Progress on Temples Noted, New Officers Sustained at General Conference

During the past six months, “the work of the Church has moved forward unhindered,” President Thomas S. Monson said in his opening remarks at the Church’s 184th Annual General Conference.

Reminiscing about the dedication of the Gilbert Arizona Temple on March 2, 2014, looking forward to the upcoming Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple dedication, and anticipating the completion and dedication of temples in many parts of the world during 2014 and 2015, President Monson noted that when all previously announced temples are completed, the Church will have 170 operating temples throughout the world.

“Although we are currently concentrating our efforts on completing the previously announced temples and will not be announcing any new temples in the immediate future,” he said, “we will continue the process of determining needs and of finding locations for temples yet to come. Announcements will then be made in future general conferences. We are a temple-building and a temple-attending people.”

During the conference, a new member of the Presidency of the Seventy, four new General Authorities, a new Sunday School general presidency, and 42 Area Seventies were sustained.

Elder Lynn G. Robbins was called to the Presidency of the Seventy.

Elder Jörg Klebingat of Kyiv, Ukraine, and Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong of Hong Kong, China, were sustained to serve in the First Quorum of the Seventy. Elder Larry S. Kacher of Midway, Utah, and Elder Hugo E. Martinez of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, were sustained as members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy.

Elder Tad R. Callister, who had been serving in the Presidency of the Seventy and as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, was sustained as the Sunday School general president, with John S. Tanner and Devin G. Durrant as first and second counselors.

See a complete list of sustainings and releases on pages 26–27, and find biographies of Elder Robbins, the newly called Seventies, and the Sunday School general presidency starting on page 141.

A week prior to general conference, the first general women’s meeting—for all women, young women, and girls eight years of age and older—was held in the Conference Center. This meeting takes the place of the previous general Relief Society and general Young Women meetings. All of the messages from the women’s meeting can be found on pages 116–28.

Also prior to conference, the Young Women general board was reorganized, with sisters called for the first time from locations in addition to Salt Lake City, including Peru; South Africa; Japan; Brazil; and Brooklyn, New York, USA. Read biographies and see photos at lds.org/callings/young-women.

“The Savior brought to this earth a message of love and goodwill to all men and women,” President Monson said at the end of the general conference. “May we ever follow His example.” He assured Church members and others listening that “Heavenly Father is mindful of us. He will guide and bless us as we put our faith and trust in Him.”