This is a General Conference Odyssey post for the October 2006, Saturday Afternoon session of conference. 

 

A while ago, I read an article by Elder David A. Bednar on how to study and teach conference talks. As usual, I thought his words were gold. So, I’m going to incorporate them in this (and maybe every) conference report. He said to look for the Doctrine, the Invitation, and the Promise in every talk. Each talk really does have these three elements.

 

Robert D. Hales – Holy Scriptures: The Power of God unto Our Salvation

Doctrine—”The scriptures are essential in receiving a testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. These sacred records bear testimony of the Savior and lead us to Him.” 

Invitation—”As with voices from the dust, the prophets of the Lord cry out to us on earth today: take hold of the scriptures! Cling to them, walk by them, live by them, rejoice in them, feast on them. Don’t nibble. … If you have not heard His voice speaking to you lately, return with new eyes and new ears to the scriptures. They are our spiritual lifeline.”

Promise—”Like those in 1 Nephi, the true and faithful will be able to withstand the fiery darts of the adversary when he is loosed upon this earth. Despite all the turmoil in the world, when the Savior comes to His temple, as He did in the Book of Mormon, those who are true and faithful will be there. May we be among them.”

 

Joseph B. Wirthlin – Sunday Will Come – Resurrection

Doctrine—”We know what the Resurrection is—the reuniting of the spirit and body in its perfect form. The Resurrection is at the core of our beliefs as Christians. When Christ rose from the grave, becoming the firstfruits of the Resurrection, He made that gift available to all.”

Invitation—“May we understand and live in thanksgiving for the priceless gifts that come to us as sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father.

Promise—“No matter how dark our Friday, Sunday will come. We will all rise from the grave. And on that day my father will embrace my mother. On that day I will once again hold in my arms my beloved Elisa. On that day we will rejoice that the Messiah overcame all that we could live forever.”

 

Elaine S. Dalton – Look Toward Eternity! – Worthiness

Doctrine–”To become worthy, we make choices that will enable us to return to our Heavenly Father’s presence. To become unspotted from the world requires not only faith but repentance and obedience.”

Invitation–“Always live in such a way that when you need the Lord’s blessings, you can call upon Him and receive them because you are worthy. There will come times in your life when you will need immediate blessings. You will need to live in such a way that they will be granted—not out of mercy but because you are worthy.”

Promise–”When we are worthy, we can not only enter the temple, the temple can enter us. The Lord’s promises of salvation and happiness become ours—and our earthly mission becomes His.”

 

Shayne M. Bowen – The Atonement Can Clean, Reclaim, and Sanctify Our Lives

Doctrine–“Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement. Infinite means—total, complete, all, forever.”

Invitation–”The Atonement of Jesus Christ is available to each of us. His Atonement is infinite. It applies to everyone, even you. It can clean, reclaim, and sanctify even you.  

Promise–“There is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no apostasy, no crime exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. That is the promise of the atonement of Christ” (Boyd K. Packer).

 

Daniel L. Johnson – The Law of Tithing

Doctrine—“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house.” 

Invitation—”Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Promise—“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields, saith the Lord of Hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts” (Malachi 3:10-12).

 

Dieter F. Uchtdorf – The Power of a Personal Testimony

Doctrine–”A testimony is the sure knowledge or assurance from the Holy Ghost of the truth and divinity of the Lord’s work in these latter days. A testimony is the abiding, living, [and] moving conviction of the truths revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Marion G. Romney).

Invitation–“Every Latter-day Saint has the responsibility to know for himself or herself with a certainty beyond doubt that Jesus is the resurrected, living Son of the living God” (Gordon B. Hinckley).

Promise–”Our personal testimony is a protective shield, and like an iron rod it is guiding us safely through darkness and confusion.”

 

Richard G. Scott – The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness

Doctrine—Elder Scott’s beautiful explanation about justice, mercy, and why the need for an atonement (found in the middle of this talk). 

Invitation—”Trust in the Lord. Ask to be led by the Spirit to know His will. Be willing to accept it. You should conscientiously study the Atonement to understand it as well as you can.”

Promise—”The secure anchors of His laws will assure safety and success as you scale the challenges you will face. You will not fall into serious transgression. Yours will be a life of peace and happiness crowned with exaltation in the celestial kingdom.”

 

Other General Conference Odyssey posts:

Sunday will come by Rozy

Willingly allow him to lead you by Marilyn

The Gentle Light of an Easter Dawn by Nathaniel