Notable quotes:
“How I yearn for you to understand that the restoration of the priesthood is just as relevant to you as a woman as it is to any man.” “What could possibly be more exciting than to labor with the Spirit to understand God’s power –– priesthood power?” “When a man understands the majesty and power of a righteous, seeking, endowed Latter-day Saint woman, is it any wonder that he feels like standing when she enters the room?” Summary points:
- The heavens are just as open to women who are endowed with God’s power flowing from their priesthood covenants as they are to men who bear the priesthood.
- If this world loses the moral rectitude of its women, the world will never recover.
- Efforts to minister to each other, proclaim the gospel, perfect the Saints, and redeem the dead converge in the holy temple.
Talk summary:
Every woman and every man who makes covenants with God and keeps those covenants, and who participates worthily in priesthood ordinances, has direct access to the power of God.
“Those who are endowed in the house of the Lord receive a gift of God’s priesthood power by virtue of their covenant.”
The heavens are just as open to women who are endowed with God’s power flowing from their priesthood covenants as they are to men who bear the priesthood. “I pray that truth will register upon each of your hearts because I believe it will change your life.”
President Nelson announces 8 new temples during women’s session
Prayerfully read section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants and discover what the Holy Ghost will teach you. “Your personal, spiritual endeavor will bring you joy as you gain, understand, and use the power with which you have been endowed.”
A warning: “There are some who would have you doubt yourself and minimize your stellar spiritual capacity as a righteous woman.”
Satan will contrive roadblocks to prevent women from understanding all with which they have been and can be blessed. “It grieves me to think that any of you have felt marginalized or have not been believed by a priesthood leader, or have been abused or betrayed by a husband, father, or a supposed friend. I feel deep sorrow that any of you have felt side-lined, disrespected, or misjudged. Such offenses have no place in the kingdom of God.”
In the holy temple, women are authorized to perform and officiate in priesthood ordinances every time they attend.
“All our efforts to minister to each other, proclaim the gospel, perfect the Saints, and redeem the dead converge in the holy temple.”
In the news:
- At the leadership session of the Church’s 189th Semiannual General Conference in October 2019, President Nelson announced a historic policy change allowing women, youth and children to serve as witnesses of ordinances.
- President Nelson spoke at a BYU devotional on Sept. 17 on the love and laws of God. He also explained the Church’s 2015 LGBT policy and asked young adults to ask God whether President Nelson and the apostles are prophets, seers and revelators.
- One year ago during October 2018 general conference, President Nelson addressed the importance of referring to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by its full name. A statement about calling the Church by its full and proper name was initially released Aug. 16, 2018.
- President Nelson turned 95 years old on Sept. 9. On Friday, Sept. 6, the prophet celebrated his birthday at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- The prophet recently returned from a visit to Central and South America including stops in Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina and Brazil. Traveling a total of 14,779 miles, he ministered to 344,452 Latter-day Saints.
- While he was in Argentina, President Nelson witnessed how a partnership between Latter-day Saint Charities and CILSA — a nongovernmental organization that works in Argentina for the full inclusion of people with disabilities — blesses individuals in need of wheelchairs.
- President Nelson gave an address during the 110th annual convention of the NAACP in Detroit on July 21. During his address, the prophet spoke about lifting one another as brothers and sisters and how we are all children of God.
- Addressing mission presidents at the Provo Missionary Training Center, President Nelson invoked blessings of safety, health, guidance and peace to those in attendance.
- Speaking to a crowd of 15,500 Latter-day Saints on June 9 in the Amway Center in Orlando, President Nelson shared seven truths about the gospel that have the power to change lives.
- In May, President Nelson ministered to Latter-day Saints living in the Pacific. Visiting Hawaii, Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Tahiti, the prophet shared messages about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, staying strong against “the attacks of the adversary,” and testified of God the Father and Jesus Christ.
- President Nelson was part of the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah.
- While on his visit to New Zealand, President Nelson expressed his love to those who had been impacted by the March 15 shootings in Christchurch. In behalf of the Church, he also donated $100,000 to the two mosques that were damaged in the attacks.
- Over the past six months, President Nelson has met with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, His Majesty King Tupou VI and Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u, Reverend Amos C. Brown, Reverend Theresa Deer and Colombian President Iván Duque.
- After the devastating Notre Dame Cathedral fire, President Nelson sent a letter of sympathy to the pope.
- Shortly after April 2019 general conference, President Nelson gave details about the renovation plans and open house for the Salt Lake Temple. The temple is expected to be closed for four years for renovations.
About the speaker:
- President Russell M. Nelson became the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in January 2018.
- He was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for 34 years.
- A renowned surgeon, President Nelson assisted on the first-ever human open-heart surgery. In June 2018, the University of Utah honored President Nelson with an endowed chair in surgery.
- He and his late wife, Sister Dantzel White Nelson, who died in 2005, have 10 children, 57 grandchildren, and 119 great-grandchildren.
- He married Sister Wendy Watson, a BYU professor of marriage and family therapy, in 2006.
- President Nelson turned 95 years old on Sept. 9, 2019.
Recently on social:
- In a tweet, President Nelson reflected on his ministry to Central and South America and how the Restoration is a continuing process.
- A video on Instagram shows the prophet during his birthday celebration. In the video President Nelson testified that if there’s one thing he has learned in his 95 years of life, it is the reality that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
- In an Instagram post, President Nelson showed a picture from Tahiti, his last stop during his Pacific ministry. According to the post, the Church was established in the area 175 years ago before the early pioneers arrived in Utah.
