The members of the Church in this dispensation have been a conference- attending people. From the very early history of the Church, the Saints met often in conferences to listen to the Prophet Joseph Smith and early Church leaders. In Doctrine and Covenants 20:61 we read, “The several elders composing this church of Christ are to meet in conference…….from time to time as said conferences shall direct or appoint; and said conferences are to do whatever church business is necessary to be done at the time.” Thus, we understand that it is a commandment from our Heavenly Father to meet in conference on a regular basis. Why does the Lord ask us to do this? One obvious reason mentioned in the revelation is to take care of the business of the Church. While that is important, much more important is the spiritual re-charging that all feel who take it seriously and listen with real intent. The Conference also creates a spirit of unity in the Savior’s Church throughout the world. Another reason is that Conference maintains the doctrinal purity required in our Church that values eternal truths. It provides an opportunity for us to learn of and sustain changes in leadership such as the calling of 3 new apostles at one time (the first time that has happened in 109 years in the Church). The Conference also directly addresses new moral issues and problems with which the Saints are being confronted and gives us very specific direction. When we become lax in obeying other commandments, the Conference is an opportunity for the apostles and prophets to direct a course correction. The Conference plays a major role in helping us be better parents and children; it helps strengthen the family. Clearly, Conference is a wonderful missionary tool and many have been touched while listening to its messages. When I served as a bishop, we had the name of a young 17 year old boy on our Church rolls; his name was on the rolls only because his father had listed him as a “child of record” as a baby. No one had ever seen him at Church, he had refused multiple invitations to learn about the Church, and we were prepared to take his name off of the rolls when he turned 18. However, unbeknownst to us, an active member of the Church who was his friend invited him to simply sit down and watch conference and observe what he felt. As the young man tells the story, he took the challenge more in a spirit to prove his friend wrong. He went down in the basement of his home, closed the door and turned on conference. The young man then described what happened next. He stated that as he was watching, a warm, Message From Presidente Dayton The Heavens are Open—Listening to Apostles and Prophets 4 de Octubre de 2015 El Clarín de El Faro
Transcript
The members of the Church in this dispensation have been a conference-
attending people. From the very early history of the Church, the Saints met often in
conferences to listen to the Prophet Joseph Smith and early Church leaders. In
Doctrine and Covenants 20:61 we read,
“The several elders composing this church of Christ are to meet in
conference…….from time to time as said conferences shall direct or appoint; and
said conferences are to do whatever church business is necessary to be done at the
time.”
Thus, we understand that it is a commandment from our Heavenly Father to
meet in conference on a regular basis. Why does the Lord ask us to do this? One
obvious reason mentioned in the revelation is to take care of the business of the
Church. While that is important, much more important is the spiritual re-charging that
all feel who take it seriously and listen with real intent. The Conference also creates a
spirit of unity in the Savior’s Church throughout the world. Another reason is that
Conference maintains the doctrinal purity required in our Church that values eternal
truths. It provides an opportunity for us to learn of and sustain changes in leadership
such as the calling of 3 new apostles at one time (the first time that has happened in
109 years in the Church). The Conference also directly addresses new moral issues
and problems with which the Saints are being confronted and gives us very specific
direction. When we become lax in obeying other commandments, the Conference is
an opportunity for the apostles and prophets to direct a course correction. The
Conference plays a major role in helping us be better parents and children; it helps
strengthen the family. Clearly, Conference is a wonderful missionary tool and many
have been touched while listening to its messages.
When I served as a bishop, we had the name of a young 17 year old boy on our
Church rolls; his name was on the rolls only because his father had listed him as a
“child of record” as a baby. No one had ever seen him at Church, he had refused
multiple invitations to learn about the Church, and we were prepared to take his
name off of the rolls when he turned 18. However, unbeknownst to us, an active
member of the Church who was his friend invited him to simply sit down and watch
conference and observe what he felt. As the young man tells the story, he took the
challenge more in a spirit to prove his friend wrong. He went down in the basement
of his home, closed the door and turned on conference. The young man then
described what happened next. He stated that as he was watching, a warm,
Message From Presidente Dayton
The Heavens are Open—Listening to Apostles and Prophets
4 de Octubre de 2015El Clarín de El Faro
Message From Presidente Dayton Cont.
4 de Octubre de 2015
wonderful powerful feeling came over him and he began to cry. He had never felt
anything like it in his life. He was especially touched when the Prophet Gordon B.
Hinckley began speaking. After Conference was over, he just sat in his room and
pondered what had just happened. He explained the story to his friend the next day
who wisely described that the Holy Ghost had touched his heart and that he should be
baptized if he knew it was true. The young man was baptized and within a year left to
serve a mission. Conference can be and often is a powerful missionary tool.
It is interesting that the apostles and prophets of the Lord’s Church rarely talk about
deep doctrines or mysteries or controversial topics. They usually focus on the doctrine of
Christ, the divinity of the Savior, living a Christ-like life, keeping the commandments,
family history, missionary work and other straight-forward gospel topics. We need to
remember that when we are listening to Conference, we are listening to living prophets
who receive revelation directly from God. Because the heavens are not sealed, we
never have to wonder what the will of our Heavenly Father is. If we listen carefully we
KNOW what the Lord’s will is because we know that revelation is ongoing in 2015 just like
it was at the time of Amos who said, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing save he
revealeth His secrets unto His servants the prophets.”
As Hermana Dayton and I listened to Conference this weekend, we relished the
opportunity to learn about keeping the gospel simple, living a Christ-centered life,
responding to the promptings of the Spirit, understanding the broad range of ways in
which the Atonement blesses us, blessing and honoring mothers, the importance of
missionary work, how to find an eternal companion, how women can fulfill their divine
potential, etc. Now, the key is to study and ponder the talks, reflect and ponder them
and then internalize them—that is, to use them to make us more Christ-like. This is
especially true for those of us who represent the Savior every day as we go out into the
street. May all of us manifest our deep gratitude for the privilege of hearing God’s word
spoken by apostles and prophets by truly becoming more Christ-like and showing that
we HEARD what they had to say, is my prayer.
Cariñosamente,
President Dayton
El Clarín de El Faro
Attributes of Jesus Christ – Enthusiasm
Message From Hermana Dayton
4 de Octubre de 2015El Clarín de El Faro
Enthusiasm is a lively word suggesting energy, optimism, faith and joy. The Webster´s Dictionary defines enthusiasm as a "passion or excitement of the mind, in pursuit of some object, inspiring confidence of success." Another definition is "God's energy in one´s spirit expressing itself through one´s mind, will and emotions". Another Biblical term for enthusiasm is zeal, from the Greek word zelos meaning "excitement of mind or fervor of spirit". In Galatians we read "But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing. "Galatians 4:18
Genuine enthusiasm is not something we activate by our own energy. It is the harmonious interaction with the Holy Ghost that produces enthusiasm. The Apostle Paul is known for his enthusiasm. His love and zeal for God caused him to pour out his life on the altar of sacrifice for believers. Elder L. Tom Perry is the one I think of when I hear the word enthusiasm. His love and excitement for the Gospel was evident each time he spoke with such enthusiasm. Elder Perry, in his book "Living with Enthusiasm" tells of his childhood search for a talent and his discovery of what he calls "his only real talent"--enthusiasm. He believes that living the Gospel with enthusiasm is a talent we can all cultivate.
As missionaries, we can follow the example of Paul and Elder Perry as we share the Gospel with the good people here in Spain by--
--Enthusiastically greeting people on the street
--Enthusiastically sharing principles of the Gospel that will bless their lives
--Giving energy to all around us by our enthusiasm
--Giving all a warm and friendly, enthusiastic smile
--Teaching and testifying with enthusiasm
--Enthusiastically preparing people for baptism
--Enthusiastically helping converts feel comfortable with ward members, new callings, and living the Gospel
Enthusiasm is passionate devotion to the work of God. There is no better cause to be enthusiastic than the cause of bringing others to Christ. We LOVE this work that we are involved with, we love you and look forward to continuing to share the Gospel enthusiastically with those around us.
Much Love, Gratitude, and Admiration for all you do--
Hermana Dayton
Message From Hermana Dayton Cont.
4 de Octubre de 2015El Clarín de El Faro
Christlike Attributes- Faith, Charity, Love, Virtue, Hope, and Humility,
