October 2010 General Conference -Sunday Afternoon

L. Tom Perry -The Priesthood of Aaron

• "I am not overly pleased with worldly conditions that you and other young men are inheriting as you assume your role in moving toward manhood. While those of us who are older have been of an age and position to influence the world, I believe that we've greatly failed you in what we have allowed to conditions in the world to become. This places you in a position where many of those with whom you must associate have not been reared with an understanding of or respect for traditional values. Thus, peer pressure becomes much more difficult and extreme.
• The flip of a switch right in your own home has the potential of destroying within you a sense of what is right and what is wrong.
• The more things change, the more they stay the same--except for technology.

David A. Bednar -Receive the Holy Ghost

• These four words--"Receive the Holy Ghost"--are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction--an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon. The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words are spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that we indeed "receive the Holy Ghost" and its attendant spiritual gifts.
• "Tell the people to be humble and faithful and [be] sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach [you what] to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. Tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it. They can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other spirits. It will whisper peace and joy to their souls, and it will take malice, hatred, envying, strife, and all evil from their hearts; and their whole desire will be to o good, bring forth righteousness, and build upon the kingdom of God. Tell the brethren if they will follow the Spirit of the Lord they will go right."

Larry R. Lawrence -Courageous Parenting

• "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid."
• Challenges and temptations are coming at our teenagers with the speed and power of a freight train. As we are reminded in the family proclamation, parents are responsible for the protection of their children. That means spiritually as well as physically.
• "Parenting is not a popularity contest."
• "Sometimes we are afraid of our children--afraid to counsel with them for fear of offending them."
• Young people understand more than we realize because they too have the gift of the Holy Ghost. They are trying to recognize the Spirit when He speaks, and they are watching our example. From us they learn to pay attention to their promptings--that if they "don't feel good about something," it's best not to pursue it.
• It's so important for husbands and wives to be united when making parenting decisions. If either parent doesn't feel good about something, then permission should not be granted.
• Brothers and sisters, if your spouse doesn't feel good about something, show respect for those feelings. When you take the easy way out by saying and doing nothing, you may be enabling destructive behavior.
• "When morality is involved we have both the right and the obligation to raise a warning voice."
• I have always believed that nothing really good happens late at night and that young people need to know what time they are expected to come home.
• There is a great deal of wisdom displayed when parents stay up and wait for their children to return home. Young men and women make far better choices when they know their parents are waiting up to hear about their evening and to kiss them good night.
• Courageous parenting does not always involve saying no. Parents also need courage to say yes to the counsel of modern day prophets.

Per G. Malm -Rest unto Your Souls

• The thoughts that we dwell on inside our minds, the feelings we foster inside our hearts, and the actions we choose to take will all have a determining impact on our lives, both here and in the hereafter.
• A helpful habit is to lift our vision daily in order to maintain an eternal perspective of the things we plan and do, especially if we detect a tendency to wait until a future tomorrow to do what we know we should pursue while we have our present today.
• In our day-to-day actions, it is often the small and simple things that will have a long-lasting impact.
• When we learn to handle the small and simple daily things in a wise and inspired way, the result is a positive influence that will solidify harmony in our souls and build up and strengthen those around us.

Jairo Mazzagardi -Avoiding the Trap of Sin

• We must be alert because small choices can bring great consequences.
• "Arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated." Those how go to bed early wake up rested, with the body and mind invigorated and blessed by the Lord because of obedience.
• We must be alert not to let sin grow around us.
• If we sin, we must look for help quickly because alone we cannot escape sin's trap, just as the proverbial fence post cannot free itself. Someone must help us get rid of the deadly embrace.

Mervyn B. Arnold -What Have You Done with My Name?

• "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."
• When you remember your names ... ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.
• "Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them.
• "While [we] are free to choose for [ourselves], [we] are not free to choose the consequences of [our] actions. When [we] make a choice, [we] will receive the consequences of that choice."
• Our kind, wise, and loving Heavenly Father has given us commandments not to restrict us, as the adversary would have us believe, but to bless our lives and to protect our good name and our legacy for future generations.

M. Russell Ballard -O That Cunning Plan of the Evil One

• Lucifer knows our "hunger," or weaknesses, and tempts us with counterfeit lures which, if taken, can cause us to be yanked from the stream of life into his unmerciful influence.
• Lucifer will not voluntarily let go. His goal is to make his victims as miserable as he is.
• Brothers and sisters, stay away from any kind of substance that may trap you. Even one sniff of something or one pill or one drink of alcohol can lead to addiction.
• Now, brothers and sisters, please don't misunderstand what I am saying. I'm not questioning prescription medications for those suffering with treatable illness or great physical pain. They are indeed a blessing. What I am saying is that we need to carefully follow the doses prescribed by doctors. And we need to keep such medications in a safe place where youngsters or anyone else cannot gain access to them.
• Remember, brothers and sisters, any kind of addiction is to surrender to something, thus relinquishing agency and becoming dependent. Thus, video-gaming and texting on cell phones need to be added to the list.
• Jesus said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Thomas S. Monson -Till We Meet Again

• Though we are far removed from many of you, we feel of your spirit and send our love and appreciation to you.
• We live in a troubled world, a world of many challenges to the best of our ability, to learn form them, and to overcome them. Endure to the end we must, for our goal is eternal life in the presence of our Father in Heaven. He loves us and wants nothing more than for us to succeed in this goal. He will help us and bless us as we call upon Him in our prayers, as we study His words, and as we obey His commandments. Therein is found safety; therein is found peace.

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi