April 2, 2005

Six years ago, today, was the 175th semi-annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It was also the same day of the passing of Pope John Paul II.

The very next morning, during the Sunday session of General Conference, President Gordon B. Hinckley focused his remarks on the divine calling of Joseph Smith as the Prophet of the Restoration.  It was within his talk that President Hinckley named several of the "great things which God revealed through Joseph the Prophet."

Those subsequent days I followed with great interest as the next Pope was chosen.  I remember asking my husband during the process if he thought the Lord would guide the decision of these men who met together for them to be able to pick a good man to lead the Catholic Church.

"No," he answered.  "For it is not God's Church. They are left to themselves to decide."

His answer, along with the penetrating testimony of President Hinckley on that General Conference Sunday, added to my everlasting conviction that God has a true and living Church which He restored through Joseph Smith and continues to reveal to our living prophet today, President Thomas S. Monson.