Saturday also marked a chance to hear from a newly called apostle and listen to the counsel of other church leaders. Here are three takeaways from the two sessions.

Significance of sustaining

Soon after Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles first joined the church as a young single adult, he was called to be his ward’s assistant clerk.

When his new calling was announced during sacrament meeting, Kearon said he watched as his ward family all raised their hands to sustain him and offer their support.

“Comfortingly, I saw those same raised hands and smiling faces surrounding me in the congregation, reassuring me that these new friends would support me with their goodwill, patience and faith,” Kearon said during his conference talk Saturday morning.

Kearon preached that no matter the calling — from an assistant ward clerk to a Sunday School teacher or a bishopric position — church members can give a voluntary personal commitment to their fellow members to support them in their responsibilities by sustaining them.

He said this environment of serving one another in their efforts gives members the opportunity to “pursue Christ and his virtues.”

“All with people who may be very different from us, I clearly saw how faith is fortified and the body of Christ bonded together,” he said. “I could see the Lord working through imperfect servants, very much, including myself, who were striving to discern his will for those they were serving.”

Kearon said this practice played out on a churchwide level Saturday with the sustaining of President Oaks.

“While today is certainly solemn in purpose, it is also a day full of gratitude and rejoicing at the opportunity for the whole church to come together and exercise common consent,” he said. “We have signified our willingness to uphold President Oaks with our confidence, faith and prayers.”

Abiding in Christ 

A theme throughout Saturday’s sessions was how relying on the love and grace of Jesus Christ can bless the individual and other people they encounter.

Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles preached to church members Saturday afternoon that Christ is the source of spiritual nourishment, and that individuals who abide in Christ not only receive strength to survive challenges, but to grow and thrive.

“Through him life becomes more hopeful and more joyful, and the fruits of the Spirit are manifested in us,” Soares said.

The Brazilian apostle counseled members that abiding in Christ requires a constant and conscious decision to follow his teachings and live a pure life. He said doing so requires ignoring the distractions of the world and its many persuasive messages.

“Although becoming entangled in such voices may feel exciting at first, it ultimately draws us toward fleeting worldly pursuits and weakens our connection to the true and living vine, Jesus Christ,” Soares said.

Receiving the fruits of Christ’s love is not limited to ourselves, but is a gift individuals can pass on to others, said Elder Gérald Caussé of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Caussé referenced a story set in his native land of France: Beauty and the Beast. He said that Belle did not judge the Beast based on his appearance and nasty behavior, but looked beyond, seeing his desire to love and be loved. Belle’s kindness and patience brought forth a transformation in the Beast, leading him to change his soul and ultimately break the curse and turn him back into a prince.

Caussé said that similarly to Belle, church members can see others’ divine potential by extending Christlike love to individuals that they serve.

“As we care for each soul, we help connect them to the Savior, inviting them to be healed and transformed through His atoning blood. In return, our own lives are blessed — we become more like the Savior and are filled with great joy,” Caussé said.

Elder Gilbert gives first address 

Clark G. Gilbert, former commissioner of Church Education and the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gave his first General Conference address Saturday morning.

He used his first churchwide message as an apostle to extend an invitation to those who feel they don’t belong in church, or believe they don’t measure up, to “come home” to Christ.

He referenced a Brigham Young University devotional earlier this year where President Dallin H. Oaks spoke. He said just prior to the start of the meeting, the Marriott Center appeared to be completely full, but looking closer, there were still empty seats scattered around the arena. So students who had already found their seats turned in their phone flashlights to show late-arriving students where there was still room to sit.

“It was as if they were holding up a light to say, please come sit with me. We saved a seat just for you,” Gilbert said.

He likened the metaphor to how Jesus Christ is saving room for us.

“To those who are struggling to come home, know that it is your Savior who is the one calling you back,” Gilbert said. “In the end, everyone must make their own choices to come home.”