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Show 4A DESERET NEWS, Monday, October 6, 1969 A Priesthood holders of the of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints were challenged Saturday night by President David 0. McKay to take the responsibility of bringing one member Into the Church each year. The challenge was issued at the priesthocl session of the Conference 139th in the Tabernacle on Temple Priesthood Church Semi-Annu- Square. President McKay, on the advice of his physicians, watched the proceedings from his Hotel Utah apartment by closed-circutelevision. His talk was read by his son, David Lawrence McKay, Sun it day School general superin- tendent. Think of the growth of the Kingdom of God if just you holders of the priesthood within the sound of my voice accept that challenge, President McKay said. We are all missionaries. We may drop a word here, bear out testimomy, be an exemplar by what we do, and as we accept this call and discharge our duties in the stakes, wards, quorums and in the mission field, our acts will roll from soul to soul and go forever and forever, the leader of the Church declared. Elder Richard L. Evans Youth Must Heed Laws Of True Life There isnt any way to cheat nature, to bypass law, to run away from life, Elder Kichard L. Evans of the Council of Twelve declared Saturday afternoon in General Conference as he addressed the youth of the Church. commandments The havent been repealed; the laws of morality, the spiritual laws, the laws of life are still in force and effect, he said. Dont let others drag you Sown and dont drag yourself Elder Evans caudown, tioned. No matter what cynical or immoral or even honestly mistaken people may say, dont let them destroy your faith or virtue, or lead you to a lower way of life. Evans said that young people of today face a complexity of choices that adults, when they were young, Elder had never heard of, but yet the principles are as clear cut as they ever were. He touched upon several subjects of which the youth should be aware, including love, marriage, morality, faith, repentance and law. I know of no more complete or important commitment, in time, or in eterqjty, than marriage, he continued. In choosing a mate, Elder Evans said, dont ever let this choice be made except with earnest, searching, prayerful consideration; confiding in parents, in faithful, mature, trustworthy friends; making sure the person shares the same ideals and convictions. He advised the youth not to go on repeating the same mistakes over and over again. We all make mistakes. If our repentence is sincere, we have the right to approach Him for forgiveness, but remember we are not entitled to any quota of mistakes. It is always better that we dont make them," he continued. Clean out the clutter of the past and live to have peace and a quiet conscience, Elder Evans advised. He offered many- - suggestions which would give youth this peace and quiet conscience: Study, learn, seek wholesome knowledge, develop your talents, increase in competence, take counsel, keep your standards, love and respect your parents, keep close to the diurch, love and serve your country, your community, love and enjoy life and seek the guidance of your Father in prayer. Elder Evans said that when others come to the young people of the Church and tell them what theyre missing, he advised the youth, you tell them what theyre missing: and Peace and a quiet conscience, happiness and the assurance of the highest opportunities of everlasting life. self-respe-ct Elder Bruce R. McConkie leveSatbra is HeEigion . True religion cranes by revelation. God reveals Himself, or He remains forever Elder Bruce R. unknown, McConkie of the First Council of Seventy declared Saturday afternoon in conference. God revealed the plan of salvation in successive Gospel dispensations and He is revealing His mind and His will today, showing that He is the same God yesterday, today and forever and that a soul is just as precious in this day as any other age, he said. He is the source of all things, of every rue principle, of every saving truth, and without revelation from Him there is no true Church, no true religion and no personal salvation, he said. But .people are not saved en masse. Salvation is personal and individual. Religion must come to one man standing alone, independent of all others, Elder McConkie explained. If I am to be saved, 1 personally must believe and obey the true religion. I must get religion into my own heart and soul. What Joseph Smith saw and believed and knew will not suffice. I must see and believe and know for myself, he stated. TESTIMONY The first great revelation men must receive if they are to gain salvation is the revelation of the divine Sonship of Christ, which is coupled with the assurance that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, he said. This revelation is called a testimony of the Gospel, he said. But a testimony is only the beginning of revelation. The receipient has just begun to drink at the fountain of revealed truth. He has but the door to an opened Immeasurably great store Sy house of spiritual knowledge, Elder McConkie said. The things that set the Lords saints apart from the world are that they know that the work in which they are engaged is true, that they have testimonies of its divinity, and that they received revelation added personal concerning many things, he said. There are no restrictions placed upon them; there are no limitations to what they may see and know and comprehend. No eternal truths will be withheld if they obey the laws entitling them to rehe deceive such truths, clared. AVAILABLE TO ALL Revelations are not reserved for a limited few or for those called to positions of importance in the Church, Elder McConkie explained, but it is personal righteousness, keeping the commandments and seeking the Lord which open the windows of revelation. God is no respecter of persons. He will give revelations to me and to you on the same be terms and conditions, said. CAN SEE VISIONS I can see what Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon saw in the vision of the degiees of glory and so can you. I can entertain angels and see God, I can receive an outpouring of and so the gifts of the spirit can you, he said. Thera are goals to gain, summits to climb, revelations to receive. In the eternal scope of things, we have scarcely started out on the course to glory and exaltation, he stated. The Lord wants uc to receive line upon line, precept truth upon upon precept, truth, revelation upon revelation, until we know all things and have become like Him, Elder IcConkie said, The session, conducted by President N. Eldcu Tanner, second counselor is the First Presidency, was heard by priesthood holders throughout the United States and Canada, In addition to the thousands who filled the Tabernacle to capacity and the overflow facilities on Temple Square and in the Salt Palace, another 100,000 men and boys heard the messages over a special telephonic hookup, connnected to hundreds of chapels. Other speakers at the ses- sion were President Hugh B. Brown, first counselor in the First Presidency; Elder Thomas S. Monson, of the Council of Twelve; Elder Marion D. Hanks, Assistant to the Twelve; and Allen J Smith, a returned missionary from Australia. Music for he meeting was provided by a chotua of returned missionaries and faculty from the Institute of Religion at Utah State University. Every mission of the Church was represented in the chorus' except three and the combined missionary service of its members totaled 575 years. SESSION TAPED The session was taped and will be rebroadcast over shortWNYM, Church-ownewave radio station in New York to Europe, Africa and Latin America in German, English, Spanish and Portud guese. In his address, President McKay stressed the theme, To be in the service of our fellowmen is to be to the service of our God. There is one responsibility which no man can evade, he said. That is the responsibility of personal influence. The effect of your words and acts is tremendous to this world. Every moment of life you are changing to a degree the life of the whole world. President McKay said all priesthood holders Lave the responsibility to proclaim that the Church is divinely established by the appearance of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Each one should remember that somewhere there is an honest soul waiting to hear the truth, and it may be that you are toe only one who can reach that inquiring soul, the Church leader said. SET EXAMPLE He admonished priesthood holders to live their lives to set the proper example to those about them. Man cannot escape for one moment the radiation of his character. President McKay said men and boys of the priesthood should radiate to the nations of the world worthiness, testimony, service and inspiration. The responsibility of the Church is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith, but not only preach It and proclaim it by word, by distribution of literature, but more than anything else by living the Gospel to our homes and in our business dealings, having faith and testimony to our hearts and radiating it wherever we go, he declared. There is nothing that can stop the progress of truth excepting only our weaknesses or failure to do our duty, President McKay told the priesthood holders. CITES RESPONSIBILITIES Elder Monson also dis- puses throughout the country. Few word reveal the heart of the Gospel a? the message from the Doctrine and Covenants Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God, Elder Hanks reported. This great principle causds the Church to be so very concerned with each age level of individuals, he said. Elder Hanks said the association has a mighty and wonderful influence in bringing people to the Church. He told the story of a student officer of a major college asktog the LDSSA to undertake a project. The Latter-da- y Saints Student Associa tion is the most important factor for high idealism and staElder bility on this campus, Hanks quoted the officer as saying. President Brown gave a short talk as the final speaker of the session. He told the priesthood holders, No matter what your past has been, you have a spotless future. He advised that on the day of judgment that God will not look for medals, but for scars, to see there are no stains. He said that 65 years ago this month he went to England on a mission and has been serving in various capacities ever since. Elder Miltcn R. Hunter Death Is Not Conclusion Of Existence Where we go when we die depends on how we live while here in mortality, according to Elder Milton R. Hunter of the First Council of Seventy to his Saturday afternoon conference address. Many disbelievers, cynics and athiests today maintain that nothing exists for man beyond the grave that death is the end, he said. The greatest of all teachers, Jesus the Christ, proclaimed an entirely different doctrine, Elder Hunter said. Quoting from the scriptures, he told of the miracle of the raising of the dead performed by Christ. What is death? It is nothing more than the separation of the spiritual body from the physical body, Elder Hunter said. He related John toe Revela-tor- s vision when toe books were opened and toe dead were Judged from the books. Turning to toe Doctrine and Covenants, Elder Hunter told of the three degrees of glory where men go as resurrected President Joseph Fielding Smith gets timid handshake from a young admirer after final session of LDS general conference Sunday in S.L. Tabernacle. beings. God revealed to toe Proph- et that there are three degrees of glory the celestial, the terrestrial, and the teles-tia- l. If a persons body at toe resurrection is quickened by a portion of toe celestial glory he shall later receive a fullness of that glory. The same holds true for the other two degrees of glory. Elder Hunter said little children who die before they are eight years of age will be saved in the celestial degree of glory. Where do we go when we die? It depends on how we live while here in mortality, and how much light and truth we receive and the amount of opportunity we have had. Elder Hunter said those who have not had a chance to hear toe gospel here will have an opportunity to hear the gospel in the spirit world. ELDER JAMES A. CULLIMORE Living Well, Not Death, Is Life's Great Problem Death Is as necessary as birth, but even death can be beautiful as we understand the plan of the Lord and know that in life we have lived e, well, Elder James A. Assistant to the Twelve, said in General Conference Saturday afternoon. The pangs of sorrow, due to the death of a loved one, can be overshadowed by an understanding of the great plan of Culli-mor- Elder Bernard P . Brockbank All that God and the Savior have ever offered to mortal man is available today said Elder Bernard P. Brockbank, Assistant to the Twelve, in the Saturday afternoon session of conference. Elder Brockbank said the teachings, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus are evidence of His divinity. There is spiritual darkness in the world and in the lives of many of the Lord's children, Elder Brockbank said. Today there is widespread disrespect for God; disrespect for Jestis Christ and His and commandteachings ments. He said there is disrespect for self and neighbor, for marriage and family, for the Available To Man Holy Scriptures. Many love themselves and pleasure more than they love God. Alcohol, tobacco, stimulants and drugs are consumed abundantly. In many the appetites are controlling their brain and n mind, rather than the human mind, controlElder ling the appetities, Brockbank said. he I am often asked, What does today and said, toe future offer for me. Young people, all that your God and your Savior have ever offered to mortal man is available to you today. Knowledge of the living God and the living Jesus Christ is available to you God-give- now. Elder Brockbank said the young people can pray to a living God, they can love toe Lord, they can love neighbor and self. You can be honest You can love your parents and honor them. There is a prophet of God and apostles on earth today to assist and help you you can follow their example and Elder Brockbank counsel, said. He told the young people they can repent and be forgiven and be free of sin. Young people, if you want the full and abundant life, follow Jesus Christ, the Son of Elder Brockbank adGod, monished. cussed missionary service and its responsibilities. He told the young men of the priesthood to not be deceived into thinking that missionary service is restricted to the period of a formal call. The time you spend in military service can and should be profitable, he said. Each year, our young men in uniform bring thousands of souls into the Kingdom of God. "How do they do it? They themselves honor their priesthood, live the commandiments of God and teach to others His ' divine word. Elder Monson told the con- gregation that many returned missionaries have testified that their missionary experiences in the military were equally as bountiful and richly rewarding as in the mission field itself. AN OPPORTUNITY He also said that while pursuing an education is an opportunity for young people to be missionaries. forHe outlined a four-pamula which will insure sucrt cess: search the scriptures with diligence, plan your life with purpose, teach the truth with testimony and serve the Lord with love. Elder Hanks explained the purposes and functions of the Latter-dathree-yea- r old Saints Student Association, (LDSSA), organized on 2S5 college and uversity cam- - Elder Hartman Rector Jr. Good IHIave ones Possibly, All God Ever Offered Is Still which eases tos salvation sting of death, he said. A study of people dying with cancer showed that for everyone the problem of dying is toe regret of not having lived, he noted. LIVING GOOD LIFE The concern of living a good life and keeping the commandments in preparation to meet our Maker has been toe concern of mankind from the beginning, Elder Cullimore said. Largest concern about not having lived well is really in not kowing what the real purpose in life is, he commented. Real peace of mind comes from a firm conviction of the plan of salvation as revealed to us of toe Lord; that we are the children of God, created in His image; that He is toe Father of our spirits; that we lived with Him in a glorious spiritual existence before this temporal existence; that this mortal state is probationary, he declared. SPIRIT, BODY JOIN Birth into this life is toe means by which toe spirit and toe body are joined together for their great mission on this Only as man lives in obedience to the commandments of God will he be able to know real love for others and real joy for himself. All of the commandments given us by the Lord, said Elder Hartman Rector Jr. of the First Council of Seventy in his Saturday afternoon conference address, are calculated to make fas good. This is to help us become like Him. Elder Rector said if man is good, he will look for and find the good In others. It is there, he declared. There is good in every man. In fact. I believe every man is superior to ever other man in some thing. If you look for it, you will find it. But, you can see only what you have eyes to see. It depends solely on how good you are as to whether you see good or not, Elder Rector said. In exploring the theme, "God loves us, Elder Rectos re ported that God doesnt love us because we are good, but because He is good. Those who are the best, love the best. He said he had seen this Godlike quality of unselfish love in all the best men he had known or read about. Jesus wept over those who repected Him and prayed for those who crucified Him. Joseph Smiths heart was filled with love and compassion for all men, even for his persecutors. All the prophets have had this great quality, he affirmed. He said that the reason man doesnt understand God is because we are so unlike Him. That is, even though man is like God physically, spiritually man is far from God. This is because of the selfishness of man, Elder Rector maintained. We er.dessly do what we want to do instead of doing what the Lord wants us to do. It isnt that we dont know what the Lord wants us to do. He has made it abundantly clear through revelation to His prophets, but we are too concerned with our own wants, he declared. The selfish man suffers eternally from his selfishness, for never can a selfish man become like God. Instead, he has erected himself as his idol. Instead of forever doing what we want to do, we must do what toe Lord wants done, Elder Rector cautioned. Minds Nixon Edict MILWAUKEE, WIS. (AP) Sen. Edmund S. Muskit, was told by reporters at a news conference Saturday night they could not hear him. Im sorry, he replied. But earlier this year, the President told i$ to lower cur voices. noted. BE OBEDIENT the ages toe Throughout Lord has exhorted men to be obedient and do good and has administered to His children through angels and prophets, revealing toe great plan of redemption, he explained. Through death and resurrection, having lived a worthy life, having complied with the ordinances of toe Gospel, we may enter again into the presence of God, he said. Peace comes as we know the Gospel and live it, as we develop a strong testimony of its divinity, as we are vindicated by the Holy Spirit in our good works, he said. Then, whether in life or death, we will know that all is well. Death will have no sting, he added. Faith Is Necessary, Says President Brown Continued from PageA-- 1 than merely to exist. Its qualitative value will be determined by what we believe and do while in mortality, he said. If one has a vivid sense of his own divinity, he will not easily be persuaded to deprave his mind, bebauch his body or sell his freedom for temporary gain, he said. NOT CREDULITY Capacity For Love Is toe earth. Resurrection toe spirit, process whereby separated from the body in death, is again reunited with the body which has been purified, glorified and immortalized, he explained. The Lord gave a code of livthe Ten Coming to Moses which was remandments affirmed at the time of toe Savior and again in this dispensation, Elder Cullimore Faith is not credulity. It Is not believing things you know arent so. It is not a formula to be swallowed with one gulp. Faith is not knowledge, Resident Brown explained. Faith is to be cor .ed with pessimism and cynicism. Faith is the confidence in toe worthwhileness of life. It is assurance and trust. Perhaps the greatest contrast to faith is fear, he stated. No message short of religion has ever met mans need in tills estate, faith in God Himself, faith that He is pledged to toe victory of righteousness in men in toe world, that He cares, forgives, he said. FAim IN TRIALS We need to remember when suffering that there is an explanation, even though we may not know exactly what the answer is. Religious faith alone gives confidence that human tragedy is not a meaningless sport of physical forces, he advised. Faith is a road to truth, without which some truth can v never be reached at all. The reason for Its inevitableness fii life is not our lack of knowledge, but rather that faith is as indispensable as logical demonstration in any real knowing of toe world, dent Brown said. Presi- 'Dismiss Hate From Heart' Continued from First Page in a pitiable spiritual condition. President Smith told toe congregation to go home and dismiss every envy and hatred, if you have any, from your hearts; dismiss toe feeling of and cultivate unforgiveness, in your souls that spirit of Christ, which cried out upon the cross, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. This ia toe spirit that the Latter-da- y Saints ought to possess all toe day long, he said. It ?s a good thing to bi at peace with the Lord. He said that one of the greatest sins of which the inhabitants of the earth art guilty is the sin of Ingratitude. President Smith said the Lord will honor those who honor Him and will remember those who remember Him. He will uphold and sustain all those who sustain truth and are faithful to it. . |