The message of the final session of the April 1973 General Conference was, without a doubt, Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of the World.

 

President Harold B. Lee stated, in his closing address,

 

“I know the reality of the person who is presiding over this church, our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. I know that he is. I know that he is closer to us than many times we have any idea.”

 

For those of you who are very concerned about the world we live in, and what will happen in the next years ahead, I’m sure he was speaking to you as he declared, “All you need to do is to read the scriptures … That is the preparation (for these last days).”

 

Jesus Christ has been, is, and will forever be, the answer. Without a doubt in my own heart, I know He is the Christ, the Anointed One, and the Messiah for every soul who has ever lived on this earth. The blood He spilt has washed our sins away if we but do a few “very simple” things, enabling us to return back to the home we came from.

 

We live in a darkened world, one where Satan is doing his best to invite sin and cause doubt. General Conference is a place where, no matter what our lives are like, we can feel the Holy Spirit and the peace and love of our Savior. This week, I offer up only a few highlights that reached my soul and filled me with light, so much so that I can truly say, I have no doubt.

 

Elder Mark E. Petersen

 

He urged us to accept the words of the prophets and apostles. “With such heavenly guidance, none need go astray.” He continued with these words, “There is no Savior but Jesus, and he saves only in his own strait and narrow way and not according to man-made creeds and rituals.”  

 

Marion D. Hanks

 

People have always accused believers as being blind fools, gullible, and helpless followers. The reality is that we have all felt the love of the Savior in our lives. Elder Hanks said, “Christ in our lives is not meant to grieve us or weigh us down unto death because we have been imperfect. Through him we may be lifted up by accepting his gifts and his mercy and long-suffering. … Christ will lift us up and help us to become as he is as we do as he did.”

 

S. Dilworth Young

 

I loved his powerful words.

 

“I know that I cannot know him as he is unless he reveals himself to me. That is the great hope–to penetrate the veil and see and know him as he is. Yet I do know some things because he has told holy men, who are prophets, about himself and has commanded that they bear record of what they saw and heard. I know that by reading about him in the scriptures I can hear his voice by the power of the Holy Ghost; that is, to read his word is to hear his voice.”

 

Franklin D. Richards

 

It is the Holy Ghost who bares witness of Jesus Christ. For those doubters, they must strive to live a pure enough life and humble themselves in order to feel the feelings that will come. Elder Richards said, “If a person is going to get the most out of this life, he must comprehend the object of his existence. The gifts of the Holy Ghost, to worthy recipients, are many and extremely helpful in answering the question, What is the purpose of life or the object of our existence? One of the chief functions of the Holy Ghost is to bear witness of God the Father and Jesus Christ, his Son.”  

 

Howard W. Hunter  

 

Quoting scripture after scripture, he taught what this gospel is all about:

 

“Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel. …” (3 Ne. 27:13-14, 16-17, 20-21).

 

He further explained how we have the responsibility to choose baptism and then be re-cleansed each week, by partaking of the sacrament, as we continually strive to become spotless. It is incomprehensible to me how many chances the Lord gives us to repent, try again, start over, stand up from another fall, etc., etc., etc. Shouldn’t we accept His offer of salvation without a doubt?

Harold B. Lee

 

Once we have climbed onto the strait and narrow path, Jesus asks only one thing more, that we invite someone else to come along. How can we do that convincingly if we keep bouncing off and on our own path? Once we are on, our doubts must be confined to seeking and understanding new knowledge, not rehashing what we once claimed we knew.

 

“You cannot lift another soul until you are standing on higher ground than he is. You must be sure, if you would rescue the man, that you yourself are setting the example of what you would have him be. You cannot light a fire in another soul unless it is burning in our own soul.”

 

In order for us to have no doubt, we must seek after Christ; accept the words of His prophets; hear the words spoken of Him, and by Him, in His scriptures; and strive to be like Him. Simple and sincere tasks. I have run across too many people who believe their doubts more than they believe Him.

 

For me, I believe, and can bear witness, without a doubt.

 

Additional General Conference Odyssey posts:

 

Going Along for the Ride Nathaniel Givens

The Source of Salvation Daniel Ortner

“As I Am” Walker Wright

Relaying God’s Love Marilyn Nielsen