Eyring

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General Conference October 2025

Ross and Hemsley families at October 2025 General Conference

As each child has joined the church at the age of 8 years old, we have made it a goal to take them to General Conference. We took Aliza in 2018, and Hiram in 2022. There is something about literally sitting in the same room as the prophets that is different than listening later, watching from afar, or reading in a magazine. You cannot duplicate the spirit that fills the room when 21,000 people sing We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet! The Tabernacle Choir cannot be duplicated. Period.

It took months of planning, but with the help of family, eight tickets were obtained. We left early Sunday morning to drive down and listen to Sunday morning’s session in Kaysville (Aliza got some road hours for her driving permit too). Before that session was over, we changed into church clothes and drove to Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake Temple under renovation, 5 October 2025

We found our seats as soon as the ushers would let us in. We had a pretty sweet section.

Shortly before the Sunday Afternoon Session began, 5 October 2025

After getting our seats, we took the kids to see some of the sights in the Conference Center.

Jill Hemsley, Paul, Lillian, James, and Aliza Ross
Aliza, James, and Lillian Ross with President Russell M Nelson’s bust

We were surprised to find out President Nelson passed away the weekend before Conference. I found it very interesting to attend a General Conference during an Apostolic Interregnum. I reminded the kids they may never have that chance again.

President Dallin H Oaks and Elders Jeffrey R Holland, Henry B Eyring, and Dieter F Uchtdorf leaving after the Session

We were also fortunate to attend the only session President Oaks spoke. I am very thankful to hear the keys of the Priesthood speak in person. It was a very personal talk, more than I remember him speaking in the past. In the past 125+ years, the Apostolic Interregnum has been very short lived. The opportunity to hear the President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles also speak as the President of the Church in General Conference has not occurred in 74 years. Tradition always has the most senior Apostle being called, sustained, and set apart as the President of the First Presidency/High Priesthood with two counselors called to the same. That may happen today, 12 October 2025, if past precedent holds true.

Amanda, Aliza, and Lillian Ross with Jill Hemsley

I received my first testimony of a Prophet at Utah State University in 1997. I had joined the Logan Institute Choir. President Gordon B Hinckley was coming to speak at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. We had practiced multiple songs. One of which intrigued me, We Ever Pray for Thee. It was while singing that song that President Hinckley entered the arena. Wow. The Spirit overcome me. I have shared that experience many times, especially in the mission. My first testimony of a living prophet. It was as if every cell in my body jumped for joy and vibrated with excitement.

Bryan Hemsley and Hiram Ross at General Conference

My next prophetic testimony was related to Thomas S Monson. I have to admit, I always struggled a bit with President Monson. The story-telling and poems was too mushy for me, or something. I am not sure what gave me a bit of a burr, probably just personality. President Hinckley passed away and within the next week I was attending an endowment session in the Twin Falls Idaho Temple. I was in the prayer circle. It was then that the officiator included President Thomas S Monson in our prayer. As I repeated the words in the circle I felt the confirmation. The Spirit in that moment testified that President Monson was the Prophet upon the earth. I went away rejoicing and all my qualms with personality were lost.

Aliza and Hiram Ross excited to be in the Conference Center

President Monson also fell asleep in time. The next transition was to Russell M Nelson. After my experiences with Presidents Hinckley and Monson, I expected nothing less than another witness as to whether Russell M Nelson was the Prophet on earth. I prayed for the experience. In fact, Brigham Young taught us to expect to obtain a testimony of the Prophet. Well, in our own home watching General Conference in April 2018, we also participated in the Solemn Assembly. It was during that procedure that I again obtained a witness. No questions. In fact, President Nelson in his administration resolved some of my frustrations with church government and organization.

View of the rostrum from the farthest seats of the Conference Center before Sunday afternoon Session

Who will formally be set apart as the next President of the First Presidency? Tradition certainly would indicate Dallin H Oaks, and I expect the same. I also expect to obtain a witness that he is the Lord’s Prophet and Mouthpiece for the whole earth.

Paul Ross enjoying some light refreshments after Sunday afternoon’s General Conference

Since I really only began attending church regularly in 1997, President Hinckley was the only church president I knew for years. However, I will mention, my Grandma regularly spoke of my Great Grandmother’s connection to Ezra Taft Benson in Whitney, Idaho. Interestingly enough, when President Benson died in 1994, I spent the weekend of his funeral at Dustin McClellan’s home. I remember on Saturday, Dustin’s Mom, Bonnie, watching a funeral. I sat down and watched it for a little while. I remember the Tabernacle Choir. I asked her what it was and remember her telling me it was President Benson’s funeral. I felt something at that moment that made me more curious about the man. I still remember that occasion because the Spirit whispered to me. I have since also received a witness of President Benson. I have received one of every President since Joseph Smith.

Bryan Hemsley and James Ross enjoying Conference

Aliza recently attended a fireside in Rupert where President Emily Belle Freeman attended. I hope my children are gaining the golden strands in their testimony tapestry regarding the leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We were fortunate enough to rub shoulders with President Freeman again and Sister Amy A Wright on Sunday.

Emily Belle Freeman and Aliza Ross in Rupert, Idaho, 21 September 2025
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Sermon on a stick

A little thought about what you said.  There is a talk by Elder Eyring I have always thought about but I am too lazy to find it right now.  He makes the comment that his Dad taught him that when you meet someone, presume the are in trouble and have problems.  If you do that, more than 50% of the time you will be right.  I think that is true in life, and more particularly with religion.  Even members of the church!

I believe it was President Kimball that said that while the mission of the church was broken down (he had recently broken the mission of the church into the current three fold mission of proclaiming, perfecting, and redeeming), they were still essentially the same thing, that of missionary work.

You made the comment about showing afterward an increase of love.  I completely agree.  But I think many people interpret that is the touchy feely aspect.  Don’t forget, we will warn sharply and directly if it is true love.  The more serious the nature of the offense, the more direct and clear my parents were on setting me on the proper course.  Faithlessness is not to be tolerated.  This is so much more the case when they are demeaning the case.  An endowed member can be excommunicated for such action.  While it seems harsh, that is entirely for the good of the person.  By removing them from the covenant, it removes some of the punishment and provides them an opportunity to start afresh.  Excommunication is out of love and only for that purpose.  It is so sad that some wards used to ostracize members when they were excommunicated.  That was not the purpose.  It is part of the repentance process.  Brad, obedience to the Spirit to be direct and what you perceive as harsh is a sign of love.  But you are to back it up with confidence and up building after you have had to do a royal stripping.  Love and charity is cleaning up the old wreck of a home, gutting everything that is worthless, and then doing the rebuilding.  There is no sympathy is kicking out the rodents and ripping out the useless garbage and burning it on the pile.  But then can the beautiful parts of the work begin.  We can tear down and gut, but it is then our job to rebuild.  It is not enough to break a leg so it can heal properly, but to set it and help it heal.  Do you see my point?  Some things do need gentle coaxing to correct.  Some things need a good slam to help them.  You grew up with cows.  You know well my point.  You don’t use the shocker if you don’t have to.

Your comments on D&C 112 were most fascinating.  Thanks for pointing out the scripture on tribulation what would come upon the twelve.  Even they were warned it was coming.  Do you remember that as a missionary?  I remember sometimes I even warned investigators and new converts to expect difficulty to come.  They would be tried.