In his April 2026 General Conference address, “Lost Luggage, Redeemed Souls,” Gary E. Stevenson uses the imagery of lost luggage to teach a powerful truth: while items may be misplaced or forgotten, souls are never lost to God.
Each person carries a divine identity and eternal worth, even if they feel distant, forgotten, or off course.
We each possess a tag that marks us as a child of a loving Heavenly Father… never to be forgotten, neglected, or lost.
Common Criticism: “Some people are just too far gone to be helped.”
In a world where people drift, struggle, or make serious mistakes, it can be easy to believe that some individuals are beyond recovery—or not worth the effort to reach.
Fallacy at Work: Irredeemable Identity
This belief assumes that a person’s current condition defines their ultimate value or destiny. It treats individuals as permanently lost, spiritually unreachable, and beyond meaningful change.
Doctrine: Every Soul Has Divine Worth and a Destiny to Be Redeemed
Elder Stevenson teaches that every individual is marked by a divine identity.
Like a tag on lost luggage, that identity declares we are children of God. We have eternal potential and are meant to return to him.
No matter how far someone seems, their worth does not diminish.
Elder Stevenson’s Correction
Elder Stevenson reframes how we see others.
Instead of viewing people based on current circumstances, we are invited to see them as eternal beings, individuals in process, and souls with a divine destination.
Solution
When we understand divine identity, we stop labeling people as lost—and start helping them return.
Living Apologetics: Helping Souls Return
Elder Stevenson teaches that we are not just responsible for ourselves.
We are invited to care for others along the way.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we rise with renewed determination to succor and care for those with whom we come in contact.
This includes:
- Encouraging the rising generation
- Teaching truth with love
- Helping others feel their identity as children of God
It also means trusting that God is actively working in their lives.
Even small efforts matter.
Practical Apologetic Use
If someone says: “Some people just won’t change.”
You can respond: “Elder Stevenson teaches that every soul has divine worth and a destiny to be redeemed. No one is truly lost to God.”
Ways to Apply Today
1️⃣ See someone not as they are now, but as who they can become.
2️⃣ Encourage a young person or someone who may need support.
3️⃣ Offer kindness to someone who may feel overlooked or forgotten.
Keep This Talk With You
Elder Stevenson reminds us that while luggage may be misplaced, souls are not. Each person carries a divine identity and eternal promise. And each of us has a role to play.
This week:
- See divine worth. Look beyond surface-level judgments.
- Act with compassion. Small efforts can make a lasting difference.
- Help others return. Be part of the Savior’s work of redemption.
As we do, we see more clearly, love more deeply, and serve more intentionally.
And we come to understand a powerful truth: We are not just finding our way home; we are helping others find theirs too.
Who is one person I can see differently and help feel remembered, valued, and not lost?
The Consider Conference series by FAIR offers an in-depth look at recent General Conference talks to help members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints navigate common questions, misunderstandings, and criticisms. Each post provides doctrinal insights, historical context, and practical ways to apply gospel principles in everyday conversations. Through this series, we hope to equip readers with faith-promoting resources that encourage thoughtful reflection, respectful dialogue, and a stronger foundation in gospel truths, fostering both personal conviction and meaningful discussions with others.
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