"My Mind Caught Hold upon This Thought of Jesus Christ"

Last updated on October 26th, 2023 at 03:59 pm

General Conference Applied

S1 E10 – Sunday, October 1, 2023 | “My Mind Caught Hold upon This Thought of Jesus Christ” by Elder Neil L. Andersen; April 2023 General Conference

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Podcast Episode Outline

Report on Prior Week’s Action Item

My action item last week was to discuss as a family how we are currently helping to gather Israel, and where we might make improvements.

In his June 2018 Worldwide Youth Devotional talk entitled “Hope of Israel,” President Russell M. Nelson stated: “Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that.”

Thus, as a family, we decided to make the following improvements to gather Israel:

Temple: Mom and Dad will schedule monthly Temple appointments.
The Book of Mormon: We will study The Book of Mormon each day individually, and then read together right before bed.
The Sabbath Day: On the Sundays that we aren’t eating dinner with our parents, we will make and deliver a treat to a friend, neighbor, or ward member.
Family Home Evening: We will invite a different family over to our home for Family Home Evening on the 2nd Monday of each month.

Introduction

Be on the lookout for General Conference Applied season 2 episode 0 which will be published in the middle of next week. In this abbreviated episode, I will share my initial thoughts on the October 2023 General Conference, as well as some highlights and observations to kick off a new season of the podcast.

In each episode of General Conference Applied, we are attempting to answer two questions:

What is the speaker inviting me to do?
How might I consider taking action?

Power. Peace. Joy. Hope. Love. Elder Andersen promised each of us these wonderful blessings by taking action on his invitation.

The title of this talk comes from Alma 36:18. Let me begin by sharing what Elder Andersen had to say about Alma.

“A remarkable story in the Book of Mormon tells of a young man, from a prominent family, named Alma, whom the scriptures describe as an idolatrous unbeliever. He was articulate and convincing, using flattery to persuade others to follow him. Astonishingly, an angel appeared to Alma and his friends. Alma fell to the earth and was so weak that he was carried helplessly to his father’s home. He remained in a seemingly comatose state for three days. Later, he explained that while he appeared unconscious to those around him, his mind was very active as his soul grieved, thinking about his life of disregarding the commandments of God. He described his mind as being ‘harrowed up by the memory of [his] many sins’ and ‘racked with eternal torment.’

“In his deep despair, he remembered being taught in his youth about ‘the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.’ Next he made this very compelling statement: ‘As my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me.’ As he appealed for the divine power of the Savior, something miraculous happened: ‘When I thought this,’ he said, ‘I could remember my pains no more.’ Suddenly he felt peace and light. ‘Nothing [was] so exquisite and sweet as was my joy,’ he declared.

“Alma ‘caught hold upon’ the truth of Jesus Christ. If we were using the words ‘caught hold upon’ in a physical sense, we might say, ‘He caught hold upon the guardrail just as he was falling,’ meaning he reached out suddenly and tightly seized something solidly cemented to a secure foundation. (If I could interject a thought here – in footnote 7 of this talk, Elder Andersen stated: “The other time “caught hold” is used in the Book of Mormon is speaking of those who “caught hold of the end of the rod of iron” (1 Nephi 8:24, 30).”)

“In Alma’s case, it was his mind that reached out and secured this powerful truth of Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Acting in faith on that truth, and by the power and grace of God, he was rescued from despair and filled with hope.”

I also want to say something here about the importance of Alma’s father, also named Alma. Notice that Alma stated: “I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.” (Alma 36:17) This reminded me of the following statement from Elder Peter F. Meurs’s April 2023 General Conference address entitled “He Could Heal Me!“:

“My father passed away in April 2013. As I prepared to speak at his funeral, I realized how blessed I was to know and love his favorite scriptures. He shared them in family gatherings, and he read them with me when I needed counsel, guidance, or strengthening of my faith. I heard him share them in talks and assignments. I not only knew them, but I can still remember the sound of his voice and the spiritual feelings I had as he shared them. Through sharing scriptures and feelings, my father helped me to establish a firm foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

What is the speaker inviting me to do?

Invitations

1: “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.”

Directives

1: “We pray and rehearse in our mind experiences that have brought us closer to Him. We welcome into our mind divine images, holy scriptures, and inspired hymns to gently cushion the countless daily thoughts rushing through our busy lives.”

2: “General Conference is a time to understand what the Lord would have us do and become. It is also a time to reflect on our progress.”

How might I consider taking action?

Invitations

The directives Elder Andersen shared, and which I will discuss shortly, will help us with this invitation. Those directives include:
- Pray.
- “Rehearse in our mind experiences that have brought us closer to Him.”
- Focus on “divine images, holy scriptures, and inspired hymns.”
- Utilize General Conference not only as “a time to understand what the Lord would have us do and become,” but also as “a time to reflect on our progress.”
Shape: In his April 2011 General Conference address entitled “Desire“, then Elder Dallin H. Oaks stated: “Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming.” As I thought about Elder Andersen’s invitation, and as I contemplated this quote from President Oaks, the thought came to me that, just as priorities shape our choices, priorities also shape “this preeminent thought of Jesus Christ in the chambers of our soul.” (As a side note, President Oaks shared a very similar statement in his October 2023 General Conference address today). What are your priorities? As you reflect on that question, you might consider this statement the President Russell M. Nelson made in his April 2019 General Conference address which was entitled “We Can Do Better and Be Better“:
- “Months ago, I received a heartbreaking letter from a dear sister. She wrote: ‘[My daughters and I] feel we are in fierce competition for our husbands’ and sons’ undivided attention, with 24/7 sports updates, video games, stock market updates, [and] endless analyzing and watching of games of every [conceivable] sport. It feels like we’re losing our front-row seats with our husbands and sons because of their permanent front-row seats with [sports and games].’
  “Brethren, your first and foremost duty as a bearer of the priesthood is to love and care for your wife. Become one with her. Be her partner. Make it easy for her to want to be yours. No other interest in life should take priority over building an eternal relationship with her. Nothing on TV, a mobile device, or a computer is more important than her well-being. Take an inventory of how you spend your time and where you devote your energy. That will tell you where your heart is. Pray to have your heart attuned to your wife’s heart. Seek to bring her joy. Seek her counsel, and listen. Her input will improve your output…
  “Brethren, we all need to repent. We need to get up off the couch, put down the remote, and wake up from our spiritual slumber. It is time to put on the full armor of God so we can engage in the most important work on earth.”
Strengthen: In his April 2017 General Conference address entitled “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives“, President Nelson stated: “When you reach up for the Lord’s power in your life with the same intensity that a drowning person has when grasping and gasping for air, power from Jesus Christ will be yours. When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do.” This sounds like strengthening “this preeminent thought of Jesus Christ in the chambers of our soul.” It also sounds like Alma catching hold upon the thought of Jesus Christ.
Secure: In his talk, Elder Andersen quoted President Nelson who said: “There is nothing easy or automatic about becoming [a] powerful [disciple]. Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought.” (“Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives”) This sounds like securing “this preeminent thought of Jesus Christ in the chambers of our soul.”
- Doctrine and Covenants 6:36 reads: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” When we look unto the Lord in every thought, we overcome fear. How might your life be better with courage and faith rather than fear?

Directives

Alma 37:36-37 reads: “Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever. Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good.”
In his October 2013 General Conference address entitled “Come, Join with Us“, then President Dieter F. Uchtdorf stated:
- “It’s natural to have questions—the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding. There are few members of the Church who, at one time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. Faith is to hope for things which are not seen but which are true.
  “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters—my dear friends—please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- I know what I’ve experienced in my life. There is no way I could ever deny what I’ve felt and learned through the power of the Holy Ghost. There is so much doubt in the world right now, which makes it even more crucial to remember what I know and what I’ve felt.
In his October 2011 General Conference address entitled “The Power of Scripture“, Elder Richard G. Scott stated:
- “Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.
  “Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change…
  “The scriptures can form a foundation of support. They can provide an incredibly large resource of willing friends who can help us. A memorized scripture becomes an enduring friend that is not weakened with the passage of time.”
Page 152 in the Children’s Songbook is entitled “Hum Your Favorite Hymn“. Here are the lyrics to that song.
- Verse 1: “If on occasion you have found
  Your language is in question,
  Or ugly thoughts come to your mind,
  Then here’s a good suggestion.
- Chorus: “Just hum your favorite hymn,
  Sing out with vigor and vim,
  And you will find it clears your mind.
  Hum your favorite hymn.
- Verse 2: “Before you say an angry word,
  Remember you’ll regret it,
  For once it’s said the harm is done,
  And some folks won’t forget it.”

2: “General Conference is a time to understand what the Lord would have us do and become. It is also a time to reflect on our progress.”

I have mentioned the Christlike Attribute Activity in several previous episodes of General Conference Applied. This week, I finally created a spreadsheet that makes this Attribute Activity more user-friendly. Basically, there is a tab for each attribute, and then a summary tab which aggregates your responses on each of the attribute tabs, and identifies which attributes require your attention the most at this current time. I will be offering the spreadsheet soon for free – all that will be required is to sign up for my weekly email list. So please stay tuned for that! My intent is to complete the Christlike Attribute Activity right before General Conference every 6 months to track how I am progressing to becoming more like our Savior, and to see what growth I was able to accomplish since the previous time I completed the activity.
Author and entrepreneur coach Dan Sullivan stated: “Do you find that no matter how much success you have, you’re perpetually dissatisfied with your progress? Does it feel like you’re still far from achieving your biggest goals? The problem is not in the quantity or quality of your success and achievements. The problem is how you measure.” On this podcast, I have often mentioned the importance of an accountability partner, taking action, and tracking your progress.
In his book ‘The Gap and The Gain: The High Achiever’s Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success‘, author Benjamin Hardy wrote:
- “A few years back, I started answering five questions in the front cover of my journals.
  “These questions allow me to see where I’m at in that moment, what my recent GAINS were, and what I’m trying to accomplish in the short and long term.
  “I can look in the front cover of my journals and get a snapshot of where I was and what I was focused on.
  “Here are the five questions:
  1. “Where am I right now?
  2. “What are my wins from the past 90 days?
  3. “What are my desired wins for the next 90 days?
  4. “Where will I be in 12 months?
  5. “Where will I be in 3 years?
  “It takes me about 5-10 minutes to answer these questions whenever I start a new journal. I answer these questions with about 5-10 bullet points per question.
  “It’s fascinating to open up a journal and spend 2 minutes getting a snapshot of where I was, what my recent wins were, and what I was trying to accomplish at that point in time.
  “Comparing snapshots of your former self with your current self quickly gets you into the GAIN.”

This Week’s Action Item

“That which is measured improves. That which is measured and reported improves exponentially.”
Karl Pearson, an early 20th-century British mathematician

“Those who measure their progress improve. Those who measure and report their progress improve exponentially.”
Dan Sullivan, founder and president of The Strategic Coach Inc.

“Do something, do anything! But to start, just do ONE thing.”
Mitch Peterson

Elder Andersen shared the following promises in this talk:

Action: “As you continue to attentively catch hold of this thought of Jesus Christ, trust in Him, and keep His commandments,”
Promise: “I promise you not only heavenly guidance but heavenly power—power that brings strength to your covenants, peace to your difficulties, and joy to your blessings.”
Action: “As your mind remains firmly and forever upon the thought of Jesus Christ, and as you continue to focus your life more fully on the Savior,”
Promise: “I promise you that you will feel His hope, His peace, and His love.”

In his book ‘Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day’, author Jay Shetty writes:

“The more we can evaluate, understand, train, and strengthen our relationship with the mind, the more successfully we navigate our lives and overcome challenges.
“This battle in our mind is waged over the smallest daily choices (Do I have to get up right now?) and the biggest (Should I end this relationship?). All of us face such battles every single day.
“A senior monk once told me an old Cherokee story about these dilemmas which all of us agonize over: “An elder tells his grandson, ‘Every choice in life is a battle between two wolves inside us. One represents anger, envy, greed, fear, lies, insecurity, and ego. The other represents peace, love, compassion, kindness, humility, and positivity. They are competing for supremacy.’
“”‘Which wolf wins?’ the grandson asks. ‘The one you feed,’ the elder replies.”
“‘But how do we feed them?’ I asked my teacher.
“The monk said, ‘By what we read and hear. By who we spend time with. By what we do with our time. By where we focus our energy and attention.’ (If I might interject here – are we reading and hearing about Jesus Christ, or are we spending most of our time reading and hearing about sports, politics, entertainment, or the like? Are we spending time with others who help us become more like Jesus Christ, or those who are leading us away from Him? Are we squandering the time that God has given us? We only have so much energy and attention… what might we eliminate from our lives to make room for our Savior Jesus Christ?)
“The Bhagavad Gita states, ‘For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his very mind will be the greatest enemy.'”

I mentioned previously that I had built a spreadsheet for the Christlike Attribute Activity. I also completed the activity and determined which attributes need my attention the most. My action item for this week is to make a 6-month plan to incorporate a focused effort on becoming more like Jesus Christ. I will accomplish this by utilizing the Christlike Attribute Activity in the Gospel study in which I am already engaged. As I focus my energy and attention on becoming more like Jesus Christ, I hope to “more consciously shape, strengthen, and secure this preeminent thought of Jesus Christ in the chambers of [my] soul.” I will report back in the next episode on how I took action.

Talk Outline

Powerful Stories

1: “A remarkable story in the Book of Mormon tells of a young man, from a prominent family, named Alma, whom the scriptures describe as an idolatrous unbeliever. He was articulate and convincing, using flattery to persuade others to follow him. Astonishingly, an angel appeared to Alma and his friends. Alma fell to the earth and was so weak that he was carried helplessly to his father’s home. He remained in a seemingly comatose state for three days. Later, he explained that while he appeared unconscious to those around him, his mind was very active as his soul grieved, thinking about his life of disregarding the commandments of God. He described his mind as being ‘harrowed up by the memory of [his] many sins’ and ‘racked with eternal torment.’

2: “A few weeks ago, Kathy and I visited the home of Matt and Sarah Johnson. On the wall was a picture of their precious family, a beautiful image of the Savior, and an illustration of the temple.

“Their four daughters, Maddy, Ruby, Claire, and June, spoke happily about how much they loved their mother.

“For over a year Sarah had regularly scheduled Saturday appointments for the family to attend the temple together so that the girls could participate in baptisms for family members who lived previously.

“In November of last year, Sarah scheduled a family temple appointment for the last week in December on Thursday instead of Saturday. ‘I hope you’re OK with that,’ she said to Matt.

“Sarah had been diagnosed with cancer, but the doctors anticipated she would live two or three more years. During a sacrament meeting, Sarah had shared her powerful testimony, saying that whatever the outcome for her, she loved the Savior with all her heart and that ‘the victory had already been won’ by Him. As December progressed, unexpectedly Sarah’s health rapidly declined, and she was admitted to the hospital. In the early morning of Thursday, December 29, she quietly completed her mortality. Matt had been by Sarah’s side all through the night.

“With his heart breaking, and completely exhausted physically and emotionally, he arrived home, sorrowing with his daughters. As Matt glanced at his phone, he noticed the reminder of the unusual Thursday temple appointment Sarah had scheduled for later that day. Matt said, ‘When I first saw it, I thought, This just isn’t going to work.’

“But then Matt’s mind caught hold upon this thought: ‘The Savior lives. There is no place we would rather be as a family than in His holy house.’

“Matt, Maddy, Ruby, Claire, and June arrived at the temple for the appointment Sarah had scheduled for them. With tears streaming down his cheeks, Matt performed the baptisms with his daughters. They deeply felt their love and eternal bond with Sarah, and they felt the immense love and comforting peace of the Savior. Matt tenderly shared, ‘While I feel deep sorrow and grief, I am shouting for joy, knowing my Father’s wonderful plan of salvation.'”

Most Important Quote

“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.

“Filling our mind with the power of Jesus Christ does not mean that He is the only thought we have. But it does mean that all our thoughts are circumscribed in His love, His life and teachings, and His atoning sacrifice and glorious Resurrection. Jesus is never in a forgotten corner, because our thoughts of Him are always present and ‘all that is in [us adores] him!’ [“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” Hymns, no. 72] We pray and rehearse in our mind experiences that have brought us closer to Him. We welcome into our mind divine images, holy scriptures, and inspired hymns to gently cushion the countless daily thoughts rushing through our busy lives. Our love for Him does not shield us from the sadness and sorrow in this mortal life, but it allows us to walk through the challenges with a strength far beyond our own.”

The Best Footnote

Footnote 7: “The other time “caught hold” is used in the Book of Mormon is speaking of those who “caught hold of the end of the rod of iron” (1 Nephi 8:24, 30).”

Questions for Reflection Asked by the Speaker

None.

Directives (“an official or authoritative instruction”)

“We pray and rehearse in our mind experiences that have brought us closer to Him. We welcome into our mind divine images, holy scriptures, and inspired hymns to gently cushion the countless daily thoughts rushing through our busy lives.”
“General conference is a time to understand what the Lord would have us do and become. It is also a time to reflect on our progress.”

Invitations

“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.”

Promises

Action: “As you continue to attentively catch hold of this thought of Jesus Christ, trust in Him, and keep His commandments,”
Promise: “I promise you not only heavenly guidance but heavenly power—power that brings strength to your covenants, peace to your difficulties, and joy to your blessings.”
Action: “As your mind remains firmly and forever upon the thought of Jesus Christ, and as you continue to focus your life more fully on the Savior,”
Promise: “I promise you that you will feel His hope, His peace, and His love.”