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

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is holding its 196th Semiannual General Conference on Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4.

This blog summarizes the key points from the Saturday morning session, the first of four held at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City this weekend.

Follow along with our talk summaries in the blog below, or watch the session live here:

Here is a glossary of the Latter-day Saint terminology used in this blog.

General conference is being broadcast in multiple languages. Here is the link to watch the session live in Spanish.

This story will be updated. To be notified about updates, please click Follow This Story below in the KSL app.

Saturday, 10:41 am

Elder Gerrit W. Gong — 'Come to the Lord in his holy house'

Elder Gerrit W. Gong, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, began his talk with a joke: "Why did the temple workers cross the road? To help the people on the other side." In his conference message, he encouraged church members to build their own "personal temple culture" as they "worship and rejoice with the Lord" in temples.Building on the joke, he said temple workers cross the road "so God and temple ordinances can protect, bless and inspire; bring forgiveness, healing and peace; and unite loved ones here and away." Elder Gong said temple marriages are meant to "last forever," uniting a husband, wife and children. He also spoke about agency in relationships, and said change and forgiveness are possible through Jesus Christ.

"As we become new creatures in Jesus Christ, we sweeten our relationships. Temple service evokes our Savior's Atonement. It softens hearts on both sides of the veil," Elder Gong said. Elder Gong told members they can find "hope and healing" through performing temple ordinances for family members. He said the church anticipates dedicating 21 temples and rededicating one temple this year, but he encouraged members to celebrate even more "the spiritual blessings temples bring."Elder Gong said that over the years many members have made sacrifices to get to the temple, but as temples are easier to get to, members can "manifest the precious spirit of temple sacrifice" in new ways by coming more often or bringing more of their ancestors' names. "Please, brothers and sisters, wherever we live, let us always be grateful for the gifts of eternity sacred temples bring. Look for the miracles," Elder Gong said. — Emily Ashcraft

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

UPDATED - Oct. 3, 2026 at 10:41 a.m. | Posted - Oct. 3, 2026 at 9:57 a.m.

President Dallin H. Oaks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrives at the morning session of the 196th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday. (Tess Crowley, Deseret News)

Elder Gerrit W. Gong — 'Come to the Lord in his holy house'

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

UPDATED - Oct. 3, 2026 at 10:41 a.m. | Posted - Oct. 3, 2026 at 9:57 a.m.

President Dallin H. Oaks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrives at the morning session of the 196th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday. (Tess Crowley, Deseret News)

Elder Gerrit W. Gong — 'Come to the Lord in his holy house'

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