Families came from near and far to see the afternoon session of General Conference on Saturday, April 6, 2024. This session featured seven different speakers, three of whom were apostles, with a set of hymns sung by the student choir of BYU-Idaho.
Aldara Cilia and her husband, Gerardo Cilia, live in Utah County and actually decided to come yesterday because they were inspired by their son to come, Aldara Cilia said.
“Yesterday his seminary teacher told him about the General Conference and he got so excited and said to himself ‘Mom! We have to go, we have to go, we have to go!” she said.
Inspired by their son’s example, they came at the last minute without tickets and managed to get in.
Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve opened the session by quoting a scripture: “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
There’s a deep meaning behind that simple sentence, Bednar said.
“In this way, ‘be silent’ may be a way of reminding us to focus unfailingly on the Savior as the main source of the spiritual stillness of the soul that strengthens us to do and overcome difficult things,” He said.
Elder Massimo De Feo of the Seventy followed by telling us that we cannot blame who we are on our circumstances and say that we cannot change. When we think this way, we decide to be acted upon and keep the beggar’s coat. However, there is a way around this, according to Elder De Feo.
“To act in faith is to rely on our Savior, believing that through His Atonement we can rise above all things at His command.” Elder De Feo said.
Gerardo Cilia was also happy that their son inspired them to come to the conference.
“Every place is different, but in this place I feel such a strong spirit and the desire to be a better person,” he said.
Elder Brent H. Nielsen of the Seventy said he was reminded through his calling that the Church is global.
“Our wonderful missionaries now covering the globe are 71,000 strong. Working together with members, they baptize over 20,000 people each month,” Elder Nielsen said.
He couldn’t believe how much the Church was growing when he visited the Philippines.
“I am a witness of God’s work all over the world,” he said.
He continued by saying for the third time, “There has never been a better time to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than today.”
Given the church’s global reach, attendees traveled far and wide, including trips out of state and even out of the country to reach the conference center in Salt Lake City. Diana Mireles Betts and her husband drove their family from Tijuana, Mexico to come watch the conference.
“We’ve been driving for, what, fourteen hours? To be able to get here,” Mireles said.
Since it was their first time attending the conference in person, it was a very special experience for them, she said.
“For three or four years we wanted to come to the General Conference. The pandemic happened — we couldn’t come — then our visa expired and we couldn’t come. It has always been our desire to have the experience of being here and now it has happened,” said Mireles.
According to Mireles’ daughter, it was worth a lot to them. Mireles had two very specific questions, both of which were answered in the morning session.
“I left very strengthened. I’m happy to be here,” she said.
Every talk centered on Jesus Christ. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve speaks of hope in our times of trial.
“All things are for your good.” A remarkable promise! A comforting assurance from God himself!” Elder Gong said.
Brother Michael T. Nelson of the Young Men’s General Presidency invited leaders to build relationships with youth and vice versa. He said church leaders were amazed by the courage, faith and ability of the youth.
The closing speaker was Elder Quinten L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve. He invited everyone to “Be One with Christ.”
