President Russell M. Nelson opened the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday morning by calling the church “a great global family.”
He closed the three Saturday sessions 10 hours later by saying, “We need each other.”
Church leaders filled the day with poignant references to the hope of Easter morning, declaring that Jesus Christ’s suffering and resurrection are a remedy and healing balm powerful enough to conquer all of the challenges in a world they described as divided by pandemic, genocide, racism, loneliness, abortion, contention, death and more.
They also emphasized that the church has a critical role in helping people feel a sense of belonging and said its members are needed to help fashion it into Christ’s inn of refuge, inclusion, kindness and civility, with room for all. Two leaders noted there are now more adult church members who are unmarried, widowed or divorced than married.
“We can accomplish so much more together than we can alone,” President Nelson said Saturday night. “God’s plan of happiness would be frustrated if his children remained isolated from one another.”
President Dallin H. Oaks, the first counselor in the First Presidency, called the church’s belief in the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ and all people “the reassuring pillar of our faith. It adds meaning to our doctrine, motivation to our behavior and hope for our future.” He added that Christ’s atoning suffering was an act of love that “offered the ultimate good — the pure lamb without blemish — for the ultimate measure of evil — the sins of the entire world.”
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Church leaders welcomed an international broadcast audience to the conference on Saturday morning from the stage in the Conference Center Theater on a sunny spring day that reached a record-setting 78 degrees in Salt Lake City. They wore their now-familiar masks and sat at pandemic-appropriate distances from one another.
They spoke as a third surge of COVID-19 washed across Europe and after three recent shootings in the United States and the violent death of another U.S. Capitol officer in Washington, D.C. In addition to countering darkness, poverty, bullying and the common worldwide trials caused by COVID-19, they emphasized the need to be in holy places like the temple and make each home a similar sanctuary.
President Nelson said one lesson during the gathering restrictions imposed by the pandemic was that homes can be among the holiest places on earth. “Between now and the time the Lord comes again, we all need our homes to be places of serenity and security,” he added.
Saturday evening, he tweeted his conference message that “Present restrictions on gathering will eventually end. However, your commitment to make your home your primary sanctuary of faith should never end. As faith and holiness decrease in this fallen world, your need for holy places will increase.”
President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, said members should prepare to return to temples, too.
“My hope for you and for all your beloved family is that you will grow in desire and determination to be worthy to go into the house of the Lord as often as your circumstances allow,” he said.
Leaders also counseled against self-inflicted wounds like perfectionism, and encouraged members to rejoice in repentance and the redemption of Christ.
“It is a gospel of hope, of healing and of progress,” President Nelson said. “Thus, the gospel is a message of joy. Our spirits rejoice with every step forward we take.”
Referring to “this joyful Easter season,” Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said that, “because of Jesus Christ, our failures do not have to define us. They can refine us. … If we repent, mistakes do not disqualify us. They are part of our progress.”
President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Scaffolding surrounds the spires of The Salt Lake Temple, which is under renovation, during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Scaffolding surrounds the spires of The Salt Lake Temple, which is under renovation, during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are seen before the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are seen before the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are seen before the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are seen before the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are seen before the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Brother Jan E. Newman, second counselor in the Sunday School general presidency, speaks during the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Joy D. Jones, general president of the Primary, speaks during the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Brother Jan E. Newman, second counselor in the Sunday School general presidency, speaks during the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Gary E. Stevenson speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Gerrit W. Gong, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gather in the Conference Center Theater in Salt Lake City before the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gather in the Conference Center Theater in Salt Lake City before the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
General conference begins with an invitation
In his opening remarks, President Russell M. Nelson issued a specific invitation about how to listen to messages presented during the Easter weekend conference.
“As we listen to the messages that have been carefully prepared by our leaders under the direction of the Holy Ghost, I invite you to pray to identify the debris you should remove from your life so you can become more worthy,” he said.
Six other leaders spoke during Saturday’s morning session, the first of five sessions being streamed online and broadcast by TV networks in more than 70 countries, an increase from 31 a year ago. They taught about the Savior’s message, about sharing it and about kindness.
Tourists stand near the Salt Lake Temple, which is currently under renovation, during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Sister missionaries walk near the Conference Center during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Ruth Ann Lingwall listens to the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Pedestrians walk past a historical photo near Temple Square during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
A bee pollinates a flower on Temple Square during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Flowers bloom near the Salt Lake Temple, which is currently under renovation, during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
The Salt Lake Temple, which is currently under renovation, is pictured during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
The Salt Lake Temple, which is currently under renovation, is pictured during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
The Conference Center is pictured during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, raises his hand in a sustaining vote during the Saturday afternoon session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Jorge T. Becerra, General Authority Seventy, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of the 191st Annual General Conference, broadcast on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Dale G. Renlund, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Neil L. Andersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, a General Authority Seventy, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference, broadcast from Salt Lake City, on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Temple Square is pictured during the Saturday afternoon session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. The temple is currently under renovation. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles raise their hands in a sustaining vote during the Saturday afternoon session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, a General Authority Seventy, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference, broadcast from Salt Lake City, on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Russell M. Nelson waves to attendees gathered in the Conference Center Theater in Salt Lake City before the Saturday afternoon session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
There is healing for suffering and unfairness
The brutal suffering, loneliness and unfairness of the world and the peace, belonging and healing salve of Jesus Christ highlighted the Easter weekend messages during the Saturday afternoon session. The session also included an expression of deep concern for the number of abortions in the world.
For the first time, conference featured a prerecorded message from a church leader in Africa. Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, a General Authority Seventy from the Democratic Republic of Congo, recorded his message from where he is serving in the church’s Africa Central Area presidency.
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A new Primary presidency
- Saturday’s morning session featured an address from President Joy D. Jones. Primary not only refers to the church’s organization for children and their earliest spiritual learning, President Jones said. “To our Heavenly Father, children have never been secondary — they have always been ‘primary.’”
- President Jones and her counselors, Sister Lisa L. Harkness and Sister Cristina B. Franco, were released during the Saturday afternoon session after five years of service. President Camille N. Johnson (president), Sister Susan H. Porter (first counselor) and Sister Amy Wright (second counselor) were sustained as the new Primary general presidency.
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8 new general authorities
The eight new General Authority Seventies sustained during the Saturday afternoon session represent the United States, Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Philippines and Tonga. They are:
- Elder Sean Douglas
- Elder Michael A. Dunn
- Elder Clark B. Gilbert
- Elder Patricio M. Giuffra
- Elder Alfred Kyungu
- Elder Alvin F. Meredith III
- Elder Carlos G. Revillo J.
- Elder Vaiangina “Vai” Sikahema
Elder Sikahema, who played football for BYU and in the NFL, was called as an Area Seventy in 2019. Elder Gilbert, who served as president of BYU-Idaho and BYU-Pathway Worldwide, was called as an Area Seventy in 2019. Elder Dunn has been the managing director of BYU Broadcasting, including BYUtv, since 2017.
Thomas and Mandi Godfrey and their family listen to the opening prayer as they watch the morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from their home in Holladay on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
President Russell M. Nelson is pictured on a television in the home of Thomas and Mandi Godfrey, of Holladay, during the morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Thomas and Mandi Godfrey and their son, Wyatt, watch the morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from their home in Holladay on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Elli and Maci Godfrey listen to the opening prayer of the morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from their home in Holladay on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Thomas and Mandi Godfrey and their family watch President Russell M. Nelson during The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference from their home in Holladay on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Thomas and Mandi Godfrey and their family watch President Russell M. Nelson during The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference from their home in Holladay on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Membership growth
The worldwide membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was 16,663,663 as of Dec. 31, 2020, up from 16,565,036 at the end of 2019. The net increase of 98,627 church members was reflected in a statistical report issued during the Saturday afternoon session of the faith’s 191st Annual General Conference. Among the other statistics reported:
- 31,126 congregations, up 186 year over year.
- 3,463 stakes, up 27 from a year ago.
- 405 missions, up six from 2019.
- 537 districts, down five, replaced in part by the new stakes.
- 65,440 new children of record, down from 102,102 in 2019.
- 125,930 converts baptized, down from 248,835 a year earlier.
- 51,819 young, full-time proselyting missionaries, down from 67,021 in 2019.
- 130,527 church service missionaries, down from 31,333 the previous year.
Annie Beard gets ready to watch the morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Roland Léporé
A family in Guatemala City, Guatemala, participates in the Saturday afternoon session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A family in Guatemala City, Guatemala, participates in the Saturday afternoon session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A family in Chile watches a session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was broadcast on April 3-4, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A woman in Sheffield, England, participates in a session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021, which was broadcast from Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, and Sunday, April 4, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Allie, Hailey, Lindsey and Isaac Condie, of the Bluffdale 6th Ward, Bluffdale Utah Stake, watch the Saturday afternoon session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Condie family
Jonah Thomas Lewis, of the Highland Park Ward, Gilbert Arizona Highland West Stake, watches the Saturday afternoon session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Mindy Lewis
A family in Uruguay watches a session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference, which was broadcast from Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, and Sunday, April 4, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Missionaries in the Utah Temple Square Mission watch a session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference, which was broadcast from Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, and Sunday, April 4, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A man in Uruguay watches a session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference, which was broadcast from Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, and Sunday, April 4, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A family in Calgary, Canada, participates in a session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference, which was broadcast from Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, and Sunday, April 4, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A family in Calgary, Canada, participates in a session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference, which was broadcast from Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, and Sunday, April 4, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A family in Livingston, Montana, watches a session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference, which was broadcast from Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, and Sunday, April 4, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A family in Villa alemana Quilpue, Chile, watches the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A family in Chile watches the Saturday morning session of 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 3, 2021. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Talk summaries and photo galleries
Read summaries from each of the talks given during Saturday’s three sessions, plus photos from inside the Conference Center Theater, outside Temple Square and from members around the world.
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