President Monson welcomed everyone to another General Conference and gave thanks for the technology that will allow the conference to be transmitted around the world in 92 languages
News:
Since April 2009 the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple has been dedicated. Additionally, a two-night cultural event featuring 14,000 youth from both the Oquirrh Mountain and Draper Temple districts was held in which the “rich legacy of Utah through song and dance” was commemorated,(Thomas S. Monson, Welcome to Conference, Ensign, Nov. 2010, 4).
Temple building continues and 83 percent of church members now live within 200 miles of a temple. There are currently 130 temples. Five new temples are to be built in Brigham City, Utah; Concepción, Chile; Fortaleza, Brazil; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Sapporo, Japan (Thomas S. Monson, Welcome to Conference, Ensign, Nov. 2010, 4).
Admonishment:
Be faithful in performing temple ordinances for those who cannot do them for themselves.
Quote from President Joseph F. Smith:
“Through our efforts in their behalf their chains of bondage will fall from them, and the darkness surrounding them will clear away, that light may shine upon them and they shall hear in the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their [people] here, and will rejoice with you in your performance of these duties,” (Joseph F. Smith, in Conference Report, Oct. 1916, 6; as quoted in Thomas S. Monson, Welcome to Conference, Ensign, Nov. 2010, 5).
Members of the church are to reach out to new converts and fellowship them in love, helping them to feel at home and welcome.
Members should continue to offer up faith and prayers on behalf of those areas where “our influence is limited and where we are not allowed to share the gospel freely at this time. Miracles can occur as we do so,” (Thomas S. Monson, Welcome to Conference, Ensign, Nov. 2010, 6).
Prayer:
Reminder that those who will speak during the conference have sought the Lord’s guidance and have prepared well.
“That we may be filled with the spirit of the Lord as we listen and learn is my prayer,” (Thomas S. Monson, Welcome to Conference, Ensign, Nov. 2010, 6).
My Comments:
What a marvelous thing it is to me to contemplate temple work moving forward at such a marvelous pace. Just twenty years ago there were less than 50 temples. Now there are over 130 in use with several more announced or in progress. How merciful and kind is the Lord in providing the means for the living to receive the sacred ordinances of those holy houses. How infinite His kindness, grace, and love, in preparing the way that all of his children may receive these divine ordinances through vicarious means.
In pondering the miraculous possibilities that the firm faith and prayers of millions of Latter-Day Saints can bring, my heart thrills. I cannot help but think of Ammon and the Sons of Mosiah and their miraculous mission to the Lamanites. Do we not have a parallel situation in the Middle East today? Thousands, and perhaps millions, of misguided individuals hate Americans, particularly Christian and Jewish Americans, in the same way the ancient Lamanites hated the Nephites. The question we face is whether or not we will react as did Ammon and his brethren, and move forth with faith, love, fasting and mighty prayer on behalf of these our brethren and sisters who know not God, or will we be like the Nephites of old who laughed Ammon and his brethren to scorn at the thought of trying to preach to them and like the Nephites, believe that it is better for them to be destroyed before they destroy us.
