Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband: “I begin by reminding you that you are a son or daughter of a loving Father in Heaven and that His love remains constant. I know that such reassuring feelings of love are difficult to recall when you are in the midst of personal struggles or trials, disappointments, or broken dreams.
“Jesus Christ knows about fierce struggles and trials. He gave His life for us.
“…Do not forget, Heavenly Father knows and loves each of you, and He is always ready to help.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/10/lest-thou-forget)
Elder Aroldo B. Cavalcante: “The Master of masters caused “a furious wind” to blow the Jaredites toward promised blessings. Similarly, we can decide to serve as a humble gust of wind in the Lord’s hands. Just as “the wind did never cease to blow” the Jaredites toward the promised land, we can help others progress in their journey to receive God’s blessings.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/10/27cavalcante)
World’s view of Prophets:
Lord’s view of Prophets:
President Ezra Taft Benson: “Now undoubtedly Moroni could have pointed out many factors that led to the destruction of the people, but notice how he singled out the secret combinations, just as the Church today could point out many threats to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God’s work, but it has singled out the greatest threat as the godless conspiracy. There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon it is a conspiracy fact.
“Then Moroni speaks to us in this day and says, ‘Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you’ (Ether 8:14.) “The Book of Mormon further warns that ‘whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold they shall be destroyed. …’ (Ether 8:22).
“This scripture should alert us to what is ahead unless we repent, because there is no question but that as people of the free world, we are increasingly upholding many of the evils of the adversary today … As a nation, we are helping to underwrite many evil revolutionaries in our country.” (“Civic Standards for the Faithful Saints,” Ensign, July 1972).
What is a secret combination. Ether 8 instructs us that:
Hugh Nibley:
“Q. But what can anyone do about combinations as secret and as powerful as those mentioned? Who can oppose them?
“A. First of all, we are told, we can cease to build them up, for ‘whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, . . . and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people’ (Ether 8:25).
“Q. How can you build up a combination if you don’t know where it is or even what it is?
“A. Once you have been warned, … then you know very well that if you aspire to power and gain, influence, status, and prestige; in other words, if you aspire to success by present day standards, you can only achieve it by doing everything their way. One ceases to uphold those elements only by rejecting a whole way of life, regardless of the risk or inconvenience involved.
“Q. So you don’t uphold them; but they are still there. How can you get at them?
“A. As Alma and Ammon did in their day. They went forth ‘bearing down in pure testimony’ to whoever would hear them, suffering the worst the opposition had to offer, ‘not with the intent to destroy our brethren who were very wicked and depraved, you will recall, but with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls’ (Alma 26:26).
“Admittedly it was a risky and dangerous business, but it was all they could do. We are not called upon to seize and occupy enemy territory, for the evil we are combatting is everywhere (D&C 1), and the only place we can confront it and overcome it is in our own hearts. I cannot make a bad person good by pulling a trigger, yet conversion of sinners to saints is exactly what the Lord requires: to persuade the children of men to do good continually, so that Satan may have no more power over their hearts (Ether 8:26).”
President Ezra Taft Benson: “I testify that wickedness is rapidly expanding in every segment of our society (see D&C 1:14-16, 84:49-53). It is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before. Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world (see Ether 8:18-25).” (Conference Report, Oct. 1988, 103, or Ensign, Nov. 1988, 87).
Ideas for teaching:
“Jesus Christ knows about fierce struggles and trials. He gave His life for us.
“…Do not forget, Heavenly Father knows and loves each of you, and He is always ready to help.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/10/lest-thou-forget)
Elder Aroldo B. Cavalcante: “The Master of masters caused “a furious wind” to blow the Jaredites toward promised blessings. Similarly, we can decide to serve as a humble gust of wind in the Lord’s hands. Just as “the wind did never cease to blow” the Jaredites toward the promised land, we can help others progress in their journey to receive God’s blessings.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/10/27cavalcante)
World’s view of Prophets:
- Not every prophecy is true.
- Few coincidentally are true.
- Vaguely worded.
- Not useful as a guide.
- Will “kick you in the head.”
Lord’s view of Prophets:
- “They are true” (see D&C 1:29).
- “All shall be fulfilled” (D&C 1:29-30).
- Clearly worded and repeated.
- Guides our life, family, church.
- Will “dispers the powers of darkness from before you and cause the heavens to shake for your good” (D&C 21:6).
President Ezra Taft Benson: “Now undoubtedly Moroni could have pointed out many factors that led to the destruction of the people, but notice how he singled out the secret combinations, just as the Church today could point out many threats to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God’s work, but it has singled out the greatest threat as the godless conspiracy. There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon it is a conspiracy fact.
“Then Moroni speaks to us in this day and says, ‘Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you’ (Ether 8:14.) “The Book of Mormon further warns that ‘whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold they shall be destroyed. …’ (Ether 8:22).
“This scripture should alert us to what is ahead unless we repent, because there is no question but that as people of the free world, we are increasingly upholding many of the evils of the adversary today … As a nation, we are helping to underwrite many evil revolutionaries in our country.” (“Civic Standards for the Faithful Saints,” Ensign, July 1972).
What is a secret combination. Ether 8 instructs us that:
- They are based on ancient and secret plans (v. 9).
- Their members must join with an oath (v. 14).
- Their loyalty and secrecy are maintained with threats of violence (v. 14).
- Their author is the devil (v. 16).
- Their goal is to obtain kingdoms and great glory (v. 9), to gain power, and to murder, and to plunder, and to lie, and to commit all manner of wickedness and whoredoms (v. 16).
Hugh Nibley:
“Q. But what can anyone do about combinations as secret and as powerful as those mentioned? Who can oppose them?
“A. First of all, we are told, we can cease to build them up, for ‘whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, . . . and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people’ (Ether 8:25).
“Q. How can you build up a combination if you don’t know where it is or even what it is?
“A. Once you have been warned, … then you know very well that if you aspire to power and gain, influence, status, and prestige; in other words, if you aspire to success by present day standards, you can only achieve it by doing everything their way. One ceases to uphold those elements only by rejecting a whole way of life, regardless of the risk or inconvenience involved.
“Q. So you don’t uphold them; but they are still there. How can you get at them?
“A. As Alma and Ammon did in their day. They went forth ‘bearing down in pure testimony’ to whoever would hear them, suffering the worst the opposition had to offer, ‘not with the intent to destroy our brethren who were very wicked and depraved, you will recall, but with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls’ (Alma 26:26).
“Admittedly it was a risky and dangerous business, but it was all they could do. We are not called upon to seize and occupy enemy territory, for the evil we are combatting is everywhere (D&C 1), and the only place we can confront it and overcome it is in our own hearts. I cannot make a bad person good by pulling a trigger, yet conversion of sinners to saints is exactly what the Lord requires: to persuade the children of men to do good continually, so that Satan may have no more power over their hearts (Ether 8:26).”
President Ezra Taft Benson: “I testify that wickedness is rapidly expanding in every segment of our society (see D&C 1:14-16, 84:49-53). It is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before. Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world (see Ether 8:18-25).” (Conference Report, Oct. 1988, 103, or Ensign, Nov. 1988, 87).
Ideas for teaching:
- Emphasis on taking effective righteous actions based on the teachings of prophets.
- “What effective righteous action are you going to take as a result of what the prophet has recently said?
- To counter secret combinations wherever they may be, we can do as Alma and Ammon did in their day. They went forth ‘bearing down in pure testimony.’