Talks
There were 38 talks given.
3 by the Prophet.
4 by the other members of the First Presidency.
12 by Apostles.
19 by others.
Scriptures
There were 441 scriptures quoted; that compares to 344 at the last conference.
Broken down by books of scripture:
Book of Mormon 148
New Testament 117
Doctrine & Covenants 102
Old Testament 52
Pearl of Great Price 22
Total 441
Frequency Distribution:
1 scripture was quoted 5 times.
3 scriptures were quoted 4 times.
9 scriptures were quoted 3 times.
42 scriptures were quoted 2 times.
268 scriptures were quoted 1 time
Isn’t that an amazing fact, played out conference after conference, that out of the 441 scriptures quoted, 268 of them were only quoted by one speaker? Out of 38 talks there is that little repetition in the use of the scriptures!
Average number of scriptures quoted by speaker: 12
Speakers quoting the most scriptures: Nelson - 68; Hales - 38; Condie - 38; Uchtdorf - 33; Bednar - 25; Packer - 23; Holland - 23; Wirthlin – 20
The scripture quoted 5 times:
John 17:3
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
The 3 scriptures quoted 4 times:
D&C 14:7
7 And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.
D&C 50:14
14 To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth.
D&C 121:45
45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
Subjects
There were 35 main subjects addressed:
3 speakers addressed:
Gospel Principles (DFU; WG; TSM)
Missionary Work (MRB; EK; LTP)
2 speakers addressed:
Holy Ghost (KH; HBE)
Priesthood (HBE; TSM)
Procrastination (DH; CC)
Service (MT; SS)
Testimony (EF; DC)
1 speaker addressed:
Activation (MC)
Anger (GBH)
Atonement (DAB)
Blessings (SC)
Book of Mormon (CG)
Broken Heart (BP)
Charity (JBW)
Choices (DHO)
Church Membership (BKP)
Church Welfare (RE)
Conference (DBH)
Faith (QLC)
Family (MC)
Godhead (JRH)
Jesus Christ (JRH)
Joseph Smith (BBH)
Love (TSM)
Mothers (JB)
Pornography (WC)
Purity (DAB)
Restoration (GBH)
Revelation (RDH)
Sacrament (CG)
Salvation (CV)
Scriptures (RMN)
Teaching (DJ)
Temples (OT)
Truth (RDS)
Talks of Especial Note
Julie Beck; Mothers Who Know
Henry B. Eyring; God Helps the Faithful Priesthood Holder
David A. Bednar; Clean Hands & a Pure Heart
Dallin H. Oaks; Good, Better Best
Jefferey R. Holland; The Only True God & Jesus Christ
Keith Hilbig; Quench Not the Spirit That Quickens
Erick Kopischke; Preach My Gospel - Unifying Tool
Lists
My favorite part of conference is compiling lists that were given. There are many in every conference and they help me to focus on the messages. I extract them without all the explanations and accompanying data because:
a) I can look it up in the talk if I want.
b) I can use them to prepare talks.
c) I use them to ponder.
d) I use them as an outline for further study and research.
e) I use them to stimulate my memory to add information to my journal and personal history.
f) Its a lot of fun.
Here are 10 of the 48 lists I extracted from this conference:
From bearing one another’s burdens as ward members, we have learned several lessons:
- Lord’s organization fully adequate to know & care for those with most dire emotional and spiritual needs.
- Adversity can bring us closer to God …
- Members who suffer tragedy firsthand often experience an increased capacity for love, compassion, and understanding.
- A ward [or family] draws closer together as it endures together—what happens to one happens to all.
- [Most important] We can each be more compassionate and caring because we have each had our own personal trials and experiences to draw from.
We can endure together.
(Richard Edgely)
3 things To Give One Assurance & Guidance When Facing An Overwhelming Calling:
(The message may come in words to your mind or in a felling or both.”)
- First, the assurance will come from a memory of times Heavenly Father has helped you through dangers and difficulties.
- The second part of the message you will receive as you pray for help in facing a hard assignment.
- The third and final message you can watch for when you pray for help in a hard priesthood assignment is this one—I got this one as well—go to work.
(Henry B. Eyring)
We determine the level of our current personal contribution by examining our present choices and priorities against questions such as these:
- Do I spend more time with sports than Church attendance or callings?
- If I have a free day, do I choose to attend the temple or to visit the mall?
- Do I resort to computer games or surfing the Internet rather than offering meaningful service to others in my home and community?
- Do I read the newspaper religiously but find it difficult to read the scriptures daily?
(Keith Hilbig)
Enduring to the end implies:
- “patient continuance in well doing”
(Dieter F. Uchtdorf)
Paul counseled with these four simple words:
- Quench
- not
- the
- Spirit
(Keith Hilbig)
When we invite the Holy Ghost:
- He will fill our minds with light and knowledge
- He will “quicken" us, that is to say, enlightens and enlivens the inner man or woman
- We notice a measurable difference in our soul
- We feel strengthened
- We are filled with peace and joy
- We possess spiritual energy
- We Possess enthusiasm
- We enhance our natural abilities
- We can accomplish more than we otherwise could do on our own
- We yearn to become a holier person
(Keith Hilbig)
I have felt to provide each member of the Relief Society throughout the world three goals to meet:
- Study diligently.
- Pray earnestly.
- Serve willingly.
(Thomas S. Monson)
Four of the most beautiful words in holy writ:
- “And
- God
- remembered
- Rachel”
(Genesis 30:22).
(Spencer Condie)
Examples of small acts of service that can lift and bless another:
- a question concerning a person’s family
- quick words of encouragement
- a sincere compliment
- a small note of thanks
- a brief telephone call
(Thomas S. Monson)
Women excel in living and sharing their testimonies of the Lord Jesus Christ and His restored gospel as we:
- Make and keep covenants with Him.
- Are worthy and worship in His temples
- Study His doctrine in the scriptures and the words of prophets
- Qualify for, recognize, and follow the Holy Ghost
- Share and defend His gospel
- Participate in sincere personal and family prayer
- Have family home evening
- Live principles of self-reliance and provident living
(Julie Beck)
Quotes
Lastly, here are my favorite Top Ten quotes from conference (this was very hard to narrow down but by the technique of paired comparison sampling I did it. Actually I could only narrow it to the Top Twenty-Five.):
Adversity
The same happens in our lives. We don’t know when or how earthquakes will hit us. They likely won’t be literal shakings of the earth, as happened in Peru, but rather quakes of temptations, sin, or trials, such as unemployment or serious sickness. Today is the time to prepare for when that type of quake comes. Today is the time to prepare—not during the crisis. What are we doing today to engraven in our souls the gospel principles that will uphold us in times of adversity?
(Walter Gonzalez)
Book of Mormon
The Bible had stood for centuries. It is a precious and wonderful book. Now there was a second witness declaring the divinity of Christ. The Book of Mormon is the only book ever published, of which I know, that carries in it a promise that one who reads it prayerfully and asks concerning it in prayer will have revealed to him by the power of the Holy Ghost a knowledge that it is true (see Moroni 10:4).
(Gordon B. Hinckley)
Children
Children are generally very accepting of their parents and the mistakes parents make. They often forgive, forget, and move on much more quickly than adults do. Don’t feel guilty. Apologize when you have made a mistake. Seek the child’s forgiveness. Change your ways and move on.
(Barbara Thompson)
Children
Remember that it takes a lot of patience to raise a child. As precious as they are, children can be exasperating, frustrating, and sometimes even naughty. It takes a tremendous amount of patience and restraint in order to avoid doing or saying things we will later regret. Sometimes parents need to put themselves in “time-out” in order to avoid making serious mistakes. Removing yourself from the room for a minute in order to regain control is often very helpful.
(Barbara Thompson)
Church Welfare
At the final day the Savior will not ask about the nature of our callings. He will not inquire about our material possessions or fame. He will ask if we ministered to the sick, gave food and drink to the hungry, visited those in prison, or gave succor to the weak. When we reach out to assist the least of Heavenly Father’s children, we do it unto Him. That is the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(Joseph B. Wirthlin)
Conference
All of the proceedings of this conference will appear in a subsequent issue of the Ensign and Liahona. We encourage you again to read the talks in your family home evenings and discuss them together as families. They are the products of much prayer and meditation and are well worthy of careful consideration.
(Gordon B. Hinckley)
Decision Making
Increasingly more people are finding that making wise decisions is becoming more and more difficult because of the ultra-interconnected world in which we live. Constantly forced into our consciousness is an incessant barrage of counsel, advice, and promotions. It is done by a bewildering array of media, Internet, and other means. On a given subject we can receive multiple strongly delivered, carefully crafted messages with solutions. But often two of the solutions can be diametrically opposed. No wonder some are confused and are not sure how to make the right decisions.
(Richard G. Scott)
Decision Making
To further complicate matters, others try to persuade us that our decisions must be socially acceptable and politically correct. Some pondering of that approach will reveal how wrong it is. Since social and political structures differ widely over the world and can dramatically change with time, the folly of using that method to make choices is apparent.
(Richard G. Scott)
Divine Assistance
The possibility of an earthquake was always there. When or how it would hit no one knew. When it came, it was devastating. But under the direction of the priesthood, the moment’s challenge was faced. In many cases, when members were unable, the Lord made up the difference. Some members tell of seeing men in white helping to save their lives. Others heard guiding voices. Years of Church service were a preparatory school to becoming organized and helping one another.
(Walter Gonzalez)
Family
In choosing how we spend time as a family, we should be careful not to exhaust our available time on things that are merely good and leave little time for that which is better or best… Super family activities may be good for children, but they are not always better than one-on-one time with a loving parent.
(Dallin H. Oaks)
Family
The amount of children-and-parent time absorbed in the good activities of private lessons, team sports, and other school and club activities also needs to be carefully regulated. Otherwise, children will be overscheduled, and parents will be frazzled and frustrated.
(Dallin H. Oaks)
Family
Families mean work, but they are our great work—and we are not afraid of work. This is what we do best; no one does families better than the sisters of this Relief Society. We uphold, nourish, and protect them.
(Julie Beck)
Family
Satan is working overtime to attack the family. He tells us that marriage is not important, that children do not need a father and a mother, and that strong families are not important. He tells us that moral values are old-fashioned and silly. When challenges come, Satan tells us to abandon our beliefs and go with the ways of the world. He entices us with fame and fortune and tells us where to find the easy life. He attacks our faith in God and tries to discourage even the strongest and most loving families. Satan is delighted when we give in—even just a little.
(Barbara Thompson)
First Vision
At no other time of which we have any record have God our Eternal Father and His Beloved Son, the risen Lord, appeared on earth together.
At the time of the baptism of Jesus by John in the river Jordan, the voice of God was heard, but He was not seen. At the Mount of Transfiguration, again the voice of God was heard, but there is no record of His appearance. Stephen saw the Lord on the right hand of the Father, but They did not address or instruct him.
Following His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to the Nephites in the Western Hemisphere. The voice of the Almighty was heard three times, introducing the risen Christ, but there was no appearance of the Father.
How truly remarkable was that vision in the year 1820 when Joseph prayed in the woods and there appeared before him both the Father and the Son. One of these spoke to him, calling him by name and, pointing to the other, said, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:17).
Nothing like it had ever happened before. One is led to wonder why it was so important that both the Father and the Son appear. I think it was because They were ushering in the dispensation of the fulness of times, the last and final dispensation of the gospel, when there would be gathered together in one the elements of all previous dispensations. This was to be the final chapter in the long chronicle of God’s dealing with men and women upon the earth.
(Gordon B. Hinckley)
Free Agency
Let us decide together what we are going to do. All of us, whatever our callings may be, face tasks that are beyond our own powers. I do and you do. That’s true from the simple fact that success is to get testimony down into the hearts of people. We can’t make that happen. Even God won’t force that on anyone.
So success requires people we serve to choose to accept the testimony of the Spirit into their hearts. The Spirit is ready. But many people aren’t ready to invite the Spirit. Our task, which is in our power, is to invite the Spirit into our lives so that people we serve will want to have the fruits of the Spirit in their lives—the fruits that they can see in ours.
(Henry B. Eyring)
Holy Ghost
We dare not hinder, disregard, or quench the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Yet when it comes to drawing upon the promptings and the blessings which flow from the Holy Ghost, we often "live far beneath our privileges."
(Keith Hilbig)
Journals
Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children? I will do that. And then I will find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those that I love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him.
(Henry B. Eyring)
Love
Love is the beginning, the middle, and the end of the pathway of discipleship. It comforts, counsels, cures, and consoles. It leads us through valleys of darkness and through the veil of death. In the end love leads us to the glory and grandeur of eternal life.
(Joseph B. Wirthlin)
Missionary Work
I have found that most people will not read or focus on more than just a few important facts at one time.
(M. Russell Ballard)
Prayer
But be prepared to lose track of time as you pray.
(Henry B. Eyring)
Priorities
Recognize the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives.
(Dallin H. Oaks)
Revelation
We prepare to receive personal revelation as the prophets do, by studying the scriptures, fasting, praying, and building faith. Faith is the key.
(Robert D. Hales)
Scriptures
Let us search the scriptures with pen in hand, making note of new insights and recording spiritual promptings.
(Keith Hilbig)
Teaching
Just as I learned as a young man that grain was more appealing to our horses than a dirt-filled bucket, I also learned that grain was more nourishing than hay, that hay was more nourishing than straw, and that it was possible to feed a horse without nourishing him.
(Daniel Judd)
Testimony
If you want to know that you know that you know, a price must be paid. And you alone must pay that price. There are proxies for ordinances, but none for the acquisition of a testimony.
(Douglas Callister)
