Saturday Conference Sessions:

Morning Session


photo by jason olson

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
Solemn assembly to sustain the leaders of the Church of Jesus Chirst of Latter-day Saints. D. Todd Christopherson called to Quorum of the 12 of Apostles. Elaine S. Dalton, Mary N. Cook, and Ann M. Dibb are new Young Women Presidency.

Elder Russell M. Nelson
To be saved means to be saved from physical and spiritual death. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Chirst, all people will be resurrected and saved from physical death. People may also be saved from individual spiritual death through the atonement of Jesus Christ by their faith in Him, by living in obedience to the laws and ordinances of His gospel, and by serving Him.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband
Life's experience can become building blocks of faith and testimony. these experiences come to us in vastly different ways and at unpredictable times. They can be powerful spiritual events or small enlightening moments. Just as the building blocks of our homes support the rest of the structure, so do our personal life experiences become the building blocks of our testimonies and add to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sister Cheryl C. Lant
The most important family traditions are connected with the way we live our lives, and will last beyond us. As our children's lives are influenced and shaped, what kind of traditions do we have? Are they mostly material in nature or are they eternal? Are we consciously creating righteous traditions, or is life just happening to us? Are our traditions being created in response to the loud voices of the world, or are they influenced by the still small voice of the spirit?

Elder Kenneth Johnson
With knowledge of the great plan of happiness, we have the opportunity and also the responsibility to help restore faith in the family. We must hand down to future generations a foundation of faith in the family as defined by deity. We should never forget that freedom and happiness in all aspects of life come by understanding and living in harmony with eternal principles.

Elder Joseph B. Worthlin
Jesus Christ is our greatest example. He was surrounded by multitudes and spoke to thousands, Yet he always had concern for the one. In God's orchestra, every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the symphony.

Elder Henry B. Eyring
This is a day of historical significance and of eternal importance in the history of the world, and to the children of our Heavenly Father. Now, our obligation is to remain worthy of the faith necessary for us to fulfill our promise to sustain those who have been called. To sustain them we must examine our lives, repent as necessary, pledge to keep the Lord's commandments, and follow his servants. The Lord warns us that if we do not do those things the Holy Ghost will be withdrawn, we will lose the light which we have received, and we will not be able to keep the pledge we have made today to sustain the Lord's servants.


Afternoon Session



Elder Robert W. Cantwell: Financial Report.
Elder F. Michael Watson: Statistical Report.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks
There has never been a greater need for us to profess our faith privately and publicly. A testimony should be a personal witness of eternal truths borne to our souls by the Holy Ghost. Not a travelogue, health log, or an expression of love to family members. The first two steps to gain a testimony is to desire one, and then to ask God in sincere prayer. Another way to gain or strengthen a testimony is by bearing it.

Elder Robert E. Hales
People of every creed and persuasion all over the world search and struggle to know God and Jesus Christ, and wonder about their relationship with them. We can get the answer to these questions by following the example of Joseph Smith. He studied the scriptures, obediently knelt in prayer, and was visited by Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ.

Elder Gerald N. Lund
Of our own free will, we must open our hearts to the Holy Spirit. The heart is a tender place. It is sensitive to many influences both positive and negative. It can be hurt by others, it can be deadened by sin, and it can be softened by love. Let us make it part of our everyday striving to open our hearts to the spirit.

Elder Carlos H. Amado
Latter-day Saints come to know the Lord through serving our fellow man. Service makes us strong in our faith and useful in His kingdom. Service gives us a purpose and courage in life. It eliminates selfishness, pride and ingratitude, and allows us to develop the virtues the savior possesses: kindness, love, patience, understanding, and unity will increase as we serve. While intolerance, jealousy, envy greed, and selfishness decrease or disappear.

Elder William R. Walker
The Lord has given the saints a clear pattern of leadership. Every one of us who serve in presidencies anywhere in the church should look to the First Presidency as our pattern and the example that we seek to follow as we carry out our stewardships. We should strive to be like them and work together in love and harmony as they do. The revelations teach us to make our decisions in quorums and presidencies in all righteousness, in holiness and lowliness of heart, meekness and long suffering, in faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity.

Elder Richard G. Scott
The only way to rectify the tragic consequences of sexual abuse is through the secure healing power of the atonement. The atonement can help both the perpetrator and the victim, healing requires childlike faith that your father in heaven has supplied a way to heal.

Elder L. Tom Perry
I believe that if we could create in our minds a clear and true picture of eternal life we would start behaving differently. Latter-day Saints wouldn't have to be prodded to do home or visiting teaching, attend meetings, go to the temple, say prayers, read the scriptures, or live moral lives. We would want to do these things and more because we realize they will prepare us to go somewhere we yearn to go.


priesthood session



President Thomas S. Monson
My brethren, Let us all determine to prepare for our time of opportunity and to honor the priesthood we bear through the service we render . The lives we bless, and the souls we are privileged to help save. We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation and you can make a difference. Ours is the task to be fitting examples. Have the courage to be a light for others to follow.

President Henry B. Eyring
Rising to the possibilities of the oath and covenant of the priesthood brings is the greatest of all the gifts of God: eternal life. That is the purpose of the Melchizedek Priesthood. My prayer is that you will decide tonight, and then every day, to go forward in faith in keeping your covenants with god and so claim the promise he has made to you with an oath.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Through years of serving the Lord and in countless interviews, I have learned that the difference between happiness and misery in individuals, marriages, and families often comes down to an error of only a few degrees. The longer we delay corrective action, the larger the needed changes become, and the longer it takes to get back to the correct course.

Bishop H. David Burton
In behalf of the General Welfare Committee of the Church, we express or appreciation to the many individuals, families, quorums, Relief Society, and young women groups who are the good Samaritans of today. Thank you for your compassion, goodness, and generosity. May we press forward to lighten the load of neighbors, encourage and assist the downtrodden, open our purse to assist the poor, and extend our helping hands.

Elder Quentin L. Cook
As Priesthood holders of the Church, It is our solemn responsibility to follow our Prophet. We sustain President Monson and his counselors. We want our young people to know that President Monson has been prepared by the Lord from his youth to be the Prophet.

Elder John M. Madsen
To each 12-year-old Deacon in attendance, I say, "In order for us to more clearly envision the divine destiny of this chosen and royal generation, we need only to reflect upon the 12-year-old Jesus who went up to Jerusalem with his parents. Each one of us, as sons of God, can fulfill his mission and destiny made plain by these words of the lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith, 'Verily, thus saith the Lord, it shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth my name, obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments... may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of His fullness.'"

Brother Dean R. Burgess
Knowing who you are makes you spiritually strong, sound, and steadfast in your Priesthood duties. You become confident with faith and determination to make right decisions. You have courage to stand up for what you know is right. You realize that it is a privilege to hold the Priesthood of God and have the authority to act in His name.