188th Annual General Conference

It was our privilege to watch the General Conference and be taught by so many inspired men. We know everything we heard on this conference was the word of God and His will for each one of us. We also had the privilege to sustain our new prophet Russell M. Nelson, and Elder Ulisses Soares from Brazil and Elder Garrit W. Gong into the quorum of twelve apostles.

This general conference was filled with changes and surprises. The programs of home teaching and visiting teaching are being replaced for ministering, and young women between fourteen and eighteen years old can also participate in it. About that president Nelson said:

"We have made the decision to retire 'home teaching' and 'visiting teaching' as we have known them. Instead, we will implement a newer, holier approach to caring and ministering to others. We will refer to these efforts simply as ministering".

On the last session of the conference president Nelson announced seven new temples to be built- Salta/Argentina, Bengaluru/India, Managua/Nicaragua, Cagayan de Oro/Philippines, Layton/Utah, Richmond/Virginia, and a major city yet to be determined in Russia.

My favorite quotes from the four sessions:

Elder Neil L. Andersen

"We live in a world of reason, debate, argument, logic and explanation (...) but the Lord's voice often comes without explanation"

"'My philosophy is stopping putting question marks behind the prophets statements and put exclamations instead'. This is how a humble and spiritual man chose to order his life"

Elder Russell Ballard

"Those called to do the Lord's work are not humanly perfect(...). Given the reality of our wickedness and shortcomings how do we move forward in supporting and sustaining each other? It begins with faith, real sincere faith"

Reyna I. Aburto

"We are in this journey together. We need to work together. We need to be unified"

Massimo De Feo

"Express love to all God's children. This is a gospel of love"

Bishop Gerald Causse

"Are we active in the gospel or merely busy in the church?"

Russell M. Nelson

"Study frequently and repeatedly the talks of this general conference. This conference marks a new era of ministering"

"The power of Holy Ghost can and will change your life"