John H. Vandenberg – Gospel Study

John H. Vandenberg

First Quorum of the Seventy (October 1, 1976 – September 30, 1978)
Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (April 6, 1972 – October 1, 1976)
Presiding Bishop (September 30, 1961 – April 6, 1972)

General Conference Addresses

April 1978 General Conference
- “What Is Truth?”
  - “The rock of revelation is the foundation of His church. The principle of revelation is indispensable in the living church. This principle is inherent in the affairs of God as He directs His children through His prophets. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was restored under the power and authority of divine revelation.”
April 1976 General Conference
- You Are Your Greatest Treasure
  - “Using this scripture as a base and pursuing a course which the Savior referred to as being “strait” and “narrow” will bring one to realize that “he himself is his greatest treasure.” Millions have so testified under the power of the Holy Ghost, as they have subscribed themselves to the true doctrine and joined with others in the true Church.”
October 1975 General Conference
- To Cleanse Our Souls
  - “The purpose of scripture or the doctrines of religion is to keep people from dwindling in unbelief and to ultimately help bring their souls into a state of cleanliness, that they may dwell with their Father in heaven in the eternities. It is a step-by-step process.”
  - “A religious doctrine, to mean something to anyone, must have the solid foundation of being true.”
October 1974 General Conference
- Truth Will Emerge Victorious
  - “God has revealed to his prophets his laws and commandments as they are now spread on the pages of religious history. From them we may learn the course which people and nations have followed when those laws and commandments have been violated, and we should not in this day think we can circumvent them. On the contrary, they will help us solve any dilemma in which we personally or nationally may find ourselves.”
April 1974 General Conference
- Touchstone of Truth
  - “Many souls who have directed their inquiries in this manner can attest to the truth.”
  - “With certainty the Book of Mormon is a pure and holy record, having been recorded by prophets under the guidance of our Heavenly Father, having been hid up for hundreds of years unto the Lord, having been revealed and translated by the power of God in the latter day. It is an undefiled record, undisturbed by the wisdom of man, uncorrupted by the designs of men—a light on a hill to beckon all to come unto Christ.”
April 1973 General Conference
- The Agency of Man
  - “These persuasions of the heart are related to two opposing forces constantly at work within every human being. They are the forces of good and evil, which the Master referred to as God and mammon. Coupled with these forces is the individual’s power to reason, which only man, of all God’s creations, possesses. This enables him to make choices. It is man’s control valve of what he wants to be. The forces governed by his own reasoning determine the nature and quality of the choice made. Thus, that which we call character is formed. We refer to this privilege of choice as the agency of man.”
  - “Since the authorship of the agency of man is God’s, should we not look to him for the best media to help us to control our choices? The media he has given to us are the words spoken by his prophets, as are recorded in the scriptures. Jesus confirms this in responding to the recreant Jews of his time, who accused him of breaking the Sabbath by healing a man on that day.”
  - “As fellow workers for the cause of building the kingdom of God, they are our source of faith, commitment, determination, and leadership; doctrine for the foundation of our decisions.”
  - “He wants us to become acquainted with his gospel, to test it, to prove it, to participate in it, and to use it as a base on which to make our decisions. This is that men might base their choices on truth. When reason is joined with truth, there is convincing logic that sets up the path in our hearts that leads upward and onward to a nobler life.”
October 1972 General Conference
- Becoming a Somebody
  - “It is highly doubtful that there is even one soul upon the earth, regardless of station or age, who does not have ample room for personal growth and improvement.”
  - “Repentance is the very essence of change; it embodies the powerful principle of obedience to God’s law and discipline of self. When applied to our lives, it provides a cleansing joy which surges through us.”
April 1972 General Conference
- Whence Cometh Our Peace?
  - “Certainly it is true that many are searching for peace in the world, and yet some follow paths in their search that could only lead in the opposite direction—paths of avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride. Surely the greatest enemy of peace is selfishness and with it the desire to pile up treasures on earth.”
  - “Running madly after worldly things does not bring peace, neither does sitting idly.”
October 1971 General Conference
- “Turn Heavenward Our Eyes”
  - “The choice we are now concerned with is how we are going to live our lives. We have the agency to make that choice as we react to the conditions in which we find ourselves during our life span. We must make choices, as we are surrounded by the elements and resources of the earth as well as by the people with whom we associate. From the words of the prophets to the words of the atheists, the question is: How will we emerge? Will we rise or fall? Will we fulfill our life’s purpose, or will it be wasted?”
  - “We cannot give that which we do not have. Do we, as parents, have those things that make for happiness, the basis of which is the understanding of God’s plan as revealed to Moses, and try to live our lives in accordance to that plan?”
April 1971 General Conference
- My Brother’s Keeper
  - “We all love that for which we sacrifice. Giving and serving to the point of sacrifice creates love.”
October 1970 General Conference
- Lost and Found
  - “From the teachings of the Savior we know that he was greatly concerned with those who were lost.”
  - “It is our responsibility to light the way for others.”
  - “No obstacle can keep a faithful servant from his blessing as he brings light into the life of his brother or sister.”
April 1970 General Conference
- In Search of Truth
  - “Changes will come through discovery and research of temporal things, but let us not confuse such temporal changes with the consistency of eternal truth.”
  - “This is the truth that you should seek after—to know God and his plan of eternal life.”
  - “Remember—people cannot change truth, but truth can change people.”
  - “Prepare yourselves to declare the gospel to the nations of the earth. You will witness the change that takes place in the lives of those who listen to your testimonies. Missionaries live with these experiences and love them. Many young people, and particularly those who bear the priesthood, are missionaries at home, among their associates, mainly by the way they live.”
April 1969 General Conference
- Our Path in Today’s World
  - “The idea that a person would have to try each of these paths before he could judge whether it be wrong is a cunning plan laid by the adversary to entrap the souls of men. A continual exposure to evil ways develops a lowered resistance to them, a higher degree of tolerance for sin, which eventually leads to the embracing of the evil practices. Do not forget that the very ability which man has to learn from the experiences of others sets him above the animal world.”
  - “You will achieve ultimate success if you will align yourself to the discipline required by the narrow way which leads to eternal life.”
October 1968 General Conference
- What Will the Harvest Be?
  - “When we plant seeds of righteousness and daily rid our lives of weeds, we reap a harvest of satisfaction, happiness, and even eternal joy. But when, because of neglect, we allow weeds to grow and canker our lives, we can reap less abundantly and perhaps even harvest sorrow and discontent.”
  - “No factor in life is more vital to living than the realization that you and I are, in the final analysis, our own creators.”
  - “This is a law that affects each of our lives. If we plant seeds of righteousness and cultivate them properly, we reap peace, joy, and exaltation; but conversely, if we plant seeds of avarice, hate, and lust, we reap the whirlwind of sorrow and anguish.”
April 1968 General Conference
- If the Lord Be God, Follow Him
  - “For those who are not aware of this divine purpose, life may seem to be a mysterious journey with few landmarks and with no real objectives. They may seek only that which their eyes can see. Their only objective may be material wealth and the embracing of worldly pleasures. Moral standards may be applied only when it is convenient. In a sense, they worship and make gods of the physical, whatever it may be.”
  - “Following him is a day-by-day process. It must be the conscious objective of every hour. Even today those who will serve the Master and follow the directions of his Prophet can taste the joy of service.”
October 1967 General Conference
- Keepers at Home
  - “We can spend millions in remedial programs aimed at the prevention and cure of crime, but the plain fact remains that until citizens recognize their divine responsibility as parents and are willing to be honest and respected themselves, and to teach their children likewise, crime will continue to increase. The home must ever foster the great and lasting virtues of purity of life, honesty, thrift, benevolence, and patriotism. To do this requires effort from both mother and father. It cannot be relegated to a baby sitter or a nursery school.”
  - “Parents must teach their children that the family name is important, that their actions must always be for the good of the individual, the family, and the society as a whole.”
April 1967 General Conference
- But Ye Have a Custom
  - “Honesty cannot be compromised; it requires the full and free consent of the mind.”
  - “To be honest, to adhere to truth, is not something to be conditioned by the situation of the moment. Honesty is the very foundation of character.”
October 1966 General Conference
- Wisdom in Spending
  - “The answer to this family’s problem is not necessarily more money. The need for more money is merely the symptom. The malady is excessive debt, caused by uncontrolled credit purchasing. The cure is a reappraisal of the income after allowing God’s due, a survey of the amounts needed for the real necessities—shelter, food, clothing, health—and a calculation of the residue of income for the amortization of other indebtedness, with a resolve by all that no further credit purchases be made. It may even mean the forfeiture of some luxury items that should not have been purchased in the first place. Here I would caution people against borrowing more money to consolidate debts, thereby increasing their interest rates and extending their bondage.”
  - “Because the home is the basic unit of society, its stability, sanctity, and harmony should be maintained. Our objective should be to help eradicate anything that tends to upset the equilibrium of the family unit.”
  - “It is impossible for anyone to borrow himself out of debt.”
April 1966 General Conference
- Strait Is the Gate
  - “The frustrations, anxieties, and rebellions that are rampant today could be measurably reduced if young people could be encouraged to set high ideals. This would help fix in their minds an objective to achieve. The gospel of Jesus Christ provides such goals and gives purpose to life. It is a process requiring self-discipline.”
October 1965 General Conference
- Who Then Can Be Saved?
  - “Avarice and selfishness mastermind all sin and crime. The Lord has repeatedly warned against the disastrous consequence to the soul of one having his heart so set upon the things of this world as to neglect the real purpose and meaning of life.”
  - “The Lord, therefore, has given his children guiding principles to assist them to overcome such inclinations as they may have. The Church will help a man to eradicate selfishness from his mind if he will but follow the laws of the gospel. For example, the law of tithing is for man’s benefit. As a man voluntarily begins to pay an honest tithing, his interests and desires are focused toward God.”
April 1965 General Conference
- Beware of the Leaven
  - “We are reminded that humankind is the grain being milled, and the individual is a kernel of grain working between the opposing forces of life. It is through the mill or experiences of life that man is to learn and develop. Here he attains a certain degree of knowledge or skill, but it is through discipline and self-control that he is refined.”
  - “The ratio to which people are subjected to evil influences versus good influences is high in favor of the evil. Satan will use his agents in every way that he can cunningly to lure individuals into his web. His agents are represented by people. And people influence the lives of other people.”
April 1964 General Conference
- Built-In Strength
  - “The attitude of a bishop with respect to his calling may bring about the rise or fall of Aaronic Priesthood bearers in his ward. Advancement in this priesthood should warrant greater moral responsibility. Advancement to the office of a bishop means the greatest of moral responsibility not only to his own life but to the life of each boy and girl in his ward.”
October 1963 General Conference
- A Chosen Generation … A Peculiar People
  - “The Lord offers the male youth of the Church, twelve years and older who are worthy and eligible, the great privilege of officiating in his work by being ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood. Here they learn the governing principles of the kingdom of God. Through voluntary service in the outward ordinances of the Church, they gain a spiritual stability that can come to them in no other way.”
  - “Thus the bishop of a ward is the spiritual guardian of the youth. He does not, however, replace the parents in their responsibility to teach, guide, persuade, and discipline their own children. It is the responsibility of parents to develop within their children certain spiritual values such as humility, repentance, a feeling of responsibility, and love for their fellow men. The example of parents, undoubtedly, imposes the greatest influence upon their children. This influence must be for good if parents are to be successful.”
  - “No young man can receive the priesthood and participate therein without becoming a better person. The priesthood is character building. It teaches one to have proper concepts and values. As one magnifies his duties in the priesthood, he experiences the challenge and growth that emanate from eternal principles.”
April 1963 General Conference
- A Glorious Principle
  - “Today with the Church having reached the age of 133 years, we marvel at its growth; and with the strength of its leadership, we are moving forward. Yet as we examine ourselves, we see there is much need for improvement.”
  - “I feel to add that those who are not physically able to abstain from food and drink should participate on fast day to the extent of prayers, offerings, and testimony. If we abide by the word of the Lord for the above purposes, we will surely be blessed as God has promised through his prophets. I suppose there is no physical blessing desired so much as being well in mind and in body.”
  - “To those responsible for the leadership of the Saints in every unit of the Church, I say, teach the people the principle of fasting, in love, in gentleness, in firmness, and in humility. Fasting will give them spiritual strength and help them to develop self-control.”
October 1962 General Conference
- The Greatest Weight
  - “This simple action of the faith of a youth unfolded great truths to young Joseph. It was a reality that Satan stood by as a power of darkness and tried to overpower and destroy Joseph Smith, and he might have succeeded had it not been that God heard Joseph’s supplication and appeared in the power of his light to dispel the evil.”
  - “The ability to receive the blessings of repentance lies within our individual power. It is a never-ending endeavor. There is no restriction to those who may achieve: All may partake of this gift from God.”
  - “The avenue of repentance is a thoroughfare which all may tread. It is the path to peace.”
April 1962 General Conference
- Aaronic Priesthood Responsibility
  - “While my counselors were talking about the more than 100,000 young men under twenty-one bearing the Aaronic Priesthood, my thoughts turned to the more than 100,000 over twenty-one who may be working to qualify themselves to receive the blessings of the Melchizedek Priesthood.”
  - “I have been thinking of their wives, their sons, their daughters, and their future. We realize that some of these mature brethren who bear the Aaronic Priesthood have again become active, faithful, and devoted members of the Church in order to achieve their goal. We also realize that many are recent converts to the Church who are working toward their ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood. These brethren are anxiously waiting for the day when they may enter a temple of the Lord to receive their endowments and sealings through the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood. We pray that all of these may continue to enjoy the warmth of fellowship in the priesthood without any interruption.”
  - “You are the trumpeters to the youth who are listening for certain sounds—positive, unwavering teachings, examples—a steady beam to guide them in preparation for a useful life of service in the dignity of the priesthood. If we, the trumpeters, do not guard our actions, our language—do not set worthy examples—how then can we expect our young men to prepare themselves “to the battle,” battle against wrongdoing—the battle they fight every day of their lives?”
  - “One cannot give unless there is someone to receive.”

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