Stan Learns the Gospel: Saturday, October 31, 2029

Welcome to Stan Learns the Gospel and by gospel I mean the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Today I read and listened to a talk from the 2020 October General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I believe I have listened to the talk before, but today when I started to read it, the Spirit touched my heart and I realized the talk is a gift from God personally to me. I was able to liken much of the talk to myself and hope I can share that experience with you.

Keep the Change

The name of the talk is Keep the Change by Becky Craven, the second counselor in the Young Women's General Presidency. 

I am going to talk about the things I have learned or that have been strengthened and brought into focus by studying this talk. Probably 99% of the words are hers; I am simply likening them to myself. See 1 Nephi 19:23.

"Through Jesus Christ, [I am] given the strength to make lasting changes. As [I] humbly turn to Him, He will increase [my] capacity to change."

"He created the heavens, the earth, and all the beauty [I] enjoy. Through His loving Atonement, He provides a way for [me] to be redeemed from sin and death. As [I] show [my] gratitude to Him by living His commandments, He immediately blesses [me], leaving [me] always in His debt." See Mosiah 3:5-12.

"He gives [me] much, much more than the value of what [I] can ever return to Him. So, what can [I] give to Him, who paid the incalculable price for [my] sins? [I] can give Him [my] change. It may be a change of thought, a change in habit, or a change in the direction [I am] headed. In return for His priceless payment for [me], the Lord asks [me] for a change of heart. The change He requests from [me] is not for His benefit but for [mine]. So, unlike the purchaser at the market who would take back the change [I] offer, [my] gracious Savior beckons [me] to keep the change."

"'True conversion depends on seeking freely in faith, with great effort and some pain. Then it is the Lord who can grant … the miracle of cleansing and change.'" See We Must Raise Our Sights.  "Combining [my] effort with the Savior's ability to change [me], [I] become new [creature]."

"Jesus Christ has given [me] a continuous pattern for change. He invites [me] to exercise faith in Him, which inspires [me] to repent—'which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart.'" See Helaman 15:7. "As [I] repent and turn [my heart] to Him, [I] gain a greater desire to make and live sacred covenants. [I] endure to the end by continuing to apply these principles throughout [my life] and inviting the Lord to change [me]. Enduring to the end means changing to the end. I now understand that I am not starting over with each failed attempt, but that with each try, I am continuing my process of change."

This is very powerful to me as I struggle to change to be a better husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and uncle.

"'I cherish the gift of repentance and seek to improve each day.' See Young Women theme. "I pray that [I] do cherish this beautiful gift and that [I am] intentional in seeking change. ... [I] strive to refine [my] character to align [myself] with the attributes of Jesus Christ. [My] daily choices will either help or hinder [my] progress. Small but steady, deliberate changes will help [me] improve. [I will] not become discouraged. Change is a lifelong process. I am grateful that in [my] struggles to change, the Lord is patient with [me]."

It is hard for me to comprehend such patience, mercy and love.

"Through Jesus Christ, [I am] given the strength to make lasting changes. As [I] humbly turn to Him, He will increase [my] capacity to change."

"In addition to the transforming power of [my] Savior's Atonement, the Holy Ghost will support and guide [me] as [I] put forth [my] effort. He can even help [me] know what changes [I] need to make. [I] can also find help and encouragement through priesthood blessings, prayer, fasting, and attending the temple."

"The Savior can help [me] heal and change while surrounded by those who love [me]."

"As [I] travel the covenant path, sometimes [I] pick up [a stone] in [my shoe] in the form of poor habits, sins, or bad attitudes. The quicker [I] shake them from [my life], the more joyful [my] mortal journey will be."

Bad attitudes are something I really need to work on. 

"Maintaining change takes effort."

Scripture study is the critical part of this for me, it helps prayers and my repentance.

"I testify that because of Jesus Christ, [I] can change. [I] can adjust [my] habits, alter [my] thoughts, and refine [my] character to become more like [Jesus Christ]. And with His help, [I] can keep the change."

I do these things not of any worthiness of myself, but because of the worthiness that is in Christ. For "I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles [have been] wrought in [my life], for which [I] will praise his name forever.", see Alma 26:12.

Thanks Sister Craven for your wonderful talk.

Moving Forward by Russell M. Nelson, October 2020 General Conference

These are the notes that I have record as I have listened to Elder Nelson opening talk:

Grateful for the technology that let us be connected as one world wide gathering of disciples of Jesus Christ.

The General Conference last April was viewed by more people than any conference preceding it and we have every expectation that that will happen again.

Global pandemic

raging wildfires

other natural disasters

have turned our world upside down

I grieve with each of you who have lost a loved one in this time and I pray for all who are currently suffering.

Meanwhile the work of the Lord is steadily moving forward amid social distancing, face masks, and Zoom meetings.

We have learned to do some things differently and even some things more effectively.

Unusual times can bring unusual rewards.

Our missionaries and mission leaders have been resourceful, resilient and truly remarkable. Although most missionaries have had to find new and create ways to do their work, some missions are doing more teaching than ever.

We had to close temples for a time and some construction projects were briefly delayed. But they are all now moving forward.

In the calendar year 2020, we will have broken ground for 20 new temples. Family history work has increased exponentially. Many new wards and stakes have been created. And we are gratified to report that the Church has provided pandemic humanitarian aid for 895 projects in 150 countries.

Increased gospel study in many homes is resulting in stronger testimonies and family relationships.

One mother wrote: We feel much closer to our children and grandchildren now that we gather on Zoom every Sunday. Each takes a turn on giving their thoughts on 'Come Follow Me'. Prayers for our family members have changed because we better understand what they need.

I pray that we as a people are using this unique time to grow spiritually. 

We are here on earth to be tested. To see if we will choose to follow Jesus Christ. To repent regularly, to learn and to progress. Our spirits long to progress and we do that best by staying firmly on the covenant path.

Through it all our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ, love us, They care for us, They and their holy angels are watching over us. I know that is true.

{And I feel that is true.}

As we gather to hear the words the Lord has inspirited His servants to deliver, I invite you to ponder a promise the Lord made. He declared that, whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunny and the wiles of the devil and lead the disciple of Christ in a straight and narrow course. See Helaman 3:29.

I pray that you will choose to lay hold upon the word of God as it is declared during the General Conference. And I pray that you may feel the Lords perfect love for you

{ I feel it for me and those whom I serve.}

In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Stan's 190 General Conference Review: Saturday Morning Session, October 3, 2020

 There is so much to learn from General Conference and I don't feel like I am learning what I truly need to learn or obtaining the true benefits for the conference that my Father wants me to have. Therefore, in an effort to try to truly listen to and understand the servants for God, I am doing a review of this past conference. I am of hope that this review might be of some small benefit to my children, grandchildren, family, and those I love; however, the true desire and objective is that it is of benefit to me and that it changes me. This is my hope and my desire, so to that end I will be begin.

The Saturday Morning Session, begin October 3 at 10 AM EST. I was unable to listen as it happened, but have listen to this conference more than once. However, listen it to it several times is not what I truly need, I need to study it. So to this end I am writing down what I have been listening to.

The opening song was Hymn number 4, "Truth Eternal" by Parley P. Pratt, one of the original apostles that served with Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.  This is one of my favorite Hymns of the restoration and to me shows the profound understand that Elder Pratt had of the restoration.

This session of the conference was conducted by President Henry B. Eyring, second councilor in the First Presidency and was presided over by President Russell M. Nelson who as also the first speaker.

The next song song was Hymn number 72, "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty", this hymn was translated from another language. However, I know nothing about directly about those involved in its coming forth or coming into English. It is from the 1600 hundreds.

These songs had been sung at earlier conference and was lead by difference conductors and organist.

Elder Patrick Kirin gave the opening prayer

He prayed for those who feel marginalized or lost. He also prayed for civility in public life. He said, "...humbly acknowledge that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, joyfully lived, is the answer to all ills."

The first speaker of the conference, as mentioned earlier, was President Russell M. Nelson of the First Presidency of the Church.

His talk was "Moving Forward." Seems a very appropriate title for someone who is doing so much in their nineties.

Here is a link to my review of his talk: "Moving Forward" by Russell M. Nelson. Here I will only go over the highlights and my feeling about what he said.

First he talk about being "grateful for the technology" and I must agree, I also am amazed by the technology that made this conference possible and make it possible for me to study it in the way I am.

The next point that really catches my attention is his feeling for those who are suffering, particularly because of COVID-19.

He talk about the challenges and said that despite the difficulties, as a Church, we are moving forward.

This talk has a talk which I hope to learn both in Spanish and in English:

"Unusual time can bring unusual rewards."

I feel like this is for me. These are definitely some "unusual times" in my life which leads me to wonder what "unusual rewards" await?

"In the calendar year 2020, we will have broken ground for 20 new temples." This is a true sign that Church is healthy and growing, especially is ways that are spiritual.

"Increased gospel study in many homes is resulting in stronger testimonies and family relationships."

Do we have "increased gospel study in [our home]" and is this resulting in stronger testimonies and family relationships"? I don't think that my family fits the description that President Nelson gave in his talk. However, perhaps I can learn from their example and bring some of those blessing to my family.

He is praying that we will use this "unique time to grow spiritually." "We are here on earth to be tested to see if we will choose to follow Jesus Christ." We are to here to "repent regularly, to learn and to progress. He taught me that "[my spirit longs] to progress and [I] do that best by staying firmly on the covenant path." This is part of what I hope this review will do.

Thanks to his talk, I feel more that my "Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ, love me. That is a sweet and much need blessing for me. I also feel "they are [caring] for me" and that "They and their holy angles are watching over [me]" and my family.

I am pondering a promise of the Lord that President Nelson shared, "whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunny and the wiles of the devil and lead the disciple of Christ in a straight and narrow course." See Helaman 3:29.

I feel this is true and hope to "choose to lay hold upon the word of God as it is declared" in this conference and to "feel the Lords perfect love for [me]."

We Will Prove The Herewith

David A. Bendar

"I pray for the assistance of the Holy Ghost" to help me understand as Elder Bednar "[shares] the thoughts and feelings that have come to [his] mind and heart" as he "[prepared] for [the] general conference."

The Importance of Tests

He spent two decades helping "students learn how to learn for themselves." I have never thought of this as the "primary responsibility" of a teacher, but now that I hear it said in this way, it makes sense.

If "periodic tests absolutely are essential to learning," how does this apply in my personal, family, and professional life? What "effective [tests]" or standards do I need to "evaluate [my] learning and development" against.

"the word test is not found even one time in the scriptural text of the standard works."

How do I "[demonstrate appropriately my] spiritual knowledge about, understanding of, and devotion to [my] Heavenly Father's eternal plan of happiness and [my capacity to seek for the blessings of the Savior's Atonement."?

Scriptures involving words prove, examine, and try.

Abraham 3:25

Psalm 26:2-3

Doctrine and Covenants 98:14

Present-Day Proving and Trying

Am I and my family "learning the valuable lessons that only challenging experiences can teach us"? Do I "more fully acknowledge the 'greatness of God' and the truth that 'he shall consecrate [my] afflictions for [my] gain"?

2 Nephi 2:2

How effectively am I employing the principles of "preparation" and "pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ"?

2 Nephi 31:20

Proving and Preparation

Doctrine and Covenants 88:119

Doctrine and Covenants 38:30–31

"These scriptures provide a perfect framework..."

"Follow the example of the Savior.."

Luke 2:52

"...a blended balance of intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social readiness."

"...preparing for unforeseen challenges"

"The consistency of prophetic counsel over time creates a powerful concert of clarity and a warning volume far louder than solo performances can ever produce."

Matthew 25:3–4, 6–11

Matthew 25:12

James 1:22–25

Sam's pattern of study

"Effective and timely preparation precedes successful proving."

"...one of the Lord's primary patterns for growth and development"

2 Nephi 28:30

How can I "consider [my] ways" and "examine [myself], whether [I] be in the faith; [and] prove [my] own [self]?

Haggai 1:5, 7

2 Corinthians 13:5

"What do [i] need to improve in [my life] spiritually, physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually?"

Proving and Pressing Forward

Father of lost young missionary son.

"We are all in."

Doctrine and Covenants 105:6

"Faithfulness is not foolishness or fanaticism. Rather, it is trusting and placing our confidence in Jesus Christ as our Savior, on His name, and in His promises."

2 Nephi 31:20

Doctrine and Covenants 101:22

Doctrine and Covenants 87:8

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"“We are witnessing an ever greater movement toward polarity. The middle-ground options will be removed from us as Latter-day Saints. The middle of the road will be withdrawn.

“If you are treading water in the current of a river, you will go somewhere. You simply will go wherever the current takes you. Going with the stream, following the tide, drifting in the current will not do.

“Choices have to be made. Not making a choice is a choice. Learn to choose now.”

Promise and Testimony

I promise that as we both prepare and press forward with faith in the Savior, we all can receive the same grade on the ultimate examination of mortality: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Matthew 25:21

{I will add to this review as I am able.}

A Wonderful 190 Semi Annual Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

An absolutely amazing conference. I have been uplifted and inspired.

Really love the talk by the apostle Dale G. Renlund.

He talk about Micah 6:6-8, where Micah the prophet talks about thousands of rams sacrificed, or ten thousands of rivers of oil, or giving his first born to satisfy for his sins. But the Lord wants none of those things. The Lord wants us to "do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God". Of ourselves we are not enough to answer for our sins, but when we "do justly" we keep the first two great commandments to love God and our fellow man (see Mark 12:30),  we come unto Christ and With Christ we are enough.

Elder Renlund talk about Christ teaching the Nephies about coming to Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (see 3 Nephi 12:19).

Brother Renlund talk about "joyfully repenting" and about how God loves mercy. I felt impressed that God extends that mercy to me and I need to "joyfully repent".

Elder Renlund told the story of Hillel the elder who was challenged by a student to explain the scriptures and torah while standing on one foot. Hillel answered the students chanllenge and while standing on one foot Hillel quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5, that we should "love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might". Then Hillel talk about not mistreating others and quoted from Leviticus 19:18 that we should "love thy neighbour as thyself" . I was impressed that we are to deal lovingly with one another. I believe this especially applies within our family. I believe we have an obligation as children to understand the gospel so we can share that with our parents and be more effective in communicating with them by the power of the Spirit.

Brother Renlund told about a doctor who gave an assignment to a young doctor to take care of a man who had made himself sick through alcoholism. When the young doctor complained that this was a difficult task for someone who had made themselves sick. The senior doctor said that the young doctor was there to heal and not to judge and that if she couldn't understand that she need to go somewhere else.

Elder Renlund talked about how Jesus cared for the people who others didn't want to care for, like sinners and publicans. People that offended the Pharisees and Sadducees of His day. He said that Christ was offended by their judging of others and that we should not judge anyone because of their race, sexual orientation, etc.

We should ask "I'm I doing enough?" and should act and not be paralyzed by fear. We are able to assess our own progress.

He then talk about the great blessings and ended by saying, "Don't you love it?".

I do love it and am very grateful for Elder Renlund's words.

Below is the video I created for the talk.