Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
President M. Russell Ballard: In my office I have a little plaque that reads, “Above all else, brethren, let us think straight.” These were the last words in mortality spoken by my grandfather Melvin J. Ballard. (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/youth/childrenandyouth/for-youth?lang=eng)
A pattern for Solving Problems:
Elder Mark E. Peterson: “Let us not suppose that a few feeble prayers will be sufficient to call down [God’s] aid. It will take more than halfhearted supplications to save us.” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1968, 62).
President Russell M. Nelson: “Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.
“Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation” (April 2018, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives”).
Mosiah 26 (summary):
If you will not turn your heart back to God and call on Him, you will remain in your sinful state. You will stay separate from God, not willing to make and keep covenants. You will have no understanding of the things of God and will not believe. You will have no faith in Jesus Christ.
Hope for the Rising generation (Mosiah 26)
From this time forward…
Elder David A. Bednar: “The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through the Savior’s Atonement. True conversion brings a change in one’s beliefs, heart, and life to accept and conform to the will of God and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ.
“Conversion is a mighty change of heart and being spiritually born of God . . . we become new creatures in Christ” (October 2012 Conference).
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: It is not repentance per se that saves man. It is the blood of Jesus Christ that saves us” (April 2007 General Conference).
Elder Neil L. Andersen: “While for some the process of repentance can happen dramatically, as it did for Alma, this is more the exception than the rule. Most of us move step by step, inch by inch toward more goodness, more exactness in our covenants, more service and commitment.” (Neil L. Andersen, The Divine Gift of Forgiveness [2019], 11)
President Ezra Taft Benson: “The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant, as it were: Alma the Younger, Paul on the road to Damascus, Enos praying far into the night, King Lamoni. Such astonishing examples of the power to change even those steeped in sin give confidence that the Atonement can reach even those deepest in despair.
But we must be cautious as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment. (Ezra Taft Benson, “A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct. 1989, 5)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “You may ask, Why doesn’t this mighty change happen more quickly with me? You should remember that the remarkable examples of King Benjamin’s people, Alma, and some others in scripture are just that—remarkable and not typical. For most of us, the changes are more gradual and occur over time. Being born again, unlike our physical birth, is more a process than an event. And engaging in that process is the central purpose of mortality.
“… I testify that as you continue in the path of spiritual rebirth, the atoning grace of Jesus Christ will take away your sins and the stain of those sins in you, temptations will lose their appeal, and through Christ you will become holy, as He and our Father are holy.” (D. Todd Christofferson, “Born Again,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 78)
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: “Come as you are,” a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, “Don’t plan to stay as you are.” We smile and remember that God is determined to make of us more than we thought we could be.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Songs Sung and Unsung,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 51)
Elder Jeffery R. Holland: “Christ is the power behind all repentance” (However Long and Hard the Road [1985], 85).
Ideas for teaching:
A pattern for Solving Problems:
- Identify the Problem – Mosiah 26:1-9.
- Study it out – Mosiah 26:10-14.
- Pray – Mosiah 26:13-14.
- Listen to the Lord – Mosiah 26:15-32.
- Act on Promptings – Mosiah 26:33-39.
Elder Mark E. Peterson: “Let us not suppose that a few feeble prayers will be sufficient to call down [God’s] aid. It will take more than halfhearted supplications to save us.” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1968, 62).
President Russell M. Nelson: “Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.
“Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation” (April 2018, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives”).
Mosiah 26 (summary):
- Rising generation could not understand (v. 1).
- They did not believe tradition of fathers (v. 1).
- They did not believe about Christ (v. 2).
- “Because of their unbelief they could not understand” (v. 3).
- Faith leads to understanding.
- They wanted to understand first, then believe.
- Hardened heart -> no covenant, separate (v. 4).
- Remained in carnal and sinful life.
- Would not call on God.
If you will not turn your heart back to God and call on Him, you will remain in your sinful state. You will stay separate from God, not willing to make and keep covenants. You will have no understanding of the things of God and will not believe. You will have no faith in Jesus Christ.
Hope for the Rising generation (Mosiah 26)
- 22 – The Savior will freely forgive.
- 29 – Confess and repent in the sincerity of heart.
- 30 – As often as my people will repent . . . I will forgive.
From this time forward…
- Teach the people (v. 32).
- Impart much consolation (v. 33).
- Confirming faith (v. 33).
- Exhorting them with longsuffering (v. 33).
- Zealously striving to repair (v. 35).
- Instruments in the hands of God (v. 36).
Elder David A. Bednar: “The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through the Savior’s Atonement. True conversion brings a change in one’s beliefs, heart, and life to accept and conform to the will of God and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ.
“Conversion is a mighty change of heart and being spiritually born of God . . . we become new creatures in Christ” (October 2012 Conference).
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: It is not repentance per se that saves man. It is the blood of Jesus Christ that saves us” (April 2007 General Conference).
Elder Neil L. Andersen: “While for some the process of repentance can happen dramatically, as it did for Alma, this is more the exception than the rule. Most of us move step by step, inch by inch toward more goodness, more exactness in our covenants, more service and commitment.” (Neil L. Andersen, The Divine Gift of Forgiveness [2019], 11)
President Ezra Taft Benson: “The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant, as it were: Alma the Younger, Paul on the road to Damascus, Enos praying far into the night, King Lamoni. Such astonishing examples of the power to change even those steeped in sin give confidence that the Atonement can reach even those deepest in despair.
But we must be cautious as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment. (Ezra Taft Benson, “A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct. 1989, 5)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “You may ask, Why doesn’t this mighty change happen more quickly with me? You should remember that the remarkable examples of King Benjamin’s people, Alma, and some others in scripture are just that—remarkable and not typical. For most of us, the changes are more gradual and occur over time. Being born again, unlike our physical birth, is more a process than an event. And engaging in that process is the central purpose of mortality.
“… I testify that as you continue in the path of spiritual rebirth, the atoning grace of Jesus Christ will take away your sins and the stain of those sins in you, temptations will lose their appeal, and through Christ you will become holy, as He and our Father are holy.” (D. Todd Christofferson, “Born Again,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 78)
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: “Come as you are,” a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, “Don’t plan to stay as you are.” We smile and remember that God is determined to make of us more than we thought we could be.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Songs Sung and Unsung,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 51)
Elder Jeffery R. Holland: “Christ is the power behind all repentance” (However Long and Hard the Road [1985], 85).
Ideas for teaching:
- “Above all…let us think straight.”
- Relate
- A pattern for solving problems.
- Rising generation – “Because of their unbelief they could not understand.”
- Theme and emphasis of prayer.
- God remembers us and “he will make himself manifest unto all.”
- What will you do today as a result of your personal conversion?