Introduction – Another Session another four talks on love and service

Continuing my journey through the October session of general conference, a conference that happens every six months when our church gathers to share the topics top of mind for our leaders. From session to session, the underlying theme is pretty consistent, to encourage the membership to better consecrate our lives in love and service for others. My previous posts are on the Saturday morning session and the Saturday afternoon session.

Elder Gary B. Sabin kicks off his talk with an experience he had talking to a self proclaimed “professor of happiness” who happened to be sitting next to him on a plane flight. This exchange prompted him to think about specific ways we might find happiness. First, we need to build our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ which simply entails we give our heart in love and service as best as we can. Second is to remember our divine identity which as we come to realize our self-worth sinks deep within our souls. Third, in similar vein is to see the divine worth in everyone we meet so that we can properly “love one another”. Finally, he advises that we maintain an eternal vision.

Elder Joni Koch reads from the Book of Mormon a verse that indicates that humility is a trait required to enter God’s presence. He describes a rather humiliating experience where we was hoping to flex his authority to show his importance to his family only to be rebuked by a security guard when he forgot his badge. Humility does not necessarily correlate with poverty or with someone who is shy or has low self-esteem. Humility is a willingness to submit to the will of God. As we do all we can, we humbly leave the rest in God’s hands.

Sister Tamara W. Runia wants us to zoom out from time to time and view our lives through an eternal lens, to see the world the way God sees the world. As we focus on the Savior, we can know that “because of Christ, it all works out.” This ability to zoom out will help us see our loved ones through a big picture lens which will help us not get so hung up on day to day difficulties. With this ability to see the long view, we can be more tolerant with mistakes. She counsels, “let’s choose hope – hope in our Creator and in one another, fueling our ability to be better than we are right now.” Our children need to know we believe in them. Our direction matters more than our speed. Mostly, she encourages us to hold fast and continue.

Elder Ulisses Soares pleads that we abandon all feelings of prejudice and view every single person for who they are – sons and daughters of God worthy of our love and respect. The story of Jesus at the well with a Samaritan woman is interesting. Jesus, a Jew asked a Samaritan for help fetching water even though there existed a long resistance to such cross-ethnic interactions. Jesus saw through these arbitrary ethnic divisions and saw her for who she was and told her who he was, someone who came to bless, heal and ultimately save everyone. Elder Soares offers that the temple is a place where we can learn to love across all divisions as we enter wearing the same clothes, making the same covenants, participating in the same ordinances, united in a single purpose no matter our race, economic status, or political affiliation.