LDS Church lowers age requirement for missionary service

At the same time, Elders Keith R. Edwards and Larry W. Gibbons were released as members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the church's presiding First Presidency, counseled his listeners during the Saturday morning conference session that adherence to gospel principles and values can "help us to avoid future regrets."

"Let us resolve to cherish those we love by being by their sides, spending meaningful time with them, and cultivating treasured memories," he said. "Let us resolve to follow the Savior and work with diligence to become the person we were designed to become. Let us listen to and obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

"The more we devote ourselves to the pursuit of holiness and happiness, the less likely we will be on a path to regrets," President Uchtdorf continued. "The more we rely on the Savior's grace, the more we will feel during life's journey that we are on the track our Father in heaven has intended for us."

Other speakers during the session included Elder Craig C. Christensen of the Presidency of the Seventy, Elder Shayne M. Bowen of the First Quorum of the Seventy and Sister Ann M. Dibb, second counselor in the Young Women General Presidency.

Music for the morning session was provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The Saturday afternoon conference session featured talks by four members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder L. Tom Perry began his talk by noting he recently celebrated his 90th birthday, making him the only person in the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve, as currently constituted, to have reached that milestone. In his address he discussed the responsibility of parents in the upbringing of their children.

"It is wonderful to see husbands and wives who have worked out real partnerships where they blend together their influence and communicate effectively both about their children and to their children," he said. "The onslaught of wickedness against our children is more subtle and brazen than it has ever been. Building a stronger family culture adds another layer of protection for our children, insulating them from worldly influences."

Elder Dallin H. Oaks expressed concern about social policies and practices that can harm children. He spoke openly about a wide range of behaviors that harm or disadvantage children: abortion; child abuse and neglect; unnecessary divorces spurred by so-called "no fault" divorce laws; bearing children out of wedlock; and same-sex couples choosing to raise children.

"There are surely cases when a divorce is necessary for the good of the children, but those circumstances are exceptional," he said. "In most marital contests the contending parents should give much greater weight to the interests of the children.

"Children need the emotional and personal strength that comes from being raised by two parents who are united in their marriage and their goals," he continued. "As one who was raised by a widowed mother, I know firsthand that this cannot always be achieved, but it is the ideal to be sought whenever possible."

Elder Oaks acknowledged that "some may reject" his words of counsel, "but none should resist the plea that we unite to increase our concern for the welfare and future of our children — the rising generation."

Elder M. Russell Ballard drew parallels between an industrious beehive — which requires more than 20,000 honeybees to travel the equivalent of two times around the world in order to produce a single pound of honey — and the church-at-large. He challenged Latter-day Saints to focus on giving meaningful Christian service every day.