S6:E9 "O Youth of the Noble Birthright" by Bradley R. Wilcox

President Nelson, once again, urges us to use the messages from this conference in our daily lives, stresses the importance of temples, and testifies of the atonement of Jesus Christ.“Regular worship in the temple will help us. In the house of the Lord, we focus on Jesus Christ. We learn of Him. We make covenants to follow Him. We come to know Him. As we keep our temple covenants, we gain greater access to the Lord’s strengthening power.”“There is no limit to the Savior’s capacity to help you. His incomprehensible suffering in Gethsemane and on Calvary was for you! His infinite Atonement is for you!”How has the temple brought you closer to Jesus Christ?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 Egbo stresses the importance - and gives his own testimony - of focusing on Christ.“In a similar way, when we ignore the distractions of the world and focus on Christ and His gospel, we are guaranteed success beyond what we can fully imagine and can feel great joy. President Russell M. Nelson taught: ‘When the focus of our lives is on … Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives.’”How has focusing on Christ given you peace in your lives?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

Brother Wilcox seeks to answer the question: Why must Latter-day Saints live so differently?“Does your birthright mean you are better than others? No, but it does mean you are expected to help others be better. Does your birthright mean you are chosen? Yes, but not chosen to rule over others; you are chosen to serve them. Is your birthright evidence of God’s love? Yes, but more important, it is evidence of His trust.”What can you do to “honor your birthright”?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 Budge speaks powerfully of being still and intentional in our gospel learning and worship.“Perhaps this is why President Nelson has repeatedly pled with us to make time for the Lord in our lives— ‘each and every day.’ He reminds us that ‘quiet time is sacred time—time that will facilitate personal revelation and instill peace.’ But to hear the still voice of the Lord, he counseled, ‘you too must be still.’”“Likewise, God desires that we approach our time with Him with the same kind of heartfelt devotion. When we do so, our worship becomes an expression of our love for Him.He yearns for us to commune with Him. On one occasion, after I gave the invocation in a meeting with the First Presidency, President Nelson turned to me and said, “While you were praying, I thought how much God must appreciate when we take time from our busy schedules to acknowledge Him.” It was a simple yet powerful reminder of how much it must mean to Heavenly Father when we pause to commune with Him.”“You may be thinking, ‘I do not have time for that.’ I have often felt the same. But let me suggest that what may be needed is not necessarily more time but more awareness of and focus on God during the times we already set aside for Him.”What does "being still" mean to you?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 McKay speaks powerfully about Joseph Smith and his mission to testify of Christ.“Joseph’s life of regular repentance gives me confidence to ‘come boldly unto the throne of grace, that [I] may obtain mercy.’ I have learned that Jesus Christ truly is ‘of a forgiving disposition.’ It is neither His mission nor His nature to condemn. He came to save.”How is repentance comforting to you?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

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