Confidence in the Presence of God
April 2025 General Conference — President Russell M. Nelson
“Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.”
What Should the Focus of a Discussion on This Talk Be?
Focus: How personal spiritual confidence can grow in a chaotic, divisive world through the quiet, intentional cultivation of charity and virtue.
We live in an age of deep societal polarization, overwhelming digital noise, and rising anxiety—especially among youth. There’s a growing sense that the world is unsafe, unstable, and spiritually disoriented. In contrast, President Nelson emphasizes that disciples of Christ can live with peace, confidence, and power—right now—if we anchor ourselves in Christlike love (charity) and moral purity (virtue).
What Would President Nelson Want Us to Take from This?
He would want us to understand that:
- Confidence in approaching God is real, available, and necessary now—not just after death or in some future state of righteousness.
- Charity and virtue are not optional virtues, but active spiritual technologies that unlock access to God’s power, peace, and guidance.
- The temple and covenant path are central to this transformation—it’s not just about personal development but deepening our connection to Christ through sacred commitments.
- As disciples, we must be leaders in peace and purity, offering the world not more opinions, but divine love and moral light.
Ultimately, he is urging preparation not only for personal peace but also for the Second Coming, tying everyday virtues directly to eschatological readiness.
What Might Not Be Commonly Understood or Caught?
- The radical present-tense nature of divine confidence. Many might assume this “confidence before God” refers to final judgment. But President Nelson speaks in the present tense: approaching God now with assurance. This reframes prayer and spiritual living as an act of divine partnership rather than fearful pleading.
- Charity as the opposite of contention, not just the opposite of hate. He links charity directly with peacemaking—not just being “nice,” but actively resisting the cultural pull toward public hostility, especially online. His critique of social media’s tone is a call for disciples to be visibly different in how we speak.
- Virtue as a mental discipline, not just a moral status. He redefines virtue as a habit of thought, something that can purify all our thinking—including anxiety and negativity. This expands virtue beyond chastity to include emotional and intellectual sanctity.
- Temple worship as preparation for the Second Coming. Many might see temples primarily as places for ordinances. But President Nelson points to temples as active preparation zones for Christ’s return. That makes temple worship not just sacred, but urgent.
Outline of the Talk
I. Introduction
- Acknowledgment of aging and vision challenges
- Gratitude to speak at general conference
- Expression of joy at the progress of the Church
II. Praise for the Rising Generation
- Youth serving in large numbers, engaged in temple and family history work, submitting mission applications in record numbers
- Personal reflection on a new great-granddaughter and desire to help her build faith in Christ
III. The Universal Nature of Life’s Challenges
Everyone will face illness, disappointment, temptation, and loss. These can shake our self-confidence.
IV. Spiritual Confidence
Disciples can access confidence “born of the Spirit.” D&C 121—“Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God.” Confidence means: knowing God hears us, trusting His love, feeling His help and the presence of angels, believing in our divine potential.
V. The Formula: Charity + Virtue = Confidence
Charity: A call to be peacemakers. “Anger never persuades. Hostility builds no one.” Charity is the antidote to contention in public discourse and social media. It is the foundation of godly character.
Virtue: Defined as “garnishing thoughts unceasingly.” Virtue elevates positive thoughts, dispels impure, cruel, or depressing thoughts, leads to mental and spiritual clarity. As the world grows more wicked, we must become more pure.
VI. The Role of Temple Worship
Temple worship increases charity, virtue, and confidence before God. Prepares us for the Second Coming and for a closer relationship with God now. Prophetic urging to get ready for the Lord’s return.
Summary
This talk is a quiet but firm prophetic call: in a world fixated on performance, outrage, and fear, God’s people must be filled with love, clean in thought, and confident in Christ. That kind of spiritual preparation will make us ready—not only for global calamities or Christ’s coming—but for peace in our personal storms today.
Read the full talk: Confidence in the Presence of God — April 2025