In the words of my mother (and a movie that will remain nameless)- "The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things! Like [prophets], [conference], and all those other things!"
Every six months, God's living prophets and apostles speak to His church. This has been known as General Conference. In giving a background to the history of church conferences, Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve has said,
"Conferences have always been part of the true Church of Jesus Christ. Adam gathered his posterity and prophesied of things to come. Moses gathered the children of Israel and taught them the commandments he had received. The Savior taught multitudes gathered both in the Holy Land and on the American continent. Peter gathered believers in Jerusalem. The first general conference in these latter days was convened just two months after the Church was organized, and conferences have continued to this very day."
So, what do we talk about that takes us two days, and four sessions? There is a lot that we come to learn! Just as in times of old, these men have been called to be a witness of the glory of Chirst, and to teach us what our Heavenly Father needs us to know at this time. From the same talk, Elder Hales explains how the speakers figure out what to say.
"These conferences are always under the direction of the Lord, guided by His Spirit. We are not assigned specific topics. Over weeks and months, often through sleepless nights, we wait upon the Lord. Through fasting, praying, studying, and pondering, we learn the message that He wants us to give."
Just as in times of old, God directs his people today through revelation. Through that revelation, we are reminded of the love that our Heavenly Father has for us, what we are doing well in our lives, and what we need to do in order to follow the example Jesus Christ set for us more perfectly. I always come away from General Conference feeling more at peace because the Holy Spirit helps me to know, from what the speakers are directed to say, what I need to do to become who God needs me to be.
Sometimes though, those ideas just stay in our heads unless we do something about it. I heard a fabulous, short parable a few weeks ago that puts this concept into perspective...
The Parable of the Turkeys!
Once upon a time, a turkey who had figured out to fly gathered together all of his friends and family. He was so excited about what he had learned, that he spent the whole day teaching his friends and family how to fly. They spent all day in good fun, soaring over the fence of their coop and then back. As the sun started to set, the turkeys decided that it was time to wrap it up. They all walked home together.
I hope that you found the same good humor in that as I did. They walked home! Just after they had learned this amazing skill...they walked! How often do we do that? Do we learn something incredible, marvel at the genius of it, and then leave it at that? The things that we learn are no good unless we apply them!
As we approach the time for General Conference, I would encourage each of you to begin to prepare now by thinking of a question that you have. It can be a question about a concern, a life question, or even the question of whether God knows who you are or not. I promise you are not the only one who has wondered that. I did at one point, and it was during General Conference that I got my answer that God truly does know me and my needs. I promise you that as you get ready to receive answers during Conference, and if you listen intently, the Holy Ghost will help you to recognize your answer. I promise you that answers will come if they are sought after with real intent, and are acted upon! I love General Conference. I testify that as you act on what you learn, you will be incredibly blessed with the things that God knows you need. This is not a chance you will want to miss out on! =)
Times and Channels for Conference
Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, 2014, with general sessions each day at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. mountain daylight time (MDT)
 Video in 19 languages | |
 Video in English, Spanish, and Portuguese | |
 Video and audio in English only | |
 Video and audio in Spanish and Portuguese | |
 Video and audio in English and Spanish | |
 Video and audio in English and Spanish | |
 Video in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and ASL. | |
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