LDS General Conference Session Notes:  Mormon April 2010 Conference

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  Russell M. Nelson Speaks on Mormon Genealogy,  & Undergirding Mormon Doctrine

When our hearts turn to our ancestors, our inborn yearnings are filled when we are linked to our families beyond the veil, said Elder Russell M. Nelson, Mormon apostle, referring to the doctrines of Mormonism.

For those new to this gathering or to this site, “LDS” or “Mormon” are nicknames for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Savior’s restored Church. Mormonism is the name associated with the doctrines and teachings of Christ that are held by those members; more accurately Mormonism represents, to Church adherents, the fulness of the doctrines of Jesus Christ’s gospel and its full authority, restored in our day through the Savior and Father’s own literal re-appearance and divine direction. The message of Mormons, of Mormonism, is a message of import; a message every onlooker should investigate personally and directly and prayerfully (site author).

Methods to find and prepare names for ordinances are becoming easier. Procedures have been simplified so that virtually every member of the Church can participate. No matter your situation, you can participate in this work right now,  

Elder Nelson continued, enumerating ways that each member can become involved in family history (friends of all faiths are welcome in Mormon family history centers worldwide, see familysearch dot org for more details:

• Children can draw family trees.
• Parents can find their ancestors through New Family Search and perform temple work (Mormons build temples today as the Lord’s followers did under His direction anciently. They are beautiful Houses of the Lord, dedicated to His ordinances or initiations into His kingdom on earth, and containing powers and principles by which we can access increasingly the Holy Ghost and grow up in our knowledge of Jesus Christ.)
• Individuals can hold a temple recommend (Mormons, Christian disciples of Christ, are invited to the House of the Lord according to His standards of worthiness and moral cleanliness, and before entering these sacred edifices of peace and purity, they are interviewed and determined to be worthy of that blessing. They need not be perfect, for none of us are, but striving and in keeping with the commandments and teachings of the Church.)
• Older individuals can learn how to use the computer with help to do this saving work.

“New technology makes it easier than ever to fulfill that responsibility; the New Family Search helps identify ancestors, the work done for them, and ways to prepare those individuals’ temple ordinances,” indicated Elder Russell M. Nelson, LDS (Mormon) apostle.

In the past, people worked separately. Now we can work together in building each other’s family tree, shares Elder Nelson.

There’s more work ahead, he averred. “New Family Search may expose duplicate entries or errors previously unrecognized, especially in the case of those with pioneer ancestry.”

Mormon Doctrine Undergirds This  Mormon Temple and Mormon Genealogy Work

We are helping in the exaltation of others as we do this work, testified the LDS apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Nelson.  Joseph Smith asked us to “offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness” and present in the holy temple a “book worthy of all acceptation.”  As we work together, we can accomplish this record, and makes it possible for those ancestors to receive those ordinances if and as they choose, and makes liberty of captives, and links us to others of our ancestors in love. This leads to the exaltation of our families.

President Thomas Monson, Mormon Prophet, Closes 180th Mormon Annual Gathering of General Conference

Of the April 2010 Mormon gathering, the 180th Session of the Mormon Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, said in great sincerity, ” I’ve never heard finer words spoken in so few words.”  He testified of the Lord’s mindfulness of each of us and acknowledged His hand in his life.

To that, Mormon (LDS) prophet–Christ’s mouthpiece on the earth today just as Moses, Noah, Abraham anciently– added one scripture verse for our pondering and consideration:

Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path.

This, the prophet, Thomas Monson indicates, represents the story of his life.

Encouraging all to ponder and review and apply the talks that will be printed in full in the upcoming Ensign, the Church magazine available to all, members and friends of other faiths alike, he closed with a plea to look to the lighthouse of the Lord in all of our storms.  He testified that the Lord is our Rock in whom is our strength.

Closing with his final testimony–with heart full and tender feelings–he added a note of gratitude to the members for all the prayers offered on his behalf.  He then invoked the blessings of heaven upon each of us, by virtue of his prophetic mantle, blessing us that the messages of the Spirit of this conference might find expression in all we do at home, work, in our meetings and in all our comings and goings, and offered his benediction in the name of Jesus Christ.

Neil Andersen, Mormon Apostle Encourages Members to "Tell Stories of Jesus"

Elder Neil Anderson, Mormon apostle, recognized the symphony of power in the inspired, overlapping talks of this 180th Session of the Mormon General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

His plea to the Mormon audience and to those of all faiths attending is to do as the children’s hymn suggests: “Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear, things I would ask Him to tell me if He were here,” –teach and speak of Jesus more in our homes and with all those we love.

Each child and individual needs his or her conversion, light, independent of parents, youth leaders, and supportive friends. The stories of Jesus can be like a rushing wind; they bring strength to the foundation of testimony.

Are the life and teachings of Jesus Christ in the minds of our children?  Do they turn to His life when they have questions?  Do they know that Jesus often taught, “Ask and ye shall receive.”  Does His example of prayer come to their minds as they pray for their own needs? Do they know Jesus stands with open arms to receive them. In their own loneliness, do they know His own loneliness and find strength there?  Do our children believe that is by faith that miracles are wrought and do they pray for miracles in their own lives?  Do our children know about His perfect life, His selfless ministry, His cruel betrayal, His atonement and His resurrection? Do they know of His appearance after His resurrection.  Do our children, “Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear”?

To the Children:

Read the book of John as a starting point and discuss it.

To Mothers, Father, Grandmothers, Grandfathers & Others Who Nurture

Speak more frequently about Jesus Christ. In His holy name there is much power.

To Mothers Raising Children Without a Father in the Home.

I promise you that as you speak of Jesus Christ, you will feel His power in your home.

As you talk about Christ at the dinner table, at prayer, on your bed, on the bus, the testimony of Jesus Christ will distill them and a stronger testimony of and faith in Christ will help them in all they face in their mortal lives.