Saturday Conference Sessions

Morning Session

President Thomas S. Monson:
Elder Neil Linden Andersen sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (97th Apostle in this dispensation)

Church is doing well; the work is going forward. Serving helps the Lord accomplish his purpose. Our Heavenly Father loves each of us and is mindful of our needs.

Elder Robert D. Hales:
Freedom to choose has declined because of bad choices of excess. We can learn from our economic problems. Debt occurs when we cannot determine uncontrolled wants from needs. The law of the tithe helps us to overcome the things of this world. Establish a family budget in family counsel. Set goals and let them guide your spending. Be content with what we have, and save for rainy days.

Find Hope in the savior and His doctrines. Look after the poor and the needy. Serve and bless others. Each temptation we overcome can strengthen us. Seek help from Heavenly Father.

Sister Margaret S. Lifferth:
Reverence is profound respect combined with love. Reverence invites revelation.

We need to cultivate respect for each other, and reverence for the spirit of worship as we teach the gospel. We need to set the example of respect in the home, at sports event, with the property of others, with those who I disagree with, etc.

Brother Michael A. Neiderr:
Our youth are are powerful tools in the Savior's hands and He can use them to bring the blessings of the gospel to others. Teach them to become dedicated students of the scriptures and other good books, and to use inspired directions that they receive.

A quorum is a class, a brotherhood, and a service unit. Advisors should help the quorum presidency learn leadership skills, and not do the work themselves.

Elder Allan F. Packer:
There are serious challenges ahead, but it is a wonderful time to be alive, especially for the youth. Prophecies are being fulfilled and we need to work out our salvation. We must know that we have been given the knowledge that God the Father is the father of our spirits; that Jesus is our Savior; and that we have the gift of the Holy Ghost to give us divine guidance. Having the capacity to receive inspiration will be needed in the coming days. Testimonies need to be developed and nurtured.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson:
We need strong Christians. Divine covenants make strong Christians. The new and everlasting covenant is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Obedience to covenants helps us to act instead of react to our situations in life, produces the faith necessary to persevere, and gives us the faith to face and endure trials. The gift of the Holy Ghost is part of the new and everlasting covenant. God will keep His promises to us as we honor our covenants with Him.

President Henry B. Eyring:
Heavenly Father and our Savior live and love all of Humanity. But, in spite of all the differences in our lives, we must all deal with adversity. We must be transformed by making righteous choices through trials. Faith and courage come from a testimony that we are being prepared for eternal life. Do all that you can to be worthy of the Lord’s help in hard times. Give to others when you are in need, and smile as you do it.

Afternoon Session

Photo: Jason Olson, Deseret News

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
Sustaining of General Authorities and Officers.
New General Sunday School Presidency: Brother Russel T. Osguthorpe, Brother David M. McConkie, and Brother Matthew O. Richardson

New General Young Men Presidency: Brother David L.Beck, Brother Larry M. Gibson, and Brother Adrian Ochoa.

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

Elder M. Russell Ballard:
When you are willing to listen and learn, some of life’s most important lessons will be taught by those who have gone before you. You ought to learn those lessons so that you don't exhaust your spiritual strength repeating past mistakes and bad choices.

The cycle throughout time is the cycle of righteousness, prosperity, material comforts, greed, pride, wickedness and collapse of morality, humility repentance, change to righteousness...

Spiritual light is lost, not when God turns his back on his children, but when they turn their collective backs on God because of choices that are made.

Elder Quentin L. Cook:
The plan of salvation is big enough for all of God’s children. Be loving and kind to all members of our faith no matter their level of commitment. Salvation is free to all men. We are to persuade all to repentance. Our destination should be paradise.

Brother Kevin W. Pearson:
True faith must be centered in Jesus Christ. Faith is a spiritual gift that comes through the Holy Ghost. We have been commanded to teach our children the doctrine of faith. Strong faith is developed by living the commandments. If we want strong faith, we must be obedient in behavior and attitude. Fear and faith cannot coexist. In a household of faith there is no need to doubt or dispair.

Elder Rafael E. Pino:
Living the gospel does not keep adversity from us, but teaches us that we can be prepared to face and endure our trials and therefore learn from them. Sometimes the Lord is the only source of peace. In tragic circumstances, pain and sorrow can leave because of the light of the gospel given to us through the atonement.

Elder Richard G. Scott:
When a temple is close by, set specific goals of regular temple attendance, and do not let anything get in the way of that plan. As you attend temple, give yourself the time needed to strive to understand the doctrines related to the temple ordinances. Consider your relationship to Jesus Christ and His relationship to God the Father. Always express gratitude for the ordinance and blessings. Find your ancestors and then do the temple work for them.

Elder Russell M. Nelson:
Pray always with faith and trust in the Lord. We pray to the Father in the name of his son Jesus Christ. If the companionship of the Holy Ghost is so important, we should pray for it in our lives. If we really care for one another, we should pray for each other. Our prayers should not be memorized, but patterned after the prayers of the Savior. Prayer can be enhanced by song and by fasting.

Priesthood Session

President Thomas S. Monson:
The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church, and the power and authority of the lesser, or Aaronic Priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel, the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, agreeable to the covenants and commandments. The power manifested by the priesthood is simply the power of God. The priesthood is the Lord's troops against the forces of evil. Each man and each boy who holds the priesthood of God must be worthy of that great privilege and responsibility. Each must strive to learn his duty and then to do it to the best of his ability. In the world today we face difficulties and challenges, some of which can seem truly daunting. However, with God on our side, we cannot fail. As we bear His holy priesthood worthily, we will be victorious.

President Henry B. Eyring:
The responsibility for others is at the heart of faithful priesthood service. Our comrades are being wounded in the spiritual conflict around us. So are the people we are called to serve and protect from harm. Spiritual wounds are not easily visible, except with inspired eyes. We should never put off an impression to help, because the wounds of sin are often not felt at first by the one being hurt. have seen. Satan seems sometimes to inject something to deaden the spiritual pain while inflicting the wound. Even a best friend, other leaders, or parents may not see what you have seen. You may have been the only one to sense, by inspiration, the warning cry. Only an authorized judge in Israel is given the power and the responsibility to verify that there is a serious wound, to explore it, and then under inspiration from God prescribe the necessary treatment for healing to begin. Yet you are under covenant to go to a spiritually wounded child of God. You are responsible to be brave enough and bold enough not to turn away.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
Are your hearts and thoughts focused on the things that matter most? How you spend your quiet time may provide a clue. What excuses do you cling to that keep you from being the kind of husband, father, son, and priesthood holder you know you should be? It is possible to take even good things to excess. Do you neglect quality or meaningful time with your children or grandchildren while spending hours searching for ancestors, or spend days weeding a garden while ignoring the spiritual weeds that threaten to choke your soul? We need balance in life.

President Boyd K. Packer:
To the young men of the Aaronic Priesthood: Your generation is filled with uncertainties. You are now moving from a generation of ease and entertainment to a generation of work and responsibility. We do not know how long that will last. The reality of life is now part of your priesthood responsibilities. It will not hurt you to want something and not have it. There is a maturing and disciplining that will be good for you. It will ensure that you can have a happy home and raise a happy family. Learn to work and to support. Take care of your possessions — your clothing, your property. Do not be wasteful. Learn to be content. It may seem that the world is in commotion; and it is! It may seem that there are wars and rumors of wars; and there are! It may seem that the future will hold trials and difficulties for you; and it most likely will! However, fear is the opposite of faith. Do not be afraid!

Elder Claudio R. M. Costa:
As we consider the wise use of our time and resources to meet the needs of our families, our employment, and our Church callings, it is important to remember that every priesthood holder needs to grow spiritually. When we do the Savior's work and His will, rather than our own, we will realize tha tthe yoke is easy and the burden is light. He will be with us always. He will reveal to us what we need for success with our families, our career, and every responsibility that wehave in His Church.

Bishop Richard C. Edgley:
For those who are currently be unemployed, the responsibility for finding employment or improving your employment rests with you. Seek guidance from the Lord through regular fasting and prayer. Speak up, and let your priesthood leaders know you are looking for work. It is the obligation of the priesthood quorum to assist a needy member in providing continually for himself and his family.