The answer to the simplest questions and to the most complex problems is always the same. The answer is Jesus Christ. Every solution is found in Him.”
Later in his talk, Elder Olsen shared this profound insight:
“When we have questions or doubts, we may feel that the solutions are too complex or that finding answers is too confusing. May we remember that the adversary, even the father of all lies, is the architect of confusion. The Savior is the Master of simplicity.”
Most Important Quote
“Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ extends that same invitation to you today. I plead with you to come unto Him so that He can heal you! He will heal you from sin as you repent. He will heal you from sadness and fear. He will heal you from the wounds of this world.
“Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Learn more about His Atonement, His love, His mercy, His doctrine, and His restored gospel of healing and progression. Turn to Him! Follow Him!”
- Moroni 7:24 – “All things which are good cometh of Christ.”
- I find it interesting that President Nelson delivered two addresses during the April 2023 General Conference. The topic of his first address, “Peacemakers Needed,” was similar to the topic of his second counselor’s (President Henry B. Eyring‘s) April 2023 General Conference address “Finding Personal Peace.” The topic of his second address, “The Answer Is Always Jesus Christ,” was similar to the topic of his first counselor’s (President Dallin H. Oaks‘) April 2023 General Conference address “The Teachings of Jesus Christ.“
- As this quote includes a directive to study the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, we will discuss this quote in further detail below.
The Best Footnote
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Questions for Reflection Asked by the Speaker
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Action Items
Introduction
Ether 2:22-25 – “And [the brother of Jared] cried again unto the Lord saying: O Lord, behold I have done even as thou hast commanded me; and I have prepared the vessels for my people, and behold there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness? And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels? For behold, ye cannot have windows, for they will be dashed in pieces; neither shall ye take fire with you, for ye shall not go by the light of fire. For behold, ye shall be as a whale in the midst of the sea; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you. Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea; for the winds have gone forth out of my mouth, and also the rains and the floods have I sent forth. And behold, I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come. Therefore what will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea?”
The Lord left it up to the Brother of Jared to suggest a way to light the barges. General Conference speakers do the same. They invite, and then we determine a course of action. What matters is taking action – not the form that the action takes.
“I don’t have any good ideas” is a thought that comes from Satan.
Don’t “Skip Like a Stone Over the Surface of Conference Weekend”
1: “I pray that you will seek for the Holy Ghost to guide you in your study as you contemplate the truths taught from this pulpit.”
- In her April 2023 General Conference address entitled “Never Give Up an Opportunity to Testify of Christ,” President Bonnie H. Cordon (who at the time she delivered her address was the Young Women General President – she has now concluded her service) shared a powerful story: “Livvy has watched general conference her entire life. In fact, in her home they traditionally watch all five sessions as a family. In the past, conference for Livvy had meant doodling or drifting into the occasional unintended nap. But this past October general conference was different. It became personal. This time, Livvy decided to be an active recipient. She silenced notifications on her phone and took notes of impressions from the Spirit. She was amazed as she felt specific things God wanted her to hear and do. This decision made a difference in her life almost immediately. Just days later her friends invited her to an inappropriate movie. She reflected, “I felt the words and spirit of conference return into my heart, and I heard myself declining their invitation.” She also had the courage to share her testimony of the Savior in her ward. After these events she stated, “The amazing thing is, when I heard myself testify that Jesus is the Christ, I felt the Holy Ghost confirm it again for me.” Livvy did not skip like a stone over the surface of conference weekend; she dove in, mind and spirit, and found the Savior there.”
- Here are ten ideas “to contemplate the truths taught from this pulpit”:
- Pray for Heavenly Father’s help to be able to recall the messages from General Conference so that you can share insights with others when they are struggling with something. (1 Peter 3:15 – “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”)
- Commit to sharing thoughts about one of the April 2023 General Conference talks on social media each week. There were 33 talks delivered during the April 2023 General Conference, and since there are only 26 weeks between each session of General Conference, you would be able to post every week between the April 2023 General Conference and the October 2023 General Conference.
- Listen to podcasts and other resources which broaden and deepen your understanding of the General Conference talks.
- Create a journal dedicated to General Conference.
- Study General Conference talks in all three formats – video, audio, and print.
- Study the General Conference talks specifically with a topic or question in mind.
- Pray to know that the General Conference speakers are called of God.
- Find connections between the thoughts shared by speakers.
- Involve your kids – brainstorm ways as a family to incorporate General Conference talks into your family gospel study and family home evening lessons, in addition to your Come, Follow Me study.
- Discuss General Conference talks as a Relief Society or Elders Quorum outside of the usual lessons – i.e., as part of an activity, a 5th Sunday, a study group / book club, etc.
Become An Idea Machine
2: “The Come, Follow Me lesson this week will prompt you to study the Savior’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, His cleansing of the temple, His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, His Crucifixion, His glorious Resurrection, and His subsequent appearances to His followers. Savor these sacred verses and find every way you can to thank our Heavenly Father for sending us His Only Begotten Son.”
- This is an interesting directive – to “find every way you can” to thank Heavenly Father for sending us Jesus Christ.
- An author and blogger named James Altucher shared a concept he termed “becoming an idea machine.” In his popular post, “The Ultimate Guide for Becoming an Idea Machine,” Altucher shares that “ideas are the currency of life.” He has a daily practice of writing down ten ideas. Here is his explanation for why ten ideas: “If I say, “write down ten ideas for books you can write” I bet you can easily write down four or five. I can write down four or five right now. But at six it starts to get hard. “Hmmm,” you think, “what else can I come up with?” This is when the brain is sweating. Note that when you exercise in the gym, your muscles don’t start to build until you break a sweat. Your metabolism doesn’t improve when you run until you sweat. Your body doesn’t break down the old and build the new until it is sweating. The poisons and toxins in your body don’t leave until you sweat. The same thing happens with the idea muscle. Somewhere around idea number six, your brain starts to sweat. This means it’s building up. Break through this. Come up with ten ideas.”
- So, with the previous quote in mind, here are ten ideas “to thank Heavenly Father for sending us His Only Begotten Son”:
- Express gratitude more frequently for Jesus Christ in my prayers. In our prayers, is the only time we’re saying the Savior’s name at the conclusion of the prayer (i.e., in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.)?
- Serve someone (Mosiah 2:17 – “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God”; make JustServe a part of my life), or commit to seeing others – everyone – as children of God who have divine potential.
- Study chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel (“Seek Christlike Attributes“) and make a plan to improve on one of the attributes identified in the chapter.
- Bear testimony of Jesus Christ at the next Fast and Testimony Meeting.
- Set a goal to share the gospel with someone by a specific date (“The Power of Everyday Missionaries” by Clayton M. Christensen).
- Give up your favorite sin, and seek to become clean by meeting with your Bishop, if necessary.
- Replace music of the world with music about Jesus Christ.
- Conduct a special fast of thanksgiving – thanking God for His Son.
- Think of Jesus Christ more often, following the counsel from Elder Neil L. Andersen’s April 2023 General Conference address (“My Mind Caught Hold upon This Thought of Jesus Christ“): “My prayer at this Easter season is that we will more consciously shape, strengthen, and secure this preeminent thought of Jesus Christ in the chambers of our soul, allowing it to eagerly flow into our mind, guide us in what we think and do, and continually bring the sweet joy of the Savior’s love.”
- Read “Jesus the Christ” by Elder James E. Talmage and/or memorize “The Living Christ.”
Focus on the Temple
3: “I also invite you to study again the account of the Savior’s appearance to the Nephites in the Americas, as recorded in 3 Nephi.”
- Speaking of temples – in this talk, President Nelson announced 15 new temples, one of which is in Teresina, Brazil! I never served in Teresina, but I served near Teresina in Parnaiba, Piaui, Brazil. I am grateful for this wonderful blessing for the saints of Northeastern Brazil.
- In his October 2022 General Conference address entitled “Focus on the Temple,” President Nelson shared “a brief excerpt from the scene depicting the Savior’s appearance to the Nephites.” It is significant to me that six months later, President Nelson has invited us to study these chapters in 3 Nephi.
- Additionally, Elder Gary E. Stevenson (“The Greatest Easter Story Ever Told“), President Bonnie H. Cordon (“Never Give Up an Opportunity to Testify of Christ”), Elder Peter F. Meurs (“He Could Heal Me!“), Elder K. Brett Nattress (“Have I Truly Been Forgiven?“), and President Dallin H. Oaks (“The Teachings of Jesus Christ”) all shared excerpts from 3 Nephi during the April 2023 General Conference. What are prophets, seers, revelators, and other leaders seeing in these powerful chapters from The Book of Mormon that are important for our day?
- Here are ten ideas to “study again the account of the Savior’s appearance to the Nephites in the Americas, as recorded in 3 Nephi”:
- Watch all the 3 Nephi Book of Mormon videos that are on YouTube. These videos have taken my appreciation for these Book of Mormon chapters to a whole new level.
- Form a Book Club to study these chapters more deeply.
- Set a goal as a Ward Relief Society or Ward Elders Quorum for all members to study these chapters and then to discuss them in a regular Sunday meeting, a 5th Sunday meeting, or an activity.
- Read these chapters utilizing a Book of Mormon study manual.
- Identify a question or questions for which you desire an answer, and then study these chapters seeking for answers.
- As you discover new insights, share with family, friends, ward members, and/or on social media.
- Memorize a favorite verse or verses from these chapters.
- Act out scenes from these chapters in a family home evening or other setting.
- Ponder why President Nelson has asked us to study these chapters in particular (i.e., might the Savior’s coming be soon?) and then write down your thoughts in your journal.
- Share your favorite insights from these chapters in a testimony or talk in Sacrament Meeting, and encourage others to share their insights as well.
Learn More About Jesus Christ
4: “I plead with you to come unto [Jesus Christ] so that He can heal you! … Learn more about His Atonement, His love, His mercy, His doctrine, and His restored gospel of healing and progression. Turn to Him! Follow Him!”
- In the April 2017 General Conference, President Nelson (who was, at that time, serving as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) gave a talk entitled “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives.” In that talk, he stated: “Today I would like to speak about how we can draw into our lives the power of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. We begin by learning about Him. “It is impossible for [us] to be saved in ignorance.” The more we know about the Savior’s ministry and mission—the more we understand His doctrine and what He did for us—the more we know that He can provide the power that we need for our lives. Earlier this year, I asked the young adults of the Church to consecrate a portion of their time each week to study everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the standard works. I invited them to let the scriptural citations about Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide become their personal core curriculum. I gave that challenge because I had already accepted it myself. I read and underlined every verse cited about Jesus Christ, as listed under the main heading and the 57 subtitles in the Topical Guide. When I finished that exciting exercise, my wife asked me what impact it had on me. I told her, “I am a different man!””
- I have contemplated accepting this invitation from President Nelson for the past 6 years, but I have yet to take action. I want to be “a different man,” but studying over 2,200 verses seems like a monumental task. However, this quote from “Time Power: A Proven System for Getting More Done in Less Time Than You Ever Thought Possible” by Brian Tracy might help you and me take the plunge: “The most important word in personal effectiveness is the word clarity. The starting point of Time Power is for you to develop absolute clarity about your goals and objectives… The starting point of managing your time, and setting your priorities, is for you to think through who you are and what is really important to you. Once you have done that, you continually organize and reorganize your activities so that what matters most always comes first… The fact is that you can only get control of your time to the degree to which you stop doing things that you are doing today. You cannot simply find ways to do more things, to work longer and harder hours. Instead, you have to stand back and look at your life and work objectively and ask, ‘What am I going to stop doing, so that I have enough time to do the most important things in my life and work?’ Before you start a new task, remember that your dance card is full. You are already overwhelmed with work. You have no spare time. You are subject to The Law of the Excluded Alternative, which says, ‘Doing one thing means not doing something else.’ Before you commit to a new task or job, you must think through and decide upon the things that you are not going to do right now, or which you are going to eliminate altogether. You must decide how and in what way you are going to defer, delay, or delegate certain tasks on your work list if you are to free up enough time to do other tasks that are more important. Getting into a new task means getting out of an old task. Picking up something that you haven’t done requires putting down something that you were already working on. The very act of thinking through what you are going to stop doing is a tremendous help in setting accurate priorities before you begin.”
- Here are ten ideas to “learn more about His Atonement, His love, His mercy, His doctrine, and His restored gospel of healing and progression”:
- Study chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel (Study and Teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ) – this was an invitation that President Nelson recently shared in a seminar for new mission presidents (shared in the July 26, 2023 Church News podcast episode). In that episode, President Nelson stated: “Well, this second edition of “Preach My Gospel” affirms that missionaries are not called to ask people to join the Church; they are called to invite those people to come unto Jesus Christ. Good missionaries convert people to Jesus Christ and become His lifelong examples — His lifelong disciples — and when you teach, you teach the doctrine of Christ. Chapter 3 is the longest chapter in the book. It explains the gospel of Jesus Christ. I don’t know of a better explanatory text anywhere. I suggest that you study it, teach it and experience the joy of knowing what the gospel of Jesus Christ embraces.” This might be a good starting point, before diving into the project to study the 2,200 references to Jesus Christ in the topical guide.
- Study President Russell M. Nelson’s April 2017 General Conference address entitled “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives.”
- In his talk “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” President Nelson invited us to study the 2,200 references to Jesus Christ in the topical guide.
- Commit to studying the Come, Follow Me outline each week, specifically looking for scriptures that teach of Jesus Christ.
- Study chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel (Seek Christlike Attributes) and make a plan to improve on one of the attributes identified in the chapter.
- Read “Jesus the Christ” by Elder James E. Talmage and/or memorize “The Living Christ.” You could consider doing this with a partner or a book club as well.
- Ponder the topic “How is Jesus Christ’s restored gospel a gospel of healing and progression?” and then write your thoughts and inspiration in your journal.
- Consider extending mercy to others, just as Jesus Christ extends mercy to you. Perhaps this could start by following President Nelson’s counsel to speak with kindness about others, whether to their face or behind their back, from his talk “Peacemakers Needed” from the April 2023 General Conference.
- Commit to studying The Book of Mormon everyday with the intent to “learn more about His Atonement, His love, His mercy, His doctrine, and His restored gospel of healing and progression,” and to note thoughts and impressions in a study journal.
- Identify sins that distance you from Jesus Christ and take steps to forsake those sins as soon as possible.