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General conference Sunday: Kindness, compassion the message to Latter-day Saints; 15 temples coming

By Jamie Lampros - Special to the Standard-Examiner | Apr 2, 2023
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A missionary guides conferencegoers prior to the morning session of general conference in the Conference Center on Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
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President Russell M. Nelson arrives at the Conference Center prior to the morning session of general conference in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
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The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square sings during general conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
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A young boy and his family arrive at the Conference Center on Temple Square in Salt Lake City during general conference weekend, April 1-2, 2023.
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President Russell M. Nelson of the First Presidency encourages peacemaking during the morning session of general conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
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Elder Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, greets conferencegoers and conducts the morning session of general conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
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Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shares a message of inspiration during the morning session of general conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
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Conferencegoers gather prior to the morning session of general conference in the Conference Center on Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
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Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles offers instruction during the morning session of general conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
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Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles provides counsel to members during the morning session of general conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
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Missionaries greet visitors outside the Conference Center on Temple Square in Salt Lake City during general conference weekend, April 1-2, 2023.
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Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson offers words of encouragement during the morning session of general conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
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A couple walks near Temple Square in Salt Lake City during general conference weekend, April 1-2, 2023.
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Elder Kevin R. Duncan of the Quorum of the Seventy provides counsel to members during the morning session of general conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
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Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita, General Authority Seventy, speaks during the morning session of general conference Sunday, April 2, 2023.
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The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints takes their seats on the stand in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City before the morning session of general conference on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
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Conferencegoers gather prior to the morning session of general conference in the Conference Center on Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023.

On Palm Sunday, in the lead-up to Easter, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints urged members to be peacemakers and to interact with others in a more civil manner.

During the morning session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of the church, speakers encouraged others to be kind to one another, leaving behind contention, jealousy, bitterness and fault finding.

“We are preparing to commemorate the most transcendent event ever recorded on Earth, which is the atonement and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ,” said President Russell M. Nelson. “One of the best ways we can honor the savior is to become a peacemaker.”

Nelson said Christ’s atonement made it possible to overcome all evil, including contention.

“My dear brothers and sisters, how we treat each other really matters. How we speak to and about others at home, at church and online really matters,” Nelson said. “Today, I am asking us to interact with others in a higher, holier way.”

Nelson said if there is anything virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy that can be said about another person, whether to their face or behind their back, it should be everyone’s standard of judgment.

“If you are serious about helping to gather Israel and about building relationships that will last throughout the eternities, now is the time to lay aside bitterness,” Nelson said. “Now is the time to cease insisting that it is your way or no way. Now is the time to stop doing things that make others walk on eggshells for fear of upsetting you. Now it is time to bury your weapons of war.”

Invoking the principles of the Easter season was the main theme of the morning session.

“We recognize that today is Palm Sunday, which marks the week leading up to Easter Sunday,” said President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the church’s First Presidency. “We’re grateful to begin this sacred Easter season with each of you and pray that our hearts will be turned to our savior Jesus Christ, the redeemer of the world.”

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said unity does not require sameness, but it does require harmony.

“We can have our hearts knit together in love, be one in faith and doctrine, and still disagree on political matters, the athletic teams we support, our food preferences and any number of such things. But we can never disagree or contend with anger.”

Other speakers included Elders Ulisses Soares and Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve; Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society general president; and Elders Kevin R. Duncan and Kazuhiko Yamashita of the Seventy.

“As disciples of the Prince of Peace, we have been instructed to live with hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another,” Soares said. “One of the most evident signs that we are drawing closer to the savior and becoming more like Him is the loving, patient and kind way with which we treat our fellow beings, whatever the circumstances.”

At the close of the session, Nelson urged members to spend their time building up others.

“The gospel net is the largest net in the world. God has invited all to come unto Him, Black and white, bond and free, male and female. There is room for everyone. However, there is no room for prejudice, condemnation or contention of any kind,” he said. “I bless you to replace belligerent with beseeching, animosity with understanding and contention with peace.”

Sunday afternoon

“What matters most is what lasts longest.”

That was one of the most memorable quotes Elder M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve, recalls being said to him by his wife, Barbara, who died nearly five years ago.

“First, a relationship with our heavenly father and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is most important. This relationship matters most now and in eternity,” Ballard said in the Sunday afternoon general conference session.

Second, he added, family relationships are among those things that matter most — whether it’s immediate family, extended family, a ward family or friends who are like family.

“Nurturing these important relationships is a choice,” Ballard said. “A choice to be part of a family requires commitment, love, patience, communication and forgiveness.”

The general theme of the afternoon session was Palm Sunday, Easter and applying the teaching of Jesus Christ to each person’s own life.

Elder Vern P. Stanfill, a member of the Seventy, spoke about perfection in Christ.

“Perfectionism isn’t the same as perfection in Christ,” he said. “It is often a temptation in our world and even within the culture of the church to obsess about perfection. Social media, unrealistic expectations and often our own self-criticism create feelings of inadequacy, that we are not good enough and never will be. Some even misunderstand the invitation of the savior to ‘Be ye therefore perfect.'”

Perfectionism requires an impossible, self-inflicted standard in comparison to others, he said, which can cause guilt, anxiety, and make someone want to withdraw and become isolated.

“Becoming perfected in Christ is another matter. It is the process, lovingly guided by the Holy Ghost, of becoming more like the savior,” he said. “The standards are set by a kind and all-knowing heavenly father and clearly defined in the covenants we are invited to embrace. It relieves us of the burdens of guilt and inadequacy, always emphasizing who we are in the sight of God.”

President Nelson closed the session and spoke about Easter being the most important religious observance for followers of Jesus Christ.

“The ‘Come Follow Me’ lesson this week will prompt you to study the savior’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, His cleansing of the temple, His suffering in the garden of Gethsemane, His crucifixion, His glorious resurrection and His subsequent appearances to his followers,” he said.

Nelson also announced the church will build new temples at the following locations:

  • Retalhuleu, Guatemala.
  • Iquitos, Peru.
  • Teresina, Brazil.
  • Natal, Brazil.
  • Tuguegarao City, Philippines.
  • Iloilo, Philippines.
  • Jakarta, Indonesia.
  • Hamburg, Germany.
  • Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
  • San Jose, California.
  • Bakersfield, California.
  • Springfield, Missouri.
  • Winchester, Virginia.
  • Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

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