I�ll remember all of those images — especially the impish grin on President Hinckley�s face after �knighting� President Eyring. But the image that will be with me forever is the image of Elder Russell M. Nelson standing to support and sustain — literally — Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin when the 90-year-old apostle locked his knees while speaking.

For me, there were two great lessons in one touching scenario. First was the willingness of Elder Nelson to do what needed to be done. Sometimes it�s hard to do the right thing even when you know it�s the right thing to do (just ask any bishop who has been faced with the need to put an end to a Fast Sunday �testimony� that has gone too far or too long — or both). It might not have been obvious to those who attended in the Conference Center or who were listening on radio, but to those of us who were watching on TV it was clear that Elder Wirthlin was struggling physically. It was difficult to pay attention to the powerful words he was speaking because we were so concerned about his well-being. But what should be done? And who should do it? Is there a protocol for handling speaker emergencies at the Conference Center?

Elder Nelson didn�t wait for the situation to get worse, regardless of General Conference protocol. He just stood and put a firm hand on Elder Wirthlin�s arm to let him know he was there — and to let the rest of us know that everything was under control. Consummate physician that he is, Elder Nelson appeared to give his colleague a quick once over and then stood behind him, supporting him — literally and figuratively.

I don�t know about you, but as soon as I saw that Elder/Doctor Nelson was there making the most public house call of his medical life, I relaxed and returned my attention to what Elder Wirthlin was saying.

And what Elder Wirthlin was saying about charity, the pure love of Christ, was powerful — no question about it. But the silent sermon he preached about courage in the face of adversity and enduring to the end was pretty overpowering to any other message. As one who has experienced the nauseating light-headedness of knee-locking (you know how there�s always one kid who turns pale, starts swaying and then passes out during the elementary school Christmas Concert every year? Yeah, that was me — fifth grade, Valley View Elementary — you can look it up) I am amazed that he had the strength to see it through to the end, with or without Elder Nelson�s gentle-but-firm assistance.

Most of us who were watching were galvanized by Elder Wirthlin�s dogged determination and touched by his heart-felt �thank you� to Elder Nelson that we could hear even as the �amens� were still reverberating throughout the Conference Center at the conclusion of his address. And according to his family, he was back in his usual place a couple of hours later when it came time for General Priesthood Meeting to start.

Unfortunately, I didn�t actually see Elder Wirthlin during the Priesthood broadcast at our stake center Saturday night. I wish I had. That surely would have been one more memorable image that would come to mind when I remember October General Conference 2007.