The April 2017 general conference is now two months behind us. In conference, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared uplifting messages and gave directions on how to improve our lives. With two months past, we can now ask, “What have I done with what I’ve learned?”
All five of the traditions listed here directly relate to a teaching from one of the current members of the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve. Here are five follow-the-prophet traditions from recent conferences to help on your journey of self improvement.
1. Do family history research
Elder Neil L. Andersen challenged the youth of the Church to “prepare as many names for the temple as baptisms you perform in the temple, and help someone else to do the same.” All church members can benefit from taking this challenge to heart.
2. Take a family temple trip
After you’ve prepared enough family names for temple ordinances, Elder Quentin L. Cook says, you can enhance your temple experience by attending as a family.
“Take these names to the temple, or share them with others so they can take them. (When possible, go to the temple as a family),” he said.
3. Share the gospel in simple and natural ways
Invite others to a ward activity or church. You might also put extra pass-along cards in your purse or wallet and set a goal to distribute them by a certain date.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught, “As an apostle of the Lord, I urge every member and family in the church to pray for the Lord to help them find persons prepared to receive the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.”
4. Serve in your community
President Thomas S. Monson taught, “We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness. … We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.”
More specifically, church leaders have encouraged members to reach out in love to refugees around the world. Linda K. Burton, former Relief Society general president, said, “Prayerfully determine what you can do — according to your own time and circumstance — to serve the refugees living in your neighborhoods and communities.”
(Find local opportunities to serve in Utah here.)
5. Share your testimony with your family.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband encouraged Church members, “Share your testimony with your family; encourage them to remember how they felt when they recognized the Spirit in their lives and to record those feelings in journals and personal histories so that their own words may, when needed, bring to their remembrance how good the Lord has been to them.”
