Notable quotes:
"In each ward, the Lord’s youth battalion is led by a bishop, a dedicated servant of God."
"The adjustments we will now announce are intended to help young men and young women develop their sacred personal potential."
"The First Presidency and the Twelve are united in endorsing these efforts to strengthen our youth."
Summary points:
- A bishop’s first and foremost responsibility is to care for the young men and young women of his ward.
- The cause of the gathering is an essential part of helping to prepare the world and its people for the Second Coming of the Lord.
- Elder Quentin L. Cook and Sister Bonnie H. Cordon will discuss the adjustments in their conference addresses.
Talk summary:
Adjustments that pertain to youth and leaders are intended to help young men and young women develop their sacred personal potential. “We also want to strengthen Aaronic priesthood quorums and Young Women classes and provide support to bishops and others adult leaders as they serve this rising generation.”
“You will remember that I have invited the youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to enlist in the Lord’s youth battalion to participate in the greatest cause on earth today — the gathering of Israel. I issued this invitation to our youth because they are unusually gifted in reaching out to others and sharing what they believe in a convincing fashion. The cause of the gathering is an essential part of helping to prepare the world and its people for the Second Coming of the Lord.”
The First Presidency and the Twelve are united in endorsing these efforts to strengthenour youth. “We express our complete confidence in our youth and our gratitude for them.”
He also referenced changes he announced during the General Conference leadership session regarding who may serve as witnesses to baptism and sealing ordinances. He highlighted three points: 1) A proxy baptism for a deceased person may be witnessed by anyone holding a current temple recommend, including a limited-use recommend. 2) Any endowed member with a current temple recommend may serve as a witness to sealing ordinances, living and proxy. 3) Any baptized member of the Church may serve as a witness of the baptism of a living person. This change pertains to all baptisms outside the temple.
“These policy adjustments are procedural. The underlying doctrine and covenants are unchanged and are equally efficacious in all ordinances. These changes should greatly enhance family participation in these ordinances.”
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 ministry 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, Florida, 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. On 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.
