SALT LAKE CITY — Mormons will stand out increasingly in a world moving further from religious values and need to stand up, speak out and remain converted to Christ, LDS Church leaders said Sunday during the final two sessions of the faith's 185th Semiannual General Conference.
"It is often difficult to be different and to stand alone in a crowd," said President Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "It is natural to fear what others might think or say. As we make Christ the center of our lives, our fears will be replaced by the courage of our convictions."
A day after several talks focused on what Mormons can do personally to be more converted, a theme of many talks Sunday was what those converted to Christ need to do to thrive and find assurance in "a time of ever-spreading evil." They counseled members to strengthen themselves and sustain each other, see commandments as evidence of God's love, serve, seek the Spirit and clearly communicate the gospel message.
Women with authority
President Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles praised LDS women and pleaded with them to step forward and let their character "draw good women of the world, along with their families to the church in unprecedented numbers."
"Attacks against the church, its doctrine and our way of life are going to increase," he said. "Because of this, we need women who have a bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ, and who will use that understanding to teach and help raise a sin-resistant generation. We need women who can detect deception in all its forms. We need women who know how to access the power that God makes available to covenant-keepers, and who express their beliefs with confidence and charity.
"We, your brethren," he added, "need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices. The kingdom of God is not and cannot be complete without women who make sacred covenants, and then keep them, women who can speak with the power and authority of God!"
"Our time is a dangerous time — a time of great evil and temptation, a time of confusion and commotion," said Elder Kim B. Clark, a member of the Quorum of the Seventy and the Commissioner of Church Education.
He counseled members to rescue the wounded in spirit and stand for truth with courage.
"Whatever level of spirituality or faith or obedience we now have, it will not be sufficient for the work that lies ahead," he said. "We need greater spiritual light and power. We need eyes to see more clearly the Savior working in our lives and ears to hear his voice more deeply in our hearts."
'Ponderize'
"We are living in a time of ever-spreading evil," said Devin G. Durrant, first counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency. "We cannot just accept the status quo and be fed ugly words and sinful visuals almost everywhere we turn and do nothing in response. We must fight back. When our minds are filled with uplifting thoughts and images, when we 'always remember him,' there is no room left for filth and trash."
A professional investor, he invited members to "ponderize" one scripture each week — choose and place one scripture verse a week where they will see it every day, then read it or think about it several times each day and ponder its meaning. He said they will earn compound spiritual interest on the investment.
"Imagine the uplifting results of doing this weekly for six months, a year, 10 years or more," he said.
Converted Latter-day Saints need to stand up and testify, said Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer of the Seventy.
"If ever there was a time that the world needs disciples of Christ who can communicate the gospel message with clarity and from the heart, it is now," he said, adding that one man or woman can make a difference if willing to testify when the world seems to be going in the opposite direction.
"True disciples of Christ are not looking to make excuses for the doctrine, when it doesn’t fit the world’s current concepts. ... True disciples represent the Lord when it may not be convenient to do so. True disciples desire to inspire the hearts of men, not impress them."
Approximately 120,000 people attended the conference's six sessions over consecutive weekends at the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City. The conference included 39 speakers, including on Sunday morning the first talks by Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Gary E. Stevenson and Dale G. Renlund in their new callings as apostles.
Work together
Elder Rasband said converted Mormons have a responsibility "to reach out to our fellowman in love to invite, persuade, serve and to rescue."
Completely fulfilling that obligation, Elder Renlund counseled, requires seeing others through a parent's eyes.
"Every day we should plead with God for this charity," he said.
In such personal struggles to improve, Elder Koichi Aoyagi said church members should follow the Lord's counsel to Joseph Smith to "hold on thy way ... for God shall be with you forever and ever."
"'Hold on thy way' is a key choice during times of trial," said Elder Aoyagi, who was given emeritus status from the Quorum of the Seventy on Saturday.
But Mormons cannot succeed in isolation, several leaders said, and they do not have to. They can turn to God and his commandments, to the spirit, to church leaders and to one another.
"Turn one’s heart to God, especially, when we face trials," Elder Aoyagi said. "Humbly obey the commandments of God. Show faith to reconcile one’s wishes with the will of God."
'Priceless' help
"Heavenly Father's generous compensation for living in perilous times is that we also live in the fulness of times," Elder Stevenson said.
For Mormons, that means there are living prophets on the earth. One of them, Elder David A. Bednar, the youngest apostle by age for the past 11 years until church members sustained the three new apostles on Saturday, said "it is wonderful to have older men of great spiritual maturity and judgment serving in the senior leadership positions of the restored Church of Jesus Christ."
During his 11 years as the youngest — he turned 64 this year — the average age of the Quorum of the Twelve was 77, but "the totality of their teachings is priceless," he said, adding that through them, Latter-day Saints can receive spiritual guidance and protection for our specific circumstances and needs."
Mormons need to seek the constant influence of the Spirit so it can spare them moment of doubt caused by falsehoods and lies, said President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency.
"The companionship of the Holy Ghost makes what is good more attractive and temptation less compelling," he added. "That alone should be enough to make us determined to qualify for the Spirit to be with us always."
Filling one's heart with charity qualifies one to have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion. That can help for numerous reasons, including when the death of a loved one comes unexpectedly, he said.
He counseled members to obey impressions from the Spirit so they will come more frequently, bringing them "closer and closer to constant companionship."
Loving protection
Relying on the Godhead may require a better perception of commandments, said Sister Carole M. Stephens, first counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency.
She told the story of a granddaughter who wouldn't stay in her car seat. She finally understood the restriction when Sister Stephens explained that the it was for her protection because she didn't want her to get hurt.
“Grandma," the little girl said, "you want me to wear my seat belt because you love me.'"
"Like Chloe," Sister Stephens said, "we can choose to see commandments as limitations. We may feel at times that God’s laws restrict our personal freedom, take from us our agency, and limit our growth. But as we seek for greater understanding, as we allow our Father to teach us — we will begin to see that His laws are a manifestation of his love for us, and obedience to His laws is an expression of our love for him."
The Lord’s commands are not a grueling maze of barriers to endure grudgingly, said Elder Von G. Keetch of the Seventy. They are a safe harbor from evil and destructive influences given out of love and caring.
"They are intended for our joy in this life just as much as they are intended for our joy and exaltation in the next," he said. "They mark the way that we should act — and more importantly — they illuminate who we should become."
Such lessons may best be learned from one another in the church, said Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve.
"We do not strive for conversion to the church but to Christ and his gospel, a conversion that is facilitated by the church," he said, adding that "a major reason the Lord has a church is to create a community of Saints that will sustain one another."
He said Mormons "minister to one another in the reality of day-to-day life" and need church callings: "We need to serve."
Email: twalch@deseretnews.com