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"This is the true Church, the only true Church, because in it are the keys of the priesthood," President Henry B. Eyring declared in his Saturday morning conference address.
Speaking in the same session as the historic solemn assembly, President Eyring said: "Only in this Church has the Lord lodged the power to seal on earth and to seal in heaven as He did in the time of the Apostle Peter. "
Those keys were restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith, who then conferred them to the Quorum of the Twelve, President Eyring, first counselor in the new First Presidency, added. Upon the death of the Prophet, the enemies of the Church thought the Church would perish with him. "But their hopes were dashed. It was the true Church and it also had the power to live on, even when those chosen for a time to lead it died.
"We have seen today a demonstration that this is the true and living Church. The keys of the priesthood are held by mortals but the way has been prepared by the Lord for the keys to remain functioning on the earth so long as the people exercise faith both that the keys are on the earth and that they have been passed on by the will of God to His chosen servants."
Speaking of the obligation "to remain worthy of the faith necessary for us to fulfill our promise to sustain those who have been called," President Eyring counseled: "We must examine our lives, repent as necessary, pledge to keep the Lord's commandments and follow His servants. The Lord warns us that if we do not do those things, the Holy Ghost will be withdrawn, we will lose the light which we have received, and we will not be able to keep the pledge we have made today to sustain the Lord's servants in His true Church."
Continuing, President Eyring spoke of making an individual evaluation. "First, we need to measure the depth of our gratitude for membership in the true Church of Jesus Christ. Second, we need to know by the power of the Holy Ghost in what ways we can do better in keeping the commandments.
After recognizing the power of the faith of members of the Church to sustain those who have been called, President Eyring spoke on "some of the reasons I see for gratitude for a true and living Church.... Most of all I am grateful for my experience of the cleansing power available through the ordinances performed by the power of the priesthood. I have felt forgiveness and cleansing through baptism by those with authority. I have felt the burning in my bosom that is only possible because of words spoken by servants of God: 'Receive the Holy Ghost."'
He also expressed gratitude for the sealing power and "our knowledge of it which changes and transforms our family life here and our expectations for the joy of family life in the world to come."
Speaking of the "prophesied perfecting of the Church," President Eyring said: "As I travel and come to know the members of the Church, I see that there is a steady improvement in their lives. In their simple faith and obedience, the Atonement is changing and edifying the members."
President Eyring referred to the repeated wish of President Gordon B. Hinckley that all who come into the Church might be retained in full fellowship. "His words live on in the leadership of President Monson and in all of us as we qualify to have the power of a Lehi and a Nephi to nourish with the good word of God. I am confident that you will continue, as I will, to be amazed by humble Latter-day Saints who home teach, visit teach, and speak to their non-member friends with ever greater power....
"I am confident that the day is coming that through the faith of the members we will see ever increasing numbers of people invited to hear the good word of God and who then come into the true and living Church.
"There is another improvement I am confident will come. Families across the Church are searching for ways to strengthen and protect their children against the evils around them. In some cases, those parents are desperately trying to bring back some in their family who have wandered. I am confident that there will be, increasingly, a reward given by God for their efforts. Those who never give up will find that God never gave up and that He will help them.
"Much of that help will come from those called to serve in the Church," President Eyring said, and then referred to those President Monson reached out to rescue as a young bishop.
"Another improvement I see coming in the kingdom is a desire and a capacity to reach out to the poor and those in need," he continued, speaking of sympathy for victims of natural disasters and obituaries requesting donations to the Perpetual Education Fund or to the Church's Humanitarian Fund."
Declaring that his own testimony of the true and living Church began in his childhood, President Eyring recalled receiving a powerful witness before he was even 8 years old that a priesthood leader in his little district in the mission field was a "servant of God in the true Church of Jesus Christ."
President Eyring declared that he has witnessed revelation and inspiration come to President Monson in his presence, "which confirms to me that God is honoring those keys (of the priesthood in the earth)....
"I bear you my solemn witness that this is the true and living Church of Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father will answer your fervent prayers to know that for yourself."
