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 195th Annual General Conference Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6. This blog summarizes the key points from the Sunday afternoon session.

Follow along with talk summaries below, or watch each session live here:

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

Or watch the session live in Spanish below:

Sunday, 03:43 pm

President Russell M. Nelson — Confidence in the presence of God

President Russell M. Nelson expressed his joy in seeing the youth rising up. He shared an experience meeting a new great-granddaughter and reflecting on how "living the gospel is essential for her future happiness."

"We all will experience illness, disappointment, temptation and loss. These challenges can knock our self-confidence. However, disciples of Jesus Christ have access to a different kind of confidence," he said.

To develop confidence before God right now and in the future, President Nelson highlighted two key principles: charity and virtue.

He urged members to practice charity by being peacemakers, particularly in their interactions, especially in today's hostile public discourse and social media.

"The present hostility in public dialogue and on social media is alarming. Hateful words are deadly weapons. Contention prevents the Holy Ghost from being our constant companion," said the 100-year-old church leader.

President Nelson explained that followers of Christ should lead the way as peacemakers, and express charity toward people "from all walks of life," especially "those who are difficult to love."

He also stressed the importance of virtue, which can purify our thoughts and actions, driving away negativity and anxiety.

"Imagine the boost you will receive to any positive thought when you enhance it with virtue," he said. "Virtue makes everything better and happier!"

President Nelson also encouraged regular worship, especially in the temple, to increase both charity and virtue, strengthening confidence before God. He concluded by announcing 15 new temple locations and testifying of the leadership of Jesus Christ in preparing his church for his Second Coming.

— Jenny Rollins

Sunday, 03:32 pm

Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai — The love of God

Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai encouraged church members to seek to feel the love of God in their lives and share it with others in his conference message.

He talked about looking at the Milky Way galaxy with his family, and his children asking if they lived under the same sky because they had never seen the stars like that.

"While disorienting distractions and terrestrial temptations cloud our spiritual vision, when we exercise faith in God and his Son Jesus Christ, we receive clear assurance of their reality and of their concern for us," he said.

He said Jesus Christ embodies God's love for us, noting that although his love is available to everyone, some are trying to hang onto it or don't feel they deserve it.

Elder Tai said the scriptures teach that people can feel God's love when they repent, forgive, keep God's commandments and serve others. He encouraged members to pause frequently, pray, ask and act promptly to feel God's love.

"When we experience the love of God, we can bear up our burdens with ease and submit patiently and cheerfully to his will. We have confidence that God will remember his covenants with us, visit us in our afflictions and deliver us from bondage," he said.

He encouraged members to develop Christlike attributes to help others they love feel God's love.

"If, despite your best efforts, life is overcast, if you feel that your prayers are not heard, or if you can't feel God's love, please know that your every effort matters and, as certain as the stars above us, that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know, hear, and love you," he said.

— Emily Ashcraft

Sunday, 03:14 pm

Elder Patrick Kearon — Receive his gift

Humans aren't the only beings on the planet to practice gift giving. Among other documented examples are penguins and bonobos chimpanzees sharing gifts with one another, said Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

He then asked a poignant question: What gifts have you given?

Oftentimes, giving a gift can be as emotional and exciting as receiving one. But receiving a gift is perhaps the most important part of gift giving, he added.

"Receiving a gift is not passive, but an intentional and meaningful process that goes far beyond merely opening a package," Elder Kearon said. "To receive is to appreciate and connect with both the gift and the heart of the giver in a way that strengthens the bonds between giver and receiver."

God has "innumerable" gifts to give his children, Elder Kearon added — if they will be a humble recipient. He then called one point of church doctrine an "all-encompassing gift," one that is "vital … when fully accepted and received deep in the soul."

"It is that we really are God's children," he said. "That truth is breathtaking! Stunning! And it is not figurative.

"The question is not whether this gift of truth is real, but whether we will discover and receive it. The gift has already been bestowed upon us by the Father. The price for the ultimate purpose of this gift has already been paid by the Savior."

Elder Kearon offered a few suggestions to "grow in understanding" of God's gifts, including scripture study, receiving one's patriarchal blessing, temple worship, serving others and regular prayer.

"You are a child of God," he concluded. "This is not just a nice song we sing."

— Sean Walker

Sunday, 03:05 pm

Elder Christopher H. Kim — Harden not your heart

As a young boy, Elder Christopher H. Kim, of the Seventy, wondered why, from the Book of Mormon, Laman and Lemuel didn't believe the truth even after an angel appeared to them. He found the answer in Nephi's expression of sorrow over his brothers' hardened hearts.

Elder Kim described hardness of heart as being stubborn, blind, closed off to God and self-centered.

"We choose to not open our hearts to the things of God but instead to the influence of the things of the world and the adversary," he said.

He explained that this resistance leads to spiritual darkness and the eventual withdrawal of the Spirit, as seen in Laman and Lemuel's rejection of truth. On the other hand, Nephi remained humble and trusted God, and God softened his heart, which enabled him to receive the spirit.

Elder Kim encourages us to soften our hearts through daily repentance, practicing humility and trusting in and relying on the Savior. He gives an example of a woman who, after reading scriptures on meekness, humbled herself and felt the Spirit confirm her decision to be baptized.

"We've been given moral agency. We can choose to harden our hearts, or we can choose to soften our hearts," he said.

By trusting in Christ, people can receive the Spirit and be more obedient, following the Savior's example of humility and submission to the Father.

— Jenny Rollins

Sunday, 02:47 pm

Elder Scott D. Whiting — Beware the second temptation

In his conference message, Elder Scott D. Whiting, of the Seventy, encouraged members to not hide after making mistakes.

When he attended his first Aaronic Priesthood quorum camp, he wanted to fit in, but his participation in a prank led to him sitting on a prickly pear plant, making it impossible for him to hide from his dad.

Elder Whiting talked about Adam and Eve, drawing a parallel between his experience and when they tried to hide from God after eating the forbidden fruit.

"Perhaps more painful than their being without clothing in that moment, they were now exposed for their transgression. They were defenseless and vulnerable. They were naked in every sense of the word," he said.

He said Lucifer took advantage of their "exposed and weakened state," and they succumbed to what Elder Whiting called the second temptation — hiding from God.

"Some might attempt to hide from God because they don't want to be discovered or exposed, and they feel shame or guilt. However, numerous scriptures teach us that hiding from God is impossible," he said, sharing the Old Testament stories of David and Job.

Elder Whiting said new church members may be particularly vulnerable to this temptation due to recent lifestyle changes. He said hiding from God and distancing oneself from one's new faith will also separate a person from their source of strength.

He invited members who are "in hiding" to come back; the church needs what they have to give.

"As his Saints, each of us must foster a culture of belonging in the church that is loving, accepting and encouraging of all who desire to progress along his path," Elder Whiting said.

— Emily Ashcraft

Sunday, 02:42 pm

Elder Michael B. Strong — Charity: A sign of true discipleship

Elder Michael B. Strong, of the Seventy, spoke on charity, which he described as "a sign of true discipleship."

But becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ is "not a casual or occasional practice," he said, echoing President Dallin H. Oaks of the church's First Presidency.

"Discipleship is a deliberate journey that we take to become transformed through the Lord's atoning sacrifice and his enabling power," Elder Strong said. "The real destination of discipleship is literally to become as Jesus Christ is — even to the point where we 'receive his image in our countenances.'"

Like faith, charity leads to action, Elder Strong added, and can be described as "love in action."

Compassion is the portion of charity that seeks to alleviate suffering. Church members can show charity by showing compassion, ministering to the unspoken needs of those around them, and helping others along the covenant path, he said.

"Discipleship of Jesus Christ is the only way to obtain enduring happiness," Elder Strong said.

"While the path of discipleship may be difficult and challenging, and while at times we may struggle and fall short, we can take comfort that God is mindful of us and yearns to help us every time we try," he added.

— Sean Walker

Sunday, 02:17 pm

Elder Ulisses Soares — Reverence for sacred things

Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles opened the concluding session of general conference by referencing Moses removing his shoes to approach the sacred space of the burning bush — demonstrating reverence.

"Such expression for the sacred by those who have a contrite heart and deep devotion to God and Jesus Christ fosters increased joy in their souls," he said.

He described reverence as "one of the most elevated experiences of the soul" and "the foundation upon which spirituality is built."

Disciples of Christ, he explained, need to cultivate reverence to better commune with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and in doing so, increase the amount of joy and lessen the amount of sadness in their lives.

In contrast, the world tends to participate in and even celebrate irreverence, Elder Soares said.

One of the ways people can demonstrate reverence is by carefully selecting images of the Savior, especially when using generative artificial intelligence, he explained.

"The guidance of the Holy Ghost is a crucial component in determining how these images should reflect the sacred nature, character and godly attributes of the Father and of the Son," he said.

Any source of information from the church is "carefully developed and approved under the direction of the Spirit to make sure we maintain the sacred virtue, values and standards of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Elder Soares cautioned listeners to make sure they use technology and generative AI appropriately and instead trust in revelation and the Holy Ghost for inspiration and guidance.

"Brothers and sisters, we do not need to climb to the top of a mountain, like Moses did, to discover reverence for sacred things and convert our discipleship into a deeper level of spirituality and devotion," he said.

Instead, he recommends praying, reading the scriptures and teachings of the prophets, honoring covenants, obeying the commandments, attending church, singing hymns and taking the sacrament.

— Jenny Rollins

Sunday, 02:00 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 April general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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