Saturday evening 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 193rd Annual General Conference Saturday, April 1, and Sunday, April 2. This blog summarizes the key points from the Saturday evening session.

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

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

Saturday, 07:22 pm

Elder Juan A. Uceda — The Lord Jesus Christ teaches us to minister

Elder Juan A. Uceda of the Seventy gave the concluding talk of the Saturday evening session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He began by talking about the many scriptures from the Bible, Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants that refer to Christ as a shepherd, and often as "the good shepherd."When Pharisees questioned why Christ was eating with sinners, Christ responded with three stories: the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and prodigal son. Elder Uceda pointed out that when Luke introduces the stories, he uses the singular word "parable.""It appears that the Lord is teaching one unique lesson with three stories, stories that present different numbers, 100 sheep, 10 coins and two sons. The pivotal number in each of these stories, however, is the number, one," Elder Uceda said.

"Always, always minister to them, care for them and love them one by one, individually." #ElderUceda | #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 2, 2023Christ finds, ministers, and cares for people one by one, he continued."Can we feel the urgency in the heart of the man who lost only one sheep? Or the urgency in the heart of the woman who lost just one coin? Or the ineffable love and compassion in the heart of the prodigal's father?" Elder Uceda asked.

#ElderUceda | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/pEdQAFlMQH

— LDS Living (@LDSLivingMag) April 2, 2023Elder Uceda shared that while serving his mission with his wife, they met a woman whose father had stepped away from the church, after going through a divorce and feeling judged and alone in the church.Elder Uceda met with the man and asked him to share stories of his experiences ministering and serving others. Then Elder Uceda felt prompted to apologize to the man for members of the church not being there for him and asked for another chance. The man came back to church and remained active until he passed away a few months later."With our Savior's help, we can love his precious sheep and minister to them as he would," Elder Uceda concluded.— Jenny Rollins

Saturday, 07:15 pm

Elder K. Brett Nattress — Have I truly been forgiven?

Elder K. Brett Nattress of the Seventy opened his talk by sharing a story of how in the midst of a busy time in his life, his young daughter left him a note in his office to remember to love her. Elder Nattress related this back to how Heavenly Father always remembers and loves us, but do we remember him and do we love him?

"I testify that our Heavenly Father always remembers us and that He loves us perfectly. My question is this: Do we remember Him? And do we love Him?" #ElderNattress | #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 2, 2023He then shared a different story about a young man he knew who became involved with drugs which consumed his life with addiction. One day, this young man attended a sacrament meeting where his younger brother shared his testimony prior to leaving on a mission."During the meeting, Danny felt something he had not felt for a long time. He felt the love of the Lord. He finally had hope," Elder Nattress said.Elder Nattress said that one afternoon, Danny visited him at his home with questions about forgiveness and if he could really receive it after all that he had done. They read Alma, chapter 36, in the Book of Mormon together which spoke of Alma's journey of repentance and forgiveness."We discussed that while his sins did not rise to the level of Alma's, the same promise of complete and perfect forgiveness is made to everyone — in and through the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ," Elder Nattress said.

"Of course, you have been forgiven. You are amazing. Now what you need to do is move forward with your life. Don't look back. Look forward with faith to the next ordinance." #ElderNattress | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/XdbKDnk72z

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 2, 2023Elder Nattress relayed the miracle that unfolded in Danny's heart and the changes he began to make in his life — even receiving a call to serve a mission."Danny wasn't lost, and neither are we to the Lord. He stands at the door to lift us, to strengthen us, and to forgive us," Elder Nattress said. "He always remembers to love us!"His ending remarks concluded with the promise that Christ's promise is eternal. Elder Nattress promised that Jesus Christ is a healer and there is always hope and a way back to him.— Sicily Stanton

Saturday, 06:58 pm

Brother Milton R. Camargo — Focus on Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ overcame four problems that humans cannot solve on their own, said Brother Milton R. Camargo, first counselor in the Sunday School general presidency. These are physical death, tribulations, spiritual death and imperfect natures.He said the way to focus on the solution instead of the problem is through covenants, which bring thoughts and actions towards Jesus Christ.

"My father used to tell me, 'Don't focus so intensely on your problems that you can't see the solution.' I testify that the Lord Jesus Christ is the solution to even our most difficult problems."#BrotherCamargo | #GeneralConference

— Church News (@the_churchnews) April 2, 2023"Covenant-keeping leads us to seek after whatever invites the influence of the Spirit and reject whatever drives it away," Brother Camargo said.He said renewing covenants during the sacrament each week is another way to turn the focus to Christ — but focusing on Christ should happen throughout the week."Yes, we sometimes get distracted. We forget. We lose our focus. But renewing our covenants means that we want to always remember the Savior, that we will try to do so throughout the week, and that we will recommit and refocus on him again at the sacrament table next week," he said.He encouraged members to fill their homes with light, and said creating a "sanctuary of faith and a center of gospel learning" at home will help children in the family to be excited to learn about the Savior and limit the adversary's influence.

"Clearly, focusing on Jesus Christ must be more than a Sunday, at-church activity." #BrotherCamargo | #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/EspA2z1ue5

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 2, 2023Brother Camargo suggested members make scripture study a daily part of life in their families. He said the church has many resources, including "Come, Follow Me" manuals and Book of Mormon videos to help scriptures be more accessible to children."Over time, your consistency in feasting on the word of God will help your children grow closer and closer to the Savior. They will come to know him as never before," he said.He said Christ can be a daily presence in members' lives, as they look to him through a focus on covenants in their homes and families.— Emily Ashcraft

Saturday, 06:40 pm

Elder Mark A. Bragg — Christlike poise

Elder Mark A. Bragg of the Seventy was the opening speaker for the Saturday evening session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Elder Bragg spoke of his father's legendary former basketball coach at UCLA, John Wooden, who told teenage Elder Bragg that with faith in the Lord, "be sure to have poise in every situation. Be a good man in a storm."

"It is often referenced in sports, a player with poise is unflappable in a close game or a team unravels due to a lack of poise, but this wonderful quality goes way beyond sports."#ElderBragg | #GeneralConference

— Church News (@the_churchnews) April 2, 2023Elder Bragg went on to say that people don't talk much about poise in divisive modern times. But staying calm under pressure is an attribute that Christ had that his followers should emulate.In the garden of Gethsemane, Christ demonstrated divine poise in three ways, Elder Bragg said.

He knew his identity and mission.

He knew there was a plan of happiness.

He knew that through the Atonement he was making, anyone who made and kept sacred covenants would be saved.

"The Savior is the ultimate example of poise."#ElderBragg | #GeneralConference

— Church News (@the_churchnews) April 2, 2023In contrast, Elder Bragg continued, Peter lost his poise shortly after this event by cutting off the high priest's servant's ear and eventually by denying Christ. But Peter then stood before the leaders who condemned Christ and testified of his divinity."Spiritual poise blesses us to stay calm and focused on what matters most, especially when we are under pressure," Elder Bragg said.He applied each of the three elements of Christ's poise to members of the church now. Through recognizing their own divine nature, following the plan of happiness, and using the Atonement, people can reach that Christlike poise, he explained.He concluded by sharing the story of Christ calming the seas and demonstrating poise in a chaotic, dangerous situation."The Savior was the greatest teacher on how to survive a storm. He is the great man in a storm," Elder Bragg said.— Jenny Rollins