The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints held the 194th Semiannual General Conference October 5th and 6th.  The two day religious conference featured speakers of the general leadership including the President Russel M. Nelson, his counselors President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and other Church leaders.  Millions around the world tuned in to hear the speakers across the five sessions beginning the morning of Saturday, October 5.

President Oaks, First counselor of the First Presidency and president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke in the opening session of the conference, reminding Latter-day Saints of the Savior’s commandment to avoid contention and be peacemakers.  He said, “As followers of Christ, we teach and testify of Jesus Christ, our perfect role model, so, let us follow Him by forgoing contention. As we pursue our preferred policies in public actions, let us qualify for His blessings by using the language and methods of peacemakers.”

Also speaking in the Saturday morning session was young women’s general president, President Emily Belle Freeman.  Teaching on priesthood covenants all members of the church can make, she shared, “Partaking of the bread and water is a weekly reminder of His power working in you to help you overcome. Wearing the garment of the holy priesthood is a daily reminder of the gift of His power working in you to help you become.”

Continuing in the Saturday afternoon session, Elder Dale G. Renlund taught how just as the combination of nitroglycerin and kieselguhr made dynamite transformative and precious, the combination of the gospel of Jesus Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides powerful and transformative benefits for members.  “Just as dynamite without nitroglycerin is unremarkable, the Savior’s Church is special only if it is built on His gospel. Without the Savior’s gospel and the authority to administer the ordinances thereof, the Church isn’t exceptional.  The combination of the Savior’s gospel and His Church transforms our lives.”

The newest apostle, Elder Patrick Kearon talked of his conversion to the church so many years ago.  From his experience and years as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days Saints he has learned, “We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ. We are members of the church of joy.”  Elder Kearon extended an invitation, “If you have yet to discover this joy, embark on its quest. This is an invitation to receive the Savior’s gift of peace, light and joy — to revel in it, to wonder at it and to rejoice in it, every Sabbath.”

Latter-day Saints can avoid the sin of pride by studying and learning lessons from the Book of Mormon, taught Elder David A. Bednar during the Saturday evening session of general conference.  “May I suggest that if you or I believe we are sufficiently strong and stalwart to avoid the arrogance of pride, then perhaps we are already suffering from this deadly spiritual disease,” said Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, concluding by saying, “I testify that as we walk in the meekness of the Lord’s spirit, we will avoid and overcome pride and have peace in Him,” he said.

Sister Kristin M. Yee of the relief society general presidency taught, “Repenting allows us to feel God’s love, and to know and love Him in ways we would never otherwise know.”  Sister Lee compared this to an experience she had while painting that required some repair near its completion.  She said, “Just as it required work and pleading for heaven’s help to repair the painting, it takes work, sincerity of heart and humility to bring ‘forth fruit meet for repentance’  [and] like my painting, the Lord is not done with us when we make a mistake, nor does He flee when we falter.”

Sunday morning, President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, testified of Jesus Christ and His “divine DNA.”  He said, “Throughout history, the testimony of the Saints regarding their witness of the Savior has been simplified and trivialized.  They have reduced His righteousness to mere prudishness, His justice to mere anger, His mercy to mere permissiveness. We must not be guilty of such simplistic versions of Him that conveniently ignore teachings we find uncomfortable.”

Brother Bradley R. Wilcox, a member of the young men’s general presidency, spoke to the youth saying, “Your covenant relationship with God and Jesus Christ is a relationship of love and trust in which you have access to a greater measure of Their grace — Their divine assistance, endowment of strength and enabling power. That power is not just wishful thinking, a lucky charm or self-fulfilling prophecy. It is real.”

“I testify that our sincere gospel questions can provide Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with opportunities to help us grow,’ testified Sister Tracy Y Browning of the primary general presidency.  She continued, “I testify that placing your trust in Heavenly Father and in His prophets whom He has sent will help you spiritually elevate and push you forward toward God’s expanded horizon. Your vantage will change because you will change.”

In the final session, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles invited listeners to nourish their faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. “Faith is strong when it has deep roots in personal experience, personal commitment to Jesus Christ, independent of what our traditions are or what others may say or do,” he said.  “Our testimony will be tested and tried. Faith is not faith if never tested. Faith is not strong if never opposed.”

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke of the importance of sustaining the Prophet, President Nelson, by following his counsel and teaching his words. “We all need to be lifted up by the Lord with peace, comfort and, most of all, with personal revelation to counter the fear, darkness and contention encompassing the world,” he taught.

The concluding speaker of the conference was President Russell Nelson who urged members to draw closer to Jesus Christ as the day when He will return is drawing ever closer.  He said, “My dear brothers and sisters, in a coming day, Jesus Christ will return to the earth as the millennial Messiah. So today, I call upon you to rededicate your lives to Jesus Christ. … “The best is yet to come, my dear brothers and sisters, because the Savior is coming again. The best is yet to come because the Lord is hastening His work. The best is yet to come as we fully turn our hearts and our lives to Jesus Christ.  I urge you to devote time each week — for the rest of your life — to increase your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”

In his final address, President Nelson also announced an additional 17 new temples.  They include Juchitán de Zaragoza, Mexico; Santa Ana, El Salvador; Medellín, Colombia; Santiago, Dominican Republic; Puerto Montt, Chile; Dublin, Ireland; Milan, Italy; Abuja, Nigeria; Kampala, Uganda; Maputo, Mozambique; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Queen Creek, Arizona; El Paso, Texas; Huntsville, Alabama; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Summit, New Jersey; and Price, Utah.

With the announcement of the 17 temples, President Nelson asked, “Why are we building temples at such an unprecedented pace?  Because the Lord has instructed us to do so. The blessings of the temple help to gather Israel on both sides of the veil. These blessings also help to prepare a people who will help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord!”  The temple totals include 367 total, 197 temples dedicated and operating, 54 under Construction and 116 announced.