LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley presented several new policies and renewed calls for more faithful observation of practices and standards during Saturday's priesthood session of general conference. Among his directives and admonitions:
Missionary qualifications: Worthiness of missionaries will be more rigorously enforced. "We must raise the bar on the worthiness and qualifications of those who go into the world as ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ," he said.
Farewells/homecomings: Formal farewell and homecoming services for missionaries during regular sacrament services will be discontinued. They will be asked to speak in a regular Sunday meeting, but family members will not be asked to participate and will not plan the program. Farewells already planned may go forward. The practice of holding "elaborate open houses" for departing missionaries is discouraged and gatherings should be limited to families, President Hinckley said.
Monday evenings: To counter the proliferation of activities that conflict with church-endorsed Monday family home evenings, "we respectfully request that public school officials and others let us have this one evening a week to carry forward this important and traditional program," he said. "We ask that they not schedule events that will require the time of children on Monday evenings."
Temple recommends: Effective Nov. 1, 2002, temple recommends issued to worthy members will remain valid for two years instead of one. "This should cut the time that bishops and stake presidents and their counsellors have to spend in interviews for temple recommends," President Hinckley said. Recommend holders found to be unworthy any time during the two-year period will have their recommends recalled.
Self-reliance: He reinforced the importance of self-reliance for every church member and family. "I do not predict any impending disaster. I hope that there will not be one, but prudence should govern our lives. Beginning with a week's supply of essentials and building to a year's supply is strongly recommended."
Eliminating debt: "Discipline yourselves in matters of spending, in matters of borrowing, in practices that lead to bankruptcy and the agony that comes therewith," President Hinckley advised.
Personal morality: Moral discipline must be a firm principle, he said. "Too many are being caught in the web of immorality and all of the bitter fruit that flows from it." Young men should not expect to serve missions if they have been involved in immoral practices. All should "stay away from the erotic stuff of the Internet." Immorality is an affront to the priesthood, President Hinckley said.
On child abuse: Child abuse is evil and despicable. "We cannot tolerate it," he said. "We will not tolerate it. Anyone who abuses a child may expect church discipline as well as possible legal action."
