General Conference speakers share testimonies of Jesus Christ on Easter morning

The Sunday morning session of the 196th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 5.

The session was conducted by President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, and featured addresses from President Dallin H. Oaks, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Elder Dale G. Renlund, President Emily Belle Freeman, Elder Pedro X. Larreal, Elder Edward B. Rowe, Elder Thierry K. Mutombo and Elder Alan R. Walker.

President Uchtdorf opened the meeting by reflecting on the heartache and hopelessness Jesus Christs followers must have felt the morning after His death nearly 2,000 years ago.

How could the man who had cast out demons, healed the crippled, cured the sick, walked on water, conversed with angels, taught the blessed hope and infinite glory of the gospel, fed multitudes and raised the dead how could He, Himself, have died? President Uchtdorf said.

President Uchtdorf continued his talk by proclaiming the hope and light Christs resurrection brings amidst darkness.

Each morning may the daily rising sun remind us that Jesus Christ is the light that leads us through this life, through any valley of sorrow, over beautiful mountains of joy, and across any ocean of uncertainty or temptation, safely back to our loving and merciful Father in Heaven, he said.

Amulek Plata attended the Sunday morning session and said President Uchtdorfs words stood out to him.

I liked the part when (he) talked about how we need to learn how Jesus Christ is risen, Plata said. (Christ) is willing to help us whenever we are facing trials.

Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman followed President Uchtdorf and spoke of best days and worst days in life. She told the story of the apostle Peter and how Christ used his good and bad days to teach him.

Maybe it took both the worst days and the best days for Peter to become who the Lord needed Him to become, she said.

Multiple speakers throughout the session similarly emphasized Christs love for us. Elder Pedro X. Larreal and Elder Edward B. Rowe of the Seventy both touched on how they feel the Saviors love and guidance in their lives.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve also added his testimony of Christs love and the hope Easter represents.

After three days in a borrowed tomb, Jesus Christ broke the bands of death imposed by the fall. With His Resurrection, He secured salvation from physical death for us, all of Gods children throughout the ages, Elder Rasband said.

Elders Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve and Elder Thierry K. Mutombo and Elder Alan R. Walker of the Seventy subsequently shared stories of how Jesus Christ has influenced their life through the Atonement and covenants.

On this Easter Sunday, let us consider why focusing on Jesus Christ and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice is of greatest value and helps us no matter how many other concerns we must manage," Elder Renlund said. His life, mission, and the fruits of His Atonement bless us infinitely and daily.

Cece Cohen attended the Sunday morning session and said she had been looking forward to coming to conference on Easter Sunday all week.

I think its a really special opportunity, she said.

Zane Elkins, another conference attendee, said he came to the morning session of conference wanting to know how to come closer to Christ. The words of President Dallin H. Oaks, the concluding speaker of the session, helped answer Elkins question.

I really liked what he said about loving one another, Elkins said.

Like others, President Oaks spoke about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His talk also focused on loving one's enemies as Christ would.

As followers of Christ, let us follow Him by forgoing contention and by using the language and methods of peacemakers, he said. In our families and other personal relationships, let us avoid what is harsh and hateful. Let us seek to be holy, like our Savior.