The first session of the April 1985 General Conference has some of the most powerful talks ever given in a conference. The message I got from them was that we must boldly stand for truth and righteousness no matter what.

 

President Ezra Taft Benson

(serving as the president of the Quorum of the Twelve at this time) reminded us what Joseph Smith wrote to John Wentworth in March of 1842:

“No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; … the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”

Are we brave enough to stand boldly and sound in every ear the truth that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that we are subject to Him?

While speaking on the importance of sharing the gospel, he says “more is expected of us than any previous generation. Where ‘much is given much is required.’”

Our world is full of the idea that every man must protect and defend him or herself. Individual rights now trump truth and right. Even members of the church justify their own selfish desires by proclaiming their “free agency” is to do what they feel is right.

 

Elder Russell M. Nelson

gave a powerful talk on abortion. He says,

“We are free to think. We are free to plan. And then we are free to do. But once an action has been taken, we are never free from its consequences. … The choice made was sealed by action.”

Abortion is an even greater plague in our day. Earlier this year, New York passed a law that decriminalized abortion. At the signing, Governor Cuomo said, “Today we are taking a giant step forward in the hard-fought battle to ensure a woman’s right to make her own decisions about her own personal health, including the ability to access an abortion.”

Like Elder Nelson, we too can frame our declaration of truth straight from the scriptures. He boldly states:

“Now, as a servant of the Lord, I dutifully warn those who advocate and practice abortion that they incur the wrath of Almighty God, who declared, ‘If men … hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, … he shall be surely punished.’ (Ex. 21:22)

Of those who shed innocent blood, a prophet declared: “The judgments which [God] shall exercise … in his wrath [shall] be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.’ (Alma 14:11)

 

Bishop Victor L. Brown,

in his talk about agency, says,

“May I restate part of President Young’s quotation: ‘When salvation is sent to me, I can reject or receive it. In receiving it, I yield implicit obedience and submission to its great Author throughout my life.’”

As members of the true church of Jesus Christ, we have made our choice. At baptism, we chose to follow, obey, and strive to become like Jesus Christ in everything we do. While the world is powerful in its enticings and counter-revolutions, we must remember our covenants and stand for the truth we have adopted and covenanted to uphold. Our agency and allegiance are now with Jesus Christ.

Each one of us will have our day to stand for truth. 

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

bore his powerful testimony of the Purifying Power of Gethsemane.

From Elder McConkie’s example, we too can boldly stand and testify using the very scriptures as our own words, for “they are now mine, for the Holy Spirit of God has borne witness to me that they are true, and it is now as though the Lord had revealed them to me in the first instance.”

“If we are to have faith like Enoch and Elijah, we must believe what they believed, know what they knew, and live as they lived. May I invite you to join with me in gaining a sound and sure knowledge of the Atonement. We must cast aside the philosophies of men and the wisdom of the wise and hearken to that Spirit which is given to us to guide us into all truth.”

My own invitation is to let go of those personal desires that hold us back. Instead, give our hearts to God and finally do His will in all things. We can never fear to stand for truth and speak up against the philosophies of men. May we be so comfortable with the scriptures that those words become our own. And may we come to know and love our Savior so we can happily and rightfully use our agency to obey His will.