From Deseret News archives:

Sustained: LDS faithful embrace new First Presidency

Published: Sunday, April 6, 2008 1:36 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
With President Thomas S. Monson newly sustained as the church's leader and a First Presidency at the helm, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened its 178th Annual General Conference Saturday, adding Elder D. Todd Christofferson as a new apostle and installing dozens of other new leaders, including a new Young Women general presidency.

The three Saturday sessions featured sermons by top leaders on a variety of topics, including a frank discourse on the evils of verbal, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. President Monson spoke only during the evening priesthood session for male members, counseling them to live worthy of the priesthood they hold.

"The face of sin today often wears the Halloween mask of tolerance," he said. "Do not be deceived; behind that facade is heartache, unhappiness and pain. You know what is right and what is wrong, and no disguise, however appealing, can change that," President Monson counseled.

Thousands packed the Conference Center and other church meeting halls on Temple Square during the sessions, joined by additional millions who participated through electronic media. The proceedings, which continued today with sessions at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., are being translated into 92 languages and broadcast in 96 countries via the Internet.

The First Presidency also reported on the growth of the church's wards, stakes and missions, announcing that membership now exceeds 13.1 million around the world.

Story continues below
Saturday morning's solemn assembly to sustain President Monson, 16th president of the church, and his counselors, President Henry B. Eyring and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, was the first order of business. Elder Christofferson, formerly of the presidency of the Quorums of the Seventy, was named to the Quorum of the Twelve, filling the vacancy created when President Uchtdorf was called as a counselor in the First Presidency.

President Uchtdorf conducted the assembly, which provided church members their first opportunity to express support for the new presidency. The three were named in a press conference on Feb. 4, slightly more than a week after the death of President Gordon B. Hinckley on Jan. 27.

Throughout the history of the church, the succession of presidents has followed the same pattern: The president of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles has been elevated to the presidency of the church. The practice of sustaining the new president in a solemn assembly has been an important part of the process.

Recent comments

I hope Elder Oaks' remarks regarding the bearing of testimonies will...

Oaks on Testimonies | April 7, 2008 at 12:52 p.m.

This was my favorite conference. Everyone I have talked to agrees....

Charli | April 7, 2008 at 7:42 a.m.

Once again we have been edified,taught and spiritually uplifted....

Ken--Oregon | April 6, 2008 at 11:36 p.m.

Image

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, left, President Henry B. Eyring and President Thomas S. Monson raise their hands to sustain President Monson as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Saturday morning's solemn assembly was held during the 178th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center.

Video
previousnext

Latest comments

RSL's Rimando makes 3

So Great!!! So Proud - Love RSL - Bring Home The CUP!!!!!

mr cannon's bold assertation that the purpose of the first ammendemnt as...

RSL heads to MLS title game

Great great great game!!!! Nicky Rimando is a god! We're the most complete...

I had the game on DVR and just watched it. That was the most exciting game...

RSL heads to MLS title game

financially cannot this year, but I will watch loyally, how great to hear...

This is hardly surprising. Bennett has a remarkable arrogance which is also...

RSL heads to MLS title game

I guess that is why "they play the game" as Herman Edwards would say.. ...

BYU happy to escape with victory

What was the score of the LSU vs LA tech game? Alot closer than you'd like to...

Has Fedor not said that THIS IS OUR YEAR all year long? Go back and...

This is just a small glimpse of the future with Obamacare: corruption, waste...

Advertisements
Advertisement