Highlights of the Saturday Afternoon Session of October 2020 General Conference

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By Valerie Walton, Church News

Though the COVID-19 pandemic is neither wanted nor expected, God has prepared His children and His Church for this time, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught at the end of the Saturday afternoon session of general conference.

“We will endure this, yes,” he said. “But we will do more than simply grit our teeth, hold on and wait for things to return to the old normal. We will move forward, and we will be better as a result.”

The effect of the pandemic was evident during the second session of the 190th Semiannual General Conference. Church leaders and their wives socially distanced and wore masks in the Conference Center Theater, where the conference is broadcast worldwide, and one Apostle was absent due to the virus.

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Members of the First Presidency wear masks during the Saturday afternoon session of the 190th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 3, 2020.© 2020 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was potentially exposed to COVID-19 before the conference. Although President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, reported that Elder Gong felt fine, he was not in attendance out of an abundance of caution. Elder Gong’s prerecorded address was broadcast during the session.

Elder Gong taught that as disciples of Christ, “we are invited to change the world for the better, from the inside out, one person, one family, one neighborhood at a time” by living and sharing the gospel. And the contributions of each individual in the service of the Lord are valuable.

President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, led the sustaining of Church leaders at the beginning of the session. Three General Authority Seventies received emeritus status: Elder L. Whitney Clayton, Elder Enrique R. Falabella and Elder Richard J. Maynes. Four Area Seventies were called and 47 were released.

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While listening to general conference in their minivan, young children in a family in Idaho raise their hands to sustain their church leaders (October 3-4, 2020). A sustaining vote is taken every general conference to give Latter-day Saints around the world a chance to raise their hands to show their support of worldwide church leaders.2020 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Additionally, Bishop Dean M. Davies was released as first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric and called as a General Authority Seventy. He has been dealing with a health challenge for over a year, but his prognosis is positive, according to a press release from the Church.

Bishop W. Christopher Waddell was released as second counselor and called as first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, and Elder L. Todd Budge, called as a General Authority Seventy in April 2019, was released from his position and called as second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric.

Speakers during this session were Elder Uchtdorf, Elder D. Todd Christofferson and Elder Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Elder Matthew S. Holland and Elder William K. Jackson, General Authority Seventies; President Steven J. Lund, Young Men general president; and Bishop Waddell.

Elder Christofferson taught that when society has no greater good than satisfying individuals’ appetites, the detrimental effects will manifest in due course. In contrast, the truth of God points to a better and more excellent way to personal happiness and community well-being.

“There is much we can do as neighbors and fellow citizens to contribute to the sustainability and success of the societies we live in, and surely our most fundamental and enduring service will be to teach and live by the truths inherent in God’s great plan of redemption,” he said.

President Oaks conducted the session. Elder J. Devn Cornish, General Authority Seventy, and President Joy D. Jones, Primary general president, offered the opening and closing prayers, respectively.

Music was provided by various choirs, directors and organists from previous general conferences.

Highlights of the Saturday Afternoon Session of October 2020 General Conference

Though the COVID-19 pandemic is neither wanted nor expected, God has prepared His children and His Church for this time, taught Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

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