For many members of the Church, general conference is one of the most unique and inspiring events of the year. As General Authorities prepare talks and speak under direction of the Spirit, their words connect with many in deeply personal ways. Every conference some members feel a certain talk was written just for them because of its powerful and personal message. At the April 1996 general conference President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "I invite you to listen, listen if you will by the power of the Spirit, to the speakers who will address you today and tomorrow as well as this evening. If you will do so, I do not hesitate to promise that you will be uplifted, your resolution to do what is right will be stronger, you will find solutions to your problems and your needs, and you will be led to thank the Lord for what you have heard."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cares deeply about the quality of life in Utah, home to nearly two million of its members — 13 percent of total membership — and the Church’s worldwide headquarters. The Church's concern, however, is not to promote the health code we embrace as Church members, but to support legislation that advances the safety and well-being of all state residents, particularly minors, and to avoid the societal costs and harms that often result from alcohol excess consumption and abuse, underage drinking and DUIs. The Church also believes strongly that alcohol policy in Utah is closely tied to the moral climate of the state and legislation should not enable, promote or contribute to an “alcohol culture.” Nevertheless, the Church does not contest the fact that alcohol is socially acceptable in our society and should be available to those who want it.

Get the full lesson "Relief Society: True Charity and Pure Religion" from the Teachings of Lorenzo Snow at LDS.org.

Elder Joseph W. Sitati of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spoke at the “Black, White and Mormon” conference Friday, October 9, 2015, at the University of Utah on the topic of “Race and the International Church.” Elder Sitati, who is from Kenya, addressed self-reliance, race and the growth of the Church in Africa.

As I was preparing this lesson I felt the prompting to challenge my students to come up with 100 different ways to put on the armor of God. I decided to have them write them down on small strips of paper and then link them together in a paper chain resembling chain mail. The next day I presented my students with the challenge and they eagerly took to it. They all gathered around the podium and worked together, shouting out and writing down different ways to put on the armor of God. When we were finished I had a student dress in armor and wrapped the chain around him.

Miller "is going to show the way for girls, that they can have it all," added Christy Tribe, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Utah, in the video honoring Miller. "So they can be great mothers and great wives, and they can be strong business people, and philanthropic."

The first presidency has called eight new mission presidents to serve around the world, from Barbados to Denmark to Samoa.

Mormon Newsroom recently published this article sharing how we can help care for God's creations. As President Russell M. Nelson taught, “We should care for the earth, be wise stewards over it, and preserve it for future generations. And we are to love and care for one another.”

As Church membership continues to grow and change throughout the world, four new stakes have been created in several different countries, including Brazil, Georgia, Guatemala, and the Philippines, while one stake was discontinued in Germany, according to LDS Church Growth.

Photo from Deseret News Archives. In 2004, U.S. President George W. Bush presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in a ceremony at the White House.