Sunday morning session: See photos and read summaries of October 2022 general conference

President Russell M. Nelson concluded the Sunday morning session of October 2022 general conference by pleading for all to take charge of their testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. 

“As you make the continual strengthening of your testimony of Jesus Christ your highest priority, watch for miracles to happen in your life,” said the President of the Church. 

Because Jesus Christ overcame the world, “you too can overcome this sin-saturated, self-centered and often exhausting world.” Making and keeping covenants, President Nelson taught, makes life easier. 

“When you yoke yourself to Jesus Christ and do the spiritual work required to overcome the world, He, and He alone, does have the power to lift you above the pull of this world.” 

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The Sunday morning session also included remarks from three members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Young Men general president, a counselor in the Relief Society general presidency and an emeritus general authority. 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles opened the session by addressing why the Church generally does not use the iconography of the cross, but rather a symbol of the Savior’s Resurrection, and what it means to “take up our cross and follow Him.”

“As the glorious Resurrection followed the agonizing Crucifixion, so blessings of every kind are poured out on those who are willing as the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob says, ‘to believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross,’” he said. 

Elder Holland’s theme of discipleship was expounded by Elder Joseph W. Sitati, a General Authority Seventy who was granted emeritus status this conference and identified patterns for “enduring and joyful discipleship”: faith, humility, love and service.

Young Men General President Steven J. Lund also spoke about discipleship — lasting discipleship — in the lives of youth after a historic summer of For the Strength of Youth conferences. 

Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, spoke about loving others as Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do. “Everyone needs to feel that they really do belong and are needed in the body of Christ,” she said. 

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught about moral agency and strengthening covenant connections with Jesus’ parable of the royal marriage feast. Symbolizing God’s call and individual responses, it concludes: “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).

“You and I ultimately can choose to be chosen through the righteous exercise of our moral agency,” Elder Bednar said. 

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified that God’s work and glory include bringing to pass “happy and forever.” 

“Happy and forever do not mean that every relationship will be happy and forever,” Elder Gong said. “But a thousand millennial years when Satan is bound may give us needed time and surprising ways to love, understand and work things out, as we prepare for eternity.”

President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, conducted the session. Prayers were offered by Elder Weatherford T. Clayton, General Authority Seventy emeritus, and Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon. 

Music was performed by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, directed by Mack Wilberg, with organists Richard Elliott and Brian Mathias. Selections were “How Wondrous and Great,” “With Songs of Praise,” “You Can Make the Pathway Bright,” “How Great the Wisdom and the Love,” “Let Us All Press On” and a choir and congregational hymn of “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet.”