Be Missionaries, President Benson Tells Californians

President Ezra Taft Benson urged California Latter-day Saints to be active in missionary work as he spoke at a multi-region conference in the Los Angeles Sports Arena December 11.

Some 12,197 members filled the arena for the conference. They came from fourteen stakes in the Los Angeles California, San Fernando California, and Simi Valley California regions, plus two stakes from the Cerritos California Region.

Referring to the missions served by all his mother’s and father’s children, he admonished the congregation to become involved in missionary work.

Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve conducted the conference. He noted that the audience in the arena was more than twice as large as the audience that is able to find seats in the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City during general conference sessions.

Elder Packer chose obedience as the theme of his remarks, urging the congregation to be obedient in all things. In this vein, he quoted a line from his own patriarchal blessing, suggesting that it would be wise for all to follow this counsel: “Never say no to the opportunity to serve under the priesthood.”

Elder Ted E. Brewerton of the First Quorum of the Seventy, a member of the presidency of the North America West Area, spoke of the Book of Mormon, recalling experiences in presenting it to civic leaders in Guatemala and Mexico. “We will use every honorable means to see to it that all the world can own and read the Book of Mormon,” he said.

Translations of the proceedings were offered in Spanish, Samoan, Chinese, Korean, and sign language.

A 530-voice choir comprised of members from the stakes involved provided preliminary music and closed with “Hallelujah” from Handel’s Messiah.

Correspondent: Beth Paullin, multi-region public communications director for the Los Angeles California, Cerritos California, and Long Beach California regions.

Members from sixteen stakes in the Los Angeles, California, area enjoyed the opportunity to hear President Ezra Taft Benson and other General Authorities at a multi-region conference. (Photo by Rocky Kemp.)