General Conference focuses on improvement
President Thomas S. Monson opened the 172nd annual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints early Saturday morning. The conference began in 1929 and has been an ongoing tradition.
President Monson talked about hidden wedges in the lives of people and their families.
“Let’s be as we once were: Friends. Let’s not pass to future generations the grievances, the anger of our time. Let’s remove any hidden wedges that can do nothing but destroy,” Monson said.
Monson ended with a plea that all members of the Church of Jesus Christ need to be faithful in keeping the commandments and instead of harboring hidden wedges to, “remember the Savior’s admonition: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another.”
Gordon B. Hinckley, president of The Church of Jesus Christ, went on to talk about the vast growth in the church. Currently the church has become the fifth-largest church in the United States.
“From the original six members has grown a vast family of worshipers, 11 million plus strong,” Hinckley said. “No other church to come out of the soil of America has grown so fast nor spread so widely … It is a phenomenon without precedent.”
During the conference, Hinckley addressed the 2002 Olympic Winter Games that were held in Salt Lake City in February.
“We had total confidence in our people, many thousands of them, who would serve as volunteers in the great undertaking … It all worked out. The visitors came by the hundreds and thousands.
“He said they discovered not only the scenic wonder of this area with its magnificent mountains and valleys, they found not only the spirit of the international Games at their best, but they found beauty in this city.
Hinckley not only wanted to thank the members of the church, but all the members of the community and all the volunteers from around the state who allowed the Olympic Games to progress in such a successful manner.
Early Sunday morning President James E. Faust bore witness of the importance of prayer.
“Access to our Creator through our Savior is surely one of the great privileges and blessings of our lives,” he said.
Faust urged members to say their daily prayers and to continue to pray for the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley.
Hinckley followed later with a talk on faith.
“Faith is the fiber that gives strength to this work. Wherever this church is established, across the broad world, it is evident,” Hinckley said. “It is found everywhere. We are people of faith. We walk by faith. We move forward on our eternal journey one step at a time.”
Elder Jeffery R. Holland said, “I know that if we will be faithful there is a perfectly-tailored robe of righteousness ready and waiting for everyone.”
For those unable to listen to or watch conference, the sessions may be heard over the Internet in approximately 30 languages at www.lds.org within the week following conference.
President Gordon B. Hinkley along with counselors Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust prepare for a Saturday session of conference. (Scott Davis )
Utah State University students from the Logan LDS Institute joined members from the Ogden Institute to provide music during the Saturday afternoon session of conference. (Scott Davis )