The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened its 194th Semiannual General Conference in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5.
Members and friends of the Church gathered at the Conference Center from around the world to hear messages from the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve and other general officers of the Church.
Messages in the Saturday morning session focused on the joy and love that comes from trusting God and serving in His Church.
Elder Neil L. Andersen
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve opened the conference by teaching about the power of hope to overcome any trial or heartbreak in this life. He used the examples of scripture heroes who showed hope in God and taught that temple covenants and the Holy Ghost are great sources of hope.
“Brothers and sisters, the peace you seek may not come as quickly as you desire, but I promise you that as you trust in the Lord, His peace will come. May we nurture our precious faith, pressing forward with a perfect brightness of hope,” Elder Andersen said.
President Emily Belle Freeman
For her address, President Emily Belle Freeman focused on the privileges of God’s power, the priesthood.
“It’s not only who officiates in the ordinance that matters; what the ordinance and your covenant promise unlocks also deserves the focus of your attention,” President Freeman said.
She added that accepting President Russell M. Nelson’s invitation to study the revelation given to Emma Smith in Doctrine and Covenants 25 changed her life. These verses, she shared, helped Emma Smith see the power of the priesthood by reminding her of “who she was and Whose she was,” explaining her role in the plan and outlining how she could become sanctified for the work.
President Freeman quoted President Nelson, who said that “accessing the power of God in your life requires the same things that the Lord instructed Emma and each of (us) to do.”
She closed by challenging each girl in the kingdom to “live up to (their) privileges,” study the ordinances and covenants of the priesthood and understand the priesthood power available to them.
Elder Karl D. Hirst
Elder Karl D. Hirst taught about the deep and personal nature of God’s love for His children. He shared that any voice that makes claims contrary to God’s love “are just wrong” and that joy fills those who share God’s love with others.
“One of the miracles of the divine economy is that when we try to share Jesus’ love, we find ourselves being filled up,” Elder Hirst said.
Elder Dale G. Renlund
Elder Dale G. Renlund began his remarks with an analogy about dynamite, explaining that until a stabilizer named kieselguhr was discovered and paired with nitroglycerin, dynamite could not be safely and effectively used.
“Just as dynamite without nitroglycerin is unremarkable, the Savior’s Church is special only if it is built on His gospel. Without the Savior’s gospel and the authority to administer the ordinances thereof, the Church isn’t exceptional.”
However, “the combination of the gospel of Jesus Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides powerful and transformative benefits for us,” Elder Renlund said. “The gospel is perfect, but a divinely commissioned church is required to preach it, maintain its purity and administer its sacred ordinances with the Savior’s power and authority.”
He invited members to commit more fully to the Savior, His gospel and His Church, promising that a power greater than dynamite will “shatter the rocks in your way, transform you into an inheritor in God’s kingdom” and fill your heart with joy.
Elder David P. Homer
Elder David P. Homer testified there are great blessings that come to those who trust God, even amidst trial or doubts. This requires standing by Christ and reconciling personal desires with the words of prophets and personal revelation, he said.
“The choice to submit our will to God’s is an act of faith that lies at the heart of our discipleship. In making that choice, we discover that our agency is not diminished; rather, it is magnified and rewarded by the presence of the Holy Ghost.”
Elder Gregorio E. Casillas
In his address, Elder Gregorio E. Casillas taught that one of the greatest ways for members of the Church of Jesus Christ to feel God’s love is through sharing His love and joy with others.
“Although we face many difficulties, I know they are there in part to ... allow us to help others feel the love of our Heavenly Father,” Elder Casillas said. “We can provide a sense of joy that is reflected in our countenance; a joy that we share with words of love and acts of kindness.”
President Dallin H. Oaks
President Dallin H. Oaks concluded the Saturday morning session by outlining three ways to more diligently follow Jesus Christ. He explained these steps include obeying the two great commandments, trusting both permanent temporary commandments from God and being peacemakers amidst contentious times.
He said that an example of a temporary commandment was the Lord’s direction for early Church members to move west. Permanent commandments include things such as the law of tithing, the Proclamation on the Family issued by President Gordon B. Hinckley and the correct name of the Church. These need to be continually re-emphasized and observed, President Oaks said.
Among the commandments needing another emphasis, is Christ’s directive to avoid contention and be a peacemaker, President Oaks said.
“This does not mean to compromise our principles and priorities but to cease harshly attacking others for theirs. That is what our Perfect Role Model did in His ministry. That is the example He set for us, as He invited us to follow Him,” President Oaks said.
Sophia Chima and Ifeanyi Obi, BYU law students from Nigeria shared that President Oaks’ address was their favorite in the session. Chima was recently baptized by her husband Obi, and this was their first time attending general conference.
“For me, I think I'm the luckiest because I’ve just been in the Church for five months,” Chima said.
Katalina Ata and Luseane Fifita traveled from Melbourne, Australia with a group of more than 15 to watch the conference. Fifita said she learned from the conference to "trust God and be a peacemaker."
Ata, who was attending in person for the first time, shared the experience was "overwhelming but beautiful." She enjoyed the focus on receiving God's love by sharing it with others.
"Sometimes we complain about that we’re not being ministered to, but while doing your ministering you're being ministered to at the same time and I love that. It just reminds me to kind of strengthen and keep going," Ata said.
A link to the recording of the Saturday morning session and livestream for future sessions can be found here.
