They Spoke to Us

Report from the 163rd Annual General Conference, April 3–4, 1993

President Ezra Taft Benson (as read by Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency): I am grateful to the Lord for temples. The blessings of the House of the Lord are eternal. They are of the highest importance to us because it is in the temples that we obtain God’s greatest blessings pertaining to eternal life. Temples really are the gateways of heaven.

Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency: “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Ex. 20:12.) As a boy I came to believe in that divine commandment. I think it is such a great commandment from the Lord. If it were only observed more widely there would be far less misery in the homes of the people. Instead of backbiting, accusation, argument, there would be appreciation and respect and quiet love.

Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency: Our Heavenly Father’s plan contains the ultimate expressions of true love. All that we hold dear, even our families, our friends, our joy, our knowledge, our testimonies, would vanish were it not for our Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Temple. One other word is equal in importance to a Latter-day Saint. Home. Put the words holy temple and home together, and you have described the House of the Lord!

L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: The scriptures are one of our greatest treasures. They contain God’s instructions to His people from the beginning of time. In a world so full of the doctrines of men, how grateful we are to have a sure anchor on which to build our faith.

Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: When we go to worship in a temple or a church, we put aside our working clothes and dress ourselves in something better. This change of clothing is a mark of respect. Similarly, when we address our Heavenly Father, we should put aside our working words and clothe our prayers in special language of reverence and respect.

Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Our families should gather for family prayer morning and night. In addition, we should offer our own individual prayers for our personal needs.

Rex D. Pinegar of the Presidency of the Seventy: Sometimes, when our prayers are not answered as we desire, we may feel the Lord has rejected us or that our prayer was in vain. … That is when we must continue to pray with patience and faith, and to listen for that peace.

Kwok Yuen Tai of the Seventy: Through the gospel, hatred can turn into love, pride into humility, wickedness into righteousness, sorrow into happiness, and fear into peace. It promises us hope of returning to the presence of our Heavenly Father. The gospel has also given me, an orphan boy, unshakable hope that someday I can be together with my family forever. I may even have a father-and-son outing with my dad to make up for my lost childhood!

Photos by John Luke and Peggy Jellinghausen