Coverage of the October 2017 General Conference Saturday Morning Session
Contributed By Marianne Holman Prescott, Church News staff writer
Thousands of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met in the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City—and in other locations around the world—for the 187th Semiannual General Conference.
In the Saturday morning session of the conference, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf discussed his belief that every man, woman, and child experience a yearning to return to his or her heavenly home.
“Deep within us is a longing to somehow reach past the veil and embrace Heavenly Parents we once knew and cherished,” the Second Counselor in the First Presidency taught.
President Uchtdorf offered two reasons individuals should turn to the Lord. “First, your life will be better. Second, God will use you to make the lives of others better.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Elder Oaks spoke of how members of the Church “are blessed with unique doctrine and different ways of viewing the world.”
The restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the inspired family proclamation are essential teachings to guide mortal preparation for exaltation, Elder Oaks said. Those who strive for exaltation must make personal choices in family life according to the Lord’s way whenever that differs from the world’s way.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Elder Holland addressed the topic “Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually.”
“Brothers and sisters, every one of us aspires to a more Christlike life than we often succeed in living,” he taught. “If we admit that honestly and are trying to improve, we are not hypocrites; we are human. May we refuse to let our own mortal follies, and the inevitable shortcomings of even the best men and women around us, make us cynical about the truths of the gospel or hope for our future or the possibility of true godliness.
“If we persevere, then somewhere in eternity our refinement will be finished and complete—which is the New Testament meaning of perfection.”
President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency conducts the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency conducted the session, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir provided music. Speakers included President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency; Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, and Elder D. Todd Christofferson, all of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women General President; and Elder John C. Pingree Jr., General Authority Seventy.
Elder Larry R. Lawrence and Elder Massimo De Feo, General Authority Seventies, offered the prayers.
Conference goers walk toward the Conference Center for the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Spencer Heaps, Deseret News.
Conference goers walk toward the Conference Center for the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Spencer Heaps, Deseret News.
Conference goers wait to enter the Conference Center for the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Spencer Heaps, Deseret News.
Conference goers walk toward the Conference Center for the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Spencer Heaps, Deseret News.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf greets members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles before the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
President Henry B. Eyring and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency visit before the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson and Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles greet each other before the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, greets fellow Apostles before the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks greets fellow Apostles prior to the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Audience members attend the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gives a thumbs up sign before the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The audience in the Conference Center sings during the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Church leaders stand during the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Elder John C. Pingree Jr. speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Steve Adams of Yucaipa, California, looks for family members arriving to attend the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Conference goers walk with umbrellas to the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Conference goers walk to the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
People walk on Temple Square on Saturday, September 30, 2017, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings during the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Conference goers attend the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Conference goers attend the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women General President, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
