S6:E5 "Welcome to the Church of Joy" by Patrick Kearon

Sister Yee uses a personal story to illustrate the joy of repentance.“Repenting allows us to feel God’s love and to know and love Him in ways we would never otherwise know. Of the woman who anointed the Savior’s feet, He said, ‘Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.’ She loved Jesus much, for He had forgiven her much.”When have you felt God’s love or felt your relationship with Christ deepen when you repented?If you’d like to be part of the conversation:Email: [email protected]: https://www.facebook.com/generalconferenceconversationsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalconferenceconversations/You can also watch this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@generalconferenceconversations

Elder Kearon’s talk is, of course, all about JOY!“Because of the loving plan of our Heavenly Father for each of His children, and because of the redeeming life and mission of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we can—and should—be the most joyful people on earth! Even as the storms of life in an often-troubled world pound upon us, we can cultivate a growing and abiding sense of joy and inner peace because of our hope in Christ and our understanding of our own place in the beautiful plan of happiness.”“We may have been conditioned to suppose that the purpose of the sacrament is to sit in the pew thinking only about all the ways we messed up during the week before. But let’s turn that practice on its head. In the stillness, we can ponder the many ways we have seen the Lord relentlessly pursue us with His wonderful love that week! We can reflect on what it means to “discover the joy of daily repentance.” We can give thanks for the times the Saviour entered into our struggles and our triumphs and the occasions when we felt His grace, forgiveness, and power giving us strength to overcome our hardships and bear our burdens with patience and even good cheer.Yes, we ponder the sufferings and injustices inflicted upon our Redeemer for our sin, and that does cause sober reflection. But we sometimes get stuck there—in the garden, at the cross, inside the tomb. We fail to move upward to the joy of the tomb bursting open, the defeat of death, and Christ’s victory over all that might prevent us from gaining peace and returning to our heavenly home. Whether we shed tears of sorrow or tears of gratitude during the sacrament, let it be in awesome wonder at the good news of the Father’s gift of His Son!”What is one thing you can do to enhance your worship and find joy in the gospel?If you’d like to be part of the conversation:Email: [email protected]: https://www.facebook.com/generalconferenceconversationsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalconferenceconversations/You can also watch this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@generalconferenceconversations

Elder Villlar’s talk is a powerful testimony of Christ and His Atonement.“If we think celestial, we will recognize Jesus Christ as a flawless example of ministry. There is a pattern for us in the scriptures when He or His disciples reach out to someone in need of help, rescue, or a blessing as they reach out with their hands. As in my story, I knew my brother was there, but being there for me was not enough. Claudio knew I was in trouble, and he went to help lift me from the water.”How can you actively minister to those around you?“My brother did not give up on me that day but persisted so I could learn how to do it for myself. He persisted, even if that required rescuing me twice. He persisted, even if I could not get it at first. He persisted so I could overcome that challenge and succeed. If we think celestial, we will realize that our Savior will be there as many times as necessary to provide help if we want to learn, change, overcome, cope, or succeed in whatever will bring true and everlasting happiness to our lives.”When have you felt the Savior persisting in your life?If you’d like to be part of the conversation:Email: [email protected]: https://www.facebook.com/generalconferenceconversationsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalconferenceconversations/You can also watch this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@generalconferenceconversations

President Oaks’ talk is all about, you guessed it, following Jesus Christ.“Potential adversaries should begin their discussions by identifying common ground on which all agree.To follow our Perfect Role Model and His prophet, we need to practice what is popularly known as the Golden Rule: “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” We need to love and do good to all. We need to avoid contention and be peacemakers in all our communications. This does not mean to compromise our principles and priorities but to cease harshly attacking others for theirs. That is what our Perfect Role Model did in His ministry. That is the example He set for us as He invited us to follow Him.”Invitation: This! Avoid contention, be a peacemaker, and follow Christ’s example in communicating and loving others.If you’d like to be part of the conversation:Email:[email protected]:https://www.facebook.com/generalconferenceconversationsInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/generalconferenceconversations/You can also watch this podcast on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@generalconferenceconversations

Elder Casillas’ talk is all about service and the privilege we have to take care of our fellow human beings. “We live in a time of great opportunity. Although we face many difficulties, I know they are there in part to allow us to help others feel the love of our Heavenly Father. President Nelson taught, “In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen.” We have the privilege to watch over people who need a helping hand, an embrace, a feeling of comfort, or for us simply to be with them in silence. If we can help lighten their burdens, even if only for a moment, then we will be able to see the great manifestations of the Savior’s power in their lives.” “One of the crafts of the adversary today is to make us think and believe that there is no way for us to change or that we no longer have hope. This destructive thinking causes many of us to stop trying. And it is at this moment when our love, our words of encouragement and support, our time, and our help can give someone hope enough to try once more.” Invitation: Reach out and take care of those around you! If you’d like to be part of the conversation: Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/generalconferenceconversations Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalconferenceconversations/ You can also watch this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@generalconferenceconversations

I know it has been so, so long! And we’re getting so close to April Conference already that I won’t have time to get to all the talks. So, I’ve chosen just a few talks to cover between now and April. And we will be back to our regularly scheduled programming in May. Elder Hirst’s talk is all about love! He speaks powerfully about how personal God’s love is for each of us. And he reminds us of how we can then show that love to others. “I wonder, if Jesus were to choose a place where you and He could meet, a private place where you would be able to have a singular focus on Him, might He choose your unique place of personal suffering, the place of your deepest need, where no one else can go? Somewhere you feel so lonely that you must truly be all alone but you aren’t quite, a place to which perhaps only He has travelled but actually has already prepared to meet you there when you arrive? If you are waiting for Him to come, might He already be there and within reach?” Where and how do you feel God's love? “If you do feel filled with love in this season of your life, please try and hold on to it as effectively as a sieve holds water. Splash it everywhere you go. One of the miracles of the divine economy is that when we try to share Jesus’s love, we find ourselves being filled up in a variation of the principle that ‘whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.’” How can you show love to others? If you’d like to be part of the conversation: Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/generalconferenceconversations Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalconferenceconversations/ You can also watch this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@generalconferenceconversations

President Nelson runs through the history and significance of priesthood keys - not only for the Church and the world for us individually. “Priesthood keys restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith make it possible for every covenant-keeping man and woman to enjoy incredible personal spiritual privileges.” An invitation: Prepare for Conference next week. What questions are you hoping to have answered? If you’d like to be part of the conversation: Email: [email protected] Facebook: General Conference Conversations Instagram: @generalconferenceconversations You can also watch this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoiavmFctfCBB68kWaKVy0g

President Pace speaks about the power and purpose of the scriptures. “We call it “study,” and that’s good because it implies effort. But we don’t always need to learn some new fact. Sometimes reading the Book of Mormon is just about feeling connected to God today—nourishing the soul, being strengthened spiritually before heading out to face the world, or finding healing after a rough day out in the world. We study the scriptures so the Holy Ghost, the great teacher, can deepen our conversion to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and help us become more like Them.” How do the scriptures make you feel? If you’d like to be part of the conversation: Email: [email protected] Facebook: General Conference Conversations Instagram: @generalconferenceconversations You can also watch this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoiavmFctfCBB68kWaKVy0g

Elder Andersen reminds us of the power of the temple in the world and in our lives. “On that sacred occasion in the Kirtland Temple, the Prophet prayed that in the Lord’s holy house, the Saints would be armed with the power of God, that the name of Jesus Christ would be upon them, that His angels would have charge over them, and that they would grow up in the Lord and “receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost.” These powerful supplications are fulfilled in our lives as we faithfully worship in the house of the Lord.” “Most of our experiences in the house of the Lord bring joyful peace and quiet revelation more than dramatic intervention. But be assured: angels do have charge over us!” What power do you feel from your temple covenants and temple worship? If you’d like to be part of the conversation: Email: [email protected] Facebook: General Conference Conversations Instagram: @generalconferenceconversations You can also watch this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoiavmFctfCBB68kWaKVy0g

Elder Held reminds of the necessity and beauty of opposition. “Life is all about making choices. Our Father in Heaven gave us the divine gift of agency precisely so that we could learn from our choices—from the right ones and also from the wrong ones. We correct our wrong choices when we repent. This is where growth happens. Heavenly Father’s plan for all of us is about learning, developing, and progressing toward eternal life.” “Even though we usually cannot choose between these kinds of situations because they just happen, we are still free to choose how to react to them. We can do so with a positive or with a pessimistic attitude. We can seek to learn from the experience and ask for our Lord’s help and support, or we can think that we are on our own in this trial and that we must suffer it alone. We can “adjust our sails” to the new reality, or we can decide not to change anything. In the darkness of night, we can turn on our lights. In the cold of winter, we should choose to wear warm clothes. In seasons of sickness, we can seek medical and spiritual help. We choose how to react to these circumstances.” What is something good you can focus on amongst the bad right now? If you’d like to be part of the conversation: Email: [email protected] Facebook: General Conference Conversations Instagram: @generalconferenceconversations You can also watch this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoiavmFctfCBB68kWaKVy0g