In this conference session, President Henry B. Eyring, at the request of President Russell M. Nelson, warmly welcomed everyone and mentioned that President Nelson would not be attending in person but would be viewing the sessions from his home. President Eyring also extended a special greeting to members from various countries who had joined their voices with the Tabernacle Choir, listing Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, France, Germany, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, South Korea, and Sweden.
Additionally, President Eyring conducted the sustaining of Church leaders and mentioned that six new Area Seventies had been sustained during the General Conference Leadership Meetings on October 3. Their names were later announced on the Church’s website.
Elder Neil L. Andersen
Elder Andersen’s talk centered on the profound importance of hope in Jesus Christ, especially during times of difficulty and trial. He began by emphasizing the special opportunity of General Conference, where we can hear the voice of the Lord through His servants.
He reminded listeners of President Russell M. Nelson’s counsel from a previous conference to seek the ministering of the Holy Ghost, saying, “Pure revelation for the questions in your heart will make this conference rewarding and unforgettable.”
Read More: The Triumph of Hope – Elder Neil L. Andersen
President Emily Belle Freeman
Sister Freeman shared a personal experience of how her husband Greg’s health challenges led her to rely deeply on the power of priesthood ordinances. When Greg was recovering from an intensive surgery and facing months of chemotherapy, Sister Freeman found herself seeking strength from heaven.
Sister Freeman emphasized the importance of both the priesthood authority behind the ordinances and the covenant promises that we make and keep. These ordinances, performed with proper authority, open the door to heaven’s blessings.
She reminded the audience that “priesthood ordinances and covenant promises allow God to sanctify us and then work wonders in our lives.” It’s not just about the ceremony itself, but about understanding and accessing the divine power that comes through keeping the covenants made during those ordinances.
Read more: President Emily Belle Freeman – Live Up to Your Privileges
Elder Karl D. Hirst
Elder Hirst shared personal experiences that emphasized the encompassing and eternal love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. He humorously opened by connecting to his children, two of which have passed out while speaking in public. “I’ve got more on my mind than just the trap door,” he said, referencing President Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk in April, 2024.
He expressed his deep love for his children and likened this love to God’s love for us, which is both individual and complete. He reflected, “Our love for each of our children is pure and fulfilling and complete. We could not love any one of them any more than another.” This analogy illustrated how each of us is fully loved by God.
Elder Hirst highlighted the personal nature of Christ’s love, drawing on Nephi’s expression of glorying in “my Jesus” and John’s reference to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”
These examples, Hirst explained, reflect how we, too, can feel fully and personally noticed by the Savior. “Isn’t it wonderful that there are times when we can feel so fully and personally noticed and loved?” he asked, encouraging all to seek that deep connection with Christ’s love.
Read more: Rejoice and Be Filled With Love – Elder Karl D. Hirst
Elder Dale G. Renlund
Elder Renlund compared the gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church to the transformative power of dynamite. He shared the history of Alfred Nobel, who stabilized nitroglycerin with a substance called kieselguhr, turning it into dynamite. This analogy helped illustrate how the combination of the Savior’s gospel and His Church provides unparalleled power in our lives.
“Just as dynamite without nitroglycerin is unremarkable, the Savior’s Church is special only if it’s built on His gospel,” he said. This comparison underscores that the gospel is perfect, but the Church is essential in maintaining and administering it.
Elder Renlund emphasized that the Church is more than just a building or an organization—it is the divinely appointed structure that allows individuals to learn about Jesus Christ and make sacred covenants with God. He referenced Alma from the Book of Mormon, who taught that the church was responsible for “preaching nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord.”
Through the Church, individuals can access ordinances like baptism, which draw us closer to God and transform us. “The people who were baptized took on themselves the name of Jesus Christ,” Elder Renlund explained, showing how membership in the Church empowers us with the Spirit and covenantal blessings.
He warned that without the Church, humanity’s understanding of the gospel becomes unstable and subject to external influences. Elder Renlund explained that in previous dispensations, the absence of an authorized church led to a “form of godliness that lacked power.”
He emphasized that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints restores the power and authority to administer the gospel’s saving and exalting ordinances. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints enables access to God’s power because it’s authorized by Him both to teach the doctrine of Christ and to offer the gospel’s saving and exalting ordinances.”
Elder Renlund highlighted the Savior’s relentless love for us, stating that Jesus Christ not only sympathizes with our weaknesses but actively seeks to transform and sanctify us. “The Savior yearns to forgive our sins, help us access His power, and transform us,” he said.
The Church plays a vital role in this transformation, as it is through the Church’s ordinances that we can become holy and perfected in Christ. The Savior’s infinite atonement allows Him to “claim all those who have faith in Him and advocate for them.”
Elder Renlund shared a personal story of his grandparents, Oscar and Albertina, who were transformed by the gospel. They first encountered the restored gospel through missionaries and were immediately filled with “unspeakable joy.” Despite initial resistance, Albertina studied the teachings and felt the truth of what she read.
After their baptism, Oscar and Albertina dedicated their lives to the Church, and their island of Huvudskär became their own “waters of Mormon,” a place where they came to know their Redeemer. Their lives exemplified how the combination of the Savior’s gospel and His Church transforms individuals.
Elder Renlund invited everyone to commit more fully to the Savior, His gospel, and His Church. He promised that as we do so, we will experience the joy and power that come from this divine combination.
“This power is far greater than dynamite. It’ll shatter the rocks in your way, transform you into an inheritor in God’s kingdom, and you will be filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory,” he declared. Through the Church of Jesus Christ, we can access the Savior’s transformative power and fulfill our divine potential.
Elder David P. Homer
Elder Homer began his talk by sharing the story of Louisa Barnes Pratt, who, despite facing great challenges while her husband was on a mission, chose to trust in God and His prophets. Louisa’s decision to make the difficult journey to the Salt Lake Valley was guided by her faith and her trust in prophetic counsel.
Elder Gregorio E. Casillas
Elder Casillas began his talk by reminding the youth of their divine potential, emphasizing that they were chosen for these latter days to fulfill important roles as disciples of Jesus Christ. He quoted President Russell M. Nelson, who said, “Our Heavenly Father has reserved many of His most noble spirits, perhaps His finest, for this final phase.”
Elder Casillas explained that just as the Lord knows His sheep and calls them by name, He is constantly inviting us to come unto Him and be part of His flock, using us to help gather His children.
Dallin H. Oaks
President Dallin H. Oaks began his talk by emphasizing the Savior’s invitation to “Come, follow me,” which has inspired millions through the Church’s gospel study plan. He explained that following Christ is not a casual or occasional endeavor but a continuous commitment.
“Following Christ is a continuous commitment and way of life that should guide us at all times and in all places,” he taught. The Savior’s teachings provide a clear path for all who desire to follow Him, and He invites everyone to walk that path—regardless of background or status.
In conclusion, President Oaks reiterated the call to be peacemakers in all aspects of life. He reminded the audience of President Nelson’s challenge: “One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people.”
President Oaks encouraged the Saints to follow Christ’s example by avoiding harsh words and actions, particularly in today’s divisive environment. “Peacemaking is a choice,” he said. “You have your agency to choose contention or reconciliation.” He urged all to choose to be peacemakers and to follow the Savior’s example in both personal and public relationships.
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