Church members around the world were "inspired together" Oct. 3-4, meeting "as one family" on Temple Square and in meetinghouses across the earth for the 168th Semiannual General Conference.

On the fall weekend - characterized by cool, rainy weather - Church members filled the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. Overflow crowds gathered in the Assembly Hall, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and on the grounds of Temple Square. Millions more viewed the proceedings via satellite to more than 3,400 meetinghouses across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean and by other transmissions. Two general sessions were transmitted live to Europe. General sessions were also transmitted via satellite to more than 1,200 cable television systems, plus radio and television stations in the United States and Canada."We are all one family," said President Gordon B. Hinckley in his opening remarks. ". . . I have met hundreds of thousands of you, have looked into your faces, have felt of your spirits. You are so very precious to this work."

He noted that wherever members live they have the opportunity of participating in this general conference in person or via satellite, radio or television, cable, video tape or written word.

President Hinckley presided over the four general sessions, two each on Saturday and Sunday, and the priesthood session Saturday evening. During the two-day conference, 26 General Authorities and two general officers gave 33 messages. President Hinckley spoke four times, and his counselors, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust, each spoke twice.

Conference addresses were translated simultaneously in 35 languages.

Many speakers at conference lauded the First Presidency's efforts in furthering the construction of temples around the world, urging members to look forward to the Church's bright future and to emulate the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Among the conference highlights were:

- The granting of emeritus status to Elders Jack H Goaslind, W. Eugene Hansen, James M. Paramore and Ronald E. Poelman.

- The sustaining of Elders D. Todd Christofferson, Marlin K. Jensen and David E. Sorensen to the Presidency of the Seventy.

- The sustaining of a new Young Men general presidency, with Elder Robert K. Dellenbach as president and F. Melvin Hammond and John M. Madsen as counselors.

- The sustaining of new counselors, Elders Neil L. Andersen and John H. Groberg, to the Sunday School general presidency.

- The presence of Elder Andrew W. Peterson of the Seventy, attending his first conference sessions, on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, since being seriously injured a year ago in an accident.

- The singing of two hymns during the Sunday morning session with lyrics written by members of the First Presidency: "My Redeemer Lives," with text by President Hinckley and "This Is the Christ," words by President Faust.

- An update on the construction of a "great new facility" located on the block north of Temple Square. President Hinckley noted that preparations were being made for a huge king beam to be placed, marking the beginning of the roof of the structure that will seat some 21,000 Church members and should be ready for general conference in April 2000. The beam was lifted into place Oct. 5.

- An update on a program to construct smaller temples around the world. "I am grateful to be able to say that our building people, our architects and engineers, our designers and furnishings experts, advise me that in all likelihood we will have 100 or more temples operating in the year 2000," said President Hinckley Sunday afternoon.

- President Hinckley's emphasis on the importance of members staying out of debt and reaffirmation on the Church's stand on social issues, denouncing practices such as spousal and child abuse, immorality, abortion, homosexuality and polygamy.