Sunday Sentiments: Teachings of the Living Prophets

We had a busy weekend, and I wasn’t able to get this post finished on Sunday. I wanted to make sure I posted it before General Conference, so here are my Sunday thoughts… on Thursday…

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When I was finishing my degree, I took a class called Teachings of the Living Prophets. In that class, I came to better understand that the primary role of the prophet and the apostles is to testify of Jesus Christ. 

Joseph F. Smith taught that "These twelve disciples of Christ are supposed to be eye and ear witnesses of the divine mission of Jesus Christ... they must know, they must get the knowledge for themselves. It must be with them as though they had seen with their eyes and heard with their ears and they know the truth. That is their mission, to testify of Jesus Christ..." (in Conference Report, Apr. 1916, 6).

Since taking that class, I listen more carefully to what the prophets and apostles say about Jesus Christ. Typically at the close of their Conference addresses, they will make a final statement about Jesus Christ. Sometimes when I go back and study the most recent Conference talks, I will flip through the Liahona (or, more likely, scroll through my phone) and read the closing paragraph from each apostle looking for their witness of Christ while keeping in mind that they must have this testimony with them as if they have seen with their eyes and heard with their ears. Here are what a few of them said in our last General Conference:

“I bear testimony of Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace, the Son of the living God.” -Elder Stevenson

“Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith, writing countless new chapters with us. He is the Beginning and the End—the end of our shame and suffering and the beginning of a new life in Him, letting us receive His grace, leave the past behind, and begin again with a new dawn, as many times as we need.” -Elder Kearon

“I testify of the love, the mercy, and the grace of our Savior and Redeemer. He lives. We are His; we are children of the covenant. As we believe in Him, follow Him, and trust Him, He will lift us from our sorrows and our sins. Then, beyond this mortal life, in our Father’s house, we will live with Him forever and ever.” -Elder Andersen

“I testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is our strength, our Redeemer, our hope. If we trust Him, He will make our spiritual power equal to every trial we are called to bear.” -President Eyring

“I joyfully witness that Jesus Christ is our living Savior.” -Elder Bednar

“I bear my sure and certain witness that Jesus Christ lives and because of His Atonement, we can be one with Him.” -Elder Cook

“He lives. I absolutely know it. He loves you. He gave His life for you. He pleads with you to come unto the Father through Him.” -Elder Renlund

“I testify of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Only Begotten Son of God, our Eternal Father.”-President Oaks

Sometimes Conference is hard for me because I listen with the ears of the world, but there are a few things I’ve started doing to help keep my heart in the right place:

-Listen with faith instead of fear.

-Focus on sparks of truth - a little nudges from the Holy Ghost that say, “You know this is true!”

-Listen for the things I’m already doing right rather than the things I’m doing wrong (pay attention to inspiration instead of guilt).

-Focus on how the speakers witness of Christ.

-Take a break from social media

In a few days, the apostles will bear witness again - fulfilling their primary responsibility to testify of Jesus Christ. I look forward to feeling the Spirit as I hear snippets of truth and reassurance.