Coverage of the April 2018 General Conference Sunday Morning Session

Contributed By Aubrey Eyre, Church News staff writer

  • 1 April 2018

Conference goers listen to the talks during the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

Talk summaries:

During the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference on April 1, President Russell M. Nelson expressed his gratitude for all those who sustained him as the prophet and President of the Church during the conference proceedings the day before.

The session was conducted by President Nelson and marked the first time he conducted a session of general conference.

No new announcements were made during the session.

Although speakers covered various topics centered on Christ and the celebration of Easter during their respective addresses, the importance of the Holy Ghost was reiterated by nearly every speaker. (See related article.)

As the concluding speaker for the session, President Nelson shared many stories of his personal history and spiritual experiences. He gave an account of the process for selecting his counselors in the First Presidency and declared the guiding hand of the Lord in calling the newly appointed Apostles, Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Elder Ulisses Soares.

Matching the theme of the other speakers, President Nelson expressed his gratitude for the power of revelation available through the Holy Ghost.

President Nelson concluded by saying, “The most important truth the Holy Ghost will ever witness to you is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He lives! He is our Advocate with the Father, our Exemplar, and our Redeemer.”

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency talked about the powerful effect over time of the small and simple things we are taught in the scriptures and by living prophets. “Though each of these practices may seem to be small and simple, over time they result in powerful spiritual uplift and growth,” he said. “This occurs because each of these small and simple things invites the companionship of the Holy Ghost, the Testifier who enlightens us and guides us into truth.”

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency expressed a simple hope for listeners “to increase your desire and your ability to receive the Holy Ghost.” He testified that Heavenly Father “is at this moment aware of you, your feelings, and the spiritual and temporal needs of everyone around you” and that we can ask for the Holy Ghost to be with us as we seek to be worthy of that gift.”

Elder Larry Y. Wilson, Elder Massimo De Feo, and Elder Claudio D. Zivic, General Authority Seventies, and Sister Reyna I. Aburto, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, also spoke.

Music for the session was provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir under the direction of Mack Wilberg, with Clay Christiansen and Richard Elliott as organists. Each musical number matched the Easter theme by focusing on the Resurrection of Christ.

Elder S. Mark Palmer, General Authority Seventy, gave the invocation, and Elder Joaquin E. Costa, General Authority Seventy, gave the benediction.

Brothers and sisters sing hymns outside of Temple Square, serenading conference goers on their way to the Conference Center for the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

Conference goers arrive for the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

Brothers and sisters sing hymns outside of Temple Square, serenading conference goers on their way to the Conference Center for the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

Conference goers listen to Music and the Spoken Word before the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

A boy listens to Music and the Spoken Word before the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

Clay Christiansen, who is retiring, plays the organ during Music and the Spoken Word before the morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. This is the last general conference that Christiansen will be playing. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings during Music and the Spoken Word before the morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings during Music and the Spoken Word before the morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

Conference goers in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

Lahia Salamon walks toward her mother near Temple Square during the morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

President Russell M. Nelson leaves the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Watson Nelson, leave the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Watson Nelson, leave the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Watson Nelson, leave the morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Seventy hugs Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, former Young Women General President, after the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy shakes hands with Sister Reyna I. Aburto, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, after the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

Brother Brian K. Ashton, Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, shakes hands with Sister Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President, after the morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

Brother Stephen W. Owen, Young Men General President, talks with Sister Sharon Eubank, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, after the morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

Conference goers arrive at the Conference Center for the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

Conference goers arrive at the Conference Center for the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

Conference goers arrive at the Conference Center for the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

Conference goers arrive at the Conference Center for the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

Conference goers arrive at the Conference Center for the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

President Russell M. Nelson conducts the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings during the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

President Russell M. Nelson conducts the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

Elder Larry Y. Wilson, General Authority Seventy, speaks during the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

Sister Reyna I. Aburto, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, speaks during the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

Elder Massimo De Feo of the Seventy speaks during the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings during the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

Conference goers listen to the talks during the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

Conference goers listen to the talks during the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

Ushers during the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

Conference goers listen to the talks during the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

President Henry B. Eyring, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings during the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

Ellie Smith and Emily Barringer take a photo following the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir members and audience members applaud retiring organist Clay Christiansen following the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 1, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

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