However, church leadership did take time to acknowledge his passing at the beginning of the morning session.

Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles started the Saturday morning’s session offering condolences to the Nelson family and praising the late prophet’s leadership.

“President Nelson leaves a tremendous legacy,” Eyring said. “He will be remembered for his love and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and his kind and gentle nature. He has been an influence for good throughout the world. Upon his passing, the First Presidency was dissolved and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is now the presiding quorum that will direct the church until such time as the First Presidency is reorganized.”

Dallin H. Oaks, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said there would be minimal changes to the weekend’s agenda.

“We now go forward with this Semiannual General Conference, proceeding as planned with speakers and music assigned by President Nelson after months of preparation,” Oaks said. “The only additions are my introductory explanation and my speaking in place of President Nelson in the closing session on Sunday afternoon.”

He asked that conference speakers keep tributes to Nelson short and keep the speeches that they had worked so hard on.

“In this time of grief, we have already held a meeting to pay tribute to President Russell M. Nelson before our general conference meetings and then scheduled his funeral as soon as possible after conference,” he said. “All of this has been done with the approval of the family of President Nelson and the Quorum of the Twelve. Since all of us who have been assigned to speak in general conference would like to devote our assigned time to paying a personal tribute to President Nelson, we have therefore asked that all of our conference speakers hold any such tributes to a minimum, deferring elaborate tributes for the funeral, which we have already begun to plan.”

Oaks then offered a short tribute to Nelson to close out his Saturday morning appearance.

“I love Russell M. Nelson and have learned more about the Gospel and gospel leadership from my long friendship and association with him than from any other leader I have personally known,” Oaks said. ” He is our model as a servant and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

President Russell M. Nelson’s funeral services are set for Tuesday.

Among the speakers Saturday morning was Gary Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

“As we anticipate these conference proceedings, we are acutely aware of the weeks leading up to it,” he said. “We realize that our hearts are mourning loss and some feel uncertainty caused by violence or tragedy throughout the world. Even devout people gathered in sacred spaces, including in our hallowed chapel in Michigan, have lost their lives or loved ones. I speak from my heart realizing many of your hearts are burdened by what you, our families and our world have undergone since last general conference.”

He said, even in these times, everyone can be a peacemaker.

“Today, peacemaking still begins in the most basic place — in our hearts, then in homes and families” he said. “As we practice there, peacemaking will spread into our neighborhoods and communities.”

Also speaking Saturday was Quentin Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who noted that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is continuing to grow.

“There is clear evidence that faith in Jesus Christ is increasing in our day,” he said. “In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there has been a remarkable increase in converts and convert participation. In the last 36 months, nearly 900,000 converts have joined the church. These converts constitute approximately 5% of the total church membership. We welcome new members with open arms and deep appreciation for the path you have chosen.”

He said the number of converts is incredible when compared to where the church was the year he was born.

“These 900,000 converts in the last 36 months exceed the total membership of the church at its 110th anniversary in 1940, which was just over 860,000 members,” he said.

Cook added that these converts and those who rejoin the church are absolutely vital.

“Let me once again assure all new converts and those returning to the Lord’s church we love you, we need you, the Lord needs you,” he said. “We may not welcome you with marching bands, but we pray the blessings of heaven will attend your efforts to progress along the covenant path that leads to God the Father and Jesus Christ in the Celestial Kingdom.”

For more from Saturday’s session of General Conference, visit https://www.youtube.com/@churchofjesuschristgeneralconf.