For a few moments during the Oct. 3 Sunday afternoon session of the 174th Semiannual General Conference, members tuning in from storm-ravaged Florida must have felt as if they were looking out their own windows. Broadcast during Bishop H. David Burton's conference message were images of Church members in Florida cleaning and clearing the muck and debris deposited by recent hurricanes.

In his talk, the Church's Presiding Bishop expressed gratitude for the thousands of members who had left their own homes in recent weeks to offer helping hands, perspiration and relief to hurricane victims of all backgrounds.

"Thanks again to those of you who give of your means and those whose hands have lightened the load of so many," he said. "I salute you for your desire to be more blessed and holy and more like the Savior."

Bishop Burton's gracious words did not reach many of the LDS volunteer relief workers at that moment. Even as general conference was nearing an end, thousands of Church members from South Carolina, Georgia and regions of Florida were continuing their ongoing task of patching roofs, clearing out fallen trees and offering hope to folks living in central-eastern Florida.

After offering hurricane relief all day Saturday, some 1,300 priesthood holders squeezed into the Cocoa stake center to watch the evening priesthood session.

"The stake center was as full as it typically is for stake conference, but with men all in grubby work attire," said Bob Grover, a Cocoa Stake high councilor. Brother Grover said he will never forget the sound of hundreds of weary volunteers standing during the congregational hymn, belting out the words to "Praise to the Man."

Hundreds of other LDS relief workers assisting Hurricane Ivan victims in Pensacola, Fla., found like respite in the conference messages. Most Pensacola volunteers were able to break away from their clean-up duties long enough to catch a session or two. Pensacola Florida Stake President Mark Daniels said general conference offered welcome salve to a community still in shock.

"We were really looking forward to conference," President Daniels said.

Ivan damaged the satellite systems at three Pensacola-area meetinghouses, so local members and visiting relief workers gathered at two unharmed buildings to view general conference. — Jason Swensen