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General Conference talk summaries for all sessions
Monday, Oct. 05, 2009
Summaries of talks given at the five sessions of the 179th
Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints
Saturday morning session:
Saturday afternoon session:
Saturday Priesthood session:
Sunday morning session:
Sunday afternoon session:
Saturday morning session:
- Five new temples announced: In the opening moments of General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson announced plans to build five new Mormon temples, in Brigham City, Utah; Concepcion, Chile; Fortaleza, Brazil; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; and Sapporo, Japan.
- Welcome: President Monson began the conference by announcing construction of five new temples, highlighting the dedication of two others, and acclaiming the miracles of communication technology and the growth of the church.
- Elder Richard G. Scott: Spiritual guidance from the Holy Ghost is a divinely appointed and invaluable form of assistance available to aid in navigating life's challenges.
- Sister Vicki F. Matsumori: Learning to help others recognize the whisperings of the Spirit is important to everyday life.
- Elder L. Whitney Clayton: With the help of the Lord, life's burdens can be made light.
- Elder Russell T. Osguthorpe: Learning and teaching are not optional activities in the kingdom of God.
- Elder David A. Bednar: Three suggestions for being more diligent and concerned at home.
- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: "Let us be known as a people who love God with all our heart, soul and
mind, and who love our neighbor as ourselves."
Saturday afternoon session:
- 13 members of the Seventy were released during this session.
- Elder Dallin H. Oaks: God's universal and perfect love is shown in all the blessings of His gospel plan, including the fact that his choicest blessings are reserved for those who obey his laws.
- Elder Robert D. Hales: Seeking to know God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ is the foundation for a meaningful life.
- Elder Jorge E. Zeballos: Eternal life is a divine promise that is possible to achieve.
- Elder Tad R.Callister: Focusing on minor weaknesses of the Prophet Joseph Smith misses the mark, the man and his mission of restoring the gospel.
- Elder Kent D. Watson: The Lord's mandate in Doctrine and Covenants 12:8 that his servants be "temperate in all things."
- Elder Neil L. Andersen: Each person needs to feel the Savior's arms of mercy through the forgiveness of sins.
- President Boyd K. Packer:
No one is left alone on earth without hope of guidance and redemption.
Through prayer, the Lord's children can receive promptings that can
bless their lives and help them find direction.
Saturday Priesthood session:
- Elder M. Russell Ballard: There are ways fathers and sons can help each other be their best. The same counsel can apply to "uncles and grandfathers and priesthood leaders and other mentors who sometimes fill the gaps for these significant father-son relationships."
- Elder Walter F. Gonzalez: "Just like in the days of old, we can be more powerful priesthood holders by using the Book of Mormon."
- Elder Yoon Hwan Choi: "Dear brethren, let us love our boys although some of them are loud boys. Let us teach them to change their lives."
- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: "I am optimistic about the future. Brethren, for our part, we must remain steadfast in hope, work with all our strength and trust in God."
- President Henry B. Eyring: "The destiny of the rising generation of priesthood holders is far more than to be ready to bring God's power down to heal the sick."
- President Thomas S. Monson: "No
one can make us angry," he said. "It is our choice. If we desire to
have a proper spirit with us at all times, we must choose to refrain
from becoming angry."
Sunday morning session:
- President Henry B. Eyring: Different as church members are in circumstances and experiences, they share a desire to become better than they are.
- Elder L. Tom Perry The actions of some early church pioneers provided a blueprint for how Mormons can effectively participate in member-missionary work.
- Bishop H. David Burton The lesson of the personal traits of a patient and diligent primary teacher has had a lasting influence.
- Sister Ann M. Dibb: Heavenly Father has not left church members alone during their mortal probation. "He has already given us all the safety equipment we will need to successfully return to him."
- Elder Russell M. Nelson: More amazing than modern technology is mankind's opportunity "to access information directly from heaven, without hardware, software or monthly service fees."
- President Thomas S. Monson
Jack McConnell, whose
father, a Methodist minister, would ask each child at the dinner table,
"And what did you do for someone today?" The children were determined to report each day
they had helped someone.
Sunday afternoon session:
- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: Prophecies regarding the last days often refer to large-scale calamities. The Savior warned that in the last days the the "very elect" could be deceived by the enemy of truth.
- Elder Quentin L. Cook: Mormons live in perilous times when many people believe they do not have a personal responsibility or stewardship for themselves or others. The church maintains stewardships toward others remain a sacred trust.
- Elder Dale G. Renlund: Just as recipients of heart transplants must take daily medications to ensure their bodies do not reject their new hearts, Latter-day Saints must use great care with spiritually changed hearts to ensure they do not become hardened.
- Elder Michael T. Ringwood: "As I pondered what caused this mighty change in the hearts of these Lamanites, I came to realize this easiness and willingness to believe in the word of God comes from a softness of heart."
- Elder Joseph W. Sitati: The Spirit of the Lord is moving powerfully among the people. "God's children on the earth today have the opportunity to understand his plan of happiness for them more fully than at any other time."
- Elder D. Todd Christofferson: Positive outcomes occur when "moral agency" is accompanied by "moral discipline," which is "the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard.
- President Thomas S. Monson: "My heart is full as we come to the close of this conference. We have been richly taught and spiritually edified as we have listened to the messages which have been presented and the testimonies which have been borne."
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