*Saturday Morning Session

President Gordon B. Hinckley of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the two new members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during the Saturday morning session of General Conference.

President Hinckley said the apostles were called at a time of ever-increasing growth of the church.

“We recognize that in the natural course of events, there are recurring vacancies which make necessary, to be filling these as they are created,” he said.

After expressing gratitude for former apostles Elders Neal A. Maxwell and David B. Haight, President Hinckley called Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf and David A. Bednar to serve as the new apostles.

These elders will speak Sunday during the conference.

Following this announcement, President Hinckley commented on the growth of the church.

“I believe the church is in better condition than it has been in any time in its entire history,” he said. “There is greater faith. There is a broader measure of service. There is a more general measure of integrity among our youth. There is a greater vitality in all aspects of the work than we have ever seen before.”

To accommodate for this growth, President Hinckley said there are over 450 meetinghouses under construction throughout the earth, along with several new temples.

He said the church is producing improved buildings, while also saving millions to meet the needs of its members.

“It continues to grow,” he said. “It is touching the lives of more and more people every year. It is traveling far and wide over the earth.”

Also because of increasing membership, President Hinckley announced plans for new temples in the Salt Lake valley, Sacramento, and Idaho.

Along with these new temples, construction is also currently in effect for temples in Nigeria, Finland, and San Antonio. The church will also reconstruct the temple in Samoa. Following the dedication of these temples, the church will have 130 temples in operation worldwide said President Hinckley.

Moreover, President Hinckley also announced plans for additional construction, which will not be funded by tithing donations, in the Salt Lake area. As time progresses, extra precautions must be made to help preserve the Salt Lake Tabernacle and increase its utility, comfort, and safety he said.

The perpetual education fund and missionary and educational programs, and are also being strengthened said President Hinckley.

“We are striving to bring the greatest measure of spirituality into the work of our vast body of missionaries,” he said.

“Let us glory in this wonderful season of the work of the Lord,” President Hinckley said. “Let us not be proud or arrogant, let us be humbly grateful. Let us, each one, resolve within himself or herself that he will add to the luster of this magnificent work of the Almighty that it may shine across the earth.”



Copyright Brigham Young University 3 Oct 2004