President Hinckley said his challenge to church members last year to read or re-read the Book of Mormon has produced remarkable results. "I trust and hope that we have drawn closer to God because of reading this book."

His closing comments consisted of a strong testimony to the truths of the Latter-day restoration of the gospel. "The vision given the Prophet Joseph Smith in the grove of Palmyra (N.Y.) was not an imaginary thing. It was real." The resurrected Lord and his father, "the great God of the Universe," appeared to the young prophet and opened the dispensation of the fulness of times, he said.

"The Book of Mormon is all that it purports to be . . . The priesthood has been restored under the hands of John the Baptist and Peter, James and John. All of the keys and authority pertaining to eternal life are exercised in this church . . . This church, which carries the name of the Redeemer, is true."

His conference address struck a note of accord with thousands of church faithful in the Conference Center and listening to the proceedings in nations around the globe.

Among those still commenting on the talk as they exited the center were Elder Daniel M. Jones and his wife, JoAnn, of Cedar City. He was sustained Saturday as a member of the church's Area Seventy.

"I thought (his talk) was wonderful," JoAnn Jones said. "He has such a love for the people."

"His words were not the least bit self-aggrandizing; he just wants us to be more like Jesus Christ," Elder Jones said.

Jason Almberg of Salt Lake City welcomed the personal reflections of the prophet as a chance to get to know him better. "We don't often hear too much about the personal life of the prophet," he said.

His friend, Cesar Valenz of Costa Mesa, Calif., agreed that the talk had the sense of an older person who "knows he will be going and doesn't want to leave this Earth without sharing this testimony. He wants to finish in a good way."

"I've grown up with (President Hinckley) as the prophet," said Natalie Nelson of Phoenix, a student at Brigham Young University. "It was a really neat experience to be in the Conference Center, and it was perfect, what he shared."

Her companion, Harold Avell, of Monroe, La., also a BYU student, said he enjoyed the personal twist to Sunday's remarks. "I was interested in what he read from his old journals."

"It was great. I felt so much emotion. I saw tears running down the faces of men who were listening," said Graciela Gutierrez, who was shepherding a group of five seminary students from the Cerritos, Calif., 2nd Ward.

One of those students, Alexander Avila, said this was an experience he would "hold dear to my heart. He (the prophet) assures everyone. He makes us feel special."

Sue Jarvis, who was enjoying the spring air between sessions on a Temple Square wall (being unable to get tickets into the Conference Center), had old memories stirred as President Hinckley talked. "I worked in the Church Office Building in the 1950s. I saw him then as a humble servant of the Lord. And now he's president. He's just so sweet."

Jarvis, who was with her husband, Steve, said that for a bit she wondered if the revered leader were actually giving an obituary talk, but felt good when President Hinckley assured church members he expects to be still at his post, fulfilling his calling, for some time to come.

---

E-mail: tvanleer@desnews.com