Moving forward: LDS leader reaches out, urges respect

"I set a speed record getting to her side," President Monson said. After they exchanged expressions of love, she admitted she had failed to mail their most recent quarterly tax payment, he said, drawing laughter from the audience. He then urged husbands and wives to love and care for each other more attentively.

Sunday's two conference sessions featured 15 sermons on a variety of gospel subjects, including tithing, revelation, prayer, the role of the Twelve apostles, spiritual rebirth, the role of mothers, true religion and more.

President Monson described the messages delivered at conference as "rapid fire," containing a "smorgasbord of faith, love and counsel. ... Let's incorporate it in our lives," he urged.

He asked parents to "show love to your children" and stressed better temple attendance as a way to increase spirituality.

"Brothers and sisters, this has been a wonderful conference. We have been edified and our testimonies strengthened. Let us rededicate our lives to live the gospel," he said.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, sustained Saturday as the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve, told church members Sunday morning that spiritual rebirth "originates with faith in Jesus Christ." He said most people looking for a spiritual rebirth experience "a mighty change of heart" gradually as a spiritual journey, rather than as a sudden, dramatic event.

Even so, "Let us not justify ourselves in a casual effort. Let us not be content to retain some disposition to do evil."

"I plead with my Heavenly Father to sustain me as he ever has, that I might measure up to something that is far beyond my native capacity and be able to focus outwardly upon losing myself in your service," Elder Christofferson said.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke Sunday morning about the "Faith of Our Father." He said such faith goes beyond the sacrifices of valiant pioneers who settled in the Salt Lake Valley, or personal family heritage. He spoke to those who hesitate to join the LDS Church because they feel they may disappoint family members.

"True religion should not originate from what pleases men or the traditions of ancestors but rather from what pleases God, our Eternal Father," he said.

President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve addressed the role of that group during Christ's original ministry and in today's restored church.

"We do not hear the priesthood keys being exercised in other Christian churches," he said. "It seems odd that we are described by some as being non-Christian when we are the only ones who have the authority and the organization that (Christ) established.