Earlier in the day, the 94-year-old church leader quickly removed any suspense Saturday morning among Latter-day Saints over two vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve, one of the church's highest governing bodies. He wasted little time in his opening address naming Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf and David A. Bednar as apostles.

"You may not know them, but you will get to know them pretty soon," he said.

Elders Uchtdorf and Bednar fill the voids left by the recent deaths of Elders David B. Haight and Neal A. Maxwell. The two deceased apostles were remembered fondly by several quorum members during the conference's opening sessions as the new apostles were welcomed to their ranks.

A native of Germany, Elder Uchtdorf, 63, is a former Lufthansa Airlines pilot and executive. He has served as a member of the Quorums of the Seventy since April 1994.

Elder Bednar, 52, is currently president of Brigham Young University—Idaho, where he is overseeing its transition to a four-year college. Born in San Leandro, Calif., he has served as an area authority seventy since 1997.

In addition to the new apostles, President Hinckley announced the construction of temples in the Salt Lake Valley and Twin Falls, Idaho. He did not reveal the site of the Salt Lake edifice but said it would be announced later. There currently are two temples in Salt Lake County.

Though heavy usage warrants the new building, "It may appear that we are unduly favoring this area," President Hinckley said, noting continued growth may bring another temple to the Salt Lake Valley in the future.

Temples also are under construction in Aba, Nigeria; Helsinki, Finland; San Antonio; Newport Beach and Sacramento, Calif.; and in Samoa, replacing one destroyed by fire.

The number of working temples will reach 130 once those that have been announced are dedicated.

President Hinckley also spoke of the downtown Salt Lake City redevelopment project, which will include retail, housing and education components that will affect the Crossroads Plaza, the ZCMI Center and the Triad Center office complex. He said money for the project will not come from tithing funds but will include income from church businesses, rental income on the property and other sources.

"It is imperative that we preserve the environment around Temple Square," he said.

President Hinckley said the church continues to expand worldwide.

"There is tremendous vitality in the church. It is touching the lives of more and more people every year."

Some 451 meetinghouses of various sizes are under construction around the world.