Sunday Afternoon Session, 179th LDS Semiannual General Conference; Book Of Mormon, Stewardship, Moral Discipline

The final session of the 179th LDS Semiannual General Conference was held on Sunday October 4th, and on the menu was counsel about the value of the Book of Mormon, the meaning of stewardship, two talks on getting one's heart right, and moral discipline.

-- Summary of Saturday morning general session available HERE.
-- Summary of Saturday afternoon general session available HERE.
-- Summary of Saturday evening priesthood session available HERE.
-- Summary of Sunday morning general session available HERE.
-- Video and audio archives and written transcripts now available via the LDS 2009 Conference Page.

KSL news video embedded below:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve led off by discussing the Savior's prophecy that in the last days, "men's hearts [shall fail] them" (Luke 21:26). His primary concern is that this would enable deceivers to lead away even the "very elect". But Elder Holland stated that our Heavenly Father knows all of these latter-day dangers, these troubles of the heart and the soul, and has given counsel and protections regarding them, and declares that the Book of Mormon is one of the Lord's powerful keystones in the counter-offensive against latter-day ills. In conclusion, Elder Holland testified that one cannot come to full faith in this latter-day work until he or she embraces the divinity of the Book of Mormon and the Lord Jesus Christ of whom it testifies. Deseret News story HERE.

But the Salt Lake Tribune also reported that Elder Holland lashed out at critics of the Book of Mormon. "For 179 years, this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history -- perhaps like no other book in any religious history. And still it stands," Holland said. "If anyone is foolish enough or misled enough to reject 531 pages of a heretofore unknown text teeming with literary and Semitic complexity without honestly attempting to account for the origin of those pages ... such persons, elect or otherwise, have been deceived and, if they leave this church, they must do so by crawling over or around or under The Book of Mormon to make their exit."

For Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve, the topic was stewardship. Elder Cook observed that LDS members live in perilous times when many believe they do not have a personal responsibility or stewardship for themselves or others. He discussed two forms of stewardship; first, stewardship for one's self and one's family; and second, for the poor and needy. He cautioned against rationalizations that might excuse one from his or her personal stewardship, and opined that we report to the Savior and He asks us to given an account of our earthly responsibilities, two important inquiries will relate to our relationship with our spouse and each of our children.

As for the second form of stewardship, Elder Cook commended LDS members for continuing to donate generously to help the poor and needy even during difficult economic times. "My heart rejoices as I observe the saints all over the Church doing everything they can to provide Christlike service wherever there is a need," he said. "Because of member contributions, the Church can quietly and quickly, without fanfare respond to needs all over the world. The Church is already responding to the natural disasters in the Philippines, the Pacific Islands and Indonesia." He proclaimed that all stewardship efforts follow the example of Jesus Christ. Deseret News story HERE.

Sunday Morning Session, 179th LDS Semiannual General Conference; Reflecting Christ, Missionary Work, Virtue, Service To Others

During the Sunday morning session of the 179th LDS Semiannual General Conference, Church members were encouraged to reach out and help others each day. Other issues raised included reflecting Christ in our everyday lives, the value of member-missionary work as a support for full-time missionaries, and the value of virtue.

-- Summary of Saturday morning general session available HERE.
-- Summary of Saturday afternoon general session available HERE.
-- Summary of Saturday evening priesthood session available HERE.
-- Summary of Sunday afternoon general session available HERE.
-- Video and audio archives and written transcripts now available via the LDS 2009 Conference Page.

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor to the First Presidency, led off by speaking about the need to reflect Christ in our everyday lives. He summed up the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as a challenge to become better people for as long as we live. He counseled married couples to pray for each other, to better make their companion's interests their own. He counseled parents to pray for their children, particularly those who are wayward. And he counseled young people in particular to remember the commandment "Honor thy father and thy mother", for no other reason than we owe our mortal lives to the parents who created our mortal tabernacles. Deseret News story HERE.

Elder L. Tom Perry, Quorum of the Twelve, cited the past actions of Mormon pioneers as a blueprint for how the LDS membership can better participate in member-missionary work. Member-missionaries can effectively buttress the efforts of full-time missionaries by providing their own testimonies of the Gospel. While the full-time missionary is the "professional salesperson", the individual member should be the model the "salesperson" can use to exemplify the message. Deseret News story HERE.

H. David Burton, the Presiding Bishop of the LDS Church, spoke about virtues, not only providing an operational definition, but also decrying the societal loss of virtue and the effects of this loss (Note: For readers not familiar, the Presiding Bishopric of the Church does not preside over ward bishops. Ward bishops report to their stake presidents. A July 2005 Ensign article explains the functions of the Presiding Bishopric.) In defining virtue, Bishop Burton stated, "First they are the foundational elements of a Christian life as well as the outward manifestation of the inner man. Second, the spelling in the English language of so many individual virtues concludes with the letters ITY: integrity, humility, charity, spirituality, accountability, civility, fidelity, etc. Relying on literary license I refer to virtues ending in ITY as the 'ity' virtues. 'Ity' is a suffix that means quality, state or degree of being."

But he also spoke about the societal loss of virtue and its effects, including blows to individual faith and fidelity, family solidarity and spirituality and a loss on the religious influence in society. Bishop Burton called on members to perpetuate Christlike virtues, which begin in the home. These traits must not be set aside or forgotten. Deseret News story HERE.

Sister Ann M. Dibb, Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, spoke about spiritual "safety equipment". She reminded people that our 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. He has given us personal prayer, the scriptures, living prophets, and the Holy Ghost to guide us. At times, using this equipment may seem cumbersome, awkward, and horribly unfashionable. Its proper use requires our diligence, obedience and persistence. But I, for one, choose to use it. We must all choose to use it." She also referred to the "rod of iron" in Lehi's vision of the tree of life found in the Book of Mormon, explaining that all must hold on tight to the iron rod and never let go. Deseret News story HERE.

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve spoke of the necessity to qualify for and seek personal revelation, which is offered to all. Elder Nelson said that firm faith, deep desire, and diligent study are necessary to access information from heaven. He further explained that revelation from God is ALWAYS compatible with His eternal law, never contradicting His existing doctrine. Furthermore, revelation need not all come at once, but may be incremental; patience and perseverance are part of our eternal progression. Deseret News story HERE.

President Thomas S. Monson capped the session by asking the rhetorical question, "And what did you do for someone today?" He cited the example of a Methodist minister who asked each one of his children that question in turn at the dinner table. The children were determined to do a good turn so they could report each day to their father that they had helped someone. As they grew and matured, that motivation became an inner desire to help others. And one of those children, Dr. Jack McConnell, established Volunteers in Medicine, which retired health care providers serve the working uninsured after retiring from his medical career. Dr. McConnell said that by providing the service, he has benefited more than his patients have.

Quoting Jesus' words that "whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it," President Monson remarked, "I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and, figuratively, lose their life, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish — and in effect save their life." Deseret News story HERE.

Bloggernacle live-blogging and discussion of this session provided by a particularly detailed post on Messenger and Advocate (replete with photos), along with Times And Seasons, Feminist Mormon Housewives, and By Common Consent. Photos posted at another post on By Common Consent.

LDS 179th Semiannual Conference, Saturday Evening Priesthood Session: Fathers And Sons, Preparation, Work, Learning, And Avoiding Anger

Since the ladies had their own General Relief Society Meeting back on September 26th, it was only fair that the men have their own meeting on October 3rd. Thus the Saturday evening priesthood session of the LDS 179th Semiannual General Conference took place. On the menu: Father-son relationships, preparation, work, learning, and a stern admonition against displaying anger, with several stories relating the tragic consequences of temper.

-- Summary of Saturday morning general session available HERE.
-- Summary of Saturday afternoon general session available HERE.
-- Summary of Sunday morning general session available HERE.
-- Summary of Sunday afternoon general session available HERE.
-- Video and audio archives and written transcripts now available via the LDS 2009 Conference Page.

Leading off was Elder Russell M. Ballard of the Quorum of the Seventy, who spoke of the relationship between fathers and sons. For sons, he offered three suggestions on how to maximize the relationship with the father: First, trust your father; second, take an interest in your father’s life; and finally, ask your father for advice. And for fathers, Elder Ballard also offered three suggestions to better their relationships with their sons: First, listen to your sons; second, pray with and for your sons; and finally, and dare to have the ‘big’ talks with your sons. The latter is particularly important because, while a mother can teach a boy many important things, only a father can teach a boy how to become a man. Deseret News story HERE.

Next up, Elder Walter F. Gonzalez, President of the Seventy. who spoke about using the Book of Mormon to become more powerful priesthood holders. He suggested three simple ways to turn the Book of Mormon into our best-read and best-applied book in our lives. Read it, implement its principles, and teach its doctrine and principles to others. Deseret News story HERE.

Elder Yoon Hwan Choi of the Seventy followed. Elder Choi discussed how he intervened with nine "loud", unruly boys who hung out at his LDS chapel in his South Korea neighborhood years ago. A missionary organized them into a singing group. They were welcome at the Choi home where they were taught the principles of the gospel, how to apply it in their lives, and were given a vision of their future lives. The end result: nine of the boys who were not members were baptized. From there, they served missions, met young sisters, married in the temple, albeit all with different timetables. Today, those nine have produced 45 active LDS members, including wives and children. Many are leaders in their wards and stakes, including a bishop, two counselors, and one stake high council member. Deseret News story HERE.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, spoke of the economically challenging times and reminded the audience that two fundamental principles for economic success are to work and learn. "Work is an antidote for anxiety, an ointment for sorrow, and a doorway to possibility," Uchtdorf said. "Whatever our circumstances in life, my dear brethren, let us do the best we can and cultivate a reputation for excellence in all that we do. Let us set our minds and bodies to the glorious opportunity for work that each new day presents." But President Uchtdorf quickly cautioned that laboring for worldly wealth or public recognition should not happen at the expense of families and spiritual growth.

President Uchtdorf also declared that education is not merely a good idea — it's a commandment, citing how Joseph Smith taught that knowledge is a necessary part of one's mortal journey. During challenging times, it becomes even more important to learn. Uchtdorf challenged the brethren to learn as much as possible, and to encourage families, quorum members, and anyone else to learn and become better educated. Do not allow the lack of formal education to obstruct the learning process. And don't neglect revelation as a source of education. Deseret News story HERE.

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, discussed the importance of preparation. He stressed that preparation begins in families, in Aaronic Priesthood quorums, and in our private lives. Directing his remarks more specifically towards the young Aaronic Priesthood holders, the deacons, teachers, and priests, he suggested that the destiny of the rising generation of priesthood holders is far more than blessing the sick — it is to do whatever the Lord needs done to prepare the world for His coming. To be ready, young priesthood holders need to have faith and the confidence to live up to the blessings and trust God offers them. Deseret News story HERE.

President Thomas S. Monson closed the session with a stern admonition against anger. To drive the lesson home, he cited the case of a young family who came to him for counseling years ago. When the son was about 18 months old, the family was traveling on vacation by car, and all three were in the front seat. The couple had an argument that escalated, and, in a moment of anger, the husband threw one of the boy's toys in the direction of the wife. Instead, it struck their son, resulting in brain damage to the boy that handicapped him for the rest of his life. But by the time the counseling session was over, they were smiling through their tears as they left his office.

President Monson flatly stated that it is impossible to feel the Spirit of our Heavenly Father when one is angry, explaining that to be angry is to yield to Satan's influence. "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." Considering the elevated sense of grievance so many Americans feel and express these days, this counsel couldn't be better timed. Deseret News story HERE.

Bloggernacle live-blogging and discussion for this session provided by Mormon Mentality, By Common Consent,

LDS 179th Semiannual Conference, Saturday Afternoon General Session: Mercy And Justice Inseparable, Temperance, And The Power Of Prayer

The Saturday afternoon general session of the LDS 179th Semiannual Conference kicked off with an important address from one of the Quorum of the Twelve. This address was specifically designed to remind the world that although God can save you from your sins, He cannot save you IN your sins.

-- Summary of Saturday morning session available HERE.
-- Summary of Saturday evening priesthood session available HERE.
-- Summary of Sunday morning general session available HERE.
-- Summary of Sunday afternoon general session available HERE.
-- Video and audio archives and written transcripts now available via the LDS 2009 Conference Page.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve addressed the relationship between love and law. God's universal and perfect love is shown in all the blessings of His gospel plan, but His choicest blessings are reserved for those who obey His laws. Specifically, Elder Oaks stated, "The love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments, and the effect of God's laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of His love.". He then suggested that the same should be true of parental love and rules.

Elder Oaks pointed out that some value God's love because of their hope that His love is so great and so unconditional that it will mercifully excuse them from obeying His laws. But in contrast, those who understand God's plan for His children know that God's laws are invariable, which is another great evidence of His love for His children. Mercy cannot rob justice. The Atonement merely assures a balance between mercy and justice; it does not allow mercy to trump justice. Elder Oaks also characterized God's wrath as evidence of His love rather than a contradiction. But in the final analysis, God's choicest blessings are clearly contingent upon obedience to God's laws and commandments. Deseret News story HERE.

LDS 179th Semiannual Conference, Saturday Morning General Session: Five New Temples, Consistency, Propriety, And The Holy Ghost

The 179th Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints kicked off on Saturday October 3rd, 2009 with the announcement of five new temples, as well as the standard diet of counsel on how to minimize sin in one's life by addressing root causes. The appearance of propriety is just as important as propriety itself. The nation's growing obsession with pornography was also condemned.

The summaries combine highlights from a single report on the session from the Salt Lake Tribune with individual Deseret News stories on each speaker to provide a broader perspective. Official written transcripts of each address will be posted on the LDS website in about a week from now.

-- Summary of Saturday afternoon general session available HERE.
-- Summary of Saturday evening priesthood session available HERE.
-- Summary of Sunday morning general session available HERE.
-- Summary of Sunday afternoon general session available HERE.
-- Video and audio archives and written transcripts now available via the LDS 2009 Conference Page.

KSL news video embedded below:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

President Thomas S. Monson began the Saturday morning general session of 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. Read the full text of his address HERE. The five new temple locations are described below:

Click on the city name to view a map of the location:

(1). Brigham City, Utah: This will be the 14th temple in Utah. LDS members in the area will no longer need to choose between attending the Logan Temple to the east, or the Ogden Temple to the south.

(2). Concepcion, Chile: This will be the second temple in Chile, the first being the Santiago Chile Temple.

(3). Fortaleza, Brazil: This will be the seventh temple in Brazil. Five are currently in operation — Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, Recife, Campinas, and Curitiba - with a sixth, in Manaus, announced in 2007.

(4). Fort Lauderdale, Florida: This will be the second temple in Florida, the other being in Orlando. The Ft. Lauderdale temple will serve members living throughout south Florida as well as the Bahamas.

(5). Sapporo, Japan: This will be the third temple in Japan and the first on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The others are the Tokyo Japan Temple and the Fukuoka Japan Temple.

Milennial Star posts some interesting analysis about the proposed temple locations.

The LDS Church currently has 130 temples in operation worldwide, although operations at the Aba Nigeria Temple are temporarily suspended because of civil strife in the area. President Monson's announcement brings the total of additional temples either announced or under construction to 21. At present, 83 percent of LDS members worldwide live within 200 miles of a temple.

LDS Women Reminded Of The Purpose Of Relief Society And Asked To Be More Charitable At The September 2009 General Relief Society Meeting

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' General Relief Society Meeting was held in Salt Lake City on Saturday September 26th, 2009, and there were no real surprises except for an announcement that Relief Society meetings would be simplified somewhat in the future. The message to the sisters was to be more charitable. The speakers also touched on different aspects of the history and administration of Relief Society, the LDS Church's organization for women which was founded in 1842.

If you missed it, you can listen HERE.

For a complete perspective on the event, read stories in the Mormon Times, the LDS Church News, the Salt Lake Tribune, the Deseret News, and KSL Channel 5. Bloggernacle reaction posted by ByCommonConsent and Feminist Mormon Housewives.

Addressing the worldwide congregation of LDS women, 19,000 of who were personally in attendance at the Conference Center, were Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president, and her counselors, Silvia H. Allred and Barbara Thompson. A member of the LDS First Presidency, Henry Eyring (first counselor), delivered the closing address. KSL news video embedded below:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

179th Semiannual LDS General Conference To Begin October 3rd, 2009, Preceded By General Relief Society Meeting September 26th In Salt Lake City

Update: Have now posted summaries of the various conference sessions:
-- Summary of Saturday morning general session HERE
-- Summary of Saturday afternoon general session HERE.
-- Summary of Saturday evening priesthood session HERE.
-- Summary of Sunday morning general session available HERE.
-- Summary of Sunday afternoon general session available HERE.
-- Video and audio archives and written transcripts now available via the LDS 2009 Conference Page.

It's that time of year for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints once again. Conference season is at hand. For those who are unfamiliar, Wikipedia describes a General Conference as a semiannual meeting where General Authorities and other key church leaders deliver sermons and give guidance to the members of the church. Changes to church leadership are also proposed and sustained through the principle of common consent. General conferences are held on the weekends containing the first Sunday in April and the first Sunday in October. The April conference is known as the Annual General Conference, and the October conference the Semiannual General Conference.

The April conference includes annual statistical and financial reports not included in the October meeting. Both conferences are identified by the number of years since the church was founded in April 1830; thus, the April 2008 meeting was the 178th Annual General Conference, and the October 2007 meeting was the 177th Semiannual General Conference. The conferences have been held in Salt Lake City, Utah since 1848; in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square before 2000 and in the Conference Center after that.

It actually begins with a precursor event on Saturday September 26th. The General Relief Society Meeting will convene at the Salt Lake Conference Center at 6:00 P.M. Doors open at 4:30 P.M., and tickets are required. Messages will be given by a member of the LDS First Presidency and each member of the Relief Society general presidency. The main conference begins on Saturday October 3rd and continues through Sunday October 4th. Saturday general sessions will be held at 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. The Saturday evening general priesthood meeting will be held at 6:00 P.M. And the Sunday general sessions will be held at 9:30 A.M. (which includes Music and the Spoken Word) and 2:00 P.M. Tickets required for all sessions.

From the LDS website Conference Page comes these instructions:

-- Primary Location: All sessions originate from the Conference Center Auditorium on North Temple unless otherwise specified. Additional nearby locations will be set up for overflow viewing. The April conference's overflow locations were detailed in this Deseret News story and may be used again this time.

-- Dates:
---- Saturday September 26th, General Relief Society Meeting at 6:00 P.M. Attendance limited to women.
---- Saturday October 3rd, general sessions at 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. General priesthood meeting at 6:00 P.M. (priesthood session limited to males 12 and older)
---- Sunday October 4th, general sessions at 9:30 A.M. and 2:00 P.M.

-- Tickets are required for admission to all sessions in the Conference Center. Contact your local priesthood leader in advance to obtain tickets. Tickets NOT required for admission to other venues. This time, a special provision has been added for international visitors. Those visiting Salt Lake from outside the United States and Canada who have been in the country less than six months may be eligible to receive tickets to general conference. These individuals may enter at door 5 of the Conference Center beginning Monday, September 28th, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. to obtain tickets. In order to receive tickets, a valid passport and I-94 form will be required to determine eligibility. Each individual seeking to obtain tickets must come in person.

-- Special Considerations (also includes information from HERE):
---- Admission to the Conference Center is limited to those ages 8 and older for general sessions and 12 years and older for the priesthood session.
---- Those attending are encouraged to park in designated parking areas only, as shown HERE. Better yet, consider leaving your vehicle where you are staying and take public transportation to Temple Square. The Deseret News publishes information about TRAX and FrontRunner service HERE.
---- Sunday dress is encouraged.
---- Cameras, audio and video recorders are NOT allowed. Photographs are not permitted during the event.
---- You will be expected to turn off all pagers, cell phones, and simlar electronic devices while in the Conference Center. "Off" doesn't mean switch from "ring" to "vibrate"; it means "Off" as in O-F-F.
---- You will not be permitted to bring packages, backpacks, food, or beverages into the Conference Center.

Broadcast Information:
-- Local Utah broadcasting: Visit KSL Channel 5's information page on the conference. Also visit the BYU Broadcasting website for the times of KBYU Channel 11 broadcasts.
-- Live video/audio streaming of Sept 26 Relief Society meeting HERE.
-- Live video/audio streaming of Oct 3-4 general conference HERE.
-- Cable and Satellite Broadcasting: Information available via Bonneville Communications. Click HERE, then select either Cable/Broadcast or Dish/DirectTV/Satellite TV, depending upon which applies. Follow subsequent instructions to find out the information for your area.
-- At a local LDS chapel: Via the Church Satellite System HERE.
-- Live broadcasts also possible via the Mormon Channel, which is LDS Radio. The Mormon Channel widget is embedded on the sidebar of this blog.

Archives of previous General Conferences are available HERE.

If you have kids and want to get them interested in conference, there are two separate resources available:

-- LDSResources has a 20-page Primary Activity Packet available.
-- LDS Media Talk discloses the availability of Friend Magazine's 10-page General Conference Notebook.

Additional ideas for engaging kids are presented on the Mormon World blog.