Jesus Christ is the perfect role model for Latter-day Saints, leaders say at Saturday morning session

Each person who commits to follow Jesus Christ can be blessed by the hope, strength, joy and transformative power of his gospel and his church, leaders said Saturday morning at the 194th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice. It is a continuous commitment and way of life that should guide us at all times and in all places. His teachings and his example define the path for every disciple of Jesus Christ,” said President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency.
“Our hope is our Savior Jesus Christ,” said Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
“I invite you to commit yourself more fully to the Savior, his gospel, and his church,” said Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Seven speakers addressed the opening session of the conference:
Elder Andersen titled his talk, “The Triumph of Hope.” He spoke of the August death of Trey Andersen, the son of his nephew, who had been accepted into the accounting program at BYU beginning this fall and planned to serve a mission next year. Trey died of complications from heart transplant surgery. He said hope in Christ comforted Trey’s family.
Elder Renlund compared the powerful combination of nitroglycerin and kieselguhr into dynamite to a combination he described as “beyond price,” the gospel of Jesus Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“The covenantal access to his power is through his church. The combination of the Savior’s gospel and his church transforms our lives.”
“You will find that the combination of the Savior’s gospel and his church brings power into your life. This power is far greater than dynamite. It’ll shatter the rocks in your way, transform you into an inheritor in God’s kingdom, and you will be ‘filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.’”
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints enables access to God’s power because it is authorized by him both to teach the doctrine of Christ and to offer the gospel’s saving and exalting ordinances.”
President Freeman noted that her husband Greg recently received a diagnosis requiring intensive surgery and months of chemotherapy and said God’s priesthood unlocks heavenly power desperately needed by his children.
The Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square sang “Glory to God on High,” “Press Forward Saints,” “I Will Follow God’s Plan,” “How Firm a Foundation,” “God’s Gracious Love,” “Teach Me to Walk in the Light.”
The prayers were said by Elders J. Kimo Esplin and Isaac K. Morrison of the Seventy.
On Thursday, during the leadership session of general conference, leaders sustained six new Area Seventies to provide leadership in five countries.
Learn about those new leaders here.