Sister Carole M. Stephens: If ye love me, keep my commandments

Sister Carole M. Stephens of the Relief Society General Presidency shared an experience that she had with her granddaughter that taught her a lesson about obeying the commandments.

Sister Stephens spoke in the Sunday afternoon session of the October 2015 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sister Carole M. Stephens of the Relief Society General Presidency spoke to the Saints during the 185th semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Mormon Newsroom)

After her oldest daughter gave birth, Sister Stephens volunteered to take her granddaughter Chloe home with her to give the daughter an opportunity to rest.

After placing Chloe in her seat Sister Stephens began to drive away but found that Chloe had unbuckled her seat belt and was standing behind the driver's seat.

This power struggle began between Chloe and Sister Stephens, with Sister Stephens offering Chloe incentives for remaining in her seat, but to no avail.

After praying for help from the Lord, Sister Stephens explained to Chloe that she wanted her to wear her seat belt in order for her to be protected from being hurt.

After this simple explanation from her Grandma Chloe exclaimed, 'Grandma, you want me to to wear my seat belt because you love me.'

Sister Stephens used this example of the experience with her granddaughter to teach the scripture, 'If ye love me, keep my commandments.'

'We may feel at times that God's laws restrict personal freedom, take from us our agency, and limit our growth. But as we seek for greater understanding, as we allow our father to teach us — we will begin to see that His laws are a manifestation of his love for us, and obedience to his laws is an expression of our love for him.'

Sister Stephens then presented a few principles to help people remain on the strait and narrow path.

The first principle was to trust God and to trust in the eternal plan of God. She explained that if we trust that he wants the best for his children he will provide them with laws and commandments to guide them back to him.

The second principle she presented was to trust Jesus Christ and his Atonement.

She suggested that each member ponder the atonement of the Savior as they partake of the sacrament each week.

The third suggestion was to listen and to trust to whisperings of the Spirit.

Sister Stephens explained that by listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit members will be guided through the dangers of mortal life.

The fourth and final suggestion given from Sister Stephens was to follow and trust the counsel of living prophets.

'In this world of increasing fear, distraction, adversity and anger, we can look to them to see how disciples of Jesus Christ, filled with charity, look, sound and react to issues that could be divisive. They testify of Jesus Christ and respond with charity, the pure love of Jesus Christ, whose witnesses they are.'

Other General Conference news:

LDS Church announces three new apostles

Three new apostles to represent Christ throughout the world

English only at LDS General Conference

LDS Quorums of the Seventy now called General Authority Seventies

Slideshow: General Conference Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015

Women’s general session:

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: Now is a part of eternity

Sister Carol F. McConkie: The Lord’s agents

Sister Linda S. Reeves: Rewards will come

Sister Rosemary M. Wixom: Divine nature within you

Saturday morning session: