“The Book of Mormon is a great witness that the Lord loves all people and reaches out to all, everywhere,” Oaks said.

“‘Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?’

“Other Book of Mormon teachings contradict the erroneous assertion that the grace of God saves only a chosen few. The Book of Mormon teaches that our Savior inviteth ‘all to come unto him …; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.’ His grace is for all. Similarly, the Book of Mormon tells us that the children of God in ‘every nation’ have His promise that He ‘manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost.’

“These promises from the Book of Mormon are true. Millions believe them, and have had experiences to affirm their truth. I invite all to believe them.”

Other Sunday morning talks

Other speakers from the Sunday morning session included: President Henry B. Eyring (First Counselor in the First Presidency), President Rosemary K. Chibota (Primary General President), Elder Neil L. Andersen (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles), Elder James G. O. Fantone (Quorum of the Seventy), Elder Edward Dube (Presidency of the Seventy), Elder Quentin L. Cook (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles), Elder Alfred Kyungu (the Seventy) and Elder Ciro Schmeil (Quorum of the Seventy).

Eyring discussed difficult trials.

“You might reasonably wonder why a loving and all-powerful God allows our mortal test to be so hard,” he said. “It is because He knows that we must grow in spiritual cleanliness and stature to be able to live in His presence. To make that possible, Heavenly Father gave us a Savior and the power to choose for ourselves by faith to keep His commandments and to repent and to come unto Him.

“The Savior not only understands and has felt grief, but He has ‘borne [your] griefs, and carried [your] sorrows.’ He knows you perfectly. He knows your heart.

“The combination of trials and their duration are as varied as are the children of our Heavenly Father. No two are alike. But what is being tested is the same, at all times in our lives and for every person: Will we do whatsoever the Lord our God will command us?”

Chibota discussed labels.

“Whatever labels may weigh heavily upon you today, Jesus Christ can raise you above them,” she said. “His grace is sufficient to lift you above every label and limitation.

“Before we were students, athletes, employees, parents, citizens, or leaders, we were spirit children of our Heavenly Father. That eternal identity does not change when circumstances change, when we make mistakes, or when others misunderstand us. He loves you. He knows you. He sees you as you are now, and who you will become. He has a plan for your life, and Jesus Christ is at the center of that plan!”

Andersen highlighted courage, Fantone spoke of taking on the name of Jesus Christ, Dube spoke of coming unto Christ to be perfected, Cook spoke of integrity and virtue, Kyungu spoke of being a peacemaker and Schmeil spoke of covenants.

Sunday afternoon session

Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Dieter F. Uchtdorf delivered the first talk of the Sunday afternoon session of general conference and spoke of unity.

“Jesus Christ has the power to change us, purify us, and unite us,” he said. “The closer we come to Him, the closer we will come to each other–and the closer we will come to the unity He wants for us.

“If we are not one, we are not His.

“When our attention is riveted on Christ, the petty, superficial things are hardly worth noticing. We learn to see as He sees–looking on the heart rather than the outward appearance.

“When our ‘eye is single to [His] glory,’ we are ‘filled with [His] light.'”

Elder David A. Bednar spoke of the Holy Ghost as the Holy Spirit of Promise and shared a story of a man attempting to gain entry into a foreign country with a damaged passport and was subsequently refused the necessary stamp.

“When sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, an ordinance, vow, or covenant is binding on earth and in heaven,” he said. “This sealing is conditional in mortality and can be broken or forfeited through unrighteousness.

“Receiving this ratifying sealing by the Holy Ghost typically is not a one-time event; rather, it comes over time as we repent sincerely and consistently, honor our covenants, and yield our hearts unto God. Righteously seeking for this blessing is ‘the challenge of mortality,’ as described by President (Boyd K.) Packer.

“Just as the man in my passport story needed an authorized stamp in his passport to enter a foreign country, so each of us needs the verifying witness of the Holy Spirit of Promise in order for us to receive the eternal blessings associated with the covenants and ordinances of the Savior’s gospel.”

Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, addressed the young women and mentioned seven pieces of counsel to help them do their “crucial and important work” on earth.

Elder Clark G. Gilbert, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, shared five principles for standing for truth with love.

Other speakers and topics included: Elder Moises Villanueva, of the Seventy (tithing), Elder Thabo Lebethoa, of the Seventy (receiving more of Jesus Christ’s light), Elder Paul H. Sinclair, of the Seventy (helping instead of judging), Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (happiness) and Gabriel W. Reid, second counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency (teaching like Jesus Christ).

Contact Standard-Examiner editor Ryan Comer at rcomer@standard.net.