Rejoicing "with all Christendom" on Easter morning, Church members had the added privilege of hearing the prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, declare his testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This year's conference fell on Easter Sunday, and President Hinckley, during his Sunday morning address, shared his deep feelings about the Savior and about the Resurrection.

During the 169th Annual General Conference, President Hinckley spoke four times, counseling and encouraging members. His counselors, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust, each spoke twice.

A special highlight of the conference came in the closing session Sunday afternoon when President Hinckley announced that the historic Nauvoo Temple would be rebuilt.

Conference-goers were greeted on the first morning of conference to a snowy Temple Square and chilly temperatures. By Sunday afternoon, the snow had mostly melted and temperatures had moderated enough that several members braved the weather and listened to the conference proceedings while sitting on blankets on the Temple Square lawns.

Music for the opening session was provided by the Mormon Youth Chorus. After a distinguished 30-year career, the chorus performed in general conference for the last time. The talented chorus will be disbanded after a final concert in the Tabernacle on May 21-22, making way for a new and different organization, as previously announced. Music for the other sessions were provided by the Tabernacle Choir, the Combined Choir from Ricks College, and a combined men's choir from BYU, that sang at the priesthood session.

During the Saturday afternoon session, President Monson led the congregation in sustaining the General Authorities. Six new members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy were sustained, as were three new Area Authority Seventies.

All the sessions of conference were televised via satellite to more than 3,500 meetinghouses throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. In addition, more than 1,200 cable television systems plus television and radio stations in the United States and Canada carried the conference on a public service basis.

Two sessions were transmitted live to Europe, and two on a delayed basis, to more than 180 meetinghouses with downlink equipment.

Conference was translated into 36 different languages.

Despite the chilly temperatures and snowy grounds, the Tabernacle was filled for all sessions. Many of those in attendance traveled from distant lands.

Among them was Cho Hak Hynu of Pusan, Korea, who attended conference on Temple Square for the first time. "It was tremendous," he said "I felt the power of the gospel. It was exciting. The example of the prophet is always great, and also the example of the Saints."

Andres Dominguez of Venezuela attended a Saturday session and returned to Temple Square on Sunday "to feel the strong spirit and energy to last for the next six months."

Salavera Gonzalo Vera Basan of Lima, Peru, described conference as "a very beautiful experience. I love to see the prophet, and I love the Church very much."

Sione Sika of Havelu, Tonga, commented, "I always wondered what it would be like to be here in person. I have seen pictures of conference in the Ensign. When I return to Tonga, I will find the words to describe it."

Felicitas Yanez of Ciudad Juarez, and Rita Garcia of Sinaloa, both from Mexico, said conference "was an unforgettable experience for us. The Spirit was very strong. This has been a dream come true."

Carl Liang of Taipei, Taiwan, a translator, said, "It is a privilege to do translation here. To see conference in person is very inspiring. It is also inspiring to see all the General Authorities and feel the love they have for all the people."

Ken and Ruri Toma, and their daughters, Elisa and Yulisa, of Tokyo, Japan, also enjoyed conference. "We cannot get conference in Japan," said Sister Toma. "It is a wonderful opportunity to come here and listen to the Lord's words directed to us from the prophet."

In his opening address Saturday morning, President Hinckley expressed his feelings about members joining together for conference. "We are a happy and blessed people, working to build the cause and Kingdom of God on earth. Regardless of race or nationality, whether we be poor or rich, old or young, we meet to share our common testimony of the Lord in whose name we worship."

For the thousands on Temple Square and the hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, who received the proceedings by television, radio or satellite, President Hinckley's remarks in the closing session had deep meaning: "These have been two glorious days."