LDS general conference wraps up with messages of choice


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SALT LAKE CITY — Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were uplifted by messages from their leaders, musical numbers and a new religious art exhibit this weekend.

The church’s semiannual general conference opened Sept. 27 with the General Women’s Conference. There, leaders told girls and women of God’s love for them, preparing them for the general sessions held Saturday and Sunday. During the four general sessions, members heard message from men they believe to be prophets, and women who lead auxiliary programs for women and children in the church.

Sunday afternoon, the church concluded its conference weekend, drawing tens of thousands to downtown Salt Lake City, and millions more church members who watched around the world.

Messages from prophets, leaders

President Thomas S. Monson concluded the conference by encouraging Latter-day Saints to reach out to those who struggle with challenges in life and to extend a helping hand. And Sunday morning he reminded church members of the importance of the choices they make.

"May we remember the elderly and those who are homebound. As we take time to visit them, they will know that they are loved and valued," Monson said. "May we reach out in helpfulness, not only to our fellow members but also to those who are not of our faith. As we associate with them, may we show our respect for them."

President Monson spoke on how everyday choices in life are part of God's plan. Good choices he said, will lead to happiness.

"In thousands of ways we are privileged to choose for ourselves. l hear we learn from the hard taskmaster of experience,” he said. “We discern between good and evil. We differentiate as to the bitter and the sweet. We learn that decisions determine destiny.”

President Monson also told members that even in life's difficult moments, they can find hope in their faith and that will bring them peace.

"Each of us will walk the path of disappointment, perhaps because of an opportunity lost, a power misused, a loved one's choices or a choice we ourselves make,” Monson said.

He thanked members for their prayers on his behalf as he leads the church of 15 million members.

"My brothers and sisters, I thank you for your prayers in my behalf," Monson said. "They strengthen me and lift me as I strive with all my heart and strength to do God's will and to serve him and to serve you."

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Several speakers talked about the importance of President Monson's position as prophet and following him. There were some very specific, even strong words about listening to and following the counsel of the prophet.

"According to the world's standard, following the prophet may be unpopular, politically incorrect, or socially unacceptable. But following the prophet is always right,” said Sister Carol F. McConkie of the Young Women General Presidency.

President Henry B. Eyring said the Lord loves his servants.

"This is not easy to feel continually because the Lord often asks his prophets to give counsel that is hard for people to accept,” Eyring said. “The enemy of our souls will try to lead us to take offense and to doubt the prophet's calling from God."

Elder Russell M. Nelson, heart surgeon to President Spencer W. Kimball, said the Lord's ways are different from man’s.

"Man's ways remove people from office or business when they grow old or become disabled. No prophet or any other leader in this church, for that matter, has ever called himself or herself. No prophet has ever been elected,” he said. "Our sustaining is an oath-like indication that we recognize their calling as a prophet to be legitimate and binding upon us."

An artist’s expression of faith

Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center were able to see a new art exhibit, featuring paintings depicting women in the scriptures. The 11 paintings by Utah artist Kathleen Peterson range from Eve with her children to Mary Magdalene at the tomb of Christ.

Conference visitors were the first to admire the exhibited pieces. Peterson hopes the paintings help others visualize the women and their stories in the scriptures.

"I hope when they see those images it helps those women come to life and they have a face and they can imagine what they were like,” Peterson said. “Maybe like when I created them and maybe make the stories more exciting and more interesting."

Some of the images are being used in a new book "Girls Who Choose God." The paintings will remain on display on the west side of the first floor of the Conference Center.

Reactions from members

Members came from all over to attend the conference and see their prophet.

That was touching, to be able to understand their point of view, how much they love the prophet, they regard him as the mouthpiece of the Lord,” said Jerry Valdivia, from California.

Others bore testimony of the man who leads their church.

"The spirit that is felt to be in the same room as the prophet, the feeling you get when you stand up when he leaves or comes into the room and you are so close to him. It's awesome,” said member Emma Juneau, from Virginia.

Members also noted how they can be touched whether or not they attend the addresses in the Conference Center. For one family, the conference was part of a longtime goal to be sealed together in the temple.

Joseph and Sabita Issac met while serving as missionaries. Their mission president is now the temple president in Twin Falls, Idaho, where they will be sealed this week before returning home to India. Joseph Isaac's mother and sister also made the trip.

"The spirit is the same no matter where you listen to conference. This is just great," said Joseph Issac, from India. "We have been planning this for the past two years and we made it, finally."

He is smiling, not just because he is here for conference, but because his wife and two young boys will finally be sealed together in the temple, after nine years of marriage.

"We have tried going to different temples but because we are from different countries, I am from India and she is from Nepal, the visas did not work," Isaac said.

Those attempts include a disappointing trip to Hong Kong, where they found out their visas would not be granted and were never allowed to leave the airport. Now in Salt Lake City for the first time, Joseph and Sabita Isaac said it's the moment they've been waiting for.

"Everyone smiles at us and is so welcoming. The temple is something we have always been looking forward to," Sabita Isaac said.

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Carole Mikita

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