“Mortality Works!”

Posted on by Mitch Peterson

Last updated on March 29th, 2025 at 10:11 pm

General Conference Applied

S4 E33 – Thursday, March 27, 2025 | “Mortality Works!” by Elder Brook P. Hales; October 2024 General Conference

Listen on Amazon Music | Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen and/or Watch on Spotify | Watch on YouTube

Podcast Episode Social Media Posts

  • Facebook | Instagram

Podcast Episode Outline

Introduction

Bio

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.”

A Remarkable Temple Experience

  • Many ministering angels are our own ancestors!

“For several years I was assigned to home teach an older sister in my ward. She did not have an easy life. She had various health problems and experienced a lifetime of pain due to a childhood accident on the playground. Divorced at age 32 with four young children to raise and provide for, she remarried at age 50. Her second husband passed away when she was 66, and this sister lived an additional 26 years as a widow.

“Despite her lifelong challenges, she was faithful to her covenants to the end. This sister was an avid genealogist, a temple attender, and a collector and writer of family histories. Though she had many difficult trials, and without question she felt at times sadness and loneliness, she had a cheerful countenance and a gracious and pleasant personality.

“Nine months after her passing, one of her sons had a remarkable experience in the temple. He learned by the power of the Holy Ghost that his mother had a message for him. She communicated with him, but not by vision or audible words. The following unmistakable message came into the son’s mind from his mother: ‘I want you to know that mortality works, and I want you to know that I now understand why everything happened [in my life] the way it did—and it is all OK.’

“This message is all the more remarkable when one considers her situation and the difficulties this sister endured and overcame.

  • Power in the Name of Jesus Christ | 3 Nephi 23-27 | Class 43 from The Book of Mormon: A Master Class, by John Hilton III: “President James E. Faust taught: ‘We do not consciously realize the extent to which ministering angels affect our lives. … Their ministry has been and is an important part of the gospel.’

    “So who are these angels? Many of them are our own ancestors. President Joseph F. Smith wrote: ‘When messengers are sent to minister to the inhabitants of this earth, they are not strangers, but from the ranks of our kindred [and] friends.’ President Joseph F. Smith also taught: ‘Our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters, and friends … may have a mission given them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth again.’

    “So let’s combine the idea that our ancestors are among the angels watching over us with the statement from Elder Holland, who taught that when facing difficult circumstances, we should ‘pray without ceasing. Ask for angels to help you.’ Adding ‘we should pray for angels to help us’ to ‘our ancestors are among those angels who are ministering to us’ equals ‘we can find great power in praying for our ancestors to help us.’

    “To be clear, I’m not saying we should pray to our ancestors. Rather, we pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, and we can ask for our ancestors to help us with specific challenges we face. And I am definitely not the first person to suggest this approach. Sister Wendy Watson Nelson wrote that she prays for ‘those on the other side to be ‘dispatched’ … to assist us,’ and said: ‘Perhaps a departed loved one could be sent to help you with whatever you need.’ …

    “I know we can find great strength as we pray and ask for the help of our ancestors. Even right now as I’m sharing these insights in the Master Class, I’m thinking about some problems and challenges I’m having in my life right now, and I’m realizing this is probably something that I could pray to Heavenly Father about and ask if there are any ancestors that I have that would be interested in this problem that could come and assist. My wife and I have seen this in our own lives as we’ve faced difficult challenges in our family and in other areas of life where we’ve prayed for angelic support, for ancestors to come.

    “We have seen miracles that we can only attribute to divine intervention, help that we honestly believe came through the direct assistance of our ancestors. Remember, just as our hearts turn to our ancestors, their hearts are turned to us. When we face serious struggles, we have heavenly help.” (Also shared in Mitch’s October 20, 2024, What? Eye. Read.  Newsletter).

“Brothers and sisters, mortality works! It is designed to work! Despite the challenges, heartaches, and difficulties we all face, our loving, wise, and perfect Heavenly Father has designed the plan of happiness such that we are not destined to fail. His plan provides a way for us to rise above our mortal failures. The Lord has said, ‘This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.’

“Nonetheless, if we are to be the beneficiaries of the Lord’s ‘work and … glory,’ even ‘immortality and eternal life,’ we must expect to be schooled and taught and to pass through the refiner’s fire—sometimes to our utter limits. To completely avoid the problems, challenges, and difficulties of this world would be to sidestep the process that is truly necessary for mortality to work.

“And so we should not be surprised when hard times come upon us. We will encounter situations that try us and people who enable us to practice true charity and patience. But we need to bear up under our difficulties and remember, as the Lord said:

What is the speaker inviting me to do?

  • In my own words: To avoid disappointment, expect life to be really hard.

Why does it matter, or why is it important? (Doctrines, Principles, Christlike Attributes)

  • Christlike Attribute: “I face adversity with patience and faith. (Alma 34:40–41)” (Patience)
    • “[40] And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them; [41] But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.”

What’s in it for us? (Promises)

  • None identified.

How will we take action? (Directives, Personal Revelation)

  • “To completely avoid the problems, challenges, and difficulties of this world would be to sidestep the process that is truly necessary for mortality to work. And so we should not be surprised when hard times come upon us. We will encounter situations that try us and people who enable us to practice true charity and patience. But we need to bear up under our difficulties.” -Elder Hales
  • The Return of Jafar – “You’d be surprised what you can live through”
  • President Henry B. Eyring, “Mountains to Climb“, April 2012 General Conference: “I heard President Spencer W. Kimball, in a session of conference, ask that God would give him mountains to climb. He said: ‘There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, ‘Give me this mountain,’ give me these challenges.’

    “My heart was stirred, knowing, as I did, some of the challenges and adversity he had already faced. I felt a desire to be more like him, a valiant servant of God. So one night I prayed for a test to prove my courage. I can remember it vividly. In the evening I knelt in my bedroom with a faith that seemed almost to fill my heart to bursting.

    “Within a day or two my prayer was answered. The hardest trial of my life surprised and humbled me. It provided me a twofold lesson. First, I had clear proof that God heard and answered my prayer of faith. But second, I began a tutorial that still goes on to learn about why I felt with such confidence that night that a great blessing could come from adversity to more than compensate for any cost. …

    “My mother fought cancer for nearly 10 years. Treatments and surgeries and finally confinement to her bed were some of her trials.

    “I remember my father saying as he watched her take her last breath, ‘A little girl has gone home to rest.’

    “One of the speakers at her funeral was President Spencer W. Kimball. Among the tributes he paid, I remember one that went something like this: ‘Some of you may have thought that Mildred suffered so long and so much because of something she had done wrong that required the trials.’ He then said, ‘No, it was that God just wanted her to be polished a little more.’ I remember at the time thinking, ‘If a woman that good needed that much polishing, what is ahead for me?'”
  • “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins: “Another long pause, and more walking. Then Admiral Jim Stockdale turned to me and said, ‘This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.’ …

    “A key psychology for leading from good to great is the Stockdale Paradox: Retain absolute faith that you can and will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties, AND at the same time confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.”
  • Mitch: I will note five worst-case scenarios in my journal, and develop a game plan for what needs to happen if I experienced those scenarios. For example, I know someone whose spouse passed away after a long battle with cancer. Though they knew that death was imminent and there was plenty of time to prepare, the surviving spouse didn’t even know the deceased spouse’s cell phone passcode. Putting off thinking about and preparing for the problems, challenges, and tests of life makes those problems, challenges, and tests worse!

“‘And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name’s sake, shall find it again, even life eternal.

“‘Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies [or your problems, challenges, or the tests of this life], for I have decreed … , saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant … that you may be found worthy.’

“When we feel distraught or anxious about our problems or feel that we might be receiving more than our fair share of life’s difficulties, we can remember what the Lord said to the children of Israel:

“‘And thou shalt remember all the way[s] which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what [is] in thine heart, whether thou [would] keep his commandments, or no.’

“As Lehi taught his son Jacob:

“‘Thou hast suffered afflictions and much sorrow. … Nevertheless, … [God] shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain. … Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer.’

“Because this life is a testing ground and ‘dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us and threaten our peace to destroy,’ it is helpful to remember this counsel and promise found in Mosiah 23 relating to life’s challenges: ‘Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in [the Lord] the same shall be lifted up at the last day.’

“As a youth, I personally experienced great emotional pain and shame that came as the result of the unrighteous actions of another, which for many years affected my self-worth and my sense of worthiness before the Lord. Nevertheless, I bear personal witness that the Lord can strengthen us and bear us up in whatever difficulties we are called upon to experience during our sojourn in this vale of tears.

“We are familiar with Paul’s experience:

“‘And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations [I have received], there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

“‘For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

“‘And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’

“We don’t know what Paul’s ‘thorn in the flesh’ was. He chose not to describe whether it was a physical ailment, a mental or emotional infirmity, or a temptation. But we don’t need to know that detail to know that he struggled and pleaded with the Lord for help and that, ultimately, the Lord’s strength and power are what helped him through it.

“Like it was for Paul, it was through the Lord’s help that I was eventually strengthened emotionally and spiritually and finally recognized after many years that I have always been a person of worth and worthy of the blessings of the gospel. The Savior helped me to overcome my feelings of unworthiness and to extend sincere forgiveness to the offender. I finally understood that the Savior’s Atonement was a personal gift for me and that my Heavenly Father and His Son love me perfectly. Because of the Savior’s Atonement, mortality works.

“While I was eventually blessed to recognize how the Savior rescued me and stood by me through those experiences, I clearly understand that the unfortunate situation of my teenage years was my personal journey and experience, the resolution of which and eventual outcome cannot be projected onto those who have suffered and continue to suffer from the unrighteous behavior of others.

“I recognize that life’s experiences—good and bad—can teach us important lessons. I now know and bear testimony that mortality works! I hope that as a result of the sum of my life’s experiences—good and bad—I have compassion for innocent victims of another’s actions and empathy for the downtrodden.

“I sincerely hope that as a result of my life’s experiences—good and bad—I am kinder to others, treat others as the Savior would, and have greater understanding for the sinner and that I have complete integrity. As we come to rely on the Savior’s grace and keep our covenants, we can serve as examples of the far-reaching effects of the Savior’s Atonement.

What is the speaker inviting me to do?

  • In my own words: Learn from every experience.

Why does it matter, or why is it important? (Doctrines, Principles, Christlike Attributes)

  • Christlike Attribute: “I strive to be submissive to God’s will. (Mosiah 24:15)” (Humility)
    • “[15] And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.”

What’s in it for us? (Promises)

  • “I testify that as we receive the ordinances of the gospel, enter into covenants with God and then keep those covenants, repent, serve others, and endure to the end, we too can have the assurance and complete trust in the Lord that mortality works!” -Elder Hales

How will we take action? (Directives, Personal Revelation)

  • “I hope that as a result of the sum of my life’s experiences—good and bad—I have compassion for innocent victims of another’s actions and empathy for the downtrodden. I sincerely hope that as a result of my life’s experiences—good and bad—I am kinder to others, treat others as the Savior would, and have greater understanding for the sinner and that I have complete integrity.” -Elder Hales
  • “I testify that as we receive the ordinances of the gospel, enter into covenants with God and then keep those covenants, repent, serve others, and endure to the end, we too can have the assurance and complete trust in the Lord that mortality works!” -Elder Hales
  • “Discovering God’s Plan for You” by Kalani Sitake, Head Football Coach at BYU, March 11, 2025: “So here it is. You’re going to experience adversity in difficult times. You’re in it. Congratulations. You’re seeking the divine design set for you.

    “If you get your heart broken, good for you. That means you’re a step closer to finding true love, right?

    “If you’re struggling in school, awesome. That means you’re pushing yourself through some discomfort and learning new skills.

    “If you’re struggling financially, that’s okay. It means you’re learning how to budget, and you’ll be thankful and humble when more compensation arrives.

    “And if you didn’t get the job, that only means there’s something better waiting for you. God knows good times are ahead. Your highlights are coming.” (Also shared in Mitch’s March 16, 2025, What? Eye. Read. 💡 Newsletter).
  • “Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day” by Jay Shetty: “Don’t judge the moment. As soon as you label something as bad, your mind starts to believe it. Instead, be grateful for setbacks. Allow the journey of life to progress at its own pace and in its own roundabout way. The universe may have other plans in store for you. …

    “Helen Keller, who became deaf and blind as a toddler after an unidentified illness, wrote, ‘When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.'”
  • Mitch: Each day, I write my highlight, lowlight, service I rendered, and something that reminded me of Jesus Christ in my journal. Going forward, in the “lowlight” section, I will also note how that lowlight is actually blessing my life.

“I share a final example that mortality works.

“My mother did not have an easy journey through mortality. She received no accolades or worldly honors and did not have educational opportunities beyond high school. She contracted polio as a child, resulting in a lifetime of pain and discomfort in her left leg. As an adult, she experienced many difficult and challenging physical and financial circumstances but was faithful to her covenants and loved the Lord.

“When my mother was 55, my next older sister passed away, leaving an eight-month-old baby daughter, my niece, motherless. For various reasons, Mom ended up largely raising my niece for the next 17 years, often under very trying circumstances. Yet, notwithstanding these experiences, she happily and willingly served her family, neighbors, and ward members and served as an ordinance worker in the temple for many years. During the last several years of her life, Mom suffered from a form of dementia, was often confused, and was confined to a nursing facility. Regrettably, she was alone when she passed away unexpectedly.

“Several months after her passing, I had a dream I have never forgotten. In my dream, I was sitting in my office at the Church Administration Building. Mom entered the office. I knew she had come from the spirit world. I will always remember the feelings I had. She did not say anything, but she radiated a spiritual beauty that I had never before experienced and which I have difficulty describing.

“Her countenance and being were truly stunning! I remember saying to her, ‘Mother, you are so beautiful!,’ referencing her spiritual power and beauty. She acknowledged me—again without speaking. I felt her love for me, and I knew then that she is happy and healed from her worldly cares and challenges and eagerly awaits ‘a glorious resurrection.’ I know that for Mom, mortality worked—and that it works for us too.

“God’s work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. The experiences of mortality are part of the journey that allows us to grow and progress toward that immortality and eternal life. We were not sent here to fail but to succeed in God’s plan for us.

“As King Benjamin taught: ‘And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.’ In other words, mortality works!

“I testify that as we receive the ordinances of the gospel, enter into covenants with God and then keep those covenants, repent, serve others, and endure to the end, we too can have the assurance and complete trust in the Lord that mortality works! I testify of Jesus Christ and that our glorious future with our Heavenly Father is made possible by the grace and Atonement of the Savior. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

  • Corresponding Invitation (Directive and Promise): “Recognize that life’s experiences—good and bad—can teach us important lessons.”

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 Takashi Wada and was entitled “The Words of Christ and the Holy Ghost Will Lead Us to the Truth.”

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. The best ways to help us are to like and subscribe to the podcast and to share it with others.

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.

Tags

Adversity | Atonement | Mortality | Plan of Salvation

Additional Content

Previous Podcast Episode (“Embrace the Lord’s Gift of Repentance” by Elder Jorge M. Alvarado)

Next Podcast Episode (“The Words of Christ and the Holy Ghost Will Lead Us to the Truth” by Elder Takashi Wada)

All Podcast Episodes

Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial