President Russell M. Nelson on the messages and invitations from conference

President Russell M. Nelson (born Sept 9, 1924) was an internationally-renowned heart surgeon when he was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became president of that quorum on July 15, 2015. Following the death of President Monson, he was set apart as president of the Church on January 14, 2018.

"This has been an inspirational and historic conference. We look to the future with enthusiasm. We have been motivated to do better and to be better. The marvelous messages delivered from this pulpit by our General Authorities and General Officers and the music have been sublime! I urge you to study these messages, commencing this week. They express the mind and the will of the Lord for His people, today.

"The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.

"During this conference we have strengthened our resolve to execute the essential effort to honor the Lord Jesus Christ every time we refer to His Church. I promise you that our rigorous attention to use the correct name of the Savior’s Church and its members will lead to increased faith and access to greater spiritual power for members of His Church."

- Russell M. Nelson, "Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints," General Conference October 2018
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

What a blessing our modern technology can be, when it is used for God's purposes! Within a matter of a few days after the conclusion of General Conference, we are now able to study the transcripts of the messages online and listen to audio recordings of the talks. President Nelson's concluding message from the recent conference included this invitation for us, to begin to study the messages this week:

In addition to the blessings that will result from studying and following the counsel of Church leaders, President Nelson expressed some additional promises:

1. During the conference, we were introduced to coming changes that will put emphasis on home study of the gospel, including a shortened Sunday meeting time and materials to facilitate our individual and family study. President Nelson promised us that as we begin to implement those changes and "remodel" our homes into "a center of gospel learning," we will see blessings:
1. "Over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight".
2. "Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings"
3. "The influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease."
4. "Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining."
Those are remarkable promises!


2. As we remember the counsel to use with "rigorous attention" the proper name of the Lord's Church in every opportunity, we will see blessings:
1. "Increased faith"
2. "Access to greater spiritual power for members of His Church."

We are truly blessed to be led by inspired leaders. Now it is up to us to claim the blessings that are promised to us!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)