April 2004Saturday Morning SessionSaturday Morning SessionGordon B. HinckleyThe Church Grows StrongerThere is much more yet to be done, but what has been accomplished is truly phenomenal.David B. HaightHow Great the Wisdom and the LoveThe gospel is true. I know it; I’m a witness of it.Dallin H. OaksPreparation for the Second ComingWe need to make … spiritual preparation for the events prophesied at the time of the Second Coming.D. Todd ChristoffersonWhen Thou Art ConvertedPlead with God in the name of Christ to write the gospel in your mind that you may have understanding and in your heart that you may love to do His will.Gayle M. CleggThe Finished StoryWe have to keep writing, keep walking, keep serving and accepting new challenges to the end of our own story.Henry B. EyringIn the Strength of the LordWe need strength beyond ourselves to keep the commandments in whatever circumstance life brings to us.Thomas S. MonsonYour Personal InfluenceAs we follow that Man of Galilee—even the Lord Jesus Christ—our personal influence will be felt for good wherever we are, whatever our callings.Saturday Afternoon SessionSaturday Afternoon SessionThomas S. MonsonThe Sustaining of Church OfficersMy brothers and sisters, President Hinckley has requested that I now present to you the General Authorities, Area Authority Seventies, and general auxiliary presidencies of the Church for your sustaining vote.Wesley L. JonesChurch Auditing Department Report, 2003To the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsF. Michael WatsonStatistical Report, 2003For the information of the members of the Church, the First Presidency has issued the following report concerning the growth and status of the Church as of December 31, 2003:Russell M. NelsonRoots and BranchesSimply summarized, life’s greatest blessings will come to us if our love of Jesus Christ is rooted deeply in our hearts.Jeffrey R. Holland“Abide in Me”For the fruit of the gospel to blossom and bless our lives, we must be firmly attached to Him, the Savior of us all.Keith B. McMullinJesus, the Very Thought of TheeJesus, the very thought of Thee fills my heart with inexpressible joy. It controls every part of my being.W. Rolfe KerrThe Words of Christ—Our Spiritual LiahonaLet us in faith take the words of Christ into our minds and into our hearts.Francisco J. ViñasApplying the Simple and Plain Gospel Principles in the FamilyThe plain and simple principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ … should be firmly established in our homes to ensure happiness in family life.Joseph B. WirthlinEarthly Debts, Heavenly DebtsWe have earthly debts and heavenly debts. Let us be wise in dealing with each of them.Priesthood SessionPriesthood SessionNeal A. MaxwellRemember How Merciful the Lord Hath BeenThere are clusters of memories embedded in each of your lives. And these can help us to “remember how merciful the Lord hath been.”Mervyn B. ArnoldStrengthen Thy BrethrenMay each quorum and each one of us individually … follow the example of our Lord and Savior to “take … him that is weak, … that he may become strong also.”Earl C. TingeyFor the Strength of YouthThe standards of the Church are firm and true. They are for your safety and eternal security.James E. FaustChoicesTomorrow’s blessings and opportunities depend on the choices we make today.Thomas S. MonsonThe Call for CourageLet us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval.Gordon B. Hinckley“I Was an Hungred, and Ye Gave Me Meat”Wherever want has been created by whatever cause, representatives of the Church have been there. … I have been a firsthand witness to the effectiveness of our humanitarian efforts.Sunday Morning SessionSunday Morning SessionJames E. FaustDid You Get the Right Message?We should keep our lives in order so that when we receive a … message telling us what the Lord wants us to do we will be able to respond.L. Tom PerryFatherhood, an Eternal CallingMay we heed the voice of the prophets, who, from the beginning of time, have warned us about the importance of fathers in the home.Dennis E. SimmonsBut If Not … Men accomplish marvelous things by trusting in the Lord and keeping His commandments—by exercising faith even when they don’t know how the Lord is shaping them.Julie B. BeckA “Mother Heart”By developing a mother heart, each girl and woman prepares for her divine, eternal mission of motherhood.Boyd K. PackerDo Not FearThe moral values upon which civilization itself must depend spiral downward at an ever-increasing pace. Nevertheless, I do not fear the future.Gordon B. HinckleyThe Dawning of a Brighter DayWhat a glorious season it has been and now is. A new day has come in the work of the Almighty.Sunday Afternoon SessionSunday Afternoon SessionM. Russell BallardThe Atonement and the Value of One SoulIf we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God.Robert D. HalesWith All the Feeling of a Tender Parent: A Message of Hope to FamiliesNo matter how evil the world becomes, our families can be at peace. If we do what’s right, we will be guided and protected.Clate W. Mask Jr.Standing Spotless before the LordBecause of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can all stand spotless, pure, and white before the Lord.W. Douglas ShumwayMarriage and Family: Our Sacred ResponsibilityIn a society where marriage is often shunned, parenthood avoided, and families degraded, we have the responsibility to honor our marriages, nurture our children, and fortify our families.Bruce C. HafenThe Atonement: All for AllWhen the Savior’s all and our all come together, we will find not only forgiveness of sin, … “we shall be like him.”Richard G. ScottHow to Live Well amid Increasing EvilAs you continue to center your mind and heart in [the Lord], He will help you have a rich and full life no matter what happens in the world around you.Gordon B. HinckleyConcluding RemarksMay our testimonies of the great foundation principles of this work … shine forth from our lives and our actions.General Young Women MeetingGeneral Young Women MeetingSusan W. TannerAll Things Shall Work Together for Your GoodAs we search, pray, and believe, we will recognize miracles in our lives and become miracle workers in the lives of others.Julie B. BeckMy Soul Delighteth in the ScripturesIf you have not already developed the habit of daily scripture study, start now and keep studying.Elaine S. DaltonBelieve!Believe in yourselves. Believe that you are never alone. Believe that you will always be guided.Gordon B. HinckleyStay on the High RoadPray for the strength to walk the high road, which at times may be lonely but which will lead to peace and happiness and joy supernal.