2 Nephi 27:3-4 “…it shall be unto them, even as unto a hungry man which dreameth, and behold he awaketh and his soul is empty…” This scripture is talking about the end of the world, when the days are dark. The answer to this hunger, this darkness is a book as we read in verse 6 of the same chapter. “…the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered.”

The Book of Mormon was brought forth, then the priesthood was restored. God’s power comes as we serve in His kingdom. President Nelson, since 1984, has used the word power nearly 400 times. Since becoming prophet, almost 150 times. In just one talk he used it 53 times.

Priesthood power should not be acquainted with one alone as it can be flowed to God’s children, men and women. Keys authorize priesthood covenants. As we keep those covenants, we have access to God’s power, the Priesthood, and His power will strengthen us. It eases our way, helps us heal. Satan doesn’t have this power but seeks it. We can render him powerless with the help of God.

Bring unity in our service. Unity is important for councils, presidencies and committees. Learn of Him together, like Alma 17:2 when the sons of Mosiah came back together and “did rejoice exceedingly…they were still his brethren in the Lord.”

Let us exercise faith through mighty prayer and fasting together, help others make and keep covenants together (Alma 53 & 56, never use weapons again, buried them). Let us stretch beyond our capacity together (reach up for the Lord, with the same intensity as a drowning person, President Nelson said). The power of God is real and we have access to it.

Worshipping in the temple as often as we can will *change a person’s life *help open the heavens *bring needed miracles *allow the lord to teach you *receive spiritual treasures * ability to hear him increased *be a place of safety and revelation *strengthen spiritual foundation *increase spiritual momentum *help you find greater peace and rest *bless your life in ways no one else can *think celestial *enhance the way you see yourself *hold fast to iron rod *help us gain greater access to power *unite families through the temple.

It’s important to help new members

1 be confirmed

2 be ordained to priesthood and receive temple recommend

3 find ancestor and go to temple

These early steps increase the likelihood of receiving the endowment.

Sister Deaver then shared how temple attendance changed the lives of Ginger & Jillian. Ginger’s life has been in turmoil. Sister missionaries showed up, she attended church, became interested in family history, asked how to join church, was baptized for both grandmothers and great grandmothers, and attended weekly to do baptisms. She was on oxygen at the time but received her endowment. Then her husband joined and they were sealed. She no longer needs oxygen. They attend temple weekly.

Jillian made friends as a youth with members. Later, her heart softened towards those who wanted to share about the Book of Mormon. Missionaries explained sacredness of temple. She eventually was baptized and shortly after attended the temple to do baptisms for ancestors. Received her endowment a year later and has been a huge blessing to her ward family.

Sister Deaver’s in-laws in 1960 drove from NC in July with no AC to Logan, Utah with no family support, nor escorts. They had an old car and had just one flat tire along the way to be sealed.

Family history and temple blessings can help broken families. Orson and Parley Pratt’s relationship strained during the Nauvoo years. Orson learned about a book project about an earlier American Pratt ancestor. He reached out to his brother and begged his pardon and asked forgiveness.

As a child, Karen’s parents divorced. In time her dad became homeless. He had lung cancer and eventually died. One brother baptized her other brother in behalf of her father. Just before Karen’s mom passed, she asked if she’d be sealed to her husband. Last fall, the sealing took place with lots of family involved and dear friends. Karen’s heart has been mended. The blessings of the temple are for all of God’s children. Work together in council to unite families in the temple. This is a huge but rewarding responsibility and should be a focus in every council.

How can we labor diligently in the Lord’s vineyard? The lord promises to go before you when we are in His service and he has prepared people to accept our testimony. The work to which He has called us is His. He is patient with us. Serving with Him perfects us. He has called you to make your unique contribution. Consider these principles in council:

The allegory of the olive trees describes our service with the Savior in this period of restoration. Go thy way, watch the tree, nourish it according to my words. Jacob 5:12. We need to nourish and love the trees (people). Consider the natural fruit, in contrast to the natural man. It’s the redeemed man, what God intends for us to become.

The Savior is increasing the work to bring about His kingdom. He will return. Contemplate the entire world and preparation of it to welcome Christ’s truth. Focus on our families, individual lives, quorums and classes. To whom or to what will I give my life? President Nelson, as an example, chose Christ. Christ will do His work in His own time and in His own way. The Lord invites and entices, works alongside us, takes the Yoke with us.

Love has been the watchword of President Ellis’s leadership. What can we do in our classes, quorums and councils to teach that love is the answer? Our loving Savior has a perfect knowledge of our needs.

We are all treated fairly with the Lord. Elder Holland elaborated about the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. This parable is about God’s forgiveness and patience, generosity and compassion, grace, mercy. He taught, “You have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s atonement shines. His concern is for the faith at which you finally arrive, not the hour of the day in which you got there.”

Teaching from the scriptures he pointed out the following passages:

1 Nephi 11:28- The power focused on the current people of the Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 14:14- The power comes from making covenants and focuses on our day

Moses 6:67-ordinances and covenants. What changes come? Verse 68 has the answer: we become children of God

Mosiah 5:7-His sons and His daughters. We are spiritually begotten. Being born again, or rebirth at baptism. We’re children but it’s also time to grow up, progress.

Doctrine & covenants 109:15- We must grow up in THEE. He is the Man of Holiness. Son of Man (Man of Holiness). That’s what He wants us to grow up to be. How do we get there? Through making covenants.

Read The Everlasting covenant by President Nelson (Liahona magazine) That “Hesed” love referred to in the talk is a different kind of love. He wants EVERYONE to be His children.

What else can we do?

Keep the commandments

Minister

Serve

Pray- Give proper prayers more often; in privacy, on your knees, speaking out loud. it will be changing.

Scripture study-brings faith & revelation

Temple attendance

Doctrine & Covenants 43:8 tells us to come together to learn how to edify, instruct, etc. Now we need to act. President Holland said the first Presidency and apostles and authorities and officers cannot do this work alone. It requires all of us to say “Here am I, send me”. Thank you for all you’ve done; your consecration and service. Find the good in the people. Resist the urge to takeover as leaders.

Moroni 7:48 “…pray unto the Father to be filled with this love…”

As a stake president, one of his high council members did not come to stake conference each time. He considered it a “vacation” or “holiday”. His counselor suggested they release him. He prayed for greater love instead. Two weeks prior to stake conferenced he showed up at the man’s home offering to serve so the man could attend that next stake conference. The man changed completely, serving five more years, becoming a wonderful powerful leader. Christ taught us about this in John 21:15 in his “”ministering interview with Peter when he asked, “Lovest thou me? Feed my lambs.”

Ask with much love, “Do you minister?” Ask with love. And you will know how to act by following Christ’s example.

We can have confidence because of Him, Jesus Christ. Jesus lives and loves us. We are teamed up with, yoked to, covenanted with Jesus Christ. We all have sicknesses, disappointment, loss, etc. which can knock our confidence. But disciples of Christ have access to a different and truer confidence. Lehi told his son, I know that thou art redeemed, bedcause of the righteousness of thy Redeemer.”

Don’t take the good news as anxious news, hopeless news, guilty news. That’s forgetting Christ and a demonstrating a lack of faith. Covenant confidence is not complacency. It’s not panic. It is excitement over all the things Christ can transform me to become. Elder Kearon said, “God is in relentless pursuit of us.” Elder Renlund said, “Jesus is relentless and unwavering.” Sister Runia said, “Your repentance doesn’t burden Jesus Christ. It brightens His joy.” And President Nelson said, “Jesus yearns to help each of us reach our highest potential.”

Christ will not force anyone to come to Him and repent. He is relentless in His desire to come to us. A belief is something we’re committed to. Using sign language President Ellis taught that to sign “thinking,” with one finger, and “knowing” with all fingers pointed to your head. The sign for “friendship” is linking two fingers, while the sign for “marriage” is linking both hands. Belief is signed by using “think” and “marriage” together.

President Nelson recently taught “The hostility in public dialogue is alarming…Contention prevents the Holy Ghost from being our constant companion.” Choosing to contend with others is choosing to live without the Holy Ghost.

There is no salvation in liberalism, conservatism, or intellectualism. We do not have time to contend about these. “This is not my doctrine,” Christ taught. President Oaks once taught, “I find some wisdom in liberalism some wisdom in conservatism, and much truth in intellectualism – but I find no salvation in any of them.” So let us lead out and be peacemakers.

Here is a litmus test to know if you have charity. Ask yourself these two questions:

1. Am I forgiving other people? Quoting C.S. Lewis, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. I think that if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him.”

2. Am I opening my mouth and inviting other people to come to Christ?

Regarding virtue, let it “garnish” our thoughts. Virtue will add worthy thoughts, Christlike thoughts, spiritually uplifting thoughts. Be in the temple so virtue can increase. Christ taught that His disciples shall stand in holy places and be not moved.

Who does charity affect? It blesses the giver, the receiver and the witnesses. It affects everyone.

What does charity show? How Christ loves. We can see how others are seen by God. Mother Teresa said loving others is done by seeing the face of God in others.

Why do we need charity? 1 Corinthians 13:2 says, “I am nothing” without charity. We are nothing without Christ. All things fail but not charity. It never ceases to exist. It’s eternal. We are eternal. We, through Christ are eternal. There’s not a single story of Christ that is not about charity. Charity will change us. As we feel God’s love for us, we can feel it for others too.

He remembers playing hide and seek as a family and how fun it was. Seeking for those who are hiding is exciting. “Seek this Jesus” it says in Ether 12:41. How do we do this?

Make a diligent effort to

1. learn of Christ

2. become like Christ. That His Grace may be in and abide with us.

Alma 57:25 shares the result of one of the battles the stripling warriors were in. All of the 2,060 warriors were injured but, to their astonishment, not one soul perished. Where do we find Christ? Each one of us is wounded. But through Christ, he will heal us.

Elder Christofferson encouraged us to worship. How we live may be the best way we worship. Doctrine & Covenants 4 teaches the importance of developing and exercising faith, hope, and charity. We find those when we ask, knock, and seek.

He then shared examples of members of our stake who have demonstrated patience. “Cheerfully do all things that lie in our power…” D&C 123:17 Ask Christ for the spiritual gifts and Christlike attributes. Bring others along with you as you seek Christ.

Her divorced mother took her to church every Sunday, visiting different faiths. For the first time, in this church, she heard the words of the song “I am a child of God”. She did not know God is a loving father, Jesus is her older brother. Her mother asked her, before leaving in the car, “How do you feel?” She responded “I feel like I’m home.” Elder Kearon said “We really are God’s children…receive this gift…you really are.”

Through all the losses of life, she knows who she is and whose she is. Being in His holy house has brought relief. Her identity has been reconfirmed time and again there in God’s holy house.

President Nelson has said, ”Every sincere seeker will find Him in the temple.”

Because of the covenants we’ve made in the temple, we know we can make it back to God.

There are now 382 temples. President Nelson said, “Do you see what is happening right before our eyes?” There are so many wonderful things ahead, countless blessings upon the faithful. These are days never to be forgotten.

“The assaults of the adversary are increasing. Take a prayerful look at how you spend your time.

He was a temple worker but during Covid, though his work continued, his temple service did not. Once Covid restrictions were lifted and he could return to the temple every week, a coworker said, “You’re a much nicer person when you go to the temple every week.”

Consider your life, make the temple a priority. The confusion in our lives can be eliminated as we attend the temple. “Nothing will help you hold to the iron rod more…nothing” President Nelson promised.

3 Nephi 11 shares the experiences of the Nephites after Christ’s death. The people hear the voice of God three times. Then they see a man descending from heaven, who introduces Himself, the Savior, and invites all to come and feel the prints in His hands and feet. They cry with one voice “Hosanna” which means “Save us now.”

The word apostle means one who is sent. Do we study the words of the apostles? Do we give heed to the senior apostle, the prophet of God? That question is a great teacher.

Alma 26:22 teaches us that “he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing – unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God…” He encourages us to read one of “his best books” which is Preach My Gospel-chapter 3 “although we are imperfect and may fall short again, there is more grace, love and mercy in Jesus Christ than there is failure, flaw, or sin in us.” All that is unfair in life will be made right by God.

“Come unto me all that labor…” we are told. He spoke of a time he worked with a former missionary companion. “Elder, you need to come to Christ. You need to repent, you need to exercise faith” he told his former companion. He came back to church, paid his tithing, gave a talk, received a calling. Years earlier, his new missionary companion said he’d only work four hours a day. He could call his president and ask for a transfer OR he could love him. He decided to love him. Over time he worked more hours a day, finding and teaching people changed his life, and his mission. He became less active and then one stake president received the impression to visit Brother Eric, taking Elder Cavalcante with him. God is in the details.

God lives. We still have miracles. Leaders receive inspiration.

Coming to the Klein Stake, Elder Harris and I were looking for the man foreordained to lead this stake at this time. Revelation came and it came clearly. The following men are called to serve as the Klein Texas Stake Presidency, with gratitude to and releasing of Rob Ellis, B.J. Baldwin, and Rich Hogan:

B.J. Baldwin as President

Scott Nuzman as First Counselor

Jake Swanson as Second Counselor

It’s been a blessing to serve with the sisters and men who lead in this stake and wards. His first “handheld device” (the Book of Mormon) holds the greatest intelligence. Jesus Christ designed this for our day. If we read it, make annotations and write impressions, through the spirit of the Lord His intelligence will be made known. Natural fruit of the vineyard. The plan of God is good and includes Christ who helps us accomplish His great work. It has been a pleasure and a blessing to serve with these men. He has walked by his wife’s side 47 years. Together their souls have intertwined and she has made him a better man. Christ will come again.

Thank you so much for supporting our family. I have a Heavenly Father who knows and loves me. He sent His Son to be my Savior. We wish to be a shade tree, calm and still. But more often we are a tree in a hurricane with big, blowing winds. No matter what, we need to dig deeper our roots through personal devotion in scripture study and prayer and service. The gospel has nourished and strengthened her. The prophet and the priesthood is here and he leads and guides us.

I know He lives, the resurrected Son of God. He guides the church which He has restored. Recently, I was in front of the nine Supreme Court justices. Some of the most powerful in our country with lots of authority. Four days later in Salt Lake City for General Conference leadership training, he got to greet the 12 apostles. As I left the room, the Spirit washed over me and I cried like a baby. The difference between the power and authority of the Apostles of the Lamb of God was night and day. This power came from Jesus Christ himself. This is His church. I have read the Book of Mormon every day for over 35 years. Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration. I knows this of myself. All youth and Young Adults and not so young adults, I am not deceived and I do not lie. I know He lives. There was no election or voting. These men are called by God.

I’m in shock and awe. I want to thank the outgoing stake presidency including Pres Blackham. Since they started serving I was a bishop and then on the high council. It’s been such a pleasure to hear their counsel and be blessed by their service. I am feeling inadequate. In 2000 I was baptized at age 18 and received a set of scriptures. It is the word of God. I commit to Heavenly Father that I will serve him with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. And I will serve you with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I know Jesus is the Christ. I thank my family for their patience with me and I love them.

Last night we heard from the Stake President when they chose the one word to keep in their mind at all times was love. I have felt that as a bishop, high council member and as a friend. They love all of us. How can they have such love? As I’ve interacted with you, worshipped together, I have felt Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s love for you. Just a small taste. But it’s been my privilege to feel that love for you. You are saints. It’s a privilege to be able to serve. His son asked his wife, “Is dad in the secret service for the new Stake President?” I sustain President Baldwin. He is a good man. I know He will guide us and his wife is a good woman. God does not leave us alone but guides us personally. He will guide us.

I am overwhelmed by the Lord’s blessings to me. I’ve been blessed to grow up in this area. My parents spoke of these individuals as heroes. Many of you were heroes growing up. And I feel humbled and blessed to be part of this work in this area. I hope you feel His hand guiding the work here in your lives, your families and in the church here. I have a testimony of Christ. He is very real to me. I know He knows and loves me. He is anxious to bless and help and work with each of you. He wants to help us. I have an image of running to the Savior. He is worth running to. His love, his peace is worth any sacrifice we have to make to be in his temple to be close to him and have his blessings. It’s worth any sacrifice as we draw near to Him. It will be a joyful experience. Like the father in the prodigal son, He is watching and can see us far off and is waiting for us. The Book of Mormon is true. The peace of the Lord will ease our way. This is His church. He is involved in the details of His church and hastening the work. I could never have the number of children I have if they weren’t the children they are. I love them. I love my husband. All these good things come from my Savior.

Overwhelmed is not a good word at the moment. I’m grateful for the disciples of Jesus Christ. I was pacing in the hall and didn’t know what to do. Two youth came over and asked how I was. They told me it would be ok. So grateful for each of you. A privilege and honor to serve alongside these good brethren. I’ve done a few interviews where I was referred to as President Blackham. I’ll take that any day. Every day. God knows the preparation I need to be with Him again. I know Him and love Him. I strive to be his disciple. I love the Book of Mormon, the stories, the doctrines. And the channel it opens between me and Heavenly Father. Thankful for a temple so close. Grateful to be in the temple to learn from my Father there. These good men were called by inspiration. No calling we do, no assignment we take, we do alone. We have our families and we do it with each other. I love the Savior. I love each of you. The Lord does His work through the weak and the simple. And He’s really really good at it.

President Baldwin, I continue to be surprised by him. I remember the revelation coming witnessing he was the next Stake President. I see his gifts in him. I pray you’ll be able to see those gifts in him. When a King sends an ambassador (Stake Presidents, bishop) to the people and how we treat that ambassador is how we treat the King.

Alma the younger’s speech to Gideon of the coming of Christ to the world is most important. At the Last Supper, the sacred ordinance of the sacrament was instituted and sacred teachings were given. Only recorded in John. And the intercessory prayer Christ prayed is recorded there. They traveled to the Mount of Olives to Gethsemane. He left them outside the gate and took Peter, James and John with him. He walked further in and fell down. He was sore amazed. He was suffering, as Isaiah 53 says, our griefs. D&C 18 points out he suffered the pains of all mankind. All the pains of the children of Adam. All you have suffered in life He went through. So intense it forced blood out of every pore. He asked the Father to take the cup away. He was worried he might shrink, not make it all the way through. But he pressed forward. An angel comforted Him. He inherited the ability to die from his mom and to live from his father. How did he do it? He had agency. Isaiah 53:10 Christ shall see His seed. We become the seed of Christ through the covenants we make. We become Christ’s children. He looked upon us knowing we’d be lost if He didn’t press through (See Elder Bateman’s 1995 conference talk). Probably thousands came, a band of soldiers, along with Jewish leaders and Judas. He is led off to an illegal trial with Annias, then Caiaphas, Pilate, and then Herod, back to Pilate. He is nailed to the cross and asks His Father to forgive them. He is always looking outwardly. Next concerned about His mother or the man next to him on another cross. The pains of Gethsemane recurred on the cross. He suffers another infinite pain. The Father moved His spirit from Him. He had to tread the winepress alone. He had never done anything to cause the Spirit to leave Him. He descended below all things. He steps into the spirit world and teaches there-D&C 138. Sunday morning He returns to the tomb where His Father raises Him from the dead. Because He lives, we will live again. Yet in the flesh shall I see God (Job).

Because of the atonement of Christ we can all live again AND we can repent and return to the Father again. He lives. This is just a test. If we run to Him, he will lift us. We’ve all lost people we love. He can get them back. He knows how to succor us, to run to and help us. He will always come; always be there to help. Our suffering is not in vain; it is exalting. He is a God who weeps. He loves us.

In June 2009, Elder Stanley Ellis came to Brazil to reorganize the stake where I lived. I was a bishop at the time and then called to be the new Stake President. Now I’m here to release his son as Stake President. The Lord looketh on the heart. I was the weakest bishop, weakest man in the stake. But the Lord looketh on my heart. President Baldwin is not the best man. He is the chosen one. The heavens were opened in this stake. And the Lord chose this man to preside. The Lord Jesus Christ has taught us many things. The invitation He gives us is to change our hearts. Matthew 19:16-22. What are our great possessions? What do we need to leave behind us to follow Christ? I will go away sorrowful if I do not give up those things. As I accepted and served in callings, many told me “you are a fool.”

Ask yourself, what lack I yet?

To the Young Men, the prophet said, “I reaffirm strongly that the Lord has asked every worthy and able young man to serve a mission.”

A new missionary said, when he arrived in Brazil, I want to go home. After lunch and interview, he still wanted to go home. As mission president, I challenged him to go one day. Had an interview and he still wanted to go home. I said one day is short, let’s try one week. Then tried one month. President, thank you for your patience, he said but still wanted to go home. One transfer. President met with him on last day of transfer and studied and worked hard all day. Best day ever but still wanted to go home. He worked with him for one year. Still wanted to go home. Forget your girlfriend, your home, your money, your friends, etc. He baptized 206 people in the last year of his mission. He became converted, committed, fully consecrated. Roles reversed when as an Elder I came to SLC, the missionary was there to welcome him with a big Brazilian hug. I wanted to go home. They had a meal together and the mother of the missionary asked what he had done with her son. He decided to follow Jesus Christ, put everything behind Him, love His Master. “Faith is not by chance but by choice.” Elder Anderson

So serve a mission. John 6:66-68 To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.

Review Philippians 3:13-14 and ponder how you can press forward and reach for Christ.

President Nelson taught the great opportunity before us is to become the people God needs us to be. He encourages us to regularly worship in the house of the Lord, make time to be in the temple, prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ, and the prophet urges us to get ready and gain confidence by increasing in charity and virtue. Take these intentional steps to grow your confidence before the Lord.

What intentional steps are you taking?

Fill your hearts with greater charity. I increased my love for my former law firm partner who was not paying me. It does not matter. I can forgive my brother. When I decide to follow the prophet’s invitation, everything changes. He can really understand what is necessary for us to change our lives. The prophet holds all the keys. God lives. Jesus is the Christ. Think to yourself, will you also go away? Remember Peter’s answer and let’s respond likewise. Whom shall we go?