This was a historic General Conference, coming as it did so soon after the death of President Russell M. Nelson, 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The conference sessions were conducted under the authority of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles with President Dallin H. Oaks at the helm. They have elected to defer the reorganization of the First Presidency until after the funeral of President Nelson. That will happen tomorrow, October 7, 2025.
Here are the highlights of the two-day General Conference:
Saturday morning session:
Opening remarks from President Dallin H. Oaks:
“I speak to you as the president of the Quorum of the Twelve, in which position I have been sustained in each of our ward, stake and general conferences for the past 7½ years.”
“President Nelson understood the value of general conference to provide direction to the Saints in the coming months. We honor him by following the planned conference schedule he approved.”
“I have learned more about the gospel and gospel leadership from my long friendship and association with him than from any other leader I have personally known. He is our model as a servant and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Elder Gary E. Stevenson:
“Peacemaking still begins in the most basic place — in our hearts. Then in homes and families. As we practice there, peacemaking will spread into our neighborhoods and communities.”
“To be peacemakers, we forgive others and deliberately build others up instead of tearing them down.”
“We fulfill our divine role as children of a loving Heavenly Father as we strive to become peacemakers.”
Sister Tracy Y. Browning:
“Primary songs can become a child’s first spiritual language because their simple, memorable melodies give voice to gospel truths. These songs hold the power to stay with children for a lifetime, becoming part of their discipleship and a natural and normal way for them to testify of the Savior.”
“Primary music can be a miracle carried along the lifelong arc of discipleship that our children will travel.”
“Sacred music can help write the doctrine of Christ into the soul and prepare us to receive His ordinances. It links the Savior’s doctrine to our memory and that memory to our discipleship in Him.”
Elder Ronald M. Barcellos:
“The Savior taught that if our hearts are fully turned to Him, because of His atoning sacrifice, we can be blessed with the strength and spiritual gifts we need to overcome our mortal challenges, resist temptation, receive direction and understanding, and feel joy and peace in our lives.”
“Our Heavenly Father desires more than mechanical acts of obedience and service from His children. He wants us to do those things with real intent, because we love Him with all our hearts. He wants us to desire to become like Him.”
“When we choose to do each thing the Lord has asked us to do ... with a sincere heart and with real intent, each act of service and worship becomes a powerful spiritual experience that strengthens our faith and testimony, and fills our hearts with joy and love for God and our fellow man.”
Elder Brik V. Eyre:
“It is insightful that the first point of doctrine that our missionaries teach is that God is our loving Heavenly Father. Every subsequent truth builds on the foundational understanding of who we really are.”
“Regardless of where we are on our path of discipleship, our lives will fundamentally change if we better understand who we really are.”
“The greatest manifestation of Heavenly Father’s love for us as His children is the reality that He sent His Son, our own personal Savior, to help us come home. Therefore, we need to come to know Him.”
Elder Kelly R. Johnson:
“To be reconciled to God means to be brought back into harmony with God, or to restore a relationship with God that has been strained or broken because of our sins or actions. Simply put, being reconciled to God means aligning our will and actions with God’s will or, as taught by President Russell M. Nelson, letting God prevail in our lives.”
“Just as ethylene weakens the connection of a ripe cherry stem, disobedience, doubts and fears can weaken our connection to the Stem of Jesse, or Jesus Christ, allowing us to be easily shaken and separated from Him. As faithful as we may be, we must guard against a weakening of our connection to Jesus Christ.”
“I have learned that a desire to be reconciled to God must be accompanied by a desire to repent. Repenting and experiencing the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ lead to unshaken faith. Unshaken faith leads to a desire to always be reconciled to God. This is a circular, or iterative, pattern.”
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
“Simply put, discipleship takes self-discipline. It is not a casual endeavor, and it doesn’t happen by accident.”
“Your origin story is divine, and so is your destiny. You left heaven to come here, but heaven has never left you. You are anything but ordinary. You are gifted.”
“I urge and bless every member of the Church and all who desire to be part of it to trust the Savior enough to engage, patiently and diligently, in doing your part with all your heart — that your joy may be full and that, one day, you will receive all the Father has.”
Saturday Afternoon Session:
Elder Ronald A. Rasband:
“The proclamation has a divine origin, so we must treat it with the reverence deserving words from God.”
“You have family in your Savior, Jesus Christ, who loves you. He came to earth to atone for our sins and bear the burden of our mistakes and very bad days.”
“Our Father in Heaven has provided the proclamation on the family to help guide us to come home to Him, to help us learn and be filled with love, strength, purpose and eternal understanding."
Brother Chad H. Webb:
“Today I invite you to consider the role of the Holy Ghost, specifically related to gospel learning and teaching in the home and at Church.”
“As we’re given opportunities to share what we are learning through our study and from the Holy Ghost, we help each other to be instructed and edified. As we apply gospel principles, the Spirit again bears witness of their truthfulness.”
“In our homes and Church meetings, as we focus on Jesus Christ, teach His doctrine and learn diligently, we invite the Holy Ghost to deepen our faith in Jesus Christ and help us become more like Him, which is the aim of all gospel teaching and learning.”
Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi:
“The sacrament table and temple altars symbolize the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His infinite Atonement.”
“If the Savior is the great connector, then the adversary is the separator.”
“Our Savior’s arms are outstretched; His table is spread. Come worship the Son of God at His holy altars.”
Elder Kevin G. Brown:
“The gift and witness of the Holy Ghost are available to everyone.”
“It is worth every effort to pursue this path to testimony.”
“Saying ‘I choose to believe’ makes it easier to receive a witness from God.”
Elder Gerrit W. Gong:
“In His Church and through His ordinances and covenants, we come to each other and to Jesus Christ.”
“The peace of Jesus Christ is meant for us personally.”
“Covenant belonging deepens as we come to each other and to the Lord in His inn. The Lord blesses us all when no one sits alone.”
Elder Michael Cziesla:
“When the focus of our life is on Christ and His gospel message, we can experience the full blessings of discipleship wherever we live.”
“Applying the doctrine of Christ in a simplified and focused way will help us to find joy in our daily lives, give guidance in our callings, answer some of life’s most complex questions and provide strength to face our greatest challenges.”
“I have learned through my own experience that the small and simple things of the gospel and faithfully focusing on Christ lead us to true joy, bring about mighty miracles and grant us confidence that all promised blessings will come to pass.”
Elder Quentin L. Cook:
“Let me once again assure all new converts and those returning to the Lord’s Church: We love you; we need you; the Lord needs you.”
“My counsel to the members of the Church is to wrap our arms around these precious elect people who have accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
“Following the Savior and His doctrine and teachings has never been easy in a world that is constantly in commotion.”
Saturday Evening Session:
Elder Patrick Kearon:
“New beginnings are at the heart of the Father’s plan for His children. This is the Church of new beginnings. This is the church of fresh starts.”
“Little by little, the more we invite His goodness into our hearts and cast out the self-defeating voices in our heads, we become His people because we truly make Him our God.”
“To those who are struggling with the same sin or the same setback over and over again … You don’t have to be who you’ve been before. Embrace your fresh start, your second or third or fourth — or hundredth — chance, offered to you through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.”
Sister J. Anette Dennis:
“It is a basic human need for all of us to feel a sense of belonging, to feel that we are wanted and needed and that our lives have purpose and meaning, no matter our circumstances or limitations.”
“Christlike love and care are higher and holier. The pure love of Christ is charity.”
“His is not a gospel of checklists; it is a gospel of becoming — becoming as He is and loving as He does.”
Elder Steven C. Barlow:
“When love is freely given and sincerely received, a virtuous cycle ensues with an increase of love between both the giver and the receiver.”
“The beautiful paradox is that the more we are focused on showing our love for God, the more easily we recognize His love for us.”
"Heavenly Father’s 'work and glory' is not only to bring to pass our eternal life but also includes a hope that our greatest desire is to return to Him.”
Elder William K. Jackson:
“Like the shepherd who left the ninety and nine — safe and secure, I am certain — and went after the one that was lost, we have been asked to be just as aware of our flocks, to notice and remember, and go and do likewise.”
“Christ has organized His Church in such a way that it should be difficult to forget a soul, for each is dear to Him.”
“To God, who created the universe and rules over all, this work — His work and glory — is very personal. And so it should be for us, as instruments in His hands in His amazing work of salvation and exaltation. Miracles in the lives of real people will result.”
Elder Neil L. Andersen:
“The powerful compassion of the Savior in forgiving sin and in healing the wounds caused by the sins of others is a most miraculous manifestation of the love of God.”
“Your Heavenly Father rejoices in your resolve to come unto Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit.”
“I give you my absolute assurance, the Savior knows you and loves you. Reach out to Him. He is your comfort and strength; He will send His angels to bear you up. When will your pain be gone, your grief subdued, the unwanted memories forgotten? I do not know. But this I do know: He has the power to bring beauty from the ashes of your suffering.”
Sunday Morning Session:
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:
“When we participate in any of the ordinances of the gospel and honor the corresponding covenants, we come to know the Savior much more personally.”
“[The Book of Mormon] has been for me a rod of safety for my soul, a transcendent and penetrating light of revelation and illumination of the path I must walk when mists of darkness come, and surely they have and surely they will.”
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a true restoration of the New Testament church and more, because I could not deny the evidence of that restoration, particularly the spiritual evidence of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, the very word of God itself.”
Elder James E. Evanson:
“You don’t need to have a service assignment or wear a name tag to do good. Every act of service is recognized by the Savior. We are all able to help others come unto Christ by serving with loving kindness.”
“When you, or a family member, is blessed with a call as a service missionary, that is a moment to celebrate. Your family will have a set-apart representative of Jesus Christ living in your home. That will change all of you for the good.”
“If teaching missionaries are the Lord’s mouth, then service missionaries are the Lord’s hands, and you are not second-class missionaries. Each of you is vital to the gathering of Israel.”
Elder Ulisses Soares:
“Cultivating temperance is a meaningful way to protect our souls against the subtle yet constant spiritual erosion caused by worldly influences that can weaken our foundation in Jesus Christ.”
“The gospel of Jesus Christ invites us to exercise this virtue especially in times of challenge, for it is precisely on these occasions that the true character of individuals is revealed.”
“As we strive, with faith and diligence, to weave temperance into our actions and words, I testify that we will strengthen and anchor our lives more securely upon the sure foundation of our Redeemer.”
Elder Peter M. Johnson:
“Christ ministered to the one with love and as a result, others became His devoted disciples.”
“At times we will have unanswered questions and feelings of being unimportant, discouraged, alone and unseen; however, my friends, we must press forward with faith in Jesus Christ.”
“Our ability to live the doctrine of Christ will be enhanced by daily study of the Book of Mormon and weekly partaking of the sacrament.”
Elder D. Todd Christofferson:
“The counsel, ’look to God and live,’ has meaning for us not only in eternity, but also makes all the difference in the character and quality of our mortal lives.”
“In looking to God, we can find peace in difficulty and our faith can continue to grow even in times of doubt and spiritual challenge.”
“Looking to God means that He is not just one of our priorities; it means rather that He is our one highest priority.”
Sister Andrea Munoz Spannaus:
“Each member of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a prophet, seer and revelator.”
“In the coming days, I invite you to kneel, open your hearts and pray with faith to Heavenly Father, asking Him to confirm to you that His chosen Prophet and Apostles are His voice on the earth today.”
“Prophets testify of Christ — His existence, His ministry and His divinity.”
Elder Henry B. Eyring:
“When we continue to have faith in Jesus Christ — even when things might feel impossible to us at the moment — we become spiritually stronger.”
“Because of His glorious Atonement, Jesus Christ can strengthen us in our times of trial. He knows how to succor us because He has felt all the challenges that we will ever feel in mortality.”
“If we remain faithful in our service, the Lord will refine us. He will strengthen us. And one day, we will look back and see that those very trials were evidence of His love.”
Sunday Afternoon Session:
Elder David A. Bednar:
“Consider that we are commanded — not merely admonished or counseled — but commanded to use our agency to love one another and choose God.”
“Unlike worldly fear that causes alarm and anxiety, godly fear invites into our lives peace, assurance and confidence.”
“Ultimately, then, we are our own judges. No one will need to tell us where to go.”
Elder B. Corey Cuvelier:
“Those who take upon themselves the name of Christ become His disciples and witnesses.”
“Following prophetic counsel to make discipleship a priority is both timely and wise, especially in an age of so many competing voices and influences.”
“In the end, our identity isn’t defined by the world. But our discipleship is defined by the ordinances we receive, the covenants we keep, and the love we show to God and neighbor by simply doing good.”
Elder Matthew S. Holland:
“Having a doctrinal understanding and spiritual witness of why every single one of us struggle with moral, physical, and situational challenges is a great blessing.”
“Even greater than manifesting the effects of the fall, Jonah’s story powerfully directs us to Him who can deliver us from these effects.”
“Whether we are facing a deep, Jonah-like catastrophe, or the every-day challenges of our imperfect world, the invitation is the same, forsake not your own mercy.”
Elder Carlos A. Godoy:
“The greatness of our Saints in Africa becomes even more evident as they face life’s challenges and the demands of a growing Church. They always approach it with a positive attitude.”
“We see their positive attitude because they center their lives in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They know where to find help and hope.”
“Just like those Saints in Africa, I know this promise [of the Savior’s healing power] is true. It is true there, and it’s true everywhere.”
Elder Dale G. Renlund:
“When we take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, we link our name with His. We identify with Him. We gladly become known as Christian.”
“As His disciples, we … strive to become like Him and seek to be blessed with His attributes.”
“Come unto our Heavenly Father. Take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ. Identify with Him. Always remember Him. Strive to be like Him. Join Him in His work. Receive His power and blessings in your life.”
Elder John D. Amos:
“The simple secret for happy living is to just follow God’s recipe as detailed in the scriptures. I call it the ‘Good News Recipe.’”
“What do you do if something goes wrong when following the recipe? Well, embedded in the Good News Recipe is the ‘secret ingredient’ to ensure you always get it right in the end. The answer is always Jesus Christ.”
“I think we all have moments when we feel our ingredients are not good enough, or we struggle to follow the directions, or perhaps we do something out of order, or something happens that is out of our control, and so on. What’s the remedy? It’s simply to add more of what invites Jesus Christ into your life.”
Elder Ozani Farias:
“The Book of Mormon has been my companion and has become an immeasurable treasure in my mortal journey.”
“Just as Lehi desired to share the fruit of the tree of life with his family (see 1 Nephi 8:12), when we gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, we develop a desire to share the joy that comes from knowing the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
“I know as we feast upon the words of Christ found in the Book of Mormon, the Spirit will help us understand eternal truths and share our testimony with conviction to those whom the Lord has prepared to hear His message.”
President Dallin H. Oaks:
“The doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints centers on the family. ”
“Parents — single or married and others like grandparents who fill that role for children — are the master teachers.”
“Many parents will find that they can turn their family on if they all turn their technologies off. And parents remember, what those children really want for dinner is time with you.”
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