Millions of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered Saturday — physically and electronically — to hear counsel from their leaders in the first sessions of the church's 174th Annual General Conference.

Many new leaders were sustained Saturday afternoon (see accompanying story) and tens of thousands flocked to the Conference Center, Temple Square and surrounding areas downtown for the semiannual gathering, many of them from around the globe.

"New technology has become available as the church has grown larger and stronger," President Gordon B. Hinckley said during the morning session. "Our membership now reaches almost 12 million, with more members outside North America than reside within. Once we were recognized as a Utah church. Now we have become a great international body."

As with every organization, the church loses some of its members, but "I am satisfied that we retain and keep active a higher percentage of our members than does any other major church."

While its core principles remain unchanged, certain aspects of the church, such as its welfare program, have expanded concomitant with its international reach.

President Hinckley told the church's priesthood holders Saturday night that not one of the various foreign leaders who visited recently with the First Presidency mentioned the church's pioneer heritage, an aspect of the church's history dear to the hearts of long-time members.

Rather, "each of them (the foreign leaders), independently, spoke in praise of our welfare program and our humanitarian efforts," he said during the Saturday evening priesthood session, going on to detail the program's accomplishments.

"When the modern welfare program was put in motion (in 1936), it was designed to take care of the needs of our own people. In the years that have followed, thousands upon thousands have been served. . . . We now operate 113 storehouses, 63 farms, 105 canneries and home storage centers, 18 food-processing and distribution plants as well as many other facilities. Not only have the needs of church members been met, but aid has been extended to countless others."

The church has helped victims deal with the aftermath of numerous natural disasters throughout the world, distributing $98 million in cash and in-kind assistance in the past year. A total of $643 million has been distributed in the past 18 years.

"We shall go on," President Hinckley said. "There will always be a need. Hunger and want and catastrophes will ever be with us."

In fact, such situations are increasing as the Second Coming of the Savior draws nearer, said Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve. In accordance with scriptural prophesy, physical — and spiritual — difficulties are now becoming both more numerous and more severe, and members of the church must be prepared to meet and overcome them.

"While we are powerless to alter the fact of the Second Coming and unable to know its exact time, we can accelerate our own preparation and try to influence the preparation of those around us," Elder Oaks said.

He added that just going through the motions of church activity is not sufficient, as Jesus illustrated in the parable of the 10 virgins.

"The 10 virgins obviously represent members of Christ's church, for all were invited to the wedding feast and all knew what was required to be admitted when the Bridegroom came. But only half were ready when he came."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Presidency of the Seventy echoed Elder Oaks when he warned that many members of the church have not become truly converted.

"It must be something you want," he said. "The gospel cannot be written in your heart unless your heart is open. Without a heartfelt desire, you can participate in sacrament meetings, classes and church activities and do the things I will tell you, but it won't make much difference. But if your heart is open and willing, like the heart of a child . . . , the gospel won't be just an influence in your life — it will be what you are."

The need for members to stiffen their spiritual spines and make greater efforts to look outward, particularly in adverse circumstances, was a common thread in Saturday's sessions. Even signs posted at the Conference Center doors followed the theme — they urged members to treat courteously the famously combative street preachers that descend on Conference Center sidewalks during general conference weekends.We shall go on," President Hinckley said. "There will always be a need. Hunger and want and catastrophes will ever be with us."

Adversity is more than something to just grit your teeth and wait out, Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve said. Those who seek eternal life are not expected simply to endure the trials of life, but endure them well. Extreme circumstances are no excuse.

"To endure well is to keep those commandments whatever the opposition, whatever the temptation and whatever the tumult around us." The admonition remains the same even if one's assignment seems insignificant.

"There is one responsibility that no one can evade," President Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency said, quoting President David O. McKay. "That is the effect of one's personal influence." He emphasized influencing one's own family for good. "The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place nor fulfill its essential functions. Such truth has been taught by many presidents of the church," he said.

Protesters seemed to be outnumbered by Evangelical Protestant peacemakers on the sidewalks outside the Conference Center for much of the day, the former chiding conferencegoers while the latter greeted them warmly, surprising many who have grown accustomed to shouts of protest.

The conference concludes with sessions at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today.

E-mail: aedwards@desnews.com