Sunday afternoon session: Summaries from Latter-day Saint general conference

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is holding its 194th Semiannual General Conference Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6. This blog summarizes the key points from the Sunday afternoon session.

Follow along with our blog updates below, or watch each session live here.

Here is a glossary of the Latter-day Saint terminology used in this blog.

Sunday, 04:12 pm

President Russell M. Nelson — The Lord Jesus Christ will come again

Before announcing 17 new temples, President Russell M. Nelson said so many temples are being built because it is what the Lord instructed, to help gather Israel and prepare the world for Christ's second coming.

"Brothers and sisters, now is the time for you, and for me, to prepare for the second coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority," he said.

President Nelson encouraged members to do this through regular temple worship.

"Here is my promise to you: Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find him in the temple. You will feel his mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of his gospel," he said.

He said each person must answer "the most crucial question" of who or what they will give their life to. President Nelson said the choice to build his life on the rock of the Savior "has made all the difference," sharing moments when he felt peace during chaos.

"There is no limit to the Savior's capacity to help you. His incomprehensible suffering in Gethsemane and on Calvary was for you! His infinite Atonement is for you!" he said.

President Nelson urged church members to take time each week to learn about the Atonement of Christ and said no one has to bear their sins or heartaches alone. Those who covenant to follow Christ will find painful moments are temporary.

"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. ... This is the secret to a life of joy!" President Nelson said.

— Emily Ashcraft

Sunday, 03:50 pm

Elder I. Raymond Egbo — Focus on Jesus Christ and his gospel

Elder I. Raymond Egbo, of the Seventy, began his talk by sharing the story of the Olympic victory of the Nigerian men's football team in the 1996 Olympics. Against all odds, they persevered and won gold for their home country.

"Once the football team learned to ignore the many distractions facing them and focused on their goal, they succeeded beyond what they thought possible — and experienced great joy."

Similarly, Elder Egbo emphasized the importance of members ignoring the distractions of the world and focusing their attention on Christ and his gospel. He mentioned a few references to this from the Book of Mormon.

He spoke of Alma the Younger, who originally fought and rebelled against the church but ended up turning to Christ and becoming a wonderful disciple who experienced great joy in his conversion.

"For parents who have children who have strayed, take heart! Instead of wondering why an angel does not come to help your child repent, know that the Lord has placed a mortal angel in his or her path: the bishop, another church leader, or a ministering brother or sister."

Elder Egbo also referenced the people of Helam where the freedom of religion had been stripped from them. He spoke of their dedication to focusing on Christ through their trials and how they were still able to find joy.

Elder Egbo also shared one of his own personal experiences of finding joy through focusing on the Savior during moments of trial. He shared how his mother recently passed away. He bore testimony that she lives through Christ's Atonement and he will be able to be with her once again.

— Sicily Stanton

Sunday, 03:40 pm

Elder Ruben V. Alliaud — Sons and daughters of God

Elder Ruben V. Alliaud, of the Seventy, spoke about a gospel truth he said is glorious and powerful but is often criticized by other religions — the Godhead and a belief that people are literal children of God.

He said for Latter-day Saints, that we are children of God is not a metaphorical belief — we are his spirit children who have the potential to become like him.

"Every time we talk about the nature of God, in some way, somehow, we are also talking about our own nature," he said.

Elder Alliaud said this truth is the beginning of the first lesson taught by missionaries.

He said Satan tempted Jesus Christ three times during a fast, and twice included "if thou be the son of God."

"Satan's ultimate temptation may have had less to do with those three specific provocations and more to do with tempting Jesus Christ to question his divine nature," he said.

Shortly before these temptations, he said the voice of God had come from heaven at his baptism saying, "This is my beloved Son."

Elder Alliaud said this same temptation came at the end of Christ's ministry, from people who passed by while he was on the cross.

He said each time members are taught of their divine nature, the adversary tempts them to question it.

"Jesus' commandment to be perfect is a clear reflection of his high expectations and our eternal possibilities," he said.

Elder Alliaud said President Russell M. Nelson's invitation to "think celestial" is a reminder of our divine nature. However, he said it is only through Christ's Atonement that the "celestial" destination can be reached.

"Let us always remember that there was a great price paid for our happiness," he said.

— Emily Ashcraft

Sunday, 03:19 pm

Elder Quentin L. Cook — Sacred scriptures: The foundations of faith

Books were the "original hand-held devices," Elder Quentin L. Cook of the church's Quorum of Twelve Apostles quipped as he opened his sermon about the importance of scriptures in the church.

"Any device, or even one equipped with artificial intelligence," he said, "will never be as important or significant as the spiritual guidance that comes from divine revelation."

Scriptures of the church, including the Bible and the Book of Mormon, are the foundation of testimonies — both for current members, as well as new converts to the faith.

"We are grateful for the noticeable increase in those who respond to sacred invitations, change their lives and accept the opportunity to follow Jesus Christ," Elder Cook said. "They enter the covenant path through faith, repentance, baptism and confirmation as taught in the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon."

The Book of Mormon provides "fundamental doctrine that enhances and builds upon the Bible," he said, with one an accurate account of the life of Jesus Christ and the other a more explicit account of Christ's Atonement.

The internet can be a "powerful tool" related to studying these "original handheld devices," as well. But it may come with a cost.

"It has also been used to create doubt and undermine faith in precious gospel principles," Elder Cook said. "It can be part of the 'evils of the day' that President Nelson mentioned.

"The internet can be used in a positive way or a destructive way," he added.

— Sean Walker

Sunday, 03:02 pm

Elder Ronald A. Rasband — 'Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up'

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified of the sustaining powers within the church. He emphasized the meaning behind raising our hands to sustain those we worship with.

"In holding up our hands, we are committing our support, not just for that moment but in our daily lives," he said.

Elder Rasband shared scriptural references of sustaining and holding up one another from the Book of Mormon. He shared examples from the waters of Mormon, when the Nephites beheld the newly resurrected Jesus Christ and of King Benjamin's sermon to his people.

Speaking of sustaining leaders, Elder Rasband spoke of the importance of sustaining President Nelson, the prophet of the church.

"President Nelson draws upon years of serving the Lord. His maturity, wide-ranging experience, wisdom and consistent receipt of revelation is specifically suited for our day," he said.

Elder Rasband encouraged church members to do more lifting others up and less murmuring. He referenced the dedication of the historic Manti Utah Temple. During the dedicatory prayer, President Nelson promised that the temple would hold up all those who enter within.

"As we stood with President Nelson, we had the opportunity to hold up and support the prophet of God in celebration of the rededication of the Lord's holy house. It was a day I will never forget."

He testified that those who enter the temple will be accompanied by angels to lift them up and bring light into their lives.

— Sicily Stanton

Sunday, 02:55 pm

Elder Takashi Wada — The words of Christ and the Holy Ghost will lead us to the truth

Elder Takashi Wada, of the Seventy, said as God's spirit children, each person has the potential to become like God.

"I am extremely grateful for these glorious truths — what we call the Father's plan of salvation, his plan of mercy, or his great plan of happiness. Learning these important truths has helped me know my true identity and the great blessings God has prepared for us," he said.

Elder Wada said his father was very religious and prayed in front of Shinto and Buddhist altars. As a teenager, however, he said he had no sense of direction and life seemed fleeting.

He received a copy of the New Testament at school, to help him learn English, and began to read verses in the book associated with a list of questions of the soul. Elder Wada said the words comforted him and he felt loved, like he knew Jesus Christ.

"Although Jesus Christ lived many centuries ago in a land unfamiliar to me, I thought I could trust his words with all my heart," he said.

Later, he met missionaries and a small group of church members. Elder Wada said he overheard the missionaries who were not fluent in Japanese praying that God would hear his prayers, and wondered why they cared.

"I realized that their prayer on my behalf was a reflection of Heavenly Father and the Savior's love for me. That love gave me hope," he said.

Elder Wada said his decision to be baptized blessed his life "more than I ever imagined."

He said Heavenly Father promises continued guidance of the Holy Ghost, and he invited members to have faith that the Holy Ghost will direct them. He said this is "an incredible gift from God."

— Emily Ashcraft

Sunday, 02:36 pm

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf — Nourish the roots and the branches will grow

As he reminisced on the 75th anniversary of his baptism in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles recalled the chapel wherein he grew up in Zwickau, Germany — the one where he developed a testimony of the church that would lead to his calling as a general authority 30 years ago, and moving his family to the United States 25 years ago as a result of the calling.

But when the apostle returned to Europe on a church leadership assignment, his attempt to visit that old chapel was met with disappointment: It was no longer there, replaced by an apartment building.

While the physical building may not be eternal, Elder Uchtdorf said, the testimony he grew through meetings inside of it became the "root" of his church participation for the eight decades to come.

"One of the most important things we can learn in this life is the difference between what is eternal, and what is not," he added. "Once we understand that, everything changes — our relationships, the choices we make, the way we treat people. Knowing what is eternal and what is not is key to growing a testimony of Jesus Christ and his church."

That knowledge of Jesus Christ and his Atonement are the "root of our testimony," Elder Uchtdorf said. Everything else, he added, are branches.

"If you want to nourish a tree, you don't splash water on the branches. You water the roots," he said. "Similarly, if you want the branches of your testimony to grow and bear fruit, nourish the roots."

— Sean Walker

Sunday, 01:58 pm

Sunday afternoon general conference session begins

Join us as the KSL.com team keeps you up to date with the latest talk summaries, announcements and events during the October general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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