April 7, 2002
President Gordon B. Hinckley: "AS A CHURCH WE HAVE CRITICS, MANY OF THEM. THEY SAY WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE TRADITIONAL CHRIST OF CHRISTIANITY. THERE IS SUBSTANCE TO WHAT THEY SAY."
Explaining the differences that separate Latter-day Saints from other Christians, that from President Gordon B. Hinckley in the concluding session of General Conference.
Saturday night a clear message from President Hinckley about abuse. Sunday, those attending General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints heard what makes them unique in world religious belief.
Religion Specialist Carole Mikita reports.
Conference-goers also heard from the new church leaders, president of the Relief Society and two general authorities. But a final note from President Hinckley leaves no doubt about the church's basic beliefs.
In this final session of this year's first General Conference, songs were sung and words were spoken which underlined the basic beliefs and differences between this church and those of other Christian denominations.
President Gordon B. Hinckley said the faith of Latter-day Saints is not based on ancient traditions but what he called modern miracles and revelation, coming first in 1820 to a farm boy, who is considered by Latter-day Saints the Prophet Joseph Smith.
President Hinckley/"OUR FAITH, OUR KNOWLEDGE COMES OF THE WITNESS OF A PHROPHET IN THIS DISPENSATION WHO SAW BEFORE HIM THE GREAT GOD OF THE UNIVERSE AND HIS BELOVED SON, THE RESURRECTED LORD JESUS CHRIST."
The two separate personages that Joseph Smith said were the Father and the Son is a huge difference, and so is the idea of modern prophets, from President Smith to President Hinckley.
Pres. Hinckley/"WE REJOICE IN CHRIST, WE PREACH OF CHRIST, WE PROPHECY OF CHRIST AND WE WRITE ACCORDING TO OUR PROPHECIES."
Church members also heard from two new general authorites and the new leader of the women's organization.
Bonnie D. Parkin, Relief Society General President/"I'M GRATEFUL TO THE WOMEN OF THE CHURCH WHO HAVE MENTORED ME, WHO HAVE LOVED ME, WHO HAVE TAUGHT ME, WHO HAVE BELIEVED IN ME."
Gerald N. Lund, Quorum of the Seventy/"WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS PRIVILEGE TO REJOICE IN THE LORD AT THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY."
Williams R. Walker, Quorum of the Seventy/"I LOVE THE LORD, I LOVE THIS CHURCH, I LOVE THE WONDERFUL, FAITHFUL SAINTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD."
There was a rather solemn-- and that's the word President Hinckley used-- solemn, end to this General Conference. But, he said, we live in uncertain times and a number of speakers emphasized exercising faith.
