Pres. Eyring is new counselor

Current questions about whether Latter-day Saints are Christians revolve primarily around two doctrinal issues: the nature of the Godhead and the LDS belief in continuing revelation, which leads to an open scriptural canon, Elder Holland said. "I testify that Jesus Christ is the literal, living Son of our literal, living God," he said.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, also of Twelve, said love of the Lord is a quality that best defines members of the LDS faith. In a tender gesture, Elder Wirthlin was assisted by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Twelve, who supported the aging church leader at the podium during part of his remarks.

"We are a people who love the Lord with all our hearts, souls and minds, and we love our neighbors as ourselves," Elder Wirthlin said. "That is our signature as a people. It is like a beacon to the world signaling whose disciples we are."

A rainy day

The Conference Center choir seats, usually the setting for the two-toned Mormon Tabernacle Choir, blossomed with lollipop colors Saturday afternoon as young women from the Mapleton and Springville area provided the music.

Persistent rain thinned the usual ranks of those crowded in and around Temple Square, but a group of 19 young men from the Rapid Creek Ward, Inkom, Idaho, braved the downpour for two hours, hoping to get into the center for the evening priesthood session. The group, led by Paul Lisk, had two exchange students in tow, one from Israel, one from Indonesia.

"It's been wonderful," Lisk said, refusing to the let the weather dampen his enthusiasm for meeting with other Latter-day Saints from many states and nations.

The conference will conclude today. Sessions will be held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City and will be televised in many areas and broadcast live via satellite to thousands of LDS chapels worldwide.

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Contributing: Twila Van Leer

E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com