President Oaks speaks about the use of music in our worship services, our homes, and in personal strength to help us feel the spirit. He begins by quoting the first presidency about the impact of music on our lives.

• The First Presidency has said: “Inspirational music is an essential part of our church meetings. The hymns invite the Spirit of the Lord, create a feeling of reverence, unify us as members, and provide a way for us to offer praises to the Lord.
• “Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns. Hymns move us to repentance and good works, build testimony and faith, comfort the weary, console the mourning, and inspire us to endure to the end.”

He shares with us that we can learn important truths about the gospel through hymns.

• The singing of hymns is one of the best ways to learn the doctrine of the restored gospel.
  

We learn from the scriptures that hymns were used by the Savior, by the apostle Paul, and instruction was given in our modern times to create a book of hymns for our worship services.

• The scriptures contain many affirmations that hymn singing is a glorious way to worship. Before the Savior and his Apostles left the upper room where they had the sublime experience of the Last Supper, they sang a hymn. After their hymn, the Savior led them to the Mount of Olives.
• The Apostle Paul advised the Colossians that they should be “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
• Modern revelation reaffirms the importance of sacred music. In one of the earliest revelations given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord appointed Emma Smith “to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church.

President Oaks talks about the use of hymns in all areas of our worship services. He shares a personal account of the meetings held by the Apostles and how those meetings always start with a hymn.

• This direction to praise the Lord with singing is not limited to large meetings. When the Lord’s Apostles meet in modern times, the singing of hymns is still part of their meetings. The weekly meetings of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Salt Lake Temple always begin with a hymn. Elder Russell M. Nelson plays the organ accompaniment. The First Presidency, who conduct these meetings, rotate the privilege of selecting the opening song. Most of us record the date each hymn is sung. According to my records, the opening song most frequently sung during the decade of my participation has been “I Need Thee Every Hour.” Picture the spiritual impact of a handful of the Lord’s servants singing that song before praying for his guidance in fulfilling their mighty responsibilities.

Sometimes we find it hard to put into words the expressions of love and gratitude that we have for the Savior. President Oaks encourages us to use the hymns to express our feelings when words don’t come so easily.

• Sacred music has a unique capacity to communicate our feelings of love for the Lord. This kind of communication is a wonderful aid to our worship. Many have difficulty expressing worshipful feelings in words, but all can join in communicating such feelings through the inspired words of our hymns.

President Oaks warns us that we are becoming too casual in our worship meetings when it comes to music. He shares his observations from a Sacrament Meeting that he attended where 1/3 of the congregation was not singing the sacrament song. He counseled us to more diligently participate in the hymns as part of our weekly worship.

• I believe some of us in North America are getting neglectful in our worship, including the singing of hymns. I have observed that the Saints elsewhere are more diligent in doing this. We in the center stakes of Zion should renew our fervent participation in the singing of our hymns.

He talks about musical instruments being played during sacrament meeting and how this can be a great way to enhance the spirit that is present in the room. He also shares that hymns can provide us help when temptations come.

• Our hymns have been chosen because they have been proven effective to invite the Spirit of the Lord. A daughter who plays the violin described that reality. “I love to play classical music,” she said, “but when I play our hymns, I can just feel the Spirit of the Lord in my practice room.”
• Sacred music can help us even where there is no formal performance. For example, when temptation comes, we can neutralize its effect by humming or repeating the words of a favorite hymn.

Finally, he encourages us to find place in our meetings and gatherings for more music. We need to make music part of our worshiping of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We should rely on the hymns to provide us needed strength from temptation.

• We need to make more use of our hymns to put us in tune with the Spirit of the Lord, to unify us, and to help us teach and learn our doctrine. We need to make better use of our hymns in missionary teaching, in gospel classes, in quorum meetings, in home evenings, and in home teaching visits. Music is an effective way to worship our Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. We should use hymns when we need spiritual strength and inspiration.

I have always loved the hymns of Zion. From a young age I have tried to memorize hymns that provide me strength and comfort. My kids wonder sometimes why I don’t need a hymnbook to sing most of the sacrament songs. This is because I have them memorized and use them frequently as a support and guide during difficult times. The church is working on creating a new hymnbook over the next couple years and I am sure that much of the guidance from this talk will be used to select hymns that will make a difference in our spiritual lives.

Elder Ballard shares that he hosted an open house at the Orlando Temple and toured the temple with government and religious leaders. Before the tour, he shared the purpose of the temple and how the restoration came about.  He shares with each of us what he told those leaders that day.

He begins by testifying of the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.

• The mortal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ was comparatively brief. He lived only thirty-three years, and His ministry was only three years. But in those three years He taught the human family everything that is necessary to receive all of the blessings our Father in Heaven has in store for His children. He concluded His mortal ministry with the single most compassionate and significant service in the history of the world: the Atonement.

He speaks about the difficulty that the apostles had to run a religious organization after the Savior died and that eventually the truth was lost from the earth.  Truths and simplicity of doctrines were desired by the direction from a living prophet on the earth was lost.  Man started to decide the teachings of God by majority vote instead of inspiration from God.

• The beautiful simplicity of Christ’s gospel was under attack from an enemy that was even more destructive than the scourges and the crosses of early Rome: the philosophical meanderings of uninspired men. The doctrine became based more on popular opinion than on revelation. This period of time was called the Dark Ages. They were dark largely because the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ had been lost.
  

The world was ready for a restoration of a living prophet and the simple truths that had been lost from the earth.

• By 1820 the world was ready for the “restitution of all things” spoken of by Peter and “all [God’s] holy prophets since the world began.”
  

Joseph Smith went to a grove of trees with a simple question and received an answer that would change the world then and forever.

• On a beautiful, clear spring morning, Joseph retired to the woods. He paused when he arrived at a quiet, secluded spot. He looked around to make sure he was alone. Then he knelt and began to pray. No sooner had he done so than an overwhelming feeling of darkness swept over him, as if some evil power was trying to dissuade him. Rather than surrender, Joseph intensified his pleas to God—and God Himself responded.
  
• I testify those Beings were God, our Heavenly Father, and His resurrected Son, Jesus Christ, in one of the most supernal spiritual manifestations of all time!

No longer were the heavens closed to personal manifestations of the Savior.  Joseph Smith was called to be a living prophet and to establish the church of Jesus Christ on the earth again.

• Perhaps the most important lesson young Joseph learned in the Sacred Grove is this significant eternal truth: the heavens are not sealed. God does communicate with mortals. He loves us today just as much as He loved those who lived anciently. What comfort that sweet assurance provides in a world filled with confusion and discouragement! What peace and security come to the heart that understands that God in heaven knows us and cares about us, individually and collectively, and that He communicates with us, either directly or through His living prophets, according to our needs.
  

Elder Ballard shares his personal witness to the restoration through the prophet Joseph Smith.

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been restored to the earth through Joseph Smith and is administered today by a living prophet. These things I know!

He instructs us on the way for each of us to know that the truth has been restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith.  The Book of Mormon contains Moroni's promise that if we will ask God, He will tell us for ourselves that the truths of God are found in His church.

• Moroni urges us to go directly to the Source of Truth for answers to our questions. If we seek Him humbly and sincerely, He will help us discern truth from error.

These simple truths have been restored and since we have learned the truth for ourselves, we have an obligation to share this message with others.

• We know the truth. Because we do, we are expected to share it with all of our Heavenly Father’s children. To our dear friends of the Church, please do not let pass this opportunity to receive personal revelation from God. Consider what I have said. Weigh it carefully. Measure it against the things you believe. Hold fast to all that is true, and add to that the fulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Take into account what you have felt as you have listened. You can know if these things are true by asking God. Listen for His answer; then respond to what you feel.
• If you will do so, I believe you will come to know as I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s true church upon the earth.

Just as Elder Ballard testified, I too know that the truths of God have been restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith.  The heavens are open and the church contains the authority of God to ask in His name.  The light of Christ is available to all men and that light will grow within each of us as we sincerely seek to know the truths of God.  We have the truth and we wish for all of God's children to have the truth as well.  Share your testimony with someone soon that you know these things have been restored.  The Lord will bless you in your efforts to share His gospel with those that are not aware.

Elder Hales speaks about testimony.  President Howard W. Hunter had been sustained as the President of the Church and he speaks about gaining a personal testimony that President Hunter is a prophet of God.

• When we raise our hands to sustain the prophet, it is important for each of us to have a personal testimony that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ, who leads his Church today through the prophet he has chosen.
  
• Our testimony comes by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. The testimony received and carried within us enables us to hold a steady course in times of prosperity and to overcome doubt and fear in times of adversity. Each of us needs to know what a testimony is, how we can get it, and what our responsibilities are once we have received a testimony.
  

He shares that testimonies are individual and we need to have a testimony of light and truth from the Holy Ghost.

• Individual testimonies are the foundation and strength of the Church. Our testimony provides a guiding light that leads to a commitment which directs our conduct and our way of life. Our testimony is true north on a spiritual compass. It is a moving force that cannot be seen but can truly be felt. It is a burning within that tells us what is right. It is when “your heart tells you things your mind doesn’t know”
  
• Our testimony is a measurement of our faith. Faith is testimony; testimony is faith. Having a strong testimony allows us to help others in their search for truth. Our testimony is a gift from God. It should be shared, but we do not have the authority to bestow a testimony upon someone else, because a personal testimony is granted by the Holy Ghost. It can aid others in gaining knowledge for themselves—a knowledge abiding in the heart that leaves no room for doubt.
  

Elder Hales shares that although testimonies are personal, there are some things that help all of us gain a testimony.  These things help the Spirit be more present in our lives, allowing the Spirit to speak truth and understanding to our hearts.

• While there seems to be no exact formula by which each of us receives a testimony, there does seem to be a discernable pattern. Though prayer is important in gaining a testimony, we cannot merely ask in prayer for a testimony and expect it to be given immediately to us. Generally, testimony emerges over time and through life’s experiences. We can compare testimony to the process of watching a photograph develop. Powerful impressions of the Spirit come like flashes of light on receptive photographic film. Like the chemicals needed to develop the picture, certain spiritual conditions and experiences are needed in our lives for our personal testimony to develop into a certain truth and knowledge. And like a photograph, a testimony, if not carefully preserved, will fade with time.
  
• Testimonies often come when there is willingness to serve where we are called. They come when a decision is made to strive to be obedient. Testimonies come during efforts to help, lift, and strengthen others. They come from prayer and from studying the scriptures and applying them in our lives. Whatever our circumstances, there seem to be moments in each of our lives when we can be given the knowledge that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ. There is no greater search in life that we can embark upon than the quest to gain a testimony of the truth.
  

Elder Hales gives us several suggestions on building and strengthening our testimonies.

• Have a sincere desire to know the truth and express that desire in humble prayer to our Heavenly Father. “If ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you” (Alma 32:27).
  
• Search the scriptures. Continue to pray. The scriptures are filled with the testimonies of those who have gone before. Even they, though long dead, can reach your heart and bring peace to your mind and direction to your life.
  
• Search and ponder upon the truths you are learning about gospel principles. Think about them. Test them with further prayer. Relate them to what you know and feel. All the truths you will learn can eventually fit together into a fervent, undoubting testimony.
  
• Be humble and receptive. Have ears to hear when Heavenly Father leads us to someone who can teach us about the gospel of Jesus Christ. This may be a teacher, family member, neighbor, friend, or acquaintance. It might be a missionary who contacts us through tracting or referral. But know that once we pray, study, and have faith with a desire to learn spiritual matters, the Lord will provide a way for us to gain further light and knowledge.
  
• Live our testimony. We must obediently follow the Savior’s teachings and the prophets’ examples. Our testimony and example will assist others who are searching for the truth.
  
• Share our testimony. “O that I were an angel,” proclaimed Alma, “and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God” (Alma 29:1). Let others know that you know. Bear your testimony in fast meeting. Tell your family; tell your friends. You will find when you share your testimony it becomes stronger, and there are many others around you who also want to embrace the truth.
  
• Be willing to endure the test of time. Do not think that it is easy to maintain a testimony. Others will test you. Sometimes they will point the finger of mockery and scorn. Sometimes they may persecute you openly. Be prepared. Know in advance that the best of God’s children have had the courage of true conviction and were willing to suffer ridicule, deprivation, and even death for the sake of true testimony. Is each of us willing to do likewise?
  

He concludes with counsel to those that have doubts and are sincerely trying to resolve those concerns in their lives.

• We should not let others determine our faithfulness and affect our testimony and ultimately our eternal salvation. Doubts about matters of religion that arise from a lack of knowledge can be constructively resolved. The solutions are instruction, study, and prayer, which result in increased testimony, which drives out further doubts.

We can rely on other peoples testimonies up to a certain point in our lives.  Children rely on their parents testimony as they are young.  That desire to have a seed planted in our hearts starts with knowing good people and relying on their faith to test and build our own.  How grateful I am for people that live the gospel and are examples to me.  I am glad that I have been blessed to have strong and memorable impressions that have strengthened my testimony throughout my life.  My challenge now is learning to help others gain their own testimony that will sustain them through the challenges that life will bring their way.