Saturday night 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 194th Annual General Conference Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7. This blog summarizes the key points from the Saturday night session.

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

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

Saturday, 07:35 pm

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf — A higher joy

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was the concluding speaker of the Saturday evening session of the 194th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.He shared the story of the Wright brothers' first flight and how, afterward, Orville Wright took his 82-year-old father up in his first and only flight. The father's fear turned to exhilaration, and he yelled, "Higher, Orville, higher!"Elder Uchtdorf spoke of the joy that comes when you fly and how there's an even higher joy in life.He continued that mental health issues are real, and the answer is not to just try to be happier on your own. People might need the help of trained mental health professionals to help them be able to find joy.Life isn't meant to just be joy, Elder Uchtdorf added. In fact, joy and sorrow are inseparable. So many people dedicate their lives to finding joy, but they so rarely find it.

"Our Father in Heaven has not hidden the path to happiness. It is not a secret. It is available to all!" —Elder @UchtdorfDF #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/zmikiIbxTs

— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@Ch_JesusChrist) April 7, 2024"Joy is the very purpose of God's plan for his children. It's what you were created for — 'that (you) might have joy'! You were built for this!" he said.Elder Uchtdorf explained that he respects the idea that there are many things that aren't inherently religious that can bring joy, but he believes that God has something more to give — a joy that can transcend the world and its heartbreak.

"God has something more to give. A higher and more profound joy — a joy that transcends anything this world offers. It is the joy that endures heartbreak, penetrates sorrow and diminishes loneliness." - @UchtdorfDF #GeneralConference

— Church News (@the_churchnews) April 7, 2024To discover pure joy, he suggested some steps:

Draw near unto God.

Look for joy.

Bear one another's burdens.

Elder Uchtdorf explained that if people do these things, "the dawn of celestial light will penetrate the shadows of your trials, and you will begin to taste the unspeakable glories and wonders of the unseen, perfect, heavenly sphere. You will feel your spirit lifting away from the gravity of this world."— Jenny Rollins

Saturday, 07:23 pm

Elder Matthew L. Carpenter — Fruit that remains

Elder Matthew L. Carpenter, general authority seventy, began his talk with an analogy to preserving peaches in bottles, something he did as a child.He said ordinances sealed by the Holy Ghost last for eternity."If we make and keep covenants with God, the blessings associated with our covenants can extend beyond this life and be sealed upon us, or preserved, forever, becoming fruit that remains for all eternity," he said.Elder Carpenter said to have the blessings of exaltation sealed, and remain into eternity, members must be sealed to a spouse and be true to both the lateral bond between husband and wife, and the vertical bond with God.

"To keep the vertical bond with God, we are true to the temple covenants we have made regarding the laws of obedience, sacrifice, the gospel, chastity and consecration." — #ElderCarpenter #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/DVNu3IPajF

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 7, 2024He spoke about people who are single or who are married to someone who is no longer faithful in the church. He said if members remain faithful to their covenants in the endowment, the blessings promised in that ordinance remain, even if their spouse breaks those covenants.Elder Carpenter said sealing blessings remain even after a divorce. He told members a cancellation of a sealing "should not be done casually," because it ends both the lateral and vertical blessings from the ordinance.

"It is important to understand that to receive the blessings of exaltation, we must demonstrate that we are willing to enter into and faithfully keep this new and everlasting covenant, either in this life or the next." — #ElderCarpenter #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 7, 2024He told members who are single that scriptures say no blessing will be withheld from them and told members who have not kept their covenants that there is hope through turning to Christ and repentance."Our loving Heavenly Father has given us covenants so that we may have access to all that he has in store for us. These sacred blessings from God are more delicious than any earthly fruit," Elder Carpenter said.— Emily Ashcraft

Saturday, 07:15 pm

Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus — Faithful to the end

Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, spoke to the youth of the church about being faithful to God while living in a world of sin.She used the story of David and Goliath to teach how to find "the strength to go forward and continue doing good," she said. "While David used only one stone to kill Goliath, he was prepared with five."Sister Spannaus said, "What if each of David's stones represented a strength we need to be triumphant in our lives? What could those five stones be?"

"Thinking about the Savior gives us clarity of mind to make decisions, to act without fear and to say no to what is contrary to God's teachings." — #SisterSpannaus #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/qm8oZwNAGw

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 7, 2024The answer she said she would give is the love for God, faith in Jesus Christ, the knowledge of one's true identity, daily repentance, and access to God's power."Our love for God and our close relationship with him give us the strength we need to transform our hearts and more easily overcome our challenges," she said. "God's power is a real power that helps us face challenges, make good decisions, and increase our capacity to endure difficult situations.""I actually wish David had one more stone; that would be the stone of my testimony," Sister Spannaus said.She invited the youth to meet with their class, quorum or family to think about how they will acquire the strength to remain faithful to God and overcome the world."I testify that there is joy in praying every day, in reading the Book of Mormon every day, in partaking of the sacrament every Sunday, and in going to seminary — even in the early morning. There is joy in doing good," she said.— Collin Leonard

Saturday, 07:00 pm

Elder Steven R. Bangerter — Foreordained to serve

Elder Steven R. Bangerter, general authority seventy, addressed his talk to the rising generation in the Church of Jesus Christ. He quoted President Russell M. Nelson's address to the youth about how they had been held in reserve for this time on Earth, noting that the youth had been foreordained for certain purposes during the premortal life."When he created you spiritually, he loved you as his spirit sons and daughters and embedded within each of you a divine nature and eternal destiny," Elder Bangerter said.

"Before you were born, God appointed each of you to fulfill specific missions during your mortal life upon this earth. If you remain worthy, the blessings of that premortal decree will enable you to have all kinds of opportunities in this life." - #ElderBangerter…

— Church News (@the_churchnews) April 7, 2024Foreordination is a promise, not a guarantee, he explained. Youth can receive opportunities and blessings as they follow the covenant path, and it's possible to ask for and obtain answers as to what their foreordained purpose is, he said."Knowing who you are begins with understanding God's foreordained blessings bestowed upon you before you were ever born on this earth. Our Heavenly Father desires to reveal to you your personal foreordination, and he will do so as you seek to learn and follow his will," he said.He shared that his father told him to protect the private times in his life, when no one else would know what he was doing. Elder Bangerter said he used those private times to study the scriptures and pray, coming closer to God."Our Father in Heaven will answer your prayers, especially your prayers offered during the private times of your life," he said.

"Our Heavenly Father will answer your prayers, especially your prayers offered during the private times of your life. He will reveal to you your foreordained gifts and talents, and you will feel His love envelop you, if you will sincerely ask and genuinely desire to know." —…

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 7, 2024— Jenny Rollins

Saturday, 06:52 pm

Elder Shayne M. Bowen — Miracles, angels and priesthood power

In his conference address, Elder Shayne M. Bowen, general authority seventy, testified Saturday night that miracles have not ceased and the priesthood was restored to the earth."Angels are among us, and the heavens are truly open," he said.He shared multiple examples of miracles that he and his family had experienced.Elder Bowen said the 15 leaders of the church who are sustained as prophets by church members use the same power that the Lord called "the keys" of his kingdom, which has been passed down to prophets from Joseph Smith.

"Through callings and councils, men and women, young and old, can participate in priesthood work. It is a work of miracles, attended by angels. It is the work of heaven, and it blesses all God's children." — #ElderBowen #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 7, 2024Elder Bowen said as a young missionary in Chile, he was arrested and separated from his companion. He said he prayed asking for help from God, and the Holy Ghost immediately comforted him."I testify that miracles and ministrations are continually occurring in our lives, often as a direct result of priesthood power. Some priesthood blessings are fulfilled immediately, in ways we can see and understand. Others are unfolding gradually and will not be fully realized in this life. But God keeps all of his promises, always," he said.Elder Bowen also spoke about a crash that left his 10-year-old daughter Emily pinned under a car. He and others were able to flip the car off of her but found her not breathing, and he gave her a blessing."I knew that heavenly angels had joined with earthly angels to lift the vehicle off Emily's body. I also know that Emily was brought back to life by the power of the holy priesthood," he said.

"While not all circumstances turn out like we may hope and pray for, God's miracles will always come according to His will, His timing, and His plan for us." —Elder Shayne M. Bowen #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/wp7ZLQxqQP

— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@Ch_JesusChrist) April 7, 2024Elder Bowen invited those who desire to receive blessings from the priesthood to walk the "path of covenants."— Emily Ashcraft