Sharing the Gospel - Elder Oaks, Oct 2001

Sharing the Gospel

by Dallin H. Oaks

October 2001 General Conference

"All of us have family members or friends who need the gospel but are not now interested. To be effective, our efforts with them must be directed by the Lord so that we act in the way and at the time when they will be most receptive. We must pray for the Lord’s help and directions so we can be instruments in His hands for one who is now ready—one He would have us help today. Then, we must be alert to hear and heed the promptings of His Spirit in how we proceed."

Focus and Priorities - Elder Oaks, Apr 2001

Focus and Priorities

by Dallin H. Oaks

April 2001 General Conference

"As regards knowledge, the highest priority religious knowledge is what we receive in the temple. That knowledge is obtained from the explicit and symbolic teachings of the endowment, and from the whisperings of the Spirit that come as we are desirous to seek and receptive to hear the revelation available to us in that sacred place."

The Challenge to Become - Elder Oaks, Oct 2000

The Challenge to Become

by Dallin H. Oaks.

October 2000 General Conference

"Now is the time for each of us to work toward our personal conversion, toward becoming what our Heavenly Father desires us to become. As we do so, we should remember that our family relationships—even more than our Church callings—are the setting in which the most important part of that development can occur. The conversion we must achieve requires us to be a good husband and father or a good wife and mother. Being a successful Church leader is not enough. Exaltation is an eternal family experience, and it is our mortal family experiences that are best suited to prepare us for it."

Resurrection - Elder Oaks, Apr 2000

Resurrection

by Dallin H. Oaks

April 2000 General Conference

"In our eternal journey, the resurrection is the mighty milepost that signifies the end of mortality and the beginning of immortality. The Lord described the importance of this vital transition when He declared, “And thus did I, the Lord God, appoint unto man the days of his probation—that by his natural death he might be raised in immortality unto eternal life, even as many as would believe” (D&C 29:43)."

Gospel Teaching - Elder Oaks, Oct 1999

Gospel Teaching

by Dallin H. Oaks

October 1999 General Conference

"Every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is, or will be, a teacher. Each of us has a vital interest in the content and effectiveness of gospel teaching. We want everyone to have great gospel teachers, and we want those teachers to help all of us find our way back, not just to them but to our Heavenly Father."

The Witness: Martin Harris - Elder Oaks, Apr 1999

The Witness: Martin Harris

by Dallin H. Oaks

April 1999 General Conference

"What do we learn from the example of Martin Harris? (1) Witnesses are important, and the testimony of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon is impressive and reliable. (2) Happiness and spiritual progress lie in following the leaders of the Church. (3) There is hope for each of us, even if we have sinned and strayed from a favored position."

The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament - Elder Oaks, Oct 1998

The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament

by Dallin H. Oaks

October 1998 General Conference

"We are commanded to repent of our sins and to come to the Lord with a brokenheart and a contrite spirit and partake of the sacrament in compliance with its covenants. When we renew our baptismal covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism. In this way we are made clean and can always have His Spirit to be with us. The importance of this is evident in the Lord’s commandment that we partake of the sacrament each week."

Have You Been Saved? - Dallin Oaks, Apr 1998

Have You Been Saved?

by Dallin H. Oaks

April 1998 General Conference

"As Latter-day Saints use the words saved and salvation, there are at least six different meanings. According to some of these, our salvation is assured—we are already saved. In others, salvation must be spoken of as a future event (e.g., 1 Cor. 5:5) or as conditioned upon a future event (e.g., Mark 13:13). But in all of these meanings, or kinds of salvation, salvation is in and through Jesus Christ."

Following the Pioneers - Dallin Oaks, Oct 1997

Following the Pioneers

by Dallin H. Oaks

October 1997 General Conference

"The foremost quality of our pioneers was faith. With faith in God, they did what every pioneer does—they stepped forward into the unknown: a new religion, a new land, a new way of doing things. With faith in their leaders and in one another, they stood fast against formidable opposition. When their leader said, “This is the right place,” they trusted, and they stayed. When other leaders said, “Do it this way,” they followed in faith."

"Bishop, Help!" - Dallin Oaks, Apr 1997

"Bishop, Help!"

by Dallin H. Oaks

April 1997 General Conference

"How do we help? To lighten the load of the bishopric, auxiliary presidencies and Melchizedek Priesthood quorum presidencies and group leaders need to exercise initiative and fully function in the great responsibilities of their callings. Bishops are responsible to call; they should not be required to beg or push. All of us should accept the callings we are given and serve in all diligence."

"Always Have His Spirit" - Dallin Oaks, Oct 1996

Always Have His Spirit

by Dallin H. Oaks

October 1996 General Conference

"The Light of Christ is given to all men and women that they may know good from evil; manifestations of the Holy Ghost are given to lead sincere seekers to gospel truths that will persuade them to repentance and baptism."

"Joseph, the Man and the Prophet" - Dallin H. Oaks, Apr 1996

Joseph, the Man and the Prophet

by Dallin H. Oaks

April 1996 General Conference

"The Prophet Joseph had no role models from whom he could learn how to be a prophet and leader of the Lord’s people. He learned from heavenly messengers and from the harvest of his unique spiritual gifts. He had to rely on associates who had no role models either. They struggled and learned together, and the Prophet’s growth was extremely rapid."

"Powerful Ideas" - Dallin Oaks, Oct 1995

Powerful Ideas

by Dallin H. Oaks

October 1995 General Conference

"Let us follow the commandments of God and the examples of his servants. Let us focus our teachings on those great and powerful ideas that have eternal significance in promoting righteousness, building up the children of God, and helping each of us toward our destiny of eternal life."

"Apostasy and Restoration" - Dallin Oaks, Apr 1995

Apostasy and Restoration

by Dallin H. Oaks

April 1995 General Conference

"The theology of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is comprehensive, universal, merciful, and true. Following the necessary experience of mortal life, all sons and daughters of God will ultimately be resurrected and go to a kingdom of glory. The righteous—regardless of current religious denomination or belief—will ultimately go to a kingdom of glory more wonderful than any of us can comprehend. Even the wicked, or almost all of them, will ultimately go to a marvelous—though lesser—kingdom of glory. All of that will occur because of God’s love for his children and because of the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ."

"Worship through Music" - Dallin H. Oaks, Oct 1994

Worship through Music

by Dallin H. Oaks

October 1994 General Conference

"We need to make more use of our hymns to put us in tune with the Spirit of the Lord, to unify us, and to help us teach and learn our doctrine. We need to make better use of our hymns in missionary teaching, in gospel classes, in quorum meetings, in home evenings, and in home teaching visits. Music is an effective way to worship our Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. We should use hymns when we need spiritual strength and inspiration."

"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" - Dallin H. Oaks, Apr 1994

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

by Dallin H. Oaks

April 1994 General Conference

"The kind of faith that includes trust in the Lord stands in contrast to many imitations. Some people trust no one but themselves. Some put their highest trust in a friend or another family member, perhaps because they feel that person is more righteous or more wise than they. But that is not the Lord’s way. He told us to put our faith and our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ."

"Tithing" - Dallin H. Oaks, Apr 1994

Tithing

by Dallin H. Oaks

October 1994 General Conference

“Let us here observe that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things” (Lectures on Faith, 6:7)

"Let Us All Press On" by the Tabernacle Choir

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir) has released a new album, Let Us All Press On: Hymns of Praise and Inspiration, their first new recording with the new name.  It is a collection of favorite hymns recorded in the Tabernacle, and includes one of my favorites, "All Creatures of Our God and King".

Of note is a new song written by President Nelson:

Contained on the album is the hymn “Our Prayer to Thee,” with text written by Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nelson wrote the words in 2003, and it was first performed as a hymn in April of that same year at the Church’s general conference, where it was matched to a tune by composer Joseph Parry.

The tracklist includes:

1. Press Forward, Saints
2. More Holiness Give Me
3. On This Day of Joy and Gladness
4. Lord, I Would Follow Thee
5. Have I Done Any Good?
6. Rejoice, the Lord Is King
7. Our Prayer to Thee
8. Let Us All Press On
9. Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah
10. Hark, All Ye Nations
11. Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy
12. Standing on the Promises
13. Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
14. All Creatures of Our God and King

"The Great Plan of Happiness" - Dallin H. Oaks, Oct 1993

The Great Plan of Happiness
by Dallin H. Oaks
October 1993 General Conference

"Our understanding of life begins with a council in heaven. There the spirit children of God were taught his eternal plan for their destiny. We had progressed as far as we could without a physical body and an experience in mortality. To realize a fullness of joy, we had to prove our willingness to keep the commandments of God in a circumstance where we had no memory of what preceded our mortal birth."

"The Language of Prayer" - Dallin H. Oaks, Apr 1993

The Language of Prayer

by Dallin H. Oaks

April 1993 General Conference

"Scholarship can contradict mortal explanations, but it cannot rescind divine commands or inspired counsel. In our day the English words thee, thou, thy, and thine are suitable for the language of prayer, not because of how they were used anciently but because they are currently obsolete in common English discourse. Being unused in everyday communications, they are now available as a distinctive form of address in English, appropriate to symbolize respect, closeness, and reverence for the one being addressed."

"Bible Stories and Personal Protection" - Dallin H. Oaks, Oct 1992

Bible Stories and Personal Protection

by Dallin H. Oaks

October 1992 General Conference

"All over the world, faithful Latter-day Saints are protected from the powers of the evil one and his servants until they have finished their missions in mortality. For some the mortal mission is brief, as with some valiant young men who have lost their lives in missionary service. But for most of us the mortal journey is long, and we continue our course with the protection of guardian angels."

“Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole” - Come Follow Me

“Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole”

Come Follow Me

March 4-10

This week the readings are Matthew 8-9 and Mark 2-5, and the chapters focus on the healing miracles performed by the Savior. 

"The Relief Society and the Church" - Dallin H. Oaks, Apr 1992

The Relief Society and the Church

by Dallin H. Oaks

April 1992 General Conference

"One of the great functions of Relief Society is to provide sisterhood for women, just as priesthood quorums provide brotherhood for men. But all should remember that neither sisterhood nor brotherhood is an end in itself. Each is a means of individual spiritual growth and cooperative service. The ultimate and highest expression of womanhood and manhood is in the new and everlasting covenant of marriage between a man and a woman."

"Joy and Mercy" - Dallin H. Oaks, Oct 1991

Joy and Mercy

by Dallin H. Oaks

October 1991 General Conference

"Joy and misery are eternal emotions whose ultimate extent we are not likely to experience in mortality. In this life we have some mortal simulations, which we call happiness or pleasure and unhappiness or pain. In the midst of these emotions is suffering. Some suffering comes from our own sins or those of others, but much suffering is simply an inevitable part of the mortal condition, like an accidental injury."

"Honour Thy Father and Thy Mother" - Dallin H. Oaks, Apr 1991

"Honour Thy Father and Thy Mother"

by Dallin H. Oaks

April 1991 General Conference

"The commandment to honor our parents has strands that run through the entire fabric of the gospel. It is inherent in our relationship to God our Father. It embraces the divine destiny of the children of God. This commandment relates to the government of the family, which is patterned after the government of heaven."

"Witnesses of Christ" - Dallin H. Oaks, Oct 1990

Witnesses of Christ

by Dallin H. Oaks

October 1990 General Conference

"Spiritual gifts come by the power of the Holy Ghost, that all the faithful may be benefited. One of these gifts is “to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.” (D&C 46:13.) Those who receive that gift have the duty to testify of it. We know this because immediately after describing the gift of knowing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Lord says: “To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.” (D&C 46:14; see also 3 Ne. 19:28.) Those who have the gift to know must give their witness so that those who have the gift to believe on their words can enjoy the benefit of that gift."

"World Peace" - Dallin H. Oaks, Apr 1990

World Peace

by Dallin H. Oaks

April 1990 General Conference

"The peace the gospel brings is not just the absence of war. It is the opposite of war. Gospel peace is the opposite of any conflict, armed or unarmed. It is the opposite of national or ethnic hostilities, of civil or family strife."

"The Year of Jubilee" - Old General Conference Reports

I recently found a website that has PDF files of old General Conference reports going back to 1880.  It's a pretty simple layout with the PDFs listed by year of what is available, but it works as a way to get access to older church talks.  I haven't had a chance to read very many of them yet, but wanted to post the link here.  Enjoy!