A Reflection on the Second Day of 195th General Conference

Where the Spirit of the Lord Is, There Is Mercy

On the second day of the 195th General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the heavens seemed to draw nearer to the earth. From the soft pleadings of mercy to the bold affirmations of divine identity, each message formed a radiant mosaic of discipleship, covenantal living, and enduring hope. As I reflect on these sacred teachings, I do so with a heart full of joy, gratitude, and peace—and with a special acknowledgment of Elder James R. Rasband, whose powerful witness of mercy I realized I had not included in yesterday’s reflection, and who must now be given his due.

The Grand Theme: A Covenant of Mercy

The golden thread that wove through each talk was this: God’s plan is not merely a path back home—it is a covenant of mercy. It is mercy that calls us to Christ, mercy that sustains us through repentance, and mercy that transforms our inadequacies into holy offerings. As Elder Rasband testified, “It may be said that the plan of salvation is a plan of happiness precisely because it is a plan of mercy.” In the holy temple, we come to understand that every part of God’s plan flows from His merciful heart. Mercy is not a footnote in the gospel; it is the music that underscores the whole.

To Serve Is to Say Yes to Christ

Elder Shumway reminded us that to participate in the Lord’s work is not to check off spiritual duties, but to be sanctified in the very act of saying “yes” to Christ. “When we say yes to serving,” he taught, “we are saying yes to Jesus Christ. And when we say yes to Christ, we are saying yes to the most abundant life possible.” The callings we receive are not mere assignments—they are sacred invitations from a loving Father to bring others with us to Jesus Christ. This truth offers practical direction: when we feel inadequate, uncertain, or overwhelmed, let us remember that Christ magnifies the small offering. Consecrate your best, however meager it may feel, and watch God do more than you imagined.

Repentance as a Song of Love

Sister Tamara Runia, in one of the most healing discourses of the session, addressed the quiet ache of the soul that wonders, “Does God still love me when I fail again?” Her answer was clear: Yes, endlessly yes. “Repentance does not weigh Jesus Christ down,” she said. “It brightens His joy.” Her words offered a stunning reframing: when the Savior calls us to repent, He is saying, “I love you. Come home.” This message matters deeply today, as many struggle not with disbelief, but with despair. The practical takeaway is bold in its simplicity: Do not wait to feel worthy before turning to Christ—turn to Him so that worthiness can be restored by His grace.

The Gentle Power of Belonging

Bishop Gérald Caussé offered reassurance to all who feel held back by circumstances beyond their control. “The Lord loves you personally,” he declared, “and the door to His blessings is always open.” For the modern disciple facing disappointments, limitations, or social marginalization, Bishop Caussé’s testimony stands as an anchor: the Savior’s atonement is not only enough—it is generous, restorative, and personal. This is a gospel for every soul, in every condition.

The Glory of the Restoration

Elder David A. Bednar brought our gaze upward and backward, to the miraculous beginnings of the Restoration. Through Joseph Smith, God reestablished His Church, restored priesthood authority, and gave us the Book of Mormon—a testament filled with “plain and precious truths” that restore hope to a weary world. His final invitation was not simply to learn about the Restoration but to act upon it: “Pray, ponder, and obey—as Joseph did—and you will receive a witness from the Holy Ghost.” The Restoration continues today, in our hearts, our homes, and our temples.

Holy Ground Beneath Our Feet

Elder Ulisses Soares called us to reverence, to that quiet interior stillness that allows God to dwell more fully with us. Just as Moses removed his sandals at the burning bush, we too must remove whatever hardens our hearts to divine things. “Reverence is not merely a facet of spirituality—it is its very foundation.” In a noisy, distracted world, the lesson is piercing: we cannot hear God unless we hush the world and kneel in soul.

Other Voices of Peace and Power

President Dallin H. Oaks re-centered our hearts on Christ’s Atonement, teaching that God’s plan is sustained by divine gifts: commandments, covenants, priesthood power, and above all, the Savior’s infinite sacrifice. Elder Gong, with poetic tenderness, reminded us that Christ answers the soul’s deepest longings. “He wipes away every tear—except those of joy.” Elder Whiting warned of the temptation to hide from God after sin. Instead, he pleaded: return. God sees. God loves. God heals.

Elder McCune, Elder Kim, Elder Tai, Elder Kieron, and others bore a unified witness: God’s love is not abstract; it is intimate and ever-available. We are His children. That is not just a song we sing—it is the truth that redefines our identity and our eternity.

Practical Insights: Living What We Heard

1. Practice Mercy — Start with yourself. Echo Elder Rasband’s insight: pleading for mercy opens the door to personal revelation.

2. Say Yes to Small Callings — As Elder Shumway urged, say yes. That “yes” is always a “yes” to Christ.

3. Come Back Quickly — Don’t delay repentance. As Sister Runia taught, Christ’s joy is brightened by your return.

4. Make Your Home a Temple — Elder Soares gave simple ways: reverent prayers, spiritual music, meaningful sacrament participation.

5. Receive the Gift of Identity — Accept, as Elder Kieron implored, that you are a beloved child of God—no conditions, no exceptions.

In Conclusion: Let the Spirit Lift You

This General Conference was not merely a meeting of talks; it was a meeting of souls—ours with heaven. Mercy is not only God’s response to our weakness; it is the signature of His very being. As President Russell M. Nelson gently declared, “Draw near to God with increasing confidence, and your joy will multiply.”

Heaven is not far. The Savior’s arms are not withdrawn. And the restored gospel is not a relic of the past—it is our present invitation to light, to healing, and to life.

Let us walk forward, rejoicing. Let us stand in holy places with holy hearts.

And let us never forget: when the Lord speaks, let our souls be barefoot.

Cast Out to Be Caught

The Joy Behind the Fall

D&C 29:40-50

It begins with a fall. Not a stumble, but a cosmic descent. One man, one fruit, one garden—and suddenly, the world is tilted. Adam yields. Eve too. And the gates close behind them. The air outside Eden is colder, harder, unfiltered by the gentle breath of God. Yet what looks like exile is, in truth, the first act of redemption.

The Lord tells us plainly: Adam “became spiritually dead” when he partook of the fruit. But notice the echo in the Lord’s words: this first death is the same as the last. What begins with a fall is not meant to end with one. There is something cyclical here, something divine: the God who casts out is the same God who sends angels. The garden is closed, but heaven is not.

This is the staggering paradox at the heart of the gospel: We were cast out in order to be gathered in. The separation was not a punishment, but a preparation. We speak of “probation” as though it were a sentence, but here the Lord calls it a gift. It is in this span of dusty days, bounded by mortality, that we are given the astonishing chance to choose—to rise.

“I, the Lord God, gave unto Adam and unto his seed, that they should not die as to the temporal death, until…” Until what? Until messengers came bearing news of repentance. Until redemption was declared in the name of the Only Begotten. This was not plan B. It was the plan from before the foundations of the world.

And how merciful the timing! The Lord did not wait for us to become holy before He made a way. He made the way so we could become holy. He did not ask us to be worthy of the Atonement—only willing to receive it.

The language here is sharp but clear: some will rise to eternal life; others will fall into damnation—not because they were unloved, but because they “repent not.” In a world of soft denials and moral blur, these verses pierce. Yet even here, there is no tone of condemnation—only grief. “They love darkness rather than light.” What a tragedy, when the light stands so near.

But then the tone shifts. A gentler sun dawns. “Little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world.” There is a hush here, as if heaven itself leans forward. No sin stains their soul. No darkness clouds their worth. God has declared it so. The Accuser is powerless before their innocence.

And yet—what of our day? What of a world where children are no longer shielded by innocence, but are barraged by images, messages, and ideologies they cannot yet name, let alone withstand? The adversary cannot tempt them directly, but he can tempt the world around them—can tempt us—to surrender their protection. And so, while their spirits remain whole before God, their hearts are too often pierced by a world in rebellion. They are innocent, yes. But they are also exposed. And it falls to us—parents, saints, disciples—to guard the light they carry.

And what God does not require of the child, He does require of the parent. The accountability He withholds from the young, He places with gravity upon their fathers and mothers. The Lord’s justice is precise—but His mercy, even more so.

We are left with a final question, tucked like a whisper into the closing lines: “Whoso having knowledge, have I not commanded to repent?” The Lord does not ask if we are sinless. He asks if we are willing. Willing to turn. Willing to trust. Willing to walk out of Eden and into Zion.

And so, the gate once shut is now open wide. There is no need to wait for angels to descend. The message has come. The Atonement has been wrought. Christ has come into the world—not to shame us, but to save us. Not to banish us from gardens, but to walk with us through deserts, until even death itself is swallowed up in joy.

In the end, Adam’s fall is not our shame. It is our story. And the ending—because of Christ—was written in glory before the world began.

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Goodbye, ICC Opinion Piece Atty. Harry Roque

Goodbye, ICC

Opinion Piece

Atty. Harry Roque

05 April 2025

Many Filipinos have asked me if I felt shocked seeing former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte being brought to The Hague, The Netherlands.

Sad, yes. But shocked, no!

In November 2017, I was designated a peso-a-year Presidential Adviser for Human Rights concurrent with my position as Presidential Spokesperson, where I had been advising fPRRD on matters pertaining to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

I knew this day would come and I even proposed a Communication Plan on the ICC during my time as Spokesperson but the idea was shot down.

I find it rather unfortunate that no one, including fPRRD, had taken me seriously. ICC is something fPRRD and his close legal advisers could not even fathom for it is unthinkable to have an ICC to begin with.

Fastforward 2024. There were loud whispers of the arrival of the International Criminal Court ICC investigators in Manila to investigate the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs coincided with the hearings of the House of Representatives Quad Committee (Quadcom).

While commercial mainstream media is silent about the ICC investigators’ secret visit to House Speaker Martin Romualdez and their stay in a posh hotel reportedly owned by a Romualdez minion, social media had been abuzz with these persistent reports, with erstwhile Marcos loyalist vlogger Maharlika even exposing the passports of the ICC investigators.

The ICC investigators’ visit took place at a time when Former President Duterte appeared before the 11th Quadcom hearing, where he famously said and I quote, “The ICC does not scare me a bit. I go to hell, so be it. Ginawa ko para sa bayan, para sa anak natin.”

As a member of the ICC roster of counsel since 2004, I have consistently argued that the ICC lost its authority to probe or prosecute individuals involved in the war on drugs campaign.

The Philippines deposited a notice of withdrawal on March 17,2018. It became official on March 17, 2019. The Court Prosecutor failed to trigger the Court’s jurisdiction before our withdrawal became effective on March 17, 2019.

As contended by two Appellate Chamber judges, the Prosecutor can no longer open a preliminary investigation once the State’s withdrawal officially took effect.

It was only in 2021, or two years after we officially left the Court that the PTC approved the commencement of a preliminary investigation.

Whether he admits it or not, President Marcos Jr. committed a colossal blunder when he shamelessly handed over private citizen Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in a silver platter.

Here is what has been officially established so far on the March 11 kidnapping of the former President. My reference is the preliminary findings report of the 20 March 2025 Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing.

First finding, the Philippines has no legal obligation to arrest the former President and to turn him over to the ICC. There was no Red Notice and what was received was only a Diffusion Notice. Likewise, there was no indication that the ICC even requested for the surrender of fPRRD or a request to extradite the Filipino leader.

The Senate hearing further trashed the argument of the Justice Secretary that while the Philippines is not under the ICC jurisdiction, the individuals themselves are still under the ICC jurisdiction.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) customary law does not apply. IHL refers to war crimes and fPRRD is accused of committing crimes against humanity, and not war crimes.

Second finding, the Philippine government has decided to collaborate with the ICC to arrest fPRRD. Last Wednesday 02 April 2025, ICC Spokepserson Dr. Fadi El Abdallah categorically said that “the surrender of Mr. Duterte was the decision of Philippine authorities.” Even The New York Time published on 20 March 2025 that the Philippine polic had prepared a secret 80-page plan referred to as “Operation Pursuit” on how to detain fPRRD.

Third finding, there were glaring violations of the rights of FPPRD. There was no warrant issued by a Philippine court or a court order issued mandating that the former President be taken out of the Philippine against his will.

Former President Duterte was also deprived of the right to be visited or have conferences with immediate members of his family. Vice President Inday Sara Duterte, who was the counsel of choice of fPRRD was not allowed to go inside Villamor Sir Base.

FPRRD was also denied to be brought to judicial authorities under Article 59 of the Rome Statute. The Department of Justice was the one which acted as the competent judicial authority.

Having said this, our legal proceedings are an integral part of our sovereignty and jurisdiction. The Constitution vests judicial power in one Supreme Court and lower courts established by law. Jurisdiction allows our government to enact a law (legislative jurisdiction), enforce the law (executive jurisdiction) and penalize those who violate the law (judicial jurisdiction). The State can only share judicial jurisdiction with an alien entity under a treaty. We junked our ICC membership six years ago.

Bad news for the public officials who allowed the ICC to do its bidding have committed culpable violations of the Constitution.

More bad news, too, to the ICC. Hungary, a founding member of the ICC, has decided that it will withdraw from the ICC shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Budapest. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in a news conference, said that the ICC “has been diminished to a political tool and Hungary wishes to play no role in it.” We expect more withdrawals to come soon. Pilipinas lang ang bangag na bangag sa ICC. Goodbye, ICC!

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