April 2025 General Conference

Posted on by Mitch Peterson

Last updated on September 19th, 2025 at 10:40 am

General Conference Invitations

We identified the following invitations in the April 2025 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For each strive to take action on at least one invitation from each general conference address.

President Russell M. Nelson | “Confidence in the Presence of God“

  1. “I invite you to take intentional steps to grow in your confidence before the Lord.”
    • In our own words: To kneel in confidence before the Lord when He comes again or at the Final Judgment, we need to be intentional about our preparation.
    • Clay: Plan a routine to make sure my wife, oldest daughter, and I are regularly worshipping in the temple (a 2 for 1 “cheat code” to obtain charity and virtue which leads to confidence before the Lord, according to President Nelson).
    • Mitch: I will take action on the 10 “intentional steps” that President Nelson shared in this address (see below), and then I will write an article about my experience.
      • Intentional Step One: “Imagine the comfort of having confidence in the presence of God!”
      • Intentional Step Two: “It is imperative that we have charity in our discourse, both public and private. I thank those of you who took my previous counsel to heart. But we can still do better.”
      • Intentional Step Three: “As charity becomes part of our nature, we will lose the impulse to demean others. We will stop judging others. We will have charity for those from all walks of life.”
      • Intentional Step Four: “Let us plead with our Heavenly Father to fill our hearts with greater charity—especially for those who are difficult to love.”
      • Intentional Step Five: “We are to be His instruments for peace.”
      • Intentional Step Six: “Imagine the boost you will receive to any positive thought when you enhance it with virtue.”
      • Intentional Step Seven: “On the other hand, imagine what will happen when you add virtue to an impure thought, a cruel thought, or a depressing thought.”
      • Intentional Step Eight: “We need to grow increasingly pure. Our thoughts, words, and actions need to be unfailingly virtuous and filled with the pure love of Jesus Christ towards all men.”
      • Intentional Step Nine: “Regular worship in the house of the Lord increases our capacity for both virtue and charity. Thus, time in the temple increases our confidence before the Lord. Increased time in the temple will help us prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
      • Intentional Step Ten: “He is preparing to come again. May we likewise prepare to receive Him.”

President Dallin H. Oaks | “Divine Helps for Mortality“

  1.  “Trusting in the Lord is a particular need for all who wrongly measure the commandments of God and the teachings of His prophets against the latest findings and wisdom of man.”
    • In our own words: Humble ourselves and trust that the Lord’s ways are higher and more glorious than our ways.
    • Mitch: I will re-commit to studying The Book of Mormon every day.
  2. “First, I speak of the Light or Spirit of Christ. … The second of the great assistances provided by the Lord to help us choose what is right is a cluster of divine directions in the scriptures as part of the plan of salvation (plan of happiness). These directions are commandments, ordinances, and covenants. … Other God-given helps for making right choices are the manifestations of the Holy Ghost. … One of the most significant of God’s helps for His faithful children is the gift of the Holy Ghost. … I pray that we will teach and live these principles.”
    • In our own words: It’s not only important to practice what you preach, but it’s important to preach what you practice.
    • Clay: “Follow the fundamental spiritual maintenance plan of personal prayer, regular scripture study, and frequent repentance.” I will become more consistent with personal prayer, regular scripture study, and frequent repentance by scheduling these activities in a predictable time and place.

President Henry B. Eyring | “‘Draw Near Unto Me’“

  1.  “Here is [Jesus Christ’s] invitation to us: ‘Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.'”
    • In our own words: Prioritize drawing close to Jesus Christ and seeking to know what He would have us do.
    • Clay: Reminisce about past spiritual experiences that were transformative to me. If possible, find my journal entries or other records of the events. Evaluate at least one of the highlights and ponder, pray about, and seek to recreate it or at least the spiritual environment that led to that experience and see what the Lord will teach me. Instead of just picking, I should pray to see whether the Lord wants to guide me to a certain spiritual memory.
  2. “Just as His beloved disciples, every child of Heavenly Father who has chosen to enter through the gate of baptism is under covenant to be a witness of the Savior and to care for those in need throughout our mortal lives.”
    • In our own words: Testify of Jesus Christ and care for others throughout our entire lives.
    • Mitch: “Jesus Christ loves each of us. He offers that opportunity to draw closer to Him. As with a loving friend, you will do it in much the same way, by communicating through prayer to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, listening for cherished guidance from the Holy Ghost, and then serving others for the Savior cheerfully.” Oftentimes, I serve out of duty rather than out of love. I will prioritize “serving others for the Savior CHEERFULLY.”

President Jeffrey R. Holland | “As a Little Child“

  1.  “Be converted, and become as little children.”
    • In our own words: Become as a little child: “love … easily, … forgive … readily, [and] … laugh … delightfully.”
    • Clay: Set aside more time, both scheduled and spontaneous, to play with and listen to my kids to make sure they know I love and prioritize them and to learn from them how to become more childlike.
    • Mitch: I will put my phone away after work so that I can connect with my children.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf | “By This All Will Know That You Are My Disciples“

  1.  “The Savior declared that He restored His Church so ‘that faith … might increase in the earth.’ Therefore, when people visit our Church meetings, the Savior wants them to leave with stronger faith in Him! The love our friends feel among us will lift them closer to Jesus Christ! That is our simple goal every time we gather.”
    • In our own words: Every meeting in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must “lift [participants] closer to Jesus Christ!”
    • Clay: Be more social and invite people to do things together more often in order for that to become normal and natural. By doing that, it’ll be more normal and natural to invite people to join me at church events.
  2. “One thing we should not do is give up on the ideal! … May God bless us to patiently but diligently seek to live up to the ideals our Savior, Redeemer, and Master has set for us.”
    • In our own words: Don’t give up on the ideal, even though it will never be reached.
  3. “The Lord invites us not just to join His kingdom but also to be anxiously engaged in building it. God envisions a people who are ‘of one heart and one mind.’ And to be of one heart, we must seek pure hearts, and that requires a mighty change of heart.
    • In our own words: Jesus Christ invites us to be active participants in building up His kingdom here on earth. And to do that effectively, we must seek for unity.
    • Mitch: I will study “Lift Where You Stand” and write thoughts in my journal about these “two camps” – those who seek to lead and those who seek to hide.
  4. “If you are not yet a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we invite you to join us as we rejoice in the Savior’s ‘song of redeeming love.’ We need you. We love you. The Church will be better with your efforts to serve the Lord and His children.”
    • In our own words: If you ever have the thought that you are not a necessary part of your ward and stake, that is an erroneous thought. You are both needed and important. There is something for you to share and something for you to learn every week.

Elder David A. Bednar | “The Times of Restitution of All Things“

  1. “Consider the importance and ongoing impact of this singular event (the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 1830) in the history of the world.”
    • Clay: Elder Bednar said, “the formal organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the culmination of a sequence of miraculous experiences.” I want to remember, ponder, pray about, and discuss with my wife the miraculous experiences we’ve had so far and think about what might be next, acknowledging that what we’ve experienced so far might not be the culmination, but could be leading to something greater. Recognize that miracles have not ceased in our lives and look forward to the next one as we talk about this with Heavenly Father.
  2. “I invite all to learn about and prove this message [“that the Lord Jesus Christ has restored His gospel and Church in the latter days”].”
    • In our own words: Learn about the message: “that the Lord Jesus Christ has restored His gospel and Church in the latter days.” Prove the message: by “[gathering] together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.” (Ephesians 1:10)
    • Mitch: I will attend the Bluffdale Utah Independence Stake missionary preparation meeting on Sunday, May 18, 2025, to receive and begin studying the missionary resources, especially about the Bible, that will be provided there.
  3. “Pray earnestly with the expectation to both receive and act upon an answer from God, as did young Joseph Smith.”

Elder Quentin L. Cook | “The Atonement of Jesus Christ Provides the Ultimate Rescue“

  1. “Rely on Jesus Christ and His Atonement.”
  2. “Do not underestimate the importance of doing what we can to rescue others from physical and especially spiritual challenges.”
    • In our own words: Every effort to rescue someone else, whether physically or spiritually, matters.
  3. “Gratefully accept the Savior’s Atonement.”
  4. “We all should strive to exhibit joy and happiness even as we face the challenges of life. Our goal should be to live optimistically on the sunny side of the street.”
    • In our own words (or President Russell M. Nelson’s words): “We can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives.”
  5. “Set aside consistent time to faithfully contemplate the Savior’s Atonement.”
    • In our own words: Think about Jesus Christ’s Atonement “deeply and carefully for a prolonged period.”
    • Mitch: Dedicate my gospel study each Friday morning to learning about Jesus Christ’s Atonement. (See General Conference Applied S4 E1). On the final Friday of each month, rather than studying the Savior’s Atonement, I will dedicate time to thinking about the Savior’s Atonement “deeply and carefully,” giving the topic “thorough consideration and reflection.”
  6. “Regular attendance in a temple where possible.”
    • In our own words: Prioritize regular temple attendance.
  7. “We must never forget the sacrifices and examples of prior generations, but our adulation, appreciation, and worship should be centered on the Savior of the world and His atoning sacrifice.”
    • In our own words: Respect, revere, and learn from those individuals whom we read about in the scriptures and in our family histories, but reserve the ultimate focus of our worship on Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
    • Clay: Before Pioneer Day (July 24th), learn my ancestors’ pioneer stories and make family traditions out of them. Focus on how they were willing to do hard things because of their faith in the Savior and so can we.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson | “Worship“

  1. “May we, as the ancient Nephites and Lamanites, ‘fall down at the feet of Jesus, and … worship him.'”
    • In our own words: Humble ourselves before Jesus Christ and acknowledge that He is our Savior.
    • Clay: Have a worshipful Sabbath (Applies well to all invitations from Elder Christofferson’s talk).
      • a. Go to sleep at a reasonable time Saturday night, after meaningful prayer and gospel study.
      • b. Wake up prayerfully, start thinking about the sacrament.
      • c. Follow Elder Kearon’s Oct 2024 Conference advice during sacrament of thinking of the tender mercies from the past week and less about my failings.
      • d. Communicate with or at least say hi to my ministering families and companion at church if possible. Plan time together according to their needs/wants.
      • e. Learn to play some worshipful music in the afternoon as it makes my family happy and brings me peace.
      • f. Implement systems to create an “active, sustained effort” to seek holiness throughout the whole week.
  2. “May we, as commanded by Jesus, ‘fall down and worship the Father in [the] name [of the Son].'”
  3. “May we receive the Holy Spirit and yield our hearts to God.”
  4. “[May we] have no other gods before Him.”
    • In our own words: Don’t allow anyone or anything to come between us and our worship of God.
    • Mitch: Elder Christofferson stated: “Whatever takes precedence over worship of the Father and the Son becomes an idol.” I will journal for 10 minutes on the following topic: ‘What (or who) are my idols?’
  5. “As disciples of Jesus Christ, [may we] emulate His character in our own lives.”
    • In our own words: 3 Nephi 27:27 – “What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.”

Elder Neil L. Andersen | “Cherishing Life“

  1. “Turn to [God] with a humble and repentant heart.”
    • In our own words: Turn to God in humility.
  2. “When a woman and a man are in such a fragile time, facing a crucial choice, our words, our hands, our hearts—spiritually, emotionally, and financially—can bless them to feel the Savior’s love. … May we share our love even more abundantly with those who need us so desperately.”
    • In our own words: Others do not need our judgment, they need our love.
  3. “Nurturing and protecting life that is yet unborn is not a political position. It is a moral law confirmed by the Lord through His prophets. … As disciples of Jesus Christ, we cherish life.”
    • In our own words: The injunction to love others as Jesus Christ has loved them includes the life of the unborn.
  4. “Let us speak more often with faith and compassion to our youth in our homes, and with each other in our Relief Society and elders quorum meetings, about the Lord’s law of chastity, the sanctity of life, and the care of the unborn and their mothers.”
    • In our own words: Our youth need to learn about the Lord’s law of chastity from us, not from unknown and potentially misinformed other sources.
    • Clay: Teach my children openly about the law of chastity and the Lord’s church’s stance on abortion.
    • Mitch: Share this invitation with my elders quorum presidency and suggest that we prioritize discussing Elder Andersen’s address in a future elders quorum meeting.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband | “Right Before Our Eyes“

  1. “Share our testimonies of [Jesus Christ], His Church, His ways, and His covenant path.”
  2. “I encourage us to stand tall as His disciples, eyewitnesses of the fulfillment of prophecy, both ancient and modern.”
  3. “[Hasten] our holiness as we live temple worthy, as we worship in the house of the Lord, and as we make covenants with God for ourselves and on behalf of our ancestors on the other side of the veil.”
  4. Be prepared temporally and spiritually to better thwart the adversary’s cunning attacks.
    • Clay: Study the church’s Self-Reliance materials and set a temple appointment.
  5. “President Nelson has said: ‘The assaults of the adversary are increasing exponentially, in intensity and in variety. Our need to be in the temple on a regular basis has never been greater. I plead with you to take a prayerful look at how you spend your time.'”
  6. “My message to those students was clear: Give the Lord equal time. I counseled them to balance their studies with true higher learning, even a study of ‘the Son of the living God.’ I ask the same of everyone today: Whatever is on your to-do list, give equal time, not spare time, to the Lord in personal scripture study, family study of Come, Follow Me, prayer, Church callings, ministering, partaking of the sacrament, worshipping in the temple, and pondering the things of God.”
    • Mitch: I will pray and then study The Book of Mormon first thing each morning, before I start working on my tasks for the day. I will first set a goal to do this for seven days in a row. Once I have completed that goal, I will set a goal to do this for an entire month (30 days in a row).
  7. “Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is the answer. Start with Him. Look for His hand in your life. Listen to Him.”
  8. “Know that He understands. He took upon Himself all our sins, mistakes, misery, and very bad days that we might live again with our Father in Heaven in eternity. He has said, ‘Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.’ Faith in Jesus Christ can lift you up and heal your wounded soul. Trust Him and you will hasten your return to ‘the arms of his love.'”
  9. “May we as disciples of our day shout, ‘Hurrah for Israel’ as we prepare for the return of our Lord and Savior.”

Elder Gary E. Stevenson | “And We Talk of Christ“

  1. “We are followers of Jesus Christ, and we seek to both receive and share His light.”
  2. “Through ancient and living prophets, our Heavenly Father has commanded us to ‘hear Him!’ and to ‘come unto Christ.’ ‘We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, [and] we prophesy of Christ.'”
  3. “Christ is at the center of His Church and should be at the center of our lives.”
  4. “In recent First Presidency messages concerning Easter, we have been challenged to ‘celebrate the Resurrection of our living Savior by studying His teachings and helping to establish Easter traditions in our society as a whole, especially within our own families.’ In short, we have been encouraged to move to a higher and holier celebration of Easter. … Recent First Presidency encouragement to look ‘forward to Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ—the most glorious of all messages to mankind’ highlights the magnitude of this season.”

Elder Dale G. Renlund | “Personal Preparation To Meet the Savior“

  1.  “The best advice for her, for you, and for me is to follow the Savior’s teachings. His instructions are neither mysterious nor complex. When we follow them, we do not need to fear or be anxious.”
  2. “If we are wise, we receive the truth by accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ through priesthood ordinances and covenants. Next, we strive to remain worthy of having the Holy Ghost always with us. This capability must be acquired individually and personally, drop by drop. Consistent, personal, private acts of devotion invite the Holy Ghost to guide us.”
    • In our own words: Accept the gospel through priesthood ordinances and covenants. Make consistent, personal acts of devotion to always have the Holy Ghost with us.
  3. “The Savior knew pretenders would try to deceive the very elect and that many disciples would be duped. We should neither believe those who falsely claim divine sanction nor venture into metaphorical deserts or secret chambers to be taught by counterfeits.”
    • In our own words: Don’t be duped by pretenders – follow what the leaders of the Church are collectively teaching.
  4. “We can also avoid deception by worshipping regularly in the temple. This helps us maintain an eternal perspective and protects us from influences that might distract or divert us from the covenant path.”
    • In our own words: Worship regularly in the temple to more effectively maintain an eternal perspective.
  5. “The essential lesson of this parable of the ten virgins is that we are wise when we accept the gospel, seek to have the Holy Ghost with us, and avoid deception.”
    • In our own words:
  6. “One message of this parable is that God expects us to magnify the abilities we have been given, but He does not want us to compare our abilities to those of others.”
    • In our own words: Magnify our God-given abilities and don’t compare ourselves to others.
    • Clay Application: Fast & Pray to begin working closer with the Lord to identify my gifts, abilities, and how to use them to bless my family and as many people as possible. Don’t compare mine to others, whether favorably or unfavorably.
    • Mitch Application: Make the General Conference Applied Podcast the very best it can be without comparing myself and the podcast to other podcasters and other podcasts.
  7. “With [God’s] loving assistance, He expects us to become the best version of ourselves. That we may start with differing abilities is irrelevant to Him. And it should be to us.”
    • In our own words: Become the best version of ourselves, regardless of our starting point.
  8. “The message of the parable is clear: when we serve others, we serve God; when we don’t, we disappoint. He expects us to use our gifts, talents, and abilities to bless the lives of Heavenly Father’s children.”
    • In our own words: Use our gifts, talents, and abilities to bless the lives of Heavenly Father’s children.
  9. “The lesson of the Savior’s parable of the sheep and goats is that we are to use the gifts we have been given—time, talents, and blessings—to serve Heavenly Father’s children, especially the most vulnerable and needy.”
    • In our own words: Bless Heavenly Father’s children, especially the most vulnerable and needy.
  10. “My invitation to the anxious Primary child I mentioned earlier, and to each of you, is to follow Jesus Christ and to trust the Holy Ghost as you would a cherished friend. Rely on those who love you and who love the Savior. Seek God’s guidance to develop your unique abilities, and help others, even when it isn’t easy.”

Elder Gerrit W. Gong | “Eternity’s Great Gifts: Jesus Christ’s Atonement, Resurrection, Restoration“

  1. “Jesus’s life and light testify of God’s love for all His children. Because God our Father loves all His children in every age and land, we find His loving invitation to come find peace and joy in Him in many traditions and cultures.”
    • In our own words: Find peace and joy in Heavenly Father.
  2. “Each Easter season, we celebrate, as a symbolic whole, eternity’s great gifts through Jesus Christ: His Atonement; His (and the promise of our) literal Resurrection; Restoration of His latter-day Church with priesthood keys and authority to bless all God’s children. We rejoice in the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness. We shout, ‘Hosanna to God and the Lamb!'”
    • In our own words: Each Easter season we should celebrate Jesus Christ’s Atonement, His Resurrection, and the Restoration of His Church.
    • Mitch Application: I will work with my wife and possibly even my extended family to incorporate a celebration of the Restoration of Jesus Christ’s Church into our annual Easter season celebration.
  3. “May we each find in Jesus Christ atonement, resurrection, and restoration—peace, becoming, and belonging.”
    • In our own words: Study Jesus Christ’s Atonement, Resurrection, and the Restoration of His Church to find peace, becoming, and belonging.
    • Clay Application:  Recommit to President Nelson’s Topical Guide study of the Savior. Begin working on it.

Elder Ulisses Soares | “Reverence for Sacred Things“

  1. “[Moses] turned aside from his daily cares—something we all should be willing to do.”
    • In our own words: We should be willing to turn aside from our daily cares.
    • Mitch Application: Just as our Savior, Jesus Christ, embraced interruptions to help others in need, I will do the same. When someone interrupts me seeking for help, I will refrain from allowing that interruption to bother me.
  2. “[Make] the virtue of reverence a sacred part of our spiritual character. … Cultivate the gift of reverence in our lives. … Discover reverence for sacred things and convert our discipleship into a deeper level of spirituality and devotion. … Embrace this gift of reverence for sacred things—whether in the mountain of the Lord’s house, in a meetinghouse, or in our own homes.”
    • In our own words: Prioritize the development of reverence in our lives.
    • Clay Application: Next time I’m in the temple, treat the locker room like part of the ordinance experience as I trade my street clothes and shoes for ceremonial clothing.
  3. “As followers of Christ, we need to be careful not to weaken our connection with God and His Son by using AI-generated content and images inappropriately. We should remember that relying on a modern technological ‘arm of flesh’ is an inadequate and disrespectful substitute for the inspiration, edification, and witness that can be received only through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
    • In our own words: Don’t use artificial intelligence inappropriately – for example, by mocking sacred things or replacing the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives.
  4. “Strive to protect our home environment from worldly influences. This can be accomplished by sincerely and fervently praying before our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ and seeking to better know our Savior through our diligent study of the word of God found in the scriptures and in the teachings of our prophets. Additionally, such spiritual transformation can come as we strive to honor the covenants we have made with the Lord by living in obedience to the commandments.”
    • In our own words: To develop reverence in our homes, prioritize prayer, scripture study, the words of living prophets, honoring our covenants, and keeping the commandments.
  5. “Faithfully participate in the Church’s worship service, including tuning our hearts to the Lord through our sincere singing of sacred hymns. Turning aside—like Moses—from worldly distractions, especially our cell phones or anything not in harmony with this sacred moment, enables us to turn our full attention to partaking of the sacrament, with our minds and hearts focused on the Savior and His atoning sacrifice along with our own covenants.”
    • In our own words: To develop reverence at church, sing the hymns and eliminate distractions (especially by putting our cell phones away).
  6. “Experience this spiritual change in our discipleship as we regularly worship in the mountain of the Lord’s house—our holy temples—and strive to live with covenant confidence, especially when we face the trials of mortal life.”
    • In our own words: Regularly worship in the temple to grow in confidence before God.

Elder Patrick Kearon | “Receive His Gift“

  1. “Think of a time when you found—or made—the perfect gift for someone you love.”
    • In our own words: Think of a time when you found—or made—the perfect gift for someone you love.
    • Mitch Application: I will become a much more intentional and thoughtful gift giver.
  2. “Imagine you are hearing this for the first time! You really are His cherished daughter. You really are His precious son. And the path you are on is His plan of happiness. With His omniscient love, He knows exactly who you were before you were sent to earth and what you have experienced so far in your mortal life, and He has mercifully planned for your every tomorrow. And oh, how He yearns to one day have you return to Him, to receive the supreme intent of all His beautiful gifts, eternal life with Him.”
    • In our own words: Imagine you are hearing the following for the first time: you are a child of God, He knows you perfectly, He has a plan for you, and He wants you to become like Him.
  3. “I invite you to receive, either for the first time or to a greater extent than ever before, the magnificent realisation that you truly are God’s beloved child. You must undo the bow, tear off the wrapping paper, open the box, and actively receive with grateful humility a true, pure understanding of this foundational truth. The Holy Spirit can bear witness to your heart that you are indeed a child of the Most High. … Please, will you pray to understand if you are truly receiving this transformative knowledge deep in your soul? Will you please accept the gift? Will you do so more deeply, more freely, more abundantly than you ever have before—and in so doing be showered with all of those other gifts that come with it?”
    • In our own words: Please pray to truly understand, deeper than you ever have before, that you are a child of God.
    • Clay Application: Prayerfully ask God to help me understand and receive a stronger testimony of our father-son relationship, then dedicate at least one upcoming temple session to focus on pondering that topic.
  4. “You may be wondering, ‘What do I have to do to receive this gift from God?’ Well, actually, nothing. It is a gift from the Giver. It is simply a fact. Just let it in. You are His child. You are beloved of Him. Do not complicate it. Do not block the receiving of this gift with thoughts that you are somehow undeserving. The reality is none of us is ‘deserving’—all the Father’s gifts are received only through the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, but how His generous heart longs for each of His children to receive them! Then, as your new or renewed understanding dawns on you, rejoice in thanking the Giver of this gift. … You are a child of God. This is not just a nice song we sing. Will you please accept, open, and receive this gift of knowledge and understanding from Him? Will you hold it close as the precious treasure it is? Re-receive this gift, or perhaps truly receive it for the very first time, and let it transform every aspect of your life.”
    • In our own words: Accept the simple truth that you are God’s child, whether you feel you are deserving of that distinction or not, be grateful for it, and let it transform every aspect of your life.

President Camille N. Johnson | “Spiritually Whole in Him“

  1. “Exercise our agency to follow [Jesus Christ] in faith, submit our hearts to Him so He can change them, keep His commandments, and enter a covenant relationship with Him, meekly enduring and learning from the challenges of this earthly estate until we return to His presence and are healed in every way.”
    • In our own words: Follow [Jesus Christ] in faith, submit our hearts to Him, keep His commandments, enter a covenant relationship with Him, and humbly endure and learn from the challenges of life.
  2. “Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we can seek to be spiritually whole while we wait and hope for physical and emotional healing.”
    • In our own words: Seek to be spiritually whole, through our faith in Jesus Christ, regardless of lingering physical or emotional challenges.
    • Clay Application: With the grateful, healed leper in mind, have a sincere gratitude prayer with no requests.
    • Mitch Application: I will make some time to write in my journal about some challenges I am currently experiencing. As I write, I will strive to see how those challenges are helping me to become a more devoted disciple of Jesus Christ.
  3. “We are commanded to share His light. So keep your lamp full of the oil of conversion to Jesus Christ and be prepared to keep your lamp trimmed and burning bright. Then let that light shine.”
    • In our own words: Continually grow in faith and share that faith with others.

Sister Tamara W. Runia | “Your Repentance Doesn’t Burden Jesus Christ; It Brightens His Joy“

  1. “So when the Lord says, ‘Repent ye, repent ye,’ what if you imagined Him saying, ‘I love you. I love you.’ Picture Him pleading with you to leave behind the behavior causing you pain, inviting you to step out of darkness and turn to His light.”
  2. “Picture your favorite image of Christ. Now imagine Him smiling brightly with joy each time you use His gift [of repentance], because He is the ‘perfect brightness of hope.’ Yes, your repentance doesn’t burden Jesus Christ; it brightens His joy! Let’s teach that!”
    • In our own words: Imagine the Savior smiling at you each time you repent. Teach that repentance brings Jesus Christ joy.
  3. “You need to hear this, so I’ll say these words out loud: You are not the voice in your head or the mistakes you have made. You may need to say that out loud too. Tell Satan, ‘Not today.’ Put him behind you.”
    • In our own words: Speak kindly to yourself.
  4. “Let’s try this. Tonight, before you pray, imagine Jesus Christ close by. He is your Advocate with the Father. Ask yourself, ‘What would my Savior say to the Father about me?’ And then become silent. Listen for that voice that says good things about you—the voice of the Savior, your finest friend, and your Father in Heaven, who is really there.”
    • In our own words: Before you pray, ask yourself what Jesus Christ would say to Heavenly Father about you, and then listen for the voice that says good things about you.
    • Clay Application: Try this specific invitation and continue listening to the voice that says Good things about me when seeking to connect with the spirit.
    • Mitch Application: I will try this tomorrow night before I go to bed and journal about my experience.
  5. “Remember … on those days when you feel that voice telling you to hide, that you should hide in a dark room all by yourself, I invite you to be brave and believe Christ! Walk over and turn on the Light—our Perfect Brightness of Hope.”
    • In our own words: Don’t hide from your duty or from the consequences of sin. Draw near to Jesus Christ.

Sister Amy A. Wright | “Thou Art the Christ“

  1. “We want our children to believe in Jesus Christ, belong to Jesus Christ and His Church through covenant, and strive to become like Jesus Christ.”
  2. “‘[The Lord] spake unto the people, saying: Behold, I am Jesus Christ. … Arise and come forth. … The multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one … and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he.’ I invite you to ponder what this can look like in the life of young children. Do they hear testimonies of Jesus Christ and His gospel? Do they see reverential, worshipful images of His ministry and godhood? Do they feel and recognize the Holy Ghost testifying of His reality and divinity? Do they know of His message and mission?”
    • In our own words: Ponder how to help young children hear testimonies of Jesus Christ, see worshipful images of His ministry, feel and recognize the Holy Ghost, and know of Jesus Christ’s mission.
    • Clay Application: Get my baptized kids praying and reading their own scriptures at least a little each day. Start with The Book of Mormon.
  3. “As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have a covenantal responsibility to build His kingdom and prepare for His return.”
    • In our own words: “Build [Jesus Christ’s] kingdom and prepare for His return.”
  4. “How can we help children make and keep sacred covenants? In the Come, Follow Me manual, in appendix A and B, we find conversation starters and lessons that will empower families and support teachers and leaders in their sacred responsibility to prepare children for a lifetime on God’s covenant path.”
    • In our own words: Check out appendices A and B in the Come, Follow Me manual to learn how to help children make and keep sacred covenants.
    • Clay Application: Check out this resource.
  5. “When extending invitations to the Lord’s youngest disciples, please take every opportunity to lead them, guide them, walk beside them, and help them find the Way. Counsel with these precious little ones as they prepare to teach, testify, pray, or serve so they are confident and experience joy in fulfilling their responsibilities. Seek inspired ways to help them come to know this is their Church and they have a vital role to play in preparing for the Savior’s return.”
  6. “We need to infuse the Light of Jesus Christ into every corner of our lives. If we are not testifying to the veracity of His premortal godhood, His divine mission, and His prison-bursting Resurrection in our homes and in every single meeting of this Church, then our messages of love, service, honesty, humility, gratitude, and compassion can become nothing more than a jaunty pep talk of thoughtful living. Without Jesus Christ there is no power to change, no purpose to aspire to, and no reconciliation of the travails of life. If we become casual in our discipleship of Jesus Christ, it could be catastrophic for our children.”
    • In our own words: Teach children good principles deliberately, and tie those good principles to Jesus Christ. Don’t become casual in our discipleship of Jesus Christ.
  7. “When we tell our children we love them, are we also telling them that their Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ love them? Our love may comfort and inspire, but Their love can sanctify, exalt, and heal.”
    • In our own words: Frequently express love to your children, and teach them that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love them.
    • Mitch Application: I will more consistently remind each of my children, when I tell them that I love them, that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love them, too.

Elder S. Mark Palmer | “‘Return Unto Me … That I May Heal You’“

  1. “To all who are longing for faith, we invite you to come back. … To all who recognise what you have lost, we invite you to come back so you can once again taste the joyous fruit of the gospel. … This message is not a challenge, and it is not a condemnation. It is an invitation, extended with love and a sincere desire to welcome you back to your spiritual home.”
    • In our own words: If you have stepped away from the Church, accept the loving invitation to come back. If you have not stepped away from the Church, invite those who have left to come back.
  2. “Feel the witness of the Holy Ghost as you now hear this loving invitation and magnificent promise from our Saviour, Jesus Christ: ‘Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?'”
    • In our own words: Return to Jesus Christ so He can heal you.
    • Clay Application: Assess my spiritual momentum. Make improvements. Daily repentance, better prayer (with my notebook). READ the Come, Follow Me section instead of (or in addition to) listening. I personally catch more inspiration that way.
  3. “When some of Jesus’s followers in Capernaum found His teachings hard and chose to leave, He turned to His Apostles and asked, ‘Will ye also go away?’ This is the question we each must answer as we face our individual times of testing.”
    • In our own words: Ask ourselves if we will “also go away” from the Savior during challenging times.
    • Mitch Application: I will create a document or a video in which I share my testimony of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and Their Church. In this document or video, I will specifically answer the Savior’s question (i.e., “Will ye also go away?”).
  4. “[Focus] your faith on Jesus Christ and His gospel—the trunk and the roots.”
    • In our own words: Focus your faith on Jesus Christ and His gospel.
  5. “Be patient as your faith and testimony also grow. This includes not taking offense at thoughtless comments like ‘Where have you been all these years?'”
    • In our own words: Be patient and choose not to take offense.
  6. “Nourish your faith and your testimony as you feast at the sacrament table each week and as you worship in the house of the Lord.”
    • In our own words: Take the sacrament each week and worship in the temple.
  7. “Stay sensitive to the feelings and the witness of the Spirit. Learn from Amulek, who described his time as a less-active member by saying, ‘I was called many times and I would not hear.'”
    • In our own words: Follow the Spirit.
  8. “With all the love in our hearts, we welcome you home.”
    • In our own words: Invite others to come “home” to the Church.

Bishop Gérald Caussé | “Compensating Blessings“

  1. “My dear friends, if you ever feel limited or disadvantaged by the circumstances of your life, I want you to know this: The Lord loves you personally. He knows your circumstances, and the door to His blessings remains wide open to you no matter the challenges you face.”
    • In our own words: Know that the Lord loves you personally, He knows your circumstances, and your specific challenges don’t close any doors to the blessings He has in store for you.
    • Clay Application: Implement the following ideas: Put more effective effort into studying His word and feeling the spirit. That doesn’t necessarily require more time so long as we’re already doing our best to “Give the Lord equal time.” We say “work smarter, not harder.” Try to worship deeper, not always longer. Seek high-value worshipful experiences like fasting, temple service, genealogy, vocal prayer and pondering with a notebook in a distraction-free space. Figure out where I need to spend more time worshipping and where I should worship deeper instead of longer.
  2. “Through Jesus Christ and His Atonement, … find the strength to endure and ultimately overcome all of life’s challenges.”
    • In our own words: Find the strength to endure and ultimately overcome all of life’s challenges through Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
  3. “The Lord asks us to do ‘all we can’ and to ‘offer [our] whole souls as an offering unto him.’ This requires a deep desire, a sincere and faithful heart, and our utmost diligence in keeping His commandments and aligning our will with His.”
    • Mitch Application: I will hold a family council in a future Family Home Evening where we discuss Bishop Caussé’s “prescription” for doing “all we can” for the Lord. In particular, I will write the four steps for this “prescription” on our whiteboard (i.e., deep desire, sincere and faithful heart, utmost diligence in keeping God’s commandments, and aligning our will with God’s will), and then discuss as a family ways that we can incorporate these four steps into our worship.
  4. “When facing limitations and challenges, may we recognize our own blessings—our gifts, resources, and time—and use them to serve those in need.”
    • In our own words: When facing limitations and challenges, recognize our own blessings—our gifts, resources, and time—and use them to serve those in need.
  5. “One of the most powerful ways we may contribute to God’s compensating blessings is through the vicarious work we do for our ancestors in the house of the Lord.”
    • In our own words: Do the vicarious work for our ancestors in the house of the Lord.

President Steven J. Lund | “Divine Authority, Sublime Young Men“

  1. “Seeing this rolling thunder of newly ordained priesthood holders spreading across the earth, I wondered—in a ‘church of joy’ kind of way—if it shouldn’t be shouted from the rooftops. ‘Today,’ I thought, ‘there should be trumpets and crashing cymbals and blazing Roman candles. There should be parades!'”
    • In our own words: Enthusiastically celebrate milestones in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, such as priesthood ordinations.
  2. “The Aaronic Priesthood is called the preparatory priesthood partly because its ordinances allow them to experience the weight and the joy of being on the Lord’s errand, preparing them for future priesthood service, when they may be called upon to minister in unforeseeable ways—including pronouncing inspired blessings in times when hopes and dreams, and even life and death, hang in precarious balance. Such serious expectations require serious preparation.”
    • In our own words: Seriously prepare to meet the Lord’s serious expectations.
    • Clay Application: Ponder and then act on President Lund’s statements: 1) “The weight and the joy of being on the Lord’s errand”; 2) I “may be called upon to minister in unforeseeable ways—including pronouncing inspired blessings in times when hopes and dreams, and even life and death, hang in precarious balance. Such serious expectations require serious preparation.”
  3. “Deacons and teachers are ‘to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ’ (Doctrine and Covenants 20:59). In addition to these opportunities, priests are to ‘preach … and baptize’ (Doctrine and Covenants 20:50). … One bishop taught his new deacons quorum presidency these duties. So the young presidency began to talk about what that might look like in their quorum and in their ward.”
    • In our own words: Learn our obligations and counsel together to understand how to apply them.
    • Mitch Application: Work with my family to set goals for how we can “warn, expound, exhort, teach, and invite all to come unto Christ” and then work together to accomplish those goals.

Elder Ricardo P. Giménez | “My Love for the Savior Is My ‘Why’“

  1. “[President Russell M. Nelson] has invited us to study and ponder the messages shared at the last two conferences. In April 2024, he said, ‘I hope you will repeatedly study the messages of this conference throughout the coming months.’ Then, in October 2024, he said: ‘I urge you to study [the speakers’] messages. Use them as a litmus test of what is true and what is not during the next six months.’ These invitations can be added to prophetic invitations we have received throughout our lifetimes, including and especially those we have received in recent years.”
    • In our own words: Repeatedly study the messages of general conference and allow those messages to inform your understanding of truth.
    • Clay Application: Begin reviewing the April 2025 General Conference messages we’ve already covered, revisiting the invitations we found. Maybe there’s something I forgot to do or a new invitation will stand out.
  2. “As your brother, I hope you will consider my words as a sincere invitation to seek to understand the opportunity to link everything we do with our love for the Savior.”
    • In our own words: “Seek to understand the opportunity to link everything we do with our love for the Savior.”
  3. “In our world, we usually focus on what we do and on consistently accomplishing tasks and goals. In a spiritual sphere, we have the opportunity to go beyond just doing things or achieving goals by understanding why we are doing them. … we can understand and connect that the reason behind our actions relates to our love for the Savior and our Heavenly Father.”
    • In our own words: “Connect … our actions … to our love for the Savior and our Heavenly Father.”
  4. “Please don’t misunderstand my point about having activities and traditions or setting goals and working hard to achieve them; there is nothing wrong with this. However, I invite you to open your hearts and minds to the opportunity and blessing of understanding why we do these things and how we practice our religion.”
    • In our own words: Better understand why we have activities and traditions as we practice our religion.
  5. “President Nelson said, ‘Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.’ And then he extended this invitation: ‘Learn more about His Atonement, His love, His mercy, His doctrine, and His restored gospel of healing and progression. Turn to Him! Follow Him!’ Ponder this in your hearts and minds: Do you believe President Nelson’s invitation had the intention of helping us prepare a checklist where we will accumulate more knowledge and complete tasks so we can check off his invitation from our to-do lists? Or is he inviting us to consider the aspects of these eternal truths and principles as an opportunity to understand the ‘why’ and connect the Savior’s covenantal love for us with our lifelong discipleship journey?”
    • In our own words: Ponder the ‘why’ for the many invitations that President Nelson extends in general conference and in other settings.
  6. “The invitation is to study and ponder the messages from the general conference and use them to determine and understand what we each can do to improve.”
    • In our own words: “Study and ponder the messages from … general conference and use them to determine and understand what we each can do to improve.”
  7. “Understand that because I love the Savior, I want to learn more about Him by studying the words of the living prophets. And because I love my fellow man, I will share the teachings of prophets, seers, and revelators with others, starting with my loved ones.”
    • In our own words: Learn about the Savior “by studying the words of living prophets,” and “share the teachings of prophets, seers, and revelators with others,” especially those we love.
    • Mitch Application: I will conscientiously look for ways to incorporate General Conference messages in family home evenings, gospel teaching, conversations with family and friends, and even discussions with those not of our faith.
  8. “I hope you can feel and see the importance of connecting our actions with our love for the Savior. In a globalized world, many voices will try to influence you and, if possible, lead you to believe that some fundamental truths of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ are unnecessary. These voices start with the essential truth of the need for a restoration in these the last days, including the necessity of having God’s kingdom on earth, represented by the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You may hear voices insisting that only a personal relationship or understanding with the Savior is sufficient and that religion or the restored Church is unnecessary or nonessential. I invite you to be slow to consider or even be immune to being influenced by these misleading ideas and to be quicker to remember what the Savior has been telling and teaching us since ancient times—beginning with the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for us and connecting our love for Them as the reason to follow Them.”
    • In our own words: Be slow to accept or even immune from uninspired opinions and be quick to remember the Savior’s teachings.

Elder Sandino Roman | “Faith: A Bond of Trust and Loyalty“

  1.  “What does it mean to have faith in Christ? Does it mean we believe in Him or have a testimony that He is real? That may be a start, but it’s more than that. Have you ever thought of faith as trust? Think of the person you trust the most—perhaps a family member or a friend. Why do you trust them? It is probably because you have seen their constant love and help.”
    • In our own words: To learn what it means to have faith in Christ, think of the person or people you trust most in life, and strive to better understand why you trust them.
  2. “[R]ecognize [Jesus Christ’s] blessings and develop a relationship of trust with Him. … Believe and trust in Jesus Christ.“
    • In our own words: Recognize Jesus Christ’s blessings in your life, believe Him, and develop a relationship of trust with Him.
  3. “In a recent youth devotional, you were invited to meditate on a time in your life when you received a ray of heavenly light. Try this exercise!
    • “Start by meditating about Christ and the happiness His Atonement and gospel bring to your life. Also, make a record of the ‘spiritually defining memories’ where God has been there for you, for your loved ones, and for the people in the scriptures. Now, these testimonies will not bring power to your life until the Spirit etches them in the ‘fleshy tables’ of your heart. So ponder and record all God set in motion for these miracles to come at just the right time.
      “Next, use this exercise as an opportunity to get closer to God. Pray to your Heavenly Father as if it were the first time. Express your love and gratitude for His blessings. Even ask Him how He feels about you and about the direction your life is taking.”
    • In our own words: Try the following exercise: 1) Meditate about Christ and the happiness His Atonement and gospel bring to your life. 2) Make a record of the ‘spiritually defining memories’ where God has been there for you, for your loved ones, and for the people in the scriptures. 3) Ponder and record all God set in motion for miracles to come at just the right time in your life. 4) Pray to your Heavenly Father as if it were the first time and ask Him how He feels about you and about the direction your life is taking.
    • Clay Application: Try the “ray of heavenly light” exercise
  4. “Notice that faith sprouts as we trust in Jesus Christ and blooms as we are faithful and loyal to Him. If you want a true relationship with Christ, show Him by making covenants and honoring them with faithfulness and loyalty. … [C]ommit to being loyal to [Jesus Christ].“
    • In our own words: Commit to being loyal to Jesus Christ by making covenants and honoring them with faithfulness and loyalty.
  5. “[F]aith in Jesus Christ is a bond of trust forged in loyalty and love. In other words, in gratitude for God’s merciful love (hesed), we show our loyal love (emunah) by keeping His commandments.”
    • In our own words: Be grateful for God’s merciful love by showing our loyal love for Him by keeping His commandments. This will forge a bond of trust.
  6. “[H]ow should you respond to such adverse situations that require His miracles? While challenges are inevitable and sometimes frightening, simply walk undaunted toward Him, just as the 2025 FSY conference theme invites: ‘Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.'”
    • In our own words: While facing adverse situations that require Christ’s miracles, apply the 2025 FSY theme: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”
  7. “Imagine that you are an explorer in uncharted territory. To overcome the obstacles ahead, you need a source of light. Your faithfulness to God and your constant interactions with Him are the fuel for your lantern. So when you encounter dark and perilous situations, instead of walking toward them blindly, you will turn on your lamp filled with the oil of faith in Christ to shed glimmers of hope on the uncertain path.”
    • In our own words: Be faithful to God, constantly interact with Him, and reflect on past experiences to increase your hope that the Lord will help you through your journey’s challenges.
    • Mitch Application: Study and then journal about President Steven J. Lund’s September 20, 2022, BYU Devotional entitled “Flashes of Light“.
  8. “Our faith must be centered in Christ and our hope in His blessings, as He chooses to send them. ‘Expect miracles,’ but ‘let God prevail in our lives.'”
    • In our own words: Center your faith in Christ and your hope in His blessings. Expect miracles, but let God prevail.
  9. “I invite you to begin today to nurture your relationship with Jesus Christ. Make a commitment to never forsake Him.”
    • In our own words: Begin today to nurture your relationship with Jesus Christ. Make a commitment to never forsake Him.

Elder Hans T. Boom | “True to the Faith That Our Parents Have Cherished“

  1.  “As a family we went through some hardships, just like any other family. These have only made us stronger and have deepened our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
    • In our own words: When you experience hardships, allow them to strengthen and deepen your faith in Jesus Christ.
    • Mitch Application: In our next family council, I will discuss with my wife and children what we will establish as our family slogan.
  2. “Their decision to become members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had a great impact on their lives as they were shunned by the villagers and by their family. It took many years, loving notes to family members, and service to the community before they were finally accepted.”
    • In our own words: Love and serve others, even when they shun you for your beliefs.
  3. “Even when this might not be the case, as my mother experienced as a child, you can become one of those ‘goodly parents who love the Lord’ and provide a righteous example to others.”
    • In our own words: No matter what you experience in childhood, you can become a parent who loves the Lord and provides a righteous example to others.
  4. “To those of the rising generation wherever you are and in whatever situation you may find yourself, please learn and receive strength from the faith and testimonies of those who came before you. … All of us, whether we are the first generation in the gospel or the fifth, should ask ourselves, What stories of faith, strength, and celestial commitment will I pass on to the next generation? … Let us be ‘true to the faith that our parents have cherished, true to truth for which martyrs have perished, to God’s command, soul, heart, and hand, faithful and true we will ever stand.'”
    • In our own words: Be true to the faith by learning about your ancestors’ faith and sacrifices and consider “what stories of faith, strength, and celestial commitment [you] will pass on to the next generation”.
    • Clay Application: I was consistent at journaling for a couple years as a teen and it changed my behavior. Knowing I was going to have to write about my day at its end often led me to take bolder, better, or more interesting action because I wanted to have a story to tell. My application is to return to that state by journaling at least 3x per week and increasing from there. I will set a journal reminder on my calendar in the morning to get me thinking about what story I want to be able to tell. I’ll experiment with writing in the evenings or mornings.
  5. “Thinking about a sacrifice that will truly bless your life, please consider and pray about the invitation of our beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, when he asked ‘every worthy, able young man to prepare for and serve a mission. For Latter-day Saint young men, missionary service is a priesthood responsibility. … ‘For … young and able sisters, a mission is also a powerful, but optional, opportunity.'”
    • In our own words: Consider and pray about President Nelson’s invitation to prepare for and serve a mission.
  6. “Remember, ‘for how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?'”
    • In our own words: Remember that the only way to know the Savior is to serve Him.
  7. “In both types of service [serving as a service missionary or a teaching missionary], you will show the Lord you love Him and that you want to get to know Him better. … Let us all continue in our efforts to get to know our Savior, Jesus Christ, better and to make Him the center of our lives. He is the rock upon which we must build.”
    • In our own words: Get to know the Savior better and make Him the center of our lives.

Elder James R. Rasband | “The Plan of Mercy“

  1.  “President Russell M. Nelson invited us to study the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple, recorded in section 109 of the Doctrine and Covenants.”
    • In our own words: Study Doctrine and Covenants section 109.
    • Mitch Application: I will study President Russell M. Nelson’s April 2024 General Conference address, “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys“, as well as Doctrine and Covenants section 109.
    • Clay (Bonus) Application: Read The Savior in Kirtland by Karl Ricks Anderson.
  2. “‘Newly called missionaries are encouraged to receive the temple endowment as soon as possible and to attend the temple as often as circumstances allow.’”
  3. “In the [Kirtland temple] dedicatory prayer, given by revelation, the Prophet Joseph Smith prayed that ‘when thy servants shall go out from thy house … to bear testimony of thy name,’ the ‘hearts’ of ‘all people’ would ‘be softened’—both the ‘great ones of the earth’ and ‘all the poor, the needy, and [the] afflicted.’ He prayed that ‘their prejudices may give way before the truth, and thy people may obtain favor in the sight of all; that all the ends of the earth may know that we, thy servants, have heard thy voice, and that thou hast sent us.’ What a blessing it would be to have hearts softened as we interact with neighbors and coworkers.”
    • In our own words: As we worship in the temple, others’ hearts can be softened and more open to hearing us teach the gospel.
  4. “In the temple, we find mercy in the covenants we make.”
    • In our own words: Notice how temple ordinances are examples of God’s mercy.
  5. “For those who sometimes struggle to feel answers to prayer, seeking the Lord’s mercy is one of the most powerful ways to feel the witness of the Holy Ghost.”
    • In our own words: If you sometimes struggle to feel answers to prayer, seek the Lord’s mercy.
    • Clay Application: Try starting your prayers by considering the mercies you and others have received and expressing gratitude for them along with a plea for forgiveness of sin. Then, start in with items on your mind and see whether you notice the spirit more.
  6. “Moroni 10:3–5. We often shorthand these verses to teach that through sincere prayer, we can learn whether the Book of Mormon is true. But this shorthand can neglect the important role of mercy. Listen to how Moroni begins his exhortation: ‘I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, … that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.’

    “Moroni urges us not only to read these things—the records he was about to seal up—but also to ponder in our hearts what the Book of Mormon reveals about ‘how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men.’ It is pondering upon the Lord’s mercy that prepares us to ‘ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true.’ …

    “If you are struggling [to know if the Book of Mormon is true], may I invite you to follow Moroni’s counsel to ponder on the many ways the Book of Mormon teaches ‘how merciful the Lord hath been [to] the children of men’? Based on my experience, I hope that when you do, the peace of the Holy Ghost can enter your heart and you can know, believe, and feel that the Book of Mormon and the plan of mercy it teaches are true.”
    • In our own words: When seeking a testimony of the Book of Mormon, first ponder in our hearts what it reveals about ‘how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men.’
  7. “As we ponder on the Book of Mormon, we might ask: Is it really true, as Alma taught, that God’s plan of mercy assures that every person who ever lived on this earth will be resurrected and that they will ‘be restored to their … perfect frame’? Is Amulek right—can the Savior’s mercy satisfy all the bitterly real demands of justice that we would otherwise be obligated to pay and instead ‘[encircle us] in the arms of safety’?

    “Is it true, as Alma testified, that Christ suffered not only for our sins but for our ‘pains and afflictions’ so that He could ‘know … how to succor his people according to their infirmities’? Is the Lord really so merciful, as King Benjamin taught, that as a free gift, He atoned ‘for the sins of those … who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned’?

    “Is it true, as Lehi said, that ‘Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy’? And is it really true, as Abinadi testified, quoting Isaiah, that Jesus Christ was ‘wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed’?

    “In sum, is the Father’s plan as taught in the Book of Mormon really this merciful?”
    • In our own words: The Book of Mormon is full of stories of God’s mercy. Ponder these stories.

Elder Sergio R. Vargas | “Our Heavenly Guidance System“

  1.  “As we focus our lives on Jesus Christ, we will find our way home, enduring to the end and rejoicing to the end. … I invite all of us today to center our lives on Jesus Christ and His teachings. Doing so will help us avoid biting the hooks of temptation, offense, and self-pity. We will stand as temples—holy, firm, and constant. We will weather the storms, and we will make it home, enduring to the end and rejoicing to the end.”
    • In our own words: Center our lives on Jesus Christ and His teachings.
  2. Focus on Jesus Christ and not on the situation. [Remember] “President Russell M. Nelson taught that ‘the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.’” 
    • In our own words: Focus on Jesus Christ, not your situation. Joy isn’t dependent on your circumstances.
  3. “At that very moment, a concerned priesthood holder stood in front of me. He lovingly invited me to focus on Christ and not on the situation we had experienced in class. As I looked back on the experience with him, he shared with me that he heard a voice tell him, ‘Go after him; he is important to me.’”
    • In our own words: Lovingly invite others to focus on Jesus Christ, and follow spiritual promptings to be led to those in need.
    • Mitch Application: I will prioritize having a meaningful gospel-centered conversation soon with the families to whom I am serving as a ministering brother.
  4. “Just as salmon need to be nourished in the ocean to grow, we also need to nourish ourselves spiritually to avoid dying of spiritual malnutrition. Prayer, the scriptures, the temple, and our regular attendance at Sunday meetings are vital in our spiritual menu.”
    • In our own words: Avoid spiritual malnutrition through prayer, scripture study, temple attendance, and regular Sunday church attendance.
  5. “The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that ‘a man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.’”
    • In our own words: Evidence your conversion and love of God by blessing the whole world.
    • Clay Application: It is no longer difficult to reach the whole world. The trick is getting the world’s attention. The quickest way in 2025 to range through the whole world and bless the human race is social media. I’ve signed up for a course to learn how to make more engaging video content. I plan to start that course and practice what I learn to extend the reach of General Conference Applied. I’ll commit to posting one short-form video before the Return & Report episode on Elder Vargas’ talk.
  6. “Ask for help. Jesus Christ understands and is always eager to share our burdens. Remember that He is known as ‘a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.’ The Savior taught, ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’”
    • In our own words: Ask for help.
  7. “We may not totally forget our sins as part of our mortal learning so we will remember not to repeat them. Instead, we will remember Him as we take the sacrament at church every Sunday. This ordinance is an essential part of worship and spiritual development. Joy comes when we understand that this is not just another day. ‘The sabbath was made for man’ with the intention of giving us rest from the world and renewing our body and spirit.”
    • In our own words: Take the sacrament each week to remember Jesus. Seek to understand and honor the Sabbath to receive joy.
  8. “Go to the temple – the house of the Lord. Temples give us a deeper knowledge of Jesus Christ as the center of the covenant that leads us to eternal life.”
    • In our own words: Go to the temple – the house of the Lord

Elder Steven D. Shumway | “Participate To Prepare for Christ’s Return”

  1.  “There is a growing need for willing souls to engage in God’s work. Selflessly serving is the very essence of Christlike discipleship. But serving is rarely convenient. This is why I admire you covenant-keeping disciples, including our dear missionaries, who set aside your desires and challenges to serve God by serving His children. … [L]abor with God in whatever way He asks.”
    • In our own words: Set aside our own desires and challenges to serve God’s children in whatever way He asks.
  2. “God rejoices in our progress, and so should we, even when we still have work to do.”
  3. “[W]e can engage in the work and protect our testimonies through meaningful ways like prayer and scripture study.”
    • In our own words: “Engage in the work and protect our testimonies through … prayer and scripture study.”
  4. “[S]erve because we love God and want to live our covenants.”
    • Clay Application: Prayerfully seek to figure out how my service in the primary is connected to living my covenants. Ponder how magnifying my calling to help these kids grow in the gospel is a way to live my covenants.
  5. “Our preparation to meet Jesus Christ accelerates when we stop asking what God will permit and start asking what God would prefer.”
    • In our own words: “Stop asking what God will permit and start asking what God would prefer.”
  6. “[A]ct in faith to do something beyond our abilities.”
    • Mitch Application: I will take action on this invitation from President Russell M. Nelson’s April 2021 General Conference address, “Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains“: “What would you do if you had more faith? Think about it. Write about it. Then receive more faith by doing something that requires more faith.”
  7. “I invite leaders and each of us to more intentionally seek those without callings. Encourage and help them engage in God’s work to help them prepare for Christ’s return. … Elder David A. Bednar teaches the importance of the scriptural mandate to ‘let every [woman and] man learn [their] duty, and to act.’ Do we do this? When leaders and parents let others learn and act for themselves, they blossom and flourish. While the easier path may be to give faithful members a second calling, the more excellent way is to invite the unlikely to serve and let them learn and grow.”
    • In our own words: “More intentionally seek those without callings” and “help them engage in God’s work.” “Invite the unlikely to serve and let them learn and grow.”
  8. “When we serve to magnify Christ and not ourselves, our service becomes joyful. When others leave our class, meeting, ministering visit, or activity remembering Christ more than they remember us, the work is energizing.”
    • In our own words: “[S]erve to magnify Christ and not ourselves.

Elder John A. McCune | “Joy Through Covenant Discipleship”

  1.  “Jesus Christ declared, ‘I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn.’ Because of who He is and what He has done, we worship Him, we revere Him, we give glory to Him, and we follow Him. Christ has redeemed us, and we are forever grateful for His infinite and atoning sacrifice.”
    • In our own words: Worship, revere, give glory to, follow, and be grateful for Jesus Christ.
  2. “In our quest to understand what we do not know, we might sometimes rely on our familiar mortal experiences, or things we do know. For example, we can learn somewhat of God the Father through our own parenthood and mortal family relationships. However, we should be careful in applying these comparisons too far in our attempt to understand our Heavenly Father. The attributes of God the Father transcend any less-than-perfect attributes of a fallen man.”
    • In our own words: We can learn some things about God the Father from mortal relationships, but should be careful not to take that too far, given human imperfection.
  3. “God the Father is the perfect Father. He is perfectly loving, kind, patient, and understanding and is perfectly glorious. We can trust Him perfectly…. [T]rust God the Father and Jesus Christ because They are just and fair with all of us.”
    • In our own words: God and Jesus are perfect; trust Them completely.
  4. “[W]e pondered this experience.” (the McCunes’ meeting with President Nelson without knowing he was suffering from his daughter’s death)
    • In our own words: Ponder your spiritual experiences
  5. “As we make and keep covenants, we will naturally turn outward and have a desire to help others feel the measure of joy and love we feel in our covenantal relationships. We can be part of the greatest cause on the earth today—the gathering of Israel. We can help to bring God’s children to Christ.”
  6. “As we bind ourselves to act as covenant disciples, in whatever our level of capacity, our relationship with the Father and the Son is enriched, our joy enhanced, and our eternal perspective expanded. We then are endowed with power and can feel joy in a measure reserved for God’s true covenant disciples.”
    • In our own words: Don’t just make covenants to check boxes; bind yourself to act as covenant disciples. Some of the best blessings God wants to give you can’t be received any other way.

Elder Michael B. Strong | “Charity — A Sign of True Discipleship”

  1.  “To be the Lord’s disciples, we must intentionally imitate His thoughts and actions every day—for example, His obedience, humility, and patience.”
    • Clay Application: I will complete the Christlike Attribute Activity in Preach My Gospel chapter six.
  2. “As followers of Jesus Christ, we should seek to emulate the way our Master demonstrated His pure love for others.”
    • In our own words: Emulate the way Jesus Christ “demonstrated His pure love for others.”
  3. “As President Nelson observed, ‘One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people.’”
    • In our own words: Treat everyone with compassion.
  4. “[Notice] the unspoken need and [act] in love.”
    • In our own words: “[Notice] the unspoken need and [act] in love.”
    • Mitch Application: I will study Elder David A. Bednar’s May 10, 2005, BYU Devotional that was entitled “‘Quick to Observe’“. I will write in my journal about what I learned from this address, and then share what I learned with someone I love and/or on social media.
  5. “As we become more like our Master, our desire to help our brothers and sisters along the covenant path will naturally increase. … There are countless ways to encourage and assist others in their progression if we deliberately and prayerfully seek heaven’s help to have eyes to see and a heart to feel how Jesus Christ sees and feels for them.”
    • In our own words: “[E]ncourage and assist others in their progression” along the covenant path by “deliberately and prayerfully [seeking divine] help” to see and feel for others as the Savior “sees and feels for them.”
  6. “[D]iscipleship of Jesus Christ is the only way to obtain enduring happiness. It is a path filled with deliberate and purposeful acts of love toward others.”
    • In our own words: Engage in “deliberate and purposeful acts of love toward others.”
  7. “I earnestly pray that we may follow President Nelson’s invitation to prioritize our discipleship. May we ‘pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart’ to ‘be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; … that when he shall appear we shall be like him.’”
    • In our own words: “[F]ollow President Nelson’s invitation to prioritize our discipleship” by praying with all our hearts for charity – the pure love of Christ.
    • Landon Application: I will pray with a notebook beside me. I will specifically ask: “Who can I share Your love with today?” I will write down the names of those who God needs me to touch this week.

Elder Scott D. Whiting | “Beware the Second Temptation”

  1.  “As we progress in our maturity and understanding, we hope that our strength to avoid first temptations will continually improve as we strive to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
    • In our own words: Have hope that you’ll get better at resisting temptations as you work to be more Christlike.
  2. “The accuser, as he is called in the book of Revelation, will tempt you with thoughts that sound like this: ‘You aren’t strong enough to change your life; you can’t do this; you don’t belong with these people; they will never accept you; you are too weak.’ If these thoughts seem to ring true to you who are newly planted on the covenant path, we plead with you not to heed the accuser’s voice.“
    • In our own words: Don’t listen to those who would pull you off the covenant path.
  3. “President Russell M. Nelson has taught that ‘overcoming the world is not an event that happens in a day or two. It happens over a lifetime as we repeatedly embrace the doctrine of Christ. We cultivate faith in Jesus Christ by repenting daily and keeping covenants that endow us with power. We stay on the covenant path and are blessed with spiritual strength, personal revelation, increasing faith, and the ministering of angels.’”
    • In our own words: Repent daily.
  4. “Don’t hide from those who will love and support you; rather, run to them. Good bishops, branch presidents, and leaders can help you access the healing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. To those who may be in hiding, we implore you to come back. You need what the gospel and the Atonement of Jesus Christ offer, and we need what you offer. God knows your sins; you cannot hide from Him. Reconcile yourself before Him. … Beware this second temptation! Follow the counsel of prophets both ancient and modern and know that you cannot hide from a loving Father. Instead, avail yourself of the miraculous healing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”
    • In our own words: Don’t hide from God or His servants when you sin. “Run to them” and start down the path of repentance.
    • Clay Application: Don’t hide anything from God in my prayers. Be humble, honest, and open with Him. Include my insecurities and especially anything for which I fear a heavenly reprimand. Have a notebook with me. Though my Heavenly Father might need to “reprove me with sharpness” on occasion, more often than not his reaction is like the prodigal son’s father – putting a robe on my shoulders, ring on my finger, and preparing a joyous feast, all because I’ve sought His counsel on difficult things and am committed to listen and act on what He says.
    • Nate Application: Be more intentional about daily repentance.
  5. “As His Saints, each of us must foster a culture of belonging in the Church that is loving, accepting, and encouraging of all who desire to progress along His path.” [To new converts and others who struggle with maintaining worthy lifestyle changes:] We love you… We accept you… At a time when you need our love and support the most, don’t be deceived into thinking that we will reject you if you take a step back into your prior lifestyle.”
    • In our own words: As members of the Church, create a culture of belonging, acceptance, and non-judgment. Make sure that all members of our wards and branches know that they are wanted and needed.
    • Mitch Application: For the next four weeks, pray “for the spiritual eyes to see those who have a need” before attending Sacrament Meeting. Then courageously take action on any impressions that come.

Elder Christopher H. Kim | “Harden Not Your Heart”

  1.  “What can we do to not harden our hearts?
    “First, we can practice daily repentance…. Second, we can practice humility…. Third, we can trust and rely on our Savior.”
    • In our own words: Repent daily, practice humility, and trust and rely on the Savior to avoid a hard heart.
    • Clay Application: Find ways to actively “practice” daily repentance, humility, trust and reliance on the Savior like I’d practice a musical instrument or a sport. Create methods, routines, and schedules. Keep it sincere, but just doing it will be a great start.
    • Jace Application: Focus on trusting the Savior more by relying more on powerful prayer. Journal about my progress.
    • Mitch Application: Study Helaman chapters 5 and 6 in the Book of Mormon. In particular, make lists of what led to the hardness of the Nephites’ hearts and the softness of the Lamanites’ hearts in these two chapters. Then, share what you learned with someone you love and/or on social media.
  2. “President Russell M. Nelson, taught: ‘Repenting is the key to progress. Pure faith keeps us moving forward on the covenant path. Please do not fear or delay repenting. Satan delights in your misery. … Start today to experience the joy of putting off the natural man. The Savior loves us always but especially when we repent.’”
    • In our own words: Don’t fear or delay repenting; start today!
  3. “We [must] want to become humble before the Lord, like a little child who obeys their father…. Let us follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who followed the will of the Father.”
    • In our own words: Cultivate a desire to be humble before the Lord by following Jesus’ example of obeying Heavenly Father.
  4. “Brothers and sisters, we’ve been given moral agency. We can choose to harden our hearts, or we can choose to soften our hearts. In our daily lives, we can choose to do the things that invite the Lord’s Spirit to come into and dwell in our hearts.”
    • In our own words: Use your moral agency to choose a soft heart and do things that invite the Lord’s Spirit.

Elder Benjamin M.Z. Tai | “The Love of God”

  1.  “The scriptures teach us that ‘faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ While disorienting distractions and terrestrial temptations cloud our spiritual vision, when we exercise faith in God and His Son, Jesus Christ, we receive clear assurance of Their reality and of Their concern for us.”
    • In our own words: Exercise faith in God and Jesus to receive clear assurance of Their reality and concern for us.
  2. “[L]ike Lehi, we too can receive a joyful witness of God when we invite Him into our lives.”
    • In our own words: Invite God into your life to receive a joyful witness of Him.
  3. We can consistently experience God’s love when, through the grace of Jesus Christ, we: repeatedly repent.
  4. We can consistently experience God’s love when we: frankly forgive.
    • Application Idea #1: Sometimes, in a moment of spiritual strength, we’ll frankly forgive others who have wronged us. But I think the hardest part of forgiveness is then moving on and allowing others to remain forgiven. Forgiving them brought us inner peace and release from unkind feelings in that moment, but I’ve found that if the situation or person continues to harm me or my family even after I’ve supposedly “let it go,” Satan slides in to tempt me to drift back into bitterness. We could study the topic of forgiveness in the scriptures and prayerfully ponder the hard question of whether we have frankly and fully forgiven others. Then, plead for help to perfect any incomplete forgiveness, and ask God for strength against temptations to revoke our forgiveness later.
    • Clay Application: Idea #1. I’ll commit to studying the topic of forgiveness in the scriptures and prayerfully ponder the hard question of whether I have frankly and fully forgiven others. Then, I’ll plead for help to perfect any incomplete forgiveness, and ask God for strength against temptations to revoke my forgiveness later.
  5. We can consistently experience God’s love when we: strive to keep His commandments.
  6. We can consistently experience God’s love when we: selflessly serve others.
    • Application Idea #1: When we need something or badly want God’s help, guidance, or divine intervention on a matter, consider first looking outward for someone else to serve.
    • Nick Application: Serve a family in my stake who recently had a family member pass away.
  7. We feel God’s love when we do things that draw us closer to Him, such as: conversing with Him daily through prayer and scripture study.
    • Application Idea #1: Create a scripture study and prayer routine to hear God’s word.
  8. We feel God’s love when we: stop doing things that distance us from Him, such as being prideful, contentious, and rebellious.
  9. “President Russell M. Nelson has invited us to ‘remove, with the Savior’s help, the old debris in our lives’ and to ‘lay aside bitterness.’ He has encouraged us to ‘bolster our spiritual foundations’ through ‘centering our lives on [the Savior] and on the ordinances and covenants of His temple.’ He promised that ‘as we keep our temple covenants, we gain greater access to the Lord’s strengthening power. … We experience the pure love of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father in great abundance!'”
    • In our own words: Remove “debris” from your life and lay aside bitterness with the Savior’s help. Center your life on the Savior and temple covenants to strengthen your spiritual foundation.
    • Application Idea #1: Pray with a notebook asking for help to identify any “debris” or bitterness to lay aside. Go to the temple for strength and guidance on how.
  10. “When we experience the love of God, we can bear up our burdens with ease and submit patiently and cheerfully to His will. We have confidence that God will remember His covenants with us, visit us in our afflictions, and deliver us from bondage. We will also desire to share the joy we feel with our family and loved ones.”
    • In our own words: Do the work to experience the love of God. Doing so will improve our strength, patience, obedience, confidence and trust in God, and we’ll want to share our joy.
  11. “To help others feel God’s love, we need to cultivate in ourselves Christlike attributes such as humility, charity, compassion, and patience and help turn others towards the Savior through following the two great commandments of loving God and loving our fellow men.”
    • In our own words: Develop Christlike attributes to help others feel God’s love. Love God and all people to help turn them to the Savior.
    • Application Idea #1: Mitch’s Christlike Attributes activity spreadsheet
  12. “When the winds are against us in our lives, are we willing to be cheerful and courageous? How can we remember that the Savior does not forsake us and that He is near us, perhaps in ways we don’t yet recognize? Are we willing to go to Him in faith, especially when the path before us seems impossible? And in what ways does He lift us to safety when we flounder? How can we faithfully look unto Him in every thought, without doubt or fear?”
    • In our own words: Be cheerful and courageous despite opposition. Remember the Savior is near. Go to the Lord in faith without doubt or fear, especially when our path seems impossible.
  13. “If you would like to feel the love of God more abundantly in your life, may I invite you to consider the following:
    • “First, pause frequently to remember that you are a child of God and think of the things you are grateful for.
    • “Second, pray daily, asking Heavenly Father to help you know who around you needs to feel His love.
    • “Third, ask sincerely what you can do to help that individual to feel the love of God.
    • “And fourth, act promptly on the inspiration you receive.
    • [The Promise:] “If we consistently pray and ask on the behalf of others, God will show us the people we can help. And if we act promptly, we can become the means through which He answers their prayers. By doing so, in time, we will receive answers to our prayers and we will feel God’s love in our own lives.”
      • In our own words: To feel the love of God more: Remember you’re a child of God, be grateful, pray daily to know whom you can help feel God’s love, pray to know how you can help them, and then act.
      • Mitch Application: Do this exercise.
  14. “I joyfully witness that the Savior Jesus Christ is the love of God. His love for us is perfect, personal, and perpetual. As we faithfully follow Him, may we be filled with His love and may we be a lighthouse that guides others to His love.”
    • In our own words: Faithfully follow Jesus Christ to be filled with His love and guide others to His love.
    • Application Idea #1: Live the gospel fully in every situation. Don’t hide your faith; share it in respectful ways whenever you can. Allow your personal and professional behavior to obviously mark you as a disciple of Christ. Like President Nelson’s experience of living his faith in his medical practice, and sometimes getting a slap on the wrist from colleagues for it, our faith should not be something you can ever hide or take off. Consider reading biographies of church leaders for many great examples of doing this well.
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