Coverage of the October 2016 General Conference Priesthood Session

Contributed By R. Scott Lloyd, Church News staff writer

  • 1 October 2016

President Thomas S. Monson speaks during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016.  Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

At the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson reaffirmed the verity of the Word of Wisdom, a plan for healthy living which the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1833. In doing this he shared a dramatic story of a Church member caught in a harrowing situation while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. Calling on the Lord in prayer, he claimed the promises that were his because he had always kept the Word of Wisdom.

The other two members of the First Presidency also spoke during the session. President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor, spoke of how bearers of the Melchizedek Priesthood give help and support to their younger brethren who hold the Aaronic Priesthood, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor, highlighted lessons to be learned from Book of Mormon figures Alma and Amulek.

Other speakers in the session were Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who spoke of the watchcare provided to Church members by faithful home teachers, and Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr., General Authority Seventy, who talked about the power contained in the Book of Mormon.

Crowds arrive before the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

Elder Paul B. Pieper, General Authority Seventy, opened the session with prayer, and Elder Bruce D. Porter, General Authority Seventy, gave the closing prayer.

Music for the session was provided by a Melchizedek Priesthood choir from stakes in West Valley City and Magna, Utah, under the direction of Kenny Wiser, with Richard Elliott at the Conference Center organ.

Additional summaries of the talks from this session can be found at the following links:

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: “Emissaries to the Church”

Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr.: “There Is Power in the Book”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “Learn from Alma and Amulek”

President Henry B. Eyring: “That He May Become Strong Also”

President Thomas S. Monson: “Principles and Promises”

President Thomas S. Monson walks to his seat at the start of the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, talks at the beginning of the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Thomas S. Monson, center, and his counselors, President Henry B. Eyring, left, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, right, talk at the start of the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, right, reaches out to President Thomas S. Monson during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

Rafael Taylor Perotti, 12, arrives before the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

Crowds arrive before the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

Men and young men arrive before the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

Men and young men arrive before the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Thomas S. Monson walks to his seat at the start of the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Thomas S. Monson and his counselors, President Henry B. Eyring and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, walk to their seats at the start of the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Thomas S. Monson, center, and his counselors, President Henry B. Eyring, left, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, right, take their seats at the start of the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.


President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, talks at the beginning of the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

The priesthood choir from West Valley City and Magna sings during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

The priesthood choir from West Valley City and Magna sings during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

Church members stand to sing with the choir during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr. of the Seventy speaks during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

Church members stand to sing with the choir during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

Church members stand to sing with the choir during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Thomas S. Monson speaks during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Thomas S. Monson speaks during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Thomas S. Monson leaves the stage at the end of the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Thomas S. Monson leaves the stage at the end of the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Thomas S. Monson leaves the stage at the end of the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, left, and President Henry B. Eyring leave the stage at the end of the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles blows a kiss toward the crowd as he leaves at the end of the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf waves at the end of the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

Church members stand to sing with the choir during the priesthood session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo by Spenser Heaps, Deseret News.

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