Last updated on January 5th, 2025 at 10:56 am
General Conference Applied
S4 E13 – Thursday, January 2, 2025 | “Days Never to Be Forgotten” by Elder Gary E. Stevenson; October 2024 General Conference
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Podcast Episode Outline
Introduction
“Days Never to Be Forgotten”
- “My dear brothers and sisters, the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this dispensation is resplendent with divine experiences that demonstrate how the Lord has guided His Church. There is one decade in our history, however, that stands strikingly supreme above any other—the decade from 1820 to 1830. Beginning with the Prophet Joseph Smith’s experience in the Sacred Grove in the spring of 1820, when he saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and continuing until April 6, 1830, that decade is unlike any other. …
“May I be so bold as to suggest that this year we have commenced a decade that may prove to be as momentous as any that has followed that unparalleled founding decade almost two centuries ago.
“Let me explain. Between now, 2024, and 2034, we will experience seminal events that will result in extraordinary opportunities to serve, to unite with members and friends, and to introduce The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to more people than ever before.
“We just witnessed the power of a truly historic moment as we celebrated with tens of millions the 100th birthday of President Russell M. Nelson. …
“How grateful we are that President Nelson’s landmark birthday gave us an opportunity to introduce a global audience to a prophet of God, a celebration never to be forgotten. …
“Contemplate the unprecedented number of temple open houses and dedications that are planned to take place over the next decade, even the potential of 164 temples and counting. Imagine tens of millions of you and your friends walking through a house of the Lord. The symbolic center of these events will be the rededication of the Salt Lake Temple and the activities associated with it. These certainly will be days never to be forgotten. …
“The year 2030 will bring opportunities worldwide to commemorate the bicentennial of the organization of the Church. Although it is too early to say how the Church will recognize this milestone, it will certainly allow us to invite family, friends, colleagues, and distinguished guests to ‘come and see’ and to better understand the powerful impact the Church has in the lives of Church members.
“In 2034, thousands of dignitaries, visitors, and athletes from around the world will flood the streets of Salt Lake City, the stage for the Winter Olympic Games. There is perhaps no greater demonstration of worldwide unity than that embodied in the Olympic Games. The eyes of the world will be upon the Church and its members, affording a multitude of opportunities to volunteer, serve, and share glad tidings through kind deeds—an event never to be forgotten.
“These upcoming moments will provide members of the Church everywhere with increased opportunities to share the glad tidings of the gospel of Jesus Christ through word and deed, a decade never to be forgotten.”
Bio
- “Gary E. Stevenson was sustained to serve as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 3, 2015. At the time of his call to the Twelve, he had been serving as the Presiding Bishop of the Church since April 2012.
“Gary E. Stevenson was born on August 6, 1955, to Evan N. and Vera Jean Hall Stevenson and was raised in Cache Valley, Utah.
“In April 1979, Gary E. Stevenson married Lesa J. Higley. They are the parents of four sons.
“He received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Utah State University.
“His previous Church service includes full-time missionary in the Japan Fukuoka Mission, ward Sunday School teacher, high councilor, bishop, stake presidency counselor, and president of the Japan Nagoya Mission (2004-2007).
“In April 2008, he was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy and served as a counselor and later as president in the Asia North Area Presidency.
“Gary E. Stevenson cofounded an exercise equipment manufacturing company, ICON Health & Fitness, Inc., where he served as president and chief operating officer until 2008. He was also involved in numerous civic activities and has served on various boards and advisory councils.” - This was Elder Stevenson’s 22nd general conference address. Here are his five most recent addresses:
- “Bridging the Two Great Commandments” – April 2024 General Conference
- “Promptings of the Spirit” – October 2023 General Conference
- “The Greatest Easter Story Ever Told” – April 2023 General Conference
- “Nourishing and Bearing Your Testimony” – October 2022 General Conference
- “Love, Share, Invite” – April 2022 General Conference
What is the speaker inviting me to do, and how might I consider taking action?
Invitations
1: “I wish to speak to you of the rising generation, to invite you to imagine how exciting this next decade, one never to be forgotten, can be for you.”
- Envision what the next decade means for you personally and for the Church collectively.
- Christlike Attribute: “I set goals and plan regularly. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:119)” (Diligence)
- “Now, while this upcoming decade may be filled with days never to be forgotten for every member of the Church, this especially can be true for you of the rising generation. You are here on earth now because you were selected to be here now. You have the strength and capacity to be disciples of Christ in an unprecedented way. …
“Like many of you, I have a smartphone that, on occasion and without any prompt, pulls together a reel of photos showing what I was doing on a certain day. It is always surprising to see how much things have changed for me and my family in just a few years.
“Picture the photos your phone will serve up 10 years from now! You may see yourself graduating from high school or college, receiving your endowment, going on a mission, getting married, and having your first child. For you personally, this will be a decade never to be forgotten.” -Elder Stevenson - Action:
- Develop a list of 10 things I want out of life that I don’t yet have. Then, look at this list every morning, and every time life gets hard or I feel like giving up.
- 10 Things That I Wanted Out Of Myself In Life | Matthew McConaughey | Instagram: “So in 1992, I wrote down a list of 10 things that I wanted out of myself in life that I did not have at the time. I never looked at that list again. I thought I lost it, until I found it just a few years ago. When I read the list, I said, ‘son of a gun, Matthew, you’ve actually achieved all of those things that you wrote down.’
“So now that we’re in the holiday spirit and coming across Christmas and holiday times … write yourself a list of 10 things you want from yourself. You don’t have to look at it every day, or you can. You can wrap it up and never open it. You can wrap it up and open it next year. But one day it’ll find you, or you find it, opening it up down the line.
“See if you accomplish some of those things, if you got some of those things that you wanted, that you wrote down. I bet you will have. It’s kind of a magic trick to write things down like that. [They] stick somewhere in the back of our mind in a place we don’t even know, but somehow remember.” - “The Intentional Engineer: A Guide to a Purpose-Driven Life and Career for Engineers and Technical Professionals” by Jeff Perry: “I write in my journal every morning and every night.
“In the morning, soon after I wake up, I spend time writing about what I plan to accomplish that day, week, month, and year. I also write about who I am becoming. I write it in present tense.
“Sometimes I write about goals. And sometimes I write affirmations in the form of ‘I am’ statements that I am working to make true. As I write them, they become more true for me each day. I then spend some time experiencing the feelings of what it is like to be the person I am writing about.
“I also use this time to brainstorm in my journal ideas for things I want to write or create, or ways to help my clients. Doing this in my journal rather than on my computer helps me avoid getting distracted.
“Writing by hand is also much slower than the speed of thought, so it forces me to slow down a bit, allowing my mind to explore more ideas than just the ones I’m writing at the time. It’s pretty cool.
“At night, I review my day, write how it went, and what I could have improved. I think briefly about what I want to accomplish the next day, and record no more than three priorities I will work on.
“Finally, I consider a question I want to ponder while I’m sleeping. Your subconscious is extremely powerful—your brain can solve a lot of issues while you’re sleeping. As Thomas Edison said, ‘Never go to sleep without a request to your subconscious.'”
- 10 Things That I Wanted Out Of Myself In Life | Matthew McConaughey | Instagram: “So in 1992, I wrote down a list of 10 things that I wanted out of myself in life that I did not have at the time. I never looked at that list again. I thought I lost it, until I found it just a few years ago. When I read the list, I said, ‘son of a gun, Matthew, you’ve actually achieved all of those things that you wrote down.’
- Develop a list of 10 things I want out of life that I don’t yet have. Then, look at this list every morning, and every time life gets hard or I feel like giving up.
2: “Actively strive to become a light unto the world of how the glad tidings of the gospel of Jesus Christ can enrich and enhance not only your lives but also those of your family, friends, and social media followers.”
- Live your life in such a way that those who see you want to become like and follow Jesus Christ.
- Christlike Attribute: “I have faith that God will bring about good things in my life and the lives of others as we devote ourselves to Him and His Son. (Ether 12:12)” (Faith)
- “You may be wondering how to do this.
“Prophets of God have taught us this is done through four simple activities, referred to as divinely appointed responsibilities: first, living the gospel of Jesus Christ; second, caring for those in need; third, inviting all to receive the gospel; and fourth, uniting families for eternity. Remarkably, each can be done in the most normal and natural ways.
“First, live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Study the words of the prophets, and learn to love your Father in Heaven. Incline your hearts to Him, and strive to walk in His way. …
“Let your friends see the joy you feel in living the gospel, and you will be the best gospel message they ever receive.
“Second, reach out in compassion to care for those in need. …
“Let the people you serve know that your concern for them is rooted in your love of God and your desire to treat your neighbor as yourself.
“Third, invite all to receive the gospel. … Whether serving full-time or not, please realize your immense capacity to influence your peers as you love, share, and invite them to explore the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Fourth, unite families for eternity. … I urge you to become engaged in family history, spend time in the temple, and carefully prepare yourself to be the kind of man or woman ready to marry an equally worthy companion in the temple. Develop a pattern in your life now to make the temple a regular part of your lives.” -Elder Stevenson - “The Light in Their Eyes“, President James E. Faust, October 2005 General Conference: “I recently recalled a historic meeting in Jerusalem about 17 years ago. It was regarding the lease for the land on which the Brigham Young University’s Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies was later built. Before this lease could be signed, President Ezra Taft Benson and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, then president of Brigham Young University, agreed with the Israeli government on behalf of the Church and the university not to proselyte in Israel. You might wonder why we agreed not to proselyte. We were required to do so in order to get the building permit to build that magnificent building which stands in the historic city of Jerusalem. To our knowledge the Church and BYU have scrupulously and honorably kept that nonproselyting commitment. After the lease had been signed, one of our friends insightfully remarked, ‘Oh, we know that you are not going to proselyte, but what are you going to do about the light that is in their eyes?’ He was referring to our students who were studying in Israel.
“What was that light in their eyes which was so obvious to our friend? The Lord Himself gives the answer: ‘And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings.’ Where did that light come from? Again the Lord gives the answer: ‘I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.’ The Lord is the true light, ‘and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.’ This light shows in our countenances as well as in our eyes.” - Action:
- I like this statement from Elder Stevenson: “Let your friends see the joy you feel in living the gospel, and you will be the best gospel message they ever receive.” In 2025, Morgan and I have set a goal to invite a different family to our home at least once each month (probably on a Sunday) for a dessert and games. This will likely include both active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and those who are not currently participating with The Church of Jesus Christ.
Take Action
How will you take action on the invitations extended in this General Conference address?
Conclusion
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Tags
Church History | Gospel | Service | Temples | Young Adults | Youth
Additional Content
Next Podcast Episode (Non-General Conference Applied: December 2024 Invitations Recap)