Teachings of Church Leaders 8

This lesson has two parts. The first part will teach you a skill that can help you have a more meaningful experience studying general conference messages.

In the second part of this lesson, you will use the skill you learned to study the general conference talk assigned by your teacher. If a message wasn’t assigned, choose one from the most recent general conference.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared three things to look for as you study general conference talks:

1. The doctrine or principle being taught

2. Invitations to act related to the doctrine or principle

3. The promised blessings that will come as you act on the invitation (see Scott Taylor, “Learn Elder Bednar’s Pattern fro Studying Conference Messages—Doctrine, Invitations, Blessings,” Newsroom, Mar. 30, 2021, newsroom, ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

One example of this pattern can be found in the talk “Nourish the Roots, and the Branches Will Grow” by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

In that talk, he taught the following doctrine:

Some truths are core, essential, at the root of our faith. Others are appendages or branches—valuable, but only when they are connected to the fundamentals. ...

… Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice are the root of our testimony. All other things are branches. (“Nourish the Roots, and the Branches Will Grow,” Liahona, Nov. 2024, 101)

doctrine, truth

You could identify and mark in one color a doctrine, such as the following: Jesus Christ is the core of our faith, and everything else must be connected to Him. Now read the following invitations from Elder Uchtdorf’s talk:

If you want a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon, focus on its witness of Jesus Christ. …

If you’re seeking a more meaningful experience in Church meetings or in the temple, try looking for the Savior in the sacred ordinances we receive there. …

If you ever feel burned out or overwhelmed by your Church calling, try refocusing your service on Jesus Christ. (“Nourish the Roots, and the Branches Will Grow,” 102)

testimony, church attendance, overwhelmed

You might mark those invitations in a different color to distinguish them from the doctrine or principle he taught.

Finally, Elder Uchtdorf gave this promise:

Nourish the roots, and the branches will grow. And in time, they will bear fruit. (“Nourish the Roots, and the Branches Will Grow,” 102)

testimony

You might choose a new color to mark this promise so that it stands out from the doctrine and invitations that you marked.

Today you learned how to study a talk by looking for and marking:

1. The doctrine or principle being taught.

2. The invitations to act related to the doctrine or principle.

3. The promised blessings that will come as you act on the invitation.

You can use this pattern to study the conference talk your teacher assigned. If a message wasn’t assigned, choose one from the most recent general conference.

Mark each step in a unique way to make it easier to see the pattern when you are finished.