THE ENSIGN OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • MAY 2019 General Conference Addresses President Nelson Encourages Families to Seek Exaltation New General Authority Seventies and Sunday School Presidency Sustained 8 New Temples Announced, Pioneer-Era Temples to Be Renovated THE FIRST PRESIDENCY AND QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES AT THE ROME ITALY TEMPLE VISITORS’ CENTER TEMPLEVISITORS’ THEROMEITALY APOSTLESAT THE FIRSTPRESIDENCYAND QUORUMOFTHETWELVE “More than 2,000 years ago, our Savior, Jesus Christ, ministered to the world, establishing His Church and His gospel. He called Apostles and gave them the decree to ‘go ye therefore, and teach all nations’ [Matthew 28:19]. “In our day, the Lord’s Church has been restored. The Savior stands at the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As modern-day Apostles of Jesus Christ, we share the same message today that Apostles shared long ago—that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ.” —President Russell M. Nelson, while in Italy for the dedication of the Rome Italy Temple in March. Contents May 2019 Volume 49 • Number 5 Saturday Morning Session 31 Seeking Knowledge by the Spirit Sunday Morning Session 6 How Can I Understand? Elder Mathias Held 70 Abound with Blessings Elder Ulisses Soares 34 The Eye of Faith Elder Dale G. Renlund 9 Careful versus Casual Elder Neil L. Andersen 73 Christ: The Light That Shines in Becky Craven 38 Feasting upon the Words of Christ Darkness 11 Answers to Prayer Elder Takashi Wada Sharon Eubank Elder Brook P. Hales 41 Hearing His Voice 76 Great Love for Our Father’s 15 Missionary Work: Sharing What Is Elder David P. Homer Children in Your Heart 44 Behold the Lamb of God Elder Quentin L. Cook Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf Elder Jeffrey R. Holland 81 Preparing for the Lord’s Return 19 Just as He Did Elder D. Todd Christofferson Bishop W. Christopher Waddell General Priesthood Session 85 The Atonement of Jesus Christ 22 A Home Where the Spirit of the 47 Your Priesthood Playbook Tad R. Callister Lord Dwells Elder Gary E. Stevenson 88 “Come, Follow Me” President Henry B. Eyring 51 The Quorum: A Place of Belonging President Russell M. Nelson Elder Carl B. Cook Saturday Afternoon Session 54 Look unto Jesus Christ Sunday Afternoon Session 26 The Sustaining of Church Officers Elder Kim B. Clark 91 Cleansed by Repentance President Dallin H. Oaks 58 The Power of Sustaining Faith President Dallin H. Oaks 27 Church Auditing Department President Henry B. Eyring 95 Exercising Our Spiritual Muscles Report, 2018 60 Where Will This Lead? Elder Juan Pablo Villar Kevin R. Jergensen President Dallin H. Oaks 97 Good Shepherd, Lamb of God 28 The True, Pure, and Simple Gospel 67 We Can Do Better and Be Better Elder Gerrit W. Gong of Jesus Christ President Russell M. Nelson 101 Prepared to Obtain Every Needful President M. Russell Ballard Thing Elder David A. Bednar 105 The Immediate Goodness of God Elder Kyle S. McKay 107 Build a Fortress of Spirituality and Protection Elder Ronald A. Rasband 111 Closing Remarks President Russell M. Nelson 64 General Authorities and General Officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 112 Statistical Report, 2018 113 Conference Story Index 114 News of the Church 127 Come, Follow Me—Learning from General Conference Messages MAY 2019 1 The 189th Annual General Conference Saturday Morning, April 6, 2019, Benediction: Jean B. Bingham Murphy; “I Need Thee Every Hour,” Hymns, General Session Music by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple no. 98, arr. Wilberg. Conducting: President Dallin H. Oaks Square; Mack Wilberg, director; Andrew Invocation: Elder Steven E. Snow Unsworth and Brian Mathias, organists: “Sing Conference Talks Available Benediction: Elder Wilford W. Andersen Praise to Him,” Hymns, no. 70; “How Firm a To access general conference talks online in Music by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Foundation,” Hymns, no. 85, arr. Wilberg; “I many languages, visit conference.Church Square; Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy, Feel My Savior’s Love,” Children’s Songbook, ofJesusChrist.org and select a language. Talks directors; Richard Elliott and Andrew 74, arr. Cardon; “Come, Ye Children of the are also available on the Gospel Library mobile Unsworth, organists: “Now Let Us Rejoice,” Lord,” Hymns, no. 58; “O Thou Rock of Our app. Generally within six weeks following Hymns, no. 3; “Press Forward, Saints,” Hymns, Salvation,” Hymns, no. 258, arr. Wilberg; general conference, English video and audio no. 81, arr. Wilberg; “There Is Sunshine in My “Come, Follow Me,” Hymns, no. 116, arr. recordings are available at distribution centers. Soul Today,” Hymns, no. 227, arr. Wilberg; Wilberg. Information on general conference in acces- “Redeemer of Israel,” Hymns, no. 6; “Dearest sible formats for members with disabilities is Children, God Is Near You,” Hymns, no. 96, Sunday Afternoon, April 7, 2019, available at disability.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. General Session arr. Wilberg; “I Am a Child of God,” Hymns, On the Cover no. 301, arr. Murphy; “Rejoice, the Lord Is Conducting: President Henry B. Eyring Front: Photograph by Leslie Nilsson. King!” Hymns, no. 66, arr. Murphy. Invocation: Elder Taniela B. Wakolo Benediction: Elder Claudio R. M. Costa Back: Photograph by Matthew Reier. Saturday Afternoon, April 6, 2019, Music by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Conference Photography General Session Square; Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy, Photographs in Salt Lake City were Conducting: President Henry B. Eyring directors; Bonnie Goodliffe and Linda taken by Cody Bell, Janae Bingham, Invocation: Elder Brent H. Nielson Margetts, organists: “Sweet Is the Work,” Mason Coberly, Randy Collier, Weston Colton, Benediction: Lisa L. Harkness Hymns, no. 147, arr. Murphy; “Come unto Ashlee Larsen, Leslie Nilsson, Matthew Reier, Music by a combined choir from Brigham Jesus,” Hymns, no. 117, arr. Murphy; “Hark, and Christina Smith. Young University; Rosalind Hall and Andrew All Ye Nations!” Hymns, no. 264; “I Know That Crane, directors; Linda Margetts and Bonnie My Savior Loves Me,” Creamer and Bell, arr. Goodliffe, organists: “Come, O Thou King of Kings,” Hymns, no. 59, arr. Kasen; “I Stand All Amazed,” Hymns, no. 193, arr. Jessop; “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” Hymns, no. 72; “Jesus, Once of Humble Birth,” Hymns, no. 196, arr. Kasen; “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” Hymns, no. 102, arr. Staheli. Saturday Evening, April 6, 2019, General Priesthood Session Conducting: President Dallin H. Oaks Invocation: Elder John C. Pingree Jr. Benediction: Elder Brian K. Taylor Music by a combined Aaronic Priesthood choir from stakes in Layton, Utah; Stephen Schank, director; Brian Mathias, organist: “Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah,” Hymns, no. 83, arr. Wilberg; “Count Your Blessings,” Hymns, no. 241, arr. Kasen; “Hope of Israel,” Hymns, no. 259; “Beautiful Savior,” Children’s Songbook, 62, arr. Schank. Sunday Morning, April 7, 2019, General Session Conducting: President Dallin H. Oaks Invocation: Elder Bradley D. Foster 2 189TH ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE | APRIL 6–7, 2019 A MAGAZINE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS MAY 2019 VOLUME 49 • NUMBER 5 The First Presidency: Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, Henry B. Eyring The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: M. Russell Ballard, Jeffrey R. Holland, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, Neil L. Andersen, Ronald A. Rasband, Gary E. Stevenson, Dale G. Renlund, Gerrit W. Gong, Ulisses Soares Editor: Randy D. Funk Advisers: Brian K. Ashton, Randall K. Bennett, Kindness, 105 Becky Craven, Sharon Eubank, Cristina B. Franco, Speaker Index Topic Index Donald L. Hallstrom, Larry S. Kacher, Erich W. Kopischke, Andersen, Neil L., 34 Aaronic Priesthood, 19, 47, 51 Knowledge, 31, 41 Lynn G. Robbins Ballard, M. Russell, 28 Acceptance, 73 Learning, 6, 28, 101 Managing Director: Richard I. Heaton Bednar, David A., 101 Activation, 19 Light of Christ, 73 Director of Church Magazines: Allan R. Loyborg Callister, Tad R., 85 Adversity, 34, 73, 85 Love, 11, 15, 22, 28, 58, 73, 76 Business Manager: Garff Cannon Christofferson, D. Todd, 81 Atonement, 44, 85, 91, 97 Media, 76 Managing Editor: Adam C. Olson Clark, Kim B., 54 Blessings, 70, 105 Mercy, 91 Assistant Managing Editor: Aaron Johnston Cook, Carl B., 51 Book of Mormon, 51, 81 Ministering, 19, 28, 54, 97 Publications Assistant: Karee Brown Cook, Quentin L., 76 Brotherhood, 51 Miracles, 15 Writing and Editing: Ryan Carr, David Dickson, Craven, Becky, 9 Change, 67 Missionary work, 15, 22, 51, David A. Edwards, Matthew Flitton, Garrett H. Garff, Charlotte Larcabal, Michael R. Morris, Eric B. Murdock, Eubank, Sharon, 73 Choices, 60 76, 95 Richard M. Romney, Mindy Selu, Lori Fuller Sosa, Eyring, Henry B., 22, 58 Church leaders, 58 Obedience, 70 Chakell Wardleigh Gong, Gerrit W., 97 Comfort, 105 Ordinances, 85, 88 Editorial Interns: Eleanor Cain Adams, Allisa White Hales, Brook P., 11 Conversion, 19, 31, 38 Patience, 70, 105 Managing Art Director: J. Scott Knudsen Held, Mathias, 31 Courage, 15 Peace, 28 Art Director: Tadd R. Peterson Holland, Jeffrey R., 44 Covenants, 9, 54, 73, 88, 101 Physical death, 85 Design: David S. Green, Colleen Hinckley, Homer, David P., 41 Deliverance, 105 Plan of salvation, 60 Eric P. Johnsen, Susan Lofgren, Scott Mooy, Jergensen, Kevin R., 27 Discipleship, 6, 9, 15, 28, 47, Prayer, 11, 22, 58, 70 Emily Chieko Remington Design Intern: Sofia Spannaus McKay, Kyle S., 105 54, 67, 107, 111 Preparation, 101, 107 Nelson, Russell M., 67, 88, 111 Divine nature, 60 Priesthood, 54, 58, 67 Intellectual Property Coordinator: Collette Nebeker Aune Production Manager: Jane Ann Peters Oaks, Dallin H., 26, 60, 91 Exaltation, 88 Priesthood quorums, 47, 51 Production: Ira Glen Adair, Julie Burdett, Thomas G. Rasband, Ronald A., 107 Example, 6 Prophets, 34 Cronin, Bryan W. Gygi, Ginny J. Nilson, Marrissa Smith Renlund, Dale G., 70 Faith, 6, 22, 34, 58, 70, 95, 107 Repentance, 22, 67, 73, 85, 91 Prepress: Joshua Dennis Soares, Ulisses, 6 Family, 34, 58, 76, 88 Resurrection, 81, 91 Printing Director: Steven T.