General conference Saturday morning: Focus on Christ’s atonement, peace and example, LDS members told
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- President Russell M. Nelson and his wife Wendy Nelson great conference attendees to conclude 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.
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- President Russell M. Nelson enters 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.
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- People wait in line to enter the 193rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 1, 2023. Behind is the under-construction Salt Lake Temple.
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- Mark L. Pace, Sunday School general president, gives the closing prayer of 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.
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- Ryan Murphy, associate music director for The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, leads the crowd in singing “Now Let Us Rejoice” during 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.
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- Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks during 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.
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- From left, first counselor Dallin H. Oaks, President Russell M. Nelson and second counselor Henry B. Eyring wait for the the morning session of the 193rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to begin at the conference center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 1, 2023.
Christ’s atonement, and focusing on him for peace and as an example, was the theme of Saturday morning’s session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The session began with a surprise announcement that a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was not in attendance.
President Dallin H. Oaks, of the First Presidency, told those watching in-person and around the world that Elder Jeffrey R. Holland would not be in the building after contracting COVID-19.
“Pat and I love being with you at general conference. Unfortunately, we both tested positive for Covid and are not able to attend this weekend. We will be watching together, hand-in-hand, at home. Like you, I express my gratitude for the Savior this Palm Sunday weekend,” Holland tweeted.
With the conference’s second day on Palm Sunday, Elder Gary E. Stevenson spoke directly to members of the church about the importance that needs to be place on Holy Week and Easter — even more than Christmas.
“I observe a growing effort among Latter-day Saints toward a more Christ-centered Easter. This includes a greater and more thoughtful recognition of Palm Sunday and Good Friday as practiced by some of our Christian cousins. We might also adopt appropriate Christ centered Easter traditions found in the cultures and practices of countries worldwide,” Stevenson said.
Elder Stevenson noted that, along with the New Testament, the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus and the account of his visit in his resurrected glory to his children in the Americas.
Stevenson suggested reading 3 Nephi 11, which tells the story of the resurrected Christ’s visit to the Nephites, his Easter ministry. These Easter scriptures bear record of the resurrection.
It is through Christ and his sacrifice that the people of the world can find peace, according to President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor of the First Presidency.
“The savior knows that all of Heavenly Father’s children yearn for peace, and He said that He could give it to us. You remember the words of Jesus Christ recorded in the book of John: ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid,'” Eyring said. “I have learned at least five truths from that teaching of the Savior. First, the gift of peace is given after we have the faith to keep His commandments. … Second, the Holy Ghost will come and abide with us. The Lord says that, as we continue to be faithful, the Holy Ghost will dwell in us.”
Other talks focused on different aspects with the common theme of following Christ.
President Bonnie Cordon, of the Young Women Presidency, also referenced 3 Nephi 11, saying followers should imagine hearing “the Lord’s personal invitation” after bearing witness to chaos.
“When Christ physically visited the Nephites at their temple, His invitation was not to stand at a distance and look upon Him, but to touch Him, to feel for themselves the reality of the Savior of humankind,” Cordon said. “How can we draw close enough to gain a personal witness of Jesus Christ? … While we may not enjoy the same physical proximity as those who walked with Christ during His earthly ministry, through the Holy Ghost we can experience His power every day! As much as we need.”
Speaking about meeting people from around the world at conference and other locations, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, of the Quorum of the Twelve, discussed how others can best minister to each other.
“In some places in the church, we have a ministering gap. More say they are ministering than say they are being ministered to,” Gong said. “We do not want checklist concern. But often we need more than a sincere hello in the hall or a casual ‘Can I help you?’ in the parking lot.”
Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve, noted that gathering continues on. But he asked, “Where is the Church today? In the 62 years since I commenced serving a mission in 1960, the number of full-time missionaries serving under a call from the prophet has increased from 7,683 to 62,544. The number of missions has increased from 58 to 411. The number of members has increased from approximately 1,700,000 to approximately 17 million.”
He added a prayer for “every child, young man, young woman, family, and quorum, Relief Society and class to review how we individually and collectively accept dramatic counsel to help gather Israel that have been issued by the Lord and our beloved prophet.”
Elder Allen D. Haynie spoke of living prophets in the Latter Days.
“A prophet is someone God has personally prepared, called, corrected, inspired, rebuked, sanctified and sustained. That is why we are never spiritually at risk in following prophetic counsel,” Haynie said.
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