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.
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Report on Saturday Afternoon Session
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Blog Report: Changes in General Church Leadership
Hello again, everyone! I am back as promised with a report on the changes made in the general leadership of the Church. Most significant of all to me was that there were no vocal shouts of opposition to this sustaining. That was wonderful to witness. Regarding specifics, when President Nelson's name was presented as Quorum President, this is only the second time in which he was referred to with his full name, Russell Marion Nelson, as opposed to the time or two he has been sustained merely as Russell M. Nelson. For the rsome strange reason, President Eyring, when naming Elder Christofferson among the other members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gave him the middle initial of "R," rather than the correct one "D."
Moving on from that, the releases of Elders Donald L. Hallstrom and Richard J. Maynes from the Presidency of the Seventy were mentioned, and Elders Juan A. Uceda and Patrick Kearon were sustained to that Presidency in their stead. Don't know if I mentioned this, but Elder Kearon has two middle names, Robert & David, though he has only ever previously been sustained by his first and last name. That was interesting to see.
Rounding out that sustaining vote, Elders Stanley G. Ellis, Larry R. Lawrence, and W. Craig Zwick were each granted emeritus status, as predicted. Another interesting development was that several area seventies were released, and one was sustained. It has been customary for the Church to announce the bulk of area seventy releases in the April General Conference, so to have so many released in October was interesting indeed to see.
As it always is, the sustaining of Church officers has been very interesting and unique to see. I am grateful for the inspiration that attends the calls and releases of these good men and women. That does it for this blog post. I will be back in about an hour with my report on the Saturday Afternoon Session, which has been very unique so far. Any comments are welcome and appreciated. Until I return with my next post, thank you for the privilege of your time, and may the Lord bless you all in all that you do.
Moving on from that, the releases of Elders Donald L. Hallstrom and Richard J. Maynes from the Presidency of the Seventy were mentioned, and Elders Juan A. Uceda and Patrick Kearon were sustained to that Presidency in their stead. Don't know if I mentioned this, but Elder Kearon has two middle names, Robert & David, though he has only ever previously been sustained by his first and last name. That was interesting to see.
Rounding out that sustaining vote, Elders Stanley G. Ellis, Larry R. Lawrence, and W. Craig Zwick were each granted emeritus status, as predicted. Another interesting development was that several area seventies were released, and one was sustained. It has been customary for the Church to announce the bulk of area seventy releases in the April General Conference, so to have so many released in October was interesting indeed to see.
As it always is, the sustaining of Church officers has been very interesting and unique to see. I am grateful for the inspiration that attends the calls and releases of these good men and women. That does it for this blog post. I will be back in about an hour with my report on the Saturday Afternoon Session, which has been very unique so far. Any comments are welcome and appreciated. Until I return with my next post, thank you for the privilege of your time, and may the Lord bless you all in all that you do.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
General Conference Update: How my predictions for the Saturday Morning Session panned out
Hello again, everyone! In my efforts to be more effective in reporting the events of this General Conference weekend, I wanted to pass along my report on the Saturday Morning Session. Prayers were offered by Elder Larry R. Lawrence, who, if I am correct, will be granted emeritus status during this General Conference, and Elder Massimo De Feo, whom I had predicted would speak in the morning session.
President Eyring conducted, as anticipated, and he acknowledged President Monson was watching from home. President Uchtdorf was the first speaker, giving a brief update on how President Monson was doing, then giving a wonderful address, as he always does. Following his remarks, we heard from Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, who, if I am correct, will be released as Young Women General President next April. I am not sure what that means in terms of whether or not we will hear from 2 of our female auxiliary leaders, but I am sure we will find out.
Elder Oaks, whom I had predicted would be the last apostle to speak during this General Conference, was the first one. Then we heard from Elder John C. Pingree Jr., who was sustained last April as a new General Authority Seventy. The session concluded with addresses from two other members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder D. Todd Christofferson and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. As always, Elder Hollland's remarks had a profound effect on me.
The fact that we had three members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speak during the Saturday Morning Session caught me somewhat off guard. We have typically had 2 members of that Quorum speak in the Saturday Morning Session, four during Saturday Afternoon, 1 during the Priesthood Session, 2 on Sunday Morning, and the final 3 during the Sunday Afternoon Session. With Elder Hales not being in attendance and therefore not speaking during this conference, we will hear from just the other 11 members of that Quorum, although, as noted in an earlier post on this blog, I anticipate that President Nelson may be asked to give a second address.
One thing was certain: even though I could not have anticipated how different this session of conference turned out to be, I felt the inspiration of the spirit of the Lord in every part of those proceedings. If the first session is any indication, we are going to be seeing a lot of unique and different things about this conference, and it will all be as wonderful as any previous General Conference has been, if not more so.
That does it for this General Conference update. I will be back again at some point after the Saturday Afternoon Session, though I may post in the middle of the session about those changes that will be announced in general Church leadership. Any comments are welcome and appreciated.
For now, thank you for the privilege of your time, and may the Lord bless you all in all that you do.
President Eyring conducted, as anticipated, and he acknowledged President Monson was watching from home. President Uchtdorf was the first speaker, giving a brief update on how President Monson was doing, then giving a wonderful address, as he always does. Following his remarks, we heard from Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, who, if I am correct, will be released as Young Women General President next April. I am not sure what that means in terms of whether or not we will hear from 2 of our female auxiliary leaders, but I am sure we will find out.
Elder Oaks, whom I had predicted would be the last apostle to speak during this General Conference, was the first one. Then we heard from Elder John C. Pingree Jr., who was sustained last April as a new General Authority Seventy. The session concluded with addresses from two other members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder D. Todd Christofferson and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. As always, Elder Hollland's remarks had a profound effect on me.
The fact that we had three members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speak during the Saturday Morning Session caught me somewhat off guard. We have typically had 2 members of that Quorum speak in the Saturday Morning Session, four during Saturday Afternoon, 1 during the Priesthood Session, 2 on Sunday Morning, and the final 3 during the Sunday Afternoon Session. With Elder Hales not being in attendance and therefore not speaking during this conference, we will hear from just the other 11 members of that Quorum, although, as noted in an earlier post on this blog, I anticipate that President Nelson may be asked to give a second address.
One thing was certain: even though I could not have anticipated how different this session of conference turned out to be, I felt the inspiration of the spirit of the Lord in every part of those proceedings. If the first session is any indication, we are going to be seeing a lot of unique and different things about this conference, and it will all be as wonderful as any previous General Conference has been, if not more so.
That does it for this General Conference update. I will be back again at some point after the Saturday Afternoon Session, though I may post in the middle of the session about those changes that will be announced in general Church leadership. Any comments are welcome and appreciated.
For now, thank you for the privilege of your time, and may the Lord bless you all in all that you do.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
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