Thomas S. Monson

  President Monson spoke four times in the five sessions of this conference. In reading these presentations from our Prophet, he covered many topics with specific guidance for us which I have summarized in this table:

Topic	Spiritual Direction
Church Attendance	Attend Church Regularly
Church Attendance	Attend Seminary or Institute
Citizenship	Be Good Citizens and Neighbors in our Countries
Citizenship	Reach Out to Those of Other Faiths & Our Own
Citizenship	Be Examples of Honesty & Integrity
Conference	Read & Study from the Ensign or Liahona
Marriage	Learn to Sacrifice
Marriage	Learn to Make Difficult Decisions
Marriage	Exercise Faith to Find Someone Compatible
Marriage	Be Careful to not Destroy your Eligibility
Marriage	Be Fiercely Loyal to One Another
Marriage	Make Repairs when Needed
Marriage	Don’t Let it be Jeopardized
Personal Righteousness	Avoid Innuendo & Filth
Personal Righteousness	Use Clean Language
Personal Righteousness	Stay Away from Pornography
Personal Righteousness	Avoid Addictions
Personal Righteousness	Reject False Concepts & Teachings
Personal Testimony	Obtain a Testimony
Prayer	Regular Prayer and Scripture Study
Priesthood	Discipline to be Above the Ways of the World
Priesthood	Treasure the Gift of Priesthood
Repentance	Talk with Your Bishop & Change
Scripture Reading	Read the Book of Mormon
Temple	Attend Regularly when Possible
Temple	Marry in the House of the Lord
Temple	Be or Become Worthy to go
Temple	As a Youth, Guard your Worthiness
Temple	Have a Picture of a Temple in Every Bedroom
Temple	Teach your Children the Temple’s Importance
Temple	Make the Sacrifices Needed to Attend
Temple	Have the Spirit of the Temple in Hearts & Homes
Tithes & Offerings	Contribute to Missionary Fund

  The table is not in the order in which they were presented, but you can examine it to choose the Topic and Direction that you or your family may wish to focus on. This should make it useful as a guide to refer to for Family Home Evening, Class Lessons, your own Talks and for your own personal progress. 

  Since this is the current word of the Lord from His servants, it has the Spirit and specifics for improving our lives and those of the people we can influence in this wayward world. The Priesthood received the most challenges in this list and we would do well to take those items seriously.

An Ensign to the Nations - Jeffrey R. Holland

  For the summary of my reading of the conference talks for April, 2011 Elder Holland's talk seemed the best place to begin. It should help focus the subsequent reading of the talks knowing the perspective he sets here. What a great remembrance for us about the prophetic choice of the Salt Lake Valley as the place of the Ensign to the nations shown to Isaiah. I remember in my youth, climbing part way up that "hill" when staying at my Uncle Sharp Daynes' house not far from there.
  Now some thoughts from this discourse:

• Questions: It took only 10 hours to listen to all of the talks, how many of our life's precious hours are needed to read, pray and ponder? Did you catch his description of how he saw the speakers as angels standing in that place to give their "angelic messages?" When we are called to participate in this great effort, should we be able to say we have "wept, worried and earnestly sought the Lord's direction...?" 
• Clearly, especially here in Brasil with the many new churches and the bumper stickers proclaiming the driver's "connection" to deity we must teach the narrow way as Christ did. Let's remember; "Clearly anyone who thinks Jesus taught no-fault theology did not read the fine print in the contract! No, in matters of discipleship the Church is not a fast-food outlet; we can't always have it "our way"." It is only His way that must be appreciated and lived and then He gave us a list to follow.
• Elder Holland called the speakers "these mortal angels who come to this pulpit..." but last evening I attended the Institute of Religion class taught by three young teachers (they took turns) discussing true principles embedded in the scriptures to a thoughtful group of perhaps thirty adult youth for almost two hours. They may not see themselves as "angels" but I did. The warnings are being made and many are hearing and doing.

  Now, as I understood and felt the spirit of this talk, I will look carefully at each to find the application to my life that may be most important on that difficult trail to His presence in the next life. To answer my question, I believe it will take at least one hour per talk meaning only about 35 hours of my life to realize some eternal results. Perhaps a little more if I read the references and mark my scriptures. This is the way of life.