LDS Church Council Bluffs Stake Conference Notes

The following are notes that I’ve taken at the March 2013 Council Bluffs Stake Conference - Saturday sessions.  The bold are direct quotes from the leaders. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormons, has a regional Stake Conference twice a year.  A few weeks later The Church as a whole convenes General Conference which General Authorities address the membership worldwide via satellite broadcast.  Every conference includes several speakers inspired to deliver specific messages to the general membership and their respective local and regional leaders.  The following are notes that I felt impressed to record.  The nature of inspired addresses is designed to be very personal.  According to individual needs one person may gain knowledge and inspiration in one part of an address than the person sitting next to them.  They, in turn, will learn something entirely different according to their needs.  All messages are delivered via the Holy Ghost.  

Most of the notes are not marked with who uttered them.  There are two reasons for this.  First, I don’t write that fast to include names and all words they say.  Two, all truth is gospel regardless of who says it.  For that reason primarily I record these notes.

We, as leaders and as ward and branch families, must make an emotional deposit in our youth.  The same can be said for adults particularly new members and less active members but especially for our youth.  We must heed the call to take souls under our wing in teaching and guiding them.  This may include taking them with you to visit families or just tossing a ball back and forth.

Six months ago the prophet lowered the eligible age for missionaries.  This has already caused a wondrous influx of missionaries in the mission field.  This surge in missionaries worldwide is projected to reach 100,000 in a very short time from now.  These young men and young women are volunteering their time, talents and testimonies to the work of the Lord.  Some missionaries do have a difficult time adjusting to mission life.  Parents have an urgent responsibility to teach independence especially in preparation for missionary service.

The family is under assault.  Morality is in steep and dangerous decline.  Values and principles are being compromised knowingly and willingly.  The first to be attacked is the head of the household - the father.  The role, responsibility and image of the father is almost mute today.  In fact, fathers are largely seen as not necessary to build up healthy children and fostering a wholesome home.  This is damnation and goes completely against the design and order of the family.

Fathers have a deep responsibility to have a positive effect on their sons and also their daughters.  The father/son relationship is often spoken of but the father/daughter relationship is very unique and vital to the emotional and spiritual growth to the daughter.  Fathers make your daughters feel special.  Make them feel important.  Make them feel of worth to the family and the world around them.

It is vitally important to be righteous ambassadors of Jesus Christ and stalwart examples as members of the Church.  We cannot fully measure our impact on those around us.  Our own Stake President is a convert to the Church.  He is a convert because of the good examples of members of the Church.  Because of small and large actions, that most of us see no value in, he was baptized in 1976, sealed for time and all eternity to his wife in the holy temple and his children likewise were sealed to them thus creating an eternal family unit.  That unit has the opportunity to endure forever.

There are no perfect people on the earth.  There never has save only one - Jesus Christ.  All the prophets have fallen short of perfection at various times in their lives.  They have all been corrected and reprimanded at one time or another.  Those who hold callings in the Church are not perfect, however they are still the Lord’s anointed to serve in their respective capacities.  Instead of being frustrated or even offended we are commanded to be patient and instructive.  We are mortal humans and humans do stupid things.  At the same time we must recognize those holding any calling in the Church as being the Lord’s anointed and they should be sustained as such.  

It is so important to establish measurable goals for our ward or branch mission plan.  Expanding charity and the work of God is a scriptural command and must be heeded in order to progress.  If there is no measure there is no increase.

Many in the mission field and even in the general membership have those desires of great success in bringing souls unto Christ.  If their expectations fall short they may feel inadequate or not quite up to par with what a missionary should be.  Great men of old had success in numbers it is true.  Alma and Ammon are but a couple of men who separately spent years in enemy territory preaching the word of God and have eventually found success.  Yet, that was their time.  

Note the danger of this day and age.  There are many who seek but know not where to find truth.  At the same time there are vast multitudes who have no desire or cankered the desire to even search for truth.  They’ve chosen to be tossed to and fro by social changes and easily-swayed winds of doctrine.  These difficult times are foretold in scripture and should come as no surprise.  Know this - that the Lord is pulling out the elect from the world.  Baptisms and conversions may be few but those few are converted for an eternal purpose.  

For this reason we are to heed the counsel provided in Doctrine and Covenants 138:57 -

“I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.”

Note the term “continue.”  It is true that the doctrine of continued learning and spiritual progress on the other side is largely unique to our faith.  It is true that the gospel will reach the ears of even those who have died.  This will take place through the organized forces on the other side from among the righteous spirits.  This organized force is of ancient origin and with Jesus Christ as the architect (1 Peter 3:18-20).  To continue can only take place if we are already doing it here.  The gospel is a positive message.  Don’t take stock in your abilities to grow the number of disciples.  Instead be actively engaged in the cause and “continue” the work.    

Charity is the pure love of Christ.  Charity also has a dual meaning.  It also means dependability.  True charity means that you have that willing heart at all times and can be depended on for your service.  Both the giver and receiver are blessed with charity.  This is provided in Doctrine and Covenants 50:22 -

“Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.”

To preach is also to provide service in whatever manner is needed.

A desire and obedience are prerequisites for a testimony of the gospel.  We make covenants as part of the testimony process.  Covenants are designed to help us grow and develop.  

We must liken our testimonies unto the Banyan tree.  Prop roots on the side of the tree can grow so large and spread so far that it becomes indistinguishable from the main trunk of the tree.  Through our works and faith let our testimony become that extension thus making it a very part of our being.  A part of our foundation.  

In Ephesians 4:11-13 we are given the end result reason for prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers.  They are there to perfect the body of Christ, spreading the work of the ministry unto the unity of the faith.  Alma, an ancient convert to the gospel of Jesus Christ, preached that the membership are to carry one another’s burdens that they may be light.  If unity suffers in your wards, branches or home then seek service opportunities.  Few things can compare to fostering unity than being engaged in the common goal of service.  Activities build unity.  Concerning your family it is important to have a weekly Date Night without the kids.  Circle the table with the family at mealtime.  Grow relationships through dialogue at the dinner table.  These simple activities and traditions will build a healthy home.