Prophet not present, but his spirit felt at sessions
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Capacity crowds filled the 125-year-old Tabernacle on Temple Square for the 162nd Semiannual General Conference Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4.
President Ezra Taft Benson watched proceedings of the conference from his apartment, while his counselors, President Gordon B. Hinckley and President Thomas S. Monson, took turns conducting and addressing the sessions. The conference included two general sessions each day, plus a general priesthood session Saturday evening.While Utah had sunny and above-average temperatures through Oct. 2, Saturday morning brought cooler weather and rain.
"If some of you got a little wet this morning, we are sorry about that, but we are not complaining," President Hinckley said during the opening moments of conference. "We've been praying for this rain."
Sunny skies later returned and remained throughout the weekend. Adding brightness to Temple Square were thousands of flower plantings that were in bloom for the weekend.
Among proceedings of the conference were:
- Announcement of plans to build three new temples. (See separate article on this page.)
- Sustaining of two new members of the Presidency of the Seventy, whose callings were announced last June. (See box on this page for details of all sustainings.)
- Announcement and sustaining of two new members of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
- Announcement and sustaining of two new counselors in the Presiding Bishopric.
- Granting of emeritus status to two members of the Presidency of the Seventy, in keeping with the policy to grant emeritus status at age 70 or for health reasons to those who are serving in the First Quorum of the Seventy. (See biographies on page 4.)
- Releases of six members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy after completion of their five-year assignments. (See biographies on page 4.)
- Changes in the general presidencies of the Sunday School and Young Men organizations. (See biographies on page 5.)
Although President Benson was not present in the Tabernacle for the conference, his spirit was felt throughout the sessions as various speakers referred to his counsel in past addresses. President Hinckley's opening address and President Monson's concluding address contained quotes by President Benson, as well as expressions of love to him from the Brethren and members of the Church worldwide.
