Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Sunday afternoon session of April 2024 general conference. He spoke about the power and blessings of temple work and temple covenants. The following is a summary of what he said.
Elder Andersen’s talk summary
Around the world — where houses of the Lord are “coming closer” to Latter-day Saints — “there is a growing feeling drawing us to the house of the Lord.”
“Amid the turmoil and temptations of the world, the Lord has promised to strengthen and bless His covenant Saints.”
Those who come worthily and prayerfully to the Lord’s house “will be armed with His power, His name will be upon you, His angels will have charge over you, and you will grow up in the blessing of the Holy Ghost.”
In the house of the Lord “we are literally endowed with heavenly power.” Faith in Jesus Christ is confirmed and fortified, and Latter-day Saints are blessed with protection from temptations and distractions. “We are armed with the power of God.”
In the temple, “we take His name more completely upon us. … In the temple, we sacredly promise, through our covenants, to follow Him forever.”
Coming to the temple with a willing heart, “we grow up in the Lord and can ‘receive a fullness of the Holy Ghost.’”
It’s “through the power of the Holy Ghost, we are filled with peace and joy and unspeakable hope.”
See the full text of Elder Andersen’s talk: ‘Temples, Houses of the Lord Dotting the Earth’
Notable quotes
“In His house, we are literally endowed with heavenly power.”
“Through the power of the Holy Ghost, we are filled with peace and joy and unspeakable hope.”
“My beloved friends, if we are able and have not already increased our attendance at the temple, let us regularly find more time to worship in the house of the Lord.”
Who is Elder Andersen?
- Elder Neil L. Andersen was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on April 4, 2009. He had served as a General Authority Seventy since 1993, during which time he managed development of the film “The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd” and supervised the initial launch of Mormon.org, now ComeUntoChrist.org.
- Elder Andersen served a mission in France from 1970 to 1972, presided over the France Bordeaux Mission from 1989 to 1992, and accompanied President Henry B. Eyring as he dedicated the Paris France Temple on May 21, 2017. In addition to English, he speaks French, Portuguese and Spanish.
- He met his wife, Sister Kathy Williams Andersen, while attending Brigham Young University. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 20, 1975, and are the parents of four children.
- Elder Andersen worked as an advertising executive and later as a vice president of Morton Plant Health System.
What has Elder Andersen done recently?
- During the October 2023 general conference, he spoke on the blessings of paying tithing.
- In September 2023, he visited members and missionaries in Mongolia, sharing Heavenly Father’s love for His sons and daughters in the nation.
- Elder Andersen ministered in the Philippines in February, making visits to a local school, an orphanage and the site of a Church humanitarian effort.
- More recently, he spoke to high school students at Arizona State University’s Family Education Night, encouraging youth to take advantage of educational opportunities and be lifelong learners.
Read more of Elder Andersen’s general conference addresses, or follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
