Day 270
Principle: The Lord works to shake you from apathy.
Book of Mormon Reading: Helaman 11:21-11:38
Glenn L. Pace taught:
“The whole world seems to be in commotion. Today’s news is filled with accounts of large‑scale famine, civil unrest, and natural disasters. Even more devastating in the long run is the spiritually destructive hurricane of disobedience to God’s commandments that is engulfing the world. This horrible storm is blowing the moral fiber out of the nations of the earth and leaving the land in moral desolation. Many people seem to be oblivious to this hurricane and have become so desensitized they don’t even feel a breeze.
“We are following a cycle which was repeated over and over again in the Book of Mormon. As the Lord tells us, ‘In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me’ (D&C 101:8).
“We shouldn’t be too surprised, therefore, that the Lord is allowing some wake‑up calls to jar us loose from apathy just as he has done in previous dispensations” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 13; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 12).
Today you will study the words of modern day prophets and church leaders from the most recent general conference.
Go to the General Conference section of LDS.org
Select a talk you have not recently studied
Use the following guidelines as you study the general conference message
General Conference Study Guide (Adapted from LDS.org General Conference Study Ideas)
Listen and record
As you are studying the general conference talk pay attention to additional teachings from the Spirit. Follow Richard G. Scott's direction from October 2009 talk titled "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance" and after feeling prompted by the spirit as "Is there more I should know?"
Take time to record your thought and impressions.
Ask questions and look for answers
What questions come to mind about the topic discussed?
If you could ask the speaker one question what would be be?
If the answers don't jump out from the talk search LDS.org for additional study material.
Invitations
Have the speakers invited you to do something? What is the invitation? How can you diligently fulfill the invitation? What are the promised blessings with the given invitation?
Look for . . .
Look for Jesus Christ
Look for doctrines or principles
Look for blessings
Look for words or phrases that uplift and encourage
If you are desiring additional insight, prepare a lesson for Family Home Evening based on the message you have studied.
Additional Study:
Quentin L. Cook, “LDS Women Are Incredible!”, April 2011
We Are Different, Children’s Songbook No. 263
Go Forth with Faith, Hymns No. 263