The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held their 182nd semi-annual General Conference this weekend. According to attendees, it was a life-changing event when President Thomas S. Monson announced the age requirement change for missionaries. After the major announcement about missionaries serving at a younger age, Latter-day Saints also heard challenges from other leaders to stand out and be stronger disciples of Christ. Service and standards were a major theme of the conference for first time goers and regular attendees. Many say this conference was definitely the one to attend. As the crowds dispersed, with them went the message, go forth and serve.
Members say the general authorities put a major emphasis on taking the gospel to the entire world. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland particularly emphasized how much power that message has.
'Ours is neither a feeble message nor a fleeting task. It is neither hapless nor hopeless nor to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of the almighty and it is to change the world,' said Holland.
And changing the world it is! Over 100,000 people passed through the conference center this weekend from all over the globe. For people like Suda Kutri from Napal, it was an answer to a prayer.
While attending conference, Napal said, 'I got the ticket! I am very happy!'
Latter-day Saint church leaders re-emphasized that they want members to stay clean from the world, specifically being careful with the Internet. Second counselor in the First Presidency, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said,'I believe that we are not headed in the right direction individually or as a society when the most frequent way we connect with family and friends is by re-posting humorous pictures, forwarding trivial things, or linking them to sites on the Internet.'
General Relief Society President Linda K. Burton forwarded a theme of service that resonated with those in attendance.
Sister Dunkley, an attendee to conference who serves on her local Relief Society Presidency, said she was inspired to serve from the addresses. She said, “It just was a testimony to me that this is what I need to do.'
Just before the big announcement about missionary service, President Monson also shared that the church will build two new LDS temples; one in Arequipa, Peru, and the other in Tucson, Arizona.