Elder Denelson Silva, General Authority Seventy, spoke during the Saturday evening session of October 2022 general conference. Having been introduced to the gospel by a classmate, Elder Silva realized he, too, must proclaim the truth. The following is a summary of what he said.
Elder Silva’s conference talk summary
A classmate showed and bore testimony of the Book of Mormon to Elder Silva. That courage created a connection between Elder Silva and the missionaries when he met them. He learned that being a disciple of Jesus Christ means to defend the truth and proclaim it.
The Lord gives the opportunity to do what He would do if He were on earth — to go forth and preach the gospel. “Please, young men, do not postpone your preparation to serve the Lord as missionaries.” Young women are welcome to work in the vineyard as well.
Those 24 or 18 months of service will pass in the mission field just as they would at home, but the opportunities in the mission field are unique. “The privilege of representing the Savior Jesus Christ and His Church cannot be ignored.”
Youth called to serve on service missions are welcome and necessary as well, for service missions also provide indescribable experiences. And people in different stages of life are also necessary in the work of the Lord.
Courage to proclaim the truth and live the truth will mean comfort and peace during the turbulence of the world.
“Trust in Heavenly Father and do not give up.”
Notable quotes from Elder Silva’s conference talk
“I learned that when I decided to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, I had accepted the task of not only defending the truth, but also of proclaiming it.”
“The privilege of representing the Savior Jesus Christ and His Church cannot be ignored.”
“As you proceed firmly in Christ and with courage not only to proclaim the truth but to live the truth, you will find comfort and peace during the turbulence that you shall encounter in these days.”
See the full text of Elder Silva’s talk: ‘Courage to Proclaim the Truth’
Who is Elder Silva?
- Elder Denelson Silva has served as a General Authority Seventy since April 2022.
- He was born in Recife, Brazil, and sealed to Sister Regina Maria de Carvalho Silva in the São Paulo Brazil Temple. They have two children.
- He worked in the travel industry for 30 years and was working as the travel manager for the Church’s Brazil Area office at the time of his call.
- He and his wife led the Angola Luanda Mission from 2016 to 2019.
