Notable quotes:
“Through the grace of Jesus Christ and by honoring our covenants, we receive the immeasurable promise of living with our righteous family throughout eternity.” “Keep your eyes and your hearts centered on the Savior Jesus Christ and the eternal joy that comes only through Him.” “Like Lehi of old, President Russell M. Nelson beckons to us and all of God’s family, to come and partake of the fruit of the tree. May we have the humility and strength to follow his counsel.” Summary points:
- The fruit of the tree of life, as shown in Lehi’s dream, represents the blessings of the Savior’s Atonement, and embracing ordinances and covenants.
- The great and spacious building full of those mocking and scorning followers of Christ is rapidly growing in size. Heed them not, and be on guard.
- The Savior’s arms will always be outstretched, and no one who honestly desires the fruit will be denied.
Talk summary:
During His earthly ministry, the Savior compared good fruit — long considered a treasured delicacy — to things of eternal worth. And in a dream recorded in the Book of Mormon, the prophet Lehi came upon a beautiful tree full of fruit more desirable above all other fruit.
This fruit symbolizes the love of God and “the wondrous blessings of the Savior’s incomparable Atonement.”
Partaking of this fruit also symbolizes embracing ordinances and covenants of the restored gospel, such as baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. “Through the grace of Jesus Christ and by honoring our covenants, we receive the immeasurable promise of living with our righteous family throughout eternity.”
Even after savoring the fruit, staying faithful to Jesus Christ, isn’t easily done. Each person will face distractions, deceptions, confusion and temptations. Lehi’s dream included the warning — a spacious building on the opposite side of a river full of people mocking followers of Jesus Christ.
“Let us remember Lehi’s words: ‘We heeded them not’” (1 Nephi 8:33).
Although there is no need to fear, everyone must be on guard. “Keep your eyes and your hearts centered on the Savior Jesus Christ and the eternal joy that comes only through Him.”
For anyone desiring to return to the tree and taste of the fruit again, begin with prayer. “Believe in Jesus Christ and the power of His atoning sacrifice.”
The Savior’s arms will always be outstretched, and no one who honestly desires the fruit will be denied.
“Like Lehi of old, President Russell M. Nelson beckons to us and all of God’s family, to come and partake of the fruit of the tree. May we have the humility and strength to follow his counsel.”
In the news:
- In September 2019, Elder Andersen dedicated the Lisbon Portugal Temple, the first temple in Portugal.
- Elder Andersen spoke about becoming a lifelong disciple of Christ at the Mission Leadership Seminar at the Provo Missionary Training Center in June 2019.
- In July 2019, Elder Andersen threw the ceremonial first pitch at the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game.
- During a review of the South America South Area in May 2019, Elder Andersen addressed missionaries and members of the Church in Argentina and Chile.
About the speaker:
- Elder Neil L. Andersen was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on April 4, 2009.
- In the 1970s, he served a mission in France.
- Elder Andersen is multilingual, speaking French, Portuguese and Spanish, in addition to English.
- Elder Andersen and his wife, Kathy Williams Andersen, are the parents of four children.
Recently on Social:
- Elder Andersen shared photos from his trip to Portugal where he dedicated the Lisbon Portugal Temple. He also shared the history of the Church in Portugal and his faith in the Lord and the members there.
- Elder Andersen posted a photo of himself with his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, in front of the Salt Lake Temple on the day they were married. He shared his testimony of the temple and thoughts prior to the dedication of the Lisbon Portugal Temple.
