The realization that death must visit every human can be tempered with the comforting knowledge that through the Savior's atonement, life will continue beyond the grave, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were told Saturday morning.

Speaking from the Conference Center, President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency of the church, said Jesus Christ offers assurance of a universal triumph over death. Tens of thousands of faithful Latter-day Saints gathered in meeting places on or adjacent to Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City to hear church leaders speak on gospel topics during the opening session of the 177th Annual General Conference of the church. Millions more received the conference proceedings via satellite in many parts of the world or on the Internet.

The Easter story recounts "the most significant event in recorded history," President Monson said. "The empty tomb that first Easter morning brought comforting assurance, an affirmative answer to Job's question, 'If a man die, shall he live again?'

"Through tears and trials, through fears and sorrows, through the heartache and loneliness of losing loved ones, there is assurance that life is everlasting. Our Lord and Savior is the living witness that such is so."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Council of the Twelve offered a resounding condemnation of using the spoken word to hurt or demean another.

"Like all gifts that come from above, words are sacred and must be spoken with care and by constraint of the spirit," said Elder Holland. Cruelly spoken, words can cause more devastation than weapons.

"The voice that bears profound testimony, utters fervent prayers and sings the hymns of Zion can be the same voice that berates and criticizes, embarrasses and demeans, inflicts pain and destroys the spirit of oneself and of others in the process."

Elder Holland enjoined husbands to refrain from hateful words to their wives, and wives to keep their tongues bridled. He urged all adults to avoid words that can permanently damage children. He ranked verbal and emotional abuse with physical and sexual abuse, which are blatantly condemned by the church. Children should never be criticized or negatively compared with others, he said.

"Praise each child individually for what that child is and help him or her escape our culture's obsession with comparing, competing and never feeling we are 'enough."'

Elder Holland suggested that negative speaking springs from negative thinking, which is contrary to the spirit of the gospel.

"Speak hopefully, speak en-

couragingly, including about yourself. Try not to complain and moan incessantly.... Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith and hope and charity, the three great Christian imperatives so desperately needed in the world today." Kind words, spoken under the influence of the spirit, can dry tears, heal hearts, elevate lives, give hope and allow confidence to prevail, he said.

The power of prayer was the theme of Elder Richard G. Scott of the Council of the Twelve. It is an avenue open to all, regardless of status and circumstances or even spiritual worthiness, and answers to sincere prayer are assured.

In his discourse, Elder Scott outlined ways in which answers to prayers may come to an individual, the most common being a "feeling" that either confirms the desired answer or causes a discomfort that says the answer being considered is not correct.

Church President Gordon B. Hinckley told male members that the progress and growth of the church during his 12-year administration "can be but prologue to a greater future," during the Saturday evening priesthood session.

He referred to consistent, impressive growth in the number of missionaries who spread the gospel message, convert baptisms, sacrament meeting attendance, priesthood ordinations and payment of tithes.

To maintain the momentum, he said, borrowing from a church hymn, "Let us all put our shoulders to the wheel and push along, do our duty with a heart full of song."

President Hinckley also had strong words for the young men of the church, to remain morally and physically clean. "In a world that wallows in filth, be clean in language, in thought, in body, in dress." The current trend toward "filthy, sleazy talk" should be avoided by those in the church, he said. "Failure to express yourself in language that is clean marks you as one whose vocabulary is extremely limited."

Sloppy dress leads to sloppy manners, he said, and a filthy mind expresses itself in filthy and profane language. "A clean mind expresses itself in language that is positive and uplifting and in deeds that bring happiness to the heart."

President Hinckley reiterated the church's stand against tattoos, warning young men if they allow their skin to be permanently marked in such a way, "some day you will regret it."

He also alluded to the degrading thoughts and actions that can be inspired by unwise use of computers. "Suffice it to say that it is totally unbecoming you as one who holds the priesthood of God. You are his chosen servant, you have been ordained to something holy and wonderful. You cannot live in the world and partake of the ways of the world. You must be above all of that."

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

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