Hello, Doer of the word!
Let's dive into the invitations from Elder Matthew S. Holland's October 2025 General Conference address, "Forsake Not Your Own Mercy."
Invitations
1 - "A testimony of the Fall does not excuse sin or a lax approach in life's duties, which always call for diligence, virtue, and accountability. But it should temper our frustrations when things just go wrong or we see a moral failing in a family member, friend, or leader. Too often things like this cause us to wallow in contentious criticism or resentment that robs our faith. But a firm testimony of the Fall can help us be more like God as described by Jonah, that is, 'merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness' to all—including ourselves—in our unavoidably imperfect state."
Application Idea: Ponder the Savior's teaching, found in Matthew 5:7 - "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." Who in your life needs your mercy? Take intentional steps to show them mercy, just as our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ show them mercy. If you are the one in your life who needs to show yourself mercy, take intentional steps to show yourself mercy, just as your Heavenly Father and your Savior Jesus Christ show you mercy.
2 - "My plea, inspired by Jonah, is forsake not your own mercy. You have immediate access to divine help and healing despite your human flaws. This awe-inspiring mercy comes in and through Jesus Christ. Because He knows and loves you perfectly, He offers it to you as your 'own,' meaning it is perfectly suited to you, designed to relieve your individual agonies and heal your particular pains. So, for heaven’s sake and yours, do not turn your back on that. Accept it."
Application Idea: Elder Holland said, "we should not miss the power Jonah's story offers every 'humble seeker of happiness,' especially those struggling," and, "Cry unto God. Turn to the temple." Read Jonah's story (it's only 48 verses), ponder and pray about the principles that are taught in the account, and then go to the temple with Jonah's account in mind to see what you can learn about your "own mercy" that is available and tailored to you.
3 - "Start by refusing to listen to the 'lying vanities' of the adversary, who would tempt you into thinking that relief is found in sailing away from your spiritual responsibilities. Instead, follow the lead of the repentant Jonah. Cry unto God. Turn to the temple. Cling to your covenants. Serve the Lord, His Church, and others with sacrifice and thanksgiving."
Application Idea: Make a list in your journal of the "lying vanities" that the adversary is using in your life to pull you away from the covenant path. Then, in your journal, write how Elder Holland's prescription (i.e., praying, worshipping in the temple, keeping your covenants, and serving God and your neighbor) will help you overcome these "lying vanities." Then, put Elder Holland's prescription to the test.
4 - "Forsake not your own mercy. Look to the sign of Jonah, the living Christ, He who rose from His three-day grave having conquered all—for you. Turn to Him. Believe in Him. Serve Him. Smile."
Application Idea: Nephi wrote (2 Nephi 25:26): "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." Is there an area of your life in which you can do a better job of serving Jesus Christ? For example, I (Mitch) will do a better job of testifying of Jesus Christ in my responses to antagonistic social media comments. Perhaps for you, serving Jesus Christ could be as simple as using the correct name of Jesus Christ's Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) or bearing testimony of the Savior in your next fast and testimony sacrament meeting.
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 E70. High Schooler Speaks in General Conference—Elder Matthew S. Holland, "Forsake Not Your Own Mercy" - Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube. Clay and Mitch explore Elder Matthew S. Holland's background, including sharing clips from 1983 when he spoke in general conference as a teenager before President Russell M. Nelson ever spoke in conference! We talk about Jonah, whale bellies, and remaining Christlike in facing opposition. This episode touches on family ideals, forgiveness, love at home, enduring trials, Jonah, scriptural direction for dealing with social media trolls as fellow children of God, and much more!
External Resources Shared In This Episode:
President Jeffrey R. Holland, Within the Clasp of Your Arms, April 1983 General Conference
Matthew S. Holland, Muddy Feet and White Shirts, April 1983 General Conference
President Thomas S. Monson, Finding Joy in the Journey, October 2008 General Conference: "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."
Elder Matthew S. Holland, The Path and Power for Your Promised Land, BYU Devotional: January 20, 2026
Alma 58:9-11 - "We were grieved and also filled with fear. … Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us. … Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him."
GCA S6 E6 – Sunday, October 19, 2025 – Miracles of Healing and Powerful Faith – "And Now I See" by President Jeffrey R. Holland – Oct 2025 – Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
Jeffrey R. Holland, "Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence", BYU Devotional: March 2, 1999
Mosiah 3:17 - "And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent."
Elder Clark G. Gilbert, Becoming More in Christ: The Parable of the Slope, October 2021 General Conference
GCA S6 E53 – Sunday, February 8, 2026 – Teaching in the Savior's Way—Chad H Webb "That All May Be Edified" – Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
GCA S6 E48 – Sunday, January 11, 2026 – Temporary Testimonies? Bathrooms, Basketball, and a Sure Witness w/David Snell—Elder Kevin G. Brown, "The Eternal Gift of Testimony" – Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
Hymn Number 1045: Jesus Is the Way
Take Action
Clay's Application: Elder Holland said, "we should not miss the power Jonah’s story offers every 'humble seeker of happiness,' especially those struggling," and, "Cry unto God. Turn to the temple." - Jonah's story is short, only 48 verses. I reviewed it (KJV & NIV) before recording, but want to spend more time sitting with it, prayerfully pondering, and then go to the temple with those verses in mind to see what I can learn about my 'own mercy' that is available and tailored to me.
Mitch's Application: When responding to antagonistic social media comments, I will intentionally find ways to testify of Jesus Christ. (For example, I shared Mosiah 3:17 in a recent comment).
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.
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