A day after addressing timely topics ranging from racism to the recession and politics to the pandemic, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will return Sunday for the final two sessions of the faith’s 190th Semiannual General Conference.
The all-virtual gathering, taking place under the direction of church President Russell M. Nelson, is being broadcast around the world from a theater in downtown Salt Lake City’s Conference Center.
10:55 a.m.: Resist bad thoughts, apostle Soares counsels
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Apostle Ulisses Soares urged Latter-day Saints not to yield to temptation and resist when “inappropriate thoughts may penetrate our mind.”
“When such thoughts are permitted and even invited to stay, they can shape the desires of our heart and lead us to what we will become in this life and eventually to what we will inherit for eternity,” he said. "...When we resist the little temptations, which often come unexpectedly in our life, we are better equipped to avoid serious transgressions.”
Soares compared “yielding to temptation” to “approaching a magnet with a metal object.”
“The magnet loses its power over it only when the metal object is placed far from it,” the native Brazilian said. “Therefore, just as the magnet is unable to exercise power over a faraway metal object, as we resist temptation, it fades away and loses its power over our mind and heart, and consequently, over our actions.”
10:40 a.m.: Trials can build faith, says Primary leader
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Lisa L. Harkness, first counselor in the general presidency of the children’s Primary, spoke about maintaining faith in the face of challenges.
“Recent events around the globe and in our nations, communities and families have buffeted us with unforeseen trials. In times of turmoil, our faith can feel stretched to the limits of our endurance and understanding,” said Harkness, the first woman to speak Sunday and the fifth to speak during this conference (three of them in Saturday’s women’s session). “Waves of fear can distract us, causing us to forget God’s goodness, thus leaving our perspective shortsighted and out of focus.”
Yet, these “rough stretches of our journey” can not only try faith, but also fortify it, she said. “Regardless of our circumstances, we can intentionally make efforts to build and increase our faith in Jesus Christ. It is strengthened when we remember that we are children of God and that he loves us.”
Faith grows as believers “experiment on the word of God with hope and diligence, trying our very best to follow Christ’s teachings,” Harkness said. “Our faith increases as we choose to believe rather than doubt, forgive rather than judge, repent rather than rebel. Our faith is refined as we patiently rely on the merits and mercy and grace of the holy Messiah.”
She encouraged listeners to rejoice even while enduring trials, she said, because Jesus “is keenly aware of our troubles, cares and sorrows.”
10:25 a.m.: Prayer can get us through, Ballard says
Russell M. Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, called on people of all faiths to “pray for your country and for your national leaders.”
“No matter how you pray or to whom you pray, please exercise your faith — whatever your faith may be,” Ballard said, adding, “We stand today at a major crossroads in history, and the nations of the earth are in desperate need of divine inspiration and guidance.”
He spoke of the pandemic, economic upheaval, peaceful protests and angry riots, but said, “This is not about politics or policy. This is about peace and the healing that can come to individual souls as well as to the soul of countries.”
As to the coronavirus, the 91-year-old apostle said “prayer will influence scientists and help them toward discoveries of vaccines and medications that will end this pandemic.”
“The best way to help the current world situation is for all people to rely more fully upon God and to turn their hearts to him through sincere prayer,” Ballard said. "Humbling ourselves and seeking heaven’s inspiration to endure or conquer what is before us will be our safest and surest way to move confidently forward through these troubling times.”
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October 04, 2020 at 10:01PM
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