Stokes Sounds Off: Report on Saturday Afternoon Session

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Saturday, September 30, 2017

Report on Saturday Afternoon Session

Hello again, everyone! The Saturday Afternoon session wrapped up about 45 minutes ago (it ended early). As predicted, President Uchtdorf conducted the session. The invocation was offered by Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge, and the benediction by Elder All F. Packer (son of President Boyd K. Packer), both of whom were among the first General Authority Seventies sustained in the first General Conference over which President Monson presided.

In addition to the sustaining of Church officers about which I have already posted, there were a couple of interesting things about this session: It featured 7 speakers rather than the 8 I predicted, and it featured Stephen W. Owen, Young Men General President, as one of the speakers. This surprised me because we just heard from his second counselor, Brother M. Joseph Brough, last April. The only other speaker that was not a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was Elder O. Vincent Haleck, General Authority Seventy. Elder Gary E. Stevenson was the first speaker from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Then, as already mentioned, Brother Owen spoke. We then heard from Elder Quentin L. Cook. The second half of that session was filled with addresses by Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, then the previously mentioned address by Elder Haleck. The session ended with a talk by Quorum President Russell M. Nelson, who, if I am correct, will be giving a second address at some point in this conference. Though I had originally said that that second  address would likely happen during the Sunday Morning Session, it now seems more likely that if he does speak a second time, it will be as the final speaker in the Sunday Afternoon Session.

If these first two sessions are any indication, the remainder of this General Conference will be full of surprises. And you can count on my continuing reports after the remaining three sessions. That does it for this General Conference update. Any comments are welcome and appreciated. For now, thank you for the privilege of your time, and may the Lord continue to bless you all in all that you do.

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