Sunday morning session: Summaries from Latter-day Saint general conference

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - Oct. 3, 2021 at 11:56 a.m. | Posted - Oct. 3, 2021 at 9:54 a.m.

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is holding its 191st Semiannual General Conference Saturday, Oct. 2 and Sunday, Oct. 3. This blog summarizes the key points from the Sunday morning session.

Follow along with our blog updates or watch each session live below.

For a glossary of the Latter-day Saint terminology used in this blog, click here.

Sunday, 11:55 am

President Russell M. Nelson: The temple and your spiritual foundation

President Russell M. Nelson began the concluding talk of the Sunday morning session of the 191st Semiannual General Conference by comparing the renovations for the Salt Lake Temple foundation to how members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should also strengthen their spiritual foundations.He showed a video of the original foundation of the temple and considered what modern technology and expertise could reinforce the foundation against earthquakes, high winds, erosion and inevitable settling.

"We are sparing no effort to give this venerable temple, which had become increasingly vulnerable, a foundation that will withstand the forces of nature into the millennium." @NelsonRussellM | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/I8sIetQU5d

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) October 3, 2021"We are sparing no effort to give this venerable temple, which had become increasingly vulnerable, a foundation that will withstand the forces of nature into the millennium," President Nelson said, adding that personal, spiritual foundations also requires "extraordinary measures" to be stronger."How firm is your foundation? And what reinforcements to your testimony and understanding of the gospel are needed?" he asked listeners.President Nelson explained that the temple should be the center of those reinforcements because what people learn in the temple increases understanding of Jesus Christ, which allows attendees to bind themselves to Christ and access his power."And oh, how we will need his power in the days ahead," he said.

"Please believe me when I say that when your spiritual foundation is built solidly upon Jesus Christ, you have no need to fear." @NelsonRussellM | #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) October 3, 2021The temple is the place where every belief and covenant come together, President Nelson continued. And although temple ordinances are ancient, they have been "gradually refined" since then.He asked listeners to consider three truths:

The Restoration is a process.

The gathering of Israel is meant to bring people the blessing of the temple.

Ongoing restoration needs ongoing revelation.

When the renovations on the temple are done, it will be the safest place to be during an earthquake, just like "the safest place to be spiritually is living inside your temple covenants," he concluded.—Jenny Rollins

Sunday, 11:25 am

Elder Quentin L. Cook: Personal peace in challenging times

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recalled his experience as he recently dedicated a portion of historic Nauvoo, during which he visited Liberty Jail in Missouri, where the Prophet Joseph Smith was jailed.Elder Cook said he contemplated the events that make the Saints' time in Nauvoo a "significant part of church history." One of the reasons for the "violent opposition" to members in the area was most of their opposition to slavery, Elder Cook noted. He said the intense persecution church members and Joseph Smith faced is an example of the unrighteous exercise of agency" that can impact the righteous.The apostle said he was "deeply moved" as he read Joseph Smith's words while in jail, when he asked: "O God, where art thou?" And when he read the Lord's answer: "My Son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high."Elder Cook emphasized that "opposition can refine us for an eternal, celestial destiny."He said Heavenly Father's words to Joseph Smith in the jail "have great significance for our day," when peace and harmony "are not prevalent."

"In my lifetime, I have never seen a greater lack of civility. We are bombarded with angry, contentious language and provocative, devastating actions that destroy peace and tranquility." @CookQuentinL | #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) October 3, 2021While we aren't promised peace in the world until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Elder Cook noted, personal peace "can still be achieved" and it has "never been more important" to seek it.

"Universal peace was not part of the Savior's initial mortal ministry. Universal peace does not exist today. However, personal peace can be achieved despite the anger, contention and division that blights and corrupts our world today." @CookQuentinL | #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) October 3, 2021Elder Cook urged listeners to love their neighbors, friends and enemies; to look for the fruits of the Spirit and "pitch our tents toward the temple;" use agency to choose righteousness; build Zion in our homes to create "a sanctuary of faith;" and to follow the admonitions of President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.—Ashley Imlay

Sunday, 11:15 am

Elder Vaiangina Sikahema: A house of sequential order

Elder Vaiangina Sikahema of the Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recounted an experience when he gave a woman the water of sacrament even though she had arrived too late for the bread, and his home teacher took the opportunity to teach him about sequential order in the gospel.Order has been part of the world from its creation, he said, with certain steps happening on certain days, ending in the creation of humankind and rest."If you choose to live your life out of sequence, you will find life more difficult and chaotic," he said.

"If you choose to live your life out of sequence, you will find life more difficult and chaotic." #ElderSikahema | #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) October 3, 2021The Savior can help to reorder lives when they become chaotic or disordered, Elder Sikahema continued.People's time on earth is to learn and gain experience "line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little" meaning it happens sequentially. And faith has to be grown from a seed before a miracle can happen, he explained.Priesthood ordination and ordinances also go in an order. For example, the sacrament begins with the bread and then the water. And many other aspects of the gospel rely on order, including repentance, Elder Sikahema said."Repentance is sequential. It begins with faith in Jesus Christ, even if just a particle," he said.

"Repentance is sequential. It begins with faith in Jesus Christ, even if just a particle. Faith requires humility, which is an essential element of having a broken heart and contrite spirit." #ElderSikahema | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/p5naEi0VFQ

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) October 3, 2021Elder Sikahema reminded the audience that the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are also in order: faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, and the receipt of the gift of the Holy Ghost.He concluded by quoting King Benjamin from the Book of Mormon: "Therefore, all things must be done in order."—Jenny Rollins

Sunday, 11:00 am

Elder Dale G. Renlund: The peace of Christ abolishes enmity

In his Sunday morning talk, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles began with a metaphor.Elder Renlund spoke of a exercise stress test that is used by medical professionals to identify health issues before they lead to serious problems.Elder Renlund said the COVID-19 pandemic has been much like an exercise stress test, showing mixed results among the global population. He pointed to the "heroes" of the pandemic who have sacrificed and displayed generosity and kindness, but also said the pandemic revealed the inequalities vulnerable people experience.He continued the metaphor saying that the pandemic has also been a spiritual stress test for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The spiritual stress test, said Elder Renlund, exposed tendencies toward contention and divisiveness. The tendencies suggest a need to gravitate toward compassion and understanding, he added.Elder Renlund stated that when we contend with one another, God weeps and Satan laughs. God weeps because contention leads to weakness and is unhealthy for the individual, he said. He emphasized that Jesus Christ's doctrine was not meant to be used to divide views or to contend with others.

#ElderRenlund | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/Z2cN01sVyi

— LDS Living (@LDSLivingMag) October 3, 2021When people turn to emulating Jesus Christ's love and put discipleship as a primary consideration, strength in the gospel and peace will be found. Elder Renlund used the example of the Helsinki Finland Temple dedication in 2006 in which the district would encompass Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus and Russia. Russia and Finland had fought many wars over the centuries and the relationship was contentious. The first day of general operations had been set aside for Russian members, with members of Finland pushing back their temple blessings.This was an example of moving forward in discipleship, Elder Renlund said. He finished emphasizing that everyone should "shun contention" and move forward in love.—Ashley Fredde

Sunday, 10:55 am

President Camille N. Johnson: Invite Christ to author your story

President Camille N. Johnson, of the Primary organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, asked, "Will you let God be the author and finisher of your story?"She asked for listeners to reflect on what the "personal narrative" of their life looks like, whether the path of their story is straight, whether their story will end at their heavenly home, and whether the Savior is the "exemplar" in their story.

"Why do we want the Savior to be the author and finisher of our stories? Because He knows our potential perfectly. He will take us to places we never imagined ourselves." #PresidentJohnson | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/e7Nu6FvdnQ

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) October 3, 2021President Johnson noted that an effective trial lawyer knows not to ask witnesses a question the lawyer does not already know the answer to, as they could get an answer that surprises them and affects the narrative they've established for the case.The "opposite is true" for us in our relationship with Heavenly Father, she said. President Johnson questioned why we sometimes "put off asking a question when the witness is not only friendly, but will always tell the truth."President Johnson said it could be because of a lack of faith to accept the answer, and the natural man and woman "is resistant" to turning their decisions over to the Lord "completely."While "few" would likely write their trials into their stories, President Johnson said, stories with trials comprise "our favorite stories compelling, timeless, faith promoting, and worthy of telling." She said the struggles in our stories "draw us closer to the Savior and refine us, making us more like Him."President Johnson pointed to the stories of David and Esther, who trusted in the Savior and found courage in dangerous situations and ultimately saved their people. She urged listeners to let Christ similarly be the writer of their stories.— Ashley Imlay

Sunday, 10:30 am

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf: Daily restoration

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles began the Sunday morning session of the 191st Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by talking about a scientific study that demonstrated that the idea that lost people walk in circles was true."Whatever the cause, it is human nature: without reliable landmarks, we drift off course," he said.

"Without the help of landmarks to guide us, we inevitably deviate off course and end up in places we never thought we would be." @UchtdorfDF | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/zFwjyBNyjP

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) October 3, 2021When Elder Uchtdorf was a pilot, he had to constantly make minor course corrections, and he said that while driving a vehicle, many things can push people off course. This can happen to people physically and spiritually, he explained.The scriptures are full of examples of societies as a whole wandering and falling away — it is a pattern of humanity since Adam."No matter how strong our spiritual experiences have been in the past, as human beings we tend to wander," he said.

"We are all susceptible. No matter how strong our spiritual experiences have been in the past, as human beings we tend to wander." @UchtdorfDF | #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) October 3, 2021Elder Uchtdorf said that we can combat this by using spiritual landmarks like daily scripture study and "Come Follow Me," and take time to recalibrate and stay on the path and connect with Christ."Think of it as your personal, daily restoration," he said.The Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ was not a momentary event but a process, and so is our personal restoration, Elder Uchtdorf explained, "one day at a time, one heart at a time."Small changes can be the small rudder that steers a large ship, he said.God is a God of new beginnings, which means that when disciples of Christ inevitably drift, they can start again through daily restoration.—Jenny Rollins

Sunday, 09:55 am

Sunday morning general conference session begins

Join us as the KSL.com team keeps you up to date with the latest talk summaries, announcements and events during the October general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.