Saturday afternoon session: Summaries from Latter-day Saint general conference

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is holding its 192nd Annual General Conference Saturday, April 2, and Sunday, April 3. This blog summarizes the key points from the Saturday afternoon 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.

Saturday, 04:11 pm

Elder Quentin L. Cook — Conversion to the will of God

Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke about a conflict in his family many years ago when his brother Joe was preparing applications for medical school. Their father was not a member and thought Joe could do more good by going to medical school than by serving a mission. The family decided it came down to the answer to three questions:

Is Jesus Christ divine?

Is the Book of Mormon the word of God?

Is Joseph Smith the prophet of the restoration?

Elder Cook recounted praying about this and receiving divine affirmation for these questions in what would become a "seminal event" that would influence every decision for the rest of his life.

#ElderCook | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/KrxXV5SCz8

— LDS Living (@LDSLivingMag) April 2, 2022Elder Cook cited one example of Joseph Smith's role as a prophet when he provided a record of heaven separated into three kingdoms or degrees of glory during a time when most churches were teaching that most people would be damned, and Joseph Smith added the idea of repentance for those who might be damned.In fact, Elder Cook continued, even though Joseph Smith lacked a high level of education, an example of his translation was confirmed by a classical scholar decades later. Elder Cook explained that this experience helped confirm that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ that can bring about conversion by answering life's great questions."True conversion is brought about by the conscious acceptance and commitment to follow the will of God," Elder Cook said. And once someone is converted, it is their obligation to convert others through missionary work, he added."For the Savior's mandate to share the gospel to become part of who we are, we need to become converted to the will of God, we need to love our neighbors, share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and invite all to come and see," Elder Cook said.— Jenny Rollins

Saturday, 04:05 pm

Elder Kevin S. Hamilton — Then will I make weak things become strong

Elder Kevin S. Hamilton, general authority seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, emphasized that one of Satan's greatest lies is that men and women cannot change, or that they should not change."While it is indeed good to be authentic, we should be authentic to our real, true selves, as sons and daughters of God with a divine nature and destiny to become like him. If our goal is to be authentic to this divine nature and destiny, then we will all need to change," Elder Hamilton said.When the Savior asks us to repent, he is inviting us to change, Elder Hamilton noted, quoting President Russell M. Nelson.

"The Savior worked out His infinite and eternal Atonement so that we could in fact repent, change and become better." #ElderHamilton | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/jmbD5RQe8f

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 2, 2022God's blessings are conditional based on our faith, righteousness and repentance, he added.Elder Hamilton emphasized that the Lord, speaking through the prophet Moroni in the Book of Mormon, has said he gives all people weaknesses, but that he will "make weak things become strong" for those who have faith in him.To change, we must first humble ourselves, and then we must have faith in Jesus Christ, Elder Hamilton said, and "through his grace, he can make weak things become strong."

"In order to change, we need to put off the natural man and become humble and submissive. We must be humble enough to follow a living prophet. Humble enough to make and keep temple covenants. Humble enough to repent daily." #ElderHamilton #GeneralConference #UniverseBYU

— BYU Daily Universe (@UniverseBYU) April 2, 2022"The Savior worked out his infinite and eternal Atonement so that we could in fact change, repent and become better. We can actually be born again. We can overcome habits, addictions and even the 'disposition to do evil,'" Elder Hamilton said.Although it sometimes "may feel like two steps forward and one step back," as we humble ourselves and exercise faith, "his infinite atoning sacrifice makes it possible to change," he said.— Ashley Imlay

Saturday, 03:45 pm

Elder Adrián Ochoa — Is the plan working?

Elder Adrián Ochoa, general authority seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, began his talk during the Saturday afternoon session by addressing those who were distancing themselves from the church because they felt that the plan of happiness wasn't working.He reflected on the account of Peter walking on water to Jesus and sinking when he became afraid. When people are afraid, Elder Ochoa said, they can act in faith and accept Christ's invitation to come, just as Peter did."Peter trusted the Savior more than he trusted his boat. And that faith gave him power to act with courage during a stressful, frightening situation," he said.

"Follow Jesus Christ instead of relying on your own wisdom and strength. No matter how long you've been trying to tread water without Him, it's never too late to reach out to Him."#ElderOchoa #GeneralConference #UniverseBYU

— BYU Daily Universe (@UniverseBYU) April 2, 2022He continued telling Peter's story, noting that just as Peter turned to Christ when the winds became stronger, followers of Christ should turn to him through repentance when they are struggling."The plan was not for us to glide easily through life, never stumbling, never sinking, with a smile on our face," Elder Ochoa said.

— BYU Daily Universe (@UniverseBYU) April 2, 2022He explained that although Peter accepted Jesus's invitation and turned to him, "the Savior saw in Peter the potential for so much more." Instead of becoming defensive, Peter humbled himself.Elder Ochoa concluded by stating that this humility before the Lord can lift people to greater things, including helping others."Never will the plan of happiness become more real to you than when you are helping others to live it," he said.— Jenny Rollins

Saturday, 03:39 pm

Elder Gerrit W. Gong — We each have a story

"We each have a story. As we discover our story we connect, we belong, we become," said Elder Gerrit W. Gong, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.He asked listeners if they know their story — what their name means and where their family comes from. He said that everyone is connected in the human family, or the family of God."Whatever the total number of individuals who have lived on the earth, it is finite, countable, one person at a time. You and I, we each matter," Elder Gong said.

#ElderGong | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/0TuLg2852c

— LDS Living (@LDSLivingMag) April 2, 2022He said that everyone has more family to connect with and encouraged conferencegoers to draw their living family tree. Elder Gong talked about people who took steps to learn and record the stories of their ancestors."Still very much alive, our ancestors deserve to be remembered. We remember our heritage through oral histories, clan records and family stories, memorials or places of remembrance, celebrations with photos, foods, or items which remind us of loved ones," he said.He encouraged members of the church to perform temple ordinances for their ancestors. Elder Gong said that connecting with ancestors can change lives and help people gain faith, move forward and receive help from the other side of the veil."God wants our families to be happy and forever. Forever is too long if we make each other unhappy. Happy is too short if cherished relationships stop with this life," Elder Gong said.Elder Gong acknowledged that not all families are perfect but said that God can help people understand and make peace with their families."Each of our stories is a journey still in progress, as we discover, create, and become with possibilities beyond imagination," Elder Gong said.— Emily Ashcraft

"We each have a story. Come discover yours. Come find your voice, your song, your harmony in Him. This is the very purpose for which God created the heavens and the earth and saw that they were good." @GerritWGong | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/wq3GdJ5mhu

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 2, 2022

Saturday, 03:27 pm

Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis — Lift up your heart and rejoice

Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis, general authority seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, noted that church members have all received the mission of "gathering Israel on both sides of the veil."That gathering "is the most important thing taking place on earth today," Elder Aidukaitis said.

"The Lord Jesus Christ was my great inspiration not to be afraid of the future as I strove to serve Him with all my heart. " #ElderAidukaitis | #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 2, 2022At the same time, the "laborers are few," he noted.But the world tries to distract us from choosing to serve a mission, he said, recalling his own experiences as a youth facing difficulties such as opposition from others. Elder Aidukaitis said he also dealt with concerns that he would not be able to continue his education and the risk that the young woman he was interested in would move on.Jesus Christ served as a "great inspiration" for him to not be afraid of what the future held, however.

"Serving a full-time mission may seem difficult to us. Perhaps it requires that we give up important things for a moment. The Lord certainly knows this and He will always be by our side." #ElderAidukaitis | #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 2, 2022When he served his mission, Aidukaitis said the Lord blessed him with greater faith, an increased capacity to face challenges, and other tools that helped prepare him for life.Elder Aidukaitis urged youth throughout the world to "enlist" to help gather Israel. The Lord will be on the side of those who serve full-time missions, he noted."We were born at this time for a divine purpose, the gathering of Israel. When we serve as full-time missionaries, we will be challenged at times, but the Lord himself is our great exemplar and guide in such circumstances. He understands what a difficult mission is. With his help, we can do hard things," he said.— Ashley Imlay

Saturday, 03:11 pm

Elder Patrick Kearon — He is risen with healing in his wings: We can be more than conquerors

Elder Patrick Kearon, of the Presidency of the Seventy, referenced the fascination most people have with survival stories: from shipwrecks to war. But there are some, he said, who feel that they are living a survival story right now because of "abuse, neglect, bullying, domestic violence or any suffering of this kind.""Will you ever be rescued? Will you make it through your own survival story?" he asked. "The answer is yes. You can survive. You have, in fact, already been rescued and saved."Nothing can separate people from Christ, including abuse, Elder Kearon said. He reminded listeners of promises that the Lord makes to deliver and offer rest. He also stated that those who struggle with self-loathing and feel as though they deserved these abuses are not responsible in any way and are loved and valuable."The abuse was not, is not, and never will be your fault, no matter what the abuser or anyone else may have said to the contrary," Elder Kearon said. "You are not less worthy or less valuable or less loved as a human being, or as a daughter or son of God, because of what someone else has done to you."Healing, even from such devastating things, can come through the atonement of Jesus Christ, who knows "exactly what real terror and shame feel like, and how it feels to be abandoned and broken," he said.

"Jesus has overcome the abuses of this world to give you power to not only survive, but one day, through Him, to overcome and even conquer–to completely rise above the pain, the misery, the anguish, and see them replaced by peace."#ElderKearon #GeneralConference #UniverseBYU

— BYU Daily Universe (@UniverseBYU) April 2, 2022Elder Kearon emphatically stated that abuse of any kind has no place anywhere, in any culture. No one deserves such treatment, he said, and God will right all wrongs and serve justice to those abusers unless they repent fully.And for those who have suffered, "With arms outstretched, the Savior offers the gift of healing to you," Kearon said. "You can let go of your pain and leave it at his feet."— Jenny Rollins

#ElderKearon | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/VgYUmQj1vz

— LDS Living (@LDSLivingMag) April 2, 2022Domestic violence prevention resourcesHelp for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:

Utah Domestic Violence Coalition: Utah's confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465)

YWCA Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600

Utah's statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

Saturday, 02:58 pm

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland — Fear not: Believe only!

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, directed his remarks to the young people of the church, which he said means "anyone President Nelson's age or younger.""Our children are the trustees into whose hands the destiny of this church will be placed," he said.He encouraged youth, and those interacting with them, to search for happiness and embrace the gospel and use it to answer the world's problems.

"If some [challenges] are not resolved to the satisfaction of everyone, perhaps they constitute part of the cross that Jesus said we would have to take up in order to follow Him." @HollandJeffreyR | #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 2, 2022"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which holds aloft the mission and message of the Savior of the world offers the most eternally significant way to both find good and do good at such a needful time," he said.Elder Holland said that members of the church should be singing the "song of redeeming love" and that doing this takes discipline and discipleship, which he said are essentially the same."Yes, we might sometimes want to run away from where we are, but we can never run away from who we are —children of the living God who loves us, is always ready to forgive us, and will never, ever forsake us. You are his most precious possession, you are his child," he said.Elder Holland said that God has promised prophets, revelation and a church that strengthens families, which are only a few of the reasons for us to have hope.At the end of his talk, Elder Holland spoke specifically to leaders and youth who are struggling so much that they may be considering taking their own lives."In a world that so desperately needs all the light it can get, please do not minimize the eternal light God put in your soul before this world was," Elder Holland said.He encouraged leaders to watch for signs of depression and despair and offer help, and those who are struggling to talk to someone and seek help."We have so much to be glad about. We have each other, and we have (God). Do not deny us the chance to have you," Elder Holland said.— Emily Ashcraft

"You are stronger than you think. Help is available, from others and especially from God. You are loved and valued and needed. We need you. Fear not, and believe only." @HollandJeffreyR | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/EobVexNwmE

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 2, 2022Suicide prevention resources If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call the suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-TALK. Crisis Hotlines