‘We mourn with you,’ and better days are ahead, Latter-day Saints told during second session of general conference

The Conference Center is reflected during the 190th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — Despite the pandemic, natural disasters and discord of 2020, the best days lie ahead, leaders said during the Saturday afternoon session of the 190th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“Our best days are ahead of us, not behind us, “ said Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, though he warned that things sometimes get worse before they get better.

That’s why individual church members and families should strengthen their own religious behavior, he said.

That also works on a larger level, because truly sustainable societies are those that seek God and follow cardinal virtues that lead to peace and prosperity, said Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Several speakers expressed concern about the health, economic welfare and emotional stress of people throughout the world.

“I doubt there is a person who hears my voice or reads my words who has not been affected by the worldwide pandemic,” Elder Uchtdorf said. “To those who mourn the loss of family and friends, we mourn with you. We plead with Heavenly Father to comfort and console you.”

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Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of the 190th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Oct. 3, 2020.

He said that as a fighter pilot and airline captain, he learned he couldn’t choose the adversity he’d face during a flight, but “I could choose how I prepared and how I reacted. What is needed during times of crisis is calm and clear-headed trust.”

He encouraged listeners to pray, study the scriptures, make decisions based on proven practices, listen for the word of God and his prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, and learn from scriptural examples of adversity.

“Our Heavenly Father knows that we suffer, and because we are his children, he will not abandon us,” Elder Uchtdorf said, adding “God will watch over and shepherd you during these times of uncertainty and fear. He knows you. He hears your pleas. He is faithful and dependable.”

Elder Christofferson noted that the United Nations in 2015 adopted an agenda for sustainable development as a blueprint for peace and prosperity. He said the blueprint for a sustainable society includes following God’s teachings.

“A thriving society can fail in time if it abandons the cardinal virtues that uphold its peace and prosperity,” he said.

He said the institutions of family and religion are the fundamentals of sustainable societies because they provide the virtues to sustain them.

“Rooted in gospel principles, these virtues include integrity, responsibility and accountability, compassion, marriage and fidelity in marriage, respect for others and the property of others, service and the necessity and dignity of work, among others,” Elder Christofferson said.

The religious seek to grow in the knowledge of God and then that which is just and true, he said. In families, people learn moral virtues.

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Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks during during the Saturday afternoon session of the 190th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Oct. 3, 2020.

Societies decay, he said, when “individual consent is the only constraint on sexual activity,” leading to “adultery, promiscuity, elective abortion and out-of-wedlock births.” They also lead to growing numbers of children raised in poverty without the influence of fathers.

“Reliance on culture and tradition alone will not be sufficient to sustain virtue in society,” he said, adding, “If we, our families and enough of our neighbors make our decisions and guide our lives by the truth of God, the moral virtues needed in every society will abound.”

Elder Gerrit W. Gong, who was absent because of a possible exposure to COVID-19, provided pre-recorded remarks.

“For those with faithful hearts and eyes to see, the Lord’s tender mercies are manifest amidst life’s challenges,” he said. “Faithfully-met challenges and sacrifice do bring the blessings of heaven. In this mortality, we may lose or wait for some things for a time, but in the end we will find what matters most.”

Elder Gong said the church now has members living in 196 nations and territories. It has established stakes — regional organizations made up of multiple congregations — in 90 nations.

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Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks in a pre-recorded address that was broadcast during the Saturday afternoon session of the 190th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Oct. 3, 2020.

Three countries — the United States, Mexico and Brazil — each have more than 1 million church members. Another 23 nations are each home to over 100,000 Latter-day Saints.

“We represent both geographic breadth and centers of strength,” he said.

“As we increase our faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ; live restored gospel truths and receive sacred covenants; and study, ponder and share about the ongoing Restoration, we participate in fulfilling prophecy,” he added. “We are changing ourselves and the world in a gospel pattern that blesses lives everywhere.”

President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, conducted the meeting.

He announced the restructuring of the Presiding Bishopric. Elder Dean M. Davies was released as first counselor and called as a General Authority Seventy.

“Bishop Davies has been dealing with a significant health challenge for more than a year, though his current prognosis is positive,” church spokesman Eric Hawkins said. “We are grateful that he will be able to continue to serve in this new role as a General Authority Seventy.”

Bishop W. Christopher Waddell will move from second counselor to first counselor. Elder L. Todd Budge was sustained as second counselor 18 months after he became a General Authority Seventy.

President Eyring also announced that three General Authority Seventies had been granted emeritus status — Elders L. Whitney Clayton, Enrique R. Falabella and Richard J. Maynes.

Bishop Waddell, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, spoke about temporal and spiritual preparedness against calamitous times like 2020.

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Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, who was just called as first counselor of the Presiding Bishopric, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of the 190th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Oct. 3, 2020.

“There is a clear understanding that the effects of COVID-19, as well as devastating natural disasters, are no respecter of persons, crossing ethnic, social and religious boundaries on every continent. Jobs have been lost and incomes reduced as the opportunity to work has been affected by layoffs, and the ability to work has been impacted by health and legal challenges.”

He said church leaders understand and are concerned for those affected, but also firmly believe better days are ahead.

“You have been blessed with bishops and branch presidents who seek out members of their congregations with temporal needs, and who have access to tools and resources that can help you re-establish your lives and place you on the path to self-reliance as you apply principles of preparedness.”

Bishop Waddell said given the current pressures, this may not be the time for some to focus on building up home storage or financial savings, but he said God has always provided direction that his people should prepare spiritually and temporally.

“With a spiritual foundation in place, we can then successfully apply two important elements of temporal preparedness, managing finances and home storage.”

He said key principles are paying tithes and offerings, storing food, water and other necessities, and studying self-reliance principles.

In a world full of pain and suffering, there is one source of relief, whether the pain is the result of one’s own sins, someone else’s or of natural disasters, said Elder Matthew S. Holland, a General Authority Seventy.

“Regardless of the causes of our worst hurts and heartaches, the ultimate source of relief is the same: Jesus Christ. He alone holds the full power and healing balm to correct every mistake, right every wrong, adjust every imperfection, mend every wound and deliver every delayed blessing.”

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Elder Matthew S. Holland, General Authority Seventy, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of the 190th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Oct. 3, 2020.

When pain is the result of one’s own sin, he said, “the very purpose of repentance is to take certain misery and transform it into pure bliss.”

Elder Holland said suffering does not mean one lies outside the circle of God’s elect.

“I witness to you that through the staggering goodness of Jesus Christ and his infinite atonement, we can escape the deserved agonies of our moral failings and overcome the undeserved agonies of our mortal misfortunes. Under His direction, your divine destiny will be one of unparalleled magnificence and indescribable joy — a joy so intense and so unique to you, your particular ‘ashes’ will become beauties ‘beyond anything earthly.’”

Many of the world’s problems, Elder William K. Jackson of the Seventy said, “are a direct result of clashes between those of differing ideas and customs arising from their culture. But virtually all conflict and chaos would quickly fade if the world would only accept its ‘original culture’ ... the great Plan of Happiness, authored by God, and championed by Christ. It unites rather than divides. It heals rather than harms.”

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Elder William K. Jackson, General Authority Seventy, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of the 190th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Oct. 3, 2020.

Young Men President Steven J. Lund encouraged parents to use the church’s updated materials for youth and children, and called on those children to find joy in Jesus Christ.

“Moms and dads,” he said, “your sons need you to support them now as passionately as ever you have in the past.”

The Tabernacle Choir at Tabernacle Square is not performing live at the the conference due to the pandemic. Instead, the church used recordings of various choirs from previous conferences.

The opening hymn was “Hark All Ye Nations” performed by a missionary choir at the the October 2018 conference. A Primary choir from October 2015 sang “Beautiful Savior.” An April 2017 children’s choir performed, “Go Forth with Faith.” The closing hymn, “How Firm a Foundation,” was provided by a 2011 young adult choir.

Elder J. Devn Cornish of the Seventy gave the opening prayer. Primary General President Joy D. Jones provided the closing prayer.

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