OCTOBER 2017 - GENERAL CONFERENCE JEOPARDY
WHAT IS THE SUBJECT?
100Elder Christofferson said that early pioneers put this reminder in several places: A cup, a plate, door knobs, a hammer and on Relief Society banners. He said this was and is also inscribed on our temples. What is this phrase that was the subject of his talk? Holiness to the Lord
200Elder Callister said that the Book of Mormon is not only keystone of our religion but the keystone of what else? Our testimonies, so that when trials or unanswered questions confront us, it can hold our testimonies securely in place.
300Elder Ardern quoted Pres. Thomas S. Monson to prayerfully study and ponder the book of Mormon each day as good counsel which was the subject of his talk. He told how two elders serving in Fiji used the power of the book of Mormon. Tell that story: They gave a man a copy and invited him to read and pray that it is the word of God. His reply was brief. He said he would read it while at sea and when he returned they could visit him again. While gone, there were transfers and new missionaries came. The man had read the book of Mormon and had been given a witness of its truth without any help or teaching from the missionaries. Elder Ardern then said that same blessing is available to each of us.
400What did Pres. Monson say the Message of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints was? That God is our father, He cares about us and there is a way to return to Him.
500Elder Holland quoted Moroni 10:32. Find and read this and tell us what was the subject of his talk.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED?
100Elder Cook spoke on humility and asked us to ponder these questions found in Alma 5:26-27. Find and read those questions in those scriptures.
200Elder Ellis taught that the Lord trusts us. He has given us the gospel of Jesus Christ and His priesthood. He trusts us with his restored church and temple and sealing power to bind on earth and in heaven. He trusts us to be earthly parents of his children. Then he asked us a question. What was the question: Do we trust him? Or Do we trust His commandments to be for our good? ... Even in the midst of trials, challenges and hard times, do we still trust Him?
300Elder Parrella said that while a student at BYU, he attended a session of general conference and heard the counsel that returned missionaries need to make marriage a priority. He felt that he should follow the counsel. When he went back to Brazil, he talked to his mother and other sisters and made a list of 10 women to meet and date. Out of those, he met and married Elaine, the love of his life and the answer to the question who he should marry. He counseled us to always act when our living prophets speak and then read this promise in 2 Nephi 9:10. Find and read that scripture.
400Sister Bingham taught that the whole earth is in commotion and it’s difficult to feel the joy, which is the purpose of life. She asked us these questions: Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace? Name what she told us to do to find joy despite difficulties in life. Study the living Christ to learn about the Savior.
Study life and teachings of Jesus Christ with more focus.
500Elder Nelson talked about the importance of reading the book of Mormon daily. He said that he has invited various groups and missionaries to consider three related questions: What were the questions?
What would your life be like without the book of Mormon?
What would you not know?
What would you not have?
LISTS GIVEN
100Brother Owen, the General YM President said that if we stop pedaling a bicycle it will fall and if we stop feeding your testimony it will weaken. What two things we must do to constantly nourish our testimonies? Pray and read the scriptures daily.
200Elder Bednar said there were two specific sources of divine help instituted by God to assist us in things we need to do assist us in rising above the level and corruption of the world. Name the two sources of divine help: Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy and the Holy Temple.
300Elder Parrella taught that the First Vision brought knowledge and truth essential to this life’s happiness. He said there were three truths gained and we must act on because a young boy knelt in prayer. Name one of the three truths:
1.God calls prophets, seers and revelators to instruct, guide, warn and lead us.
2.We learn of the true nature of God, that God is a being with a body of flesh and bones.
3.Knowledge of the reality and mission of the Lord, Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of our religion.
400Elder Andersen taught us that talked in general conference are different, even from talks general authorities give at stake conferences. Elder Andersen asked the brethren how inspiration for a general conference talk comes. Name one of the things he told us how the Brethren prepare.
One brethren said that his subject for this conference was given to him immediately after his talk last April.
Another mentioned three weeks ago that he was still praying and waiting upon the Lord.
Another, when asked how long it had taken to compose an especially sensitive talk, responded, '25 years.'
He said the content and details still require spiritual climbing. "Fasting and prayer, study and faith are always part of the process," he said.
Direction for a general conference talk often comes in the night or the early morning hours, when the talk is far from the thoughts of the mind.
500Sister Oscarson told two things that teenagers can do right now to help change the world through service. Name one: Strengthening family members should be a top priorities in how to change the world - Changing the world begins with strengthening our own family. The next time at church, instead of picking up phone to see what friends are doing, stop and ask yourself Who needs me today?
WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
100Elder Andersen said that Elder Hales had a short talk prepared to give at general conference. He shared three lines from His talk. What did he quote Elder Hales as saying about faith? “When we choose to have faith we are prepared to stand in the presence of God. After the Savior’s crucifixion, He appeared only to those who had been faithful in the testimony of Him while they lived in mortality. Those who rejected the testimonies of the prophets could not behold the Savior’s presence nor look upon His face. Our faith prepares us to be in the presence of God.”
200Elder Stevenson spoke about the recent solar eclipse. He compared the size of the sun and moon to a bicycle tire and a small pebble. He said the sun is 400 x larger than the moon, but is also 400 x further away from the earth. This geometry makes the sun and moon the same size from our perspective. When aligned in the eclipse, the moon seems to obscure the entire sun. The sunlight was replaced by darkness and stars appeared and the air became cooler. It gave a sense of awe, astonishment and anxiety. We had to take care to cover our eyes with lenses to prevent damage. He then spoke about us not to obscure our vision of heaven through a spiritual eclipse. What did he say we should do to prevent this problem? As with special eyewear to protect from eye damage, we need to look at things from a gospel perspective through “gospel glasses.” When we put on gospel glasses we find enhanced vision and focus.
300Elder Ballard counseled us to not listen to those who have not been ordained or set apart to their Church calling and are acknowledged by common consent of the members of the Church. He said to be aware of organizations, or groups, or individuals claiming secret answers to doctrinal questions. Then he quoted the problems of Jacob’s people of looking “beyond the mark.” Find and read Jacob’s warning in Jacob 4:14.
400Pres. Uchtdorf said that we are all given the light of Christ to help turn our hearts to him and make our pilgrimage back Home. Then he said a statement about planes that got a chuckle. What was it? Life is not a self-driving car or an airplane on autopilot.
500Elder Ardern warned us thatmisinformation about our beliefs abound and that we need to protect and deepened our spiritual roots. He named someone in the book of Mormon that was an example of someone trying to gnaw at our spiritual roots. What was the lawyer’s name in the book of Mormon who sought to destroy the fate of believers from Ammonihah? Zeezrom
IT’S IN THE SCRIPTURES!
100Elder Hallstrom spoke about miracles and quoted Ether 12:18. Find and read that scripture.
200 Elder Pingree told us that every one of us has a meaningful role to play in furthering God’s work. He has always used ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. The Lord has more in mind for you than you have for yourself. Then he quoted what Alma’s experience was in Mosiah 23:10. Find and read that scripture.
300Elder Cook spoke about something that the Lord gives us to be humble. He quoted what it was in Ether 12:27. Find and read that scripture.
400Elder Lonzo taught we need to leave our mobile devices behind and with our hands and feet help others in great need. He said that love without service is like faith without works, it’s dead. Then he quoted King Benjamin in Mosiah 2:18. Find and read that scripture.
500Elder Christofferson taught us that the Doctrine of Christ it is to believe and have faith in Christ, to repent and receive the Holy Ghost and then come the remission of sins. He said that this is the gate to access to the Savior’s atoning grace and path to His kingdom. Then he quoted 2 Nephi 31:20. Find and read that scripture.
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
WHAT DID HE SAY?
200Elder Andersen was the last speaker at conference. He said that in this conference, we have heard the voice of the Lord. We should not be alarmed when words of the Lord’s servants run counter to the voices of the world. It is often this way. He said that there was a test for us. What is the test? There is a treasure chest of heavenly direction awaiting your discovery in the messages of general conference. Our test is how we will respond to what we read and how we feel.
400Elder Holland taught us about the Parable of the talents A servant was forgiven for a large debt and then that same servant would not forgive a fellow servant who owed him 100 pence. The king lamented that he should have had compassion on thy fellow servant. Elder Holland taught to make math easy, that if smaller unforgiven debt of a pence was worth $100 in current times, then the 10,000 talent debt would have approached 1 billion dollars or more. No one can shop that much, totally beyond our comprehension. It’s beyond our ability to grasp and beyond our ability to repay. Then he taught that this is not a story about two servants, but a story about us. What new insights did he give us on this parable? Every one of us is a debtor and a verdict prison would be for every one of us because of our imperfections. We would all remain were it not for the grace of a king (Christ) who was moved toward compassion to us. His atonement is an unfathomable gift given as an incomprehensible cost. We may be not able to have perfect, but not too much for us to be more God-like in little things and speak and act and love and forgive and repent and improve, at least 100 pence level of perfection, which is clearly within our ability to do.
600Elder Ellis taught that hard is good! Hard makes us stronger, humbles us and gives us a chance to prove ourselves. Even the Godhead have had to endure hard things. He then talked about hard times the Nephites had and read part of Alma 62:41. Find and read that scripture.
800Brother Owen, the General YM President had a message about repentance for youth. What did he say? Repentance is always positive. It’s not just for self-improvement efforts, it’s more than that. It is the power to forgive our sins and the power to be clean again.
1000Elder Callister spoke about the book of Mormon and what some critics have said about it but he pointed out the miracle of how it was translated. Name one of the miracles he spoke about: (here are several)
Joseph Smith dictated a 500+ page book without notes
Joseph Smith produced a book that radiates the spirit and profound doctrine?
Masterful sermons on the atonement.
Detailed war strategies
Book of Mormon was written in 65 working days.
Dictated an entire book of Mormon in a single draft.
STORY TOLD!
200Sister Oscarson told the story about a woman in England who helped gather quilts to take to the suffering people of Kosovo. What was her strong impression she received on her way home? You have done a very good thing now go home, walk across the street and serve your neighbor.
400Elder Ballard asked us these questions: What is your final destination? Where are you footsteps taking you? Is your journey leading you to the multiplicity of blessings promised to us? He told the story of his pioneer grandparents. Tell their story: His grandfather served as a bishop for 40 years and his grandmother, Margaret McNeal Ballard served as a Relief Society president at the same time as he presided as bishop Ward for 30 years! We no longer settle in the west but in local congregations. With more than 30,000 congregations, we all are gathered in their own Zion.
600Elder Rasband spoke on divine design. He told the story of his grandson who is on a mission and his granddaughter (the missionaries sister.) Tell that story. His grandson was on his mission and his sister went on a church history trip and realized they would be going through the town her brother was serving. As the bus entered the main street, they saw two missionaries. One was her brother. He did not know she would be driving by in the bus. The bus stopped so she could see him for a few minutes. The missionaries had only been on that main street for about five minutes. He said this blessing was divine design of a loving Heavenly Father.
800President Nelson asked us these questions: How precious is the book of Mormon to you? If you were offered diamonds or rubies or the book of Mormon, which would you choose? Which is of greater worth to you? Then he told the story about the King in Africa. Tell the story. Pres. Nelson said that in 1986, he was invited to give lecture in Accra, Ghana. He met an African tribal king. We talked through a translator. After his lecture, the king came to him without his linguist. He spoke in perfect English. The king seemed puzzled. He asked, “Just who are you?” Pres. Nelson said he was an ordained apostle of Jesus Christ. The king asked, “What can you teach me about Jesus Christ?” He responded with a question, what do you already know about Him? He was a serious student of the Bible and one who loved the Lord. Pres. Nelson taught him about the ministry of Christ in America. He explained about how after his resurrection he came to America and organized his church and keep a record, as the book of Mormon. It is another testament of Jesus Christ. It is a companion scripture to the Bible. The king became interested. He read 3 Nephi with the King and read the Savior’s sermon to the Nephites. His response lodged in Pres. Nelson’s mind and heart. He then said, “You could have given me diamonds or rubies but nothing as precious to me as the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
1000Elder Oaks said he is one of seven apostles still living when they received the revelations to write the Proclamation on the family. Tell the story. The inspiration identifying the need for this proclamation came 23 year ago. It was a surprise to people that these were established. Subjects identified and discussed for almost a year. We continually pleaded with the Lord on what to say and how to say it. We all learned line upon line. During this revelatory process, a proposed text was given to the first presidency. They made further changes and Gordon B Hinckley announced this to the church in a women’s meeting in 1995. Pres. Hinckley said, “we have felt to warn and forewarn”
WORDS OF OUR FIRST PRESIDENCY
200Pres. Uchtdorf told the story about a dog and then asked the question, Is it possible that human beings have a similar yearning and inner guidance system to draw them to their heavenly home? Tell the story, A century ago, a family from Oregon was vacationing in Indiana, 2000 miles away when they love dog, Bobbie. They searched but to no avail. He could not be found. They made the trip home away from their pet. Six months later, stunned to find Bobbie on their doorstep in Oregon. He appeared to have walked the entire distance by himself. He became known as Bobby, the wonder dog.