loving the nameless and Bob

Mormon 3:12

Mormon watched his people descend into wickedness. It might be easier to love the nameless masses of mankind than it is to love Bob that annoys me in my daily life. Mormon did both. He even gives us the secret to loving them all. It wasn't his love. He loved "according to the love of God which was in me". He reflected God’s love outward. Perhaps most importantly, he truly felt and relied on God’s love for him. In the desperate last days of the Nephites, Mormon shared this knowledge of God’s love with his son.

Moroni 9:25.   

Both of these men saw what we would face in our day. They saw that we would need to know the same things. I know that they have blessed me with their words and examples. 

His favorite

"Isn’t it wonderful that there are times when we can feel so fully and personally noticed and loved? Nephi can call Him “his” Jesus, and so can we. Our Saviour’s love is the “highest, noblest, strongest kind of love,” and He provides until we are “filled.” Divine love never runs dry, and we are each a cherished favourite. God’s love is where, as circles on a Venn diagram, we all overlap. Whichever parts of us seem different, His love is where we find togetherness."

God’s Favourite  

By Elder Karl D. Hirst

October 2024

I hope each of us is able to recognize the many love notes God sends us. I hope you feel like His favorite.

hearing

3 Nephi 11:7, Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, JS history 1:17

Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

An invitation that also asks the question: Do I really "hear" Him?  

What constitutes "hearing Him"? It must require active participation instead of passive perception. I never thought about the invitation meaning more than auditory reception. Perhaps hearing is following, changing, reflecting, repenting, serving. Hearing is in the doing. (James 1:22-25)

dragged into heaven

3 Nephi 7:18-19

Nephi raised his brother, Timothy, from the dead. The unrighteous witnesses of this miracle weren't converted. In fact, they were angry. They saw but would not see and heard but "would not hear". (Alma 10:6, Alma 21:10-11, Jeremiah 13:11, Nehemiah 9:29)

While we may feel sorrow for those we share the gospel with but don’t accept it or those who actively fight against the gospel, ( Helaman 7:6) it is a testament to the plan of salvation. It's a testament to the freedom to choose. It's an important reminder that every soul must choose their own path. I can offer to share the joyful path I've chosen but no one will be dragged into Heaven. They have to walk the path willingly.  

the ministering of angels has not ceased

3 Nephi 7:18

"angels did minister unto him daily."

Moroni 7:25-29

"Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men."

"I testify that angels are still sent to help us, even as they were sent to help Adam and Eve, to help the prophets, and indeed to help the Savior of the world Himself.

Even the Son of God, a God Himself, had need for heavenly comfort during His sojourn in mortality. And so such ministrations will be to the righteous until the end of time."

The Ministry of Angels  

By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

October 2008

I've felt the ministering of angels. Know that Heavenly Father loves you and sends His army to watch over you. You are not alone.

serving

"On these ministering visits, I sometimes wonder what to say and do, especially when those I visit are going through difficult challenges. But instead of focusing on what I might say or do, I have found that focusing on the Master minister—our Savior, Jesus Christ—helps me most when ministering to others."

We Follow the Master Minister  

By Elder Juan Pablo Villar

Liahona, October 2024

Elder Villar then quotes 3 Nephi 17:7-9 where Jesus calls for the nephites to bring all of their sick and afflicted to Him. The thought struck me that if someone held back and didn't go forward to be healed, they probably wouldn't be.  

It's easier to serve than to be served for many if us. My grandmother says that not asking for help is denying others the blessing of serving.  

On the other hand, sometimes there isn't really anything useful someone can do. There's nothing necessary. That's when ministers can get creative. There are a lot of kind and even helpful things that aren't actually necessary. Bring treats or a meal. Send a card. Just listen on the phone or in person. Send a positive thought, a funny meme, or an interesting story. Just be involved.  

Both sides need to start reaching out more. These last days are full of people trying to pull us apart. We have to reach for each other in small and simple ways more often. Don't wait for the bif stuff. Unity is built in the small stuff.

conference bonus material

Elder Andersen started this conference off by quoting pres. Nelson in a previous conference:

"Pure revelation for the questions in your heart will make this conference rewarding and unforgettable."

Russell M. Nelson, “Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine, and Pure Revelation,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 6–7.

 

More than just listening to conference once or twice, or even reading again, we have another opportunity. For the last few years, speakers have been adding extra content to their messages in the footnotes when the talk is published. For instance, Elder Andersen includes an except from president Nelson's 1995 byu speech in footnote #3. I've found various explanations, definitions, and other bonus content in the footnotes in the last several conferences. How cool is that? Bonus content for general conference!