Conference review: 1 powerful promise or invitation from every April 2020 talk

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Editor's note: This story was originally published by LDS Living in April 2020 and is being shared again in anticipation of October 2020 general conference. Here's how you can watch.

As promised by President Nelson, it truly was a “memorable and unforgettable” conference. To help you carry the messages from conference with you, here is one invitation or promise given by each of the speakers during the April 2020 general conference. We hope they will lead you to take action, inspire you to be still and "hear Him,” and draw you closer to Christ.

Saturday Morning

President Russell M. Nelson | "Opening Message"
"We have prayed, and invite you to pray, that the Spirit of the Lord will be with us in such rich abundance that you can hear the messages that the Savior has especially for you—messages that will bring peace to your soul. Messages that will heal your broken heart. Messages that will illuminate your mind. Messages that will help you know what to do as you move ahead through times of turmoil and trial."

President M. Russell Ballard | "Shall We Not Go on in So Great a Cause?"
"As we listen to the Spirit during this 200th anniversary celebration this weekend, consider what offering you will present to the Lord in righteousness in the coming days. Be courageous—share it with someone you trust, and most important, please take the time to do it!"

Elder James R. Rasband | "Ensuring a Righteous Judgment"
"The glorious promise of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice is that as far as our mistakes as parents are concerned, He holds our children blameless and promises healing for them. And even when they have sinned against the light—as we all do—His arm of mercy is outstretched, and He will redeem them if they will but look to Him and live."

President Joy D. Jones | "An Especially Noble Calling"
"President Nelson said, 'I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation.' Our prophet’s words are continually with me as I contemplate women’s ability to step forward. He pleads with us, which indicates priority. He is teaching us how to survive spiritually in a sin-sick world by receiving and acting on revelation. As we do so, honoring and living the Lord’s commandments, we are promised, even as Emma Smith was, 'a crown of righteousness.'"

Elder Neil L. Andersen | "Spiritually Defining Memories"
"Embrace your sacred memories. Believe them. Write them down. Share them with your family. Trust that they come to you from your Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son. Let them bring patience to your doubts and understanding to your difficulties. I promise you that as you willingly acknowledge and carefully treasure the spiritually defining events in your life, more and more will come to you."

Brother Douglas D. Holmes | "Deep in Our Heart"
"I promise, as we focus on these principles—relationships, revelation, agency, repentance, and sacrifice—the gospel of Jesus Christ will sink deeper in all our hearts. We will see the Restoration move forward to its ultimate purpose, the redemption of Israel and the establishment of Zion, where Christ will reign as King of kings."

President Henry B. Eyring | "Prayers of Faith"
"Our ability to make our vital contribution to the wonderful continuing Restoration will increase as we grow in our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and our Heavenly Father as our loving Father. As we pray in faith, we become a vital part in the Lord’s work as He prepares the world for His Second Coming. I pray that we all may find joy in doing the work He invites each of us to perform."

Saturday Afternoon

Elder Ulisses Soares | "The Coming Forth of The Book of Mormon"
"To all who hear my voice today, I invite you to be part of the marvelous coming forth of the Book of Mormon in your own life. I promise you that as you prayerfully and consistently study its words, you can partake of its promises and rich blessings in your life. I reaffirm once more the promise that echoes through its pages: that if you 'ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ,' He mercifully 'will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.'"

Elder John A. McCune | "Come Unto Christ—Living as Latter-day Saints"
"As we accept the Savior’s invitation to 'come unto me,' He will provide the support, comfort, and peace that are necessary, just as He did for Nephi and Joseph. Even in our deepest trials, we can feel the warm embrace of His love as we trust Him and accept His will. We can experience the joy reserved for His faithful disciples, for 'Christ is joy.'"

Bishop Gérald Caussé | "A Living Witness of the Living Christ"
"The Book of Mormon clarifies and expands our knowledge of this supernal gift. As you study this book, you will hear the voice of the living Christ inviting you to come unto Him. I promise that if you accept this invitation and pattern your life after His example, His redemptive influence will come into your life."

Elder Dale G. Renlund | "Consider the Goodness and Greatness of God"
"I invite you to remember each day the greatness of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and what They have done for you. Let your consideration of Their goodness more firmly bind your wandering heart to Them. Ponder Their compassion, and you will be blessed with added spiritual sensitivity and become more Christlike. Contemplating Their empathy will help you 'hold out faithful to the end,' until you 'are received into heaven' to 'dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.'"

Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai | "The Power of the Book of Mormon in Conversion"
"President Russell M. Nelson has promised: 'As you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.'"

Elder Gary E. Stevenson | "A Good Foundation against the Time to Come"
"During the coming years, may we allow these improvements made to the Salt Lake Temple to move and inspire us, as individuals and families, so that we too—metaphorically—will 'be built in a manner that will endure through the millennium.'"

Saturday Evening

Elder Gerrit W. Gong | "Hosanna and Hallelujah—The Living Jesus Christ: The Heart of Restoration and Easter"
"Truly, 'eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.' In these times, we can learn much of God’s goodness and our divine potential for God’s love to grow in us as we seek Him and reach out to each other."

Laudy R.Kaouk | "How the Priesthood Blesses Youth"
"If you don’t already have a testimony about the priesthood, I encourage you to pray and ask to know for yourself of its power, then read the scriptures to hear God’s words. I know that if we make an effort to experience the power of God’s priesthood in our lives, we will be blessed."

Enzo S. Petelo | "How the Priesthood Blesses Youth"
"I know that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the Restoration and that President Nelson is our living prophet today. I invite all of us to study the lives of these great priesthood holders and seek to improve ourselves daily so we can be ready to meet our Maker."

President Jean B. Bingham | "United in Accomplishing God’s Work"
"Are we ready? Will we strive to overcome cultural bias and instead embrace divine patterns and practices based on foundational doctrine? President Russell M. Nelson invites us to 'walk arm in arm in this sacred work … [to] help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.' As we do, we will learn to value each individual’s contributions and increase the effectiveness with which we fulfill our divine roles. We will feel greater joy than we have ever experienced."

President Henry B. Eyring | "He Goes Before Us"
"I invite all who hear this message or read these words to have faith that the Lord is leading the Restoration of His gospel and His Church. He goes before us. He knows the future perfectly. He invites you to the work. He joins you in it. He has in place a plan for your service. And even as you sacrifice, you will feel joy as you help others rise to be ready for His coming."

President Dallin H. Oaks | "The Melchizedek Priesthood and the Keys"
"We should follow the Savior’s invitation to seek and ask to understand the truths of eternity. He promises that our Father in Heaven is willing to teach everyone the truths they seek (see 3 Nephi 14:8). If we desire this and have our eye single to receive them, the Savior promises that the truths of eternity 'shall be opened' unto us (see 3 Nephi 14:7–8)."

President Russell M. Nelson | "Opening the Heavens for Help"
"I invite all, including those not of our faith, to fast and pray on Good Friday, April 10, that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened, and life normalized."

Sunday Morning

Elder Ronald A. Rasband | "Fulfillment of Prophecy"
"I promise as you follow the inspired counsel of our dear prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, his counselors, the Apostles, and other Church leaders, and as you pay heed to the ancient prophets who foretold of our day, you will be filled, deep in your heart and soul, with the spirit and the work of the Restoration. I promise you will see the hand of God in your lives, hear His promptings, and feel His love."

President Bonnie H. Cordon | "That They May See"
"I invite all of us to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be compassionately aware of those around us. Look and pray for opportunities to let your light shine that others may see the way to Jesus Christ. His promise is great: 'He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'"

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland | "A Perfect Brightness of Hope"
"When we have conquered this—and we will—may we be equally committed to freeing the world from the virus of hunger, freeing neighborhoods and nations from the virus of poverty. May we hope for schools where students are taught—not terrified they will be shot—and for the gift of personal dignity for every child of God, unmarred by any form of racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice."

Elder David A. Bednar | "Let This House Be Built Unto My Name"
"We do not come to the temple to hide from or escape the evils of the world. Rather, we come to the temple to conquer the world of evil. As we invite into our lives the 'power of godliness' by receiving priesthood ordinances and making and keeping sacred covenants, we are blessed with strength beyond our own to overcome the temptations and challenges of mortality and to do and become good."

President Russell M. Nelson | "Hear Him"
"What will happen as you more intentionally hear, hearken, and heed what the Savior has said and what He is saying now through His prophets? I promise that you will be blessed with additional power to deal with temptation, struggles, and weakness. I promise miracles in your marriage, family relationships, and daily work. And I promise that your capacity to feel joy will increase even if turbulence increases in your life."

Sunday Afternoon

President Dallin H. Oaks | "The Great Plan"
"We affirm its declaration that 'those who prayerfully study the message of the Restoration and act in faith will be blessed to gain their own witness of its divinity and of its purpose to prepare the world for the promised Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.'"

Elder Quentin L. Cook | "The Blessing of Continuing Revelation to Prophets and Personal Revelation to Guide Our Lives"
"The prophet Enoch foresaw the days in which we live. The Lord acknowledged to Enoch the great wickedness that would prevail and prophesied of the 'great tribulations' that would occur. Nevertheless, the Lord promised, 'But my people will I preserve.'"

Elder Ricardo P. Giménez | "Finding Refuge from the Storms of Life"
"I know that we are all children of God, that He loves us, and that we are not alone. I invite you to come and see that He can lighten your burdens and be the refuge you are seeking. Come and help others find the refuge that they so yearn for. Come and stay with us in this refuge, which will help you resist the storms of life. There is no doubt in my heart that if you come, you will see, you will help, and you will stay."

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf | "Come and Belong"
"It is my hope that, in this bicentennial year of the First Vision, as we contemplate and learn of the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ, we will realize that it is not just a historical event. You and I play a crucial part in this great, continuing story. What, then, is your and my part? It is to learn of Jesus Christ. To study His words. To hear Him and to follow Him by actively participating in this great work. I invite you to come and belong!"

Elder L. Whitney Clayton | "The Finest Homes"
"As we continue in faith, the Lord gradually changes us. We receive His image in our countenance and begin to reflect the love and beauty of His character. As we become more like Him, we will feel at home in His house, and He will feel at home in ours."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson | "Sharing the Message of the Restoration and the Resurrection"
"The ultimate promise of the Restoration is redemption through Jesus Christ. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the proof that He, in fact, possesses power to redeem all who will come unto Him—redeem them from sorrow, injustice, regret, sin, and even death."

President Russell M. Nelson | "Go Forward in Faith"
"The many inspiring components of this April 2020 general conference—and the sacred week that we now begin—can be summarized by two divinely decreed words: 'Hear Him.' We pray that your focus on Heavenly Father, who spoke those words, and on His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, will loom largest in your memories of all that has transpired. We pray that you will begin anew truly to hear, hearken to, and heed the words of the Savior. I promise that decreased fear and increased faith will follow."

Lead image: Courtesy of Church Newsroom

The General Conference Addresses Journal Edition has all the text of the general conference addresses in one spiral-bound paperback. Extra-wide, lined margins give you space to record your impressions and document insights you receive. Order the April 2020 edition now or preorder the October 2020 edition so you can create an enduring record to make general conference truly unforgettable.

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