Speaking in behalf of President Ezra Taft Benson at the opening session of conference Saturday morning, Oct. 3, President Gordon B. Hinckley said that the prophet's "strong and vibrant voice has stirred all of us in times past."

      "His eloquence in expounding the gospel and his tremendous testimony of this work, persuasive in its tone and cogency, has lifted all who have heard him."President Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency, explained that President Benson, who was not present at the session, "would wish to be here, and we wish that he were here. It is becoming increasingly hard for him to get out. His age makes public appearances difficult. He is now in his 94th year. It is not easy for him to do what he once did with such vigor and enthusiasm.

      President Hinckley related that the prophet's burdens became much heavier when his beloved companion, Sister Flora Amussen Benson, passed away Aug. 14.

      "They had been married for nearly 66 years. They have been an example to the entire Church. He now feels the terrible loneliness that comes to a man with the death of a gifted and beautiful wife, the mother of his children, his great support and comfort.

      "Our hearts reach out to him in sympathy and love. We pray that the Lord will comfort him and sustain him and bring gladness into his heart while he yet remains with us as the prophet of God."

      President Hinckley then read two of President Benson's statements of the past, "as a reminder of the greatness of his power of expression":

      " `This is the last and great dispensation in which the great consummation of God's purposes will be made, the only dispensation in which the Lord has promised that sin will not prevail. The Church will not be taken from the earth again. It is here to stay. The Lord has promised it and you are a part of that Church and kingdom - the nucleus around which will be builded the great kingdom of God on the earth.'

      " `The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God on the earth will be combined together at Christ's coming - and that time is not far distant. How I wish we could get the vision of this work, the genius of it, and realize the nearness of that great event. I am sure it would have a sobering effect upon us if we realized what is before us.' "

      President Hinckley continued quoting President Benson: " `God bless all of us that we may follow the course laid out for us by our Heavenly Father and our greatest example - the Lord, Jesus Christ. May we do so regardless of what the world may say or do, that we may hold fast to the iron rod, that we may be true to the faith, that we may maintain the standards set for us and follow this course to safety and exaltation.' (See 1 Ne. 8:19.)

      " `The door is open. The plan is here on earth. It is the Lord's plan. The authority and power are here. It is now up to you.' "

      President Hinckley related: "Such have been the declarations of this man who stands today as the Lord's prophet and our president. We bring you his love, his greeting and his blessing. And to him, we return our love and our loyalty, with a prayer in our hearts that the God of Heaven will bless him, comfort him, sustain him, and bring him joy and gladness."