It is time for Mom and I to go on the cruise so I thought that I had best get this done before we left.

Elder Dieter T Uchtdorf

Our firm personal testimony will motivate us to change ourselves and then bless the world.

Our motives and thoughts ultimately influence our actions. The testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is the most powerful motivating force in our lives.

For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the term testimony is a warm and familiar word in our religious expressions. It is tender and sweet. It has always a certain sacredness about it. When we talk about testimony, we refer to feelings of our heart and mind rather than an accumulation of logical, sterile facts. It is a gift of the Spirit, a witness from the Holy Ghost that certain concepts are true.

As we acquire a deeper knowledge of these truths and of the plan of salvation by the power and the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can come to "know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:5).

How Do We Get a Testimony?
No good thing comes without effort and sacrifice. If we have to work hard to obtain a testimony, it will make us and our testimony even stronger. And if we share our testimony, it will grow.
President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Every Latter-day Saint has the responsibility to know for himself or herself with a certainty beyond doubt that Jesus is the resurrected, living Son of the living God" ("Fear Not to Do Good," Ensign, May 1983, 80).
So how do we receive a personal testimony rooted in the witness of the Holy Ghost?
First: Desire to believe.
Second: Search the scriptures.
Third: Do the will of God; keep the commandments. Fourth: Ponder, fast, and pray.
Fourth: Ponder, fast, and pray.

Our personal testimony is a protective shield, and like an iron rod it is guiding us safely through darkness and confusion.

This is our time; these are our days. We are where the action is. Our firm personal testimony will motivate us to change ourselves and then bless the world.

I know that I need to have the shield of a strong testimony of the gospel. I also know that I have been motivated by my testimony since the time I made the decision that the Lord wanted me to go on a mission and serve others to strive to do what the Lord wants me to do. I find that as the years go by it is easy to say been there done that and to not have the fire of the gospel truth to burn as fervently as it once did. I pary that I will have the courage to endure to the end in the strength of my Lord

President James E Faust (Priesthood Session)
We need to increase our spiritual nutrients—nutrients that come from the knowledge of the fulness of the gospel and the powers of the holy priesthood.

Spiritual nourishment prepares us for baptism. This preparation includes humbling ourselves before God, having "broken hearts and contrite spirits," repenting of all our sins, being "willing to take upon [us] the name of Jesus Christ," and manifesting "by [our] works that [we] have received of the Spirit of Christ."
Our most important spiritual nutrient is a testimony that God is our Eternal Father, that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer, and that the Holy Ghost is our Comforter. This testimony is confirmed to us by the gift of the Holy Ghost. From this testimony we derive the spiritual nutrients of faith and trust in God, which bring forth the blessings of heaven. Spiritual nutrients come to us from various sources, but because of time constraints I would like to mention just three.

Some years ago a priests quorum decided to gather food for the needy as a service project. Jim, one of the priests, was excited to participate and was determined to collect more food than anyone else. The time arrived when the priests met at the chapel. They all went out at the same time and returned at a specified time later in the evening. To everyone's surprise, Jim's cart was empty. He seemed rather sober, and some of the boys made fun of him. Seeing this and knowing that Jim had an interest in cars, the adviser said, "Come outside, Jim. I want you to look at my car. It's giving me some trouble."
When they got outside, the adviser asked Jim if he was upset. Jim said, "No, not really. But when I went out to collect the food, I really got a lot. My cart was full. As I was returning to the chapel, I stopped at the home of a nonmember woman who is divorced and lives within our ward boundaries. I knocked on the door and explained what we were doing, and she invited me in. She began to look for something to give me. She opened the refrigerator, and I could see there was hardly anything in it. The cupboards were bare. Finally, she found a small can of peaches.
"I could hardly believe it. There were all these little kids running around that needed to be fed, and she handed me this can of peaches. I took it and put it in my cart and went on up the street. I got about halfway up the block when I just felt warm all over and knew I needed to go back to that house. I gave her all the food."
The adviser said, "Jim, don't you ever forget the way you feel tonight, because that's what it is all about." Jim had tasted the nutrient of selfless service.

I know that my soul desires to be nourished. I don't seem to have much difficulty making sure that my body gets fed on a very regular schedule. I do not work so diligently to do the same for my spirit. I also know that it is true that when we have done it unto one of the least of God's children we have done it unto Him. I do not serve with the same enthusiasm I once did and know that I need to work on this in my life. I know that there really is nothing so sweet as the feelings I get when I do serve another. That is when we really find out the truth of the gospel and who the Lord would want us to be.

Margaret S Lifferth

In today's world, children will need . . . each of us to protect, teach, and love them.

Who are the children in your home or in your neighborhood? Look at them. Think of them. The Savior teaches us that to enter the kingdom of God, we must become as a child, "submissive, meek, humble, patient, [and] full of love" (Mosiah 3:19).

As we seek Him and His Spirit to help us, we will see a miracle. We will recognize that our own hearts are changing and we too are becoming "submissive, meek, humble, patient, [and] full of love" (Mosiah 3:19). We too will reflect the light of the gospel in our own countenance. We will come to understand these words of the Savior: "And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me" (Matthew 18:5).

Oh what sweet children we have in our family. I am so happy that I know that they are being taught the gospel in their homes. Keep up the good work; I love all of you so very much and hope that we can be diligent and not loose even one of our precious little ones. The enemy desires them and we must be so vigilent in trying to protect them and help them to learn to build their foundation on Jesus Christ. God bless each of you in your righteous efforts to do so.

A. Roger Merrill
Sunday School General President
When we focus . . . on seeking and receiving the Spirit, we become less concerned about a teacher or speaker holding our attention and more concerned about giving our attention to the Spirit.
We often focus, appropriately, on the importance of teaching by the Spirit. But we need to remember that the Lord has placed equal, if not greater, importance on receiving by the Spirit.

As President Boyd K. Packer has said, "No message appears in scripture more times, in more ways than, 'Ask, and ye shall receive' "

First, they seek.
Second, those who receive, feel.
Third, those who receive by the Spirit intend to act.

I think that it is easier to seek and often times even feel of the truth but it is not so easy to intend to act upon it because that takes effort. I hope that I will not be too comfortable in the gospel and simply sit back and say all is well in Zion. I know that I need to intend to act upon his promptings that I can truly help Him to move His gospel plan forward in these latter days.

President Gordon B. Hinckley
My beloved brothers and sisters, what a miracle these conferences are.
We wish that there were peace in the earth and constantly pray that it may come.
Now, our beloved associates, we leave with you our love and our blessing. May the Spirit of the Lord dwell in your homes. May love govern your family relations.

It is so special to have a prophet to guide us in these troubled times. I know that he is Gods mouth peace on the earth. I know that he wants each of us to feel the spirit of the Lord and to be prompted to act appropriatley upon that spirit. I know that having the Lords spirit in our homes is so important. I know that the Lord wants us to be happy and to love one another. I pray that each of us will have that love in our homes and be directed by it as the prophet has prayed in our behalf.

I know that this is quite a lot to drop on each of you but unlike my intentions I allowed things of the world to get in my way and did not get these thougts out to you a little at a time. I bear witness to each of you that God does live and that we were wise and chose to follow His plan and come here to exerience mortality. I know that the gospel has been restored thru Joseph Smith. I know that President Hinckley is Gods chosen one to lead us today. I know that true joy and happiness comes thru serving others and following the spirit of the Lord. May we all be blessed with His sweet spirit in our lives and homes. Love you all and pray for you each day. I thank God each day that I have the blessing of having each of you in my life. Have a wonderful holiday season. Love dad

President James E Faust

One of the greatest blessings of life and eternity is to be counted as one of the devoted disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The word for disciple and the word for discipline both come from the same Latin root—discipulus, which means pupil. It emphasizes practice or exercise. Self discipline and self control are consistent and permanent characteristics of the followers of Jesus, as exemplified by Peter, James, and John, who indeed "forsook all, and followed him."

What is discipleship? It is primarily obedience to the Savior. Discipleship includes many things. It is chastity. It is tithing. It is family home evening. It is keeping all the commandments. It is forsaking anything that is not good for us. Everything in life has a price. Considering the Savior's great promise for peace in this life and eternal life in the life to come, discipleship is a price worth paying. It is a price we cannot afford not to pay. By measure, the requirements of discipleship are much, much less than the promised blessings.

The words of a beloved Primary song resonate with all who follow the Master:
I'm trying to be like Jesus;
I'm following in his ways.
I'm trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.
For most of us, however, what is required is not to die for the Church but to live for it. For many, living a Christlike life every day may be even more difficult than laying down one's life.

Our true claim as disciples comes when we can say with certainty that His ways have become our ways.

I know that it can be hard to try to be like Jesus in all that we do and say but I also know that it is worth it. I know that I have a lot of trouble with my discipleship. It is so easy to let the things of this world take 1st place in my thoughts and actions. Today is the Sunday choir broadcast after Veterans Day and as I watched I could not help but think with tears in my eyes that Freedom is far from free. Another of the wonderful blessings that the Lord has allowd me to enjoy but I allow myself to consider it a free gift. Everything that is worth anything has a price to pay. I hope that I can learn to be willing to pay the price of discipleship because I know that the blessing attached to this is eternal. I do pray each day that each of us will allow the gospel light to shine through our actions. I add my testimony to that of President Faust and pray that each of us will make His ways our way for I know that it will bring us joy today, notwithstanding the price, and joy forever as we have the blessing of association with the Father and the Son forever and ever. Love Dad

Elder Dallin H. Oakes

The healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ . . . is available for every affliction in mortality.

Each of us carries our own burdens. To each of us our Savior gives this loving invitation:
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28–30).

Matthew writes that He healed every sickness and every disease among the people.
The Savior teaches that we will have tribulation in the world, but we should "be of good cheer" because He has "overcome the world" (John 16:33). His Atonement reaches and is powerful enough not only to pay the price for sin but also to heal every mortal affliction.

The healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ—whether it removes our burdens or strengthens us to endure and live with them like the Apostle Paul—is available for every affliction in mortality.

"Commune with the Lord. . . . He is your best friend! He knows your pain because He has felt it for you already. He is ready to carry that burden. Trust Him enough to place it at His feet and allow Him to carry it for you.

As we struggle with the challenges of mortality, I pray for each of us, as the prophet Mormon prayed for his son, Moroni: "May Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, . . . and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever" (Moroni 9:25).

Wow is that powerful. I can not even express the love I have for Jesus Christ. What love He has for all of us. I have not always understood that He not only paid for my sins but for my pains, my sorrows, my afflictions, my burdens. I know that each of us carry some heavy baggage that we need to put at His feet so we may have the strength to carry on and endure to whatever our individual end will be. When He promised that His yoke would be light it is because He pulls way more than His share. I know that He has already paid the price for me so I hope that I can show my love for Him by taking advantage of His great atonement. I know that I need to ponder this deeply as I take of the sacrament each week. I feel that I have done a better job of thinking of His sacrifice but feel that what I need to spend time thinking about is my Lord triumphant; He has already won His battle and now waits for me to rely upon His love and mercy and use His sacrifice to lift myself from the state of the natural man. To truly have the broken heart and the contrite spirit and to humble myself before Him, to accept His offering of love. I hope that I can learn to repent daily and by so doing in small steps become more like Him.

May God grant all of us a better understanding of His atonement and His great love for each of us is my prayer for us all. God Bless, Dad

I am excited to get started sharing this conference with each of you. As I look over the past blog’s and see that each of you try and want to lift one another and help each other in any way that you can my heart is full of thanks to Heavenly Father. As I read through a few of them I did so with tears in my eyes. I love each of you so much and desire the Lord’s spirit to be with you and to guide you in all that you do.

These are our prophet’s opening words to the church.

Circumstances change, but our message does not change. We bear testimony to the world that the heavens have been opened, that God, our Eternal Father, and His Son, the risen Lord, have appeared and spoken. We offer our solemn witness that the priesthood has been restored with the keys and authority of eternal blessings.

The Lord is richly blessing His Church, and our duty is to do all we can to move it forward.

My prayer for each of us is that we can work a little harder this next 6 months between conferences to stand a little taller in His kingdom; to reach a little higher for opportunities to share His truth with everyone; to spend more time each week on things that are eternal in nature. May God bless each of us as we try to stay the course that leads to eternal joy? I pray daily that each of us can overcome the evil one. Know that Mom and I love each of you and your families with all our hearts.