President Thomas S. Monson was the highlight of the Women's conference in the closing session in the Marriott Center Friday.

The new prophet accompanied by his wife, Francis, and their daughter, Ann, counseled the sisters on how to "find joy in the journey now."

President Monson encouraged the sisters to live every day as if it were a special occasion, to focus on accomplishments rather than on what still needs to be done and to remember that adversity is necessary for progress.

"Each one of you is living a life filled with much to do," Monson said. "I plead with you not to let the important things in life pass you by."

President Monson told the sisters a story of a man who, following his wife's death, found one of her precious things in a drawer. The item was purchased nine years before but never worn. President Monson explained how the wife had been waiting for a special occasion to wear the item.

"Don't save something for a special occasion," President Monson said. "Everyday of life is a special occasion."

President Monson used attributes such as sensitivity, selflessness and compassion to describe the sisters at the conference. He also made sure to include in his address single women, single mothers, grandmothers and those that have aging parents.

"You love and forgive with good hearts and willing hands," Monson said. "You make a real difference in the lives of others.

"The good you've done, the kind words you've spoken, the love you've shown to others, can never be fully measured," President Monson said.

He encouraged the sisters to focus on the service they are constantly rendering to everyone around them, rather than what they still need to do.

"No matter how carefully we plan our lives, we can't avoid all the storms that come our way," President Monson said.

He told the sisters that all suffering has a purpose; that it builds our character and helps us progress. He mentioned that no suffering is wasted.

"These and other trials present us with a real test of our ability to endure," President Monson said.

He told the sisters that the Lord alone offers us eternal peace in times of adversity.

As soon as the prophet entered the room, more than 17,000 sisters greeted him reverently by singing "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet."

"It was wonderful how the sisters reacted, how they spontaneously started singing," said Candy Amos from Jerome, Idaho. "He looked surprised and very humbled by that."

Women who have been attending the conference for years say it is uncommon for the prophet to speak.

"What a wonderful time to be a woman to have a prophet of God speak to us," said Sherry Galvez from Grayson Ga.

Galvez expressed her gratitude for President Monson's willingness to take time from his busy schedule to come and talk to the sisters.