The Saturday afternoon session of the 195th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints paid a subtle yet profound tribute to former president of the Church, Russell M. Nelson.
President Russell M. Nelson passed away last week, and Church members have mourned his passing, especially with his death being so close to general conference.
To start the Sunday morning session of the conference, President Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve noted the passing of President Nelson and said that personal tributes to President Nelson would be saved for his funeral, scheduled for this coming Tuesday.
While speakers in the Saturday afternoon session followed this direction and avoided direct tributes to the beloved president, every speaker gave reverent respects by referencing the teachings of President Nelson.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve was the first speaker of the session. In his address, he quoted President Nelson’s address, “Choices for Eternity." Elder Rasband shared President Nelson’s testimony that all are divine children of God with a divine potential.
Following Elder Rasband’s remarks, Brother Chad H. Webb, First Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, approached the pulpit and bore his testimony on the importance of the Holy Ghost.
“President Russell M. Nelson frequently spoke about the importance of hearing the voice of the Lord. He taught us how to invite the guidance of the Holy Ghost and repeatedly pled with us to increase our spiritual capacity to receive revelation,” Elder Webb said.
Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi of the Seventy shared a story from a previous talk of President Nelson's about a young boy touring a temple open house. Elder Jaggi also spoke on the importance of covenants.
"As we make and honor our covenants, receiving the ordinances of the sacrament at church, and the endowment and sealing at the temple, we bind ourselves to the Savior, gaining greater access to His mercy, protection, sanctification, healing and rest," Elder Jaggi said.
McKay Larson, a conference attendee from Phoenix, Arizona, said that President Nelson helped him realize the importance of the covenant path, so Larson appreciated the reference to the late prophet's teachings about the power of covenant living.
Elder Kevin G. Brown of the Seventy shared President Nelson’s well-known invitation to “think celestial." Elder Brown also shared President Nelson’s invitation for members of the Church to listen to the Holy Ghost and be intentional in growing their testimony.
Pele Naise, a conference attendee from Tonga said that this repeated invitation to “think celestial” was one of her favorite parts of the session.
Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve spoke on the importance of loving others, creating a community within the Church and acknowledging the divinity that disciples hold as children of God.
“All are blessed when we define our cultural identity, as President Russell M. Nelson teaches, as a child of God, a child of the covenant, a disciple of Christ,” Elder Gong said.
Elder Michael Cziesla, of the Seventy, followed Elder Gong and spoke on how members of the Church can strengthen their relationship with Christ through simple, faithful actions.
“President Nelson reminded us to focus on ‘pure truth, pure doctrine and pure revelation’ as we seek to follow the Savior,” Elder Cziesla said.
Elder Cziesla also shared President Nelson’s quote about finding joy in the focus of our lives, rather than the circumstances.
Talon Cosentino from Las Vegas, Nevada said this quote stood out to him.
“When we keep our focus on things that are righteous and good, like Jesus Christ and the gospel, then we don’t have a whole lot to worry about. We just have to do what we know is right and our lives will be a lot more happy and joyful,” Cosentino said.
The concluding speaker in the session was Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve, who spoke on the hastening of the Lord’s work.
Elder Cook highlighted President Nelson’s testimony of daily scripture study, becoming a peacemaker and making covenants in the temple.
Molly Edmondes, a conference attendee from Maple Valley, Washington, said she noticed the repeated references to President Nelson’s talk on being peacemakers, sharing that that talk was one of her favorites.
“With the times we’re going through, I just thought that that was really neat, and I think it’s just a powerful message about love and compassion that needs to be reiterated,” Edmondes said.
Andrea Oandeen, a conference attendee from Sandy, Utah said she thinks the reverent tributes to President Nelson will continue.
“His legacy will just keep going and he will be remembered,” Oandeen said.