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General conference Saturday evening: LDS leaders share focus on Christ as Holy Week begins

By Genelle Pugmire - | Apr 1, 2023

Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald

President Russell M. Nelson, right, and Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor, talk to each other before the afternoon session of the 193rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the conference center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

When President Dallin H. Oaks greeted worshippers to the Saturday evening session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he noted members of the church watching this session from around the world.

In past conferences, Saturday nights were reserved for either a priesthood session or a women’s session. Over the last few conferences the evening session has evolved into a joint session giving more leaders an opportunity to speak and for members to get to know them.

Elder Mark A. Bragg, of the Seventy, introduced the evening talks with a lesson on Christ-like poise.

“Spiritual poise blesses us to stay calm and focused on what matters most, especially when we are under pressure. President Hugh B. Brown taught, ‘Faith in God and in the ultimate triumph of right, contributes to mental and spiritual poise in the face of difficulties,'” Bragg said. “In the Garden of Gethsemane, in unimaginable agony, as ‘he sweat as it were great drops of blood,’ He exemplified divine poise with the simple yet majestic statement, ‘Not my will, but thine, be done.'”

Bragg described Jesus’ sense of self and poise in the face of his “divine mission” alongside preaching priesthood and that “all who faithfully yoke themselves to Him by making and keeping sacred covenants received through priesthood ordinances will be saved.”

Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald

The conference center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is shown before the morning session of the 193rd Semiannual General Conference in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

“It is through Christ and His atonement that all good things come into our lives. As we remember who we are, knowing that there is a divine plan of mercy, and drawing courage in the strength of the Lord, we can do all things,” Bragg said. “We will find calm. We will be good women and men in any storm. May we seek the blessing of Christ like poise, not only to help ourselves in challenging times, but to bless others and help them through the storms in their lives.”

Milton Camargo, first counselor of the Sunday School General Presidency, encouraged those listening to focus on Christ.

“Unfortunately, too often we concentrate so much on our own problems that we lose focus on the solution, our savior Jesus Christ,” Camargo said. “How do we avoid that mistake? I believe the answer lies in the covenants we are invited to make with Him and our father in heaven. Our covenants help us focus our attention, our thoughts and our actions on Christ.”

Elder K. Brett Nattress of the Seventy spoke about forgiveness and the love of the Lord.

“Brothers and sisters, I testify that our Heavenly Father always remembers us and that He loves us perfectly,” Nattress said. “My question is this: Do we remember Him? And, do we love Him? … To those who have strayed from the covenant path, please know there is always hope, there is always healing, and there is always a way back.”

Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald

President Russell M. Nelson, with his wife Wendy Nelson, gestures to an audience member after the afternoon session of the 193rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the conference center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

Nattress asked his fellow members to rely on hope as “the healing balm” for troubles in the wider world.

Elder Juan A. Uceda, of the Seventy, spoke of The Good Shepherd — a description of Jesus Christ for this willingness to “(lay) down his life for the sheep” — and the importance of nurturing and ministering to his flock.

“When the Pharisees and scribes murmured against the Lord, ‘saying, this man receiveth sinners and eateth with them,’ He responded by presenting three beautiful stories that we have come to know as the parable of the Lost Sheep, the parable of the Lost Coin and the parable of the Prodigal Son,” Uceda said.

On their face, Uceda said, each of these parables appears to focus on different quantities of people or things. But at their heart, he insisted, is the number one.

In this same way, he advised, Latter-day Saints should keep a focus on the individual when ministering to others.

Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald

Attendees wait before the morning session of the 193rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the conference center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

“You never say, ‘what a foolish sheep,’ or ‘after all, I do not really need that coin’ or ‘what a rebellious son he is,'” he said. “If you and I have with us the pure love of Christ, we, as the man in the story of the Lost Sheep, will leave the ninety and nine and go after that which is lost until, until, until we find it.”

The music for the evening session was provided by a combined choir from students of the Logan Utah Institute of Religion.

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