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Saturday morning session: See photos and talk summaries for the April 2021 general conference

President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Sisters Natalie Anderson Morales and Gabrielle Vaoifi pose during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Ezra Dance stops to listen to the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. "He stopped and listened for at least a minute clearly knowing this was a special man. A man called of God to lead our church," his mother, Heather Dance, wrote. Credit: Heather Dance
Daffodils are blooming on Temple Square during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Five-month-old twins Livia Striuli Belo, left, and Manuela Striuli Belo, right, of the Orlando Ward (Portuguese), Orlando Florida South Stake, watch the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: Camilla Belo
A young woman in Chile watches the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Thomas and Mandi Godfrey and their family watch President Russell M. Nelson during the morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference from their home in Holladay on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, conducts the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of La
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Joy D. Jones, general president of the Primary, speaks during the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of La
Brother Jan E. Newman speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Gary E. Stevenson speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Gerrit W. Gong, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Henry B. Eyring speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Brandon Marshall shares a photo of his computer setup during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. On the left is general conference and notes, and on the right is Facebook for posting inspiration. Credit: Brandon Marshall
Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are seen before the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are seen before the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are seen before the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Dallin H. Oaks conducts the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Dieter F. Uchtorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Joy D. Jones speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Brother Jan E. Newman speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Gary E. Stevenson speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Gerrit W. Gong, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Henry B. Eyring speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Pedestrians walk past a historical photo near Temple Square during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Because of a tight schedule and serious traffic, Garswah Santikee Bull, of the New Kru Town 1st Ward, Monrovia Liberia Bushrod Island Stake, listens to the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 3, 2021, on the radio using her phone. "How grateful I am for power of technology that allows me to hear him (My Savior) during these hours of general conference," Bull writes. "I know this is a great work, marvelous and a wonder. I am grateful for my individual role in the gathering of Israel and for prophets, apostles and leaders whose every desire is to guide me back home to my Heavenly Father's presence." Credit: Garswah Santikee Bull
The Muro Chachapoyas family, Conrrado Muro Dávila, left, Ledy del Milagro Chachapoyas Barbadillo de Muro and Angie Johana Muro Chachapoyas, of the Sechura Branch, Piura Peru Castilla Stake, watch the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: Ledy del Milagro Chachapoyas Bar
Joseph and Teraimateata Truong, of the Gap Branch, Nice France Stake, watch the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: Courtesy Joseph and Teraimateata
Kurt Rasmussen, left, and Edinalva Rasmussen, of the Davenport Ward, Orlando Florida West Stake, watch the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: Edinalva Rasmussen
A family in Chile watches the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A family in Chile watches the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A family in Uruguay watches the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

President Russell M. Nelson opened the weekend public sessions of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by emphasizing the Lord’s direction of the Church — even during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, on April 3, 2021.
President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, on April 3, 2021. | Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“Some lessons that I knew before have been written on my heart in new and instructive ways. The Lord directs the affairs of His Church; He has executed the hastening of His work — even during a global pandemic,” said President Nelson.

Now in his fourth year of leading the Church of Jesus Christ, President Nelson was the first speaker of the Saturday morning session of the April 2021 general conference.

“My dear brothers and sisters, the strength of the Church lies in the efforts and ever-growing testimonies of its members,” he said. “Testimonies are best cultivated in the home.”

President Dallin H. Oaks conducts the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021.
President Dallin H. Oaks conducts the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. | Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, conducted the session and welcomed viewers and listeners to the session, noting the conference was being broadcast and live-streamed across the globe.

For the Church’s third straight general conference during the COVID-19 pandemic, sessions were held according to local protocols, once again with social distancing and face masks. Besides those working still and video cameras, attendance for the session was limited to members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, those speaking and offering prayers, and their respective spouses.

Thomas and Mandi Godfrey and their family watch President Russell M. Nelson during the morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference from their home in Holladay on Saturday, April 3, 2021.
Thomas and Mandi Godfrey and their family watch President Russell M. Nelson during the morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference from their home in Holladay on Saturday, April 3, 2021. | Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Others speaking in the two-hour session included President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency; three members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Elder Gary E. Stevenson and Elder Gerrit W. Gong; Primary General President Joy D. Jones; and Brother Jan E. Newman, second counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. | Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Elder Uchtdorf taught that “God is among us” and personally involved in the lives of His children and actively guiding them. “Open your hearts to our Savior and Redeemer, no matter your circumstances, trials, sufferings or mistakes,” he said. “You can know that He lives, that He loves you, and because of Him, you will never be alone.”

President Joy D. Jones, general president of the Primary, speaks during the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021.
President Joy D. Jones, general president of the Primary, speaks during the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. | Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of La

President Jones emphasized that simple yet essential conversations about the gospel can lead children to know what they believe and why they believe it. “Let’s not allow the convenience of electronic devices to keep us from teaching and listening to our children, and looking into their eyes,” she said.

Brother Jan E. Newman speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021.
Brother Jan E. Newman speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. | Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Brother Newman focused on teaching in the Savior’s way. “To be truly life-changing, conversion to Jesus Christ must involve our whole soul and permeate every aspect of our lives,” he said.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. | Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Elder Stevenson taught that kindness is a fundamental, healing principle of the gospel. “The Lord expects [Latter-day Saints] to teach that inclusion is a positive means towards unity, and that exclusion leads to division, he said.

Elder Gerrit W. Gong, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021.
Elder Gerrit W. Gong, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2021. | Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Citing the Savior’s invitation to all to become like Him, Elder Gong asked Latter-day Saints to make Christ’s inn — His Church — a refuge for all from life’s storms. “We prepare for His promised Second Coming as each day we do unto the ‘least of these’  as we would unto Him. The ‘least of these’ is each of us.”

President Henry B. Eyring speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021.
President Henry B. Eyring speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Annual General Conference on April 3, 2021. | Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

And in the session’s concluding address, President Eyring encouraged Church members to increase their desire to be worthy and ready for the increased opportunities for temple experiences that are coming. “The temple is a holy place where revelation comes to us easily if our hearts are open to it and we are worthy of it,” he said.

Elder Robert C. Gay of the Presidency of the Seventy offered the invocation and Elder James B. Martino, a General Authority Seventy, offered the benediction.

Music for the session were previously recorded selections from the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and included “The Morning Breaks;” “Arise, O God, and Shine;” “Choose the Right;” “Teach Me to Walk in the Light,” and “This Spirit of God.” Listeners were invited to join in singing the intermediate hymn, “High on the Mountain Top.”

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