General Conference Odyssey post for Sunday Morning session of April 1982.
People are either very excited or dreading the new church schedule, curriculum, and expectations our church has for its members. I’ve said this many times already and I’ll keep saying it: There is nothing new that our church leaders are telling us that they haven’t been telling us for years. The only difference is that the time is getting close to our Savior’s arrival and we, as a church, haven’t been moving fast enough. We MUST more seriously set the world aside, put more effort into our actions, and hasten our spiritual work.
With a new year to start brand new, what are we going to do differently—no, not differently, but more purposefully—to be prepared for Jesus Christ?
This particular session of conference gives us some thoughts that are relevant to what we are engaged in today, so I’ll go through some points from each talk.
Five Million Members—Gordon B. Hinckley
This milestone was back in 1982. Today, we have over 16 million members. That means we’re doing something right and that’s great, but I bet the Brethren hope this number doubles in the next few years.
Along with receiving new converts in our church, all members need to continue living the gospel, separate from what the world offers. This is hard: to maintain our membership in an active and believing state. Elder Hinckley gives us five imperatives for living the gospel with complete faithfulness and devotion.
- “We must hold fast to the doctrine.” I wonder if we aren’t encouraging people to go to Jesus Christ—enough—for answers. Instead, we go to Google, Facebook, or others who are struggling.
- “We must implement that doctrine more fully in our lives.” Home-centered learning.
- “We must work more diligently to cultivate a spirit of love and charity in our homes.” Stable, loving homes with intentional parenting.
- “We must continue even with greater effectiveness to strengthen and sustain one another.” Bringing spiritual purpose to our Relief Society.
- “We must move forward in faith.” With valiant determination to seek Jesus Christ.
He advises to “keep before you the big picture” instead of worrying about blemishes.
Integrity, the Mother of Many Virtues—James E. Faust
He talked about oaths, and how important they were anciently. I’m always amazed when I reread how Zoram and Nephi made an oath to one another in a moment of great fear and uncertainty. But keeping that oath with one another became a lifelong friendship and loyalty.
In a world that changes according to whim, fad, and popularity, he counters all of that with this statement:
“Complete and constant integrity is a great law of human conduct. There need to be some absolutes in life. There are some things that should not ever be done, some lines that should never be crossed, vows that should never be broken, words that should never be spoken, and thoughts that should never be entertained.”
Our world today teaches us to break all these rules of integrity.
The Power of Family Prayer—John H. Groberg
Elder Groberg shares an experience from his now famous mission in Tonga, which you might like to read. I would have been terrified, petrified, and frozen if I had been in his shoes. But maybe that’s what makes his talk on prayer so poignant and dramatic.
In regard to our home-centered learning, what he says in this talk should be reconsidered by all of us:
“Think of what you teach by having family prayer. Then think of what you teach by not having family prayer.”
Let Us Go Up to the House of God—L. Tom Perry
Who would ever think that an apostle of the church has to apologize for not doing what he should? He does just that in this talk. Being so busy in his church duties, he admits to neglecting his temple duties, which no one is ever exempt from. He says,
“I have reordered my priorities. I want to do all in my power to be certain that our eternal family association is complete.”
Sailing Safely the Seas of Life—Thomas S. Monson
After telling us the story of the battleship Bismarck, he says,
“Our home port is the celestial kingdom of God. Our purpose is to steer an undeviating course in that direction. A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder—never likely to reach home port.”
As Relief Society sisters, we have a purpose, which many of us need to rediscover. Our purpose is to seek out all souls who need help and give them the spiritual aid that they need. Our gift is charity, and charity is an eternal and deep love for all mankind. If we use our power (that comes from the priesthood), to see to the needs of all women, we will have purpose. Our purpose lies in gospel living with our master, Jesus Christ.
*The featured painting is called, “Woman’s Voices from the Dust,” by Jolynn Forman