General Conference

(SALT LAKE CITY, UT, March 29, 2006) - Gordon B. Hinckley, the 95 year-old leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will address the 12 million members of the Church in five "General Conference" sessions on April 1 and 2. President Hinckley along with other top church leaders will deliver their remarks via satellite transmission from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Church members around the globe will take part in the meetings by attending local church buildings or even in their own homes via the Internet at http://www.lds.org/ or via the BYUTV television station.

The four conference sessions will air from 10 am to 12 noon and 2 to 4 pm (Mountain Time) on both Saturday and Sunday, April 1 and 2. A general priesthood session will also be held for all priesthood holders Saturday evening at 6 pm Mountain Time.

In addition to the inspirational spoken messages, the world-renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir will provide the music at the conference sessions. The talks will be simultaneously translated into over 50 languages for broadcast around the world. A likely theme of the conference will be finding peace and happiness by living gospel principles and by having faith in Jesus Christ.

During his 11 years as president of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley has guided it through a period of dynamic growth, with membership now more than a third higher than it was when he assumed leadership in 1995. Despite his age and a recent bout with cancer, he maintains a vigorous schedule, including a recent trip to Santiago, Chile for a temple dedication. His remarks are typically the most-anticipated part of the semi-annual conference. In closing the most recent conference last October, he referred to the meetings as “an inspirational feast at the table of the Lord.”

http://www.ldstoday.com/home/level2/2006-03-29conference.php

Elder Merrill C. Oaks

A Family Expo will be April 3-4 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Brigham Young University conference center. The aim of the conference is to strengthen family ties.

Elder Merrill C. Oaks, a former member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will speak at the expo. Other speakers include Josephine Ann C. Oaks, Mary Ellen Edmunds, John Bytheway, Paula Fellingham, Mindy Gledhil and Daniel K. Judd.

First Presidency

On March 17, 2006, President Gordon B. Hinckley and his counselors joined Relief Society General President Bonnie D. Parkin in a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the historic Relief Society Building in Salt Lake City.

Commemorating the upcoming 50th anniversary of the dedication of the building and celebrating the completion of a months-long renovation project, President Hinckley and Sister Parkin used silver scissors to cut a gold ribbon hanging in a doorway between the Presidents' Room and the Reception Room on the ground floor of the white stone and marble building.

Accompanying President Hinckley at the ceremony were his counselors in the First Presidency, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust. Also present were several members of the Quorum of the Twelve, other Church leaders, and current and former auxiliary leaders.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Elder Wirthlin recognized for life of contributions

March 18, 2006

The University of Utah Alumni Association honored Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve with its Distinguished Alumni award Feb. 22.

The award, given to graduates who have "distinguished themselves professionally, served the local and national communities, and supported the university in its mission," is the highest honor the alumni association can bestow, said Mary Thiriot, senior event coordinator for the association. Each recipient is nominated from a pool of more than 200,000 living alumni worldwide.

Elder Wirthlin was recognized for his work as the first chairman of the Church's Humanitarian Service Committee. In addition, Elder Wirthlin, a former Ute running back, was recognized as a "lifelong supporter of Utah football," according to the alumni association Web site.

The awards were presented at a dinner held at the Little America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City during the university's Founders' Day 2006 events. As part of the events, Elder Wirthlin and Garry Flake, director of Church Emergency Response, discussed the humanitarian efforts of the Church during a lecture Feb. 22 hosted by the Bennion Service Center.

General YW Meeting

On Saturday, March 25, 2006, the Church had its General Young Women meeting. Among those who spoke included President Faust, Sister Susan W. Tanner, general president of the Young Women, Sister Julie B. Beck, first counselor in the Young Women presidency, and Sister Elaine S. Dalton, second counselor.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

On February 23, 2006, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Lao People's Democratic Republic for the work of the gospel.

A small group of local Latter-day Saints, humanitarian missionaries, and visiting Church leaders were in attendance as Elder Holland invoked God's blessings upon the people of Laos. He prayed that the government, its leaders, the Laotian people, and the entire land would be blessed with peace.

Elder Holland was accompanied on his visit to Laos and other Asian nations by his wife, Patricia. Also traveling with them were Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Seventy, First Counselor in the Asia Area Presidency; his wife, Diane; President Scott F. Hansen of the Thailand Bangkok Mission; and his wife, Suzanne.

Elder James E. Faust

As reported by the Deseret News, the Brigham Young University Management Society on Wednesday March 22, 2006 honored President Faust, second counselor in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' First Presidency, with its annual award as family, church officials, business leaders and educators celebrated a man who, as Management Society Utah Valley Chapter president Marc Arnoldsen said, has given "many years of distinguished leadership and service in our community."

Elder Paul E. Koelliker

Elder Paul E. Koelliker, a member of the First Quorum of Seventy, was in Ridgecrest, CA over the weekend of March 11-12, 2006 to set apart a new stake presidency.

New Mission Presidents

Every July, a whole new crop of mission presidents begin their three year service. This July, there are 108 new mission presidents. This lds.org article describes some of the preparation these couples go through prior to formally entering the MTC and the mission field.

Elder Quentin L. Cook

Elder Quentin L. Cook, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, addressed Brigham Young University–Idaho students during his devotional address on Tuesday, March 14 about strengthening faith through seeking knowledge.

Elder Stephen A. West

Elder Stephen A. West, former member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, stressed the importance of paying tithing in his Brigham Young University–Idaho devotional address on Tuesday, March 7.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

During the weekend of March 11 - 13, 2006, Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley was in Santiao, Chile to rededicate the Santiago, Chile temple.