SALT LAKE CITY-Because of COVID-19, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints conducted its semi-annual general conference at a small auditorium at Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City.
This room is located in the Church Office Building tower east of the Salt Lake Temple.
Social distancing regulations were kept meticulously as each of the speakers were at least six feet away from each other as they spoke in the empty auditorium.
Only those speaking or praying at each session were allowed to attend.
Saturday Evening Session
SALT LAKE CITY-President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency conducted this session as he welcomed everyone to what is a “special session” of this particular general conference.
The first speaker was Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles who spoke of Palm Sunday as this upcoming Sunday is the commemoration of this historic event on the Christian calendar.
Elder Gong also spoke of how this ushers in the Holy Week which also features the Jewish holiday, Passover and Easter Sunday. Adroitly, Elder Gong explained the significance of all these events in how they pertain to Christ’s Atonement, one of the central themes of this conference.
Elder Gong also said that “amidst our loads and burdens, we can still count our many blessings” as he closed his remarks.
A young laurel named Laudy Kaouk, who attends Timpview High School of Provo, shared her testimony as called upon by the First Presidency for this occasion. Kaouk expressed her gratitude for Priesthood blessings from her father and she spoke about how the Priesthood enhances the world.
Kouk is a member of the Slate Canyon 14th Ward (Spanish-speaking) in the Provo Stake.
Enzo Petelo, another Timpview High School student, and a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood, also spoke about the Priesthood, per the discretion of the First Presidency. He cited the example of Nephi in the Book of Mormon to “go and do.” He confirmed it is the duty of Priesthood holders to exemplify the power of God through this authority.
Petelo is a member of the Meadow Wood Ward of the Provo Utah Edgemont Stake.
This is the first time youth spoke in general conference since April 1983, per Tad Walch of the Deseret News.
Sister Jean Bingham, the Relief Society General President, then spoke of the foundation of the Relief Society and how it has become a force for good among women and all others in the world.
Sister Bingham also spoke of the importance of men and women remembering that they should be complementary rather than competitive.
Sister Bingham urged men and women to work as partners and not independent agents unto themselves as she closed her remarks.
President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency then spoke, confirming that this conference has changed him in a way that he hopes to remain. President Eyring taped a segment of a time when he was in the Kirtland Temple, the site where the fullness of the everlasting Gospel was restored to the earth April 3, 1836.
President Eyring also spoke of how FamilySearch became more user friendly and spoke of how the Lord allows technology to be brought forth for people to connect with their ancestors.
President Oaks then spoke, choosing to elucidate further on the Priesthood, more specifically the Melchizedek Priesthood.
He further explained circumstances wherein women can also enjoy the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood by performing ordinances at the temple.
Succinctly, President Oaks explained that “holders of the Priesthood must keep the commandments of God.” He also reminded the members of the Church to have an eye single to the glory of God at all times.
President Oaks further cautioned the Saints to beware Satan’s snares as he seeks to dissuade Priesthood holders from their responsibilities.
President Russell M. Nelson was the concluding speaker at this session of general conference. President Nelson reiterated the vast importance of the church always being called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In this vein of thought, President Nelson revealed a new symbol of the Church. This is an image of the Christus statue, sculpted by Bertel Thorvaldsen to signify the central place of Jesus Christ in this, His Church. This also depicts Christ standing underneath an arch, a symbol of His Resurrection on the third day.
President Nelson then instructed all in the world to fast, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or not, on Good Friday, April 10, for relief from COVID-19 that life will be normalized, the economy strengthened and the pandemic controlled. This concluded his remarks.
Saturday Afternoon Session
SALT LAKE CITY-The Saturday afternoon session commenced with President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency conducting.
President Dallin H. Oaks, also of the First Presidency conducted the sustaining of all presiding officers of the Church. Members who spoke out against them were instructed to take up the matter with their local stake presidencies.
During President Oaks’ remarks, several new general authorities were called. They include Elder Jorge T. Becerra, Elder Matthew S. Holland, Elder William K. Jackson, Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi, Elder Kelly R. Johnson, Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, Elder Adeyinka A. Ojediran, Elder Ciro Schmeil and Elder Moises Villanueva.
Steven J. Lund was named as the Church’s New Young Men’s president. His counselors are Ahmad S. Corbitt and Bradley R. Wilcox.
Several key statistics pertaining to the Church were revealed as well.
Presently, there are 3,437 stakes worldwide, 399 missions, 542 districts and 30,940 wards and branches. There are 16, 565, 036 members of the Church worldwide. This includes 94,266 new children of record during 2019 and 248,835 converts baptized during 2019. There are 67,021 full-time missionaries worldwide and 31,333 Church service missionaries.
Temples dedicated worldwide in 2019 include the Rome, Italy Temple, the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple, the Port-au-Prince, Haiti Temple, the Lisbon Portugal Temple and the Arequipa Peru Temple.
Temples rededicated in 2019 include the Memphis, Tennessee Temple, the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple, the Oakland California Temple, the Raleigh North Carolina Temple, the Frankfurt Germany Temple, the Asuncion Paraguay Temple and the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple. Presently, there are 167 temples in operation worldwide.
President Oaks also confirmed as new area seventies: Jay D. Andersen, Faapito Auapaau, Frederick K. Balli Jr., Kevin W. Birch, John W. Boswell III, J. Francisco Buhrer, Suchat Chaichana, Matthew R. Clarke, L. Guido Cristobal, Edmarc R. Dumas, Carlos A. Gabaldon, M. Andrew Galt IV, Clark G. Gilbert, Vladislav Y. Gornostaev, D. Martin Goury, Richard I. Heaton, Broc C. Hiatt, David H. Huntsman, Norman C. Insong, Daniel Kabason, Federico M. Kahnlein, Jeffrey J. Kerr, Youngjoon Kwon, David G. LaFrance, Ricardo C. Leite, Marcelo Louza, Jose G. Manarin, Jeremiah J. Morgan, Mark A. Mortensen, Eduardo F. Ortega, Nathan D. Pace, Michael M. Packer, Omar I. Palacios, Jorge W. Perez, Kyrylo Pokhylko, Sergio A. Poncio, Arthur Rascon, Miguel A. Reynoso, Gustavo G. Rezende, Robert G. Rivarola, Tonga J. Sai, Luciano Sankari, Rosendo Santos, Henry Savstrom, J. Matthew Scott, James E. Slaughter, Robert T. Smith, Ricardo A. Spencer, Colin C. Stauffer (of Heber City), David C. Stewart, Jared W. Stone, Arlen M. Tumaliuan, Martin J. Turvey, Yan C. Vega, Paul B. Whippy, Chad R. Wilkinson and Dow R. Wilson.
Area seventies released include Jorge T. Becarra, Mark S. Bryce, Jeremy R. Jaggi, Kelly R. Johnson, Adeyinka A. Ojediran and Moises Villanueva.
Next, Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles spoke. He testified of the veracity of Joseph Smith’s visits by the Angel Moroni and his ultimate privilege of taking the golden plates out of the hillside. He then translated the plates into what is now known as the Book of Mormon.
Elder John A. McCune, a General Authority Seventy, next spoke. He assured his global audience that “Christ is the one who always keeps His promises.”
Bishop Gerald Causse, the presiding bishop of the Church, then spoke of how the Book of Mormon gives another witness to the world that Jesus is indeed the Christ that He purports to be.
Bishop Causse also spoke of how Christ’s Atonement is infinite, and yet, also personal to all the inhabitants who have lived in the earth and those who shall yet live.
Next, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke. He testified that we should remember the generosity and sacrifice of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ as they have extended numerous gifts unto us for our eternal progression. Elder Renlund also mentioned that as part of Alma the Younger’s conversion, he also began to understand Christ’s tremendous love for him.
Elder Renlund also stated that, in his opinion, we deeply disappoint Father in Heaven when we forget Him, rather than Him deeming such insolence to be insulting.
Elder Benjamin M.Z. Tai, a General Authority Seventy, then spoke. He told of his experiences en route to his mission in Melbourne, Australia and how he learned the Book of Mormon was true while on the flight.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles was the concluding speaker at this conference. He testified of the seer-ship of Brigham Young concerning how President Young was able to see the future and how he envisioned not only the Salt Lake Temple but temples all over the world.
Amid the closures of temples, Elder Stevenson suggested that this can be a time for “renewal” for members of the Church rather than focusing on the “closure” of temples.
In closing, Elder Stevenson commanded the Saints to build themselves like unto temples, insomuch that they can also withstand the millennium.
Saturday Morning Session
The Saturday morning session of this conference was presided over by Church President Russell M. Nelson and conducted by President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency.
President Nelson was the first speaker who told of the importance of “standing in holy places” and not being moved.
President Nelson confirmed that following the Sunday morning session, he will lead the global assembly in the Hosanna shout, manifesting the love the Saints have for God the Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
The second speaker was President M. Russell Ballard, the acting president of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles who outlined the birth and early experiences in the life of the prophet Joseph Smith.
Ballard continued his remarks, following up on many of the remarkable experiences Smith and his brother, Hyrum, had in perpetrating the Gospel of Christ upon the earth.
General Authority Seventy James Rasband then spoke of Christ’s Atonement in the Book of Mormon and how both justice and mercy can be satisfied thereby. He spoke specifically of Alma the Younger and how his heart took hold upon Christ, ultimately saving him from damnation per the record.
The Church’s general Primary president, Sister Joy D. Jones, then spoke of the important role women play in the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She also had a pre-recorded segment during her remarks wherein President Nelson interacted with Primary children, helping them understand important basics of truth in the Church.
Jones further spoke of the importance of continuous and daily revelation from on high for members of the Salt Lake City-based faith.
The next speaker was Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles who spoke of the Restoration of the Gospel through Joseph Smith, a common theme of the conference as members of the Church had been told for months prior to this event.
Brother Douglas D. Holmes spoke of the importance of building loving relationships that unite us and to connect ourselves with Christ. He informed the world that the Holy Ghost is paramount to each of us in our lives.
Holmes then spoke that the cause of uniting ourselves together is to spread the Gospel of Christ to all nations.
The concluding speaker of the Saturday morning session was Elder Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency.
He spoke of this being the dispensation of the fullness of times as this is the time when all things would have been restored from previous dispensations of the Gospel.
President Eyring reiterated that the declaration from the Scriptures still stands, “every nation, kindred, tongue and people” needs to hear the Gospel, per the Lord’s expectation.
He confirmed this will be done by technology, miracles and “individual fishers of men,” ensuring missionary work will still progress in the Church.
President Eyring spoke of the overwhelming feeling he felt when called to the Apostleship and was ordained by the late Elder David B. Haight to this position. He confirmed that he felt as if President Haight was smiling when bestowing this privilege upon then-Elder Eyring.
