Elder Alan T. Phillips, General Authority Seventy, spoke during the Saturday afternoon session of the October 2023 general conference. He encouraged individuals to know Heavenly Father, the Savior Jesus Christ and who they are as God’s children. The following is a summary of what he said.

Elder Phillips’ talk summary

Knowing Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and true divine identity as a child of God are three foundational truths.

“You are not an accidental byproduct of nature, a cosmic orphan, or the result of matter plus time plus chance. Where there is design, there is a designer.”

Each individual is known by God and loved by Him and by the Savior, who gave all of Heavenly Father’s children the means to return to Him and to be succored on earth — both through the Holy Ghost and through others in mortality. 

“How we treat one another truly matters. … Jesus Christ is the perfect example of caring for those in need — the hungry, the stranger, the sick, the poor, the imprisoned. His work is our work.”

Those who feel lost are not alone on their journeys. Ordinances and covenants help yoke everyone to the Savior to build faith in Him and gain strength to overcome their challenges.

“To my dear friends of the rising generation, Gen Z and Gen Alpha: Please know faith requires work. … Some of the most real things in life are not seen; they are felt, known and experienced. They too are real.”

Notable quotes

See the full text of Elder Phillips’ talk: ‘God Knows and Loves You’

Who is Elder Phillips?

Elder Alan T. Phillips, sustained as a General Authority Seventy in the April 2023 general conference.

La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días

• He grew up mostly around Buckinghamshire, England, and has both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
• He was a counselor in the Europe North Area presidency while serving as an Area Seventy, prior to his call as a General Authority Seventy.
• He met his wife, Sister Lindsey Phillips, while she took part in a study abroad program in London, England, through Brigham Young University. They met through a mutual friend at the Hyde Park Chapel. 

What has Elder Phillips done recently?

• He was sustained during the April 2023 general conference.
• In his role as second counselor in the Europe North Area presidency, Elder Phillips accompanied Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during a ministry trip to Iceland, England and Scotland in September. 
• Elder Phillips helped to host the diplomatic and government representatives attending the British Pageant in England in August and reflected on the journey of religious freedom shared in the pageant.