Sunday afternoon session: See photos and talk summaries of April 2023 general conference

‘Because of Jesus Christ, we can repent and be forgiven of our sins,’ says President Russell M. Nelson

2 April 2023, 4:01 p.m. MDT

President Russell M. Nelson smiles upon greeting fellow leaders during the Sunday afternoon session of April 2023 general conference — President Russell M. Nelson smiles upon greeting fellow leaders during the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Kaitlyn Bancroft is a reporter for Church News.

Jesus Christ — believing in Him, becoming like Him and coming unto Him — was the overarching theme of the final session of the April 2023 general conference

A family gathers at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City for the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, April 2, 2023. | CRISTY POWELL, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, smiles upon greeting fellow leaders during the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Shawna Heikkila holds the hands of her children Ethan, 10, and Isis, 8, as they arrive at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City before the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

Conferencegoers arrive at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City before the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, April 2, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, greets conferencegoers in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City before the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference on April 2, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

A child jumps around at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City before the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

Daniel Villanova and his son Anthony, 8, arrive at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City before the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, April 2, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Attendees wait in line at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City before the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, April 2, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

Elder Walter Bornemeier stands at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City before the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, April 2, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference on April 2, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Elder Ronald A. Rasband, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference on April 2, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Carlos Luzuriaga holds a blanket covering his child as he arrives at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City before the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, April 2, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

Elder Vern R. Stanfill, General Authority Seventy, speaks during the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

William Lynn Bassett and Edwina Bassett walk down the stairs outside the Conference Center in Salt Lake City before the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, April 2, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

Elder W. Mark Bassett, General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference on April 2, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

President Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, greets Elder Ronald A. Rasband, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City before the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference on April 2, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

A family poses for a group photo in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City before the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2, 2023. | CRISTY POWELL, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt, General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference on April 2, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Attendees sing during the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Conferencegoers sing during the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Elder David A. Bednar, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Annual General Conference on April 2, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Conferencegoers sing during the Sunday afternoon session of 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson said Easter Sunday is the most important religious observance for followers of Jesus Christ. “Because of Jesus Christ, we can repent and be forgiven of our sins. Because of Him, each of us will be resurrected.”

He also announced 15 new temples, to be built in the following locations:

Retalhuleu, Guatemala
Iquitos, Peru
Teresina, Brazil
Natal, Brazil
Tuguegarao City, Philippines
Iloilo, Philippines
Jakarta, Indonesia
Hamburg, Germany
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
San Jose, California
Bakersfield, California
Springfield, Missouri
Winchester, Virginia
Charlotte, North Carolina
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, said most of the scriptures reporting Jesus’ mortal ministries are descriptions of what He did. “My message today consists of a selection of the words of our Savior — what He said,”

In his remarks, President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke about the things that matter most: relationships with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, relationships with family and friends, following the promptings of the Spirit and serving the Lord.

“I invite you to bear your testimony of Jesus Christ more often,” President Ballard said.

And Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said Jesus Christ invites all to abide in Him. This means taking upon one’s self His yoke through covenants and ordinances, strengthening one’s covenant bond with the Father and the Son, feasting upon the words of Christ, preparing to participate in the sacrament and serving God’s children.

“We abide in Christ as we are firm and steadfast in our devotion to the Redeemer and His holy purposes, in times both good and bad,” Elder Bednar said.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Elder Vern P. Stanfill, Elder W. Mark Bassett and Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt also spoke.

The session was conducted by President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, and prayers were given by Elder John A. McCune and Elder Adeyinka A. Ojediran, General Authority Seventies. Music was provided by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square under the direction of Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy, with Brian Mathias at the organ.