Hesed, Agent, and Other Words That Transformed My Spiritual Perspective This Conference
General conference vocabulary worth memorizing.
If I had to pick one word from general conference that changed how I see God and myself, it would be hesed. Elder Matthew S. Holland of the Seventy’s description of this Hebrew word hit me hard. For anyone who’s felt cast off, overwhelmed, or unworthy, hesed means God’s mercy is uniquely for you. He can and will relieve your pain and heal the wounds you think no one sees. It’s not generic goodness; it’s covenantal love.
When you add hesed to your spiritual vocabulary, you’re inviting the knowledge of God’s “loyal, untiring, inexhaustible, and ‘tender mercies’” into every struggle and setback.
Here are five more powerful words from conference to add to your vocabulary to transform your spiritual perspective!
Endow
The word endow is one I only ever thought about in context of the temple. But according to Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi of the Seventy, the endowment is not only a temple event but also a gift of spiritual strength that grows each time we keep our covenants. Every promise made to God lets Him strengthen us to go “‘against the natural worldly flow’” and deepen our connection to Jesus Christ.
Remember that God stands ready to empower you to become more than you could on your own as you understand the meaning of endow.
Temperance
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostle calls temperance “an essential reinforcement” for anyone striving to stay anchored in Christ. It isn’t just about restraint—it’s about humility, faith, charity, and hope. Temperance invites us to act with patience when the world is noisy. It’s choosing to respond, not react; forgive, not fight; and stay grounded, not spiral.
Embodying temperance will change not just your choices but the very atmosphere around you.
Broken heart
No, this one isn’t about feeling defeated. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles teaches that it is about experiencing a real desire to repent and repair what’s been broken, even when full repair is beyond our human power. Coupled with an open heart and surrendering to Christ’s will, a broken heart is the opposite of defeat.
Adding broken heart to our spiritual vocabulary reminds us that true forgiveness begins with vulnerability. A broken heart is not the end; it opens the door for God’s mercy to begin its quiet work.
Prove
Prove is the word President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, used to describe what God does in our hardest moments—He makes us strong enough to endure, overcome, and trust Him completely.
Understanding the meaning of prove redefines our struggles. It reminds us that in the most overwhelming times, the Lord is right there, increasing our capacity to “do all things through Christ.” We become people who are tested, trusted, transformed, and proven strong enough to stand with Him in His glory.
Agent
“We are agents, and agents are responsible for something.” We are responsible for the choices we make, especially the choice to believe. Elder Kevin G. Brown of the Seventy’s definition of agent reframes faith as something proactive. We don’t have to wait for understanding to come or blame the world when belief feels distant. Instead, we can choose to believe and to hold on to our testimonies through difficulties.
This turns fragile faith into conviction that holds through anything. That approach can help us answer Elder Brown’s final call: “We need more sure witnesses of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Get there!”