April 2020 General Conference

1. The audio was eight seconds ahead of the visual transmission for our Saturday afternoon session. That caused a most unfortunate result.  President Oaks was conducting the sustaining of officers.  Because of the delay, as he asked for any negative votes, the First Presidency all raised their hands each time.  At the top of my page of notes I wrote:  "When we are slow to react, we may lose the opportunity, and may even bring about the opposite result of what we had hoped."
2. Ulisses Soares pointed out that Martin Harris sold 151 acres to pay for the printing of the Book of Mormon. 180 million copies have been printed to date.
3. John A. MCune called the adversary "The enemy of all joy."
4. Gérald Caussé: Thorvaldson's "Christus" was sculpted in 1820.  He portrayed the living Christ.  All other religious artwork of that period portrayed Christ's agony.  How interesting it is that he did that work the same year as the First Vision.  Also that at this conference his "Christus" is being adopted as the official symbol in the logo of the Church.  Think of the impact that he (and Martin Harris as mentioned in item 2 above) have had.  Martin Harris was essential to the Plan.  Thorvaldson was integral.
5. Gary E. Stevenson articulated what I've believed because I'm a convert: "That light will be brighter because I have walked through the dark."
6. James R. Rasband quoted Boyd K. Packer who said the Atonement heals what you cannot heal, fixes what you broke but cannot fix, and pays for what you cannot pay for.
7. My thoughts about women: Who was there at the foot of the cross as Jesus hung in agony?  It was the women.  Who went to the tomb?  The women.  Who was the first mortal to behold the resurrected Christ?  It was Mary Magdalene.  Who taught me faith and righteous living, and enabled me to recognize the truth when I heard it?  My mother.  Who initiated my testimony?  My future wife.
8. Neil L. Andersen quoted Joseph Smith talking about when you feel pure intelligence flowing into your soul. That is what I feel when I write.

We can't choose the timing of spiritually-defining moments in our lives; but we can encourage them by study, prayer, meditation and by recording our thoughts and experiences.  As we treasure our spiritually-defining moments, more will come.

9. Enos, Joseph, and I each went to the Lord with an earnest plea for forgiveness of sins. Mine weren't swept away like Enos' were, nor did I have a heavenly manifestation like Joseph did.  But I heard a voice, and was given a promise in answer to my 4-hour prayer that "Everything is going to be all right."  There were things that I first needed to be taught, to know, and to do, and then everything did, indeed, turn out all right.
10. Gerritt W. Gong: The spirit of Elijah is a manifestation of the Holy Ghost.

"We celebrate restoration and resurrection," and I add, "revelation."  "Repentance," too.

11. Russell M. Nelson in announcing a worldwide fast concerning COVID-19: "I know that He will respond to the pleadings of His people."
12. Jeffrey R. Holland: "The Church of continuing revelation."
13. David A. Bednar: There were 6 operating temples when President Nelson was born in 1924.  There were 26 when he was ordained an Apostle 60 years later.  Now ...
14. Russell M. Nelson: "We have front row seats to witness what Nephi only saw in vision."
15. Dallin H. Oaks: "In ways that have not been revealed, our actions there (in the pre-earth life) influenced our circumstances here."
16. Ricardo P. Giménez: "To one with faith, no explanation is necessary; to one without faith, no explanation is possible."
17. L. Whitney Clayton to an assemblage of troubled Argentina stake presidents: How many of your members who are paying their tithing, magnifying their callings, studying their scriptures, holding Family Home Evening, and doing their home and visiting teaching are having troubles they can't solve themselves?"  The meek answer was, "None."
18. President Nelson announced 8 new temples: Among them, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Shanghai, China, of all places!!