Several speakers paid tribute to early Christian reformers, who they said set the stage for the restoration of Christ's gospel on earth. Many spoke of the worldwide spread of the faith, exemplified by the fact that the sessions were translated into 80 languages and broadcast to many lands.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of the Quorum of the Twelve, said the church can continue to expand even though it is centrally administered because "the organizational structure of the church allows great flexibility according to the size, growth pattern and needs of our congregations." Even so, "the gospel of Jesus Christ is the same in each unit" because leadership structure, scripture and doctrinal texts are uniform.

Though the church has grown too large for Salt Lake City-based leaders to regularly visit far-flung congregations, satellite technology provides a means for leaders to preside from afar, President Hinckley said.

During the Sunday morning session, President Hinckley spoke of forgiveness, which "may be the greatest virtue on earth" and "certainly the most needed."

"There is so much of meanness and abuse, of intolerance and hatred. There is so great a need for repentance and forgiveness," he said.

"May God help us to be a little kinder, showing forth greater forbearance, to be more forgiving, more willing to walk the second mile, to reach down and lift up those who may have sinned but have brought forth the fruits of repentance, to lay aside old grudges and nurture them no more."

President Hinckley quoted from a column written by Deseret Morning News editorial page editor Jay Evensen that detailed how a crime victim was able to forgive her assailant. (Jay Evensen: Forgiveness has power to change future.)

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com