(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Women arrive at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) LDS leaders Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf shake hands with leaders at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Primary General President Joy D. Jones speaks at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) President Dieter F. Uchtdorf speaks at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) President Dieter F. Uchtdorf speaks at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) President Dieter F. Uchtdorf speaks at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Sister Sharon Eubank, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, speaks at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Sister Neill F. Marriott of the Young Women's General Presidency speaks at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Primary General President Joy D. Jones at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Relief Society General President Jean B. Bingham, center, with her counselors Sharon Eubank and Reyna I. Aburto, at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Young Women General President Bonnie L. Oscarson, center, with her counselors Carol F. McConkie and Neill F. Marriott, at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Primary General President Joy D. Jones, center, with her counselors Bonnie H. Cordon and Cristina B. Franco, at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) LDS leaders Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf sit next to an empty chair that is usually reserved for President Thomas S. Monson, at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A Relief Society Choir from stakes in Summit and Wasatch counties performs at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) President Dieter F. Uchtdorf speaks at the General Women's Session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 23, 2017.
Mormon women and girls can lead out in bringing positive change to the world, leaders said as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened its 187th Semiannual General Conference on Saturday with a session for female members 8 and older.
Sharon Eubank, first counselor in the presidency of the Relief Society organization for women, urged listeners to be articulate and imaginative in expressing faith and extending service.
“Being happy doesn’t mean to slap a plastic smile on your face no matter what is going on,” she said, “but it does mean keeping the laws of God and building and lifting others.”
Neill F. Marriott, second counselor in the presidency of the Young Women organization for teen girls, spoke of a political disagreement she’d had with a family member. In her prayer that night, she vented to God about her anger and frustration until she realized the answer was love. “How can I love her? I don’t think I even like her,” she recalled saying. She answered her own question: “You love her, Heavenly Father. Would you give me a portion of your love for her so I can love her, too?”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the faith’s governing First Presidency, also had advice for ministering to those with whom listeners might disagree.
Poignantly expressing his shame at the actions of his native Germany during World War II, Uchtdorf said, “Of course, we must always stand for what is right, and there are times when we must raise our voices for that cause. However, when we do so with anger or hate in our hearts … chances are we are not doing so in righteousness.”
Joy D. Jones, president of the Primary organization for children, spoke on self-worth, reminding her audience, “If we sin, we are less worthy, but we are never worth less.”
Relief Society General President Jean B. Bingham conducted the meeting and reported that church President Thomas S. Monson was watching from home. The church announced in May that Monson, now 90, had stepped back from day-to-day leadership because of advancing age and declining health.
The General Conference will continue with five more sessions, including one for the all-male priesthood, next weekend.