Themes from the October 2023 General Conference

October’s General Conference was a beautiful experience. It’s amazing that we get to hear from our leaders so often, and that we were still able to hear from President Nelson despite his injury. What a miraculous time we live in!

Let’s take a look at some of the themes that stood out in this General Conference:

Salvation and Exaltation

Salvation and exaltation were discussed by several people throughout October’s General Conference. Notably, I think, was President Russell M. Nelson’s talk, “Think Celestial.” In this talk, President Nelson emphasized the importance of thinking beyond this life:

“Because of Jesus Christ’s infinite Atonement, our Heavenly Father’s plan is a perfect plan! An understanding of God’s fabulous plan takes the mystery out of life and the uncertainty out of our future. It allows each of us to choose how we will live here on earth and where we will live forever… Here is the great news of God’s plan: the very things that will make your mortal life the best it can be are exactly the same things that will make your life throughout all eternity the best it can be!”

President Russell M. Nelson, “Think Celestial,” October 2023

Don’t you love how excited and optimistic President Nelson is? His reminder that the things that matter most in eternity are also the things that matter most now is so helpful for assessing our priorities. And it makes things seem so simple! We don’t need to overwhelm ourselves with everything the world throws at us. Instead, we can focus on simple gospel truths.

Elder Christofferson taught about how the gathering of Israel plays a key role in our salvation and exaltation:

“The gathering is for the purpose of bringing the blessings of salvation and exaltation to all who will receive them. It is how the covenant promises given to Abraham are realized… Here we see the majesty and sacredness of the sealing power—it makes individual salvation and family exaltation universally available to the children of God wherever and whenever they may have lived on the earth. No other theology or philosophy or authority can match such an all-inclusive opportunity. This sealing power is a perfect manifestation of the justice, mercy, and love of God.”

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “The Sealing Power,” October 2023

The sealing power unites us with some of the things that matter most and that make our mortal and eternal lives the best they can be, as President Nelson taught us. Understanding this can completely alter our perspectives on life.

Make Simple Efforts to Increase Faith

Too often, I find myself overthinking all the things I need to do to live just right. This past Conference reminded me that spiritual progress is based in the small and simple things that we do, not in overwhelming ourselves with all the other things we could do.

Elder John C. Pingree Jr. focused his talk on eternal truth, reminding us that “God is the source of eternal truth.” He also encouraged us to learn these truths and apply them consistently in our lives. It’s simple advice, but incredibly important to our spiritual wellbeing.

Elder Joaquin E. Costa taught us that faith is what gets us through the difficulties of life. He said:

“At times, having faith in Jesus Christ may seem like something impossible, almost unattainable. We may think that coming unto Christ requires a strength, power, and perfection we don’t have, and we just can’t find the energy to do it all. But what I have learned from all these people is that faith in Jesus Christ is what gives us the energy to begin the journey…

Sometimes we may think, “I need to fix my life before I come to Jesus,” but the truth is that we come to Jesus to fix our lives through Him.

We don’t come to Jesus because we are perfect. We come to Him because we are flawed and in Him we can “be perfected.””

Elder Joaquin E. Costa, “The Power of Jesus Christ in Our Lives Every Day,” October 2023

Elder Costa went on to describe little things he does in his life each day that help him exercise faith in Christ and illustrated the difference these things make for him.

Faith doesn’t take grand actions or perfection. It takes simple effort, and our leaders reassured us that those efforts are enough to help us progress.

Repentance and the Covenant Path

Several talks in October’s Conference mentioned the covenant path. This path leads us back to our Father in Heaven, so it’s no wonder that it was a common theme. What was interesting to me was that the covenant path so often went along with the theme of repentance.

Elder Yoon Hwan Choi talked about how staying on the covenant path brings us happiness:

“Isn’t it simple to be happy? Just make covenants and keep them in your lives… There are many other things that distract us from staying on the covenant path. No matter what it is, it is never too late to turn our hearts to Heavenly Father for help.”

Elder Yoon Hwan Choi, “Do You Want to Be Happy?” October 2023

As Elder Choi explained, turning to our Father will bring us back to the covenant path, and that will bring us happiness. The covenant path is what guides us to God and repentance is what keeps us on that path.

Sister Emily Belle Freeman reminded us of the purpose of the covenant path:

“We must remember that the One who was bruised and broken for us will allow mortality to do its work in us, but He doesn’t ask us to face those challenges alone. No matter the heaviness of our story or the current course of our path, He will invite us to walk with Him…

The Lord will answer each of us in our day of distress if we choose to tether our life with His. He has promised to walk with us in the way.

We call this walking the covenant path—a path that begins with the covenant of baptism and leads to deeper covenants we make in the temple.”

Sister Emily Belle Freeman, “Walking in Covenant Relationship with Christ,” October 2023

Whatever this life may bring us, Christ is with us along the way. He helps us along the path, and He brings us back to the path.

Encouragement to Keep Going Strong

Sometimes, we don’t need new information or direction. We just need to know that we are on the right path and making good efforts. Our leaders gave us a lot of good encouragement in our current efforts to live the gospel and serve the Lord.

Elder David A. Bednar shared this hopeful support:

“I am grateful for millions of Church members who today are coming unto the Savior and pressing forward on the covenant path in the last wagons of our contemporary wagon trains—and who truly are no less serviceable. Your strong faith in Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and your unpretentious, consecrated lives inspire me to be a better man and disciple…

You love and serve, listen and learn, care and console, and teach and testify by the power of the Holy Ghost. You fast and pray often, wax stronger and stronger in humility, and grow firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ.”

Elder David A. Bednar, “In the Path of Their Duty,” October 2023

If you ever feel like your efforts are not enough, I suggest reading Elder Bednar’s talk. It will help you feel seen and supported.

President M. Russell Ballard’s Last Talk

On November 12, 2023, a little over a month after the October General Conference, President M. Russell Ballard passed away. The talk he gave in October was his final witness to all of us, and it was a beautiful and powerful witness of Christ and the Restoration.

President Ballard shared his testimony of and gratitude for the Prophet Joseph Smith and his role in the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ:

“I have seemed to have the Prophet Joseph in my mind the last few months. I’ve sat and contemplated his glorious responsibility in becoming the prophet of this, the dispensation of the fulness of times…

We thank the Lord for Joseph Smith and for his courage to go into that grove of trees in 1820, near his home in Palmyra, New York….

My beloved brothers and sisters, my testimony to you this morning is how abundantly blessed we are to know all that we know because we have Joseph Smith, the prophet of this last dispensation of time…

I think it’s one of the most glorious and wonderful things that anybody in this world can know—that our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ have revealed Themselves in this latter day and that Joseph has been raised up to restore the fulness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.”

President M. Russell Ballard, “Praise to the Man,” October 2023

President Ballard emphasized that through the work of Joseph Smith, we now have the fullness of the gospel. So much of what we have came through that prophet’s sacrifices. And we know fully who our Savior Jesus Christ is and who our Father in Heaven is because of Joseph’s experiences, revelations, and teachings.

President Ballard also shared some thoughts about his experience as a long-time general authority and apostle of Christ:

“For nearly 50 years, brothers and sisters, I’ve had the privilege to cover the world in my assignment as a General Authority of the Church. It’s been a wonderful blessing. I think I’ve gotten pretty close to almost all parts of the world. I’ve met with members of the Church all over the world.

Oh, how I love you. What a glorious experience that’s been—to look into your faces, be in your presence, and feel your love that you have for the Lord and for the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

President M. Russell Ballard, “Praise to the Man,” October 2023

I love that he shared this with us. The leaders of this Church truly are aware of us and love us in their service. And they share their love of Christ and His gospel with us. These are some of the things that unify us as a Church and as disciples of Christ.

I also love President Ballard’s final witness:

“I leave you my witness and testimony that I know that Jesus is the Christ. He is our Savior, our Redeemer. He is our best friend.”

President M. Russell Ballard, “Praise to the Man,” October 2023

This final statement is so simple, but it speaks volumes. President Ballard set us a wonderful example of faith and service to Christ during his life, and his last talk illustrates this example.

There were so many great talks to learn from in October’s General Conference, and I’ve only highlighted a few. But hopefully, this gave you a good taste of October’s Conference. If there’s anything else that stood out to you, please share it in the comments below!

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