Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt, sustained the day before as a General Authority Seventy, spoke during the Sunday afternoon session of April 2023 general conference. The doctrine of Christ can bless all God’s children, he taught. Following is a summary of what he said.
Elder Corbitt’s talk summary
Jesus Christ had to suffer, die and rise again to redeem all from physical death and give eternal life to all who would follow Him. The steps one must take to follow Him and receive eternal life are called the doctrine of Christ — faith in Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.
Prophets and apostles have recently taught how the doctrine of Christ can bless all God’s children, including youth. “Teaching your beloved child why we all desperately need Jesus Christ and how to apply His joyful doctrine is what will strengthen and heal him or her. Let us turn them to Jesus who is their true advocate with the Father.”
In holding up the doctrine of Christ, the Lord’s Prophet today is doing the same as Moses did in holding up a serpent of brass — “that he should heal the nations” (2 Nephi 25:20). Whatever the bites or poison or struggles in this mortal wilderness, “let us not be as those who, anciently and presently, could have been healed but, sadly, ‘would not look … because they did not believe that it would heal them’” (Alma 33:19-21).
Notable quotes
“The doctrine of Christ empowers those who are struggling or feel they don’t belong in the Church because it helps them, as Elder D. Todd Christofferson stated, ‘affirm: Jesus Christ died for me (and) loves me.’”
“Parents, if your child struggles with a gospel principle or prophetic teaching, please resist any type of evil speaking, or activism, toward the Church or its leaders.”
“Whatever the bites or poison or struggles we experience in this mortal wilderness let us not be as those who, anciently and presently, could have been healed but, sadly, ‘would not look.’”
See the full text of Elder Corbitt’s talk: ‘Do You Know Why I as a Christian Believe in Christ?’
Who is Elder Corbitt?
- Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt was sustained April 1, 2023, as a new General Authority Seventy.
- Brother Corbitt was sustained as first counselor in the Young Men general presidency on April 4, 2020.
- He received an undergraduate degree in sociology from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and a law degree from Rutgers University School of Law.
- As a young full-time missionary, he served in the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission. He later served as president of the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission.
What has Elder Corbitt done recently?
- During the April 2021 general conference, he taught that youth can gather Israel well because of their eternal identity and the enormous faith within them.
- He spoke to Church-endorsed chaplains on Oct. 4, 2022, about how activism against the Church can blind and mislead valiant souls.
- He visited Madagascar, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa with Sunday School General President Mark L. Pace from Oct. 27 to Nov. 9, 2022.
Read Elder Corbitt’s previous general conference address, or follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
