*Saturday Afternoon Session
Ronald T. Halverson encouraged those attending conference to seek truth and to personally know the truth of the gospel.
To illustrate this point, Halverson related the story of a friend, who was highly respected and educated in his field of study, who asked him about the church.
"I responded by telling him of the restoration that God the Eternal father and his son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith," Halverson said. "I bore witness that what I told him was true."
During this "precious moment," as Halverson described it, he continued to tell his coworker he can know with the same surety of this truth by asking God the Eternal Father.
Halverson said he hoped for another moment like that but, "I know that he, like thousands of others in the world today, are content with life as it is," Halverson said. "They have been taught by the precepts of men.
"The philosophies of men die with their civilizations, without hope of eternal reward," Halverson said.
Halverson said Heavenly Father is at the knocking at the door, the truth of the gospel is available to us.
"We must have the desire to open the door, even if it shakes the foundation of our past beliefs and way of life," Halverson said.
If we open the door, by obedience to the ordinances of the gospel, Halverson said, all men can know if the teachings of Jesus Christ are true.
Halverson questioned the audience, "How can we learn of God, if we are unwilling to seek after him and do his will?"
As one develops a testimony of the Savior, we want to be like him and follow him, Halverson said.
He reminded the audience of the worth of souls is great, and because of this worth, "Because of [Heavenly Father's] divine love for us, he wants us to experience the joy he experiences."
Halverson said if we are to seek for truth, "Heavenly Father will bless us with a genuine peace; mentally, emotionally, spiritually, economically: a peace that surpasses all understanding.
In closing, Halverson said, "I invite you to wake up from complacency and foolish content, come unto Christ and earnestly seek truth. You will know the divinity of this great work."
Copyright Brigham Young University 2 Oct 2004
