In concluding address, Pres. Hinckley recaps counsel of Pres. Benson
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In delivering the concluding address of the 160th Annual General Conference Sunday afternoon, President Gordon B. Hinckley quoted remarks of President Ezra Taft Benson that had been delivered in closing sessions of previous conferences.
President Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency, said the Church president, who entered the Tabernacle "with a smile and a wave of the hand as an expresion of love," traditionally offers the final address of conference.Remarks that President Hinckley conveyed from President Benson's previous conference addresses included:
"I commend my brethren for the excellent addresses they have given. My humble prayer is that all of us will follow the counsel and instruction we have received.
"As we have felt the Spirit and made new and sacred resolves, may we now have the courage and fortitude to carry out those resolves. We should like to affirm to all the world that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
"We believe in Christ. We accept and affirm His teaching as revealed truths from God. We know Him to be the literal Son of God.
"We love Him as our resurrected Lord and Savior. We believe there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. We invite all men, as the Book of Mormon declares, to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength.
"I bear witness to you that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, the very son of God. He was born the Babe of Bethlehem. He lived and ministered among men. He was crucified on Calvary. His friends deserted him. His closest associates did not fully understand His mission, and they doubted. One of the most trusted denied knowing Him.
"He asked forgiveness for His tormenters, and then willingly gave up His life. His body was laid in a borrowed tomb. An immense stone was placed over the opening. In the minds of his stunned followers, over and over, echoed some of his last words: " `Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.' "
President Hinckley added that in the temple meeting of all the General Authorities on March 29, "we bore testimonies one to another, and partook of the sacrament of the Lord's supper. President Benson stood before his brethren and said, with conviction and emotion, `I love you my brethren. I bless you in your great ministry.'
"Every man there was deeply touched as he felt of the spirit of this, our great leader," continued President Hinckley, who concluded with his own testimony.
"To these words of [President Benson'sT I add my own testimony that God, our Eternal Father, lives, that Jesus is the Christ, the Only Begotten of the Father born in the flesh, the Savior and Redeemer of mankind who offered His life on Calvary's cross, an atonement of the sins of all mankind.
"Joseph Smith was a prophet of the living God, and every man who has succeeded him in the office of the presidency of this Church has been a living prophet, including Ezra Taft Benson whom we love, and for whom we pray as the Lord's anointed, in our day and time. Of these things I testify and leave my blessings," he said.
"May God be with you and bless you as you travel to your homes, and may His guiding light be the lodestar of your lives."
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Prophet's message: `I love you'
In his Sunday afternoon address, President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke in behalf of President Ezra Taft Benson when he commented, "I am confident he would have me say to each of you:
`I love you, my brethren and sisters.
`I bless you in the great work you are doing in living the gospel of Jesus Christ, and in carrying out His teachings.' "

