Called by Gordon B. Hinckley

After the death of Pres. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley became the next President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hinckley had been in the First Presidency for the previous three prophets, and he had the bulk of the responsibility when each of those leaders became hindered by old age. He served for over 12 years, and he was the oldest prophet in church history when he died at age 97. His First Presidency of the first ten years with Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust was the longest a First Presidency had ever gone without a change.

Called to be Apostles by Gordon B. Hinckley:
Henry B. Eyring, Dieter F. Uchtdorf,
David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook

HENRY B. EYRING
(May 31, 1933 - )

Apostle - April 1, 1995
Second Counselor - October 6, 2007
First Counselor - February 3, 2008

Eyring was born in New Jersey, the son of the president of the Amiercan Chemical Society and nephew by marriage to Spencer W. Kimball, who became an Apostle when Eyring was ten years old. During World War II, with gas rationing, his family would hold church services in their home, often by themselves.

He served in the US Air Force for two years and served as a district missionary while he was stationed in New Mexico. He got his Bachelors in physics from the University of Utah, and his Masters and Doctorate from Harvard Business School. He's had professor jobs at Stanford and MIT, and he served as President of Ricks College.

He was the first Apostle called by Pres. Hinckley, and no others were needed for nine years, the longest span the church has ever gone without a change to the Q12.  After the death of James E. Faust, Hinckley called him to be his new second counselor. When Pres. Monson took over, he made Eyring his first counselor.

DIETER F. UCHTDORF
(November 6, 1940 - )

Apostle - October 2, 2004
Second Counselor - February 3, 2008

Uchtdorf was born in Nazi-occupied Ostrava (now the Czech Republic). They moved to East Germany, but he and his family fled to West Germany around 1950. He studied in Switzerland, earning an MBA there.

He volunteered for the West German Air Force, and he trained in Texas to be a fighter pilot. He made his career working for Lufthansa.

He and David A. Bednar were called to be Apostles the same day, but he has seniority. He's the first German apostle, and the first one not from North America since John A. Widtsoe died in 1952. When Pres. Monson became prophet, he called Uchtdorf into the First Presidency. Said Uchtdorf: "This is truly an international church."

DAVID A. BEDNAR
(June 15, 1952 - )

Apostle - October 7, 2004

Bednar was born in Oakland, California. His mother was a member but his father was not. (His father joined the church when Bednar was in his late-twenties.) He served his mission in Germany. He got his Masters from BYU and a doctorate from Purdue. He worked as professor or dean at University of Arkansas and Texas Tech University until he got a job as president of Ricks College, transitioning it into BYU-Idaho.

While he was still BYU-I's president, he along with Uchtdorf were called to be Apostles after the deaths of Neal A. Maxwell and David B. Haight. He is still the youngest member of the Q12 at age 62.

QUENTIN L. COOK
(September 8, 1940 - )

Apostle - October 6, 2007

Cook was the son of J. Vernon Cook and Bernice Kimball, a great-granddaughter of Heber C. Kimball. He was born and raised in Logan, Utah. He served his mission in England (companions with Jeffrey R. Holland at one point). He went to school at Utah State and then Stanford Law School.

He worked in corporate law in California for decades, then became CEO of two different health-care companies. He served as a bishop, stake president, regional representative and Area Seventy. While a Seventy, he was a counselor over the Philippines Area.

He was called to be an Apostle at age 67, after the death of James E. Faust.

Called by David O. McKay

David O. McKay was the prophet who really brought The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into the modern era, and if you look at who he called, he's done a lot to shape where we are today. Three of the men he called went on to be prophet, including Thomas S. Monson, who's been the head of the church from 2008 to present day.

First Presidency in 1951:
David O. McKay
Stephen L. Richards
J. Reuben Clark

Quorum of the Twelve in 1951:
Joseph Fielding Smith, John A. Widtsoe,
Joseph F. Merrill, Albert E. Bowen,
Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball,
Ezra Taft Benson, Mark E. Petersen,
Matthew Cowley, Henry D. Moyle,
Delbert L. Stapley...

Called to be Apostles by David O. McKay:
Marion G. Romney, LeGrand Richards,
Adam S. Bennion, Richard L. Evans,
George Q. Morris, Hugh B. Brown,
Howard W. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley,
N. Eldon Tanner, Thomas S. Monson,
(Thorpe B. Isaacson), Alvin R. Dyer

MARION G. ROMNEY
(September, 19, 1897 - May 20, 1988)

Apostle - October 11, 1951
Second Counselor - July 7, 1972
First Counselor - December 2, 1982
President of Q12 - November 10, 1985

Romney was born in Juarez, Mexico, living in a small community the Romneys and other families occupied when many polygamists had fled south of the border to avoid US prosecution. He and his family moved to the US in 1912 as violence from the Mexican Revolution spread. He was first cousin to Michigan governor George Romney (and uncle of Mitt).

He made his living as a prosecutor and served in the Utah legislature (as a Democrat). He was called to be an Apostle at age 54. He served over the Mexico mission and did a lot to help build the church there.

He served in the First Presidencies of Harold B. Lee and Spencer W. Kimball. His health declined in the 1980's, and he rarely appeared in public for his final years.

LEGRAND RICHARDS
(February 6, 1886 - January 11, 1983)

Apostle - April 6, 1952

LeGrand was the son of Apostle George F. Richards and grandson of Apostle Franklin D. Richards. LeGrand was serving as Presiding Bishop when his father died.

He served as bishop, stake president and mission president in his time. He wrote 1950's A Marvelous Work and a Wonder to help missionaries spread the Gospel. He wound up be the second-oldest Apostle in church history when he died at age 96 (behind only 98-year-old David B. Haight).

ADAM S. BENNION
(December 2, 1886 - February 11, 1958)

Apostle - April 9, 1953

Bennion earned his masters degree at Columbia University before getting his job as an English professor at the Univeristy of Utah. He later became president of Utah Power & Light, and then the director of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad.

He wound up serving less than five years as an Apostle, dying at age 71.

RICHARD L. EVANS
(March 23, 1906 - November 1, 1971)

Apostle - October 8, 1953

Evans was the youngest of nine children, and his father died a few weeks after he was born. His widowed mother raised all of them herself.  He served his mission in Great Britain from 1926-1929, and while there worked as an associate editor for the Millenial Star under James E. Talmage and John A. Widtsoe.

He was best known for hosting the weekly radio program Music & the Spoken Word, featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He was only 23 for its first episode (just months after he'd returned home from his mission), and he hosted it until his death. He did voice-over work for many church productions, as well as outside endeavors, such as Bing Crosby's annual Christmas radio specials.

He was the youngest Apostle when he was ordained, but he died at only 65 years old.

GEORGE Q. MORRIS
(February 20, 1874 - April 23, 1962)

Apostle - April 8, 1954

Morris is the oldest to have ever been called to be an Apostle, at age 80. As such, he only served a few years. Before, he'd been serving as an assistant to the Q12, a position that existed from 1941-1976.

HUGH B. BROWN
(October 24, 1883 - December 2, 1975)

Apostle - April 10, 1958
Third Counselor - June 22, 1961
Second Counselor - October 12, 1961
First Counselor - October 4, 1963

The "B." in Hugh B. Brown stands for Brown, as it was his mother's maiden name, though his parents weren't blood-related. Brown was born in Granger, Utah, but his family moved to Canada in his teen years. After marrying Zina Card, six of his eight children were born in Canada until they moved to Utah. Brown actually served in the Canadian military during WWI. He achieved the rank of major but was told he'd receive no further promotions because he was Mormon.

He worked as a lawyer in Canada, and upon moving to Utah, he joined the same law firm that employed J. Reuben Clark and Albert E. Bowen. He aligned with the Democratic party and ran for U.S. Senator in 1932 but did not win.

He served over the British mission when WWII broke out, and he and his missionaries returned home under the direction of Pres. Grant in 1940. His son Hugh C. Brown volunteered in the British Air Corps and was killed in action in 1942.

Brown was called to be an assistant to the Q12 before joining it as an Apostle in 1958. A few years later, he joined the First Presidency. Once Pres. McKay died in 1970, he returned to the Q12. He died at age 92.

HOWARD W. HUNTER
(November 14, 1907 - March 3, 1995)

Apostle - October 10, 1959
President of Q12 - May 20, 1988
Prophet/president - June 5, 1994

Hunter's father was a non-member and wouldn't let him get baptized until he was 12. He was a skilled musician and could play several instruments, including the piano, violin and trumpet. He had polio when he was 4, and although he avoided paralysis, he had back pain his entire life.

He made his living as a banker until he was able to complete law school, then worked as a lawyer. He became an Apostle at age 51. He was made Acting President of the Q12 when Pres. Benson became prophet, as the next senior Apostle - Marion G. Romney - was too ill to function as President. Hunter became the actual President of the Q12 in 1988.

He suffered significant health problems in his later years, and he was not in good shape when he became prophet in 1994. Nevertheless he was able to do the talking and traveling. He had the shorture tenure as prophet in the modern days (only nine months) and he was the first LDS Church President born in the 20th century. He drafted "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" but died before it could be presented to the church. He was 87.

GORDON B. HINCKLEY
(June 23, 1910 - January 27, 2008)

Apostle - October 5, 1961
Counselor - July 23, 1981
Second Counselor - December 2, 1982
First Counselor - November 10, 1985
President of Q12 - June 5, 1994
Prophet/president - March 12, 1995

Gordon was the nephew of Apostle Alonzo Hinckley. His father Bryant was an LDS writer. He served his mission in England (where Apostle Joseph Merrill was his mission president) and he spent his last few months there preaching in Europe, including France and Germany.

He studied journalism in college, and he was employed by the LDS church to develop their radio and communications departments. He acted as the church's liaison to Deseret Book (where he worked with Thomas S. Monson) and wrote for the Church News.

He became an Apostle at age 51. In 1981, when the health of all three members of the First Presidency was poor, he was called to be an additional counselor. When N. Eldon Tanner died in 1982, he became 2nd counselor, and when Ezra Taft Benson became prophet, he called Gordon to be his 1st counselor. He served as 1st counselor for Pres. Hunter as well. Nine months later, he became the 15th President of the LDS church.

His background in media made him comfortable in interviews and he became a prominent international figure. He increased temple building and church membership went from 9.5 to 13.5 million members. It was during his tenure that church membership outside the US surpassed membership within the US. He was the oldest prophet in this dispensation, dying at age 97.

N. ELDON TANNER
(May 9, 1898 - November 27, 1982)

Apostle - October 11, 1962
Second Counselor (DOM, JFS) - October 4, 1963
First Counselor (HBL, SWK) - July 7, 1972

Tanner was born in Utah but his family moved to Alberta, Canada, shortly thereafter. He ran a general store as a young man and also became a teacher. He held many government positions, first on the town council, then in the Alberta legislature. He wound up becoming Speaker of the Alberta legislature and then was appointed to serve in the national Cabinet in 1937. He won hs re-elections and served until 1952.

He was only an Apostle for a year when David O. McKay called him to be in the First Presidency due to the death of Henry D. Moyle. He served in the First Presidencies of four prophets before dying at age 84.

THOMAS S. MONSON
(August 21, 1927 - )

Apostle - October 4, 1963
Second Counselor - November 10, 1985
First Counselor - March 12, 1995
President of Q12 - March 12, 1995
Prophet/president - February 3, 2008

Monson was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He joined the US Naval Reserve in 1945 but WWII ended before he was ever sent overseas. He graduated the U of Utah in business management and became an ad executive at the Deseret News. He later became the general manager of the Deseret News Press.

He didn't serve a full-time mission but became a bishop at age 22. He was a counselor in a stake presidency at age 27 and mission president of Canada at age 31. After serving there, he returned to work at the Deseret News until he was called to be an Apostle at age 36, the youngest in over 50 years.

When Ezra Taft Benson became prophet, he selected Monson as his 2nd counselor, and he remained in the First Presidency under Hunter and Hinckley until he became prophet 5 1/2 years ago.

THORPE B. ISAACSON
(September 6, 1898 - November 9, 1970)

Counselor - October 28, 1965

Isaacson was an assistant to the Q12 when he was called to be a counselor in David O. McKay's First Presidency. He was never ordained an Apostle. Joseph Fielding Smith was made a counselor at the same time.

Isaacson suffered a stroke in 1966 which severely limited his abilities to serve. When Pres. McKay died in 1970, Isaacson returned to his calling as assistant to the Q12, but he died a few months later.

ALVIN R. DYER
(January 1, 1903 - March 6, 1977)

Apostle - October 5, 1967
Counselor - April 6, 1968

Dyer was an assistant to the Q12 when he was called to be an Apostle, but he was not added to the Quorum of the Twelve. He soon became another counselor in McKay's FIrst Presidency. When McKay died, he returned to being an assistant to the Q12, and when that position was eliminated in 1976, he became a member of the First Quorum of Seventy, the only man in history to join that Quorum after being ordained an Apostle.

He suffered a stroke in 1972 and was limited in what he could do until he died at age 74.

Gordon B. Hinckley's Final General Conference

Highlights from President Gordon B. Hinckley on his final General Conference. Even at age 97, he was able to fully perform his duties.

GORDON B. HINCKLEY - "Slow to Anger" (from Priesthood session)

I have chosen tonight to speak to the subject of anger. I realize that this is a little unusual, but I think it is timely.

A proverb in the Old Testament states: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32).

It is when we become angry that we get into trouble. The road rage that affects our highways is a hateful expression of anger. I dare say that most of the inmates of our prisons are there because they did something when they were angry. In their wrath they swore, they lost control of themselves, and terrible things followed, even murder. There were moments of offense followed by years of regret...

Divorce too often is the bitter fruit of anger. A man and a woman fall in love, as they say; each is wonderful in the sight of the other; they feel romantic affection for no one else; they stretch their finances to buy a diamond ring; they marry. All is bliss—that is, for a season. Then little inconsequential activities lead to criticism. Little flaws are magnified into great torrents of faultfinding; they fall apart, they separate, and then with rancor and bitterness they divorce.

It is the cycle which is repeated again and again in thousands of cases. It is tragic, and, as I have said, it is in most cases the bitter fruit of anger.

I think of my own marriage. My eternal companion passed away three and a half years ago. But we lived together for 67 years. I have no recollection of ever having a quarrel with her. She traveled with me and spoke on every continent, pleading for the exercise of restraint, kindness, and love...

Anger may be justified in some circumstances. The scriptures tell us that Jesus drove the moneychangers from the temple, saying, “My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13).

But even this was spoken more as a rebuke than as an outburst of uncontrolled anger.

Now, my dear brethren, in closing I plead with you to control your tempers, to put a smile upon your faces, which will erase anger; speak out with words of love and peace, appreciation, and respect. If you will do this, your lives will be without regret. Your marriages and family relationships will be preserved. You will be much happier. You will do greater good. You will feel a sense of peace that will be wonderful.

GBH - "The Stone Cut Out of the Mountain"

Now, as we look back 177 years to the organization of the Church, we marvel at what has already happened. When the Church was organized in 1830 there were but six members, only a handful of believers, all residing in a largely unknown village. Today, we have become the fourth or fifth largest church in North America, with congregations in every city of any consequence. Stakes of Zion today flourish in every state of the United States, in every province of Canada, in every state of Mexico, in every nation of Central America and throughout South America.

Congregations are found throughout the British Isles and Europe, where thousands have joined the Church through the years. This work has reached out to the Baltic nations and on down through Bulgaria and Albania and other areas of that part of the world. It reaches across the vast area of Russia. It reaches up into Mongolia and all down through the nations of Asia into the islands of the Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand, and into India and Indonesia. It is flourishing in many of the nations of Africa.

Our general conferences are carried by satellite and other means in 92 different languages.

And this is only the beginning. This work will continue to grow and prosper and move across the earth. It must do so if Moroni’s promise to Joseph is to be fulfilled...

How truly remarkable was that vision in the year 1820 when Joseph prayed in the woods and there appeared before him both the Father and the Son. One of these spoke to him, calling him by name and, pointing to the other, said, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:17).

Nothing like it had ever happened before. One is led to wonder why it was so important that both the Father and the Son appear. I think it was because They were ushering in the dispensation of the fulness of times, the last and final dispensation of the gospel, when there would be gathered together in one the elements of all previous dispensations. This was to be the final chapter in the long chronicle of God’s dealing with men and women upon the earth.

Following the Savior’s death, the Church He had established drifted into apostasy. Fulfilled were the words of Isaiah, who said, “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant” (Isaiah 24:5)...

To you, this day, I affirm my witness of the calling of the Prophet Joseph, of his works, of the sealing of his testimony with his blood as a martyr to the eternal truth. Each of you can bear witness of the same thing. You and I are faced with the stark question of accepting the truth of the First Vision and that which followed it. On the question of its reality lies the very validity of this Church. If it is the truth, and I testify that it is, then the work in which we are engaged is the most important work on the earth.

I leave with you my testimony of the truth of these things, and I invoke the blessings of heaven upon you. May the windows of heaven be opened and blessings showered upon you as the Lord has promised. Never forget that this was His promise and that He has the power and the capacity to see that it is fulfilled.

GBH - "Closing Remarks"

My beloved brothers and sisters, we now conclude a great conference. We have been edified, uplifted. We have been inspired and lifted to a higher appreciation of this wonderful gospel. The music, the spoken word, and the prayers have all been magnificent.

We now return to our homes. If we are driving, let us be careful. Let no tragedy mar the experience we have enjoyed.

All of the proceedings of this conference will appear in a subsequent issue of the Ensign and Liahona. We encourage you again to read the talks in your family home evenings and discuss them together as families. They are the products of much prayer and meditation and are well worthy of careful consideration.

Now the conference is adjourned for six months. We look forward to seeing you again next April. I’m 97, but I hope I’m going to make it. May the blessings of heaven attend you in the meantime is our humble and sincere prayer in the name of our Redeemer, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

General Conference Highlights: April 2005

Now we're into 2005. In the previous year, Apostles Neal A. Maxwell and David B. Haight passed away.

April 2005

First Presidency
GORDON B. HINCKLEY -94
THOMAS S. MONSON -77
-James E. Faust -84

Quorum of the 12 Apostles
-Boyd K. Packer -80
-L. Tom Perry -82
-Russell M. Nelson -80
-Dallin H. Oaks -72
-M. Russell Ballard -76
-Joseph B. Wirthlin -87
-Richard G. Scott -76
-Robert D. Hales -73
-Jeffrey R. Holland -64
-Henry B. Eyring -71
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf -64
-David A. Bednar -52

Relief Society General Presidency
Bonnie D. Parkin
Kathleen H. Hughes
Anne C. Pingree

Pres. GORDON B. HINCKLEY - "Opening Remarks"

My beloved brothers and sisters, on behalf of the worldwide membership of this Church, I extend to our Catholic neighbors and friends our heartfelt sympathy at this time of great sorrow. Pope John Paul II has worked tirelessly to advance the cause of Christianity, to lift the burdens of the poor, and to speak fearlessly in behalf of moral values and human dignity. He will be greatly missed, particularly by the very many who have looked to him for leadership...

To each of you, wherever you may be, I express the feelings of my heart and thank you for your great and dedicated service. What wonderful people you are.

The majesty and the wonder of the gospel of Jesus Christ restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith shines today with resplendent luster. As we stand on the summit of these years and look back, we must never feel arrogant or proud, but we can feel humbly grateful for what has been accomplished in a variety of undertakings.

GBH - "Gambling" (from Priesthood session)

The story is told that one Sunday Calvin Coolidge, onetime president of the United States and a man noted for few words, returned from church. His wife asked him what the preacher spoke about. He replied, “Sin.” “What did he say?” she asked. “He was against it,” was his reply.

I think I could answer the question concerning gambling just that briefly. We are against it.

Gambling is to be found almost everywhere and is growing. People play poker. They bet on horse races and dog races. They play roulette and work the slot machines. They gather to play in bars, saloons, and casinos, and, all too often, in their own homes. Many cannot leave it alone. It becomes addictive. In so many cases it leads to other destructive habits and practices...

Some American states have imposed heavy taxes on casinos as a source of revenue. The operating company also must have its profit. Then comes the winning ticket holder. All others who bought tickets are left empty-handed.

I am so grateful that when the Lord established this Church He gave us the law of tithing. I talked at one time with an officer of another church which, I understand, relies on the playing of bingo for a substantial part of its income. I said to this man, “Have you ever considered tithing to finance your church?” He replied, “Yes, and oh, how I wish that we might follow this practice instead of playing bingo. But I do not expect this change in my lifetime.”...

Presidents of the Church and counselors in the Presidency have repeatedly spoken concerning this evil. George Q. Cannon, counselor to three Presidents of the Church, said: “There are many evils in the world which young folks need to be guarded against. One of these is gambling. There are various forms of this evil but they are all bad and should not be indulged in” (Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon, sel. Jerreld L. Newquist, 2 vols. [1974], 2:223).

President Joseph F. Smith stated, “The Church does not approve of gambling but strongly condemns it as morally wrong, and classes also with this gambling, games of chance and lottery, of all kinds, and earnestly disapproves of any of its members engaging therein” (“Editor’s Table,” Improvement Era, Aug. 1908, 807).

President Heber J. Grant counseled: “The Church has been and now is unalterably opposed to gambling in any form whatever. It is opposed to any game of chance, occupation, or so-called business, which takes money from the person who may be possessed of it without giving value received in return. It is opposed to all practices the tendency of which is to … degrade or weaken the high moral standard which the members of the Church, and our community at large, have always maintained” (in Messages of the First Presidency, 5:245).

GBH - "The Great Things Which God Has Revealed"

For centuries men gathered and argued concerning the nature of Deity. Constantine assembled scholars of various factions at Nicaea in the year 325. After two months of bitter debate, they compromised on a definition which for generations has been the doctrinal statement among Christians concerning the Godhead.

I invite you to read that definition and compare it with the statement of the boy Joseph. He simply says that God stood before him and spoke to him. Joseph could see Him and could hear Him. He was in form like a man, a being of substance. Beside Him was the resurrected Lord, a separate being, whom He introduced as His Beloved Son and with whom Joseph also spoke.

I submit that in the short time of that remarkable vision Joseph learned more concerning Deity than all of the scholars and clerics of the past.

In this divine revelation there was reaffirmed beyond doubt the reality of the literal Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This knowledge of Deity, hidden from the world for centuries, was the first and great thing which God revealed to His chosen servant....

As the Bible is the testament of the Old World, the Book of Mormon is the testament of the New. They go hand in hand in declaration of Jesus as the Son of the Father.

In the past 10 years alone, 51 million copies have been distributed. It is now available in 106 languages.

This sacred book, which came forth as a revelation of the Almighty, is indeed another testament of the divinity of our Lord.

I would think that the whole Christian world would reach out and welcome it and embrace it as a vibrant testimony. It represents another great and basic contribution which came as a revelation to the Prophet.

GBH - "Closing Remarks"

It has been a time for the renewal of our faith in the great eternal verities which have come to us through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph. How blessed we are. How fortunate we are in our knowledge of these transcendent truths.

But may I say, as I have said in the past, our membership in this Church, with eligibility for all of the blessings that flow therefrom, should never be any cause for self-righteousness, for arrogance, for denigration of others, for looking down upon others. All mankind is our neighbor. When asked which was the greatest commandment of the law, the Lord said: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. … [And] thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matt. 22:37, 39).

Regardless of the color of our skin, of the shape of our eyes, of the language we speak, we all are sons and daughters of God and must reach out to one another with love and concern.

Wherever we may live we can be friendly neighbors. Our children can mingle with the children of those not of this Church and remain steadfast if they are properly taught. They can even become missionaries to their associates.

THOMAS S. MONSON - "Constant Truths for Changing Times"

I begin by expressing commendation to all of you. In this challenging world, the youth of the Church are the very best ever. The faith, the service, and the actions of our members are praiseworthy. We are a prayerful and faith-filled people, ever striving to be decent and honest. We take care of each other. We try to show love to our neighbors.

However, lest we become complacent, may I quote from 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon:

“At that day shall [the devil] … lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls.” 1

Someone has said that our complacency tree has many branches, and each spring more buds come into bloom.

We cannot afford to be complacent. We live in perilous times; the signs are all around us. We are acutely aware of the negative influences in our society that stalk traditional families. At times television and movies portray worldly and immoral heroes and heroines and attempt to hold up as role models some actors and actresses whose lives are anything but exemplary. Why should we follow a blind guide? Radios blare forth much denigrating music with blatant lyrics, dangerous invitations, and descriptions of almost every type of evil imaginable...

I like this thought: “Your mind is a cupboard, and you stock the shelves.” Let us make certain that our cupboard shelves, and those of our family members, are stocked with the things which will provide safety to our souls and enable us to return to our Father in Heaven. Such shelves could well be stocked with gospel scholarship, faith, prayer, love, service, obedience, example, and kindness.

TSM - "Be Thou An Example" (from Young Womens session)

Precious young women, and you mothers, Young Women leaders, and advisers, may I leave with you a code of conduct to guide your footsteps safely through mortality and to the celestial kingdom of our Heavenly Father. I have divided my code of conduct into four parts:

• You have a heritage; honor it.
• You will meet temptation; withstand it.
• You know the truth; live it.
• You possess a testimony; share it.

First, you have a heritage; honor it. There come thundering to our ears the words from Mount Sinai: “Honour thy father and thy mother.” My, how your parents love you, how they pray for you. Honor them.

How do you honor your parents? I like the words of William Shakespeare: “They do not love that do not show their love.” There are countless ways in which you can show true love to your mothers and your fathers. You can obey them and follow their teachings, for they will never lead you astray. You can treat them with respect. They have sacrificed much and continue to sacrifice in your behalf...

Next in our code of conduct: You will meet temptation; withstand it.

The Prophet Joseph Smith faced temptation. Can you imagine the ridicule, the scorn, the mocking that must have been heaped upon him as he declared that he had seen a vision? I suppose it became almost unbearable for the boy. He no doubt knew that it would be easier to retract his statements concerning the vision and just get on with a normal life. He did not, however, give in. These are his words: “I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true. … I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it.” Joseph Smith taught courage by example. He faced temptation and withstood it...

Next in our code of conduct: You know the truth; live it.

After Joseph Smith’s vision in the Sacred Grove, he received no additional communication for three years. Can you imagine how you would feel if you had seen God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son, if Christ had spoken to you, and then you had no additional word or communication for three years? Would you begin to doubt? Would you wonder or question why? The Prophet Joseph Smith did not wonder; he did not question; he did not doubt the Lord. He had received the truth, and he lived it...

Finally, you possess a testimony; share it. Never underestimate the far-reaching influence of your testimony. You can strengthen one another; you have the capacity to notice the unnoticed. When you have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to feel, you can reach out and rescue others of your age.

TSM - "The Sacred Call of Service" (from Priesthood session)

President Joseph F. Smith made the following statement concerning the priesthood. Said he: “The Holy Priesthood is that authority which God has delegated to man, by which he may speak the will of God. … It is sacred, and it must be held sacred by the people. It should be honored and respected by them, in whomsoever it is held.”

The oath and covenant of the priesthood pertains to all of us. To those who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, it is a declaration of our requirement to be faithful and obedient to the laws of God and to magnify the callings which come to us. To those who hold the Aaronic Priesthood, it is a pronouncement concerning future duty and responsibility, that they may prepare themselves here and now.

Said President Marion G. Romney, a former member of the First Presidency: “Every bearer of the Melchizedek Priesthood should give diligent and solemn heed to the implications of this oath and covenant which he has received. Failure to observe the obligations imposed by it is sure to bring disappointment, sorrow, and suffering.”...

The call of duty can come quietly as we who hold the priesthood respond to the assignments we receive. President George Albert Smith, that modest yet effective leader, declared, “It is your duty first of all to learn what the Lord wants and then by the power and strength of [your] holy Priesthood to [so] magnify your calling in the presence of your fellows … that the people will be glad to follow you.”...

President Stephen L Richards, who served as a counselor to President David O. McKay, declared, “The Priesthood is usually simply defined as ‘the power of God delegated to man.’” He continues: “This definition, I think, is accurate. But for practical purposes I like to define the Priesthood in terms of service, and I frequently call it ‘the perfect plan of service.’ … It is an instrument of service … and the man who fails to use it is apt to lose it, for we are plainly told by revelation that he who neglects it ‘shall not be counted worthy to stand.’”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf - "The Fruits of the First Vision"

Looking back, I am grateful for so many friends who helped me in my youth to gain a testimony of the restored Church of Jesus Christ. First I exercised simple faith in their testimonies, and then I received the divine witness of the Spirit to my mind and to my heart. I count Joseph Smith among those whose testimony of Christ helped me to develop my own testimony of the Savior. Before I recognized the tutoring of the Spirit testifying to me that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, my youthful heart felt that he was a friend of God and would therefore, quite naturally, also be a friend of mine. I knew I could trust Joseph Smith.

The scriptures teach us that spiritual gifts are given to those who ask of God, who love Him, and who keep His commandments (see D&C 46:9). “All have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.

“To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby” (D&C 46:11–12).

Today I know that my young testimony benefited greatly from the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and many friends in the Church who knew “by the Holy Ghost … that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world” (D&C 46:13). Their good examples, caring love, and helping hands blessed me to receive another special gift of the Spirit described in the scriptures as I was yearning for more light and truth: “To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue [faithfully]” (D&C 46:14). What a wonderful and precious gift this is!...

As we remember and honor the Prophet Joseph Smith, my heart reaches out to him in gratitude. He was a good, honest, humble, intelligent, and courageous young man with a heart of gold and an unshaken faith in God. He had integrity. In response to his humble prayer, the heavens opened again. Joseph Smith had actually seen a vision. He knew it, and he knew that God knew it, and he could not deny it. (See JS—H 1:25.)

Through his work and sacrifice, I now have a true understanding of our Heavenly Father and His Son, our Redeemer and Savior, Jesus Christ, and I can feel the power of the Holy Ghost and know of Heavenly Father’s plan for us, His children. For me, these are truly the fruits of the First Vision.

Kathleen H. Hughes - "What Greater Goodness Can We Know: Christlike Friends"

As a Relief Society presidency, we sometimes hear women say that they don’t feel the love of the Lord. But perhaps they would feel more of His love if they looked for His hand in the actions of those who care for them. It may be a member of their branch or ward, a neighbor, or even a stranger who blesses them and manifests Christ’s love. Elder Henry B. Eyring instructed us: “You are called to represent the Savior. Your voice to testify becomes the same as His voice, your hands to lift the same as His hands” (“Rise to Your Call,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2002, 76). If we can lift others in Christ’s name, surely we can also be lifted.

One home teacher I know faithfully made monthly visits to an elderly widow. More than just visit, however, each fall he winterized the sister’s air conditioner and checked the filter on her furnace. Was that God’s love or the love of the home teacher? The answer, of course, is both.

What greater gift dost thou bestow,
What greater goodness can we know
Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways
Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

I have been blessed throughout my life with Christlike friends—from friends of my youth to the many people who have blessed our family in all the wards we have lived in. Their faith and commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ, their service, their wise and gentle instruction have enriched our lives. Some of my friends are very different from me. We disagree about things, and we can even irritate each other. But friendship allows for differences—in fact, it embraces them. I love to visit stakes made up of people from a variety of backgrounds, ages, and ethnic origins...

It should be obvious to each of us that our ultimate friendship should be with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. The Savior has affectionately said to us, “I will call you friends, for you are my friends” (D&C 93:45). His greatest desire for us, His brothers and sisters, is to bring us back to our Father. And the way for us is clear: develop in our lives, to the degree that we can, the qualities and attributes of Christ. Obey His commandments and do His work and His will.

General Conference Highlights: April 1999

At the end of 1998, LDS Church membership was over 10.3 million. The conflict in Kosovo was still going on.

April 1999

First Presidency
GORDON B. HINCKLEY -88
THOMAS S. MONSON -71
-James E. Faust -78

Quorum of the 12 Apostles
-Boyd K. Packer -74
-L. Tom Perry -76
-David B. Haight -92
-Neal A. Maxwell -73
-Russell M. Nelson -74
-Dallin H. Oaks -66
-M. Russell Ballard -70
-Joseph B. Wirthlin -81
-Richard G. Scott -70
-Robert D. Hales -67
-Jeffrey R. Holland -58
-Henry B. Eyring -65

Relief Society General Presidency
Mary Ellen Smoot
Virginia U. Jensen
Sheri L. Dew

Pres. GORDON B. HINCKLEY - "The Work Moves Forward"

We are constructing chapels in large numbers to accommodate the needs of our people. There is an old proverb that says it is an ill wind that blows no good. The economic problems that have afflicted Asia and other parts of the world have brought lower real estate prices, thus permitting us to acquire building sites at lower costs.

In many areas of the Church, sacrament meeting attendance is up and the level of activity is increasing.

I mention these items simply to indicate the robust growth of the work throughout the world.

We are prone to speak of large numbers such as the total membership of the Church. But we must never forget that we are all individuals with our own needs and problems, our own hopes and dreams, our own faith and convictions. Some are strong, some weak, but we all try. We have problems to deal with; they are serious and difficult. We need one another, to build and strengthen each other. We must never lose sight of the fact that we are to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (D&C 81:5).

We must never forget that we live in a world of great diversity. The people of the earth are all our Father’s children and are of many and varied religious persuasions. We must cultivate tolerance and appreciation and respect one another. We have differences of doctrine. This need not bring about animosity or any kind of holier-than-thou attitude.

At this moment our hearts reach out to the brutalized people of Kosovo. It is difficult for us to understand how those who claim to be Christians can act so barbaric to those of another faith. I am grateful that we are rushing humanitarian aid to the victims of these atrocities.

GBH - "The Shepherds of the Flock" (from Priesthood session)

As we have been reminded, this is a season of great evil in the world. No one needs to be reminded of that. We are constantly exposed to the muck and filth of pornography, to salacious and evil behavior totally unbecoming anyone who holds the priesthood of God. It is a challenge to work in the world and live above its filth.

Dishonesty is rampant. It is manifest in cheating that goes on in schools, in the operation of clever schemes, in businesses that rob and defraud. Temptations are everywhere about us; unfortunately, some succumb to these.

Brethren, be strong. Rise above the evils of the world. We need not be prudish. We need not adopt a holier-than-thou attitude. We need only let our personal integrity, our sense of right and wrong, and simple honesty govern our actions.

Let us live the gospel in our homes. Let there be an honest manifestation of love between husbands and wives, between children and their parents. Control the voice of anger. Be absolutely loyal one to another.

Simply “do what is right [and] let the consequence follow” (Hymns, no. 237). So live that each morning you may kneel in prayer, seeking the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit, as well as its protective power, as you go about your work of the day. So live that each night, before retiring, you may come before the Lord in prayer without shame or embarrassment or the need to plead for forgiveness. I do not hesitate to say that God will bless you if you will do so. Someday you will grow old and look back upon your life. You will be able to say: “I lived with integrity. I cheated no one, not even myself. I reveled in the companionship of my wife, who is the mother of our children. I am proud of those children. I am grateful to God for His manifest blessings.”

THOMAS S. MONSON - "The Priesthood - Mighty Army of the Lord" (from Priesthood session)

It is essential, even critical, that we study the Aaronic Priesthood pathway, since far too many boys falter, stumble, then fall without advancing into the quorums of the Melchizedek Priesthood, thereby eroding the active priesthood base of the Church and curtailing the activity of loving wives and precious children.

What can we as leaders do to reverse this trend? The place to begin is at the headwaters of the Aaronic Priesthood stream. There is an ancient proverb which purports to correctly determine the sanity of an individual. A person is shown a stream of water flowing into a stagnant pond. He is given a bucket and asked to commence to drain the pond. If he first takes steps to effectively dam the inflow to the pond, he is adjudged sane. If, on the other hand, he ignores the inflow and tries to empty the pond bucket by bucket, he is designated as insane.

The bishop, by revelation, is the president of the Aaronic Priesthood and is president of the priests quorum in his ward. He cannot delegate these God-given responsibilities. However, he can place accountability with those called as quorum advisers, men who can touch the lives of boys.

The bishop’s counselors, other ward officers and teachers, and particularly the fathers and the mothers of our young men can be of immeasurable help. Also very effective can be the service rendered by Aaronic Priesthood quorum presidencies.

This, then, is our goal: to save every young man, thereby assuring a worthy husband for each of our young women, strong Melchizedek Priesthood quorums, and a missionary force trained and capable of accomplishing what the Lord expects.

TSM - "For I Was Blind, But Now I See"

When the Prophet Joseph Smith went into a grove of trees made sacred by what occurred there, he described the event:

“It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.” 11

After enduring a harrowing experience from an unseen power, Joseph continued:

“I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. …
“When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”

Joseph listened. Joseph learned.

On occasion I will be asked, “Brother Monson, if the Savior appeared to you, what questions would you ask of Him?”  My reply is always the same: “I would ask no question of Him. Rather, I would listen!”

Boyd K. Packer - "The Bishops and His Counselors"

In all the world there is nothing quite like the office of bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Except for parents, the bishop has the best opportunity to teach and to cause to be taught the things that matter most. And a bishop has the remarkable opportunity to teach parents about their responsibility; then he must allow them time to teach their children.

The bishop is responsible for the young men of the Aaronic Priesthood and for the young women as well. He receives and accounts for tithes and offerings. He is responsible for the temporal affairs of the Church, to seek out the poor, and he has many other duties.

The bishop is “to judge his people by the testimony of the just, and by the assistance of his counselors, according to the laws of the kingdom which are given by the prophets of God.” 2 He is to judge them as to their worthiness to receive the ordinances and serve in offices.

He is to counsel and correct and to preach the gospel to his flock, individually and collectively. In all of this, he is to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Crucifixion, the Atonement, the Resurrection, the Restoration.

I have heard this described as voluntary service because neither the bishop nor his counselors are paid for what they do. They too pay their tithes and offerings, and they devote endless hours to their calling. They are paid only in blessings, as are those who serve with them.

But one does not exactly volunteer or aspire to be bishop. He is called to be bishop, “called of God, by prophecy.” Then he is both ordained and set apart “by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.”...

Do not doubt that an ordinary soul called from the ranks to be bishop can give inspired counsel and correction. Unfortunately, some who could be helped so much are reluctant to seek counsel from the bishop, while others endlessly seem to need counseling and comfort and feel neglected if they are not constantly tended.

Bishops are inspired! Each of us has agency to accept or reject counsel from our leaders, but never disregard the counsel of your bishop, whether given over the pulpit or individually, and never turn down a call from your bishop.

Russell M. Nelson - "Our Sacred Duty to Honor Women" (from Priesthood session)

Many years ago the First Presidency issued a statement that has had a profound and lasting influence upon me. “Motherhood,” they wrote, “is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.”

Because mothers are essential to God’s great plan of happiness, their sacred work is opposed by Satan, who would destroy the family and demean the worth of women.

You young men need to know that you can hardly achieve your highest potential without the influence of good women, particularly your mother and, in a few years, a good wife. Learn now to show respect and gratitude. Remember that your mother is your mother. She should not need to issue orders. Her wish, her hope, her hint should provide direction that you would honor. Thank her and express your love for her. And if she is struggling to rear you without your father, you have a double duty to honor her...

We who bear the holy priesthood have a sacred duty to honor our sisters. We are old enough and wise enough to know that teasing is wrong. We respect sisters—not only in our immediate families but all the wonderful sisters in our lives. As daughters of God, their potential is divine. Without them, eternal life would be impossible. Our high regard for them should spring from our love of God and from an awareness of their lofty purpose in His great eternal plan.

Hence, I warn against pornography. It is degrading of women. It is evil. It is infectious, destructive, and addictive. The body has means by which it can cleanse itself from harmful effects of contaminated food or drink. But it cannot vomit back the poison of pornography. Once recorded, it always remains subject to recall, flashing its perverted images across your mind, with power to draw you away from the wholesome things in life. Avoid it like the plague!...

As fathers we should have love unbounded for the mothers of our children. We should accord to them the gratitude, respect, and praise that they deserve. Husbands, to keep alive the spirit of romance in your marriage, be considerate and kind in the tender intimacies of your married life. Let your thoughts and actions inspire confidence and trust. Let your words be wholesome and your time together be uplifting. Let nothing in life take priority over your wife—neither work, recreation, nor hobby.

An ideal marriage is a true partnership between two imperfect people, each striving to complement the other, to keep the commandments, and to do the will of the Lord.

Sheri L. Dew - "Our Only Chance"

The Savior’s Atonement is stunningly inclusive! “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22; emphasis added). Come one, come all, the Lord has invited. The gospel of Jesus Christ is for every man and woman, boy and girl. He doesn’t change the rules for the rich or the poor, the married or unmarried, the Portuguese or the Chinese. The gospel is for every one of us, and the spiritual requirements and rewards are universal. In matters pertaining to salvation, “all are alike unto God” (2 Ne. 26:33; emphasis added). The Lord’s motives stand in stark contrast to those of Lucifer, who is obsessed with attempting to make us feel less than who we are as sons and daughters of God. He despises a consecrated people and delights at obscuring our vision and enticing us away from the path that leads back to our heavenly home...

The Lord knows the way because He is the way and is our only chance for successfully negotiating mortality. His Atonement makes available all of the power, peace, light, and strength that we need to deal with life’s challenges—those ranging from our own mistakes and sins to trials over which we have no control but we still feel pain.

The Lord has promised to heal our broken hearts and “to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18); to give power to the faint, to heal the wounded soul, and to turn our weakness into strength (see Isa. 40:29; Jacob 2:8; Ether 12:27); to take upon Him our pains and sicknesses, to blot out our transgressions if we repent, and loose the bands of death (see Alma 7:11–13). He promised that if we will build our lives upon His rock, the devil will have no power over us (see Hel. 5:12). And He has vowed that He will never leave us or forsake us (see Heb. 13:5). There is simply no mortal equivalent. Not in terms of commitment, power, or love. He is our only chance.

General Conference Highlights: April 1995

This is the first General Conference presided over by Gordon B. Hinckley. Since he'd been made a counselor in Spencer W. Kimball's presidency in 1981, he'd always been in the First Presidency. The transition of power felt more natural than perhaps any other.It would also begin the longest period in church history where the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve stayed the same, from April 6, 1995, until Neal A. Maxwell's death on July 21, 2004.

April 1995

First Presidency
GORDON B. HINCKLEY -84
THOMAS S. MONSON -67
-James E. Faust -74

Quorum of the 12 Apostles
-Boyd K. Packer -70
-L. Tom Perry -72
-David B. Haight -88
-Neal A. Maxwell -69
-Russell M. Nelson -70
-Dallin H. Oaks -62
-M. Russell Ballard -66
-Joseph B. Wirthlin -77
-Richard G. Scott -66
-Robert D. Hales -63
-Jeffrey R. Holland -54
-Henry B. Eyring -61

Young Women's General Presidency
Janette C. Hales
-Virginia H. Pearce
-Bonnie D. Parkin

Pres. GORDON B. HINCKLEY - "The Light Within You" (from Young Women's session)

When Sister Hinckley and I were much younger and less stiff and brittle, we would go to dances. She would tell you that this stopped right after we were married. I must confess that I enjoyed her company more than I enjoyed the dancing.

Back in those days there was a popular song, the opening lines of which were:

Somebody loves you, I want you to know,
Longs to be near you, wherever you go.

I have interpreted those words differently from the meaning given by the author. I wish you—each of you, wherever you are—to know that you are loved. You are loved by your Father in Heaven, of whose divine nature you have partaken. And He desires that His Holy Spirit will be near you wherever you go if you will invite it and cultivate it.

There is something of divinity within each of you. You have such tremendous potential with that quality as a part of your inherited nature. Every one of you was endowed by your Father in Heaven with a tremendous capacity to do good in the world. Train your minds and your hands that you may be equipped to serve well in the society of which you are a part. Cultivate the art of being kind, of being thoughtful, of being helpful. Refine within you the quality of mercy which comes as a part of the divine attributes you have inherited.

GBH - "This Work Is Concerned with People" (from Priesthood session)

Concerning the First Presidency the Lord has said, “Of the Melchizedek Priesthood, three Presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church” (D&C 107:22).

I emphasize those words, “upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church.”

Your uplifted hands in the solemn assembly this morning became an expression of your willingness and desire to uphold us, your brethren and your servants, with your confidence, faith, and prayer. I am deeply grateful for that expression. I thank you, each of you. I assure you, as you already know, that in the processes of the Lord, there is no aspiring for office. As the Lord said to his disciples, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you” (John 15:16). This office is not one to be sought after. The right to select rests with the Lord. He is the master of life and death. His is the power to call. His is the power to take away. His is the power to retain. It is all in His hands.

I do not know why in His grand scheme one such as I would find a place. But having this mantle come upon me, I now rededicate whatever I have of strength or time or talent or life to the work of my Master in the service of my brethren and sisters. Again, I thank you, my beloved brethren, for your actions this day. The burden of my prayer is that I will be worthy. I hope that I may be remembered in your prayers...

The Church is becoming a very large and complex organization. We now have members in more than 150 nations. There are nine million of us, and we are growing at the approximate rate of a million each three and a half years. In addition to such regular programs as sacrament meeting, home teaching, and meetings of the priesthood quorums and auxiliaries, all of which are designed to meet the needs of the living membership of the Church, we are carrying forward an enormous program involving such undertakings as the world’s largest archive of genealogical and family history data; the operation of the largest private university in the nation, if not in the world, with a related seminary and institute program embracing hundreds of thousands of students; the staffing and management of the largest missionary organization of which I am aware with the number now approaching fifty thousand; the carrying forward of a building program of unprecedented proportions; the operation of a very large and efficient publishing facility; and the training and motivation of the largest organization of noncompensated ecclesiastical officers to be found in any institution of which I know. I hesitate to use superlatives, but I think they fit in this case.

We are becoming a great global society. But our interest and concern must always be with the individual. Every member of this church is an individual man or woman, boy or girl. Our great responsibility is to see that each is “remembered and nourished by the good word of God” (Moro. 6:4), that each has opportunity for growth and expression and training in the work and ways of the Lord, that none lacks the necessities of life, that the needs of the poor are met, that each member shall have encouragement, training, and opportunity to move forward on the road of immortality and eternal life. This, I submit, is the inspired genius of this the Lord’s work...

The gaining of a strong and secure testimony is the privilege and opportunity of every individual member of the Church. The Master said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17).

Service in behalf of others, study, and prayer lead to faith in this work and then to knowledge of its truth. This has always been a personal pursuit, as it must always be in the future.

We speak frequently of Wilford Woodruff’s conversion of the United Brethren in England when some eighteen hundred were baptized into the Church. But let us not forget that each of them had to walk the lonely road of repentance, of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and of acceptance of the fact that the ancient gospel had come again to earth in this the promised dispensation of the fulness of times. The decisions we make, individually and personally, become the fabric of our lives.

GBH - "This Is the Work of the Master"

I am fully aware that I am not a young man as I shoulder the responsibilities of this sacred office. Sister Hinckley and I are learning that the so-called golden years are laced with lead. But I think I can honestly say that I do not feel old. I cannot repudiate my birth certificate, but I can still experience a great, almost youthful exuberance in my enthusiasm for this precious work of the Almighty.

I love the people of this church, of all ages, of all races, and of many nations.

I love the children. They are very much the same the world over. Regardless of the color of their skin and of the circumstances in which they live, they carry with them a beauty that comes of innocence and of the fact that it was not long ago that they lived with their Father in Heaven. How lovely you are, wherever you are, you precious children.

I love the youth of the Church. I have said again and again that I think we have never had a better generation than this. How grateful I am for your integrity, for your ambition to train your minds and your hands to do good work, for your love for the word of the Lord, and for your desire to walk in paths of virtue and truth and goodness.

I have tremendous respect for fathers and mothers who are nurturing their children in light and truth, who have prayer in their homes, who spare the rod and govern with love, who look upon their little ones as their most valued assets to be protected, trained, and blessed.

I love the elderly who have faced into the storms of life and who, regardless of the force of the tempest, have gone forward and kept the faith. May your older years be filled with happiness and with satisfying remembrance of lives well lived...

Now, my brethren and sisters, the time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more Christlike.

We have nothing to fear. God is at the helm. He will overrule for the good of this work. He will shower down blessings upon those who walk in obedience to His commandments. Such has been His promise. Of His ability to keep that promise none of us can doubt.

GBH - "We Have a Work to Do"

I look back to my own youth. Neither young men nor young women were doing much scripture reading at that time. What a marvelous change has been wrought. A new generation is arising who are familiar with the word of the Lord. Growing up in a worldly environment that is laden with immorality and filth of every kind, our youth, for the most part, are meeting the challenge of living in the world without partaking of the evils of the world. It is with the young men as it is with the young women. Last evening this tabernacle was filled with fathers and sons, and hundreds of thousands were gathered in other halls across the Church. It is wonderful to feel the pulse of this generation of young people. Of course, there are some who do not measure up. That has been the case since the time of the great war in heaven described by John the Revelator. The issue then was free agency as it is today. Then, as now, choices had to be made.

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

“And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Rev. 12:7–9).

That ancient struggle continues, the unrelenting battle that comes of free agency. Some, unfortunately, choose the wrong. But many, so many, choose the right, including so very many of our choice young men and young women. They deserve and need our gratitude. They need our encouragement. They need the kind of examples that we can become before them. May they be blessed as they pursue lives of virtue, of learning, of growing with faith and purpose, all the time remaining “True to the faith that [their] parents have cherished, True to the truth for which martyrs have perished” (Hymns, 1985, no. 254).

THOMAS S. MONSON - "A Time to Choose" (from Young Womens session)

Some youth are drifting on a sea of chance, with waves of temptation threatening to engulf them. A nationally prominent journalist described situations in our country by saying, “They are indicative of the days in which we are living: … days of compromise and diluting of principles; days when sin is labeled as error, when morality is relative and when materialism emphasizes the value of expedience and the shirking of responsibility.”

You young women ask silently, “What can I do to insure my eternal joy? Can you help me?” I offer four suggestions:

1. Study diligently.
2. Choose carefully.
3. Pray fervently.
4. Act wisely.

TSM - "That All May Hear"

Long years ago a divine command was given by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as He said to His beloved eleven disciples: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Mark records that “they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them.”

This sacred charge has not been rescinded. Rather, it has been reemphasized. The Prophet Joseph Smith set forth the purpose of the Church when he declared: “It is the bringing of men and women to a knowledge of the eternal truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer and Savior of the world, and that only through belief in Him, and faith which manifests itself in good works, can men and nations enjoy peace.”

Does the world in which we live stand in need of the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Almost everywhere one looks there appears an erosion not only of the environment but, even more seriously, an erosion of spirituality and of compliance with eternal commandments. One sees a blatant disregard for the precious souls of mankind.

It is almost as though the faces of many have been turned away from Him—even the Lord—who solemnly declared: “The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” The gentle words “Come, follow me,” fall on many with stopped ears and closed hearts. Such seem to be attuned to another voice.

TSM - "Mercy, The Divine Gift"

There are those among us who torture themselves through their inability to show mercy and to forgive others some supposed offense or slight, however small it may be. At times the statement is made, “I never can forgive [this person or that person].” Such an attitude is destructive to an individual’s well-being. It can canker the soul and ruin one’s life. In other instances, an individual can forgive another but cannot forgive himself. Such a situation is even more destructive.

Early in my ministry as a member of the Council of the Twelve, I took to President Hugh B. Brown the experience of a fine person who could not serve in a ward position because he could not show mercy to himself. He could forgive others but not himself; mercy was seemingly beyond his grasp. President Brown suggested that I visit with that individual and counsel him along these lines: “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.” Then, from Isaiah and the Doctrine and Covenants: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.”

With a pensive expression on his face, President Brown added: “Tell that man that he should not persist in remembering that which the Lord has said He is willing to forget.” Such counsel will help to cleanse the soul and renew the spirit of any who applies it.

The Prophet Joseph urged, “Be merciful and you shall find mercy. Seek to help save souls, not to destroy them: for verily you know, that ‘there is more joy in heaven, over one sinner that repents, than there is over ninety and nine just persons [who] need no repentance.’"

James E. Faust - "Heirs to the Kingdom of God"

Today I would like to speak to the members of the Church worldwide. I hope we can all overcome any differences of culture, race, and language. Since the early days of the Church, the General Authorities and missionaries have traveled over much of the earth to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, as restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and to establish the Church with keys and authority in many lands. An impressive and enjoyable part of our ministry has been to worship with the wonderful people of many cultures and ethnic groups. It has been soul satisfying to feel of their spiritual strength and their love and to love them in return.

Now the curtains are opening up to more and more of the nonindustrialized nations. In some of these countries a large percentage of the population is poor. Many of them have much less opportunity than others to acquire the comforts of life and even some of the necessities. We have seen men and women working to exhaustion from sunrise to sundown for a pittance. Yet their ready smiles and cheerful countenances indicated that they had found some happiness with their lot in life...

In the great diversity of peoples, cultures, and circumstances, we remember that all are equal before the Lord, for as Paul taught,

“Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

We do not lose our identity in becoming members of this church. We become heirs to the kingdom of God, having joined the body of Christ and spiritually set aside some of our personal differences to unite in a greater spiritual cause. We say to all who have joined the Church, keep all that is noble, good, and uplifting in your culture and personal identity. However, under the authority and power of the keys of the priesthood, all differences yield as we seek to become heirs to the kingdom of God, unite in following those who have the keys of the priesthood, and seek the divinity within us. All are welcomed and appreciated. But there is only one celestial kingdom of God.

Virginia H. Pearce - "Trying the Word of God" (from Young Women's session)

Alma used a seed to stand for the word. He taught the discouraged Zoramites that if they would “give place, that a seed may be planted in [their] heart[s]” (Alma 32:28), and then notice if good feelings went with it, they would begin to understand and life would be different for them.

Could that be a way of saying: “Decide, just for yourself, that you will make a place for scripture reading. And then, as you begin to do that, notice what feelings go with it”?

Alma then taught that “as the tree beginneth to grow” (Alma 32:37), it would need to be nourished with great care.

Could that be a way of saying: “Nourish the desire to read. Do some things that will keep you reading and help you to understand in new ways. Let others keep you excited and help you learn more from the scriptures so that the word will continue to grow”?

Alma taught that if this nourishing continued for a long time, there would be wonderful fruit. Please turn to Alma, chapter 32, verse 42:

“And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.”

Could that be a way of saying: “When you continue reading, and doing the things that you read about, eventually life will change in a way that is difficult to even imagine. Your daily discouragements will be replaced with a knowledge of how much God loves you. You will feast and be filled”?

Every song, every scripture read, every story told, and all counsel given tonight is meant to encourage each of us to (1) make an individual decision to read the words of God, to understand more ways to (2) nourish and enjoy scripture reading, and to (3) recognize the good feelings and changes that eventually come with regular scripture reading. In Alma’s words, to (1) give place, (2) nourish, (3) feast.

[Trivia note: Pearce is Gordon B. Hinckley's daughter.]

LDS First Presidency - A Chronology

Henry B. Eyring, left, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf, right, were called to be counselors
to President Thomas S. Monson, center, in 2008.

The First Presidency was the first organized governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was organized in 1832 by Joseph Smith, who was already head of the church, but he prayed and decided he needed two counselors. There's been occasion when there's been more than two counselors, and in Smith's time, there was also the office of Assistant President.

The inaugural First Presidency:

1832 March 8
Pres - JOSEPH SMITH, JR.
1st Coun - Jesse Gause
2nd Coun - Sidney Rigdon

Gause was excommunicated on 1832 Dec 3.

1833 March 18
Pres - JOSEPH SMITH, JR.
1st Coun - Sidney Rigdon
2nd Coun - Frederick G. Williams

1834 Dec 5
Pres - JOSEPH SMITH, JR.
Asst. Pres - Oliver Cowdery
1st Coun - Sidney Rigdon
2nd Coun - Frederick G. Williams

Smith Jr. then called three assistant counselors, respectively his brother, his uncle, and his father.

1837 Sept 3
Pres - JOSEPH SMITH, JR.
Asst. Pres - Oliver Cowdery
1st Coun - Sidney Rigdon
2nd Coun - Frederick G. Williams
Asst Coun - Hyrum Smith
Asst Coun - John Smith
Asst Coun - Joseph Smith, Sr.

Williams is rejected as 2nd counselor at a church conference.

1837 Nov 7
Pres - JOSEPH SMITH, JR.
Asst. Pres - Oliver Cowdery
1st Coun - Sidney Rigdon
2nd Coun - Hyrum Smith
Asst Coun - John Smith
Asst Coun - Joseph Smith, Sr.

Cowdery is excommunicated.

1838 April 11
Pres - JOSEPH SMITH, JR.
1st Coun - Sidney Rigdon
2nd Coun - Hyrum Smith
Asst Coun - John Smith
Asst Coun - Joseph Smith, Sr.

Joseph Smith Sr. dies.

1840 Sept 14
Pres - JOSEPH SMITH, JR.
1st Coun - Sidney Rigdon
2nd Coun - Hyrum Smith
Asst Coun - John Smith

1841 Jan 24
Pres - JOSEPH SMITH, JR.
Asst. Pres - Hyrum Smith
1st Coun - Sidney Rigdon
2nd Coun - William Law
Asst Coun - John Smith

1841 Apr 8
Pres - JOSEPH SMITH, JR.
Asst Pres - Hyrum Smith
Asst Pres - John C. Bennett
1st Coun - Sidney Rigdon
2nd Coun - William Law
Asst Coun - John Smith

Bennett is excommunicated, vows to drink the blood of Joseph Smith.

1842 May 25
Pres - JOSEPH SMITH, JR.
Asst Pres - Hyrum Smith
1st Coun - Sidney Rigdon
2nd Coun - William Law
Asst Coun - John Smith

1843 Feb 4
Pres - JOSEPH SMITH, JR.
Asst Pres - Hyrum Smith
1st Coun - Sidney Rigdon
2nd Coun - William Law
Coun - Amasa Lyman
Asst Coun - John Smith

William Law is excommunicated.

1844 April 18
Pres - JOSEPH SMITH, JR.
Asst Pres - Hyrum Smith
1st Coun - Sidney Rigdon
Coun - Amasa Lyman
Asst Coun - John Smith

Joseph Smith Jr. and Hyrum Smith are killed on June 27,1844. The First Presidency dissolves. Had Hyrum lived, he would have been the next leader of the church. There is a succession crisis. Rigdon argues that he should be the new leader of the church, as the senior surviving member of the First Presidency. Amasa Lyman and John Smith side with Brigham Young, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Young and the Twelve lead the majority of the Church, and after they establish themselves in Utah, Young organizes a new First Presidency. The title of Assistant President is never again given. From this point on, assume any changes are due to someone's death. I'll note otherwise. (Trivia note: If Heber C. Kimball had been born three weeks earlier, he would have had seniority over Young.)

1847 Dec 27
Pres - BRIGHAM YOUNG
1st Coun - Heber C. Kimball
2nd Coun - Willard Richards

1854 Apr 7
Pres - BRIGHAM YOUNG
1st Coun - Heber C. Kimball
2nd Coun - Jedidiah M. Grant

1857 Jan 4
Pres - BRIGHAM YOUNG
1st Coun - Heber C. Kimball
2nd Coun - Daniel H. Wells

1866 July 1
Pres - BRIGHAM YOUNG
1st Coun - Heber C. Kimball
2nd Coun - Daniel H. Wells
Coun - JOSEPH F. SMITH

1868 Oct 7
Pres - BRIGHAM YOUNG
1st Coun - George A. Smith
2nd Coun - Daniel H. Wells
Coun - JOSEPH F. SMITH

1873 April 8
Pres - BRIGHAM YOUNG
1st Coun - George A. Smith
2nd Coun - Daniel H. Wells
Coun - JOSEPH F. SMITH
Asst Coun - John Willard Young
Asst Coun - George Q. Cannon
Asst Coun - Brigham Young Jr.
Asst Coun - LORENZO SNOW
Asst Coun - Albert Harrington

1876 Oct 8
Pres - BRIGHAM YOUNG
1st Coun - John Willard Young
2nd Coun - Daniel H. Wells
Coun - JOSEPH F. SMITH
Asst Coun - George Q. Cannon
Asst Coun - Brigham Young Jr.
Asst Coun - LORENZO SNOW
Asst Coun - Albert Harrington

Brigham Young dies August 29, 1877. John Taylor is the senior Apostle and leads the church until the reorganization of the First Presidency in 1880.

1880 Oct 10
Pres - JOHN TAYLOR
1st Coun - George Q. Cannon
2nd Coun - JOSEPH F. SMITH

John Taylor dies July 25, 1887. It's 18 months before the senior Apostle, Wilford Woodruff, reorganizes. After that, First Presidencies tend to reorganize within days of the prophets' death.

1889 April 7
Pres - WILFORD WOODRUFF
1st Coun - George Q. Cannon
2nd Coun - JOSEPH F. SMITH

1898 Sept 13
Pres - LORENZO SNOW
1st Coun - George Q. Cannon
2nd Coun - JOSEPH F. SMITH

Cannon dies and a few months later, Snow calls Joseph F. Smith and Rudger Clawson to be his first and second counselors. They were sustained but not set apart, as Snow died four days later. I should also mention here that John Willard Young was the senior-most Apostle behind Snow, but he'd never been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Many within the church felt John Willard Young, ordained at age 11 by his father Brigham in 1855, would be a disaster as church leader. The First Presidency and the Q12 unanimously approved a change in church policy in 1900 that stated seniority went by ordination into the Quorum of the Twelve, not just ordaination as an Apostle.

1901 Oct 17
Pres - JOSEPH F. SMITH
1st Coun - John R. Winder
2nd Coun - Anthon H. Lund

1910 April 7
Pres - JOSEPH F. SMITH
1st Coun - Anthon H. Lund
2nd Coun - John Henry Smith

1911 Dec 7
Pres - JOSEPH F. SMITH
1st Coun - Anthon H. Lund
2nd Coun - Charles W. Penrose

1918 Nov 23
Pres - HEBER J. GRANT
1st Coun - Anthon H. Lund
2nd Coun - Charles W. Penrose

1921 Mar 10
Pres - HEBER J. GRANT
1st Coun - Charles W. Penrose
2nd Coun - Anthony W. Ivins

1925 May 28
Pres - HEBER J. GRANT
1st Coun - Anthony W. Ivins
2nd Coun - Charles W. Nibley

1933 April 6
Pres - HEBER J. GRANT
1st Coun - Anthony W. Ivins
2nd Coun - J. Reuben Clark

1934 Oct 11
Pres - HEBER J. GRANT
1st Coun - J. Reuben Clark
2nd Coun - DAVID O. McKAY

1945 May 21
Pres - GEORGE ALBERT SMITH
1st Coun - J. Reuben Clark
2nd Coun - DAVID O. McKAY

1951 Apr 9
Pres - DAVID O. McKAY
1st Coun - Stephen L. Richards
2nd Coun - J. Reuben Clark

1959 June 12
Pres - DAVID O. McKAY
1st Coun - J. Reuben Clark
2nd Coun - Henry D. Moyle

1961 June 22
Pres - DAVID O. McKAY
1st Coun - J. Reuben Clark
2nd Coun - Henry D. Moyle
3rd Coun - Hugh B. Brown

1961 Oct 12
Pres - DAVID O. McKAY
1st Coun - Henry D. Moyle
2nd Coun - Hugh B. Brown

1963 Oct 4
Pres - DAVID O. McKAY
1st Coun - Hugh B. Brown
2nd Coun - N. Eldon Tanner

1965 Oct 29
Pres - DAVID O. McKAY
1st Coun - Hugh B. Brown
2nd Coun - N. Eldon Tanner
Coun - Thorpe B. Isaacson
Coun - JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH

1968 April 6
Pres - DAVID O. McKAY
1st Coun - Hugh B. Brown
2nd Coun - N. Eldon Tanner
Coun - Thorpe B. Isaacson
Coun - JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH
Coun - Alvin R. Dyer

Upon McKay's death, Brown went back to being a member of the Q12. Isaacson was never ordained an Apostle, and Dyer, while an Apostle, was never officially made part of the Q12.

1970 Jan 23
Pres - JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH
1st Coun - HAROLD B. LEE
2nd Coun - N. Eldon Tanner

1972 July 7
Pres - HAROLD B. LEE
1st Coun - N. Eldon Tanner
2nd Coun - Marion G. Romney

1973 Dec 30
Pres - SPENCER W. KIMBALL
1st Coun - N. Eldon Tanner
2nd Coun - Marion G. Romney

1981 July 23
Pres - SPENCER W. KIMBALL
1st Coun - N. Eldon Tanner
2nd Coun - Marion G. Romney
Coun - GORDON B. HINCKLEY

1982 Dec 2
Pres - SPENCER W. KIMBALL
1st Coun - Marion G. Romney
2nd Coun - GORDON B. HINCKLEY

Romney becomes President of the Q12 upon Kimball's death.

1985 Nov 10
Pres - EZRA TAFT BENSON
1st Coun - GORDON B. HINCKLEY
2nd Coun - THOMAS S. MONSON

1994 Jun 5
Pres - HOWARD W. HUNTER
1st Coun - GORDON B. HINCKLEY
2nd Coun - THOMAS S. MONSON

1995 March 12
Pres - GORDON B. HINCKLEY
1st Coun - THOMAS S. MONSON
2nd Coun - James E. Faust

2007 Oct 6
Pres - GORDON B. HINCKLEY
1st Coun - THOMAS S. MONSON
2nd Coun - Henry B. Eyring

2008 Feb 3
Pres - THOMAS S. MONSON
1st Coun - Henry B. Eyring
2nd Coun - Dieter F. Uchtdorf