Saturday evening session for women: 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 evening women's 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, 07:29 pm

Elder Dale G. Renlund — Your divine nature and eternal destiny

Elder Dale G. Renlund, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, explained that the Young Women theme applies to everyone."First, you are a beloved daughter. Nothing you do — or do not do — can change that. God loves you because you are his spirit daughter. Sometimes we may not feel his love, but it is always there. God's love is perfect. Our ability to sense that love is not," he said.Strong emotions like fear or anger, or sin, can obscure our ability to feel God's love. Difficult circumstances like physical or mental health issues can also blunt our ability to feel God's love, he said.Turning to trusted leaders or professionals can be beneficial, he said. "We can also try to improve our receptivity to God's love by asking ourselves, 'Is my love for God constant or do I love him when I have good days, but not so much when I have bad days?'"Another truth outlined in the theme is that we have heavenly parents, both a father and a mother, the apostle said. He noted that seeking greater understanding of that principle is important, but cautioned that "reason cannot replace revelation."

"Very little has been revealed about mother in heaven but what we do know is summarized in a Gospel Topic found in our Gospel Library application. Once you have read what is there, you will know everything that I know about the subject." @DaleGRenlund | #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 3, 2022The third important principle in the theme is that we have "a divine nature," intrinsic to our identity, Elder Renlund said."Understanding this profound truth is important for everyone but especially for individuals belonging to groups who have been historically marginalized, oppressed or subjugated," he said.The fourth truth in the theme is we all have "an eternal destiny," Elder Renlund said, and it is dependent on our choices."It requires making and keeping sacred covenants. This covenant path is the way we come unto Christ and is based on absolute truth and eternal, unchanging law," he said.

"We are free to choose, but we cannot choose the consequences of not following the revealed path." @DaleGRenlund | #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 3, 2022Elder Renlund urged members of the church to remember the "foundational truths" in the Young Women theme and promised the Holy Ghost will guide those who are willing.— Ashley Imlay

Saturday, 07:22 pm

President Jean B. Bingham — Covenants with God strengthen, protect and prepare us for eternal glory

President Jean B. Bingham, general president of the Relief Society, explained that women who make and keep covenants are part of a global sisterhood.Keeping these solemn promises to God gives the promiser power and guidance toward the ultimate goal of returning to Heavenly Father, she explained.President Bingham recalled preparing to enter the temple to make those covenants for the first time and speaking with her bishop who explained what the covenants mean. When she made those covenants, she felt gratitude and peace even though she didn't understand all of it fully."Keeping the covenants we make with God allows us to draw upon the Savior's power, which strengthens us in our inevitable trials, provides protection from the adversary's influence, and prepares us for eternal glory," she said.She likened the bond formed with Jesus Christ through these covenants to rappelling down a cliff: you need confidence in your belayer and your equipment.

"The spiritual equipment that keeps us from being broken on the rocks of adversity is our testimony of Jesus Christ and the covenants we make." #PresBingham | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/as3j0EEbZK

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 3, 2022President Bingham spoke of a time when she stepped over the edge of the cliff and began to fall rapidly until the rope jerked to a stop. The anchor bolt hadn't been secured, and her belayer was almost dragged over the edge."Although I couldn't see him, I knew he was working with all his strength to save me," she said.Faith is like the anchor that needs to be strong and secure, and the spiritual equipment is the testimony and covenants rapellers can hold on to, Sister Bingham explained. And the harness needs to be properly secured to get the rapeller to the destination safely."There is nothing more important to our eternal progress than keeping our covenants with God," she said.

#PresBingham | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/pIWRdWCNID

— LDS Living (@LDSLivingMag) April 3, 2022If you're lost in rough waters, the goals of the covenant path will point you in the right direction, and Jesus will light the way, she concluded.— Jenny Rollins

Saturday, 07:02 pm

Sister Rebecca L. Craven — Do what mattereth most

Sister Rebecca Craven, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, spoke to women about taking action and doing the things that matter the most.

"It takes effort to stay focused on what is truly essential for lasting joy. Satan would love nothing more than for us to misplace our eternal values, leading us to waste precious time, talents or spiritual strength on things that matter not." #SisterCraven | #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 3, 2022"Being a disciple of Jesus Christ involves more than just hoping or believing. It calls for effort, movement and commitment. It requires that we do something, being doers of the word and not hearers only," she said.Sister Craven said to learn something, we have to do something."Conversion won't come while doing nothing. It comes through the power of the Holy Ghost as we intentionally make an effort to know by asking, seeking and knocking. It comes by doing," Sister Craven said.She asked the women listening to general conference to consider what matters most, and to focus on things that are essential to finding lasting joy.She said listening to the prophet can help women find what matters most."It's not about doing life perfectly — it's about finding joy while doing our best to live the covenants we have made with the Lord," Sister Craven said.She gave an example of a young woman who shared her feelings about the gospel when her friends were criticizing the church. Sister Craven said it is important to shine the gospel light.She said for the church to "come out of obscurity," the 8.2 million women in the church need to shine their light together.

"As covenant-keeping women, we must shine our gospel light all over the world by stepping up and standing out." ––Sister Becky Craven #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/TFmzBDFq8V

— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@Ch_JesusChrist) April 3, 2022"The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of action and a gospel of joy! Let us not underestimate our capacity to do those things that matter most. Our divine heritage gives us courage and confidence to do and be all that our loving Heavenly Father knows we can be," Sister Craven said.She encouraged women to trust in the Lord, apply the doctrine of Christ and become like him. Sister Craven said staying on the covenant path allows faith to grow and strengthens our relationship with God.— Emily Ashcraft

Saturday, 06:43 pm

Sister Susan S. Porter — Lessons at the well

Sister Susan H. Porter, first counselor in the Primary general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, urged women and girls to access the power of God in their lives.Five years ago, Sister Porter said her husband, Bruce, became seriously ill while they were serving in the Europe East area. They returned home, and she said he passed away just a few weeks later."My life changed overnight. I was grieving and felt weak and vulnerable. I pled with the Lord to direct my path," Sister Porter recalled.When she went through her mail a few weeks later, a small picture in a catalog caught her eye. She realized it was an artist's rendition of the Samaritan woman with Jesus at the well."At that moment, the Spirit spoke clearly to me. That is what you are supposed to do," she said.Since then, she said she's learned that "our past and present circumstances do not determine our future."

"Like [the woman at the well], we can choose to turn to the Savior today for the strength and healing that will enable us to fulfill all that we were sent here to do." #PresPorter | #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 3, 2022Sometimes, we feel lost when our lives aren't turning out the way we'd hoped for, Sister Porter noted."No matter our circumstances, our lives are sacred and have meaning and purpose. Each of us is a beloved daughter of God, born with divinity in our souls," she said.But Jesus Christ's Atonement made it possible for us to fulfill our purpose "regardless of decisions of family members, our marital status, physical or mental health, or any other situation."She noted that every person who makes and keeps covenants with God and who participates in ordinances "has direct access to the power of God."Sister Porter encouraged each to offer a "pinch of salt, a spoonful of leaven, and a ray of light" in our lives as Jesus Christ invites us to do using his power.— Ashley Imlay

Three lessons #SisterPorter is learning as she continues to drink from the Savior's well of "living water":
1) Our past and present circumstances do not determine our future.
2) "The power is in us."
3) "Out of small things proceedeth that which is great."#GeneralConference

— Church News (@the_churchnews) April 3, 2022

Saturday, 06:35 pm

President Dallin H. Oaks — Introductory message

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency opened the Saturday evening session of the 192nd annual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by announcing that Saturday evening sessions would have a "new purpose and procedure for the foreseeable future.""The gospel of Jesus Christ does not change. Gospel doctrine does not change. Our personal covenants do not change," he said, adding that meetings do sometimes change, as in this case.

#PresOaks | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/2w6rjf3BFZ

— LDS Living (@LDSLivingMag) April 3, 2022He clarified that this Saturday evening session of general conference does not belong to any organization in particular, which means that the First Presidency is in charge of its planning. However, the audience invited to be in the Conference Center for this particular session consists of women and girls age 12 and older.President Jean B. Bingham, president of the Relief Society, is conducting this session, and it "will concentrate on concerns of Latter-day Saint women," President Oaks said, including the doctrine and policies relating to women."What we are initiating here is responsive to the communication resources currently available to the Lord's worldwide Church leadership and membership," he continued. "The doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone, so that is our principal motive and extent of dissemination."— Jenny Rollins

"The doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone, so that is our principal motive and extent of dissemination. We honor the daughters of God in this special session by concentrating on their concerns and those of their organizations." #PresOaks #GeneralConference

— BYU Daily Universe (@UniverseBYU) April 3, 2022

Saturday, 06:00 pm

Saturday evening session for women: Summaries from Latter-day Saint general conference

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - April 2, 2022 at 7:29 p.m. | Posted - April 2, 2022 at 5:56 p.m.

Sierra Gilmore looks at the Salt Lake Temple, which is under renovation, after a Saturday general conference session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. (Mengshin Lin, Deseret News)

Elder Dale G. Renlund — Your divine nature and eternal destiny

President Jean B. Bingham — Covenants with God strengthen, protect and prepare us for eternal glory

Sister Rebecca L. Craven — Do what mattereth most

Sister Susan S. Porter — Lessons at the well

President Dallin H. Oaks — Introductory message

Saturday evening women's session of general conference begins

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