What Prophets Repeat

Well, I just finished President Nelson’s most recent book, “Heart of the Matter: What 100 Years of Living Have Taught Me.” It was terrific — but much different than I was expecting!

As I skimmed through the table of contents, I noticed that many of the chapter titles seemed familiar. I began reading, and the familiarity continued; each chapter seemed to correlate with one of his conference addresses.

At first, this was almost disappointing to me. Where were the new stories and teachings? Immediately I knew that wasn’t the right attitude. President Nelson drew liberally on many of his previous general conference talks in writing this book — but that isn’t a bad thing. When a prophet speaks, we should listen; what a prophets repeats, we should study.

Favorite quotes:

We can learn a lot from studying how prophets choose to live their lives.

Revelation has no boundaries... Nothing is off-limits.

Examine your discipleship within the context of the way you treat others.

Talk Index

Don't have the book yet? Or is reading not your thing? I’ve compiled a list of the talks that President Nelson drew upon in his book. If you listen to all of these, you’ll get most of the book!

• Joy and Spiritual Survival (Oct 2016)
• What is True? (Oct 2022)
• The Love and Laws of God (BYU Sep 2019)
• The Everlasting Covenant (Liahona Oct 2022)
• Choices for Eternity (YA Devo May 2022)
• Peacemakers Needed (April 2023)
• Come, Follow Me (April 2019)
• Celestial Marriage (Oct 2008)
• A Plea to My Sisters (Oct 2015)
• The Price of Priesthood Power (April 2016)
• Ministering with Power and Authority (April 2018)
• The Healing Power of Gratitude (video, Nov 2020)
• Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains (Apr 2021)
• The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It? (Oct 2017)
• Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives (April 2018)
• Sweet Power of Prayer (April 2003)
• Hear Him (April 2020)
• The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation (Oct 2021)
• The Correct Name of the Church (Oct 2018)
• Let God Prevail (Oct 2020)
• Hope of Israel (Youth Devo, June 2018)
• Overcome the World and Find Rest (Oct 2022)

God’s prophet speaks today! And he has given us a chance to read and/or listen again.