Brian Passey

bpassey@thespectrum.com

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had no major announcements on Saturday as church leaders spoke during the 186th Semiannual General Conference.

No new temples were announced. No major leadership changes were made. Church President Thomas S. Monson, 89, did not speak in either of the two general sessions.

Monson’s role in the conference, which is held every April and October, has diminished the past couple of years. In 2015, Monson cut his usual four messages to two and the church announced that he was feeling the effects of advanced age. Six months ago during the April conference, he only spoke once.

Because the church does not announce speaker lineups prior to the conference sessions, it was not known whether Monson would speak during the Priesthood Session on Saturday night or as the conference continued Sunday. However, he was in attendance at the conference Saturday at the church’s Conference Center in Salt Lake City.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Monson’s second counselor in the church’s First Presidency, opened the conference Saturday morning with a message about God’s plan for mankind and his faith’s answers to those enduring questions: “Where did I come from?” “Why am I here?” “What will happen after I die?”

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Uchtdorf said the answers to those questions are taught in the LDS Church. Yet he said some members of the church might take that knowledge for granted.

“Life-changing truths are before our eyes and at our fingertips, but sometimes we sleepwalk on the path of discipleship,” he said.

The majority of the messages reiterated the church’s teachings on a variety of subjects, from the worship of Jesus Christ to a belief in modern revelation conveyed through living prophets. However, there were a few instances where leaders addressed current events.

A few speakers mentioned places where the church has faced obstacles to its massive missionary work. In July, a new law took effect in Russia that severely limited what LDS missionaries are able to do in that county.

Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, warned Latter-day Saints of “stumbling blocks” that could distract them from righteous goals. Among the stumbling blocks he listed were an emphasis of the “philosophies of men” over church teachings, the refusal to see sin “in its true light,” and extremism within the faith.

“Gospel extremism is when one elevates any gospel principle above other equally important principles and takes a position that is beyond or contrary to the teachings of church leaders,” Cook said.

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Among the examples of extremism he mentioned is the expensive preparation for “end of days scenarios.” While church leaders teach Latter-day Saints to have things like food storage to be prepared for calamities, Cook seemed to indicate that some church members have taken these preparation measures to the extreme.

Even if a cause is good, Cook said it could prove to be a stumbling block to some people if it makes their commitment to Christ a secondary effort.

“If we elevate anything above our devotion to the Savior, if our conduct recognizes him as just another teacher and not the divine son of God, then we are looking beyond the mark,” Cook said. “Jesus Christ is the mark.”

A particularly tender moment of the conference came Saturday morning as Elder Robert D. Hales, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke about practicing Christian love through service. He particularly paid tribute to caregivers who follow Christ through their quiet, unheralded service.

He then took a moment to herald a special caregiver.

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“I cannot speak of giving care without acknowledging the special caregiver in my life — the Savior’s special disciple to me — my eternal companion, Mary,” said the 84-year-old apostle of his wife. “She has given all in compassionate nurturing and love. Her hands reflect (Christ’s) gentle, sustaining touch. I would not be here without her.”

The conference continued Saturday night with a Priesthood Session for the men of the church and boys age 12 and older. It corresponds with the General Women’s Session held last weekend. Two final general sessions of the conference are at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Email reporter Brian Passey at brian@thespectrum.com and follow him at Facebook.com/PasseyBrian or on Twitter and Instagram, @BrianPassey. Call him at 435-674-6296.

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