President Hinckley

President Gordon B. Hinckely opened the church’s 175 semiannual conference Saturday by recounting the phenomenal Church growth over the past 200 years and by announcing new temples.

“The sun never sets on this kingdom,” he said. “It has not come of conquest, or conflict, or of war. It is come of peaceful persuasion, of testimony, of teaching.”

He said a great indication of the Church’s growth is the spread of temples across the world. Today, there are 122 operating temples and plans to build 3 in Salt Lake Valley and another 7 across the world.

Elder L. Tom Perry

Elder L. Tom Perry said that if church members will complete the prophet’s challenge to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year, they will be able to face the challenges of each day.

“[The Book of Mormon] warns us against pride, indifference, procrastination, the dangers of hypocrisy, and unchastity,” he said. “Now it is up to us to study the Book of Mormon, to learn of its principles and apply them to our lives.”

Elder Perry also said reading the Book of Mormon each day will lift church members above the things of the world, and they gain a stronger testimony of the role of Jesus Christ in their lives.

Bishop Keith B. McMullins

Bishop Keith B. McMullins, second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, said an understanding of the gospel can help church members prepare for and be able to endure calamity.

“Calamities are a form of adversity,” he said. “And adversity is a necessary part of Heavenly Father’s plan for the happiness of his children. If our hearts are right before God, adversity will school us, help us overcome our carnal nature, and nurture the divine spark in us.”

Bishop McMullins also said church members should follow the prophet’s counsel to prepare for calamity by avoiding debt and storing a year supply of food. Press forward in righteousness and all will be well, he said.

Susan W. Tanner

Young Women General President

Sister Tanner specifically addressed the women of the church in a talk about the holiness of the body, counseling women of all ages to be content with their bodies and to cease trying to keep up with society’s “distorted perception” of a perfect body.

“The body is the sacred sanctuary of the spirit,” she said. “We should treat our bodies with sanctity and respect.”

Instead of focusing on the outward appearance, we need to develop the spirit through selfless service to others, she said.

“The Lord wants us to reflect his image in our countenance, not the image of the world,” Tanner said. “We are not less, but more like our Heavenly Father when we are in our bodies and we should act accordingly.”

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Elder Wirthlin spoke of the blessings and prosperity that can come to those who follow the admonitions of the prophets, listen to their warnings and prepare their lives accordingly.

“The Lord has spoken to prophets,” he said. “Depart from iniquity and seek the higher ground to be protected from the storms that are upon us and those yet to come.”

He also said that those who ignore the prophet’s guidance are left to their own strength. It is not until later that they find out how weak and unreliable the arm of flesh is.

“We are called to journey to higher ground,” he said. “We can avoid the sadness that comes with the tragedy of disobedience if we will only watch for and heed the warnings of our beloved prophet.”

President James E. Faust

President Faust concluded the Saturday morning session with a talk on the distinguishing light of Christ that emanates from a truly Christ-like individual. He contrasted the world’s objectives of pleasure and self-interest with the Lord’s objectives of happiness and immortality.

“[There is a] famine of the word in the land,” he said. “We can hear and follow the words of the Lord through prophets, apostles and scriptures — to name a few sources — and it will lift us out of spiritual blindness into marvelous light.”

President Faust spoke of the confirming knowledge of Christ and concluded with the hope that our eyes and hearts would be quickened so that our eyes and our hearts will see and feel alike.



Copyright Brigham Young University 3 Oct 2005