Guest article: Latter-day Saints gather for General Conference after prophet’s death
Editor’s note: This guest submission was not edited or altered by The Utah Statesman.
By Mia Nielsen
Fighting against the rain, 20,000 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints filled the Conference Center, a week after the passing of church president Russell M. Nelson. After President Nelson’s death, the church is under an “apostolic interregnum”, a period between the death of a prophet and the reorganization of the First Presidency of the church, where members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles hold collective authority.
“This is the first time in about 75 years that a church president has died a few days before a general conference,” Dallin H. Oaks said.
Members of the Quorum of the Twelve sat together in a line based upon seniority, President Oaks being the most senior and the successor to Russell M. Nelson. He said, “I speak to you as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve, in which position I have been sustained each conference-ward, stake, and general conference-for the past 7 ½ years.”
He explained that church leaders made limited changes to the conference program. “We now go forward with this semiannual general conference, proceeding as planned and with speakers and music assigned by President Nelson after months of preparation.”
After the conference, Eva Lokotui, a member of the church, shared her love for President Nelson. She said “I don’t know him. I met him once, but I really know in my heart, he’s the true prophet of God.” She said that no matter who takes President Nelson’s place, she will love the new prophet and support him.
Throughout the conference, church leaders shared messages about peace and faith in Jesus Christ.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson invited members to become peacemakers, acknowledging the political and religious violence of the last month. He said, “As we anticipate these conference proceedings, we are acutely aware of the weeks leading up to it. We realize that our hearts are mourning loss, and some feel uncertainty caused by violence of tragedy throughout the world.”
Curt Ensign of Saratoga Springs previously lived in Michigan and attended church with members of the Michigan congregation that was attacked last week. He said that the attacks have changed his feelings while gathering in a religious space.
“It’s really scary. I thought, well, if people have that kind of hatred toward all these people, then this would be a place to do something,” he said of the conference. “So, it’s a little bit scary, but it’s nice to know that everybody here is standing for what they believe in.”
Elder Stevenson invited members of the church to participate in a one-week three step peacemaker plan; to pause and rethink before engaging in conflict, build digital bridges, and repair strained relationships. “Peacemaking demands action,” he said.
Josh Johnson, a member of the church from West Valley, said, “President Oaks, talking about the passing of the prophet really hit me. I was getting ready because I had to get down here, but I took a second to just slow down and listen. It was pretty memorable to reflect on the importance of the conference continuing on despite his passing.”
Johnson hopes that President Oaks brings “more understanding and more compassion for all different types of people, all walks of life, genders and everything. Just a lot of love and clarity and acceptance and places for everybody.”
About the attack in Michigan Johnson said, “I feel like in the face of all that, you just lose hope if you don’t seek to be a peacemaker and invite everybody along with you, I feel like that’s very powerful and just really important.”
Paul Gee came from Boise, Idaho to evangelize outside of the conference. He attends Cavalry Church every Sunday. Talking about the violence in Michigan, Gee said, “You don’t go to church thinking that you’re going to be in danger, right? You go there because you just love the Lord. And if something happens to you and you get killed for the name of Jesus, that’s the best way to go out. So, I’m not afraid to go to church.”
Elder Karl D. Hirst began the meeting with a prayer that summarized the feelings of many church leaders and members. In the wake of violence and tragedy, members of the church mourn and grieve, but they also anticipate joy.
The funeral of President Russell M. Nelson will be broadcast Tuesday October 7 at 12 pm MDT.
— a02352669@usu.edu