Coverage of the October 2015 General Conference Sunday Morning Session
Contributed By R. Scott Lloyd, Church News staff writer
President Thomas S. Monson addresses members worldwide at the 185th Semiannual General Conference October 4, 2015.
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The 88-year-old prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Thomas S. Monson, voiced the sentiments of many Latter-day Saints as he gave the opening address at the Sunday morning session of the 185th Semiannaul General Conference. He expressed sadness at the recent deaths of three beloved members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and said how much he missed them.
But with cheerfulness and gratitude, he welcomed the three newest members of the Quorum, saying, “These are men dedicated to the work of the Lord. They are well qualified to fill the important positions to which they have been called.”
Other speakers in the session were President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency; President Russell M. Nelson, newly sustained as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and Elders Gregory A. Schwitzer and Claudio R. M. Costa of the Seventy. The three new Apostles—Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Elder Gary E. Stevenson, and Elder Dale G. Renlund—also spoke.
Prayers were offered by Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong of the Seventy and Sister Cheryl A. Esplin, first counselor in the Primary general presidency.
Addresses delivered in the session covered themes such as being an example, the companionship of the Holy Ghost, the greatness of women in the Church, standing powerfully as witnesses for God and His doctrine, and always remembering the Savior and His Atonement.
Music for the session was provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir under the direction of Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy, with Richard Ellliott and Andrew Unsworth at the Conference Center organ. Selections performed were “Redeemer of Israel,” “If the Savior Stood beside Me,” “There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today,” and “The Spirit of God.” The congregation joined with the choir in singing “How Firm a Foundation.”
President Thomas S. Monson: “Be an Example and a Light”
Elder Ronald A. Rasband: “I Stand All Amazed”
Elder Gary E. Stevenson: “Fulness of Times”
Elder Dale G. Renlund: “Through God’s Eyes”
President Russell M. Nelson: “A Plea to My Sisters”
Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer: “Let the Clarion Trumpet Sound”
Elder Claudio R. M. Costa: “That They Do Always Remember Him”
President Henry B. Eyring: “The Holy Ghost as Your Companion”
President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, October 4, 2015, at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Crowd members stand and sing during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, October 4, 2015, at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Crowd members stand and sing during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, October 4, 2015, at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Elder Dale G. Renlund speaks during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, October 4, 2015, at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson speaks during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, October 4, 2015, at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband speaks during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Sunday, October 4, 2015, at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
President Thomas S. Monson waves to the crowd after the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 4, 2015, at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
President Thomas S. Monson talks during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 4, 2015, at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 4, 2015, at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 4, 2015, at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 4, 2015, at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
The First Presidency walks onto the stand for the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 4, 2015, at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Utah. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
People gather by the Temple Square reflecting pool during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015.
Corbin Hinton, 8, Radley Bruderer, 12, and Adrian Hinton, 11, listen to the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Temple Square reflecting pool in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
Addison Hinton, 13, Allie Bryan, 14, Payton Raban, 14, Corbin Hinton, 8, Radley Bruderer, 12, and Adrian Hinton, 11, listen to the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Temple Square reflecting pool in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
Sister Avery Bean and Sister Lisa Hopf chat with people at the Temple Square reflecting pool during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
People sit by the Temple Square reflecting pool in Salt Lake City during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
People sit by the Temple Square reflecting pool during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
Jon Lee looks at the Temple Square reflecting pool with his son, Travis, 18 months, during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
People sit by the Temple Square reflecting pool during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
A girl plays by the Temple Square reflecting pool during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
Aiveni Mafi talks with Sister Luana Brito and Sister Elisse Parrish at the Temple Square reflecting pool during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
People sit by the Temple Square reflecting pool during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
People sit by the Temple Square reflecting pool during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
People take photos by the Temple Square reflecting pool during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
People gather by the Temple Square reflecting pool during the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
People walk to the Conference Center before the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
People wait in line outside the Conference Center before the morning session of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Photo by Stacie Scott, Deseret News.
