By Ethan Thomas
Deseret NewsPublished: Monday, Sep. 8, 2008
PROVO, Utah -- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf presided over a multi-stake conference Sunday which filled the Marriott Center on the campus of Brigham Young University and was transmitted via satellite to 135 stakes throughout Utah and Wasatch counties.
Of the 135 stakes taking part in the conference, 22 were BYU stakes and three were Orem college stakes. Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the First Quorum of the Seventy conducted the conference and reminded the group that 135 was the same number of stakes that comprised the whole church in the 1940s.
President Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve both spoke and encouraged members to increase their personal faith and that of their families.
"This historic stake conference is an ideal time to relight the fire of personal conversion in your life," President Uchtdorf said. "Where do you individually stand in this process of becoming unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and living it? Where do you individually stand in this noble task of increasing your faith in Jesus Christ and in strengthening families?"
President Uchtdorf encouraged church members to share the joy of church membership with their siblings, children, spouses and friends. He also corrected those who imply that living church principles restricts lives.
"The commandments of God are not restrictions," President Uchtdorf said. "They are not a collection of 'thou shalt nots.' The commandments of God are part of the gospel of Jesus Christ and are there to provide you with a flight plan through life."
He also challenged young men to prepare for and serve missions, as opposed to buying big trucks with big tires. He joked that the truck is not a great investment anyway, and promised that the investment spent serving the Lord would benefit them them through the eternities.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency shows a copy of the missionary manual "Preach My Gospel" at a multi-stake conference Sunday. Photo: Michael Brandy, Deseret News
President Packer spoke of the intricacies of church communications and how technology, like the satellites used in the transmission of the stake conference, has eased missionary work and the organization of the church. But both President Packer and President Uchtdorf also recognized the way Satan has used technology to his benefit. Following the counsel of the scriptures and modern revelation will help church members make the right decisions.
"Don't be afraid," President Packer said. "Fear is the opposite of faith. Have faith, it is going to be alright."
Sister Ann M. Dibb of the Young Women's General Presidency spoke about recognizing real things that are promised from Heavenly father, and counterfeit promises that Satan uses to distract those who are seeking to do what's right.
Elder Jensen opened the meeting by sharing a problem that is found everywhere in the global church. As the church grows, it will continue to be challenged with members feeling that they are different and don't fit in the framework of the church, he said. The problem could stem from many things, ranging from race, same-gender attraction or even age, and Elder Jensen counseled members of the church to be more inclusive.
"May God bless us to realize that an important measure of if we are doing our best to come unto Christ is how we treat other people," he said. "I seriously doubt there will be anyone in the Celestial kingdom who isn't kind. And remember, we are all different in some ways."
E-mail: ethomas@desnews.com
MormonTimes.com is produced by the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah.
It is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Copyright © 2008 Deseret News Publishing Company
No comments:
Post a Comment