April 2004 General Conference -Saturday Afternoon

Thomas S. Monson - The Sustaining of Church Officers

Wesley L. Jones - Church Auditing Department Report 2003

F. Michael Watson -Statistical Report 2003

• Total Membership - 11,985,254
• Full-Time Missionaries - 56,237
• Temples in Operation - 116

Russell M. Nelson -Roots and Branches

• Each of us has ancestral roots. Each man has received some genetic markers that are just like those of his father. Each woman has received some genetic markers that are just like those of her mother. In addition, each of us has received other genetic gifts that make us unique.
• Because we have a spirit as well as a physical body, we also have spiritual roots that go way back. They shape our values, our beliefs, and our faith. Spiritual roots guide our commitment to the ideals and teachings of the Lord.
• Children have a natural desire to emulate the examples of their parents. Generally, boys incline toward the attitudes and work of their fathers; girls aspire to live as their mothers do. And you parents, don't be too surprised if, sometime along the way, your children become better than you.
• "Beautiful, luscious fruit does not grow unless the roots of the ... tree have been planted in rich, fertile soil and unless due care is given to proper pruning, cultivation, and irrigation. So likewise the luscious fruits of virtue and chastity, honesty, temperance, integrity, and fidelity are not to be found growing in that individual whose life is not funded on a firm testimony of the truths of the gospel and of the life and the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Jeffrey R. Holland -"Abide in Me"

• The rolling forth of the restored gospel is a miracle in every sense of the word, and not the least of the miracle is that a significant portion of it rolls forward on the shoulders of 19-year-olds!
• "He who picks up one end of the stick, picks up the other."
• When we join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we board the Good Ship Zion and sail with her wherever she goes until she comes into that millennial port. We stay in the boat, through squalls and stills, through storms and sunburn, because that is the only way to the promised land.

Keith B. McMullin -Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

• "...I am satisfied ... that whenever a man has a true witness in his heart of the living reality of the Lord Jesus Christ all else will come together as it should."
• Acquiring such a testimony does not, however, come without personal effort. One must desire to know, study to learn, live to merit, and pray to receive. When so pursued in humility and faith, the knowledge comes, and with this knowledge comes both the sweet assurance that all will be well and the inner strength to make it so.
• "If ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words."

W. Rolfe Kerr -The Words of Christ--Our Spiritual Liahona

• "And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together. ...
• "And they were ... conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death.
• "And ... while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and ... they understood not the voice which they heard; ... it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, ... it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.
• "And .. again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.
• "And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.
• "And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:
• "Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name--hear ye him.
• "And ... as they understood they cast their eyes up again toward heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; ...
• "And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:
• "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
• "And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.
• "And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude feel tot he earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven."
• "For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss."
• "O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way."

Francisco J. Vinas -Applying the Simple and Plain Gospel Principles in the Family

• At times we have the tendency to think that the more serious the problem, the bigger and more complex the solution should be. That idea can lead us, for example, to seek help from people or institutions outside the home when in reality the most effective solution will come by applying the glorious principles of the gospel in our homes in the small actions and duties of everyday life.
• When we adopt a principle, its influence radiates from us and can be felt by others.
• That Jesus Christ "claimeth all those who have faith him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing."
• The person who obtains meekness and lowliness of heart and who enjoys the company of the Holy Ghost will have no desire to offend or hurt others, nor will he feel affected by an offenses received from others. He will treat his spouse and children with love and respect and will have good relationships with everyone he associates with. In occupying positions of leadership in the Church, he will apply the same principles as he does in the home, showing that there is no difference between the person he is when within the walls of his own home and the person he is in his relationship with the members of the Church.

Joseph B. Wirthlin -Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts

• Brothers and sisters, beware of covetousness. It is one of the great afflictions of these latter days. It creates greed and resentment. Often it leads to bondage, heartbreak, and crushing, grinding debt.
• Remember this: debt is a form of bondage. It is a financial termite. When we make purchases on credit, they give us only an illusion of prosperity. We think we own things, but the reality is, our things own us.
• Some debt--such as for a modest home, expenses for education, perhaps for a needed first car--may be necessary. But never should we enter into financial bondage through consumer debt without carefully weighing the costs.
• Interest is a good servant but a terrible master.
• "Interest never sleeps nor sickens nor dies; it never goes to the hospital; it works on Sundays and holidays; it never takes a vacation. ... Once in debt, interest in your companion every minute of the day and night; you cannot shun it or slip away from it; you cannot dismiss it; it yields neither to entreaties, demands, or orders; and whenever you get in its way or cross its course or fail to meet its demands, it crushes you."
• "Do not leave yourself or your family unprotected against financial storms. ... Build up savings."
• "Not only should we teach men to get out of debt but we should teach them likewise to stay out of debt."
• First, pay your tithing.
• Second, spend less than you earn.
• Those who use credit cards to overspend unwisely should consider eliminating them. It is much better that a plastic credit card should perish than a family dwindle and perish in debt.
• Third, learn to save.
• Fourth, honor your financial obligations.
• No man is fit to be called a man who gathers around himself cars, boats, and other possessions while neglecting the sacred financial obligations he has to his own wife and children.
• We are a people of integrity. We believe in honoring our debts and being honest in our dealings with our fellow men.
• Fifth, teach your children to follow your example.

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi