Coverage of the April 2020 Sunday Morning Session
Contributed By Aubrey Eyre, Church News staff writer
From left, Leopold Clavaroche Cherenfant, Mike Hala J. Cherenfant, Marie Josée lainé Cherenfant, Guardini Didier Cole, Fahifé Eddar Cole, Nounesse C. Cole, and Steeve Guardini Eddar Cole of the Carrefour-Feuilles Ward, Port-au-Prince Haiti Stake, watch the Sunday morning session of the 190th Annual General Conference on April 5, 2020. Leopold Clavaroche Cherenfant wrote, “We are grateful to be able to watch the conference in family. Since the last conference we are carefully reading the Book of Mormon, learning as much as we can about the Restoration to be ready for this moment. We expressly needed to be educated from above to better cope with the difficulties we face. Like the prophet we are optimistic for the future, we believe that tomorrow will be better if our faith are strengthened.” Photo courtesy of Leopold Clavaroche Cherenfant.
In the final moments of the Sunday morning session of the 190th Annual General Conference, just before leading the worldwide Church in a solemn assembly and Hosanna Shout, President Russell M. Nelson shared a new Church proclamation with Latter-day Saints watching the broadcast around the world.
The sixth such proclamation to ever be issued by the Church, the new proclamation affirms the ongoing Restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days.
“We felt impressed to create a monument—not of granite or stone but of words—words of solemn and sacred proclamation—written not to be carved in ‘tables of stone’ but rather to be etched in the ‘fleshy tables’ of our hearts,” said President Nelson of the new proclamation.
As the concluding speaker of the session, President Nelson emphasized the great, many blessings brought to the children of the Lord through the Restoration of the fulness of the gospel.
“Regardless of where you live or what your circumstances are, the Lord Jesus Christ is your Savior, and God’s prophet Joseph Smith is your prophet,” he said. “He was foreordained before the foundation of this earth to be the Prophet of this last dispensation, when ‘nothing shall be withheld’ from the Saints. Revelation continues to flow from the Lord during this ongoing process of Restoration.”
Now, more than ever, President Nelson continued, “as disciples of Jesus Christ, our efforts to hear Him need to be ever more intentional. It takes conscious and consistent effort to fill our daily lives with His words, His teachings, His truths.”
President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the April 2020 general conference Sunday morning session on April 5, 2020.
Other speakers at the Sunday morning session focused on the hope and goodness that comes from the Restoration of the fulness of the gospel in these last days.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that despite the many challenges the world and individuals may be facing, Latter-day Saints have every reason to be hopeful.
“We have every reason to hope for blessings even greater than those we have already received,” Elder Holland said, “because this is the work of Almighty God, this is the Church of continuing revelation, this is the gospel of Christ’s unlimited grace and benevolence.”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks during the April 2020 general conference Sunday morning session on April 5, 2020.
An important aspect of the fulness of the gospel in the latter days is temple work, explained Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Ancient prophets foretold of the building of temples, which allow for sacred covenants and ordinances that can unify and strengthen families and individuals, he said. “Everything that is learned and all that is done in the temple emphasizes the divinity of Jesus Christ and His role in Heavenly Father’s great plan of happiness.”
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks during the April 2020 general conference Sunday morning session on April 5, 2020.
In addition to prophesying of temples, ancient prophets foretold of the Restoration and all that was to come in the last dispensation and fulness of times, said Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Many such prophecies have already been fulfilled, he said, but many more are yet to come, including the Second Coming of the Savior.
“We do not know when the Savior will return, but this we do know: we must be prepared in heart and mind, worthy to receive Him, and honored to be part of all that was prophesied so long ago,” Elder Rasband said.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks during the April 2020 Sunday morning session on April 5, 2020.
The Ukorebi family—parents Victor and Katie and children Maelyn, Monson, McKay, MaLeah, and Micah Nelson—of the Batsona Second Ward, Tema Ghana Stake, gathers for a family photograph before the start of the Sunday morning session of the 190th Annual General Conference on April 5, 2020. Victor B. Ukorebi wrote, “We have loved feeling the Spirit in abundance. We are grateful for the blessing of living prophets and apostles and inspired General Authorities.” Photo courtesy of Victor B. Ukorebi.
Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women General President, reminded that the Savior Jesus Christ extended an invitation to His disciples to “let your light so shine before this people.”
Individuals can follow this earnest invitation from the Lord by striving to be more intentional in helping others to see the path to come to Christ, she said. “You and I have enough light to share right now. We can light the next step to help someone draw nearer to Jesus Christ.”
President Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women General President, speaks during the April 2020 general conference Sunday morning session on April 5, 2020.
President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency conducted the session, and Elder Brook P. Hales and Elder Peter M. Johnson, General Authority Seventies, offered the opening and closing prayers.
Prerecorded hymns performed by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square shared during this session included “Truth Eternal,” “How Firm a Foundation,” “This Is My Beloved Son,” “Israel, Israel, God Is Calling,” “Hosanna Anthem/The Spirit of God,” and “Now Let Us Rejoice” as a choir and congregational hymn.
President Russell M. Nelson demonstrates the Hosanna Shout during the April 2020 general conference Sunday morning session on April 5, 2020.
Mahonri J. Sanchez of Orem and Nancy Chairez of Provo pray together as they digitally view the evening session of the 190th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 4, 2020. Sanchez planned to take Chairez to the Conference Center to attend conference together this year but had to cancel their plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News.
Trees blossom on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday, April 5, 2020.
Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday, April 5, 2020.
The Salt Lake Temple, which is closed for renovation, on Sunday, April 5, 2020.
A view of the empty Conference Center from across the street in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday, April 5, 2020.
The Salt Lake Temple, which is closed for renovation, on Sunday, April 5, 2020.
Tulips bloom on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday, April 5, 2020.
Elder David A. Bednar visits with Elder Ronald A. Rasband in the Church Office Building auditorium where April 2020 general conference was broadcast to the world on April 4–5, 2020. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland is next to Elder Bednar.
