ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS HELD IN THE TABERNACLE SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH APRIL 4, 5, 6, 1969 WITH REPORT OF DISCOURSES Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Salt Lake City, Utah OFFICIAL REPORT of the ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE of THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS held in the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah April 4, 5, 6, 1969 + + + Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The One Hundred Thirty-Ninth Annual Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The One Hundred Thirty-ninth An- America, Africa and parts of Asia re- nual Conference of The Church of ceived broadcasts of the proceedings Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints con- over the Church-owned international vened in the Tabernacle on Temple short-wave Radio Station WNYW, Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, Fri- with studios in New York. Audio tape day, April 4, 1969, at 10 o'clock a.m. and sound on film recordings of this The general sessions of the confer- conference were translated into twelve ence were held at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 different languages and sent to the p.m. Friday, April 4, Saturday, April 5, countries of Europe, South and Central and Sunday, April 6. The General America, and the Far East. Priesthood meeting was held on Satur- Re-broadcasts of all sessions of the day, April 5, at 7:00 p.m. conference were sent over KSL Radio, President David O. McKay was not KIRO Radio at Seattle, KMBZ Radio present at any of the meetings of the at Kansas City, Missouri, and WRFM conference. Under orders of his doctors in New York City, beginning at mid- he remained at home during the con- night on Friday, Saturday and Sun- ference sessions, where he received the day, and were heard in many parts of proceedings of the conference by direct the United States and the world. wire television. President McKay pre- The General Priesthood meeting sided at all sessions. Under his direc- held on Saturday evening was trans- tion his counselors, Presidents Hugh mitted over closed circuit from the B. Brown, N. Eldon Tanner, Joseph Salt Lake Tabernacle to approximately Fielding Smith, and Alvin R. Dyer con- 150,000 men of the priesthood assem- ducted the services assigned to each of bled in 500 buildings throughout the them. United States and Canada. Elder Robert R. McKay, son of Presi- dent McKay, read the President's ad- General Authorities of the Church dresses to the conference in the opening Present session on Friday and in the closing session on Sunday afternoon. His son, The First Presidency: Hugh B. Elder David Lawrence McKay, read Brown, Nathan Eldon Tanner, Joseph President McKay's message in the Gen- Fielding Smith, Thorpe B. Isaacson, eral Priesthood meeting on Saturday and Alvin R. Dyer. evening. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: The proeeedings of all sessions of the Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, conference were given extensive cover- Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, age in the United States and Canada Mark E. Petersen, Delbert L. Stapley, over many television and radio stations, Marion G. Romney, LeGrand Richards, coast to coast, originating with KSL Richard L. Evans, Howard W. Hunter, Radio and Television in Salt Lake City. Gordon B. Hinckley, and Thomas S. Countries in Europe, South and Central Monson. 2 GENERAL CONFERENCE Patriarch to the Church: Eldred G. General Officers and Other Smith. Authorities Present Assistants to the Twelve: Alma Church Historian and Recorder: Sonne, EIRay L. Christiansen, John Joseph Fielding Smith, with A. Wil- Longden, Sterling W. Sill, Henry D. liam Lund and Earl E. Olson, assis- Taylor, Franklin D. Richards, Theo- tants. dore M. Burton, Boyd K. Packer, Members of the Church Board of Bernard P. Brockbank, James A. Culli- Education, Church educational authori- more, and Marion D. Hanks. ties and supervisors. The First Council of Seventy: Sey- Presidents of Stakes and their mour Dilworth Young, Milton R. counselors, Presidents of Temples, Hunter, Bruce R. McConkie, A. Theo- Patriarchs, bishoprics of wards and dore Tuttle, Paul H. Dunn, Hartman presidencies of branches, quorum presi- Rector, Jr., and Loren C. Dunn. dencies and members of the Melchize- dek and Aaronic Priesthoods. The Presiding Bishopric: John H. Vandenberg, Robert L. Simpson and Auxiliary officers, General, Stake and Victor L. Brown. Ward, from all parts of the Church. FIRST DAY MORNING MEETING FIRST SESSION the welfare and development of the children of the Church. May God bless for their devotion The opening session of the confer- them and ence convened in the Tabernacle on loyalty. Temple Square in Salt Lake City on All of the General Authorities of Friday morning April 4, 1969, at 10 the Church are in attendance this o'clock a.m., with President David O. morning. We extend to them, to the McKay presiding. President Hugh B. presidents of stakes, mission presidents, Brown, first counselor in the First temple presidents, bishops, and all of Presidency, conducted the services. you who are here in attendance, a greeting and a welcome, and also to The Ogden Institute of Religion all are listening Chorus, under the direction of Ladd R. who in. No doubt there are millions. Cropper, furnished the choral music for this session. Alexander Schreiner We are pleased to announce that was at the organ console. the proceedings of this General Con- ference will again given President Hugh B. Brown extended be extensive coverage in States the following greeting to the con- the United and ference: Canada over many television and radio stations, coast to coast, originat- ing with KSL Radio and Television in President Hugh B. Brown Salt Lake City. Countries South and At this joyful Easter time we join in Europe, with Christians throughout the world Central America, Africa, and parts of in celebrating this epochal event. Asia, totaling nearly two-thirds of the Easter signifies the triumph of the world, can receive broadcasts of these proceedings international short- human spirit over darkness and death. over wave Radio Station WNYW, with Members and friends of The Church studios in New York. of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are meeting in the 139th Annual Confer- Audio tape and Sound on film rec- ence of the Church in the Tabernacle ords of this General Conference will on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. be translated into twelve different lan- President David O. McKay will pre- guages and sent to countries of Europe, side at all sessions of the conference, South and Central America and the although, acting on the advice of his Far East. physician, he has reluctantly con- Re-broadcasts of all sessions of the sented to view the proceedings from conference will be received over KSL his apartment. He has asked that I Radio, Salt Lake City, KIRO Radio at conduct this meeting. We are grate- Seattle, KMBZ Radio at Kansas City, ful that his health has been such that Missouri, WRFM in New York City, during the past six months he has and WNYW over international short- been able to carry on with his heavy wave beginning at midnight tonight, responsibilities and high office. and on Saturday and Sunday, and During the past two days, the gen- can be heard in many parts of the eral officers and teachers of the Pri- United States and the world, including mary Association have been convened Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Europe, South in their 63rd Annual Conference. We and Central America, and the islands have only praise and commendation of the Pacific. for what these sisters are doing for We are grateful to the owners and GENERAL CONFERENCE Friday, April 4 First Day operators of the radio and television invocation will be offered by President stations for their cooperation in mak- Alma P. Burton of the Sharon Stake. ing possible such an extensive coverage of the proceedings of this conference. We should like to express our appre- The Ogden Institute of Religion ciation for the lovely flowers which Chorus sang the number, "God of Com- decorate the rostrum. For the beautiful fort, God of Courage." white calla lilies we are indebted to Elder Alma P. Burton, president of the Oakland-Berkeley Stake high priests the Sharon Stake, offered the opening quorum, and to Brother Irvin T. Nelson prayer. and his associates for handling and arranging these flowers, and also the beautiful floral display at the rear entrance of this building. President Hugh B. Brown We are pleased to welcome this morning these young students from the This wonderful chorus from the Ogden Institute of Religion, Ogden, Ogden Institute of Religion will now Utah. They will furnish the music sing, "I Need Thee Every Hour." for this session of conference. We are grateful for their presence, and for their willingness to come and The Ogden Institute of Religion add their youthful, exhilarating spirit Chorus sang the hymn, "I Need Thee and influence to this meeting. We Every Hour." want you young people to know that President McKay and all of us appre- ciate you and your conductor, Brother President Hugh B. Brown Ladd R. Cropper. He will conduct the chorus, and Alexander Schreiner is at President David O. McKay has pre- the organ. pared a message and an address for We shall begin this session by the the conference, but being unable to be chorus rendering, "God of Comfort, present has asked his son, Robert, if God of Courage," following which the he will read that message now, please.