Report of the 163rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Sermons and proceedings of October 2–3, 1993, from the Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah

“When I think of those who carry heavy burdens, my mind goes to our beloved prophet,” said President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency, at the opening of the Sunday morning session of October general conference.

In speaking of President Ezra Taft Benson, President Hinckley said that “President Benson is now in his ninety-fifth year. He still wears the mantle of his sacred office. But his activities are seriously limited. He is unable to be with us this morning or to speak to us. We love him. We honor him. We pray for him. We sustain him. And we go forward.”

“This church,” said President Hinckley, “is established on principles that are divine. From the day of its organization, it has been led by prophets, and I solemnly testify that the Lord Jesus Christ, whose church it is and whose name it bears, will never let any man or group of men lead it astray.”

Conducting general conference sessions were President Hinckley and President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency.

Major conference administrative action occurred in the Saturday morning session when Elders Joe J. Christensen, Monte J. Brough, and W. Eugene Hansen were sustained as members of the Presidency of the Seventy. Elders Adney Y. Komatsu, Jacob de Jager, and H. Burke Peterson were given emeritus status (see pages 4 and 109).

Sessions of conference were transmitted via satellite to more than three thousand locations. Simultaneous translations were given in fifteen non-English languages. Videotapes of general conference are sent to Church units where transmission of conference is not available.—The Editors