They Spoke to Us

Report from the 161st Semiannual General Conference, October 5–6, 1991

Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency: In times of despair, in seasons of loneliness and fear, He (Jesus Christ) is there on the horizon to bring succor and comfort and assurance and faith. He is our King, our Savior, our Deliverer, our Lord and our God.

Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency: Children seem to be endowed with abiding faith in their Heavenly Father and His capacity and desire to answer their sweet prayers. It has been my personal experience that when a child prays, God listens …

“Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Ps. 127:3). May our Heavenly Father ever bless these sweet souls, these special friends of the Master, is my humble and earnest prayer.

Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve Apostles: When we meet to learn the doctrines of the gospel, it should be in a spirit of reverence. … Inspiration comes more easily in peaceful settings.

David B. Haight of the Council of the Twelve Apostles: My father died when I was only nine. As I was growing up I would often think, “What would my father think of me?” or “How could I ever disappoint my mother?” She taught me and believed in me. I was no longer a little child but an emerging man, so I needed to act accordingly.

And so it is with you. Good people believe in you. We believe in you, your parents and brothers and sisters believe in you, and God expects the best from you. You must believe in yourself.

James E. Faust of the Council of the Twelve Apostles: I would counsel all students, if they can, to arrange their schedules so that they do not study on the Sabbath. If students and other seekers after truth will do this, their minds will be quickened and the infinite Spirit will lead them to the verities they wish to learn. This is because God has hallowed his day and blessed it.

Dallin H. Oaks of the Council of the Twelve Apostles: Brothers and sisters, old and young, I plead with each of you to remember that wickedness never was happiness and that sin leads to misery. Young people, do not seek happiness in the glittering but shallow things of the world. We cannot achieve lasting happiness by pursuing the wrong things.

Rex D. Pinegar of the Presidency of the Seventy: Knowing what the Lord requires of us and also having the desire to follow Him doesn’t always assure that it will be easy. I believe it would help to ask the questions my best friend always asks when faced with a difficult decision or challenge: “What would the Lord have me do? Would I do it for the Lord?”

Jorge A. Rojas of the Seventy: Father in Heaven loves us. He knows you and your brothers and sisters. He knows all of us by name. And He loves us so much that He is waiting for us. He wants us to go back to Him.

In order to go back, we need to love and have faith in Jesus Christ. … No one goes back without His help.

Photo by Phil Shurtleff