"Rise to the divinity within you."

That concluding statement by President Gordon B. Hinckley capsulized the messages that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints heard during the two-day, 172nd Semi-annual Conference of the church. Held in the Conference Center, the proceedings were beamed live via satellite and Internet to the largest number of locations ever, including the former Soviet Union, Asia and Australia.

President Hinckley, the 92-year-old church leader whom members consider God's prophet on Earth, spoke during four of the five conference sessions, each time urging Latter-day Saints to embrace the example of Jesus Christ in becoming more responsible parents, spouses, friends and church members.

"We are deeply concerned over the quality of the lives of our people as husbands and wives, as children and parents," he said, noting there is "too much of criticism and faultfinding with anger and raised voices" in the homes of church members. Love for spouse and children, and the cultivation of gospel principles in the home — both in word and deed — is the highest responsibility Latter-day Saint men and women have in life, he said.

"We must work at our responsibilities as parents as if everything in life counted on it because, in fact, everything in life does count on it. If we fail in our homes, we fail in our lives. No man is truly successful who has failed in his home. I ask you men, particularly, to take stock of yourselves as husbands and fathers," roles that he said are "the most serious of all responsibilities, for the consequences of your leadership in your home will be eternal and everlasting."

His remarks followed an address by Elder F. Melvin Hammond of the Seventy, which was lauded by President Hinckley as a message the could end the conference. Speaking to LDS fathers, he said "every father in the church should function as the patriarch of his home. He should take the lead in spiritually guiding the family. He ought not to delegate nor abrogate his responsibilities to the mother. He should call for family prayer, family home evening, scripture reading and occasional father interviews."

Saturday's priesthood session saw a few changes in church structure — modified missionary farewells, extension of temple recommend validity to two years — but in the main, the message of the conference was a call to to tighten up fundamental principles of truth, worthiness and dedication.

President Hinckley said the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in a recent series of lengthy meetings examining all the programs of the church, have "taken the church apart and put it back together again," resulting in a more streamlined, focused effort.

The focus: getting members to do what they have already been counseled to do.

The church is "unique and wonderful," President Hinckley said, the only religion on Earth with priesthood authority to conduct the true work of God on the Earth. "Reflect upon it, my brethren and sisters. For centuries the heavens remained sealed. Good men and women, not a few — really great and wonderful people — tried to correct, strengthen and improve their systems of worship and their body of doctrine. To them I pay honor and respect. How much better the world is because of their bold action. While I believe that their work was inspired, it was not favored with the opening of the heavens, with the appearance of Deity."

Nevertheless, "we do not need to wear our religion on our sleeve," President Hinckley said. "We certainly do not need to be boastful about it, or to be arrogant in any way. Such becomes a negation of the spirit of the Christ whom we ought to try to emulate."

"What matters most (about conference) is what may have occurred within each of us as a result of our experience. I, for one, have made a stronger resolution within myself to be a better person than I have been in the past. I hope that I will be a little kinder to any I meet who may be in distress. I hope that I will be a little more helpful to those who are in need. I hope that I will be a little more worthy of your confidence."

Such a resolve on the part of a leader church members consider to be the epitome of dedication is "a great example for everybody," said Centerville resident Ted Olson, who watched the conference at home with his family.

"There is room for improvement in every life," President Hinckley said. "Regardless of our occupations, regardless of our circumstances, we can improve ourselves, and while so doing have an effect on the lives of those about us."

To do so, Latter-day Saints must have faith, repent, forgive and yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, said other speakers drawn from the general authorities and officers of the church.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve said members must reject modern standards of wisdom and instead follow the example of the widow who, having faith in the prophet Elijah, gave him bread from her meager store and was subsequently blessed with an abundance of food. "In the wisdom of our day, the widow's response may appear foolish and unwise. That is largely because we often learn to make decisions based upon what we see. . . . Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

Faith leads to repentance, which in turn unburdens those who have fallen into sin. "Repentance is a process of cleansing," said Elder Richard G. Scott of the Twelve. "It is difficult, but it has an end, a glorious end with peace and refreshing forgiveness and the miracle of a new beginning."

While continually striving to be cleaner and more worthy, Latter-day Saints must buttress those efforts by reaching out to others. Elders Dallin H. Oaks and Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Twelve both focused their talks on accepting and magnifying church callings, which provide ample opportunity for service.

"You are called to represent the Savior . . .," Elder Eyring said. "Your calling is to bless lives. Your call has eternal consequences for others and for you. In the world to come, thousands may call your name blessed, even more than the people you serve here. They will be the ancestors and descendants of those who chose eternal life because of something you said or did, or even what you were." You may feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities, but "you need not fear, because with your call come great promises. . . . The Lord will guide you by revelation just as he called you."

The Holy Spirit will guide those who are sensitive to its promptings. Elder Kenneth Johnson of the Seventy noted that the light of Christ enlightens all people, not just Latter-day Saints. He spoke of receiving spiritual guidance when a boy, even though he knew nothing of the church or its doctrines.

"These stirrings within us originate from a divine source and, when followed, will help to keep us on course," he said.

Get back to basics, back to the important things in life, conference speakers urged. Those who feel harried with too many things to do in too little time should rethink their priorities. "As we seek with all our hearts to bring forth and establish Zion, the vexations of too little time will disappear," said Bishop Keith B. McMullin, second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric.

Bishop McMullin quoted Brigham Young: "You are in too much of a hurry; you do not go to meeting enough, you do not pray enough, you do not read the Scriptures enough, you do not meditate enough, you are all the time on the wing, and in such a hurry that you do not know what to do first." The God-given responsibilities of men and women are different, but both should be carried out with love and faith, leaders said.

"A woman of faith is fearless," said Sister Margaret D. Nadauld, former president of the Young Women's organization. "There is no ambiguity, no uncertain trump in her life. She can live a principled life because she studies the doctrine and teachings of a perfect teacher, the Master. She is a noble example to all who know her."