Talk Summaries from the October 2025 Sunday Afternoon Session

At the concluding session of the October 2025 general conference, President Dallin H. Oaks said families and temples are essential in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“The ordinances received [in temples] enable us to return as eternal families to the presence of our Heavenly Father,” he said.

The President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said the Church will “move forward in providing the ordinances of the temple to members of the Church throughout the world, including when and where to announce the construction of new temples.” He did not announce any new temples during his remarks, noting that “with the large number of temples now in the very earliest phases of planning and construction, it is appropriate that we slow down the announcement of new temples.”

Newsroom The Latest Temple News from the Church of Jesus Christ

This decision, he said, was made with the approval of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

President Russell M. Nelson, who died on September 27, 2025, announced the construction of 200 new temples during his seven-and-a-half years as president of the Church.

Church News A look at the 200 temples announced by President Nelson and each one’s current status

“He loved to announce new temples at the conclusion of each general conference, and we all rejoiced with him,” President Oaks said.

President Oaks devoted the balance of his remarks to the importance of the family in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“The doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints centers on the family,” he said. “We are a family Church.”

“Our relationship to God and the purpose of our mortal life are explained in terms of the family. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the plan of our Heavenly Father for the benefit of His spirit children,” he said.

“We can truly say that the gospel plan was first taught to us in the council of an eternal family, it is implemented through our mortal families, and its intended destiny is to exalt the children of God in eternal families.”

He testified, “Our Savior Jesus Christ is our ultimate role model. We will be blessed if we model our lives after His teachings and self-sacrifice. Following Christ and giving ourselves in service to one another is the best remedy for the selfishness and individualism that now seem to be so common.”

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles conducted the session of the 195th General Conference from the Conference Center on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Speaking about accountability and the judgment day, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve taught that one of the purposes of the Creation and of mortality is to provide God’s children “the opportunity to act and become what the Lord invites us to become.”

“Moral agency is the divinely designed ‘power of independent action’ that empowers us as God’s children to become agents to act and not simply objects to be acted upon,” he explained.

“If our desires have been for righteousness and our works good — meaning we have exercised faith in Jesus Christ, made and kept covenants with God, and repented of our sins — then the judgment bar will be pleasing,” he said.

Download Photo

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught about what it means to take the name of Jesus Christ upon oneself. The more individuals identify with and remember Jesus Christ, the more they want to be like Him.

“When we take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, we link our name with His,” he said. “We identify with Him. We gladly become known as Christians. We acknowledge the Savior and unapologetically stand up to be counted as His.”

He continued, “As His disciples, we change for the better when we focus on Him, more so than when we focus on ourselves. We strive to become like Him and seek to be blessed with His attributes. We pray fervently to be filled with charity, the pure love of Christ.”

Elder B. Corey Cuvelier, a General Authority Seventy, spoke about discipleship and being called by the name of Christ.

He said that the greatest sermons are not heard but seen “in the quiet, unassuming actions and deeds observed in the lives of ordinary people who, trying to be like Jesus, go about doing good.”

“Our identity isn’t defined by the world,” he said. “But our discipleship is defined by the ordinances we receive, the covenants we keep, and the love we show to God and neighbor by simply doing good.”

Recounting the story of Jonah in the Old Testament, Elder Matthew S. Holland, a General Authority Seventy, said that despite their human flaws, individuals have immediate access to divine help and healing. 

“This awe-inspiring mercy comes in and through Jesus Christ,” he taught. “Because He knows and loves you perfectly … it is perfectly suited to you, designed to relieve your individual agonies and heal your particular pains.”

He encouraged, “Turn to Him. Believe in Him. Serve Him. Smile. For in Him, and Him alone, is found the full and happy healing from the Fall we all so urgently need and humbly seek.”

Download Photo

Elder Carlos A. Godoy, a General Authority Seventy, spoke about finding joy and seeking the Savior’s healing power. He recounted how the Saints in Africa face life’s challenges and the demands of a growing Church with a positive attitude. 

“They find joy despite their challenges,” he said. “They have learned that our relationship with the Savior enables us to approach difficulties with smiling faces and grateful hearts.”

Elder John D. Amos, a General Authority Seventy, spoke about happiness through gospel living.

“The simple secret for happy living is to just follow God’s recipe as detailed in the scriptures. I call it the ‘Good News Recipe.’”

“The answer is always Jesus Christ,” he said.

Elder Ozani Farias, General Authority Seventy, testified that the Book of Mormon has the power to deepen conversion to Jesus Christ and answer “questions of the soul.”

“I invite you to feast upon the words of Christ,” he said, “and they will open the door to revelation and show you what you need to do in the various circumstances of your life to draw closer to Him.”

Music was provided by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, directed by Mack Wilberg and accompanied by organists Andrew Unsworth and Richard Elliot. 

Brother Sean R. Dixon, Second Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, and Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson gave the prayers.

Individual Talk Summaries (By speaking Order)

• Elder David A. Bednar: “‘They Are Their Own Judges’”
• Elder B. Corey Cuvelier: ‘The Name by Which Ye Are Called’
• Elder Matthew S.Holland: ‘Forsake Not Your Own Mercy’
• Elder Carlos A. Godoy: ‘Smiling Faces and Grateful Hearts’
• Elder Dale G. Renlund: ‘Taking on the Name of Jesus Christ’
• Elder John D. Amos: ‘The Good News Recipe’
• Elder Ozani Farias: ‘The Book of Mormon — An Immeasurable Treasure on Our Journey’
• President Dallin H. Oaks: ‘The Family-Centered Gospel of Jesus Christ’

Newsroom October 2025 General Conference Talk Summaries, News and Announcements