Influential Talks

Over the years, I have read and heard many different talks from prophets and apostles. I don't doubt that all of them are indeed the word of God, but there are some which I have heard and/or read at critical moments in my life which have deeply affected me and helped me to become who I am and realize who I want to be. Without getting too personal as to those experiences, I do, however, want to share a list of those talks, as they are publicly available to all. This is not simply a list of "great" talks, but those which have and continue to have a profound influence on me and who I want to be. Here goes:

President Ezra Taft Benson, "Jesus Christ - Gifts and Expectations," December 10, 1974 BYU Devotional
Elder Henry B. Eyring, "As a Child," April 2006 General Conference
President Henry B. Eyring, "God Helps the Faithful Priesthood Holder," October 2007 General Conference
President Bruce C. Hafen, "Love is Not Blind - Some Thoughts on Ambiguity for College Students," January 9, 1979 BYU Devotional
Elder Robert D. Hales, "Examples From the Life of a Prophet," October 1981 General Conference
President Jeffrey R. Holland, "Of Souls, Symbols and Sacraments," January 12, 1988 BYU Devotional
Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father," October 1995 General Conference
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The Virtue of Kindness," April 2004 General Conference

Now this isn't to say that only 9 talks have ever moved me- I am always learning from the prophets and apostles when they speak and I have to resist the temptation to add every talk I've ever heard to this list, because every talk has indeed affected me in some way, small or large. But these talks have had very large influences on me and for all of them I can associate experiences in which the Lord taught me important things to help me come closer to Him.

I don't know that you will have the same life-changing experiences I have had were you to go read all of these talks, but I do know that if we fill our lives with the words of the prophets and apostles as well as the words of the holy scriptures every day, then we most certainly will have these experiences for ourselves and come to know God and draw closer to Him.