Brothers and sisters, we welcome you most warmly as we gather together this evening to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the revelation on the priesthood. We are pleased to remember this significant event in the history of the Church and are grateful for the tremendous impact this revelation from a prophet of God has had on members of the Church in countries and congregations throughout the world. President Russell M. Nelson, who presides this evening, has asked me to conduct this short devotional prior to the musical presentation that has been especially prepared for this occasion. We acknowledge the members of the First Presidency and other General Authorities and General Officers who are present. We are also joined by a committee of members of the Church who have contributed to this event, including Elders Claudio R. M. Costa, Joseph W. Sitati, and Edward Dube of the Seventy. We express appreciation to these Brethren for their great assistance. We likewise welcome and acknowledge Sister Gladys Knight, the Be One Choir, and other guest performers who will share their talents with us. We also thank those who have been invited to share their reflections of this historic event. We will now open this evening by singing "Now Let Us Rejoice," under the direction of Ryan Murphy, with Richard Elliott at the organ. The invocation will be offered by Sister Tracy Browning of West Jordan, Utah.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Our dear and gracious Father in Heaven, we come together this day as Thy children, brothers and sisters, with gratitude in our hearts for this gospel that binds us. Father, at this time we ask that Thy Spirit would be with us. We ask that those that have brought their talents and time and their faith to share with us this day, that they may be edified and that we all may be uplifted. We ask, Father, that as we seek to become one, that we may look inside of our hearts and understand those things that will allow us to draw nearer to each other, to draw nearer to Thee. We're grateful for our Savior, His Atonement, and His sacrifice. We ask, Father, that we may seek to become like our Savior, that we may live a life that is worthy of His sacrifice. And we pray for these things even in His name, Jesus Christ, amen.

Thank you, Sister Browning. We will now be pleased to hear from President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency. Following his remarks, the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and the committee members will move from the rostrum, and the program will begin. Inasmuch as this is a celebration, we invite you to applaud during the musical segment of tonight's program. During the final musical selection, on a cue from Sister Gladys Knight, the audience will be invited to join the choir in singing one refrain of "Love One Another." At the conclusion of the presentation, President Russell M. Nelson, our beloved prophet, will offer a few remarks, and the benediction will then be offered by Brother Odeh Ondoma of West Valley, Utah.

My dear brothers and sisters, there are some events that persist in almost everyone's memory. If you were living at the time of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, you remember where you were and what you were doing when you heard that terrible news. The same is true of the shocking attacks on what we call 9/11. For Latter-day Saints who were adults at that time, the 1978 revelation on the priesthood was an event of such magnitude that it is also etched in memory. The news reached me on a telephone that seldom rang. My two sons and I were working in the yard of a mountain home we built as a place of retreat from my heavy responsibilities as president of Brigham Young University. My sons were between missions. The oldest had returned three weeks earlier, and the youngest was preparing to leave a year later. The earth was caving onto our driveway from a steep slope, and we were trying to stabilize the hillside. We were in the midst of this project, shovels in hand, when the phone rang inside the house. I knew it must be important. Only a small number of people had that telephone number, and all had agreed not to call me about anything that could possibly wait. The caller was Elder Boyd K. Packer. He told me about the revelation on the priesthood, which was just being announced. We exchanged expressions of joy, and I walked back to the hillside. I sat down on the pile of dirt we had been moving and beckoned to my sons. As I told them that all worthy male members of the Church could now be ordained to the priesthood, I wept for joy. That is the scene etched in my memory of this unforgettable announcement 40 years ago--sitting on a pile of dirt and weeping as I told my sons of this divine revelation.

Why was the revelation on the priesthood such an occasion of joy? As a young man in the legal profession, I lived in the Midwest and the East for 17 years. The restriction on the ordination and temple blessings of persons of African ancestry--almost invisible to me as I grew up in Utah--was a frequent subject of my conversations in my life in Chicago and Washington, D.C. I observed the pain and frustration experienced by those who suffered these restrictions and those who criticized the restrictions and sought for reasons. I studied the reasons then being given and could not feel confirmation of the truth of any of them. As part of my prayerful study, I learned that in general, the Lord rarely gives reasons for the commandments and directions He gives to His servants. I determined to be loyal to our prophetic leaders and to pray--as promised from the beginning of these restrictions--that the day would come when all would enjoy the blessings of priesthood and temple. Now that day had come, and I wept for joy.

Many Latter-day Saints felt joy at this news. The numbers of valiant and faithful members of African descent who had accepted the gospel despite the restrictions was then very small. Therefore, most of those who rejoiced were Anglo-Americans like me who witnessed the pain of black brothers and sisters and longed for their relief. Among those who also wept for joy at the priesthood revelation were Dr. Russell M. Nelson and then-deputy commissioner of education Henry B. Eyring. In 1978 both of these men had lived outside the somewhat isolated environment of the Mountain West for more than a total of 40 years. They had also witnessed the pain of this restriction among their associates. When we consider what has happened in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in the lives of its members since 1978, we all have cause for celebration. Institutionally, the Church reacted swiftly to the revelation on the priesthood. Ordinations and temple recommends came immediately. The reasons that had been given to try to explain the prior restrictions on members of African ancestry--even those previously voiced by revered Church leaders--were promptly and publicly disavowed. Institutional policies or practices that could have inhibited the full integration of members of African ancestry, such as the separate congregations common in many Christian churches, were prevented by the continuation of the long-standing LDS policy of ward membership being determined geographically.

Similarly, membership records continued to make no mention of race or ethnicity. The Lord had spoken through His prophet, and His Church obeyed. In contrast, changes in the hearts and practices of individual members did not come suddenly and universally. Some accepted the effects of the revelation immediately and gracefully; some accepted gradually; but some, in their personal lives, continued the attitudes of racism that have been so painful to so many throughout the world, including the past 40 years. Others have wanted to look back, concentrating attention on reexamining the past, including seeking reasons for the now-outdated restrictions. However, most in the Church, including its senior leadership, have concentrated on the opportunities of the future rather than the disappointments of the past. We have trusted the wisdom and timing of the Lord and accepted the directions of His prophet. In doing so, we have realized the eternal significance of God's prophetic teaching that "one being is as precious in his sight as the other." We have also received new impetus to fulfill the command that we are to teach the everlasting gospel unto all--to "all nations, kindreds, tongues and people." To concern ourselves with what has not been revealed or with past explanations by those who were operating with limited understanding can only result in speculation and frustration. To all who have such concerns, we extend our love and this special invitation: Let us all look forward in the unity of our faith and trust in the Lord's promise that "he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female."

As we look to the future, one of the most important effects of the revelation on the priesthood is its divine call to abandon attitudes of prejudice against any group of God's children. Racism is probably the most familiar source of prejudice today, and we are all called to repent of that. But throughout history, many groups of God's children have been persecuted or disadvantaged by prejudices, such as those based on ethnicity or culture or nationality or education or economic circumstances. As servants of God who have the knowledge and responsibilities of His great plan of salvation, we should hasten to prepare our attitudes and our actions--institutionally and personally--to abandon all personal prejudices. As President Russell M. Nelson said following our recent meeting with the national officers of the NAACP: "Together we invite all people, organizations, and governments to work with greater civility, eliminating prejudice of all kinds."

Even as we unite to abandon all attitudes and practices of prejudice, we should remember that it is not prejudice for the Church to insist on certain rules in furtherance of the Lord's requirement of worthiness to enter a temple. The Lord has declared that obedience to covenants and commandments is an essential requirement to enjoy sacred blessings. Any attempt to erase divine requirements for eternal life and eternal families would be like trying to establish Satan's plan that "all would be saved." In our premortal lives, we mortals already rejected Satan's plan. We chose the plan of our Heavenly Father, which provides the freedom to choose and keep the eternal covenants and commandments that apply equally to all. The equality of God is not equal outcomes for all, but equal opportunity for all. Our determination in this program is to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the revelation on the priesthood by looking forward. As we do, we express special appreciation for our marvelous members of African descent, especially our African American members, who have persisted in faith and faithfulness through a difficult transition period of fading prejudice. Now we unite together in concentrating our attention on the glorious post-1978 effects of that revelation in blessing the children of God all over the world. As our prophetic leaders declared at that time: "The Lord has now made known his will for the blessing of all his children throughout the earth who will hearken to the voice of his authorized servants, and prepare themselves to receive every blessing of the gospel." Now temples are being built in many nations for the blessing of God's children on both sides of the veil. On earth and in heaven, we rejoice together. This is essential to our preparation for the Second Coming of Him who declared through a Book of Mormon prophet that "he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation," and who declared through a modern prophet that "if ye are not one ye are not mine." We now invite you to join us in a program of messages and music that share the joy felt all over the world as more and more of God's children enjoy the blessings of the gospel we celebrate! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Sister Gladys Knight and the Be One Choir with musical director [INAUDIBLE].. [APPLAUSE]

(MUSIC PLAYING) [APPLAUSE] God promised to gather His scattered children from Africa and from across the world. And on a spring day in 1820, His promises continued to be fulfilled.

"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!"

The Light of Christ is in all of God's children. It shines in us and in our ancestors, many of whom loved the Savior and sought to live His gospel. This is the light that was shining in the early members of the Church. In pioneers. Like Jane Manning James, who was baptized. [APPLAUSE]

Jane Manning James was baptized as a young woman and led eight members of her family to Nauvoo. When they arrived, they were rebuffed by some. Others received them as friends and fellow Saints, including the Prophet Joseph Smith and his wife Emma. Throughout her life, Sister James pleaded to receive her temple blessings, and she died at the age of 94 without them. But the light of her testimony did not wane. In fact, it grew brighter with time. Near the end of her life, she declared, "I want to say right here that my faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is as strong today, nay, it is, if possible, stronger than it was the day I was first baptized." There are many inspiring accounts of early African American Latter-day Saints, each one unique.

In his day Elijah Abel was one of the few black men to be ordained to the holy priesthood, holding the office of elder-- [APPLAUSE]

--and then seventy. He was a friend of the Prophet Joseph. And though he suffered at the hands of enemies and, at times, some Church members, he remained ever faithful. He served a mission in Ohio before moving his family west, where he helped to build the Salt Lake Temple. He too desired to receive temple ordinances, to be sealed to his family.

And though that never happened, he remained undaunted in serving the Lord. In 1884, two weeks after returning from his third mission, he died on Christmas Day at the age of 74. Sister James, Brother Abel, and many African American Church members looked forward to receiving priesthood ordinances in the temple, and those ordinances have now been performed vicariously in their behalf. In the temple, the families of Africa and all of God's children can be sealed together eternally. [APPLAUSE] As their brothers and sisters, we delight to remember and honor their sacrifices and their suffering. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, "A kindred sympathy runs through the whole ... body of Christ ... ; and no one part of the body can be injured without the other parts feeling the pain." Just as no one receives and embraces the gospel light without all of us rejoicing. In the 1960s, Anthony Obinna of Nigeria had a dream. "One night I was sleeping and a tall man came to me ... and took me to one of the most beautiful buildings and showed me all the rooms. ... Then in 1970 I found a book to read. It was the September 1958 Reader's Digest. There was an article entitled 'The March of the Mormons' with a picture of the Salt Lake Temple. It was exactly the same building I had seen in my dreams." In the years that followed, Brother Obinna persistently wrote to Church leaders asking for materials to teach his family and neighbors and for missionaries to be sent.

In February 1964, Joseph William Billy Johnson of Ghana received a copy of the Book of Mormon. He knew that it was true. Through personal spiritual experiences, he felt a call to help others prepare for the restored gospel. Boldly he went from house to house, sharing the teachings of that book. And though he was sometimes persecuted, the Spirit of the Lord sustained him, and congregations of believers began to grow under his leadership. My father was baptized by Brother Johnson. We considered him a member of our extended family. And my life was blessed by his service. [APPLAUSE] These and other African pioneers made great sacrifices to wait upon the Lord, recognizing that their righteous desires were known to Him ... And that He had not forgotten them. In the early 1970s, a young Jamaican father, Victor Nugent, found himself discouraged about the direction of his life. He poured out his heart to God in prayer, and soon an American coworker introduced him to the Church. When Victor first learned he would not be able to hold the priesthood, he was troubled. But he received an undeniable witness that the gospel was true, and he and his wife, Verna, decided to be baptized. They were the first converts to be baptized in Jamaica. [APPLAUSE] But after two years, all non-Jamaican workers were asked to leave the country. Left alone without the priesthood, the Nugents and two more members chose to carry on. Although this little congregation could not partake of the sacrament, Brother and Sister Nugent faithfully led them in holding Sunday School, Relief Society, and Primary--singing hymns, offering prayers and giving talks, and sharing the gospel with others. In time, another family joined with them. From Brother and Sister Nugent's little seed of faith, the Church in Jamaica began to grow. How grateful I am for Victor and Verna Nugent, my own grandparents, who are with us here tonight.

[APPLAUSE] In Brazil, Helvecio Martins and his wife, Ruda, were seeking to fill a spiritual void in their lives. In answer to their prayers, missionaries came and taught them the gospel. After they were baptized, they received priesthood blessings that spoke of an eternal covenant and preaching the gospel. They wondered what those blessings meant and how they would be fulfilled. Brother and Sister Martins sacrificed to support building the Sao Paulo Temple, Brazil, even though they knew they could not go in after the dedication. On one occasion, they walked through the unfinished temple and stopped where the celestial room would be. Brother Martins remembered: "A powerful spirit touched our hearts as we stood there. We hugged each other and cried, not really understanding why." But soon it would become clear. For almost a century and a half, black members and those of African descent had trusted and waited upon the Lord. And on June 1, 1978--40 years ago today--what was promised from the beginning did come to pass. The Restoration continued to unfold. [APPLAUSE] As faithful Saints had sung since the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, "The knowledge and power of God are expanding; the veil o'er the earth is beginning to burst."

This is Duane Cardall at the LDS Church Office Building in downtown Salt Lake City, where a major announcement has just been made by a letter which has been released under the signatures of the First Presidency of the LDS Church. Oh, it means a great deal to me as I--I have had faith to know that it would come. I was delighted that it happened. And I think it's just beautiful. I don't know how I could put it into words. I'm really thrilled.

I think it's a--it's a wonderful day that many of us have been waiting for. Did you ever think this would happen? Not in my lifetime.

[APPLAUSE] Day after day I went, and with great solemnity and seriousness, alone in the upper rooms of the temple. And finally we had the impressions from the Lord, who made them very clear to us that this was the thing to do to make the gospel universal to all worthy people. There are no words to express the joy that we had. We had been in harm's way at times. We had heard the voices of anger and of frustration. But we understood the hurt. And to know now that that hurt wouldn't need to be there anymore, it was a beautiful experience. He has heard our prayers and by revelation has confirmed that the long-promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood. All in favor, please signify by raising your right hands.

We are God's children. We are brothers and sisters, children of the same heavenly family.

Every step has been a miracle, and it's been marvelous to behold. [APPLAUSE] As word of the revelation began to spread across the world, many of those directly affected expressed their joy in a reverent, thoughtful way. Elder William Grant Bangerter, a member of the Seventy with responsibility for Brazil, recounted how members responded to the news. They "[were] heaving great sighs of emotion and raising their eyes to the heavens in the spirit of thanksgiving and prayer, and tears flowing freely from their eyes." Others expressed their joy by praising God with exultation and excitement. At BYU-Provo, students honked their horns and shouted the news. In some communities, phone lines were jammed and members ran into the streets and embraced one another. And so tonight we remember that rejoicing, and we "praise [the Lord] with the sound of the trumpet." "Praise him with the timbrel and dance." And "let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord." (MUSIC PLAYING) [APPLAUSE]

For those faithful Saints of African heritage and the prophets who had pled on their behalf, the long wait was over. In the months that followed, these members received temple ordinances and were sealed as families, including the Martins family in Brazil. In time, Brother Martins became the first General Authority of black African ancestry. [APPLAUSE] Members everywhere were filled with a renewed missionary spirit--especially the youth of African descent. They could now be called to serve, and many were ready to preach the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. [APPLAUSE] For example, because of the promises his family had received, young Marcus Martins already had a missionary savings account. When the revelation was announced, he and his returned-missionary fiancee decided to postpone their marriage so that he too could fulfill a full-time mission. He was among the first of hundreds and later thousands who sought and accepted a call to serve. In August of 1978, President Kimball called for a doubling of the missionary force. Within a generation, that happened. And today young missionaries of African heritage are flooding the earth-- [APPLAUSE] --preaching the gospel all over the world.

(MUSIC PLAYING) [APPLAUSE] In November of 1978, six months after the revelation, two senior missionary couples, the Mabeys and the Cannons, arrived in West Africa. They were greeted by congregations of believers who had read the Book of Mormon and had waited upon the Lord. And they marveled at what they found. A chapel bearing the name of the restored Church. A handmade statue of the angel Moroni. And testimonies of the Savior and His prophets alive in the hearts of the people. All of this waiting for the opportunity to receive priesthood power and to exercise it themselves, which is what the missionaries brought. Immediately, teaching, interviews, and baptisms began to occur, reminding us of that unforgettable scene in the Book of Mormon: "And ... it came to pass that all this was done ... [near] the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, ... how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to [a] knowledge of their Redeemer; ... and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever." These first African baptisms opened another chapter in the ongoing harvest which the Book of Mormon had prophesied: "And then shall they be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth [from] their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed; yea, as the Lord liveth so shall it be." "And the Lord of the vineyard labored ... with them."

Please welcome Brother Alex Boye. [APPLAUSE] (MUSIC PLAYING) [APPLAUSE]

As we gather to the stakes of Zion, we prepare to gather to the temple, and the kingdom of God grows. Just five months after the revelation, the first temple in Brazil was dedicated. Ten years later, Brazilian membership increased many times over. Seven more temples were announced after the revelation, including one in Atlanta in the Southern United States. [APPLAUSE]

Wherever temples are built and members perform priesthood ordinances, God's work is hastened among His children. Even now, 20 temples are planned or are operating in Nigeria, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Brazil, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

These temples reflect and acknowledge our faith. And today faith is blossoming throughout the world. For example, 40 years ago there were only 7,500 members on the entire continent of Africa. This year there will be over 600,000 members, with new wards and stakes created every week.

And every Sabbath day, Saints in Africa gather in over 2,000 congregations. [APPLAUSE] This inspiring worldwide growth is important because it reflects our growing desire and commitment to love God and to love one another.

Lay aside all the distractions, and "run with patience the race that is set before us." That race is coming unto Christ. So what blessings have come into my life and my home via the priesthood? Everything in my life. Everything in my life. All the blessings that I have in my life is as a result of the gospel. I served my mission in Kenya, you know? So I cannot imagine not being able to do that and share this wonderful gospel with those wonderful people. The priesthood brings us all closer to God if we let it. It's a blessing to me and to my family even though they were not members of the Church. It gave me a parameter to help my children grow. Be worthy for it. It could bless their lives and the lives of their families and the lives of those around them. And I've had the privilege of being able to minister to others and to get to see how their lives changed for the better. What impressed me were the people and how they conducted themselves and how they raised their children. When you look at my household, with the love that we feel in there, you know, in our house, that's the priesthood. You know, it blesses me and blesses my family.

The ultimate end for which we strive is that we are happy as a family, endowed, sealed, and prepared for eternal life in the presence of God.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Bonner family. (MUSIC PLAYING) [APPLAUSE] How beautiful is Heavenly Father's plan for us! That plan, illustrated in the true stories we have told tonight, is not about individuals. It's about families: mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, grandparents, and ancestors beyond the veil, who are part of our journey back to our heavenly home. The Savior strengthens families and individuals through the blessings of the priesthood. Through His Church-- Through temple ordinances-- And through priesthood power-- And through His atoning sacrifice, the Savior helps us to become as He is and to love as He loves. And as we love in His way, we make His Church a place for all who will come unto Him and partake of His goodness. As the Book of Mormon says, "black and white, bond and free, male and female; ... [for] all are alike unto God."

[APPLAUSE] (MUSIC PLAYING) [APPLAUSE]

For 40 years, the children of Israel prepared to enter the promised land. For 40 years, the early pioneers labored to build the Salt Lake Temple. And for these 40 years, we have been blessed by revelation, and we have been changed by it. We have seen each other anew, as one family, each member a precious child of God. All of us children of light. Children of the covenant. Children of promise.

Our Savior reassures us, "Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me." And "this is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."

He so said.

This is the answer. (MUSIC PLAYING) [APPLAUSE] I wish we could have an encore.

I wish we could hug and thank every one of you for your wonderful performance, even the baby in the basket.

My dear brothers and sisters, we have been uplifted by the message of President Oaks and by the wonderful musicians and dancers, these families, these precious children. How we love you!

We're especially grateful for Sister Gladys Knight. [APPLAUSE]

And the choir. [APPLAUSE]

We're grateful for Alex Boye. [APPLAUSE]

We're very thankful for the Bonner family. [APPLAUSE]

They've given us a standard for family home evening that's going to be hard to measure up to. These talented performers have inspired each one of us.

Centuries ago, an exacting lawyer asked of the Savior, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. "This is the first and great commandment. "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Again in 1831, this instruction was revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith when the Lord said, "And let every man esteem his brother as himself, and practice virtue and holiness before me." Then by way of emphasis, he added, "And again I say unto you, let every man esteem his brother as himself."

In the meridian of time and again in the latter days, the Lord has stressed this essential doctrine of equal opportunity for His children. And tonight President Oaks has reminded us, "[The Lord] denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; ... all are alike unto God." On every continent and across the isles of the sea, faithful people are being gathered into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Differences in culture, language, gender, race, and nationality fade into insignificance as the faithful enter the covenant path and come unto our beloved Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ultimately, we realize that only the comprehension of the true Fatherhood of God can bring full appreciation of the true brotherhood of men and the true sisterhood of women. That understanding inspires us with passionate desire to build bridges of cooperation instead of walls of segregation.

[APPLAUSE] It is my prayer and blessing that I leave upon all who are listening, that we may overcome any burdens of prejudice and walk uprightly with God and with one another in perfect peace and harmony. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen. [APPLAUSE]

Our Heavenly Father, we're grateful for the opportunity we have to be gathered here today as one family.

Father, we're grateful for the success of this event. We're grateful for the story of faith that we've heard today. We're grateful for the prophet and his counselors. We're grateful for all of those that are in attendance today. Father, even as we have heard this message, we pray that Thy Spirit will move upon us, that this call for action will be a call for each and every one of us to reach out to one another and love each other, as Thou would have us do. We're grateful for our individual testimony of Thy gospel. We're grateful for the priesthood that has been restored. We're grateful for the temple, that we have an opportunity to go in and be sealed with our families. Father, we're grateful for this privilege. Father, we ask even as we all go home tonight, we ask for Thy blessing, that everyone will drive home safe, that as we go home we will not forget the messages that we've heard today, that this message will continue to resonate in our heart and we'll put it in practice as we reach out with open arms to others to come receive this gospel. We love Thee, Father. We love Thy Son, Jesus Christ, and we're grateful for His Atonement. Father, we ask for these blessings, including the forgiveness of our sins, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.