Learning from General Conference:
What do you treasure?
Sometimes people ask what you would save if your house was on fire...that’s one indication of what you treasure.
For me, if I had to pick a tangible object it would be my scriptures and my journals and photo albums. But really, my greatest treasures are my family, my relationships and my knowledge of truth. My scriptures and journals are a big part of my knowledge of truth. But the things that truly matter most can’t go in a box or bag and probably wouldn’t be considered valuable by many people in the world.
What do you think God treasures?
Moses 1:39...This is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Listen to some of the words that were spoken about YOU during General Conference:
President Nelson said, “I have invited the youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to enlist in the Lord’s youth battalion to participate in the greatest cause on earth today—the gathering of Israel.1 I issued this invitation to our youth because they are unusually gifted in reaching out to others and sharing what they believe in a convincing fashion. ... The First Presidency and the Twelve are united in endorsing these efforts to strengthen our youth. Oh, how we love them and pray for them! They are the “hope of Israel, Zion’s army, children of the promised day.”2 We express our complete confidence in our youth and our gratitude for them.”
Sister Bonnie Cordon said, “You are all remarkable young women. You are unique, each with your own gifts and experiences yet alike in a very important and eternal way....You are literally the spirit daughters of Heavenly Parents, and nothing can separate you from Their love and the love of your Savior.”
President Nelson gave a talk in the women’s session of General Conference entitled spiritual treasures. In this talk, he talks about the treasures of the gospel and the priesthood. These are treasures given to God’s children through the covenants we make with him and through the restoration of the gospel. I’ve thought a lot over the last few months about what knowledge I treasure most. And if I had to summarize it, for me, my most treasured knowledge comes down to these three things: 1. Understanding that I have Heavenly Parents who are kind and loving and merciful and possess every good gift and every good attribute and knowing that the Savior’s atonement strengthens me, allows me to repent and helps me become better. Understanding the nature of each member of the Godhead is my most treasured piece of knowledge. 2. Understanding that I am a daughter of God and that He loves me and that I have a divine nature. This knowledge gives me strength and courage and power. 3. Knowing and understanding that Joseph Smith was a prophet. Because I know that is true, I know the Book of Mormon is true, the priesthood has been restored, that we have a living prophet on the Earth today. These three pieces of knowledge are foundational for everything else in my opinion.
So in President Nelson’s talk he speaks of Joseph Smith and how important he is. He also counsels us to study specific things to understand our role as women. Listen to his words:
President Nelson: SPiritual Treasures
President Nelson tells of a recent trip to Harmony Pennsylvania where the priesthood was restored, where part of the Book of Mormon was translated, and where “Joseph received a revelation manifesting the Lord’s will to Emma. The Lord instructed Emma to expound the scriptures, to exhort the Church, to receive the Holy Ghost, and to spend her time “learning much.” Emma was also counseled to “lay aside the things of this world and seek for the things of a better” and to hold fast to her covenants with God. The Lord concluded His instruction with these compelling words: “This is my voice unto all.”1 Everything that happened in this area has profound implications for your lives. The restoration of the priesthood, along with the Lord’s counsel to Emma, can guide and bless each of you. How I yearn for you to understand that the restoration of the priesthood is just as relevant to you as a woman as it is to any man. Because the Melchizedek Priesthood has been restored, both covenant-keeping women and men have access to “all the spiritual blessings of the church”2 or, we might say, to all the spiritual treasures the Lord has for His children.
Every woman and every man who makes covenants with God and keeps those covenants, and who participates worthily in priesthood ordinances, has direct access to the power of God.”
Listen to those words: The restoration of the priesthood is just as relevant to you as it is to any man. We have access to all the spiritual blessings or treasures of the Lord. We have direct access to the power of God when we make and keep sacred covenants. You HAVE made sacred covenants...at baptism you took Christ’s name upon you, promised to always remember Him, promised to keep His commandments and promised to “mourn with those who mourn, comfort those who stand in need of comfort and to stand as a witness of God at all times, in all things and in all places” You will...I hope...one day enter the temple and make additional covenants and receive additional knowledge and power. These are things that I must admit I didn’t understand well at your age...and things I am still learning and coming to understand now. I hope that as we talk today, I can help you understand just a little bit about these spiritual treasures, this power given to us by God.
President Nelson said, “Now, you might be saying to yourself, “This sounds wonderful, but how do I do it? How do I draw the Savior’s power into my life?”
You won’t find this process spelled out in any manual. The Holy Ghost will be your personal tutor as you seek to understand what the Lord would have you know and do. This process is neither quick nor easy, but it is spiritually invigorating. What could possibly be more exciting than to labor with the Spirit to understand God’s power—priesthood power?
What I can tell you is that accessing the power of God in your life requires the same things that the Lord instructed Emma and each of you to do.
So, I invite you to study prayerfully section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants and discover what the Holy Ghost will teach you. Your personal spiritual endeavor will bring you joy as you gain, understand, and use the power with which you have been endowed.”
This counsel was given in the women’s session of General Conference...and while you haven’t been endowed in the temple, much of that power is given to you now if you know how to access it. And at the end of D&C 25 the Lord says this is His voice unto all...that includes you. So based on this talk, I think we are wise to study D&C 25 (and he also encourages us later in the same talk to study D&C 84 and D&C 107). Today I would like to spend some time studying D&C 25 together. I’m hoping for 2 things...first, that together the Holy Ghost can teach us about some of the ways we can access greater power. But also, I am hoping that I can share with you a few things I do to help me understand, know and apply the scriptures better in my life.
First...I’d like you to read the whole section...it’s just 16 verses...and underline any words or phrases that are meaningful to you and put a question mark next to anything that seems confusing to you.
Share.
*Apply: One way I like to apply the scriptures is to actually write my name in them. So where it says Emma...I have actually written Jenny in there. You can write in your name if you’d like.
Now I’d like us to make a list of counsel given and blessings promised. Look for counsel Emma was given...I’ll record them here on the board. Also look for blessings promised and I’ll record them over here. And if a blessing is connected with counsel, I’ll draw a line between the two. Sometimes in my scriptures I’ll write in the words IF (above the counsel), THEN (above or beside the blessing) to remind myself that if I do ________, then God promises to do ___________...and God will ALWAYS keep His word.
Next...are there any words you don’t understand or know the meaning of. Or are there are any words or phrases you would like to learn more about?
Bible dictionary/Guide to the Scriptures
Strong’s concordance or online to look at Greek and Hebrew meanings of words...
Other versions of the Bible
BYU scripture citation index
Look at historical period...what was happening in Emma’s life, where was she? What was happening to her?
APPLY: What are my take aways? What can I stop doing or start doing to apply this in my life?
- I have been studying this one section...one of the lines that has been so personally meaningful to me is “For my soul delighteth in the songs of the heart”. This led me to search for what else the Lord says he delights in...I found he delights in us, those that deal truly, the prayer of the upright, mercy, blessing with the greatest of all blessings, honoring those who serve Him. Nephi says he delights in the scriptures and in righteousness. So I have been pondering what I delight in and how I can better delight in the scriptures, righteousness, mercy, etc. How can I change my heart to delight in the thigns that the Lord delights in.
- I’ve also been thinking a lot about what steps I need to take. What things of this world do I need to lay aside to seek for the things of a better?
“Part of this endeavor will require you to put aside many things of this world. Sometimes we speak almost casually about walking away from the world with its contention, pervasive temptations, and false philosophies. But truly doing so requires you to examine your life meticulously and regularly. As you do so, the Holy Ghost will prompt you about what is no longer needful, what is no longer worthy of your time and energy.
As you shift your focus away from worldly distractions, some things that seem important to you now will recede in priority. You will need to say no to some things, even though they may seem harmless. As you embark upon and continue this lifelong process of consecrating your life to the Lord, the changes in your perspective, feelings, and spiritual strength will amaze you!
Now a little word of warning. There are those who would undermine your ability to call upon the power of God. There are some who would have you doubt yourself and minimize your stellar spiritual capacity as a righteous woman.
Most certainly, the adversary does not want you to understand the covenant you made at baptism or the profound endowment of knowledge and power you have received or will receive in the temple—the house of the Lord. And Satan certainly does not want you to understand that every time you worthily serve and worship in the temple, you leave armed with God’s power and with His angels having “charge over” you.”
President Nelson also said, “My dear sisters, your power will increase as you serve others. Your prayers, fasting, time in the scriptures, service in the temple, and family history work will open the heavens to you.”
Resources:
https://scriptures.byu.edu/ You can go here, look up a verse of scripture and find conference talks where that verse has been quoted. Often that will give additional insights into the verse and its application in our lives today.
Other versions of the Bible such as the New Living Translation (NLT), The Message, ESV (English Standard Version), or NIV (New International Version). You can find these as well as Strong’s Concordance at https://biblehub.com/
Bible Dictionary, Guide to the Scriptures, Topical Guide, Index
