How We Find Joy in Christ: Takeaways and Invitations from Stake Conference
Welcome, brothers and sisters! It is such a blessing to gather together and reflect on the uplifting spirit of today’s general session of the Wake Forest Stake Conference. Between the powerful, heart-touching talks and the beautiful musical performances that filled the hall, our hearts were truly lifted and centered on Jesus Christ. For those who were unable to attend or simply wish to revisit the message of joy, community, and service shared from the pulpit, here is a summary of the talks and invitations extended today.
Key Takeaways & Leadership Messages
President Will Thornton (Wake Forest Stake President) President Thornton focused on finding and exuding joy in Jesus Christ, regardless of earthly trials, using the example of Lehi, who faced immense family heartache yet maintained a celestial perspective. Quoting President Russell M. Nelson’s 2016 and 2018 General Conference addresses, he stressed that “the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives, and everything to do with the focus of our lives.”
President Thornton’s Specific Invitations:
Covenants & Temple Attendance: Enter into and keep covenants. Always hold a current recommend, and attend the temple regularly and frequently.
Scripture Focus (Helaman 3:35): Emulate the Nephites in Helaman 3:35 by fasting and praying often, waxing stronger in humility and faith, and yielding your heart to God to fill your soul with joy.
Community Service: Live and breathe service.
National Month of Service Invitation: Counsel and pray together as families to select a day during the month of September 2026 to perform a special community service project and share the light of Christ.
Choose Joy: Be of good cheer, smile, and look for the word joy the next time you participate in the temple endowment.
Sister Eurry Boris (Stake Young Women President)
Theme: Ministering to the individual ("The One") and handling each other with care.
Analogy: Shared a story about finding "Fragile: Handle with Care" stickers while moving, noting that many people carry hidden struggles, loneliness, or fears and need grace, friendship, and understanding.
Personal Experience: Recounted growing up as an immigrant child in Kansas feeling isolated, and how simple acts of inclusion by individuals (friends, PTA volunteers, classmates) provided protective packaging around her.
Examples of Action: Highlights included a Youth Camp story where a YCL noticed the stress of a leader on a faith walk and took her hand.
Invitation: Ask Heavenly Father in prayer to show you "the one," help you notice those in need, and let Him interrupt your day to serve them.
Sister Mindy Morgan (Rolesville Ward)
Theme: Oil for our lamps, preparation, and forgiveness.
Personal Conversion: Shared her recent journey joining the Church (baptized in July), expressing gratitude for friends, missionaries, and the spirit she felt in the ward.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25): Emphasized that the oil represents the Holy Ghost. To be prepared for the Savior's return, we must continually fill our lamps with extra spiritual capacity.
Forgiveness as Commandment: Shared her realization that forgiveness is a continuous process necessary to clear away sin, obtain peace, and fill our lives with the Holy Spirit.
President Robert Henderson (Stake Presidency 2nd Counselor)
Theme: Obedience to laws, conversion, and prayer.
Law of Restoration & Blessings: Quoted Doctrine & Covenants 130:20–21, reminding members that all blessings are predicated on obedience to divine laws.
Personal Testimony: Shared his personal "Alma the Younger" conversion experience at age 19 while preparing for a mission. He described praying in a closet at the MTC for weeks to gain a testimony of Joseph Smith, eventually receiving a quiet, overwhelming witness of warmth and love during a viewing of The Restoration.
Focus on Prayer: Encouraged consistent, earnest prayer, pointing to the Brother of Jared (Ether 2) and Christ’s teachings in 3 Nephi 18.
Performance & Community Highlights
Attendance & Growth: The conference was densely attended, celebrating remarkable resilience and growth despite the recent stake split.
Sharewear Event Impact: Highlighted the recent stake community service exchange where 800 local neighbors were served and over 6,000 pounds of clothing were collected and distributed.
