Be Christlike, unified and prepared, members told

Though contentions against and criticisms of the LDS Church may arise,

its members should avoid pride, seek unity, defend their faith with

love, serve others, be virtuous and, though life changes should be

expected, they shouldn't lose sight of what's important.

That's what Jesus would do.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were told to

develop those, among other Christ-like attributes, during the church's

178th Semiannual General Conference on Sunday morning.

Church President Thomas S. Monson reminded members that stresses will come no matter what.

"We must deal with them the best we can," he said. "But we should not

let them get in the way of what is most important — and what is always

most important almost always involves the people around us. Often, we

assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never

assume; we should let them know."

"Despite the changes which come into our lives, and with gratitude in

our hearts, may we fill our days — as much as we can — with those

things which matter most," President Monson said.

During the past two decades, the church has experienced an

unprecedented prominence in the worldwide community of faith, said

Elder M. Russell Ballard, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

"Probably not coincidentally, we have also experienced unprecedented

ideological attacks on our people, our history and our doctrine through

the media," he said.

Some wonder why the church does not more vigorously defend itself, said fellow apostle Elder Robert D. Hales.

But the members of the church have the ability to respond to criticisms