Reading these old conference talks has been such a blessing in my life. They remind me to use my agency to receive His blessings. I hope to gain more courage, to hold onto my faith, and to always remember who I am. The gospel is the same. Some technicalities have been modified with time, but we can rely on the word of God to be the same for all of His children; all who are willing to use their agency to obey the laws of God and receive His love and blessings.
Using Our Free Agency
We don’t use the term “free” agency anymore. It’s been clarified that agency really isn’t free, so clearly this talk was given before that time. Elder Delbert L. Stapley reminded us:
“Satan exerts his greatest power when God has a work to do among his children on earth. Every dispensation of the gospel since the beginning of time has come to a close, not because God has failed, but because man has failed God by the improper use of his free agency.”
No, agency is not free. There is a consequence, both good and bad, for each choice we make. It’s all up to us.
The Laws of God are Blessings
ElRay L. Christiansen spoke on why obedience brings blessings. He voiced that many people seem to think that “salvation and joy everlasting will somehow be forthcoming, even though they do not observe the laws and commandments of God.” Each one of us has fallen under this false notion of rationalization. The reason we have commandments is because He loves us and He wants to save us from the sorrows of the world.
Faithful Laborers
This was a beautiful talk about early missionaries who have sacrificed so much. Loren C. Dunn was in Samoa when the mission president took him to a graveyard where eight Saints had been buried. Out of the eight, four were children and one was a twenty-one-year-old woman.
He explains how in the early days of the Church it was common for young married couples to serve missions together and some brought their young families with them. Sickness was often the cause of these deaths, taking very young children. In one record a young mother died, so the little girl returned to Utah with some missionaries, that would take her to relatives, while her father stayed to finish his mission.
Elder Dunn also related the story of Annie D. Stevens, whose twenty-nine-year-old husband died while serving as the mission president. She returned home by steamer, reported to the First Presidency on behalf of her husband, and return to her home. Five hours after her arrival she gave birth.
These were no ordinary people. They had testimonies, were determined to stay valiant, and were willing to give their life to the Lord. Elder Dunn shared another story of a General, during World War II, who would look out at the horizon and say to his men, “Can you see them?” He was seeing those who had paid the price before us and were anxious that we carry on the work.
Sometimes I wonder if my testimony is as bright, and if I’m as valiant as they were?
The Sanctity of Life
James E. Faust spoke on abortion. His entire talk was focused on the horrific acts being committed against the defenseless unborn and the sacred nature of motherhood. He said,
“One of the most evil myths of our day is that a woman who has joined hands with God in creation can destroy that creation because she claims the right to control her own body. Since the life within her is not her own, how can she justify its termination and deflect that life from an earth which it may never inherit?”
It is still shocking for me to hear friends say–so casually–that women should have the right to choose. Women have the right to choose when to have sexual relations, but once the sperm finds the egg it’s too late to go backward. That choice now has to live with its consequence.
A Tribute
This was a sweet talk given by L. Tom Perry where he pays tribute to his first wife, who had recently passed away. He shares examples of her giving nature. After having chemo treatments, or surgery, she would force herself to get ready for church and often volunteer to bring meals to other women in the ward.
All of our General Authority wives are incredible women and our General Authorities would not be who they are without these valiant wives and mothers. We’ve heard some beautiful talks over the years of the love these men have for their wives.
Reading this session of conference fills me with the desire to be more valiant. I’m not pressed to do everything right because frankly, I make a lot of mistakes. But I can be more valiant; put my heart in the right place and please God better, and more often.
Additional General Conference Odyssey posts:
LDS Conference April 1975 – A Tribute to Sister Virginia Perry J. Max Wilson
We all suffer another loss Marilyn Nielson