185th Annual General Conference – Saturday Morning General Session

We had a nice morning. We slept in a bit and after breakfast spent a couple of hours cleaning the house, and then the kids

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang Press Forward, Saints

President Henry B Eyring conducted. He opened by noting the passing of Boyd K Packer, L Tom Perry and Richard G Scott.

The choir sang Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah

Sister Mary R Durham offered the invocation

The choir sang I Know that My Savior Loves Me

President Dieter F Uchtdorf

• Tell a man there are trillion of stars in the universe and he’ll believe you. Tell him there is wet paint on the wall, and he’ll touch it just to be sure
• Sometimes the truth is too straightforward and plain to appreciate
• We put away what we know in search of mysterious information
• When we chase after shadows, we are going after things of little substance
• Are my efforts leading to my highest spiritual goals
• Is my experience in the Church working for me? Is it bringing me closer to Christ? Is it blessing me and my family with peace and joy?
• Some feel the Church experience is not what they had hoped for
• Why does it work for some, and not for others?
  1. Are we making our discipleship too complicated?
     1. We need to simplify
  2. Start where you are
     1. God will take you as you are at this very moment as you start
     2. You just need a willing heart, a desire to believe, and trust in the Lord
• Discipleship is our journey

Elder M Russell Ballard

• Too many people think Church leaders need to be perfect
• Our leaders have the best intentions, but sometimes we make mistakes
• Looking for weakness in others is rather easy
• We make a mistake if we see human nature and fail to see God working through those people
• We need to keep the Sabbath holy
• Sacrament Meeting is the Lord’s and should be rooted and grounded in his teachings
• Stay on the old ship Zion
• It is a vehicle to take us to a destination.. the full blessings of the gospel

Elder Richard J Maynes

• We need to live a Christ-centred life
• Shared story about making pottery, and the problem when the clay is not in the centre of the wheel
• Elder Maynes shared several stories to illustrate this point
• We need to be centred with exactness

The choir and congregation snag We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

Sister Neill F Marriott

• We need to reform our lives
• How can we continue to believe when things don’t always work out?
• We need to yield to the Lord’s will

Elder Larry R Lawrence

• He investigated the Church and was baptized as a convert
• The journey of discipleship is not easy
• We must be willing to act when we receive answers
• The Holy Ghost really does give customized counsel
• The Holy Ghost doesn’t tell us to improve everything at once
• We need to ask what is stopping us from progressing

Elder Francisco J. Viñas

• Some suffering and affliction will enter our lives
• This can be caused by a lack of repentance
• With the influence of the Holy Ghost we will not be offended or offend others

The choir sang Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer (a gorgeous arrangement!)

Elder Quentin L Cook

• Ship-shape and Bristol fashion
• The storms and temptations in life are unpredictable, but we know they will come
• The following will help us survive the storms
  1. Righteous self-control and control and conduct
  2. Honor the sabbath
  3. Divine protection is provided when we are righteous

The choir sang Come, Come, Ye Saints (another gorgeous performance!)

Elder Adrian Ochoa offered the benediction

Read the recaps and other notes from the 185th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

• 185th Annual General Conference – Pre-conference notes
• 185th Annual General Conference – Saturday Morning General Session
• 185th Annual General Conference – Saturday Afternoon General Session
• 185th Annual General Conference – Priesthood Session
• 185th Annual General Conference – Sunday Morning General Session
• 185th Annual General Conference – Sunday Afternoon General Session
• 185th Annual General Conference – Post-conference notes