189th Annual General Conference -Sunday Sessions Highlights

Sunday Morning 

Dale G. Renlund

• Blessings from Heaven aren't earned by earning 'good deed coupons' or waiting to see if we win the 'blessings lottery.'
• Blessings are never earned, but given by faith inspired actions on our part. 
• Most blessings that God wants to give us require action on our part. 
• First we act in faith, Then the power comes in God's timing. 
• How much energy does it take to look at something? 
• You don't earn a blessing. Instead you need to qualify for it. 
• One of the objects of prayer is to secure blessings that God is willing to grant but will only be given upon our asking for them. 
• Ongoing, faithfilled actions are required to receive blessings. 
• We can all recall times when we have pushed on and prayed again and blessings have resulted from our actions. 
• You can do this. Try again.
• Faith in Christ requires ongoing Action. Small actions keep us moving forward. 
• Blessings are Time Insensitive. Meaning that they come on God's Timetable. 
• Cheerfully go and do all things that lie in your power and then stand still and see the arm of god revealed. 
• Exercise the Strike the Match and Light the Fire. 

Sharon Eubank

• Without a strong connection to Christ, we spiritually begin to die. Our light dimming and short circuiting.
• Many of us run very fast and oftentimes our energy supply registers close to empty. 
• Sometimes life can be exhausting 
• Christ is rest. 
• Our mortal brains are made to find meaning and understanding in tidy bundles. 
• Assurance comes in ways that's not always easy to analyze, but there is always a light to be found in our darkness.
• Christ is light to see.
• It isn't logical, but nevertheless it is true. 
• Come. Let us reason tomorrow. We make mistakes. We all fall short. But come unto Christ and repent and you can be whole again. 
• Make Christ the Center of your Life.
• No matter how hard it tries, the darkness cannot put out the light. Ever.
• It's hard to get the lights on by yourself. We need friends. We need each other. 
• We can bring the Savior's light to ourselves by keeping our covenants.
• The Lord knows how hard you are trying. You are making progress. Keep going. Your work is Not in Vain. You are not alone. 

Quentin L. Cook

• Charity which is the pure love of Christ includes God's eternal love for all his children. 
• Sharing the Gospel is based on a great love for All of Heavenly Father's children. 
• When it comes to gathering Israel, we need to align our hearts with ministering love. 
• We can share our love throughout the world by making simple invitations to come and see. 
• We cannot gather Israel without you. 
• Be friends with everyone regardless on if they choose to follow the same beliefs as you. 
• Lovingly performing ordiances in the temple will strengthen and protect our families. 
• We must strive for righteousness, meekness, kindness, and love. 
• We need to be self-reliant and self engaged in making our homes a refuge from the storm that surrounds us.

D. Todd Christofferson

• Beyond selfless service, it is supremely importantly to prepare the world for the Second Coming of Christ. 
• God has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged rightly by a man he has appointed. He has given assurance to all in this by raising this man from the dead. 
• The world is not random. It is not chaos.
• Call upon the Lord that his Kingdom may go Forth upon the Earth that the inhabitants therein shall receive it. 
• Zion is the pure of heart. Those with one heart and one mind.
• The building up of Zion occurs in tumultuous times. 
• All of us can participate in simple and natural ways and in love in inviting others to join with us. 
• Strive to be diligent in gathering Zion. 
• It is He who is hastening His work in this time by employing our imperfect selves to bring it to pass.
• Christ's resurrection is the ultimate assurance that ALL will be put right. 

Tad R. Callister

• Does a parachute work within the law of Gravity to provide a safe landing? Yes. 
• We need to do our part and pull the ripcord so the protections of the Savior can be implemented and we can arrive safely to our goals.
• As long as there is one spark of a will to repent and become better, Christ will be there to help lift you back up.
• With increased understanding, comes an increased desire to better ourselves and be there for others. 
• A memory of the guilt of your sin is like a stop sign, warning you to not go down that road again. It is a protection not a punishment. 
• Peace be unto thy soul, thy afflictions shall be but a small moment. 
• Your trials are but a dot on the eternal spectrum. 
• You cannot be justified in saying, "It is my nature." Christ's atonement overcomes that. We are to put off the natural man. 
• If we are imperfect, we are to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. 
• Press forward with good cheer and absolute assurance that God is with us. 

Russell M. Nelson

• We need to feed our Spirit. Grab a church book to read. Feast on the truths of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Marry in the Temple. Faithfully honor your covenants. 
• Your Daddy is very very very proud of you and you've brought Him much joy. 
• As we continue to honor our covenants with God, we look forward with anticipation with being with our loved ones who have passed on again. 
• Jesus Christ teaches the way back to our Eternal Home. 
• Despite all kinds of sins from all kinds of people, Christ's arms are outstretched still. 
• We all want to feel love from our family. 
• Salvation is an individual matter, but Exaltation is a family matter. 
• All contracts that are not made under the Lord have an End when Men are Dead. 
• The Savior invites ALL to follow him.
• Are you ignoring Christ when he beckons to you to "Come follow me"? 
• Covenant keeping men and women can receive a fulness of joy.
• In this life you've never settled for 2nd Best in anything, yet in refusing to obtain the full blessings in the ordinances and covenants of Jesus Christ...you are settling for 2nd best in eternity. 
• Start where you are unsure and move forward to find understanding.
• Jesus Christ invites us to take the covenant path back home to our Heavenly Parents and be with those we love. 
• Do the Spiritual Work to find out the Truth for yourself. Do it now. Time is running out. 

Afternoon Session 

Dallin H. Oaks

• Christ redeems and his Atonement is real. 
• We are all sinners who can be cleansed by repentance. 
• Repentance is a joy not a burden. 
• Man cannot be saved without repentance. 
•  All of our actions and inactions contrary to the commandments of God are sins and we need to repent from them. 
• We can overcome all acts and desires the would block us from becoming like the Savior. 
• What a Promise. What a Miracle. What a Blessing.
• We cannot hide our sins before God and except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against you in the last day. 
• Our Savior has the power and stands ready to cleanse us from evil. Now is the time to seek his help. 
• If we press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, then we shall have eternal life. 

Juan Pablo Villar

• Our spiritual gifts only grow if we use them. They need to be exercised if they are to grow. 
• Sometimes you don't need to teach a lesson specifically to someone for them to receive the blessings of that lesson. 
• Your faith grows when you give it the ability to act. 
• If we seek to be more patient, we may find ourselves needing to practice it as we wait for a response. 
• Identify those spiritual muscles that need more spiritual activity and exercise them. 

Gerrit W. Gong

• Who better to be our Good Shepherd than the Lamb of God? 
• As we seek with real intent, inspiration will come. 
• Whatsoever ye shall do ye shall do it in my name. 
• Our Savior reaches out to the One and the Ninety and Nine at the same time. 
• What a blessing the Book of Mormon is as a witness of Jesus Christ. 
• What we do and what we are becoming should also be an influence to invite others to become like Him. 
• God's Shepherds are to strengthen, heal, bind up which is broken, bring up which was driven away, and seek that which was lost. 
• Gladly seek to join His work. 
• All Christ wants to do is help and save us. 
• Whatever our circumstances, whoever we are, Christ shall gather us to him and gently lead us. 

David A. Bednar

• All changes are to help us learn the gospel, both at church and at home. 
• We should not expect the Church to teach us everything, rather our personal responsibility is to learn what we should learn, live as we should live, and become our best selves. Our Homes are the Ultimate setting for learning, living, and becoming.
• We too must learn for ourselves.
• We cannot expect simply to attend church meetings and participate in church programs and receive all the edification and protection that would allow us to stand in this evil day. 
• The ability to develop our spiritual strength and stamina rests upon us and our own actions. 
• If all you know about Christ and his Restored Gospel is what other people teach and tell us, then our foundation of Him is built upon Sand. We cannot rely exclusively on or borrow gospel light/knowledge from others. We must know for ourselves. 
• Knowledge can only be obtained through personal experience. 
• The Ultimate Training Center is in our Homes. 
• Because we Love the Lord, we Always should speak about his Holy House with Reverence. 
• Everything in the Temple points us to our Savior Jesus Christ. 
• Strive to walk in the meekness of the Lord's Spirit. 
• Doors will Open. The Light will Shine. Your capacity to endure will increase. 
• We truly can be prepared to obtain every needful thing.

Kyle S. McKay

• Patience is Key. Without it. We can neither develop or demonstrate faith unto God. 
• Blessings can be given to us to help us endure until the blessings and promises we are waiting for come to pass. 
• God will give immediate hope for eventual deliverance. 
• Above all, God's love is immediate. 

Ronald A. Rasband

• Christ-centered homes are fortresses for the Kingdom of God. 
• Our Homes are Fortresses against the Evils of the World. 
• Remember, our homes are only as powerful as the spiritual strength of each one of us within the walls. 
• We are at War with Satan for the Souls of Men. The battle lines were drawn in our preEarth Life. 
• For our Protection, we must build a fortress of Spirituality for our very souls that won't be penetrated by Satan.
• Do we act with a willing obedience?
• Be strong and with good courage, for the Lord thy God is with thee wherever you go. 
• Stand for the Truth.
• We should take to heart the caution of "Be Sober. Be Vigilant. Because your Adversary the Devil walks about seeking those whom he may devour."
• Your Testimony of Jesus Christ is your personal fortress of protection. 
• When we live the gospel of Christ, when we draw on his Atonement, and press forward with faith and not fear, we are fortified against the enemy.
• We are safe in the arms of our Savior's Love.
• Go forth with Confidence in the Lord and his Gospel. 
• Be honest in heart. Be upright and pure. Show compassion and charity. Love the Lord your God with the devotion of a true disciple.

Russell M. Nelson

• Seek to Learn what the Lord is trying to Teach you Through His Servants. 
• One's home can become a heavenly place despite the contention all around us. 
• Each Historic Temple we be rededicated. 
• May we renovate our lives with our faith and trust in Christ. May we dedicate and rededicate our lives to serving God.

To watch/read/listen to these talks in their entirety, please visit: https://www.lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi