President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, spoke during the Saturday morning session of April 2023 general conference. Peace comes through faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His commandments. The following is a summary of what he said.
President Eyring’s conference talk summary
In a time of spiritual turbulence in the world, there is a “miracle of finding personal peace, whatever our circumstances.”
In John 14:15-27, the Savior explained how His disciples and others would feel peace once He was no longer on the earth with them. The Savior taught five principles in those verses. Peace comes after living obediently to His commandments. The Holy Ghost can abide in people. Love of self and others comes through keeping covenants. Keeping God’s commandments requires singular love of God. Obtaining the gift of earthly and eternal peace comes from faith in Jesus Christ and repentance.
“There is reason for optimism: it is that the Light of Christ is placed in every newborn child. With that universal gift comes a sense of what is right, a desire to love and be loved.”
Parents are responsible to nurture children and give an example that will show them how to build their own faith in the Savior. Doing so will help prepare the way for the Second Coming.
“The rising generation will become the nurturers of the generation to follow. … The Lord’s kingdom on earth will be prepared and ready to greet Him with shouts of hosanna. There will be peace on earth.”
Notable quotes
“There is reason for optimism: it is that the Light of Christ is placed in every newborn child. With that universal gift comes a sense of what is right, a desire to love and be loved.”
“The rising generation will become the nurturers of the generation to follow. … the Lord’s kingdom on earth will be prepared and ready to greet Him with shouts of hosanna. There will be peace on earth.”
“I pray that you may find peace, help many others find it, and pass it along.”
See the full text of President Eyring’s talk: ‘Finding Personal Peace’
Who is President Eyring?
- President Henry B. Eyring has been a general authority for more than three decades, called in 1985. He served as a counselor to President Gordon B. Hinckley from 2007 to 2008, then to President Thomas S. Monson from 2008 to 2018. Now he is serving as second counselor to President Russell M. Nelson.
- While studying at Harvard, he met his wife, Sister Kathleen Johnson Eyring, when she enrolled in a Harvard summer program, and “was immediately impressed by the goodness she radiated.” They were married in the Logan Utah Temple in July 1962 and are the parents of four sons and two daughters.
- He served as the 10th president of BYU–Idaho — then Ricks College — from 1971 to 1977. Forty years later, his son Henry J. Eyring was inaugurated as the 17th president of BYU–Idaho in September 2017.
What has President Eyring done recently?
- During the October 2022 general conference, he taught that everyone faces adversity, but they can learn from and leave legacies of encouragement.
- President Eyring rededicates Tokyo Japan Temple, the Church’s longest-operating in Asia
- President Eyring teaches new mission leaders: ‘Converted missionaries convert others’
- President Henry B. Eyring: ‘Steady in the Storms’
Read more of President Eyring’s general conference addresses, or follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
