LDS General Conference: Members asked to seek Christ, stay the course
Erik Pinho, a Brigham Young University student from Brazil, enlists the help of his niece Ingrid Torgan as he searches for a ticket to the Saturday afternoon session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 outside Temple Square in Salt Lake City. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Elder Dale G. Renlund, Elder Gary E. Stevenson and Elder Ronald A. Rasband take their seats after being named new members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the Saturday afternoon session of the church's 185th Semiannual General Conference on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, waves as he leaves with his daughter Ann Dibb at the end of the Saturday morning session of the church's 185th Semiannual General Conference on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints raise their hands in a sustaining vote for the church leadership during the Saturday afternoon session of the church's 185th Semiannual General Conference on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Elder Dale G. Renlund and Elder Ronald A. Rasband take their seats after being named new members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the Saturday afternoon session of the church's 185th Semiannual General Conference on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
People sit and talk outside Temple Square before the Saturday afternoon session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
People line up for entry before the Saturday afternoon session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
President Henry B. Eyring, of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the church's 185th Semiannual General Conference on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his counselors President Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf, walk to their seats at the start of the Saturday morning session of the church's 185th Semiannual General Conference on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, center, and his counselors President Henry B. Eyring, left, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf, right, take their seats at the start of the Saturday morning session of the church's 185th Semiannual General Conference on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sit before the Saturday morning session of the church's 185th Semiannual General Conference on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor to the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, raises his hand along with other church leaders to cast sustaining votes for church leaders and officers during the Saturday afternoon session of the church's 185th Semiannual General Conference on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Is the gospel working for you?
That is the question Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf asked members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the Saturday morning session of the 185th Semi-Annual General Conference of the church.
Members watching or attending the Saturday morning session anticipated the calling of three new apostles to fill the empty chairs left by Pres. Boyd K. Packer, and Elders L. Tom Perry and Richard G. Scott. Uchtdorf said during the weekend conference, the members will have the opportunity to sustain three that have been called to the Quorum of the Twelve.
Living the gospel doesn’t need to be complicated, Uchtdorf said as he spoke to how to make the gospel work in people’s lives.
A general theme throughout Saturday morning’s session included focusing on the Savior and knowing that God is at the helm. Members should follow the outlined counsel from keeping the Sabbath Day holy, following the counsel of the “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” to strengthening their testimonies, these will guide members and keep them in a steady ship.
“It is the Church wherein we learn the works of God and accept the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that saves us,” said Elder M. Russel Ballard. “It is within the church that we form the commitments and covenants of eternal families that become our passports to exaltation.”
Speakers admonished members to focus their lives on Christ with exactness — that means yielding their hearts to God.
“When we yield ourselves to the Spirit, we learn God’s way and feel his will,” said Sister Neill F. Marriott, second counselor in the Young Women General Presidency.
If spiritual growth is not a priority in our lives, if we are not on a course of steady improvement, we will miss out on the important experiences that God wants to give us, according to Elder Larry R. Lawrence, the Quorum of the Seventy.
In closing the morning session Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve, asked members to be worthy of the temple in both the goods times and the bad.
“Living and maintaining temple worthy lives will hold together all that really matters,” Cook said. “The sweet blessings of peace, happiness and joy, along with the blessings of eternal life and celestial glory with our Heavenly father and his Son Jesus Christ will be realized.”
Saturday Afternoon Session
In between the morning and afternoon sessions of conference three red chairs were added to the stand, signifying the 98th, 99th and 100th apostles of the LDS Church in this dispensation would be sustained and join their brethren in the Quorum of the Twelve.
During the sustaining of General Authorities and officers of the church Elders Ronald A. Rasband, 64; Gary E. Stevenson, 62; and Dale G. Renlund, 60; were called as the new members of the Quorum of the Twelve.
As the first speaker, Elder Robert D. Hales set the tone for the afternoon session speaking on the challenges of today’s world.
Speaking to the youth, Hales acknowledged they are living through a critical period of their life. Choices made like missions, education, marriage, career, and service in the church will shape their eternal destiny. He encouraged youth to go forward not backward.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland declared in his talk, “… no love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child.
“To all mothers everywhere, past, present or future, I say thank you for giving birth, for shaping souls, for forming character and for demonstrating the pure love of Christ.”
In referring to the children’s song, “I Am A Child of God,” Elder Bradley D. Foster said it is never too early and it’s never too late, to lead, guide, and walk beside our children because families are forever.
The conference theme continued with many leaders talking about making right choices, seeking correct help, choosing the light and turning to the Savior.
Completing the session, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve, spoke of the Atonement and how it strengthens one’s life.
“Our Saviors atonement does more than assure us of immortality by a universal resurrection and provide the opportunity for us to be cleansed from sin by repentance and baptism,” Oaks said. “His atonement also gives us the opportunity to call upon Him who has experienced all of our mortal infirmities to heal us and give us the strength to bear the burdens of mortality.”
