This time around, I found some meaningful patterns in the messages. Keeping in mind that everyone notices different things depending on the Spirit's guidance, here are some of my takeaways.
Lead with Love
- President Uchtdorf asked us to motivate people (including ourselves) using the pure love of Christ instead of using fear. We are to follow the Savior's own example of encouraging people to keep his commandments. "If ye love me, keep my commandments," and not "if ye fear me."
- Elder Christofferson followed up by asking us not to create a shame culture or a guilt culture when we call people to repentance. He said that to warn people, which would seem to use fear, is actually to care about people. When we warn of consequences, we should do it out of love for our neighbor. The admonition in D&C 121:41 about the gentleness of our power came up several times during conference.
- Elder Palmer used the scriptural example of the rich young man asking Christ what more he could do. "Then Jesus beholding him loved him," and asked him to change and improve. His call to repentance was born out of love--and out of beholding him, which was explained by...
- President Eyring in both the women's session and the priesthood session as he emphasized the divine identities of the people around us. In the women's session, he shared a parenting experience when the Spirit told him his son was a great person, and that experience led President Eyring to be more gentle. He treated his son with even more love.
Leading with love is one way to become like God. As He mentors us, we can mentor others. We are all placed in our own human orbit, where God has given us specific individuals to mentor and to serve. In my own circumstances, I am keenly aware of the people He wants me to love, and I am also keenly aware that I should be doing that loving work better. Therefore, I am adding a special prayer every day to be filled with the pure love of Christ.
Look unto Christ in Every Thought
- President Nelson encouraged us to take on the mentally rigorous practice of looking unto Christ in every thought (D&C 6:36). He explained how he is trying to do that by studying Christ in the Bible's Topical Guide (the President Nelson challenge that I have been writing about). He clarified that we should not speak of the Atonement or the Resurrection, which were just events, without tying them to Jesus Christ, who is our actual Savior. President Nelson also invited us to study "The Living Christ."
- Elder Ballard also encouraged us to study "The Living Christ."
- Elder Bragg said that we all have an inherent inclination toward light. He also said that the light of Christ is in all things. From these statements, I infer that we can look unto Christ by seeking out His light around us. I can search for evidence of Christ's love and power in the beauty of the world and in the beauty of his disciples.
- Elder Choi warned that, when we seek the light of Christ, we should not look around but look up. He emphasized again that we should look up to Christ in every thought. Looking around suggests having a narrow perspective and caring about the opinions of the Babylon. Looking up, in contrast, suggests that we have Christ and his goals in mind while we dwell here in Babylon. Looking up, I imagine, will lead us to serve and "heed them not."
- Elder Oaks said that the effort to know God continues well beyond the veil of death. While we can begin to know Christ, and the Father whom he represents, we will learn more as we live with him.
- Elder Costa taught us that nothing draws us closer to Christ than the desire to change. That desire is our part of the repentance process. As a person who loves to improve, I hope that love is drawing me closer to my Savior.
Clearly, I need to study "The Living Christ" as I continue President Nelson's challenge. I will also seek more of Christ's light and love in everything that I do. All that I am and all that I do should serve Christ in some way, and I need to focus on that important relationship as I go about my day every day.
Align Your Goals with God's Goals
- From Elder Ballard, I learned that God is a being of goals. He has goals for His kingdom, and He has goals for me. The most important goals He has set are for us to (1) return to Him and to (2) receive His exaltation, or all that He is and has. Elder Ballard encouraged us, as he has before, to have a personal progress interview with ourselves to evaluate how we are working to reach those goals. In particular, we should strive to realign our goals with God's goals, as can be found when we study His plan of happiness, when we study about Christ, and when we study about families.
- Elder Hales reminded us that discipleship is really apprenticeship. We are learning to become like God. Therefore, we should set similar goals to the ones God has set. He gave examples of goals, like crossing the road for anyone in need, living in moderation, and learning from all our experiences. When we have goals like God's, we begin to become like God.
- Elder Sabin encouraged us to "be all in," and to go beyond the minimum requirements of the gospel. He made me want to do good things like a boss (and I always imagine Leslie Knope and her enthusiastic drive when I think of being a boss).
- Elder Rasband told us what to do when God alerts us of His plan through a prompting. He said that we are to be First Responders, to arrive with lights flashing the instant God asks us to do something specific.
- Elder L. Whitney Clayton shared two similar responses from Mary in the scriptures, "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And, "Whatsoever he asks of thee, do it."
- Elder Bragg, as mentioned before, taught that the light of Christ is in all things. It gives life and purpose to all we do. As I plan my activities, I should seek the light of Christ in all that I do. I can find a way to build up the kingdom of God in every task.
No comments:
Post a Comment