Claudio R. M. Costa

Presidency of the Seventy (August 1, 2007 – August 1, 2011)
First Quorum of the Seventy (March 31, 2001 – October 5, 2019)
Second Quorum of the Seventy (April 2, 1994 – March 31, 2001)

General Conference Addresses

• October 2015 General Conference
  • That They Do Always Remember Him
    • “I rejoice in knowing there are parents who tell stories of Christ to their children.”
    • “In my mind I looked at the disciples one by one and saw in their eyes their concern for the Master, whom they loved greatly. It was as if I were sitting there with them, watching everything. I felt an intense pain in my heart, full of grief and sorrow for what He was about to experience for me. My soul was filled by an overwhelming desire to be a better person. In repentance and sorrow, I fervently wished to be able to dry and avoid the spilling of at least a few drops of His blood shed in Gethsemane.”
    • “Furthermore, meditating on the sacrament prayers and the very special and meaningful words of the prayers reminds me how wonderful it is to receive the promise, during the blessing of the sacrament, that as we always remember Him, we will always have His Spirit with us.”
• October 2010 General Conference
  • Obedience to the Prophets
    • “To believe means to have faith and confidence in them and to follow and do what the prophets ask us to do.”
    • “We are privileged to have the words of our living prophets, seers, and revelators during this wonderful general conference. They will speak the will of the Lord for us, His people. They will transmit the word of God and His counsel to us. Pay attention and follow their instruction and suggestions, and I testify to you that your life will be completely blessed.”
• April 2009 General Conference
  • Priesthood Responsibilities
    • “Family home evening is a very special time for us to strengthen ourselves and each family member. It is important to include the whole family in assignments for family home evening. A child could share the Primary lesson that he or she had last Sunday. Family home evening strengthened the faith and testimony of my own family.”
    • “Priesthood holders have many responsibilities and assignments. We have opportunities to visit, interview, teach, and serve people. It is our sacred responsibility to edify Church members and to help strengthen their faith and testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. We have opportunities to take care of the families whom we serve as home teachers and to teach members to provide for themselves, their families, and the poor and needy in the Lord’s way. Priesthood holders have the responsibility to motivate the youth to prepare to serve honorable full-time missions and to be married in the temple.”
    • “When we receive the priesthood, we make an eternal covenant to serve others.”
    • “When we do His work and His will, rather than our own will, we will realize that the yoke is easy and the burden is light. He will be with us always. He will reveal to us the exact portion that we need for success with our families, our career, and every responsibility that we have in His Church. He will help us to grow individually and as brethren in the priesthood.”
• October 2007 General Conference
  • Don’t Leave for Tomorrow What You Can Do Today
    • “The Lord taught us that every man has the responsibility to provide for his family, but that does not mean solely to store up the house with food and other items which are needed or desired. We must also have time to provide our family with teachings.”
    • “It is in the home that the family learns and applies gospel principles. Great love is necessary in order to teach and guide a family. Loving fathers and mothers will teach their children to worship God in their home. When a worshipping spirit permeates the home, that spirit is extended into the life of each family member. This will prepare them to make whatever sacrifice is necessary to be able to return to God’s presence and stay together as a family for all eternity.”
    • “We can lay down our lives for those we love not by physically dying for them but rather by living for them—giving of our time; always being present in their lives; serving them; being courteous, affectionate, and showing true love for those of our family and to all men—as the Savior taught.”
    • “We don’t know what could happen to us tomorrow, and that is why today is the time to start showing your love through small acts such as a hug and an “I love you” to your spouse and children and those around you.”
• October 2002 General Conference
  • Fun and Happiness
    • “What he did not know then was that happiness is much more than just fun. Fun is just a fleeting moment, but happiness is a lasting thing.”
    • “Both fun and happiness are fine, but certainly happiness is the most worth seeking. Happiness can encompass fun as well, but fun alone will not assure us true happiness.”
• October 1994 General Conference
  • Priceless Principles for Success
    • “I am grateful to the Lord for having touched my heart and for helping me to choose the better part—that which, so long as I strive for worthiness, cannot be taken from me. Being faithful to God as worthy members of His church, learning about Him and how to truly follow and worship Him, is more priceless than gold, silver, or diamonds.”

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