Global leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints emphasised the pathway to personal peace through Jesus Christ despite the ravages of war and conflict, during the faith’s semi-annual world general conference (Saturday and Sunday, 2 and 3 April 2022).
GC-summary-01.JPG
President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson. 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Church President Russell M. Nelson condemned armed conflict as “a horrifying violation of everything the Lord Jesus Christ taught and stands for” and pleaded with listeners “to do all you can to end personal conflicts that are currently raging in your hearts and in your lives.”
GC-summary-02.jpg
Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.President Nelson stressed the critical need for “positive spiritual momentum” that will “keep us moving forward amid the fear and uncertainty created by pandemics, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and armed hostilities.”
Sister Susan H. Porter, newly called president of the Primary (children’s) organization said, “Even though you may feel alone as the storms of life are raging, you can shine a light in the darkness of misunderstanding, confusion and unbelief.”
GC-summary-03.JPG
Latter-day Saint women and young women arrive for the Women’s Session of General Conference. 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.“Your light of faith in Christ can be steady and sure, leading those around you to safety and peace … hearts can be changed and lives blessed as we offer a pinch of salt, a spoonful of leaven and a ray of light,” she added, speaking during the Women’s Session of the conference.
GC-summary-04.JPG
Sister Susan H. Porter, president of the Primary (children’s organisation).2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Elder Patrick Kearon of the Presidency of the Seventy comforted those who have suffered from abuse or other tragedies in their lives. “Our merciful Saviour, victorious over darkness and depravity, has power to right all wrongs,” he said. “Jesus has overcome the abuses of this world to give you power to not only survive, but one day, through Him, to overcome and even conquer.”
GC-summary-05.jpeg
Elder Patrick Kearon of the Presidency of the Seventy. 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles called for more peacemakers in the world. “By the shield of our faith in Jesus Christ, we become peacemakers, quenching, meaning to calm, cool or extinguish, all the fiery darts of the adversary,” he declared. Being a peacemaker is not the same as being passive. Instead, Elder Andersen explained, peacemakers “are persuasive in the Saviour’s way.”
DOWNLOADThe event from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, was open to the public for the first time since the start of the Covid pandemic, but at a reduced capacity of 10,000 attendees.
The calls of 12 new leaders were announced at the April 2022 general conference. These calls comprise six General Authority Seventies and new General Presidencies for the Relief Society (women’s organization) and Primary. The new Relief Society and Primary leaders will begin their service on 1 August. During the general conference leadership session on 31 March, 45 new Area Seventies from 23 countries were announced, including six from the Europe Area. Area Seventies are assigned to serve in specific locations.
At the conclusion of the two-day conference, President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to build 17 new temples throughout the world, including two in Europe. The sacred edifice in Barcelona will be Spain’s second temple, in addition to the Madrid Spain Temple. A temple in Birmingham will be the United Kingdom’s third. The London England Temple was dedicated in 1958, with the Preston England Temple opening in 1998. England is home to the oldest continuous congregation of the Church.