An apt summation of this October general conference is found in the words of an 18th-century hymn:

"How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!" (Hymns, No. 85)

Truly, the excellent word of the Lord has been declared in this conference by His servants who have made more firm the foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

This historic conference, the last of the 1900s, will also likely be the last to be held in the Tabernacle on Temple Square. It is hoped that by the April conference of 2000 meetings will be held in the new Conference Center, a monumental building that will seat 21,000 in its main auditorium.

The construction of this new edifice is so typical of the efforts of President Gordon B. Hinckley and his counselors, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust, to move forward the work of God's earthly kingdom.

They had the vision to see its need. Much remains to be done, and in normal construction activities the building probably would not be ready for occupancy by next April. But "normal" is not good enough. A thousand or so workers are laboring to do better than normal work in order to finish the meeting area in time for April conference. We have no doubt but that the First Presidency's efforts to encourage this goal will be successful.

Their entire administration has been marked by moving things forward.

What a marvelous work is taking place as President Hinckley has announced the building of sacred temples so the blessings of the House of the Lord can be enjoyed by faithful members in many nations. When he first said he envisioned 100 operating temples in the year 2000 many were amazed or skeptical. But, as he reported in this conference, there will be 68 operating temples by the end of this year, with the expectation that perhaps 42 more will be dedicated next year. "We will have not only the one hundred we have striven for, but more than that," he said. "We shall not stop then."

Nor are the Brethren lagging in any way in moving missionary work forward. It is a frequent topic of their sermons as they visit members throughout the world. In this conference, President Hinckley spoke to the young men of the Church during the priesthood session and in clear terms outlined to them the evils of the world they must shun, then encouraged them to serve with this challenge:

"As you look forward and plan your lives, include a mission. You have an obligation to do so. It may be a difficult experience, but it will enrich and give balance to your life, and it will bless the lives of others in a way beyond your power to comprehend."

President Hinckley, his counselors, members of the Quorum of the Twelve and other General Authorities are not hesitant to call for righteousness when moral issues come before the public. In unmistakable language, they defend the right of the Church to take a stand on moral issues that come before legislatures or the electorate. When such issues arise that are contrary to the will of God, they feel compelled by doctrine, as President Hinckley said, "to speak out."

We can feel them encouraging us to live better lives. With a sense of history and the significance of the end of a century and of a millennium drawing near, and the dawning of a new millennium, President Hinckley put our day and time in historical perspective: "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 have pointed."

Then in his gentle, but firm way, he admonished us to improve, saying, "Given what we have and what we know, we ought to be a better people than we are. We ought to be more Christlike, more forgiving, more helpful and considerate to all around us."

We are grateful that the Lord has given us prophets, seers and revelators to move forward His work in this last dispensation — our own time.

We love and sustain them and pray for their continued health and well-being.