Satan and Heavenly Father’s Plan for His Children

When we were there, Heavenly Father gather us together for a great family council. During this great meeting, Heavenly Father outlined His plan for His spirit children—which is often called the plan of salvation. Elder Dallin H. Oaks  explained:

Our understanding of life begins with a council in heaven. There the spirit children of God were taught his eternal plan for their destiny. We had progressed as far as we could without a physical body and an experience in mortality. To realize a fulness of joy, we had to prove our willingness to keep the commandments of God in a circumstance where we had no memory of what preceded our mortal birth.

 

In the course of mortality, we would become subject to death, and we would be soiled by sin. To reclaim us from death and sin, our Heavenly Father’s plan provided us a Savior, whose atonement would redeem all from death and pay the price necessary for all to be cleansed from sin on the conditions He prescribed (see 2 Nephi 9:19–24).

Our ability to choose isn’t just part of God’s plan for His children, it is the plan. Will we choose the path that leads back to our Heavenly Father, or will we not? We would be separated from God while we lived on earth, and there was a chance that not everyone would make it back into His presence. Both must have been sobering concepts for Heavenly Father’s spirit children to grasp. These are the concerns upon which Lucifer preyed when he spoke up. We frequently hear that Satan then presented a plan. But, Elder Richard G. Scott taught:

… Lucifer … proposed a modification of the requirements. So convincing was his argument that one-third of the Father’s spirit children followed Satan and were cast out.

Thus, Lucifer didn’t present a plan, he just wanted to modify Heavenly Father’s. What was this proposal? Lucifer promised “to redeem all mankind, that not one soul shall be lost,” and in return, he wanted the honor and glory for himself. (See Moses 4:1.) In doing so, he “sought to destroy the agency of man” (Moses 4:3).

Just how did Lucifer plan to do this? Brent L. Top, dean of religious education at Brigham Young University, said:

Just how he proposed to save every soul is not explained but it apparently allowed either no opportunity for sin or, if sin did occur, no condemnation for sin.

In short, according to Top, Satan’s plan was a “false offer of salvation without individual responsibility.” We often think of this in terms of brute force, but it was most likely a more subtle form of destruction of agency, as described above. By destroying agency, we don’t choose on our own to return to Heavenly Father but are forced—in other words, given no other options.

But this was contrary to God’s plan. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught,

The contention in heaven was—Jesus said there would be certain souls that would not be saved; and the devil said he could save them all, and laid his plans before the grand council, who gave their vote in favor of Jesus Christ. So the devil rose up in rebellion against God, and was cast down, with all who put up their heads for him (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 357).

The majority of the spirits in heaven—which includes all the people who have ever lived, those of us who are living now and those who will live on the earth— chose to follow Heavenly Father’s plan because we knew it was the only way that we could return to His presence and live with Him forever. Only by proving ourselves through our righteous choices—and through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ—could we qualify ourselves to return to live with God forever.

What is Agency and Why is it Important?

Agency is the ability to choose for ourselves—and it is a gift that God gave to man. This is the power that Satan sought to destroy for his own benefit. Elder Robert D. Hales explained:

… Agency is the ability and privilege God gives us to choose and “to act for [ourselves] and not to be acted upon.”  Agency is to act with accountability and responsibility for our actions. Our agency is essential to the plan of salvation. … Our agency—our ability to choose and act for ourselves—was an essential element of this plan. Without agency we would be unable to make right choices and progress. Yet with agency we could make wrong choices, commit sin, and lose the opportunity to be with Heavenly Father again. For this reason a Savior would be provided to suffer for our sins and redeem us if we would repent.

This sounds simple, and it is. The root of agency is choice—and it requires certain criteria. Elder Bruce R. McConkie said,

Four great principles must be in force if there is to be agency: 1. Laws must exist, laws ordained by an Omnipotent power, laws which can be obeyed or disobeyed; 2. Opposites must exist—good and evil, virtue and vice, right and wrong—that is, there must be an opposition, one force pulling … the other. 3. A knowledge of good and evil must be had by those who are to enjoy the agency, that is, they must know the difference between the opposites; and 4. An unfettered power of choice must prevail. (Mormon Doctrine, Bookcraft, Inc., 1966 ed., p. 26.)

In the absence of just one of these criteria, there is not true freedom of choice. And without true freedom of choice, there can be no progression on our journey to become like our Heavenly Father. And that is the goal. The scriptures teach that God said,

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39)

Satan’s Plan—Eliminating Choices or Removing Consequences?

One way that Satan could destroy the agency of mankind was by eliminating choices—or opposites. If there are no opposites, there are no choices. 2 Nephi 2: 15-16 illustrates this:

And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after [God] had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.

 

Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.

Interestingly, even as Lucifer was trying to alter Heavenly Father’s plan, he was taking part in it by offering a choice—an opposition to the things of God. His attempt illustrates an eternal concept: our power of choice is so fundamental, we would have had to choose to allow Satan to destroy our agency. And, sadly, a third of the hosts of heaven used their agency to lose it by choosing to follow Lucifer out of heaven.

The other plausible theory for Satan’s strategy is to remove the consequences of our choices—meaning that any choice will be fine. Mormon scholar Terryl Givens explains:

The Luciferian proposal may very well have hinged on the promise that regardless of human choices in a mortal probation, salvation would be assured. Humans wouldn’t be forced to make the right choices. Any choices they made would suffice. Which is the same thing as saying, no choice that they made would have mattered. And if choice doesn’t matter, then moral agency is an empty cliché. That would offer a plausible scenario by which he sought to destroy the agency of man, in a strategy as tempting then as it is now. Eat, drink, and be merry, and tomorrow you repose in paradise.

The scriptures also support this point:

And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away (2 Nephi 2:13).

Interestingly, what this scripture teaches is that not only was Lucifer’s proposal implausible, it would have defeated the very purposes for the existence of both man and God.

Why Did So Many Follow Satan?

Lucifer, by Franz von Stuck

Regardless of the stratagem Lucifer used to lure away a third of the hosts of heaven, their actions show a lack of faith. President Spencer W. Kimball taught,

Agency suggests something very important—trust. Trust on the part of all. Now, just as God trusted us with all he had created here on earth, we must trust his knowledge and love each other. God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever, as are his purposes.

Those who chose to rebel against God’s plan lacked trust—possibly in themselves and their ability to make correct choices, and certainly in God’s plan for us. Of this conflict in heaven, Elder Hales said:

Each of Heavenly Father’s children had the opportunity to exercise the agency Heavenly Father had given him or her. We chose to have faith in the Savior Jesus Christ—to come unto Him, follow Him, and accept the plan Heavenly Father presented for our sakes. But a third of Heavenly Father’s children did not have faith to follow the Savior and chose to follow Lucifer, or Satan, instead.

But the devil’s efforts did not end there. Elder L. Tom Perry said,

Satan, however, was not done. His backup plan—the plan he has been executing since the time of Adam and Eve—was to tempt men and women, essentially to prove we are undeserving of the God-given gift of agency. Satan has many reasons for doing what he does. Perhaps the most powerful is the motive of revenge, but he also wants to make men and women miserable like he is miserable.

Could Satan Really Force Us to Choose the Right?

Lucifer is the great dragon (Revelations 12) and the great deceiver. But can he really deceive and lead us away by forcing us against our will? No.  President James E. Faust said,

Who has not heard and felt the enticings of the devil? His voice often sounds so reasonable and his message so easy to justify. It is an enticing, intriguing voice with dulcet tones. It is neither hard nor discordant. No one would listen to Satan’s voice if it sounded harsh or mean. If the devil’s voice were unpleasant, it would not entice people to listen to it.

 

Shakespeare wrote, “The prince of darkness is a gentleman” (King Lear, act 3, sc. 4, line 143), and “the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose” (The Merchant of Venice, act 1, sc. 3, line 95). As the great deceiver, Lucifer has marvelous powers of deception. …

In addition to his great powers of persuasion, Lucifer was in a position of power and influence. The scriptures teach:

… An angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son. And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning (Doctrine & Covenants 76:25-26).

Lucifer was in a position of trust and authority—and thus we can see how this could have led some to be deceived by his proposal. Elder Oaks said of Satan’s proposal, “Without the power of choice, we would have been mere robots or puppets in his hands.”

And that is how Satan would have forced us—by eliminating the power of choice. We would have been compelled to follow him because there would be no alternatives. But, as President Faust said:

We have heard comedians and others justify or explain their misdeeds by saying, “The devil made me do it.” I do not really think the devil can make us do anything. Certainly he can tempt and he can deceive, but he has no authority over us which we do not give him.

The Devil’s Modus Operandi Today

We can also gain deeper insight into what Satan’s strategy might have been in the premortal world by looking at how he works on earth today. And although it’s interesting to think about how Satan proposed to take away our agency, it is important to understand how he actively pursues this agenda today. President Faust taught:

Some of Satan’s most appealing lines are “Everyone does it”; “If it doesn’t hurt anybody else, it’s all right”; “If you feel all right about it, it’s OK”; or “It’s the ‘in’ thing to do.” These subtle entreaties make Satan the great imitator, the master deceiver, the arch counterfeiter, and the great forger. …

 

The First Presidency described Satan: “He is working under such perfect disguise that many do not recognize either him or his methods. There is no crime he would not commit, no debauchery he would not set up, no plague he would not send, no heart he would not break, no life he would not take, no soul he would not destroy. He comes as a thief in the night; he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing” (Messages of the First Presidency, comp. James R. Clark, 6 vols., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965–75, 6:179).

Satan is the world’s master in the use of flattery, and he knows the great power of speech (see Jacob 7:4). He has always been one of the great forces of the world.

Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said:

Lucifer is a clever and cunning intelligence. One of the main methods he uses against us is his ability to lie and deceive to convince us that evil is good and good is evil.

One of the ways he tries to ensnare us is with addictions. Elder Ballard explained:

He uses addiction to steal away agency. According to the dictionary, addiction of any kind means to surrender to something, thus relinquishing agency and becoming dependent on some life-destroying substance or behavior.

Researchers tell us there is a mechanism in our brain called the pleasure center. When activated by certain drugs or behaviors, it overpowers the part of our brain that governs our willpower, judgment, logic, and morality. This leads the addict to abandon what he or she knows is right. And when that happens, the hook is set and Lucifer takes control.

But we need not fear. President Faust taught:

I believe Satan’s ever-expanding efforts are some proof of the truthfulness of this work. In the future the opposition will be both more subtle and more open. It will be masked in greater sophistication and cunning, but it will also be more blatant. We will need greater spirituality to perceive all of the forms of evil and greater strength to resist it. But the disappointments and setbacks to the work of God will be temporary, for the work will go forward.

… We need not become paralyzed with fear of Satan’s power. He can have no power over us unless we permit it. He is really a coward, and if we stand firm, he will retreat.

Many good and decent people oppose same-sex marriage as a tenet of faith, and their freedom to exercise religion is—unlike the right imagined by the majority—actually spelled out in the Constitution. Respect for sincere religious conviction has led voters and legislators in every State that has adopted same-sex marriage democratically to include accommodations for dissenting religious practice.

Unfortunately, the Supreme Court only touched on the subject of religious liberty. Chief Justice Roberts continued:

The majority graciously suggests that religious believers may continue to “advocate” and “teach” their views of marriage. The First Amendment guarantees, however, the freedom to “exercise” religion. Ominously, that is not a word the majority uses.

As Justice Roberts noted, the question of religious freedom remains unanswered. But the freedom of religious expression is more than just an amendment to our Constitution, it is written in our hearts and observed in our actions. The Founding Fathers created a government in which all people work together for the common good. Religious liberty and same-sex marriage can only co-exist peacefully if those on both sides of the issue work together. This means respecting one another’s deeply held convictions. In a recent editorial, Republican strategist and commentator Ana Navarro wrote:

There are people on both sides of this issue who I respect and love. It is time for everyone to remember that tolerance is a two-way street. We must be respectful of people’s rights— that includes the right to marry who you choose, and also the right to practice the religion that you choose. These two rights can co-exist.

 

We are a pragmatic nation. We can and must find a solution to the conflict. There can’t be that many bakers, caterers and florists in America who don’t like to make money. The wedding industry is a multibillion dollar business. Most wedding vendors will be happy to charge same-sex couples for their services. The few that don’t are refusing the business based on religious objections.

 

I get the “it’s the principle of the thing” argument. On the other hand, who wants to pay for and eat a cake baked by someone who thinks you are committing a sin? Thank you, I’ll pass.

 

In a country as big, diverse and democratic as ours, we can come up with narrowly crafted exemptions for cottage industries and small vendors whose religious beliefs do not allow them to participate in a same-sex wedding.

 

Before we embark on countless legal challenges and the elderly evangelical baker making cakes out of her garage in Arkansas gets dragged into court, isn’t it worth trying to find a little sliver of common ground? …

Religious leaders have voiced the same need to consider the rights of all. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder M. Russell Ballard said:

I now speak to all those who are not of our faith. If there are issues of concern, let us talk about them. We want to be helpful. Please understand, however, that our doctrines and teachings are set by the Lord, so sometimes we will have to agree to disagree with you, but we can do so without being disagreeable. In our communities we can and must work together in an atmosphere of courtesy, respect, and civility.

I believe that the Founding Fathers sought to create a forum in which all people governed themselves based on basic laws of civility and respect for others. This is the essence of freedom of religion, and it is the only way that true freedom is attained. In the fight for true freedom, here are three things that all must remember.

The Power of Choice is a God-Given Right

Choice, or agency, is a God-given right. It is the fundamental basis for our life on earth. Elder D. Todd Christofferson said:

God intends that His children should act according to the moral agency He has given them, “that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.” It is His plan and His will that we have the principal decision-making role in our own life’s drama. God will not live our lives for us nor control us as if we were His puppets….

The only way that we can choose for ourselves is to be truly free to choose. Elder Robert D. Hales said:

… Moral agency is an essential part of God’s plan for all His children.… We must understand that the faithful use of our agency depends upon our having religious freedom.

Religious freedom is the ability to think, believe and live according to our deeply held convictions. This is where religious liberty and gay marriage clash. And this is where the battle is heating up. In his dissent, Chief Justice Roberts wrote:

Hard questions arise when people of faith exercise religion in ways that may be seen to conflict with the new right to same-sex marriage—when, for example, a religious college provides married student housing only to opposite-sex married couples, or a religious adoption agency declines to place children with same-sex married couples. Indeed, the Solicitor General candidly acknowledged that the tax exemptions of some religious institutions would be in question if they opposed same-sex marriage.

 

There is little doubt that these and similar questions will soon be before this Court. Unfortunately, people of faith can take no comfort in the treatment they receive from the majority today.

Protecting the power of choice means that we safeguard the choices of all people—not only those whose beliefs and ideals agree with our own. Intrinsic in this is the protection for the beliefs of others as well. There must be room for all voices, beliefs and ideals in the public square.

Fighting for Family

Those on both sides of the debate are fighting for family. The question is, who gets to decide what that is? The Family: A Proclamation to the World states:

We… solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God…. The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity.

The subject of traditional marriage—one between one man and one woman—was the focus of a multi-national, multi-faith conference at the Vatican in November 2014. Of this conference on the family, Elder L. Tom Perry said:

Pope Francis opened the first session of the assembly with this statement: “We now live in a culture of the temporary, in which more and more people are simply giving up on marriage as a public commitment. This revolution in manners and morals has often flown the flag of freedom, but in fact it has brought spiritual and material devastation to countless human beings, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. … It is always they who suffer the most in this crisis.” …

 

This was followed by three days of presentation and discussion with religious leaders addressing the subject of marriage between a man and a woman. … I observed that when various faiths and denominations and religions are united on marriage and family, they are also united on the values and loyalty and commitment which are naturally associated with family units. It was remarkable for me to see how marriage and family-centered priorities cut across and superseded any political, economic, or religious differences. When it comes to love of spouse and hopes, worries, and dreams for children, we are all the same.

We as a nation cannot lose sight of the essential role that families play in society. A family isn’t just a random group of people, nor is it merely a group of people who are bonded by affection. A family is a group of people who are bonded by ties that can only come through the proper God-given channels. As Elder Perry said:

What the restored gospel brings to the discussion on marriage and family is so large and so relevant that it cannot be overstated: we make the subject eternal! We take the commitment and the sanctity of marriage to a greater level because of our belief and understanding that families go back to before this earth was and that they can go forward into eternity. …

 

The entire theology of our restored gospel centers on families and on the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in a premortal life where we all lived as literal spirit children of God our Heavenly Father. We believe that we were, and still are, members of His family.

 

We believe that marriage and family ties can continue beyond the grave—that marriages performed by those who have the proper authority in His temples will continue to be valid in the world to come. Our marriage ceremonies eliminate the words “till death do us part” and instead say, “for time and for all eternity.”

 

We also believe that strong traditional families are not only the basic units of a stable society, a stable economy, and a stable culture of values—but that they are also the basic units of eternity and of the kingdom and government of God.

 

We believe that the organization and government of heaven will be built around families and extended families.

Those who are defenders of the traditional family firmly believe that they are following the laws of God. Governments may change and alter the laws of men, but not the laws and doctrines of God. And, it would appear, the defenders of traditional family are not few and far between. Elder Perry said:

Despite what much of media and entertainment outlets may suggest, however, and despite the very real decline in the marriage and family orientation of some, the solid majority of mankind still believes that marriage should be between one man and one woman. They believe in fidelity within marriage, and they believe in the marriage vows of “in sickness and in health” and “till death do us part.”

 

We need to remind ourselves once in a while, as I was reminded in Rome, of the wonderfully reassuring and comforting fact that marriage and family are still the aspiration and ideal of most people and that we are not alone in those beliefs.

Following Jesus Christ

Those who believe in traditional marriage based on religious convictions are seeking to follow the example and teachings of God. For Christians, the ultimate goal is to be disciples of Jesus Christ, the Master teacher. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said:

Throughout His ministry Jesus gave commandments. And He taught, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15; see also verses 21, 23). He affirmed that keeping His commandments would require His followers to leave what He called “that which is highly esteemed among men” (Luke 16:15) and “the tradition of men” (Mark 7:8; see also verse 13). He also warned, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19). …

 

Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice but a continuous commitment and way of life that applies at all times and in all places.

Thus, followers of Christ are to be in the world but not of the world. They seek to follow the laws of God, not to change them. Of this discipleship, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said:

So here we have the burden of those called to bear the messianic message. In addition to teaching, encouraging, and cheering people on (that is the pleasant part of discipleship), from time to time these same messengers are called upon to worry, to warn, and sometimes just to weep (that is the painful part of discipleship). They know full well that the road leading to the promised land “flowing with milk and honey” of necessity runs by way of Mount Sinai, flowing with “thou shalts” and “thou shalt nots.” …

 

Unfortunately, messengers of divinely mandated commandments are often no more popular today than they were anciently….

 

At the zenith of His mortal ministry, Jesus said, “Love one another, as I have loved you.” To make certain they understood exactly what kind of love that was, He said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” and “whosoever … shall break one of [the] least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be … the least in the kingdom of heaven.” Christlike love is the greatest need we have on this planet in part because righteousness was always supposed to accompany it. So if love is to be our watchword, as it must be, then by the word of Him who is love personified, we must forsake transgression and any hint of advocacy for it in others. Jesus clearly understood what many in our modern culture seem to forget: that there is a crucial difference between the commandment to forgive sin (which He had an infinite capacity to do) and the warning against condoning it (which He never ever did even once).

Although the Savior never condoned sin, He had the utmost compassion and love for the sinner. He loves us perfectly. Of Christlike love, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:

Jesus said it is easy to love those who love us; even the wicked can do that. But Jesus Christ taught a higher law. His words echo through the centuries and are meant for us today. They are meant for all who desire to be His disciples. They are meant for you and me: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

 

When our hearts are filled with the love of God, we become “kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving [each other], even as God for Christ’s sake [forgave us].”

 

The pure love of Christ can remove the scales of resentment and wrath from our eyes, allowing us to see others the way our Heavenly Father sees us: as flawed and imperfect mortals who have potential and worth far beyond our capacity to imagine. Because God loves us so much, we too must love and forgive each other.

For disciples of Christ, this is imperative. It is the way that we can change the world—by loving others. It is through this love and compassion that we can find common ground with those on the other side of the same-sex marriage issue. And it is in finding the common ground that we can work together for the common good.

It is important for those who are fighting for same-sex marriage to understand why others oppose it—and vice versa. It is only here that we can all find the common ground upon which we can build our compromises. The U.S. Supreme Court can legalize same-sex marriage, but only Americans themselves can uphold the freedoms upon which our country was built.

LDS General Conference is held in the 21,000-seat Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

The concept of continuing revelation—that God speaks to living prophets and Apostles in our day—is a fundamental doctrine in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in the semi-annual general conferences, which take place the first weekend of the months of April and October. During these meetings, the living prophets and Apostles address the worldwide body of The Church of Jesus Christ. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said:

A general conference of this Church is a remarkable occasion indeed—it is an institutional declaration that the heavens are open, that divine guidance is as real today as it was for the ancient house of Israel, that God our Heavenly Father loves us and speaks His will through a living prophet.

Elder Robert D. Hales said:

Conferences have always been part of the true Church of Jesus Christ. Adam gathered his posterity and prophesied of things to come. Moses gathered the children of Israel and taught them the commandments he had received. The Savior taught multitudes gathered both in the Holy Land and on the American continent. Peter gathered believers in Jerusalem. The first general conference in these latter days was convened just two months after the Church was organized, and conferences have continued to this very day.

 

These conferences are always under the direction of the Lord, guided by His Spirit. We are not assigned specific topics. Over weeks and months, often through sleepless nights, we wait upon the Lord. Through fasting, praying, studying, and pondering, we learn the message that He wants us to give.

For Latter-day Saints, these worldwide gatherings are unifying, edifying, uplifting and instructional. They are a significant part of the modern Church of Jesus Christ.

Conferences Create Unity

General Conference is available to watch on the Mormon Channel on YouTube and other media platforms.

The Church of Jesus Christ is a global organization with more than 15 million members. General conference is broadcast in more than 90 languages in over 200 countries across the world. Twice a year, Mormons gather as one. It is a heritage that began in the early days of The Church of Jesus Christ. Mormon historian Kenneth W. Godfrey explained:

The first general conference was held in Fayette, New York on 9 June 1830, two months after the Church’s organization. Only seven elders were present; the entire Church had fewer than a dozen priesthood holders. Joseph Smith read the articles and covenants (Doctrine & Covenants 20) which were received by the unanimous voice of the whole congregation. Oliver Cowdery ordained Samuel Smith an elder; then Joseph Smith, Sr., and Hyrum Smith were ordained priests. Thus began the general conference heritage of the Church.

 

Those early conferences were more like church business meetings. Men were proposed for and sustained in the priesthood. Members of the Church made suggestions and presented resolutions from the floor. Church members were tried, disfellowshipped, excommunicated, chastised, praised, and reinstated.

 

At first, conferences were convened at the First Presidency’s request at different times of the year and in different places. The 6 April 1833 general conference was held at the ferry on the Big Blue River in Jackson County, Missouri. It was not until Church headquarters moved to Illinois that the pattern was set of holding conferences in each April and October.

Conference took on new meaning after the Latter-day Saints came to the Salt Lake Valley. Godfrey wrote:

After the Saints’ arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, general conference became a time of reunion and spiritual growth. Mission calls often came from the pulpit with no prior warning. … Others were sent to colonize the more than 350 places settled under Brigham Young’s direction…. Such calls added to the excitement of attending a general conference. During those first few years in the Salt Lake valley, fall conference was often held in August or September so that the newly called missionaries could leave before winter storms closed the mountain passes.

But it wasn’t just a time to conduct Church business. The late President Howard W. Hunter said:

Many years have passed since settlers came in covered wagons into this valley in the tops of the Rockies. Conference was an important occasion in their day, and it continues to be a significant occasion in ours as people of faith and devotion come together to renew and strengthen that faith.

It is this spirit of unity, strengthening and faith that continue today. LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson said:

We can’t all be together under one roof, but we now have the ability to partake of the proceedings of this conference through the wonders of television, radio, cable, satellite transmission, and the Internet—even on mobile devices. We come together as one, speaking many languages, living in many lands, but all of one faith and one doctrine and one purpose.

A Time to Sustain the Prophet & Apostles

During the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference, Latter-day Saints have the opportunity to raise their right hands to sustain— or not sustain— the prophet and Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ. Known as the law of common consent, it is not a democratic vote but rather an opportunity to accept or reject those whom the Lord has called to lead His Church.

General Conference is also a time for Mormons to publicly show their love and support for the Lord’s prophet on the earth today—President Thomas S. Monson—and His Apostles. Living prophets are a hallmark of the Lord’s Church. Elder Russell M. Nelson taught:

A prophet has stood at the head of God’s Church in all dispensations, from Adam to the present day. Prophets testify of Jesus Christ—of His divinity and of His earthly mission and ministry. We honor the Prophet Joseph Smith as the prophet of this last dispensation. And we honor each man who has succeeded him as President of the Church.

In the Saturday afternoon session, each member of The Church of Jesus Christ has the privilege of raising his or her right hand to sustain—or not sustain—those whom Christ has chosen to lead His Church. It is an individual act, but it is also a unifying show of love and support. Elder Nelson explained:

All leaders in the Lord’s Church are called by proper authority. No prophet or any other leader in this Church, for that matter, has ever called himself or herself. No prophet has ever been elected. The Lord made that clear when He said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you.” You and I do not “vote” on Church leaders at any level. We do, though, have the privilege of sustaining them. …

 

Our sustaining of prophets is a personal commitment that we will do our utmost to uphold their prophetic priorities. Our sustaining is an oath-like indication that we recognize their calling as a prophet to be legitimate and binding upon us.

Wherever they are across the globe, Latter-day Saints have the opportunity to sustain the prophet in this meeting. The late Elder David B. Haight said:

In my mind’s eye, I thought of the gatherings of our own family, which is scattered across America—in Georgia; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Pennsylvania; Texas; California; and here in Salt Lake City. Of those little families in whatever the setting might be, there in their home or in the chapel, I thought I could see some of those little ones being taught to raise their hands and to be in harmony, perhaps their parents teaching them what we were doing. When we raised our hands, we not only just did it in motion because it looks like everybody’s doing it, but because we accept and we’re bearing witness about the knowledge we have and the testimony we have that [then] President Hinckley is our prophet and our leader. We not only raise our hands in saying we sustain but that we follow his direction, that we listen, that we counsel, that we pray about it, that we’re mindful of what comes from the lips of the prophet.

A Time of Instruction

General conference is a time of instruction, when the Lord’s servants speak. President Monson said:

We meet each six months to strengthen one another, to extend encouragement, to provide comfort, to build faith. We are here to learn. Some of you may be seeking answers to questions and challenges you are experiencing in your life. Some are struggling with disappointments or losses. Each can be enlightened and uplifted and comforted as the Spirit of the Lord is felt. …

The messages of General Conference are at once broad and personal—and run the gamut of topics. Elder Holland said:

Most of our congregation … is made up of members of the Church. However, with marvelous new methods of communication, ever larger proportions of the audience for our conferences are not members of the Church—yet. So we must speak to those who know us very well and those who know us not at all. Within the Church alone we must speak to the children, the youth and young adults, the middle-aged, and the elderly. We must speak to families and parents and children at home even as we speak to those who are not married, without children, and perhaps very far from home. In the course of a general conference, we always stress the eternal verities of faith, hope, charity, and Christ crucified even as we speak forthrightly on very specific moral issues of the day. We are commanded in the scriptures to “say nothing but repentance unto this generation,” while at the same time we are to preach “good tidings [to] the meek … [and] bind up the brokenhearted.” Whatever form they take, these conference messages “proclaim liberty to the captives” and declare “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” In the wide variety of sermons given is the assumption that there will be something for everyone. In this regard, I guess President Harold B. Lee put it best years ago when he said that the gospel is “to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the [comfortable].”

But each person who watches can be personally instructed by the power of the Holy Ghost. Elder Hales said:

In conferences we can receive the word of the Lord meant just for us. One member testified: “As I listened to your address, I was astounded. … Your talk was personal revelation directly from the Lord to my family. I have never experienced such a strong manifestation of the Spirit in my life as those minutes when the Holy Ghost spoke directly to me.”

 

Another said, “I have never before felt so profoundly that a talk was being given to me.”

 

This is possible because the Holy Ghost carries the word of the Lord unto our hearts in terms we can understand.

And, for Mormons, this is one of the greatest blessings of conference—personal guidance and direction.

A Call to Action

Implicit in the messages of conference is a call to action. Elder Hales said:

The greatest blessings of general conference come to us after the conference is over. Remember the pattern recorded frequently in scripture: we gather to hear the words of the Lord, and we return to our homes to live them.

President Hunter said:

Conference time is a season of spiritual revival when knowledge and testimony are increased and solidified that God lives and blesses those who are faithful. … Conference is the time when our leaders give us inspired direction in the conduct of our lives—a time when souls are stirred and resolutions are made to be better husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, more obedient sons and daughters, better friends and neighbors.

And these messages are available for further study in myriad formats—including online and in the Church magazines following the broadcast. Elder L. Tom Perry said:

Technology has blessed us with many new innovations to spread the message of the gospel through satellite systems, our own network Web site, television, radio, as well as the written text in our magazines and newspaper. All of these add to our delivery systems, which greatly increase our ability to receive the messages that are delivered.

 

But the bricks and mortar and the continued expansion of technology will only bring the messages to us. One challenge remains the same from the time of King Benjamin [in the Book of Mormon] … to today—that is, the challenge of each individual and family, through personal and collective study, to internalize the messages of the gospel of our Lord and Savior. Salvation is not in facilities or technology, but in the word. Only in the power of the word will it impact our lives and help us to live closer to our Father in Heaven.

The messages of modern prophets, Apostles and other Church leaders are given through inspiration of the Lord. Elder Hales said:

We may not know all the reasons why the prophets and conference speakers address us with certain topics in conference, but the Lord does. [The late] President Harold B. Lee taught: “The only safety we have as members of this church is to … give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through His prophet. There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your [personal] views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord Himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; … and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory’ (Doctrine & Covenants 21:6).”

 

How did President Lee know what we would be facing in our day? He knew because he was a prophet, seer, and revelator. And if we listen and obey the prophets now, including those who will speak in this very conference, we will be strengthened and protected.

What is General Conference?

General conference is a series of two-hour sessions for the general membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The spring meeting is called annual and the fall meeting semiannual. They are held Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. mountain time in the 21,000-seat Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City. Included in the sessions is the general women’s meeting and the priesthood meeting. The general women’s meeting, for girls and women ages 8 and older, is the opening conference meeting and is held on Saturday evening the weekend before General Conference. The priesthood meeting, held Saturday evening between the general Saturday and Sunday sessions, is for young men and men ages 12 and older who have been ordained to the priesthood.

Latter-day Saints travel from all over the world to attend the conference sessions. Free tickets are distributed for each session, but standby lines are also available for those without tickets. Overflow facilities—including the old Tabernacle, the former location for general conference—are located nearby on Temple Square.

Click here to find out how to access the messages of General Conference.

But this is not passive participation in government. Rather, it requires that we research each candidate and proposal to find out which one is best suited for our communities, states and nation. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church) believe that this is more than their civic duty, it is their obligation.

The late Prophet and President Spencer W. Kimball said:

To those of you who are citizens of the United States: I wish to urge you and your family members of voting age to go to the polls in large numbers … and vote for the strongest, finest people who are certain to do the most to safeguard the rights and freedoms of this nation. We do not endorse any candidates, but we hope you will vote for good men and women of character, integrity, and ability. You are to be the judge.

Indeed, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ, said before the 2008 elections:

As citizens we have the privilege and duty of electing office holders and influencing public policy. Participation in the political process affects our communities and nation today and in the future.

The importance of active participation in the political process cannot be ignored. Ours is a government for the people, by the people, and can only function properly with input from the people. To fully appreciate our obligations, we must understand the blessings of living in a democracy. And to fully appreciate the blessings of living in a democracy, we must defend and protect our system of government.

The Beauty of American Democracy

The United States of America was founded by a religious people—of various faiths—who believed they were subject to God and created a system of government for a God-fearing people. It began with the U.S. Constitution. Elder M. Russell Ballard, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, said:

The principles and philosophies upon which the U.S. constitutional law is based are not simply the result of the best efforts of a remarkable group of brilliant men. They were inspired by God, and the rights and privileges guaranteed in the Constitution are God-given, not man-derived. The freedom and independence afforded by the Constitution and Bill of Rights are divine rights—sacred, essential, and inalienable. …

 

Believe it or not, at one time the very notion of government had less to do with politics than with virtue.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, taught:

The Constitution had its origin in a resolution by which the relatively powerless Congress called delegates to a convention to discuss amendments to the Articles of Confederation. … They were conscious of their place in history. For millennia the world’s people had been ruled by kings or tyrants. Now a group of colonies had won independence from a king and their representatives had the unique opportunity of establishing a constitutional government Abraham Lincoln would later describe as “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

James Madison, who’s often called the father of the Constitution, said:

We have staked the whole future of American civilization not upon the power of the government—far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God. (Russ Walton, Biblical Principles of Importance to Godly Christians, New Hampshire: Plymouth Foundation, 1984, p. 361.)

The Framers of the U.S. Constitution created a form of government that was meant to protect Americans from tyrannical government. The government was not a pure democracy, where the people vote and decide on the issues. Nor was it government-controlled. Rather, the people elect representatives, and the representatives are accountable to the people for the way they run the government.

The late President Ezra Taft Benson said:

The wisdom of these delegates is shown in the genius of the document itself. The founders had a strong distrust for centralized power in a federal government. So they created a government with checks and balances. This was to prevent any branch of the government from becoming too powerful.

 

Congress could pass laws, but the president could check this with a veto. Congress, however, could override the veto, and by its means of initiative in taxation, could further restrain the executive department. The Supreme Court could nullify laws passed by the Congress and signed by the president. But Congress could limit the Court’s appellate jurisdiction. The president could appoint judges for their lifetime with the consent of the Senate.

 

Each branch of the government was also made subject to different political pressures. The president was to be chosen by electors, Senators by state legislatures, representatives by the people, and the Supreme Court by the president, with the consent of the Senate. All this was deliberately designed to make it difficult for a majority of the people to control the government and to place restraints on the government itself.

The beauty of American democracy is the system of checks and balances inherent in the system. And the greatest checks to balance the system are the people themselves.

The Power of Citizenship

Many in the world today misunderstand the power of this new form of government. It is not found in the government itself, but in the citizens of the nation. Former Harvard professor Mickey Edwards—a former U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma who is also a founding member of the Heritage Foundation—said:

We live in a community of shared responsibilities and shared obligations. But we’ve also created a system of government that lays out … that the American is not a subject of government, but a citizen. And there’s a big difference because governments tell their subjects what to do and citizens tell their governments what to do.

The success—or failure—of our government depends on the willingness of its citizens to participate in the political process. It also depends on the righteousness of its people. President Benson said:

… Righteousness is an indispensable ingredient to liberty. Virtuous people elect wise and good representatives. Good representatives make good laws and then wisely administer them. This tends to preserve righteousness. An unvirtuous citizenry tend to elect representatives who will pander to their covetous lustings. The burden of self-government is a great responsibility. It calls for restraint, righteousness, responsibility, and reliance upon God. It is a truism from the Lord that “when the wicked rule the people mourn.” (Doctrine & Covenants 98:9.)

Thus, religion plays a vital role in a free society. Elder Oaks said:

Our society is not held together just by law and its enforcement, but most importantly by voluntary obedience to the unenforceable and by widespread adherence to unwritten norms of right or righteous behavior. Religious belief in right and wrong is a vital influence to advocate and persuade such voluntary compliance by a large proportion of our citizens. Others, of course, have a moral compass not expressly grounded in religion. John Adams relied on all of these when he wisely observed that

 

“…we have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

The U.S. government was established for a moral people who would work together for the good of the whole. Only a people who feel obligated to a higher power and a higher cause can rise above their own selfish desires for the good of the entire population. From the very beginning, the Founding Fathers provided an excellent example for the rest of us to follow. Elder Oaks said:

… One should not expect perfection—one certainly should not expect all of his personal preferences—in a document that must represent a consensus. One should not sulk over a representative body’s failure to attain perfection. Americans are well advised to support the best that can be obtained in the circumstances that prevail. That is sound advice not only for the drafting of a constitution but also for the adoption and administration of laws under it.

The power of citizenship is that the government honors and respects the rights of all citizens, not just an elect (or select) few. In this way, it is a beacon on the hill. Edwards said:

… We are a different kind of nation. … We’re a nation set up to honor the dignity, the rights, of every single individual human being.

Is American Democracy Really in Need of Protection?

Washington at Constitutional Convention of 1787, signing of U.S. Constitution, oil on canvas by Junius Brutus Stearns.

The question then becomes, is our system of government really in need of protection? Following the Constitutional Convention, someone asked Benjamin Franklin what the delegates had for the new nation. Franklin answered, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

The Founding Fathers did not create a democratic government, in the purest sense. A democracy is when the people make decisions by themselves.

In the history of the world, our country is relatively young. Edwards said:

The system of government we created is still an experiment and we don’t know yet if it’s going to survive. The question is not whether our system of government will survive all of these great threats that a nation like ours invariably faces—Al Qaida, ISIS or other economic threats. … The question is whether our system will survive us.

Edwards cited several examples of the breakdown of the checks and balances in recent years—beginning with the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They are becoming more and more disconcerting. He said:

Under the British system you did not need to be from the place you were supposedly representing, and our founders said, “No, you’re not going to be representing a party, you’re going to be representing the people that elected you.” … We are moving more and more to a system in which Democrats and Republicans feel obligated to support those from their parties, not members of a separate branch of government to be kept in check as the Constitution envisions but as the captain of their team … to whom partisanship demands unquestioning loyalty. …

 

Increasingly today, in both houses of Congress, the party in the majority, whoever it is, blocks consideration of alternatives, blocks amendments, blocks other proposals. There is more actual serious debate in a social studies classroom in Provo High School than on the floor of either the United States House or Senate.

The problem is that we aren’t working together for the common good. Rather, it appears that each party is working for the benefit of itself. And when this happens, we all lose. Edwards said:

James Madison and the rest of Congress gave us a blessing, a government in which the people would be citizens, not subjects, … and that is disappearing. …

Citizens Have to Power to Enact Change

So what can we do? What can one person do to help our nation? It turns out, there is a lot that one person can accomplish. Edwards said:

We have created a republic that doesn’t understand the Constitution. We cannot save this constitutional republic of ours unless we create at the same time a people committed to this form of government and willing to stand up to save it.

 

The founders created it. Saving it is up to us.

And it begins at home. This, again, is where religion and faith help to stabilize our nation. The late President Gordon B. Hinckley said:

A nation will rise no higher than the strength of its homes. If you want to reform a nation, you begin with families, with parents who teach their children principles and values that are positive and affirmative and will lead them to worthwhile endeavors. That is the basic failure that has taken place in America.

Richard G. Wilkins, at the time, a law professor at Brigham Young University (the flagship school of The Church of Jesus Christ), said:

Throughout history, stable societies have recognized (and protected) the family as the basic unit of society precisely because the family is the social unit that has the primary responsibility for rearing and educating children. The family has successfully performed these fundamental tasks, in large part, because peaceful existence within a secure family demands that family members recognize (and respect) not just “rights” but communal responsibilities. During the latter half of this century, however, a modern emphasis on autonomy has shifted the focus of academic and governmental energies away from the recognition of (and respect for) communal responsibilities to a focus on “individual rights.” …

 

The social consequences have been disastrous. In the words of Elder [Bruce] Hafen, because of the “emerging but misguided tendency among some adults to defer increasingly to children’s preferences,” the modern world may well fail to encourage the “development of the personal competence needed to produce an ongoing democratic society comprised of persons capable of . . . responsible action.” It is time to appreciate (and correct) the consequences of the modern focus on autonomy and of disregard of the family. It is time to recognize and reemphasize the central role of the family community in creating and maintaining a stable society. It is time, in short, to direct some of the energy we have lavished on protection of the individual to the defense and protection of the family. Without this defense, the family, the most basic community of all, may be imperiled.

And the failure of governments to protect the family ultimately weakens the governments themselves. Indeed, as President Kimball stated:

Whether from inadvertence, ignorance, or other causes, the efforts governments often make (ostensibly to help the family) sometimes only hurt the family more. There are those who would define the family in such a nontraditional way that they would define it out of existence. The more governments try in vain to take the place of the family, the less effective governments will be in performing the traditional and basic roles for which governments are formed in the first place.

Citizens have the power to enact change, one home and one family at a time. The home is where we learn how to treat other people, to respect one another’s opinions and differences and how to work together for the greater good. Each family member can then take what is learned at home into the community.

We all enjoy the blessings of democracy—freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to choose our representatives and the freedom to vote them out if we don’t like what they do. But we also share the responsibility of being good citizens, working together and respecting one another’s opinions—even the ones we find insufferable, intolerable and unpopular. This is what makes America great. And these are the obligations of living in a democracy. We don’t all have to think alike, but we all must work together for the common good. And, in the end, it is our responsibility to hold our government accountable as we voice our opinions at the polls.

These are valid questions that each person must address for him- or herself. But at the root of this discussion must be this: Which source will we trust for our information? For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church), this source is the Savior and His chosen prophets and apostles. We learn how to judge righteously in an increasingly wicked world as we understand the source to which we must look for truth—and why truth does not change with the whims of the world.

Why Can’t the LDS Church Get With the Times?

We live in day where it seems like anything goes. If it feels good, do it. But not everyone is adopting these philosophies. One of the biggest questions that some members of the rising generation have is why The Church of Jesus Christ and other religions aren’t changing with the times. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (with the First Presidency, the governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ), said:

The philosophy of moral relativism, which holds that each person is free to choose for him or herself what is right and wrong, is becoming the unofficial creed for many in the United States and other Western nations. At the extreme level, evil acts that used to be localized and covered up like a boil are now legalized and paraded like a banner. Persuaded by this philosophy, many of the rising generation are caught up in self-serving pleasures, pornography, dishonesty, foul language, revealing attire, pagan painting and piercing of body parts, and degrading sexual indulgence.

As these trends become not only popular but socially acceptable as well, the question becomes: Why are religions so against the new normal? Elder Oaks explains:

We believe in absolute truth, including the existence of God and the right and wrong established by His commandments. We know that the existence of God and the existence of absolute truth are fundamental to life on this earth, whether they are believed in or not. We also know that evil exists and that some things are simply, seriously, and everlastingly wrong.

Because The Church of Jesus Christ and other religions have not changed with the political and social climate, Church leaders have been accused of being out of touch. To this, Elder M. Russell Ballard, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, explained:

I have heard that some people think the Church leaders live in a “bubble.” What they forget is that we are men and women of experience, and we have lived our lives in so many places and worked with many people from different backgrounds. Our current assignments literally take us around the globe, where we meet the political, religious, business, and humanitarian leaders of the world. Although we have visited the White House in Washington, D.C., and leaders of nations throughout the world, we have also visited the most humble homes on earth, where we have met and ministered to the poor.

 

When you thoughtfully consider our lives and ministry, you will most likely agree that we see and experience the world in ways few others do. You will realize that we live less in a “bubble” than most people. … We have experienced it all, including the consequences of different public laws and policies, disappointments, tragedies, and deaths in our own families. We are not out of touch with your lives.

And they are not out of touch with the times. They cannot, however, change doctrine that is not their own.

These are the Doctrines of Christ

The doctrines and policies of The Church of Jesus Christ cannot be altered to fit the ideals and philosophies of the day. In a democracy, change comes through the voice of the people. But The Church of Jesus Christ is not a democracy. Rather, it is a theocracy—meaning that God is the head of the Church. The late President Gordon B. Hinckley, until his death the prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ, said:

… Let it be understood by all that Jesus Christ stands at the head of this church which bears His sacred name. He is watching over it. He is guiding it. Standing at the right hand of His Father, He directs this work.

When the Savior lived on the earth, He organized His Church, calling Apostles and ordaining them to His priesthood, which is the power that God gives to man to act in all things for the salvation of His children. The modern Church of Jesus Christ is organized in the same manner, with the same priesthood power. President Hinckley said:

The First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles, called and ordained to hold the keys of the priesthood, have the authority and responsibility to govern the Church, to administer its ordinances, to expound its doctrine, and to establish and maintain its practices. Each man who is ordained an Apostle and sustained a member of the Council of the Twelve is sustained as a prophet, seer, and revelator.

Together, the First Presidency and the Quorum (or Council) of the Twelve Apostles are the governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ. Thus, all policy, procedure and doctrine come through these channels. Elder D. Todd Christofferson, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, explained:

In some faith traditions, theologians claim equal teaching authority with the ecclesiastical hierarchy, and doctrinal matters may become a contest of opinions between them. Some rely on the ecumenical councils of the Middle Ages and their creeds. Others place primary emphasis on the reasoning of post-apostolic theologians or on biblical hermeneutics and exegesis. We value scholarship that enhances understanding, but in the Church today, just as anciently, establishing the doctrine of Christ or correcting doctrinal deviations is a matter of divine revelation to those the Lord endows with apostolic authority.

And how is this accomplished? President Hinckley taught:

No decision emanates from the deliberations of the First Presidency and the Twelve without total unanimity among all concerned. At the outset in considering matters, there may be differences of opinion. These are to be expected. These men come from different backgrounds. They are men who think for themselves. But before a final decision is reached, there comes a unanimity of mind and voice. This is to be expected if the revealed word of the Lord is followed.

 

… I have seen differences of opinion presented in these deliberations. Out of this very process of men speaking their minds has come a sifting and winnowing of ideas and concepts. But I have never observed serious discord or personal enmity among my Brethren. I have, rather, observed a beautiful and remarkable thing—the coming together, under the directing influence of the Holy Spirit and under the power of revelation, of divergent views until there is total harmony and full agreement. Only then is implementation made. That, I testify, represents the spirit of revelation manifested again and again in directing this the Lord’s work.

These are the doctrines and teachings of Jesus Christ—His Church, His gospel and only He can make these changes.

Mixing the Messages of Jesus Christ with the Philosophies of Men

There are many masters of spin in the world today—and the teachings of Jesus Christ are not exempt from this manipulation. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, taught:

Sadly enough, my young friends, it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much, comfortable gods, smooth gods who not only don’t rock the boat but don’t even row it, gods who pat us on the head, make us giggle, then tell us to run along and pick marigolds.

 

Talk about man creating God in his own image! Sometimes—and this seems the greatest irony of all—these folks invoke the name of Jesus as one who was this kind of “comfortable” God. Really? He who said not only should we not break commandments, but we should not even think about breaking them. And if we do think about breaking them, we have already broken them in our heart. Does that sound like “comfortable” doctrine, easy on the ear and popular down at the village love-in?

 

… Christlike love is the greatest need we have on this planet in part because righteousness was always supposed to accompany it. So if love is to be our watchword, as it must be, then by the word of Him who is love personified, we must forsake transgression and any hint of advocacy for it in others. Jesus clearly understood what many in our modern culture seem to forget: that there is a crucial difference between the commandment to forgive sin (which He had an infinite capacity to do) and the warning against condoning it (which He never ever did even once).

The Savior does indeed love everyone—and has commanded each one of us to love and serve our neighbors. But the Savior does not condone sin. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, said:

… We “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” We are all in need of mercy. In that last day when we are called to the judgment bar of God, do we not hope that our many imperfections will be forgiven? … It seems only right and proper that we extend to others that which we so earnestly desire for ourselves.

 

I am not suggesting that we accept sin or overlook evil, in our personal life or in the world. Nevertheless, in our zeal, we sometimes confuse sin with sinner, and we condemn too quickly and with too little compassion. We know from modern revelation that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” We cannot gauge the worth of another soul any more than we can measure the span of the universe. Every person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father. Once we understand that, we can begin to understand how we should treat our fellowmen.

The world today interprets this to mean that we must accept and tolerate all behaviors—even if we find them morally reprehensible. But this is not so. Elder Oaks explained:

While we must practice tolerance and respect for others and their beliefs, including their right to explain and advocate their positions, we are not required to respect and tolerate wrong behavior. Our duty to truth requires us to seek relief from behavior that is wrong.

 

… For persons who believe in absolute truth, tolerance for behavior is like a two-sided coin. Tolerance or respect is on one side of the coin, but truth is always on the other. You cannot possess or use the coin of tolerance without being conscious of both sides.

 

Our Savior applied this principle. When He faced the woman taken in adultery, Jesus spoke the comforting words of tolerance: “Neither do I condemn thee.” Then, as He sent her away, He spoke the commanding words of truth: “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). We should all be edified and strengthened by this example of speaking both tolerance and truth: kindness in the communication but firmness in the truth.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of love, hope, compassion and redemption. The glory of this message is that we can become like the Savior by giving away all of our sins to know Him—not by trying to change the definition of sin to fit our desires.

The Challenges of Judging and Becoming

The goal of this life, then, it to learn how to judge between what is right and what is wrong. If we want to become more like our Savior, we need to understand how this can be accomplished. Elder Oaks explained:

… The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.

This begins by learning to choose the correct path to follow. And this is where the challenge of judging in the appropriate way comes in. Elder Oaks said:

We all make judgments in choosing our friends, in choosing how we will spend our time and our money, and, of course, in choosing an eternal companion. … Whenever possible we will refrain from judging people and only judge situations. This is essential whenever we attempt to act upon different standards than others with whom we must associate—at home, at work, or in the community. We can set and act upon high standards for ourselves or our homes without condemning those who do otherwise.

Martin Luther, Protestant Reformation and Transformation

The Protestant Reformation was officially begun on Saturday, 31 October 1517, when Martin Luther, a German monk, Catholic priest, and professor of theology, nailed his 95 Theses (on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences) on the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. He prefaced his treatise with an open invitation to those wishing to debate his propositions to do so orally or in writing:

Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.

In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Even in the wake of pending excommunication from the church, Martin Luther continued to defend his grievances against the church. Because of his unwillingness to recant, he was branded as a heretic, and was excommunicated from the church on Thursday, 3 January 1521, by Pope Leo X.

One of the biggest changes to Christianity which was brought about by the reformation occurred in 1522 when the Bible was translated from Latin to German, thus allowing the people, for the first time, to own a copy of the sacred writ for themselves. Along with this advancement came the idea that people could read scripture themselves and determine through prayer what scripture meant.  This was a revolutionary idea, because up until that time, laymen and women were required to depend on the professional clergy for everything in the realm of religion.  The Bible was translated into English in 1526, thus furthering the cause of the reformation and bringing about the establishment of more churches throughout the world, including the Church of England which was established in the 1530’s.

Reformation was sweeping the German nation regardless, as well as the Swiss, the English, and other European countries; even starting war. Both Germany’s Peasants’ War (1524-1526) and Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) were both a direct and indirect effect of the changing attitudes and social changes the Reformation brought about.

Another change that was brought about as a result of the reformation had to do with the “sacraments.” In Reformed church services, the bread and the wine used for the “sacraments” were understood as being symbolic of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and not His literal body and blood as taught by the Catholic Church.

The issue of marriage was also re-examined, as Men of the Cloth were not permitted to marry within the Catholic Church. Luther changed that when he married Katharina von Bora (he was 41, she was 26). Together they had six children, and were devoted to each other and to God. What Martin Luther did to reform the church may seem but an insignificant thing to some, but it literally transformed the world.

The Protestant Reformation and Mormonism

LDS perspective regards the Protestant Reformation as a preparation for the more complete Restoration of the gospel that commenced with Joseph Smith. Thus, the Protestant Reformation initiated a return to pure Christianity, a work that could not be completed without divine revelation and restoration. The leaders of the Reformation are honored as inspired men who made important progress, but without direct revelation they could not recover the true gospel or the priesthood authority to act in God’s name. That was the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

The restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith took place within the context of this post-Reformation world. Yet Joseph Smith is not considered a successor to the reformers in the sense of building on their teachings. He claimed to receive his knowledge and priesthood authority directly by revelation, not by the study of other writers, thus initiating a new dispensation of the gospel rather than a continuation of the Reformation.

Perhaps one of the most noticeable results of the Reformation was the increased attention to the freedom of individuals. The termination of the single “universal” church and the establishment of numerous other sects caused great stir in the political arena, particularly concerning the independence of the United States of America. There were many factors which were a vital part of the establishment of the United States, and among those factors were the political and religious heritage of the Protestant Reformers.

The religious environment of the early-nineteenth century which was predominantly Protestant caused great confusion and tumult among the different denominations. There were a great number of religious revivals at that time in which ministers of the different sects emphasized the Bible and Bible reading, just as sixteenth century humanists and reformists had promoted, yet none seemed to be able to agree on the message of the same passage of scripture.

The Bible which Joseph Smith and others used at that time was the 1611 English King James Version. In fact, it was his own thirst for knowledge and truth which led Joseph to search the Bible for answers. Having read the verses in James 1:5-6, the young boy Joseph, sought answers to his questions through earnest prayer and had his first personal encounter with the Living God. The verses that he read were:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

The Reformation also opened the doors for the beginning of congregational religion in which congregations were given the right to organize themselves, conduct their own worship services, and govern their own affairs. Emphasis was placed on the concept of religion being a personal, one-on-one relationship between God and the individual worshiper.

Not as many specific doctrines are shared with mainline Protestants, but Latter-day Saints do have in common a devoted faith in Jesus Christ as Redeemer of the world and as personal Savior. This faith was the moving force in the actions of Martin Luther and other early reformers, and was central to the life and work of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It remains today a central tenet of the Church.

After Christ was resurrected and left this earth, the essential doctrines and truths that He taught were slowly lost to the world. Eventually the world fell into a period of apostasy, in which no full truth or any priesthood power could be found. The restoration of all things was prophesied by Peter when he spoke about “the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”^[1] Mormons believe that the restoration of all things began when God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820.

Several events will be a part of the full restoration: the re-establishment of Christ’s church as He organized it during His mortal life; the restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods;  the restoration of sacred temple ordinances and priesthood keys; the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon, restoring essential gospel truths to the world; the gathering of Israel; the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and His consequent millennial reign on the earth; and the gospel of Jesus Christ accepted worldwide.

Several of these promised restorations have already happened. Peter, James, and John came to Joseph Smith to restore the power of the priesthood; The Church of Jesus Christ was officially established in these days in 1830; Moses, Elias, and Elijah appeared in the Kirtland temple to restore the essential priesthood keys of the gathering of Israel, the keys of the dispensation of Abraham, and the power of the sealing keys, which enables families to be sealed together forever.

God’s ultimate plan for this earth is coming together in the restoration of all things. This restoration includes worldwide missionary work and the building of temples all around the globe. The Lord seeks to make every one of His children aware of the truth so that they may have the opportunity to choose to follow Him.

The purpose of the restoration is to prepare the world and God’s children for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. God will not leave His children unprepared and has taken critical steps to ensure that His gospel will be made available to everyone through the restoration of all things. Without the restoration, the Savior could not come to reign on earth again, and truths crucial to our salvation would be out of our reach. Because of the restoration of all things, we can come unto Christ more fully and completely than we could before this restoration. The restoration of all things is evidence that God loves and cares for each and every one of His children and wants them to be happy both in this life and in the life to come.

New Testament Accounts

In Luke chapter 1, we see the account of an angel appearing to Mary and telling her that she would have a son. Mary at first was confused, and asked the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” The angel replied, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:30-35). Latter-day Saints believe this account to be true, and that Mary was a virgin, just as other Christian denominations believe. Latter-day Saints also believe the account in Matthew of Jesus’ miraculous birth.

Modern Revelation

In the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, there are several places where Mary, or Jesus’ mother, is mentioned by way of prophecy or vision. In the book of 1 Nephi, the prophet Nephi sees a vision of Jesus’ birth. Nephi said of Mary, “And in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white . . . most beautiful and fair above all other virgins” (1 Nephi 11:13-14). During his vision, Nephi was escorted by an angel. In the next verse, Nephi records what the angel said to him:

And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God? And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things. And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh. And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms (1 Nephi 11:15-20).

From Nephi’s vision, the account in the New Testament is corroborated. Mary was a pure virgin, and the mother of the Son of God. Nephi also states that Mary was “carried away in the Spirit,” similar to Luke’s description of her being “overshadowed” by the Holy Ghost.

Later in the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma teaches the people that Jesus “shall be born of Mary, . . . she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Alma 7:10). Again, the language of the Book of Mormon echoes the Bible, teaching that Mary was a virgin and was overshadowed by the Holy Ghost.

Jesus is the Son of God

Latter-day Saints believe that God the Father is Jesus’ father, not the Holy Ghost. The Church of Jesus Christ’s official website, lds.org, states: “Mary was Jesus’ only earthly parent because God the Father was Jesus’ father”[1, emphasis added]. We believe that Jesus inherited different characteristics from each of His parents: from His mortal mother, Mary, Jesus inherited the ability to die; from His immortal father, God the Father, Jesus inherited the ability to rise again. However, Latter-day Saints don’t profess to understand exactly how Jesus’ conception took place. The how of the virgin birth is not important; what’s more important is that we know it did happen.

What Latter-day Saints Don’t Believe About Mary

While Latter-day Saints do believe in the Virgin Birth, we do not believe in the Immaculate Conception, as the Catholics do, nor do we believe in Mary’s perpetual virginity or her assumption into heaven. We believe that Mary was a precious and chosen individual, but also that she was mortal, and, in that sense, just like any other mortal on earth. We do not pray to Mary or believe she can intercede on our behalf. We do honor her as the mother of the Son of God on earth, and as a virtuous and chosen woman.

There are thousands of Christian churches on the earth today. Although many churches have similarities in beliefs, there are also a number of differences in doctrinal teachings. Nephi, an ancient American prophet whose teachings are found in the Book of Mormon—which is another testament of Jesus Christ and a companion scripture to the Bible—said concerning the Bible that “the things which were written were plain and pure, and most precious and easy to the understanding of all men” (1 Nephi 14:23). But, Nephi said, “There are many plain and precious things taken away from the book (1 Nephi 13:28). The doctrinal differences of churches today stem from the various interpretations of the Bible—which are a result of the “plain and precious things taken away” from the Bible.

How does this happen? Elder Dallin H. Oaks, a member of The Quorum of The Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ (along with the First Presidency, the governing body of the Church), illustrates how information is lost through time. He tells the story of a once great ancient city that had been buried by desert sands and eventually “forgotten for hundreds of years” before being unearthed in modern times.

Discoveries like this contradict the common assumption that knowledge increases with the passage of time. In fact, on some matters the general knowledge of mankind regresses as some important truths are distorted or ignored and eventually forgotten. For example, the American Indians were in many respects more successful at living in harmony with nature than our modern society. Similarly, modern artists and craftsmen have been unable to recapture some of the superior techniques and materials of the past, like the varnish on a Stradivarius violin.

 

We would be wiser if we could restore the knowledge of some important things that have been distorted, ignored, or forgotten. This also applies to religious knowledge. It explains the need for the gospel restoration we proclaim.

Defining ‘The Great Apostasy’

Following the death of Jesus Christ and His Apostles, there was a “falling away” from the fullness of the gospel as teachings were distorted and changed, and some “plain and precious” parts of the gospel were lost.

The late President James E. Faust, then second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ, said,

 With this falling away, priesthood keys were lost, and some precious doctrines of the Church organized by the Savior were changed. Among these were baptism by immersion; receiving the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands;  the nature of the Godhead—that They are three distinct personages; all mankind will be resurrected through the Atonement of Christ, ‘both … the just and the unjust’ (Acts 24:15); continuous revelation—that the heavens are not closed;  and temple work for the living and the dead. The period that followed came to be known as the Dark Ages.

“The Great Apostasy,” as it is called in The Church of Jesus Christ, is the time following the death of Christ’s Apostles when the fullness of the gospel—including the priesthood (defined as the power and authority to act in God’s name)—was no longer on the earth.

 The Reformation Prepared the Way

The work of religious believers during the Christian Reformation period, such as translating the Bible into the languages of the common people, helped to pave the way for the Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A reformation is a reforming, or changing, of the way in which something is done. A restoration is to restore, or to bring something back.

President Faust continued,

In the centuries that followed, religious men came to recognize that there had been a gradual falling away from the Church organized by Jesus Christ. Some of them suffered greatly for their beliefs, in what came to be called the Reformation, a sixteenth-century movement that aimed at reforming Western Christianity. This resulted in the separation of the Protestant churches from the main Christian church.

Although the Reformers saw the need and tried to bring back the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, they lacked the power to do so. There are a couple of shows on the History Channel where men restore items to their former glory—old cars, vending machines, etc. Before the men can restore these items, they have to prepare them by sanding, buffing and scraping off the old paint. They also have to check to see which parts need to be replaced and which are still in working order. All of the components must be in place before the restoration can occur. It was the same way with the Reformation and Restoration of the gospel. While the Reformers lacked the power from Jesus Christ to restore the fullness of His gospel, they saw the need and helped to prepare the way for the Restoration. Their efforts and sacrifices helped to bring about the full Restoration of the gospel.

President Gordon B. Hinckley, then president of The Church of Jesus Christ, said,

Reformers worked to change the church, notably such men as Luther, Melanchthon, Hus, Zwingli, and Tyndale. These were men of great courage, some of whom suffered cruel deaths because of their beliefs. Protestantism was born with its cry for reformation. When that reformation was not realized, the reformers organized churches of their own. They did so without priesthood authority. Their one desire was to find a niche in which they might worship God as they felt He should be worshiped.

 

While this great ferment was stirring across the Christian world, political forces were also at work. Then came the American Revolutionary War, resulting in the birth of a nation whose constitution declared that government should not reach its grasping hand into matters of religion. A new day had dawned, a glorious day. Here there was no longer a state church. No one faith was favored above another. After centuries of darkness and pain and struggle, the time was ripe for the restoration of the gospel.

 The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

The scriptures teach: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). During the time of the Great Apostasy, there were no prophets on the earth. The heavens were closed, so to speak, without a living prophet on the earth with whom God could communicate His will for His people (although personal revelation and inspiration continued in all ages).

The scriptures tell us how the Lord calls and speaks to His prophets. In 1 Samuel 3:2-10, the boy Samuel is living with the prophet Eli. Samuel is asleep and hears a voice calling his name. Believing it to be Eli, Samuel goes to the prophet and says, “Here I am.” Eli tells Samuel to go back to bed because he didn’t call him. So Samuel goes back to bed. This happens two more times. The third time, “Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth” (v. 8-10).

The Lord spoke directly to Samuel, called him by name, and instructed Samuel in what he was to do. In 1820, a young boy named Joseph Smith had a similar experience. “The heavens had been closed for centuries,” President Faust said. [2] On a spring day in 1820, 14-year-old Joseph Smith went to a grove of trees to kneel in prayer and ask Heavenly Father which church he should join. What followed is called, in The Church of Jesus Christ, the First Vision, where the boy Joseph saw two heavenly personages appear to him, call him by name and give him instructions.

Elder Oaks said,

Then came the First Vision. An unschooled boy, seeking knowledge from the ultimate source, saw two personages of indescribable brightness and glory and heard one of them say, while pointing to the other, ‘This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!’ (Joseph Smith—History 1:17.) The divine teaching in that vision began the restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. God the Son told the boy prophet that all the ‘creeds’ of the churches of that day ‘were an abomination in his sight’ (Joseph Smith—History 1:19). We affirm that this divine declaration was a condemnation of the creeds, not of the faithful seekers who believed in them. Joseph Smith’s first vision showed that the prevailing concepts of the nature of God and the Godhead were untrue and could not lead their adherents to the destiny God desired for them.

Thus began the restoration of the gospel. Joseph Smith wrote down his experience that day, and it’s found in Joseph Smith—History in a book of scripture called the Pearl of Great Price. President Faust explains this and another book of modern scripture, the Doctrine and Covenants:

With prophets and apostles upon the earth once more, the heavens were opened once again with visions and revelations. Many of the revelations that came to the Prophet Joseph Smith were written down in a book that came to be known as the Doctrine and Covenants. This contains further insights about principles and ordinances and is a valuable source concerning the structure of the priesthood. In addition, we have another canon of scripture called the Pearl of Great Price. It contains the book of Moses, which came by revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the book of Abraham, which he translated from a purchased Egyptian scroll. From these we learn not only a great deal more about Moses, Abraham, Enoch, and other prophets but also many more details about the Creation. We learn that the gospel of Jesus Christ was taught to all of the prophets from the beginning—even from the time of Adam.  (See Moses 5:58; Moses 8:19; Abraham 2:10–11.)

 

We believe The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a restoration of the original Church established by Jesus Christ, which was built ‘upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone’  (Ephesians 2:20). It is not a breakoff from any other church.

The Saturday morning session of April 2013’s General Conference brought two undeniable apostolic witnesses that Jesus is the Christ.  Boyd K. Packer is now 88 years old.  He spoke of aging, and how as the body breaks down, the spirit continues to be enriched by the conveying of knowledge through the Holy Ghost.  At the end of his address, he bore testimony that he knows Jesus is the Christ.  He has a sure witness that has transcended faith.  Christ has revealed Himself to this apostle.

Later in the session, Henry B. Eyring, a member of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ, explained that he knows Jesus is the Christ the same way Joseph Smith knew it, by seeing the Lord.  In the Doctrine and Covenants, a collection of modern revelations, there are several accounts of Joseph’s Smith’s personal visitations and visions of the Christ.  In two of those experiences, Joseph wasn’t alone.

The first, of course, is what Mormons call “the first vision.”  A boy of 14, Joseph went into a woods on his father’s property to pray.  Confused by the conflicting doctrines of  various Protestant sects who all claimed the Bible as the basis for their teachings, Joseph felt like he couldn’t resort to the Bible to find out which of the sects was true.  Joseph had no idea his venture would lead to the restoration of lost priesthood keys and the re-establishment of the fullness of the gospel of Christ to the earth.  Joseph saw God the Father, and Christ the Son in that vision, and they instructed him personally.

In Section 110 of the Doctrine and Covenants Joseph recorded another vision and series of visitations.  The occasion was the dedication of the Kirtland Ohio Temple, April 3, 1836, the second day of the Jewish Passover and “Bikkurim,” the Jewish festival associated with harvest first fruits.  Joseph and Oliver Cowdery would receive various priesthood keys from Elias, Moses, and Elijah that day, but first they saw the Savior:

The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened.  We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber.

His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father (D&C 110:1-4).

Doctrine and Covenants, Section 76, is the account of a vision of the kingdoms of heaven experienced by Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon.  It begins,

Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior.

Great is his wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doing none can find out.

We, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, being in the Spirit on the sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two—By the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God—

Of whom we bear record: and the record which we bear is the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision.

…the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about.   And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fullness.  And we saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever.

And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—that by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God (D&C 76:1, 2, 11, 12, 14, 19-24).

The testimony of Elder Henry B. Eyring at the close of his talk was as follows:

I am a witness of the Resurrection of the Lord as surely as if I had been there in the evening with the two disciples in the house on Emmaus road. I know that He lives as surely as did Joseph Smith when he saw the Father and the Son in the light of a brilliant morning in a grove of trees in Palmyra.

This is the true Church of Jesus Christ. Only in the priesthood keys held by President Thomas S. Monson is the power for us to be sealed in families to live forever with our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We will on the Day of Judgment stand before the Savior, face to face. It will be a time of joy for those who have drawn close to Him in His service in this life. It will be a joy to hear the words: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”19 I so testify as a witness of the risen Savior and our Redeemer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Modern apostles have been ordained of God beginning with the heavenly messengers who ordained the first prophet of this dispensation, Joseph Smith.  That authority comes from Christ Himself.  The authority and power and priesthood keys are the same as those exercised by Christ’s apostles in ancient times.  They have been called and set apart as special witnesses of Christ in preparation for His Second Coming.