2018
We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet
May 2018


“We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet,” New Era, May 2018

We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

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First Presidency at general conference

We sustained President Nelson as prophet seer and revelator in the solemn assembly held on March 31, 2018. “We thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us in these latter days.”

President Russell M. Nelson

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Russell M. Nelson

Ministering with the Power and Authority of God

“I have learned that it really doesn’t matter where one serves. What the Lord cares about is how one serves. …

“I invite you to inspire members to keep their covenants, fast and pray, study the scriptures, worship in the temple, and serve with faith as men and women of God.”

Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives

“Through the manifestations of the Holy Ghost, the Lord will assist us in all our righteous pursuits. …

“… If we will truly receive the Holy Ghost and learn to discern and understand His promptings, we will be guided in matters large and small. …

“… The heavens are open and … God speaks to His children. …

“Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will ‘grow into the principle of revelation’ [Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 132]. …

“… No one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true. …

“Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work. …

“… In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, and comforting influence of the Holy Ghost. …

“… I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. … Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.”

Let Us All Press On

“I exhort you to study the messages of this conference frequently—even repeatedly—during the next six months. Conscientiously look for ways to incorporate these messages in your family home evenings, your gospel teaching, your conversations with family and friends, and even your discussions with those not of our faith. Many good people will respond to the truths taught in this conference when offered in love. And your desire to obey will be enhanced as you remember and reflect upon what you have felt these past two days. …

“Our message to the world is simple and sincere: we invite all of God’s children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and qualify for eternal life. …

“… I bless you to identify those things you can set aside so you can spend more time in the temple. I bless you with greater harmony and love in your homes and a deeper desire to care for your eternal family relationships. I bless you with increased faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a greater ability to follow Him as His true disciples.”

President Dallin H. Oaks

First Counselor in the First Presidency

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Dallin H. Oaks
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young men at general conference

The Powers of the Priesthood

“The Melchizedek Priesthood is the divine authority God has delegated to accomplish His work ‘to bring to pass the … eternal life of man’ (Moses 1:39). … It is sacred and powerful beyond our powers to describe. …

“The Melchizedek Priesthood is not a status or a label. It is a divine power held in trust to use for the benefit of God’s work for His children. We should always remember that men who hold the priesthood are not ‘the priesthood.’ …

“The most important principle for all priesthood holders is the principle taught by the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob. After he and his brother Joseph were consecrated priests and teachers of the people, he declared, ‘And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence’ (Jacob 1:19).

“Brethren, our responsibilities as holders of the priesthood are serious matters. Other organizations can be satisfied with worldly standards of performance in delivering their messages and performing their other functions. But we who hold the priesthood of God have the divine power that even governs entrance into the celestial kingdom of God. …

“… If the Lord Himself were to ask you to help one of His sons or daughters—which He has done through His servants—would you do it? And if you did, would you act as His agent, ‘on the Lord’s errand,’ relying on His promised help? …

“… President Harold B. Lee gave this promise: … ‘Vested in the power of the priesthood, which is the power of Almighty God, is the power to perform miracles if the Lord wills it so, but in order for us to use that priesthood, we must be worthy to exercise it. A failure to understand this principle is a failure to receive the blessings of holding that great priesthood’ [Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee (2000), 97].”

Small and Simple Things

“We are taught many small and simple things in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to be reminded that in total and over a significant period of time, these seemingly small things bring to pass great things. …

“Consider … scripture study. … Or consider … personal prayers and … kneeling family prayers. … Consider attendance at seminary. … Though each of these practices may seem to be small and simple, over time they result in powerful spiritual uplift and growth. …

“… Our own inspired self-evaluations can help us see how we have fallen short and how we can do better. …

“To protect against the cumulative negative effects that are destructive to our spiritual progress, we need to follow the spiritual pattern of small and simple things.”

President Henry B. Eyring

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

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Henry B. Eyring
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youth at general conference

Inspired Ministering

“Strengthened Quorums … [require] at least two things to be successful in the Lord’s intent to have His Saints care for each other in the way He cares for them. They succeed when the Saints feel the love of Christ for each other above their self-interest. The scriptures call it “charity … the pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47). And they succeed when the Holy Ghost guides the caregiver to know what the Lord knows is best for the person whom He is trying to help. …

“… We receive the Holy Spirit best when we are focused on serving others. This is why we have the priesthood responsibility to serve for the Savior. When we are engaged in service to others, we think less about ourselves, and the Holy Ghost can more readily come to us and help us in our lifelong quest to have the gift of charity bestowed upon us.”

His Spirit to Be with You

“My hope today is to increase your desire and your ability to receive the Holy Ghost. Remember, He is the third member of the Godhead. The Father and the Son are resurrected beings. The Holy Ghost is a person of spirit. (See D&C 130:22.) It is your choice whether to receive Him and welcome Him into your heart and mind. …

“More precious than memory of events is the memory of the Holy Ghost touching our hearts and His continuing affirmation of truth. More precious than seeing with our eyes or remembering words spoken and read is recalling the feelings that accompanied the quiet voice of the Spirit. Rarely I have felt it exactly as the travelers on the road to Emmaus did—as a soft burning in the heart. More often it is a feeling of light and quiet assurance. …

“… Our obligation is to choose to open our hearts to receive the ministration of the Spirit over a lifetime. …

“… Great ministers have qualified for the Holy Ghost as a nearly constant companion. And they have qualified for the gift of charity, which is the pure love of Christ. …

“I bear my personal witness that the Father is at this moment aware of you, your feelings, and the spiritual and temporal needs of everyone around you. I bear testimony that the Father and the Son are sending the Holy Ghost to all who have that gift, ask for that blessing, and seek to be worthy of it.”