"As my eyesight dims somewhat, I think my vision improves — my vision of the long road, my vision of what lies ahead. . . . What a marvelous time to be alive," said Elder David B. Haight of the Quorum of the Twelve during the Saturday morning session.

Elder David B. Haight

Elder Haight spoke of his temple marriage to his wife, Ruby, in 1930. As they knelt and made covenants to the Lord, Elder Haight said, he knew what they were doing "was for real."

"Now, after we have been married for 70 years, I'm just saying to all of you, that it gets better," he said. "It gets better year by year, the preciousness, the tenderness and the eternal values that lie ahead for us. And so to all of you I would say, and Ruby would join with me if she could be here, that life can be wonderful and so meaningful. But we have to live it in the simple way that we understand it, in living the principles of the gospel."

It is the gospel in our lives that makes the difference, he said.

Elder Haight said he and his family lived in many places throughout the country during his career. Often the Haight children were the only members of the Church in their school class. That added to their growth and the developing of their own testimonies as they witnessed the blessings of the gospel in their lives.

Elder Haight recalled how he recently witnessed two young children, a brother and his little sister, bear their testimonies during a sacrament meeting. The two children showed love and concern for one another. Later, in that same meeting, Elder Haight spoke to the congregation about the "Proclamation to the World" on the family, that "marvelous document" that emphasizes the sacred responsibilities that parents, children and couples have to one another.

The 94-year-old apostle recalled a speech from President Hinckley to a group of students at Brigham Young University. Life, said President Hinckley in comments Elder Haight quoted, is a great chain connected by each link or generation.

"I would hope that you could develop a strong feeling in your own families, and with you personally, about not wanting to become a weak link in the chain of your family," said Elder Haight, adding it would be a terrible thing to be that weak link that would prevent future generations from "a strong linkage."

Elder Haight testified that the work is being accomplished under God's direction — marvelous things that are happening in the world and in the Church. There are now 100 operating temples.

"And some of you here will live to see the day when there are 200 operating temples, and then 300 temples," Elder Haight said.

President Hinckley, he added, is receiving revelations about the direction of the work.

"He is God's prophet here upon the earth, leading us in doing what is right, what is proper," Elder Haight said.