1976

this year I am reading all the talks President Monson gave in General Conference 

here are my thoughts on the talks he gave in 1976

April 1976

Hopeless Dawn - Joyful Morning

Another talk (and I don't mean that to sound disappointed) about man living after death. President Monson had spoke about this before in another talk. It must have been something he felt needed to be repeated until we finally understood the gravity of what he was saying. Death is not the end. We will live again with those we love, if we are worthy. The resurrection of Jesus Christ made this possible. Prophets through time have testified of this. Joseph Smith, in my opinion, has the most powerful testimony of this when he said, "That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.” (D&C 76:22–24.)

"Immortality isn't just a dream - it can be our reality."

October 1976

Which Road Will You Travel?

Think about it, "The road to anywhere, is the road to nowhere and the road to nowhere leads to dreams sacrificed, opportunities squandered, and a life unfulfilled." Just like the Cheshire Cat said, "if you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there."

So where am I going? 

What do I need to do to get there?

President Monson said we are in "the race of life" and "we have been provided divine attributes to guide our destiny." But, it will take "individual effort." Nothing ever comes easy. 

Here are three things we can do to help us

1. Visualize our objective

2. Make a continuous effort

3. Don't detour from our determined course

4. Be willing to pay the price 

"There will be inevitable trials of our faith and the temptations of our times. We simply cannot afford the luxury of a detour, for certain detours lead to destruction and spiritual death." I have found that other detours may not lead to such drastic consequences; however, they can keep us from receiving blessings a lot sooner. 

We can find safety and security by sticking to God's teachings.

to read Hopeless Dawn - Joyful Morning click here

to read Which Road Will You Travel? click here

1975

this year I am reading all the talks President Monson gave in General Conference 

here are my thoughts on the talks he gave in 1975

April 1975

The Way Home

This talk reminded me of a talk I had just read from the latest session of conference entitled, Bearers of Heavenly Light by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. Both talks touch on the truth that light will always replace darkness. 

With the first vision, the restoration of the gospel dispelled the gloom. 

If we follow Christ, then we can dispel any darkness that may be in our lives. 

"Open your minds to the word of God. Open your hearts, even your very souls, to the sound of that still, small voice which testifies of truth."

October 1975

The Faith of a Child

I would encourage everyone to go and read this talk because it is so sweet. President Monson ditched the talk he had prepared and felt inspired to talk about the faith of a child instead. 

As I learn to teach in the savior's way, my relief society president told me not to be afraid to put my lesson aside if the spirit is pulling in a different direction. That terrifies me, but I know that President Monson was inspired to do so and maybe we will be too. 

to read the way home click here

to read the faith of a child click here

1974

this year I am reading all the talks President Monson gave in General Conference 

here are my thoughts on the talks he gave in 1974

April 1974

The Paths Jesus Walked

just a quick side note - President Harold B. Lee had passed away and President Spencer W. Kimball was called 

"keep the commandments of God. 

Follow the pathway of the Lord.

Walk in His footsteps."

this sounds really similar to what President Nelson said when he spoke to the members on Tuesday January 16th, 2018. He urged members to "Keep on the covenant path." I love that this church is lead by inspired men who worthily hold the priesthood. I love that themes keep coming back around. Clearly, I need reminding over and over.

"In a very real sense, all can walk where Jesus walked, with words on our lips, his spirit in our hearts, and his teaching in our lives, we journey through mortality." I love that. I love that we can walk where he walked by being as he is. This quote makes me think about the words I say and wonder would these be words the savior said - most of the time probably not. I know I have a lot to work on, but am excited to become more like the savior. 

I also loved the reminder that the savior, although perfect, did not walk perfect paths. "Jesus walked the path of disappointment, temptation, and pain." This is why he can ALWAYS relate to us. He knows exactly how we feel. 

However, he did walk the path of obedience, service, and prayer. We too can and should be walking these paths. 

I love the quote above, "Let us listen for the sound of sandaled feet, let us reach out for the carpenters hand, then we shall come to know him." 

My other favorite quote from this talk is this one, "Jesus changed men. He changed their habits, their opinions, their ambitions. He changed their tempers, their dispositions, their natures. He changed men's hearts." and he continues to do that today. We can become so much more with his help then we ever could on our own. 

October 1974

My Personal Hall of Fame

"We each have a personal hall of fame within us that is "reserved exclusively for the real leaders who have influenced our lives."

In our personal hall of fame should be people from the scriptures. Some of mine would be Esther, Mary (the mother of Jesus) Nephi, Ammon, Abish, Captain Moroni, Joseph Smith, the pioneers.

the list could go on and on

It would also include the savior, of course. Who is the perfect example for us to follow in all aspects of our lives. 

It would also include leaders that I had growing up that instilled in me a love for the gospel. Leaders who made me want to be better. 

If we follow these example we can have their "unwavering trust in an all wise Heavenly Father and an abiding testimony concerning the mission of a divine savior."

to read the paths Jesus walked click here

to read my personal hall of fame click here

1973

this year I am reading all the talks President Monson gave in General Conference 

here are my thoughts on the talks he gave in 1973

April 1973

Yellow Canaries with Grey on their Wings

President Monson opens his talk with a story about a childless widow who had passed away while he was serving as bishop. 

I love the quote that I chose to highlight on the left, "Our very business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves." I needed to be reminded of that.

President Monson said, "To live greatly we must develop the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility." I love that! I will point out now that I loved a lot of this talk. I felt like it was about who we are as children of God and what we can become. If we "come follow him" then "we can determine our personal destiny."

October 1973

Behold Thy Mother

I could tell, by this talk and many others, that President Monson thinks very highly of mothers. This talk was about four kinds of mothers - mother forgotten

mother remembered

mother blessed

and mother loved

The first one, mother forgotten, is absolutely heartbreaking. I could not imagine forgetting/neglecting my mother. President Monson, likewise, did not sound happy with those who do not make time for their mothers. 

Mothers are capable of extraordinary things. He gave the example of the 2000 stripling warriors

"And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.

 For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall. . . 

 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death. . .

yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

But behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power "

Alma 56:45-48, 56

These mothers inspire myself to do better at teaching the gospel to my children.

President Monson sums up his talk with this quote, "One cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God. Why? Two sacred persons, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service are one."

to read yellow canaries with grey on their wings click here

to read Behold Thy Mother click here

Motivational Monday #40

period

1972

this year I am reading all the talks President Monson gave in General Conference 

here are my thoughts on the talks he gave in 1972

April 1972

"Finishers Wanted"

"Shall I falter or shall I finish?

 Our reward for finishing is eternal life.

President Monson gave us the six marks that a finisher has

1. The mark of vision

"the outcome of the small decisions will determine the success or failure of our lives.

2. The mark of effort

"vision without effort is daydreaming, effort without vision is drudgery; but vision, coupled with effort, will obtain the prize."

STICK TO YOUR TASK, TILL IT STICKS TO YOU

3. The mark of faith

4. The mark of virtue

5. The mark of courage

6. The mark of prayer

"communication with our Heavenly Father provides peace."

October 1972

Hands

President Monson touches on the hand of a child, a youth, a bride, a mother, a father, a prophet, and the hand of the Lord.

We have the power to use our hands to do amazing and wonderful things. We have the opportunity to raise our hand and sustain our leaders, we use our hands to care for our children, we can use our hands to plant a garden, and write letters to others. I think of my Nan's hand, I use to love to play with her wedding ring because it had dented her finger. She had worn it for so long. I think of my mothers hands and how she would turn the pages of the book she was reading to us. I wonder what my children will remember about my hands? 

President Monson also mentioned not only my favorite hymn but also my favorite scripture

" I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!"

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him. . ."

to read "finishers wanted" click here

to read hands click here

1971

this year I am reading all the talks President Monson gave in General Conference 

here are my thoughts on the talks he gave in 1971

April 1971

Lost Battalions

When President Monson was a boy, he enjoyed reading about the "lost battalion." An unit of the 77th infantry division in world war one. When they became surrounded by their enemies, other units of the 77th division did all they could to rescue them. They were successful in their efforts.

He then asks the question, "Are there "lost battalions" even today?

The answer is yes! Specifically the handicapped, the lame, the speechless, the sightless, the aged, the widowed, and the sick.

I think we all know some of these "lost battalions." 

We must serve with LOVE.

I think one of President Monson's favorite scriptures is found in Matthew, "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

The savior has the power to rescue the lost, and we are here to aid in those efforts. 

October 1971

With Hand and Heart

This was such a beautiful talk about how the Savior lifted other up. He taught by example, so we are needed to LIFT others up as well.

President Monson says, "The Savior was faithful to his divine mission. He lifted other up toward God."

I love this quote, "He lived not so to be ministered unto, but to minister; not to receive, but to give; not to save his life, but to pour it out to others." We can't get a better example about what we are to do while here on the earth. "Each of us has a charge to be not a doubter, but a doer; not a leaner, but a lifter." I want to be this person. I want to lift others towards Heavenly Father. One way we can achieve this is simply by looking up. I don't mean symbolically, but literally look up. We can't help people if we are looking down, or probably more likely, looking at our phones.

I chose the quote on the top of the post because it is so true, "When we see beyond the outward appearance and recognize the true worth of a human soul - miracles occur."

I know this has been true in my own life. I will link the story of a boy that I use to work with. Once I was able to see him as the Lord does, a miracle truly did occur. (to read that story click here)

President Monson also mentions that only one thing "can alter human lives and change human nature and that is LOVE."

"With hand and heart, do as the Savior did, lift and love our neighbor to a newness of life."

this story that President Monson shared was too much for me. I absolutley loved it

Prison warden Kenyon J. Scudder has related this experience: A friend of his happened to be sitting in a railroad coach next to a young man who was obviously depressed. Finally the man revealed that he was a paroled convict returning from a distant prison. His imprisonment had brought shame to his family, and they had neither visited him nor written often. He hoped, however, that this was only because they were too poor to travel and too uneducated to write. He hoped, despite the evidence, that they had forgiven him.

To make it easy for them, however, he had written them to put up a signal for him when the train passed their little farm on the outskirts of town. If his family had forgiven him, they were to put a white ribbon in the big apple tree which stood near the tracks. If they didn’t want him to return, they were to do nothing, and he would remain on the train as it traveled west.

As the train neared his home town, the suspense became so great he couldn’t bear to look out of his window. He exclaimed, “In just five minutes the engineer will sound the whistle, indicating our approach to the long bend which opens into the valley I know as home. Will you watch for the apple tree at the side of the track?” His companion changed places with him and said he would. The minutes seemed like hours, but then there came the shrill sound of the train whistle. The young man asked, “Can you see the tree? Is there a white ribbon?”

Came the reply: “I see the tree. I see not one white ribbon, but many. There must be a white ribbon on every branch. Son, someone surely does love you.”

In that instant he stood cleansed by Christ.


His friend said, “I felt as if I had witnessed a miracle.”

I can feel what this young man must have felt when he was told that there must be a ribbon on every tree. It pulled at my heart to know that he was loved and forgiven. That is the power of the atonement in our lives. I am sure the same thing happens when we question if God could ever love or forgive us. When we think those thought look to our tree and we will surely see not one ribbon, but many.

to read the lost battalions talk click here

to read with hand and heart talk click here

Christmas Day Part Two!

1970

this year I am reading all the talks President Monson gave in General Conference 

here are my thoughts on the talks he gave in 1970

April 1970

Only a Teacher

I think President Monson had a special place in his heart for teachers, whether they be teachers in the home (parents, grandparents,) teachers at school, or teachers at church. He knew the power these people had on the children and youth. He said, "a teacher affects eternity."

He also emphasized the importance of not delaying opportunities to teach our children. He said, "Opportunities for teaching are perishable." We only have so much time with those that we teach before they out making decisions on their own. We can't procrastinate teaching them all the things they need to know. 

I feel very strongly that in order to be an effective teacher, we need to love those we teach I am the activity days leader in my ward, and I can honestly say that I love each and every one of those girls. Each one brings something different, yet needed, to our activity, and I love that. 

No matter how far along we are in the journey of life, we are still learning from teachers. The most important teacher is the master teacher - Jesus Christ. From him we learn to love and serve others. We learn how to teach with love and using gospel principles. I am so grateful for His example. 

October 1970

The Ensign 

In this talk President Monson introduced the new magazine that would be available to members of the church, The Ensign. This magazine would be "a beacon upon the top of a mountain and as an ensign on a hill."

It would "adequately prepare adults to be examples to their children and the world."

I really loved this talk because there has always been an ensign magazine in my home. I remember the conference issue always took a little bit longer to get to our house because all the talks that had to be written out. 

President Monson talks about what you will find in the magazine which hasn't changed much. 

President Monson also talks about teaching within the church. This is where the talk gets really good!

He said,  "Effective teachers are needed desperately to help us understand what is important and genuine in life and help us develop the strength to choose the paths that will keep us safely on the way to eternal life." 

Although teaching styles have changed and evolved over the years, the things President Monson points out are still the same. Like his quote above, "The basic goal of teaching in the church is to help bring about worthwhile changed in the lives of those we teach. The aim is to inspire the individual to think about, feel about, and then do something about living gospel principles." 

I was just called to be an instructor in relief society and this quote is exactly what I want to do. Through discussion, not lecture, I want to inspire others to evaluate their own lives (and I will be doing the same,) and strive to do better. 

The other quote I really loved from this talk was, "When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates."

This is why (I believe) we are challenged to do things throughout the week and report back. 

remember

I hear and I forget

I see and I remember

I do and I learn

to read the talk from April 1970 click here

to read the talk from October 1970 click here

a quick side note - lds.org does not have general conference talks before 1971, so I had to find them on a different website.

1969

this year I am reading all the talks President Monson gave in General Conference 

here are my thoughts on the talks he gave in 1969

April 1969

Mrs Patton, Arthur Lives

In this talk, President Monson talks about his boyhood friend, Arthur Patton. Arthur died in world war two. Arthur enlisted in the Navy when he was only 15 years old. He died during the battle of the Coral Sea. His mother, Mrs Patton (not a member of the church) was so proud of her son. President Monson addresses his talk to her and talks about the fact that Arthur will live again. 

Because of Christ, all will live again. 

38 years later, in October 2007, President Monson gave a talk entitled, Mrs Patton - the story continues. I can not wait to read that talk!

October 1969

Formula For Success

This talk was given during the Priesthood session, and President Monson talked about how "the greatest and most important duty is to preach the gospel."

He said, "Mediocrity is not in fashion, Excellence is the order of the day."

We can not be ordinary, casual or like others of the world. We have to be more!

In order to succeed President Monson gave four things we can do:

first - search the scriptures with dilligence

second - plan your life with purpose

third - teach the truth with testimony and

fourth - serve the Lord with love

By doing these things we can and will be excellent!

to read about Arthur Patton click here

to read the formula for success click here

a quick side note - lds.org does not have general conference talks before 1971, so I had to find them on a different website.