A Visit from Elder Bednar, An Apostle of the Lord

June 1-2, 2013  Stake Conference
Attended by Elder David A. Bednar & Elder Valenzuela
Theme:  Helaman 5:12

Elder Valenzuela spoke about families and marriage.  Our homes and families are to have happiness and joy.  They also provide a loving atmosphere where we can learn and prepare for eternal life. Teach the gospel.  Keep our covenants.  Love abound.  Marriage is a sacred privilege and obligation.  Serve and love each other.  Be completely devoted and faithful to each other.  Do small things with love to bless our marriage.  Be one = full partnership.

LIFE'S TEST:  Will we follow the impulses of the natural man and choose selfishness and pride or yield to the enticings of the spirit and choose God.

No one is perfect.  Be gracious.

Elder Bednar  spoke on Heavenly Father's plan of Salvation and Moral Agency.

Agency is the power to ACT and not to be acted upon.

Satan was full of pride, arrogance and selfishness which motivated him and blinded him, so he rebelled.  He didn't want to pay the price, but he wanted the glory.  (He wanted something for nothing.)  He wanted us to be acted upon.  Satan tempts us to "Do it for YOU,"  Prove yourself by turning to selfishness (recognition, power, prominence, prestige).

Jesus Christ was submissive, meek, humble and full of love.  He was willing to pay the price so we could have moral agency and act for ourselves.  His atonement is central to the plan.  We exercise our agency to enter in to covenants with God and continually put His will before ours.  Except for Christ's character, there would be no atonement.  Christ always turned out in love, service and kindness.  TURN FROM SELF and TURN TOWARD THE SAVIOR.  *Ponder the Character of Christ*  Strive to emulate his character... it can only be done through the atonement of Christ.  His grace enables us to do good and be strengthened.

At baptism we pledge to take on a new family name--Christian.  We pledge our agency to be used to represent Jesus Christ at all times and in all things and in all places.  We put His desires before our own.  We pledge to "Choose the right, not to choose what we want."

Moses 7:32-33  Moral Agency, Not Free Agency:  God gave us agency so we could love one another and choose God.  Mosiah 24:13  Ordinances & Covenants brings the power of godliness.

-Accept His covenants and our blessings will be sure.  
-Live by Faith.  Faith is a principle of ACTION and Power.  We must DO before the witness comes.  Act in accordance to Jesus Christ.  Pray in faith to SEE missionary opportunities.  Get the Lord involved with you!  Strengthen they brethren and pray for discernment.

To have faith we must understand:  1.  God Exists  2.  Understand God's true nature, attributes and character  3. Have the knowledge that the path we are pursuing is in accordance to Gods will.

-We must build on the Rock of our Redeemer.  Build on his atonement and grace, build on his character.

-To forsake sin we must look to the Savior who is the author of our salvation.

He repeated this scripture several times.
Mosiah 3:19  For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

Hymn:  How Firm a Foundation
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It was such an amazing spiritual experience to sit at the feet of Elder Bednar and be taught the true, pure, simple doctrines of the gospel by a Prophet.  And then afterwords to go and talk to him and shake his hand was an experience I have never had before.  The spirit radiated from him so strongly, it was incredible.

Elder Bednar bore his testimony of the living Savior and His works as he concluded his teachings.  The spirit was so strong.  I could almost see the heavens part and Jesus Christ enter the room.   I know that Jesus Christ lives and is the Savior and Redeemer of this world.  I know that Elder Bednar is a prophet and witness of Jesus Christ.  I felt the spirit so strong as I stood by him to shake his hand.  The spirit was undeniable.  

I came away with the thoughts:
-Love everyone.  No one is perfect.  Be gracious.
-Build on the CHARACTER of Christ.  Become meek, humble, submissive and willing to submit my will to Gods in all things.  I can do this as I yield to the enticings of the Holy spirit and have faith in the enabling power of Christ's atonement.