Coverage of the October 2017 General Conference Sunday Morning Session
Contributed By Valerie Johnson, Church News staff writer
Jared Payne, who is in the chaplain program at BYU, takes a selfie with his wife, Tiffany; son, Ryan; and daughter, Baylee, following the Sunday morning session of the LDS Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 1, 2017.
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Despite light showers of rain, thousands gathered in the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City for the Sunday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church.
President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, spoke on the topic “Fear Not to Do Good.”
President Eyring was in Idaho when the Teton Dam broke on June 5, 1976. “A wall of water came down. Thousands fled from their homes. Thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed. Miraculously, fewer than 15 people were killed,” he said.
“What I saw there, I have seen whenever Latter-day Saints stand firmly on the rock of a testimony of Jesus Christ. Because they have no doubt He watches over them, they become fearless. They ignore their own trials to go to the relief of others. And they do so out of love for the Lord, asking for no recompense.”
President Eyring said that he has seen the miracle of faith driving out doubt and fear in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and Florida, “where Latter-day Saints partnered with other churches, local community groups, and national organizations to begin cleanup efforts.”
Recent disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes, and contention in families and communities, make it seem like the whole earth is in commotion, Sister Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President, said in her remarks, which opened the session. But joy can still be had by all.
“Lasting joy is found in focusing on our Savior, Jesus Christ, and living the gospel as demonstrated and taught by Him,” she said. “The more we learn about, have faith in, and emulate Jesus Christ, the more we come to understand that He is the source of all healing, peace, and eternal progress.”
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke on the “exceeding great and precious promises” of Heavenly Father “whereby we can become partakers of the divine nature. His plan defines our eternal identity and the pathway we must follow to learn, change, grow, and ultimately dwell with Him forever.”
Priesthood ordinances and sacred covenants are essential in the ongoing process of spiritual rebirth, Elder Bednar said. “Ordinances that are received worthily and remembered continually open the heavenly channels through which the power of godliness can flow into our lives. Covenants that are honored steadfastly and remembered always provide purpose and the assurance of blessings in both mortality and for eternity,” he said.
Elder Donald L. Hallstrom, General Authority Seventy; Elder W. Craig Zwick, who was released and made an emeritus General Authority Seventy on Saturday; and Bishop W. Christopher Waddell of the Presiding Bishopric also spoke during the session.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, conducted the session. Elder Michael T. Ringwood and Elder Jose A. Teixeira, General Authority Seventies, offered the prayers.
Music was provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, with Mack Wilberg directing and Andrew Unsworth and Clay Christiansen at the organ.
The Sunday morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference in Salt lake City on October 1, 2017. President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, take their seats on the stand with the empty chair of President Thomas S. Monson, who was watching the proceedings from home. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Noah Edvalson looks at his daughter, Lucy, as he and his wife, Olivia, join other conference goers singing in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City during the morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Olivia Edvalson and her daughter, Lucy, look at some of the art pieces as they attend conference in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City during the Sunday morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Ingrid Roberts and her son, Andrew, of Florida look at the Salt Lake Temple as conference goers enter the Conference Center in Salt Lake City prior to the morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Conference goers enter the Conference Center in Salt Lake City prior to the morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Conference goers hurry into the Conference Center in Salt Lake City prior to the morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Conference goers enter the Conference Center in Salt Lake City prior to the morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Conference goers enter the Conference Center in Salt Lake City prior to the Sunday morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
The Tabernacle Choir prepares prior to the the Sunday morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
President Henry B. Eyring and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency shake hands with members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as they enter the Sunday morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
President Henry B. Eyring and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency shake hands with members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as they enter the Sunday morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City during the Sunday morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency conducts the the Sunday morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Sister Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President, speaks in Salt Lake City during the Sunday morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Elder David A. Bednar speaks in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City during the Sunday morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Conference goers stand and sing inside the Conference Center in Salt Lake City during the morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Conference goers stand and sing inside the Conference Center in Salt Lake City during the morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Conference goers stand and sing inside the Conference Center in Salt Lake City during the morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Conference goers sit inside the Conference Center in Salt Lake City during the morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, speaks in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City during the Sunday morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shake hands as they leave the stand following the Sunday morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, waves goodbye following the morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, and other members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and their wives wave to the crowd as they leave the stand following the Sunday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, and his wife, Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, wave to the crowd as they leave the stand following the Sunday morning session of the Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and their wives wave to the crowd as they leave the stand following the Sunday morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband waves to conference goers on the upper tier of the Conference Center as his wife, Sister Melanie Rasband, blows a kiss to the crowd following the 187th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Conference goers take pictures of each other following the Sunday morning session of the LDS Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Adam Fronden, Deseret News.
Conference goers exit the Sunday morning session of the LDS Church’s 187th Semiannual General Conference in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Photo by Adam Fondren, Deseret News.
