Come Unto Christ, Be Peacemakers, Prophet Says at Conference

 
On Palm Sunday — the day Christians worldwide begin Holy Week to prepare to commemorate the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ during Easter — Church President Russell M. Nelson invited all to come unto Christ and choose to become peacemakers.
 

Come Unto Christ

Noting that Easter Sunday is “the most important religious observance” for Christ’s followers, the leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, regarded by members as a modern-day prophet, urged listeners to study scriptural accounts of the final week of the Savior’s life and thank God for “sending us His Only Begotten Son.”

Speaking at the conclusion of the two-day global conference April 2, President Nelson encouraged everyone to come unto Christ and be healed.

“Because of Jesus Christ, we can repent and be forgiven of our sins,” he said. “Because of Him, each of us will be resurrected.” 

Regardless of one’s questions or problems, the answer is always found in Christ’s life and teachings, he said. “Learn more about His Atonement, His love, His mercy, His doctrine and His restored gospel of healing and progression. Turn to Him! Follow Him!”
 

Become Peacemakers

Download Photo

 
Speaking during the Sunday morning session of General Conference on April 2, President Nelson said that even during this era of “polarization and passionate disagreements,” charity, the pure love of Christ, is the answer to contention.

“As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to be examples of how to interact with others — especially when we have differences of opinion,” he said. “One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people.”

The Lord’s “true disciples build, lift, encourage, persuade and inspire — no matter how difficult the situation,” he said. “True disciples of Jesus Christ are peacemakers. … I urge you to be a peacemaker, now and always.”

Encouraging Latter-day Saints to strive to manage differences of opinion with “mutual respect and dignified dialog,” he recommended a “higher, holier” standard of communication: Saying only that which is “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy” (see Articles of Faith 1:13) about or to another person.

Stating that “there is no room for prejudice, condemnation or contention of any kind,” President Nelson said that “if your verbal arsenal is filled with insults and accusations, now is the time to put them away.”

Being endowed with God’s power in the temple gives Latter-day Saints the ability to overcome Satan’s influence in relationships, he said.

President Nelson promised that as individuals strive to “demonstrate the charity that true followers of Jesus Christ manifest, the Lord will magnify your efforts.”

“Today I invite you to examine your discipleship within the context of the way you treat others,” he said. “I bless you to make any adjustments that may be needed so that your behavior is ennobling, respectful and representative of a true follower of Jesus Christ.” 

He concluded the conference by announcing 15 new temples.

Newsroom April 2023 General Conference Talk Summaries, News and Announcements