The 193rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was held September 30 and October 1st for viewers and listeners worldwide, consisting of five general sessions over the two day period that were full of words of inspiration, love, motivation and spiritual direction to all that would heed its council.  Speakers included members of the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve, Members of the Seventy and many more leaders from around the world.

The culminating address of the conference was given by President Russel M Nelson, prophet, seer and revelator of the global church.  President Nelson was unable to attend the conference in person as he had previously sustained a back injury that prevented him from sitting for long periods of time.  Still wanting to share his message, President Nelson recorded his address earlier in the week and it was aired as the final talk of the conference.

As he began his message, President Nelson pointed out that as he had just celebrated his 99th birthday and was beginning his 100th year of living, he had learned many important lessons of living that not only bring happiness in this life, but especially in the life to come.  But of all the advice or council he could give, the simple phrase he chose to share was to, “Live Celestially... Thinking celestial will change one’s heart and lead to praying more sincerely...  Thinking celestially, you will view trials and opposition in a new light.”  He continued on saying, “When you make choices, I invite you to take the long view — an eternal view.”

Concluding his address he said, “The Lord is directing us to build these temples to help us think celestial,” and then proceeded to announce twenty new temples that will be built around the world in the coming years.  

They included Savai’i, Samoa; Kahului, Hawaii; Fairbanks, Alaska; Vancouver, Washington; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Roanoke, Virginia; Cancún, Mexico; Piura, Peru; Huancayo, Peru; Viña del Mar, Chile; Goiânia, Brazil; João Pessoa, Brazil; Cape Coast, Ghana; Calabar, Nigeria; Luanda, Angola; Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Laoag, Philippines; Osaka, Japan; and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

  Other speakers included President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor of the First Presidency, who spoke in the Saturday morning session.  He shared, “We have a loving Heavenly Father who will see that we receive every blessing and every advantage that our own desires and choices allow.”

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also spoke in the Saturday morning session as he emphasized the importance of the sealing power — “the perfect manifestation of the justice, mercy and love of God” — in the gathering of Israel.

“Without the sealings that create eternal families and link generations here and hereafter, we would be left in eternity with neither roots nor branches, that is, neither ancestry nor posterity,” he said.

         In the following afternoon, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said that blessings will come into individuals’ lives as they obey the law of tithing, which is principally a matter of faith, not money.  He said that “being honest in our tithes is one way we show our willingness to put the Lord first in our lives, above our own cares and interest.” 

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared in the Saturday afternoon conference four guiding principles to invite and recognize the promptings of the Spirit: Stand in holy spaces, stand with holy people, testify of holy truths and listen to the Holy Spirit.

Sister Tamara W. Runia, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, invited listeners to view family relationships through an eternal lens as she gave her address in the Saturday evening conference. “In these last days, perhaps our greatest work will be with our loved ones — because our hope changes the way they see themselves and who they really are.”

Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman spoke Sunday morning of a recent experience to Israel where she was able, amidst the challenge of a broken leg, to walk the “Jesus Trail.” Through it she personally learned about taking the difficult path, but also about heeding Jesus’ invitation to follow Him.  “No matter the heaviness of our story, or the current course of our path, He will invite us to walk with Him.” 

Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, spoke of heroes in his Sunday morning address, but not of celebrities, artists, athletes or performers. He shared that our focus should be on the Lord rather than worldly heroes, he said. “No leader has shown more courage, no humanitarian more kindness, no physician has cured more disease and no artist has been more creative than Jesus Christ.”

In the final conference session, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke of the long expedition to find King Tut’s burial chamber in Egypt and how explorers nearly missed it because they were looking far beyond its location.  Comparing this to the gospel he said, “[Jesus Christ] is “the mark” to look to and the treasure to be sought.”