Counsel to Bolivia in stake conference
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Latter-day Saints, investigators and missionaries gathered in stake centers throughout Bolivia on March 16 to receive counsel and instruction from President Thomas S. Monson and other leaders.
President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve joined President Monson in addressing members in the Bolivia stakes, as did Elder James M. Dunn of the Seventy, and Sister Ana Maria Coburn of the Primary general board. The broadcast originated from a studio in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.
President Monson quoted from the book of Matthew, in which is recorded the account of Peter, James and John witnessing the transfiguration of Jesus, and Peter's words on that occasion: "Lord, it is good for us to be here."
"That's how we feel today: 'It is good to be here' with you wonderful members in Bolivia. Although we may not be with you physically, we are with you in spirit."
Addressing the Bolivian saints, President Monson said, "When our Savior walked upon the earth, He was asked which was the great commandment in the law. He answered: 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.'
"His was a gospel of love, not of hate. It was one of encouragement, not of finding fault or being critical. However, more than just teaching the law of love, Jesus lived that law. It was said of Him, He 'went about doing good ... for God was with him.' He 'increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.' His beckoning plea to you and to me was 'Follow thou me.' This, then, is our responsibility: to follow the Savior of the world, the Son of God, even Jesus Christ. We must respond to that plea, 'Come, follow me."'
Further, President Monson said, "The Savior cautioned us concerning our relationships with each other. If we refer to the book of Third Nephi, we find His declaration: 'There shall be no disputations among you.' He added: 'For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.'
"Let there be no anger among us, brothers and sisters," said President Monson. "Let there be love among the membership of this great church."
President Monson gave further counsel drawn from the scriptures. As he concluded, he bore his testimony that God lives, that Jesus Christ is His Son, the Savior and Redeemer. He bore testimony also that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to earth through him.
"This is the work of the Lord, and I am grateful for the privilege and blessing to lead the Church at this time," President Monson said. He then added, "I need your prayers. I plead for them."
President Packer spoke of his love for the Book of Mormon, and its importance in the lives of people today. To the youth, he said, "The Book of Mormon really is your book, you young people of Bolivia and South America....
"I love the Book of Mormon. It is a part of my being, and over the years, as I have grown from a young man to what I call 'upper middle age,' I find in it an ever-new and refreshing fountain of information and blessing. If you were to ask me what parts of the Book of Mormon are my favorite or what part impressed me most I can answer that very quickly, 'All of it."'
As a young man, President Packer said, he was determined that he was going to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover. He would begin with the account of Nephi, but then struggle to read past the chapters on the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. "I would read the Book of Mormon and then, in due time, I ran into Isaiah again. And I would lose interest and start over."
Later, as a seminary teacher, he realized that many young people struggle with the chapters on Isaiah and decided "that was something of a test. The Book of Mormon is so precious and I think if the Lord had put in the first part of the Book of Mormon the commandment that we read Isaiah, I would have done better, but He didn't put that in until the latter part of the Book of Mormon in the third book of Nephi. At any rate, I decided I was going to read the Book of Mormon if all I did was look at the words, whether I understood them or not. And that time I got through....
"So if you start the Book of Mormon, you young people ... and if the Old Testament prophecies of Isaiah seem difficult to you, look at the words and turn the pages. If you think you're not getting very much, maybe you're not. But, in due time, you'll move right on through and you'll close the book and you have read the Book of Mormon."
President Packer told the young people that their lives will change as they read the Book of Mormon. "If you are in trouble, read the Book of Mormon. If you're facing a great event in life, read the Book of Mormon. If you're trying to make your way through the difficulties of life or make a decision, read the Book of Mormon, and you will find it to be a great power.
"We know there is the great promise at the end of the Book of Mormon, '...ask God ... and he will manifest the truth of it unto you...' (Moroni 10:4).
"That applies to every one of you, in those beautiful mountains of Bolivia, you who live at Lake Titicaca, you who live in the Alto Plano. You who herd sheep and goats and think you have very little, if you have the Book of Mormon, that promise applies to you and it was written for you, and the prophets who were there are your ancestors. It's your book, and our book, too."
Delivering his address in Spanish, Elder Dunn said, "This Church blesses lives. It makes people happy. It gives life meaning. It 'makes bad men good and good men better."'
He said that the condition of the Church is strong, is led by prophets and apostles as of old, and that there is no dearth of leadership in other offices of the Church.
He highlighted some of the observable ways in which the kingdom rolls forth: 125 operating temples, a new meetinghouse completed every working day, 300,000 converts per year, and 13 million members throughout the world.
"We rejoice at these symbols of growth and feel that the work will continue to go forward," Elder Dunn said. "Let us not, however, mistake this growth for the true progress of the kingdom. Real progress occurs only in the hearts, minds and conduct of the members. The Church is only as strong as the goodness, faith and spirituality of each member. True progress takes place in the Church when there is personal spiritual progress in the membership."
He said that life sometimes presents trials and difficulties, but "if we are aligned with God, we can overcome and bear all of the problems of life. Let us be solid and immovable in our relationship with the Lord."
Sister Coburn, who is from Chile, addressed the conference in her native tongue.
Speaking of the importance of the family unit, she said, "Our Heavenly Father's Plan is for the eternities and the family fulfills the purpose of our eternal destiny."
She said every member of the family has a responsibility to fulfill that contributes to that family's progress back into God's presence. Children have the responsibility to respect their parents, while parents are to provide for their children's needs and teach them the gospel, she said.
Sister Coburn explained that, at times, it might be hard for the parents to give their children the liberty to choose rather than forcing them to choose the right. She said that parents must teach their children, through their example, to pray, read the scriptures and live the commandments. Parents need to "provide the knowledge (their children) need so they can exercise their liberty to make their own decisions," she said.
She urged those whose children have strayed from the path to "never criticize or give up. Instead, keep teaching, living what we teach, expressing our love for them, praying and fasting." — Gerry Avant
