The Atonement of Jesus Christ, following the prophets and the importance of the Book of Mormon were among the themes at LDS general conference sessions Sunday, as church leaders bid a fond farewell to the Tabernacle on Temple Square, which has been the home to conference sessions for more than a century.

"I am sure I will always remember being the first speaker in the last session of this historic general conference," said Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve. "It not only is the last session of this conference, it is the last session of the decade. It is the last session which will bear the date of the 1900s," he said. "Historic events especially catch our attention as we remember the past and anticipate the future."

The unique Tabernacle was conceived in 1863 and built by early church members under the direction of Brigham Young. It was first used for the church's October 1867 conference.

"What a remarkable and wonderful structure this has been," said President Gordon B. Hinckley, speaking Sunday afternoon at the close of the 169th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "What a remarkable and useful building it has been. What great purposes it has served. I know of no other structure like it in all the world."

President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, said, "I come to this pulpit grateful for the inspiration and dedication of those who built this sacred, holy, historic Tabernacle. I pay tribute to President Brigham Young, who was the guiding genius in building this unique edifice and marvelous organ. At the same time I rejoice that, under the inspired leadership of President Hinckley, we are building a magnificent house of worship to accom-

modate the needs of an ever growing church. This new building is an expression of hope for the church in the coming century."

The new building is the 21,000-seat Conference Center under construction on the block north of Temple Square. President Hinckley said plans are to hold the next general conference there in April, though the organ and some other parts of the building are expected to be unfinished at that time. The Conference Center will likely undergo formal dedicatory proceedings during the October conference one year from now.

"And so, in terms of General Conference, we bid goodbye to an old and wonderful friend. We hope it will be around and that it will be useful for a very long time to come," President Hinckley said. "As today we close the doors of the Tabernacle and look forward to opening the new Conference Center next April, we do so with love, with appreciation, with respect and with reverence and affection for this building and for those who have gone before us, who built so well, and whose handiwork has served so long."

President Hinckley said the Tabernacle will still be home to the weekly Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcasts and other church and public meetings. The timing of the move to the new Conference Center is also noteworthy.

"What an exciting and wonderful thing it is to step across the threshold of the centuries," he said. "Even more exciting is our opportunity to bridge the millennium that is drawing to a close and greet a new thousand years. I am overwhelmed with a grand and solemn sense of history as I contemplate this period."

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the greatest event in history, President Hinckley said. "An act of grace for which men gave nothing, but which brought the assurance of the Resurrection to all who have or would walk the Earth," he said.

"My brethren and sisters, do you realize what we have? Do you recognize our place in the great drama of human history? This is the focal point of all that has gone before. This is the season of restitution. These are the days of restoration. This is the

time when men from over the Earth come to the mountain of the Lord's house to seek and learn of his ways and to walk in his paths."

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve urged listeners to sustain church leaders and beware of false prophets and false teachers "who are self-appointed declarers of the doctrines of the church and who seek to spread their false gospel and attract followers by sponsoring symposia, books and journals whose contents challenge fundamental doctrines of the church."

In the Lord's church, "There is no such thing as 'loyal opposition.' One is either for the kingdom of God and stands in defense of God's prophets and apostles, or one stands opposed."

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve restated the importance of the Book of Mormon in the study and practice of the doctrines of the church. "Do you want to get rid of a bad habit? Do you want to improve relationships in your family? Do you want to increase your spiritual capacity? Read the Book of Mormon. It will bring you closer to the Lord Jesus Christ and his loving power."

"The Book of Mormon is the most important religious text to be revealed from God to man since the writings of the New Testament were compiled nearly two millennia ago," Elder Nelson said. "The crowning event of this sacred record is the personal ministry of the resurrected Lord to people of ancient America."

Several speakers talked of the power of hope, which President Faust called "the anchor of our souls."

"In my opinion, there has never been in the history of this church a reason for so much hope for the future of the church and its members worldwide," President Faust said.

President Hinckley concluded the weekend conference with assurances of a bold and bright future.

"We stand on the summit of the ages, awed by a great and solemn sense of history. This is the last and final dispensation toward which all in the past has pointed," he said. "I pray that every one of us may sense the awesome wonder of it all as we look forward to the passing of a century and the death of a millennium. Let the old year go. Let the new year come. Let another century pass. Let a new one take its place. Say goodbye to a millennium. Greet the beginning of another thousand years."

SCOTT G. WINTERTON, DESERET NEWS

BOONE CHEN, DESERET NEWS

BOONE CHEN, DESERET NEWS