Last updated on June 1st, 2025 at 12:26 pm
General Conference Applied
S5 E14 – Thursday, May 29, 2025 | “Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior” by Elder Dale G. Renlund; April 2025 General Conference
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Podcast Episode Outline
Introduction
Bio
- Dale G. Renlund | BYU Speeches: “Although he was born in Salt Lake City, Utah (on November 13, 1952), Dale and his siblings grew up speaking Swedish, the native language of their parents. From Sweden and Finland, they had bravely emigrated from Stockholm to Utah, despite speaking hardly any English and having very little support, in order to be sealed in the temple. That heritage was strengthened by three years of living in Sweden while Dale’s father, a skilled carpenter, served a building mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There, the children not only were educated in a Swedish-speaking school, but Dale had one of his first educational experiences with the Book of Mormon thanks to the challenge of a stake youth leader. Dale read the book and then prayed about it, receiving a personal and undeniable witness of its truthfulness. That testimony was augmented by the centrality of the scriptures in the Renlund home. …
“As a cardiologist, Elder Renlund specialized in heart failure and heart transplantation. He took a position as a professor at his alma mater; he also served as the Medical Director of the UTAH Cardiac Transplant Program. During this already busy time, his family experienced a trial that he says ‘changed the course of [their] lives’: Sister Renlund was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her battle required two surgeries and nine months of chemotherapy; all the while, the prognosis was uncertain. Elder Renlund found his soul stretched as he strove to take care of her and their young daughter, and he admired the strength and faith she kept. ‘She’s my hero,’ he says.
“Not only did Ruth endure the trial, but decided to go to law school to take her mind off of it. She excelled, her career culminating in her becoming the president of her law firm and a member of several prominent boards. Her husband acknowledged hers as the ‘greater sacrifice’ when they both left their careers to accept a call to serve in the Africa Southeast Area Presidency. There, they report, they were ‘tutored by the saints about what really matters.’ In one memorable experience, Elder Renlund asked a congregation of saints in the Congo to tell him about the challenges they faced because he wanted to be of help. One brother responded, ‘How can we have any challenges? We have the gospel of Jesus Christ.’ The Renlunds grew to deeply love the Saints in Africa: ‘They have nothing, but they have everything.'” - This was Elder Renlund’s 22nd general conference address. His most recent address was “‘This Is My Gospel’—’This Is My Church’” from the October 2024 General Conference.
Invitations
- “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.”
- In our own words: The best thing we can do is follow the Savior’s simple teachings.
- Clay Application:
- “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.
- Clay Application:
- “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.
- Clay Application:
- “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.
- Clay Application:
- “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:
- Clay Application:
- “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:
- 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.
- “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.
- Clay Application:
- “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.
- Clay Application:
- “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.
- Clay Application:
- “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.”
- In our own words: Follow Jesus Christ, trust the Holy Ghost, rely on those who love you and who love the Savior, seek God’s guidance to improve your abilities, and help others even when it’s hard.
- Clay Application:
Discussion Questions
- What is the Lord, through Elder Renlund, inviting us to do? And how do we intend to take action?
- What is your favorite footnote from Elder Renlund’s address? Why is it your favorite?
- Do you find it significant that Elder Renlund’s commentary on the parable of the ten virgins was informed by the Savior’s words in latter-day scripture (i.e., Doctrine and Covenants 45:56–57)? How might your study of the Doctrine and Covenants improve?
- Elder Renlund states that one message of the parable of the talents “is that God expects us to magnify the abilities we have been given.” He also states that “God will be disappointed if we do not rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Savior to magnify the God-given abilities we have received.” What are your “God-given abilities”? And how can you better magnify them?
- Elder Renlund shares a powerful promise after his final invitation: “You will be ready to meet the Savior, and you can join President Nelson in being joyfully optimistic.” What are you willing to do, and who are you willing to become, to experience this joyful optimism?
External Resources Referenced In This Episode
- Mitch’s ward member’s mission president said: “Elder, until we understand faith, repentance, baptism, and laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, PERFECTLY, we don’t need to worry about anything else.”
- President Russell M. Nelson, “A Plea to My Sisters“, October 2015 General Conference: “Fifty-eight years ago I was asked to operate upon a little girl, gravely ill from congenital heart disease. Her older brother had previously died of a similar condition. Her parents pleaded for help. I was not optimistic about the outcome but vowed to do all in my power to save her life. Despite my best efforts, the child died. Later, the same parents brought another daughter to me, then just 16 months old, also born with a malformed heart. Again, at their request, I performed an operation. This child also died. This third heartbreaking loss in one family literally undid me.
“I went home grief stricken. I threw myself upon our living room floor and cried all night long. Dantzel stayed by my side, listening as I repeatedly declared that I would never perform another heart operation. Then, around 5:00 in the morning, Dantzel looked at me and lovingly asked, ‘Are you finished crying? Then get dressed. Go back to the lab. Go to work! You need to learn more. If you quit now, others will have to painfully learn what you already know.’
“Oh, how I needed my wife’s vision, grit, and love! I went back to work and learned more. If it weren’t for Dantzel’s inspired prodding, I would not have pursued open-heart surgery and would not have been prepared to do the operation in 1972 that saved the life of President Spencer W. Kimball.” - Jim Rohn: “Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom.”
What will you do?
How will you take action on the invitations extended in this General Conference address?
Conclusion
The focus of our next podcast episode will be the April 2025 General Conference address that was delivered by Elder Gerrit W. Gong and was entitled “Eternity’s Great Gifts: Jesus Christ’s Atonement, Resurrection, Restoration.”
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Thank you for joining us in this effort to become doers of the word and to take action on general conference invitations.
Tags
Fear | Jesus Christ | Parables | Preparation | Second Coming | Service
Additional Content
Previous Podcast Episode (“And We Talk of Christ” by Elder Gary E. Stevenson)