06-04-2025
Here's what happened during the Sunday morning session of General Conference
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held its second day of the 195th Annual General Conference from the Conference Center in Downtown Salt Lake City on Sunday.
Prior to the morning session of the conference, the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square performed its weekly broadcasted show of Music and the Spoken Word. The weekly show has been running uninterrupted for almost 100 years.
In his address to those in attendance, Derrick Porter, the host of Music and Spoken Word, spoke about the power found in Jesus Christ's name. He stated that Christ is known by many names — Prince of Peace, the advocate in heaven to Heavenly Father, the Shepherd and Bishop of souls.
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'What's in a name?' Porter asked the audience, speaking about the name of Jesus Christ. 'Everything,' he said.
Directly following the live broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word, the morning session got underway. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke first on Sunday. He spoke about the restoration of what members believe is Christ's Church on Earth today. He told those listening around the world that anyone can receive the message of the restored gospel.
Elder Steven D. Shumway followed Bednar. Shumway taught laboring with God helps members grow in their measure of their creation.
'When we say yes to Christ, we are saying yes to the most abundant life possible,' he said to those attending and listening.
Shumway was followed by Sister Tamara Runia. Sister Runia spoke about the path away from spiritual pain.
'Sometimes I have to remember, like a Post-it note on my forehead, that the commandments are the path away from pain,' she said. 'Repentance is too. Our prophet said, 'The Savior loves us always but especially when we repent.''
She was followed by the presiding bishop Gérald Caussé, who told members the Lord loves them personally and knows their struggles. He also said that members can contribute to blessings through work for ancestors that have passed by going through the temple.
Elder Gerrit W. Gong also spoke of a visit to the temple in his talk.
'Including the Kirtland Temple, I recently visited sacred places in Ohio where the Prophet Joseph and others saw in vision God our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ,' Gong told members. 'The Prophet Joseph saw what heaven is like. In heaven, Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, 'saves all the works of his hands' in a kingdom of glory. The only exceptions are those who willfully 'deny the Son after the Father has revealed Him,'' Gong finished.
Elder John A. McCune and President Dallin H. Oaks were the last two speakers of the session. McCune said that Jesus Christ is the way to happiness while Oaks taught of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ — who atones for the sins of the world. In Oaks' talk, he also said that ordinances and covenants are part of the path to eternal life.
One more session of General Conference will be held, which will take place at 2 p.m. Mountain Time.
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