Elder Randy D. Funk, a General Authority Seventy, spoke during the Sunday afternoon session of April 2022 general conference. He invited listeners to come to the fold of God and to help others to come, too. The following is a summary of what he said.
Notable quotes from Elder Funk
“The gift of agency is not simply the right to choose, it is the opportunity to choose the right.”
“The blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ are immeasurable because they are eternal.”
“To receive the marvelous blessings promised to those who come into the fold of God requires us to do just that — we need to choose to come.”
Summary of Elder Funk’s talk
At the waters of Mormon, Alma’s baptismal covenant invitation begins with “as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God.”
A fold is a large enclosure with one opening where the sheep are protected at night. “The safety and well-being of the sheep depend on their willingness to come into the fold and to stay in the fold.”
There are those who may feel that they are at the edge of the flock — that they aren’t needed or don’t belong. And there may be times where toes are stepped on and repentance or forgiveness is needed.
“Within the fold of God, we experience His watchful, nurturing care and are blessed to feel His redeeming love.”
Coming to the fold of God is through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism and confirmation, and through continuing faithfulness. To those people, Alma promised four blessings: “You may (1) ‘be redeemed of God,’ (2) ‘be numbered with those of the first resurrection,’ (3) ‘have eternal life’ and (4) the Lord will ‘pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you.’”
To receive the “blessings promised to those who come into the fold of God requires us to do just that — to choose to come.”
About Elder Funk
- Elder Randy D. Funk was sustained as a General Authority Seventy on April 6, 2013. He previously served as an Area Seventy, India Bangalore Mission president, executive secretary to the Denver Colorado Temple committee, stake president, bishop, Young Men president, Gospel Doctrine teacher and full-time missionary in the Southeast Asia Mission.
- He was born in August 1952 to C. Dennis and Rebecca Funk and grew up in Manti and Smithfield, Utah, and Madison, Wisconsin.
- Elder Funk married Andrea Clyde on May 29, 1976, in the Logan Utah Temple, a week before he graduated from Utah State University. They are the parents of six children.
Elder Funk in the news
- Elder Randy D. Funk, a General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the Middle East/Africa North Area presidency, accompanied Relief Society General President Jean B. Bingham and her first counselor, Sister Sharon Eubank, who is also the president of Latter-day Saint Charities, when they ministered in Egypt in October 2021. He also accompanied the Bednars to the World Expo 2022 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
