Hello, Doer of the word! Let's dive into the invitations from President D. Todd Christofferson's October 2025 General Conference address, "Look to God and Live."

Invitations

  1. "The counsel 'look to God and live' not only has meaning for us in eternity but also makes all the difference in the character and quality of our mortal lives. Remember the words of young Sister Selebeli in Lesotho ... 'Jesus Christ loves us and is with us, even though our hearts hurt.'"

    • Application Idea: Catch up on the Lesotho accident on the Church Newsroom website or social channels. We can learn from the mourning survivors' faithful example.

  2. "It is in the nature of a fallen world—where the devil rages and where everyone is imperfect—that there will be disappointments and offenses, suffering and sorrow, failure and loss, persecution and injustice. It is only by looking to God that individuals, families, and even nations can flourish. … Levels of chronic loneliness, emotional isolation, and anxiety in the general population contrast [favorably] with … Latter-day Saints. It’s not that we … never experience … challenges…. Rather, it is that in looking to Jesus Christ, we can prevail."

  3. "Alma explained that to look to God is to keep His commandments, cry unto Him continually for His support, counsel with Him in all your doings, and let your heart be full of thanks unto Him day and night."

  4. "For the Strength of Youth speaks to several of God’s most urgent commandments and standards and teaches how to look to the Lord in making good decisions. It is a guide not only for youth but for all of us."

  5. “Treat your body—and others’ bodies—with respect. As you make decisions about your clothing, hairstyle, and appearance, ask yourself, ‘Am I honoring my body as a sacred gift from God?’”

    • Application Idea: Revisit President Nelson's teaching on how our Sabbath day choices constitute the ""sign"" we want to give God. Ponder how the same idea applies to the new FSY's lack of dos/don'ts lists.

      ""When I had to make a decision ... I simply asked myself, 'What sign do I want to give to God?' That question made my choices ... crystal clear."

  6. “Keep sex and sexual feelings sacred. They should not be the subject of jokes or entertainment. Outside of marriage between a man and a woman, it is wrong to touch the private, sacred parts of another person’s body even if clothed. In your choices about what you do, look at, read, listen to, think about, post, or text, avoid anything that purposely arouses lustful emotions in others or yourself.”

    • Application Idea: We're buried in sexual messaging from all directions. Identify at least one source of temptation you can eliminate. E.g., Get rid of certain movies, music, apps, books, stop following certain accounts, etc.

  7. "If you have been unchaste, I plead with you to repent. Come unto Christ and receive His promise of complete forgiveness as you fully repent of your sins." - Pres. Nelson

  8. Keep the Lord's commandments so you can "prosper in the land." "Remember that in the Book of Mormon promise, the opposite of prosperity was not poverty—it was being cut off from the presence of the Lord."

    • Application Idea: Ponder Pres. Christofferson's "Prosper" definition (see Clay's breakdown of it below).

  9. "There seems to be no end to the different sources people look to for meaning, happiness, and help. Most are 'looking beyond the mark.' But we need not be 'children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine [or fashion].' In looking to God, we can find peace in difficulty, and our faith can continue to grow even in times of doubt and spiritual challenge. We can receive strength in the face of opposition and isolation. We can reconcile the ideal with the present reality. Truly, there is no other way than what God Himself has ordained: 'Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.'”

    • Application Idea: Go somewhere quiet (you might have to be creative, but there's always a way, even if it takes an extra effort). Consider your blessings, struggles, and any perceived gaps between the ideal and your reality. Start with gratitude for the good stuff, then talk with God about the hard things, explaining you're acting on prophetic counsel to "look to [Him]." Write down any direction you receive, then act on it.

  10. "Looking to God means that He is not just one of our priorities; it means, rather, that He is our one highest priority."

    • Application Idea: Reflect honestly on this. Reprioritize some things.

Additional Resources

  • Download a copy of these invitations: Google Sheets | PDF.

    If you use these resources as a handout in Church, use the PDF (it prints prettier) and please invite the members of your ward to subscribe to the General Conference Applied newsletter and podcast!

  • General Conference Applied S6 E11. Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube. This short podcast episode is an audio / video version of this newsletter.

  • General Conference Applied S6 E12. Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube. Special guest and popular LDS speaker, Chris Bennett, joined Mitch and Clay to discuss President Christofferson's address. Chris shared his difficult story of wrecking his marriage through sexual addiction and affairs, his wife Autumn's surprising decision to stay with him and work through recovery, and the miraculous intervention, counseling, and hard work by many people that eventually led Chris to sobriety. The Bennetts now work full-time in assisting others through addiction recovery with personal coaching and Warrior Heart retreats.

  • External Resources Shared In This Episode:

  • Clay’s breakdown of President Christofferson’s “Prosper” definition.

    • To prosper means:

      1. Enjoying the guidance and blessings of heaven in your life.

      2. Achieving levels of economic well-being that enable you to:

      a. Marry

      b. Raise a family

      c. Minister to other's needs

      3. Gaining the capacity to rise above hardship and trial.

      4. Having the ability to find benefit from lived experience, even difficult things.

      a. All things Work together for your good

      b. All things Refine you

      c. All things Deepen your relationship with the Lord

      5. Remembering the opposite of prosperity is not poverty. In the BoM sense, it means being cut off from the presence of the Lord and His Spirit's influence.

      6. Living with the spirit and obtaining the Gift of the Holy Ghost continues to bring you additional spiritual prosperity through:

      a. Inspiration and guidance

      b. Enhancement of your gifts and abilities

      c. Help to avoid evil, bad decisions, and dead ends

Take Action

  • Clay's Application: I plan to study the new edition of For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices and teach the principles to my kids.

  • Mitch's Application: I will read the new For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices pamphlet.

  • Your Application: Reply to this email and tell us how you'll take action on one of these invitations and whether we can share your response in our newsletter, podcast, and/or on social media.

Thanks for joining us in becoming a "Doer of the word!" Please help others do the same by sharing this newsletter with them.

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