Under the direction of President Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, more than 1,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the greater Chattanooga area gathered for a semi-annual stake conference Saturday and Sunday which was held in the chapel at the LDS Stake Center at 3067 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road. Twelve congregations participated.
Stake conference, which is held every May and November, is open to the public, as are Sunday services and weekly youth activities.
Congressman Chuck Fleischmann and Tennessee State Rep. Mike Carter attended Sunday’s stake services. Elder R. Randall Bluth, an area Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, presided.
Elder Bluth began his talk by calling upon the more than 40 missionaries serving in the greater Chattanooga area to sing. These full-time missionaries, ages 18-21, both men and women, left their families and friends to preach of Christ, at their own expense, to any and all who will listen. During their 18-month or 24-month service, they do not date, listen to radio, or watch TV. At Sunday’s stake conference, they sang “Called to Serve” – a hymn associated with missionary work.
Elder Bluth thanked the missionaries and their mission president and his wife, President and Sister Steven P. Griffin, who also left their home, family, friends and business to preside for the past three years, at their own expense, over the Knoxville Mission. President and Sister Griffin are responsible for the more than 150 missionaries serving in the area. More than 70,000 LDS missionaries serve worldwide. Like Elder Bluth, President and Sister Griffin bore testimony that Jesus Christ is the only Begotten Son of God.
Elder Bluth encouraged those in attendance to be worthy of the joy that Christ offers. He spoke of how Moses was directed to take off his shoes because he stood on holy ground. He said we should think on these things. Symbolically, we should turn away from the world and turn to Christ and live. We should be clean – in word, thought and deed – and partake of the fruit of the gospel of Jesus Christ whose fruit “is desirable to make one happy.” He spoke of being made clean through the Savior’s Atonement – as there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Jesus Christ.
President John Griffey of the Chattanooga Stake conducted services and also spoke of the Living Christ. He said we should forgive one another and not hold bad feelings towards each other. He encouraged those gathered to unify, to be kind to one another and to be kind when using social media. “If you have aught with your brother, go to him,” he said, “and make things right,” as Jesus would do, because, he said, in the days ahead, followers of Christ will need each other.
Other speakers included President Rick Evans and President Bryan Silvenis, counselors in the Chattanooga Stake Presidency. They, too, bore witness of Jesus Christ, of the Holy Bible, and of the Book of Mormon – another testament of Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a worldwide organization of volunteers who share a common belief in Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of the world. These followers of Christ, also commonly known as Mormons, give of their time and talents to share the good news and glad tidings of Christ’s message with those who are seeking. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a presence in 189 countries and territories across the globe. Those who preside at Stake Conference, and all other LDS Church services, do so without pay.