Bluffdale Utah Stake Conference | September 2024

Stake conference for the Bluffdale Utah Stake was held on September 28-29, 2024. Messages focused on coming closer to Jesus Christ were central to the conference. Here are summaries and invitations from the Stake Presidency to help inspire and guide you and your family for the next six months.  

An Invitation to Become 

By President Derek Taylor  

For those that know our family well, you know that we are not pet people. The only pet we had in the first 27 years of our marriage was a desert tortoise named Crush, who we owned when we lived in California. And the only reason we had him was because he came with the house!  

He was the easiest pet ever. We didn’t have to do anything to care for him. He took care of all of his own needs. He lived in our backyard. He ate the grass and leaves and got water from the sprinklers and rain. He dug a hole in our flowerbed (where he slept) and he even hibernated for months at a time during the winters.  

With that as our pet ownership as a background, when Kristen had the idea to get a puppy, we were in for a big surprise. In late April we got a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel Poodle that we named Fofo, which means cute and fluffy in Portuguese.  

It’s a good thing he’s cute because Fofo is a holy terror. We’re learning that like most puppies, he has got a ton of energy. He loves to chew things, creates messes everywhere, and loves to jump on people.  

Thankfully, Fofo is not a finished product. He is set to go to behavioral training and we’ve got faith that over time he’ll become close to the pet we envisioned before we got him.  

We too are not finished products. These past five months, I’m wondering if this is how our Heavenly Parents must have felt as they’ve sent their spirit children to earth. Brother Brad Wilcox of the Young Men General Presidency captured the thought well when he said, “God loves us as we are, but He also loves us too much to leave us the way we are!”  

From God’s perspective, we are probably all like crazy little puppies that are still learning. But I know that with God’s help and by us putting in the effort to change, we can become something more and we will be all right in the end. Of that I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

The Divine Purpose and Power of Councils

by President Christopher Swank 

Given during Leadership Session of the Bluffdale Utah Stake Conference   

As leaders in the Lord’s church, each of you are here because you have been called of God to lead in your organization, Priesthood quorum, ward or stake calling. Each of you have been given the mantle of leadership, and it is with this mantle that the Savior has entrusted that you will help guide His children to Him, and He will lead them back to our Heavenly Father. We are so grateful for your willingness, time, dedication and efforts to lead the work of the Lord forward! 

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said, “If I had the wish of my heart, I would remove from the vocabulary of the Latter-day Saints the word meeting. We should not come to a ‘meeting’ but come prepared for a revelatory experience.” 

What better setting for a revelatory experience than in a leadership council. 

In the General Handbook, Chapter 1.4 “Your role in God’s Work” it reads,  

“As a leader in the Church, you are called to teach and support those you serve as they assist God in His work of salvation and exaltation (see 1.2). Having a clear understanding of God’s work, of what He invites you to do, and of the purpose of His Church will help you focus your efforts in bringing souls to Christ. 

Prayerfully seek to know how you can help bring about God’s purposes in the lives of those you serve. God will direct you through the promptings of the Holy Ghost (see 2 Nephi 32:5). Laboring with the Lord in His vineyard will bring you great joy (see Jacob 5:70–72).” 

I’d like to point your attention to several key words: “teach”, “support”, “clear understanding”, “efforts”, “direct” and “laboring”. It is in councils that we learn how to accomplish each of these actions for your respective class, quorum or ward. 

You can use the following questions and video resources to generate discussions about the purpose of all forms of councils and to receive inspiration on how to hold an effective council.  

  1. Why do we have councils in the Church? 
  2. What is their purpose?  
  3. What did you just learn that you had not thought of before, or was brought back to your remembrance?  

In Chapter 4 of the Handbook of Instructions, entitled “Leadership and Councils in the Church of Jesus Christ”, specifically 4.3 – Councils in the Church, the first 2 paragraphs highlight when councils began (in the pre-existence) and some of the councils that exist inside and outside the Church. Consider reviewing and studying that list to evaluate how councils can bless you in your life.  

In Chapter 4.3 of the General Handbook we learn further that “The Lord has instructed the leaders of His church to counsel together in doing His work.” (D&C 41:2-3)”. And “Councils provide opportunities for council members to receive revelation as they seek to understand the needs of God’s children and plan how to meet them.” 

Bishop Pearson from the Bluffdale 11th Ward, Liz Pressler, Relief Society President in the Bluffdale 2nd Ward, and Elders’ Quorum President Dave Clegg from the Bluffdale 7th ward shared brief experiences where they have received revelation in a Council Meeting. I also shared an experience we’ve had in our Stake Presidency when extending callings for Bishops, Elders’ Quorum presidents, high councilors, a patriarch, a stake Primary presidency, stake Young Men’s president, stake Sunday School president and many other stake and ward callings in which the will of the Lord has been revealed. 

Please watch the video “Counsel in Council: David A Bednar” as he speaks clearly about how Revelation is an essential element of a successful Council. 

Chapter 4.4 of the Handbook of Instructions teaches us some key principles of how to have an effective Council. These principles include: 

  1. Meet Regularly (4.4.2) 
  2. Gather input on what to discuss (4.4.2) 
  3. Send out topics ahead of the Council (4.4.2) 
  4. Prepare Spiritually (4.4.2) 
  5. Encourage discussion and let ALL have an opportunity to speak (4.4.3) 

Please Note: The voices of the sisters and youth are vital! Please watch the following video clip that expresses the importance of this point; “The Power of Councils: Women’s Voices” (0:10 – 2:30 & 3:04-4:11) 

  1. Listen (4.4.3) 
  2. Be unified (4.4.3) 
  3. Fulfill Assignments (4.4.3) 

In conclusion, may I testify my support and embracement of councils by paraphrasing these comments from Elder Bednar; “We all make mistakes and we’ve never claimed that as leaders of the Church we are infallible. The council system is the spiritual safety rail. There’s no trading “I’ll give you this issue if you give me that issue.” This is not political. There must be unanimity among all council members to have full force and efficacy. And you can only get there with modesty and meekness and by the power of the Holy Ghost. It safeguards the Church and all of the members from any one person ever trying to impose an agenda or an issue or a particular point of view. The council system is the divinely designed pattern for the safety of the Church.” 

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

When He Shall Appear, We Shall Be Like Him 

By President Ryan Bevan  
 
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons (and daughters) of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.” -Moroni 7:48 

During our time in ward conferences, my wife Sarah and I spent the time with President Taylor and Kristen, and with the WONDERFUL YOUTH of the stake. We shared a message about WHO THEY ARE and how they can stand forever in these “last days.” I shared the discussion we were privileged to have with Elder David A. Bednar when he visited with us last December. 

We sat around a table and asked him questions. I asked, “How can we help the youth remain strong through these TRYING TIMES?” 

Elder Bednar Answered, “You’re not going to like my answer. Our youth need to be able to do hard things!” He likened what our youth are asked to do with what the youth living in Helaman’s day lived through.   

As a result of what Elder Bednar said, I paid particular attention this year to the words of Helaman as we studied that book in the Book of Mormon. 

First, I noticed how close in proximity it was to the coming of our Savior. Secondly, most of his words were directed to the faithful and largely the youth or his 
children. In Helaman 5:12 it reads, “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.“  
 
We live in a day of prosperity and ease. Sometimes we see the commandments as a checklist of items we should be doing to “make it to heaven.” Where if we are to “BE LIKE HIM” we should be living our covenants. 

TEMPLE RECOMMEND QUESTIONS 

One of my favorite things about being in the Stake Presidency is visiting with the great saints of our stake for temple recommends interviews. I have shared with dozens of you a striking change in my own understanding following updates to temple recommend questions earlier this year. In the statement regarding the Sacred Temple Garment, it says,  “The garment of the holy priesthood reminds us of the veil in the temple, and that veil is symbolic of ‘the Savior’. When you put on your garment, you put on a sacred symbol of Jesus Christ.” 

It’s not only a reminder of the symbols, and covenants, I want the shield and protections God can offer. But I understood this to be MORE. I felt like maybe at times I wore the garment for a checklist of things . . . “good things” but maybe I should be wearing it for a higher purpose.

TO BE LIKE HIM 

How are we to do hard things? I would charge that, in this day and age, we may not be sacrificing our homes or walking the plains as the faithful pioneers and early Saints. However, our challenge will be in prioritizing the things that are most spiritual and eternal. Our prophet has asked how are we prioritizing our time in renewing those sacred covenants that will enable us with power in the temple? 

Our challenge may be doing the small things. Seeking the influence of the Holy Ghost, daily scripture study, prayer – those “plain and simple things” that will bring about a great work. 

You can have the blessing of our what our Prophet President Nelson said. “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost. My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation.” President Nelson, April 2024 

I promise that as we build the foundation of our lives on the “rock” of Jesus Christ, we can be blessed by the Holy Ghost to receive an individual and spiritual stillness of the soul that enables us to know and remember that God is our Heavenly Father, we are His children, Jesus Christ is our Savior, and we can be blessed to do and overcome hard things. My Testimony is that the hard times will come and if we are built upon Him, we shall prevail, and when He our Savior comes again, we shall be like Him!