Last conference I challenged myself to take notes and summarize each talk in general conference. It gave me a new purpose in my note taking and proved to be a meaningful exercise. Here are this year's Super Short General Conference Summaries.
Links and titles to the actual talk have now been added.
Saturday morning
Henry B. Eyring: Where Two or Three Are Gathered
HOW TO GET THE MOST FROM GENERAL CONFERENCE
Pay attention to the Holy Ghost, pray for the speakers and the choir. Pay special attention to the testimonies borne.
Mary R. Durham: A Child's Guiding Gift
IMMERSE OURSELVES IN THE WAYS OF THE SPIRIT
1. point out times that children are feeling the spirit
2. prepare our homes to be a place where we can immerse ourselves in the Holy Ghost
3. help our children understand how the spirit communicates with them
Donald L. Hailstorm: I am a Child of God
I AM A CHILD OF GOD
Do we truly understand in our hearts, minds, and souls that we are children of God? We should remember our divine heritage in our daily lives, in the midst of trials, and in the way we treat others.
Gary E. Stevenson: Where are the Keys and Authorities of the Priesthood?
PRIESTHOOD KEYS = BLESSINGS
Just a like car keys unlock the doors and ignition to unleash the full potential of the car, the keys of the priesthood unlock the way to access the atonement and reach eternal life.
Kevin R. Duncan: The Healing Ointment of Forgiveness
CHRIST WILL HELP US FORGIVE
Atonement is not just for those who seek repentance, but also for those who seek forgiveness. We must try to see others as God sees us---without regard to the "color of our jerseys" or to our political affiliation--but with eternal potential. Not forgiving others is allowing yourself to be a victim twice
Steven E. Snow: Be Thou Humble
BE THOU HUMBLE
Ether 12:27: Humble yourself before God and he will help you overcome weakness
Be constant, worshipful, and prayerful. Humility is essential for increasing peace and contentment in our lives.
COME UNTO GOD AND AVOID SPIRITUAL ENTITLEMENT
The greater the distance between the giver and the receiver, the greater the sense of entitlement that develops in the receiver. Heavenly Father and Christ are the ultimate givers and when we distance ourselves from God, we can develop a sense of spiritual entitlement (wanting things YOUR way with YOUR timing). It's better to be a repentant sinner than to be proud and think that you don't need God. Life on earth is not fair and we should not expect it to be so, but in the eternities every wrong will be made right.
Saturday Afternoon
Ronald A. Rasband: Standing With the Leaders of the Church
SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN FAITH
We can't afford to be casual in our faith. Let's support each other in our faith. Reach out and take the Savior's hand, which is always extended out to us.
Neil L. Andersen: "Whoso Receiveth Them, Receiveth Me"
REACH OUT TO THOSE OUTSIDE THE FENCE
Families are very varied and we need to be sensitive and loving to those who are different. Embrace those who may feel that they are "outside the fence".
Mervyn B. Arnold: To the Rescue: We Can Do It
WE ARE CALLED TO RESCUE OTHERS
1. Do not delay going to the rescue--it's easy to get too caught up in doing it "right" that we can miss the window of opportunity to rescue
2. We must never give up. No one is beyond reach.
3. Great is the worth of every soul.
4. We are all called to go to the rescue.
Jairo Mazzagardi: The Sacred Place of Restoration
JOSEPH SMITH WAS A TRUE PROPHET
Do not give up. When you seek for truth, God will provide (James 1:5). Joseph Smith was a true prophet.
David A. Bednar: Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins
ORDINANCES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR OUR ETERNAL SALVATION
Always retain a remission of our sins. Ordinances are sacred acts with eternal consequences.
M. Russell Ballard: Family Councils
COUNSEL WITH THE LORD: HAVE FAMILY COUNCILS
Family councils are eternal and will counteract the effects of modern technology. Make the walls of our home to be a safe haven from the world. Counsel with the Lord in all our doings (Alma 37:37).
SUNDAY MORNING
Thomas S. Monson: Choices
CHOICES WE MAKE DETERMINE OUR DESTINY
Repentance allows us to correct our course settings. The doors of history turns on small hinges. And so do people's lives. The choices people make determine our destiny. May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.
Bonnie L. Oscarson: Do I Believe?
TRUE CONVERSION IS MOVING THE GOSPEL FROM OUR MINDS TO OUR HEARTS
The church is the same as when Christ was upon the earth. True conversion comes over time with the deliberate consistent exercising of faith. Choose faith over doubt and don't be swayed by the voices of mockery coming from the great and spacious building.
W. Christopher Waddell: A Pattern for Peace
GREAT IS THE PEACE THE GOSPEL BRINGS
We may not understand everything, but through our deliberate exercising of faith we can find peace.
LEARN + LISTEN + WALK = PEACE
Many good church members have partaken of the fruit of the tree of life and are still influenced by those in the great and spacious building.
D. Todd Christofferson: Fathers
FATHERS SHOULD LEAD WITH LOVE AND THE HOLY GHOST
Fatherhood requires sacrifice, but brings great satisfaction and joy as they turn the hearts of their children to Heavenly Father. Fathers should lead out in making teaching the gospel a high priority in our homes.
Quentin L. Cook: See Yourself in the Temple
SEE YOURSELF IN THE TEMPLE
Happiness, fulfillment, and peace come to those who live the gospel. There is no more important goal than for us to strive to be worthy to go to the temple.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf: He Will Place You on His Shoulders and Carry You Home
OBEDIENCE IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF FAITH
Just as ruined cities can be rebuilt to an even greater grandeur, our ruined, abandoned lives can be rebuilt through Jesus Christ. Lift up your heart to the Savior and He will rescue you and carry you home. If our faith/beliefs do not change/affect the way we live our lives, it does us no good.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Robert D. Hales: The Holy Ghost
THE HOLY GHOST WILL TESTIFY OF TRUTH
The Holy Ghost will help us discern between truth and those who seek to lead us astray. Pay attention to the promptings of the spirit and ACT ON THEM!
Gerrit W. Gong: Always Remember Him
ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM
1. Have confidence in his promises and covenants. 2. gratefully acknowledge the Lord's hand in our lives. 3. trust when the Lords assures us that our sins are forgiven 4. remember that he always welcomes us home 5. remember him when we take the sacrament 6. remember that he always remembers us!
Patrick Kearon: Refuge from the Storm
REFUGEES NEED OUR HELP
Mormons were refugees too. Jesus Christ was a refugee. We need to do our part.
We need to increase our awareness of world events and stay in tune to what we can do.
iwasastranger.lds.org
Dallin H. Oaks: Opposition in All Things
OPPOSITION IS A CENTRAL PART OF FATHER'S PLAN
Opposition comes in many forms and is a central and necessary part of the plan of salvation. Satan wanted perfect equality, without tests, or faith, or growth, or choice, but "all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." (D&C 122:7)
Kent F. Richards: The Power of Godliness
BLESSINGS OF THE TEMPLE ARE PRICELESS
Real power of the temple found in its ordinances. Find a way to serve in the temple, whether as a patron or a worker. Young people can be temple workers too.
Paul V. Johnson: And There Shall Be No More Death
FINDING HOPE IN THE RESURRECTION
Through the resurrection we can find hope and a fullness of joy. There is no salvation without the resurrection. We are made whole through the power of the resurrection.
Jeffrey R. Holland: Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders Among You
GOD LOVES US AND WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US
Keep loving, trying, trusting, believing, and growing. Divine love and unfailing help will be with us always; but especially when we struggle. God's love is the foundation stone of eternal life. God will never desert us!
Click here for my October 2015 Conference summaries.
