In the absence of President Ezra Taft Benson, President Gordon B. Hinckley offered the opening remarks of conference Saturday morning, and expressed the prophet's gratitude to Church members for their faith and prayers in his behalf.

President Benson was unable to attend conference as he is recovering at LDS Hospital, where two subdural hematomas and a blood clot were removed from his brain in two separate surgeries. He is also recovering from gastrointestinal bleeding, unrelated to the surgeries.President Hinckley said the prophet was watching the proceedings from a television in his hospital room.

"It has been customary for the president of the Church to speak at the opening of the conference," President Hinckley said. "He has asked that I say a few words in his behalf.

"In doing so," explained President Hinckley, "I quote from his own language:

" `I love this great work, the greatest work in all the world. I love my brethren and sisters wherever you may reside, and I invoke the blessings of the Lord upon you.

" `If you will follow the admonitions of the Lord and heed the counsel of His chosen servants in their callings as prophets, seers and revelators, I promise you that love at home and obedience to parents will increase; faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel and they will gain power and strength to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them. Each of our homes may veritably become a little heaven on earth.' (Children's Friend, April 1957.)

" `With all my soul I testify that this work will go forward till every land and people have had opportunity to accept our message. Barriers will come down for us to accomplish this mission, and some of us will see this done. Our Heavenly Father will cause conditions in the world to change so that His gospel can penetrate every border.' (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson.)

" `As we live the commandments of God, we can look forward with joyful anticipation to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and know that through our efforts we are worthy, with our loved ones, to dwell in His presence for all eternity. Surely nothing is too hard to gain this great goal. We cannot let down for a moment. We must prove, everyday of our lives, that we are willing to do the will of the Lord - to spread the restored gospel, to bear testimony to the world, to share the gospel with others.' (Tokyo Japan Area Conference, Aug. 10, 1975.)

" `God bless you, my beloved brethren and sisters, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.'

"Such are the words of our beloved leader Ezra Taft Benson. I am confident that I speak for every member of the Church within the sound of my voice when I say to him, `Our dear friend and leader, our president and prophet, we love you. May the blessings of the Lord rest upon you to give you strength according to your need.' "