Former BYU President Kevin J Worthen and his wife, Peggy Worthen, spoke at the BYU Women’s Conference in an address titled "The Power of the Holy Ghost in Discerning Truth" on May 2.
They spoke on the importance of having the constant influence of the Holy Ghost. Attendees arrived at the Marriott Center early in the morning to listen to the address.
Sister Worthen addressed the audience first.
She asked the audience how they live in these challenging times. She said President Russell M. Nelson identified a key solution in his April 2018 General Conference address.
“In coming days it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting and constant influence of the Holy Ghost,” Sister Worthen quoted.
These words from President Nelson were the central focus for both Sister Worthen and President Worthen's addresses, which sought to answer various questions, including “what are some practical ways to follow President Nelson’s counsel to invite the constant influence of the Holy Ghost?”
“We can be proactive by following the counsel of President Nelson to regularly pray, study the Book of Mormon daily, attend the temple and engage in family history work,” Sister Worthen said.
After Sister Worthen's address, President Worthen spoke on finding truth in a post-truth world. He pointed to what President Nelson has testified.
“Number one, there really is absolute truth, eternal truth," President Worthen said. "Number two, God is the source of all truth.”
President Worthen said that the primary role of the Holy Ghost is to bear witness of the Father and the Son.
“When we reverently think of Jesus, the Spirit will testify of him. He will show up," President Worthen said. "The question is, will we be ready to receive that testimony?”
Melanie Joy Kieffer Hancock, a conference attendee from Arizona, said that she loved their address about recognizing the Holy Ghost and recognizing truth.
“They both talked about the importance of having the guiding directing influence of the Holy Ghost with us, and that is vital in our world today,” Hancock said.
The Worthens’ address answered various questions found in the BYU Women’s Conference program, including "in what way can I better recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost?"