In the opening moments of General Conference, with the Church still mourning the recent passing of its beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, a simple yet profound tribute set a reverent tone for the proceedings. President Dallin H. Oaks, his long-time associate, stood to offer a personal witness of the man he had served with for decades.

He testified, “I have learned more about the gospel and gospel leadership from my long friendship and association with President Nelson than from any other person I have known personally. He is our model as a servant and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

A Legacy of Shared Service

Their shared ministry spanned nearly four decades. Called as Apostles in the same General Conference of April 1984, they served side-by-side in the Quorum of the Twelve, their bond deepening as they later led the Church together in the First Presidency. Together, they offered a unified and powerful witness of the Savior to all the world, their lives intertwined in the sacred work of the Restoration.

A Life Worthy of Emulation

President Oaks’ tribute is powerful not only for its sincerity but for its source. Coming from one who has himself dedicated a lifetime to studying the gospel, it speaks volumes about President Nelson’s profound influence as a teacher and leader.

President Nelson’s life was indeed a master class in discipleship. His energetic, forward-looking ministry was anchored in an unwavering testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. He was, as President Oaks declared, a true model of a servant-leader. As we reflect on his prophetic life, may we strive to emulate his unwavering faith, his devotion to keeping covenants, and his tireless love for all of God’s children.

To see his message, visit this link.

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April and October are eagerly-awaited months for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of the semi-annual General Conferences held during these months. It is an exciting time to listen as prophets and apostles of the Lord give counsel and direction to all. But more than this counsel and direction for the administration of His church and revelation to the world, are the countless gifts sent to us from heaven in the form of carefully prepared conference talks.

Here are some of those gifts.

The Benefits of Attending General Conference

Preparing our hearts to receive guidance from above changes everything. As we open our minds and spirits to hear the words of modern-day prophets and apostles, we invite profound blessings into our daily lives. Here are a few ways attending and studying General Conference enriches our spiritual walk:

Answers to prayers. Wise counsel we often receive before conference is to come prepared with questions. We are promised that as we prayerfully seek for answers while listening to speakers, we will receive the answers we need, either directly from the words of the speakers, or from the enlightenment we receive through the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Receiving answers to our prayers doesn’t happen automatically. We are counseled to carefully prepare ourselves spiritually, so we can be ready to receive the answers we need. Sometimes, the answers do not come during the conference itself, but come later as we give heed to the counsel to carefully study the conference talks over the course of 6 months.

Aside from the talks given, answers can also be found in the hymns, prayers, and even discussions with our families about impressions they have received during the conference.

Witness of precious truths.  During the October 2018 Sunday morning session, Elder M. Russel Ballard opened the conference with a very powerful message about a vision his great grandfather, Joseph Fielding Smith, received regarding the redemption of the dead. He recounted the many trials and sorrows Joseph F. had to go through to become fully prepared to receive such revelation. At a young age, Joseph F. lost his father, Hyrum Smith, who was martyred at Carthage. Joseph F. also lost his mother, one brother, two sisters, two wives, and thirteen children during his lifetime.

Many of us might not have known what difficult trials Joseph F. Smith had to go through until this last General Conference. His life is a witness to the truthfulness of God’s words that all our trials “shall give [us] experience, and shall be for [our] good.” So great was his lost and so intense was his desire to come to know what happens after this life, that he was spiritually ready for such a powerful vision.

Elder Ballard’s witness of the life and ministry of his great grandfather, along with all the other witnesses given during General Conference, is one of the gifts we can receive when we carefully study and ponder the talks.

Promised Blessings. A frequent promise made during General Conference is that we can receive countless blessings when we prayerfully study the Book of Mormon. In his last General Conference talk, prophet Thomas S. Monson “implore[d] each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day.” He promised that “[a]s we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives.” What a promise! In today’s world of increasing evil, the Book of Mormon can be our protection. This was the prophet’s last counsel to us before he died. The fact that he chose this counsel over all others says so much about the importance of reading the Book of Mormon.

A similar promise was made by our current prophet Russel M. Nelson, when he said that a prayerful study of the Book of Mormon will enable us to make better decisions and receive answers and direction in our lives. He also added that we “can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions” as we immerse ourselves in the words of the Book.

All of these promises, along with all others, that have been made during General Conferences are God’s promises to all of us. The Lord declared that, “whether by [His] own voice or by the voice of [His] servants, it is the same.”

Why We Need To Invite People To General Conference

Sharing the blessings of modern revelation with those around us opens the door for others to feel the Lord’s love and direction.

When we extend an invitation, we become instruments in bringing His light into the lives of friends, neighbors, and loved ones. Here is why we should invite others to experience General Conference:

Sharing the light of restored truth.

Just as we seek personal guidance and comfort from the messages delivered by prophets and apostles, those around us are often carrying heavy burdens or searching for answers of their own. When we invite friends, family members, or acquaintances to tune in or read the proceedings, we offer them an opportunity to hear inspired counsel tailored to the challenges of our day. Many people are simply waiting for an invitation, and a gentle reminder or a shared link can introduce them to spiritual truths that can transform their perspective.

Extending the circle of peace and healing.

The messages shared during conference testify of Jesus Christ, offering profound hope, healing, and peace that the world desperately needs. As we encourage others to listen or study the talks alongside us, we participate in gathering Israel and sharing the restored gospel in a natural, welcoming way. Reaching out with love helps bridge gaps and invites the Spirit to soften hearts, planting seeds of faith that can blossom in unexpected ways.

General Conference is for more than just giving instruction and direction to a worldwide church and the world as a whole. It is also about showering abundant gifts into the lives of all those who are seeking for heaven’s truths, promises, and answers. As we prayerfully study the conference messages for the next 6 months, may we always ask what gifts the heavens have given to us in the form of carefully wrapped conference talks.

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“…tarry ye here, and watch with me.”

The Savior of the world was about to perform the great Atoning sacrifice in the Garden of Gethsemane when He asked that His disciples stay with Him.

As we watch the rebroadcast of the 188th Annual General Conference this weekend, the Savior extends to us the same invitation. General Conference is longer than the usual Sunday services. There are 4 sessions in total: 2 sessions on Saturday and another 2 on Sunday. Each session lasts for 2 hours. Members and visitors alike may find it difficult, or even boring to listen for so long.

However, with proper preparation and the right attitude, we can heed the Savior’s invitation to stay focused on the messages and find General Conference a delight.

Come to General Conference with Your Concerns

Come to General Conference with hope, ready to listen to church leaders and the Spirit for solutions to problems you may be facing. By so doing, we can find answers for our concerns and troubles. Keep your issues and questions in mind as you view the broadcast. Write them down and while listening, look for specific promptings from the Spirit. Questions will be answered. Concerns will be addressed.

Tarry with an Open Heart

Making it through to the last speaker of General Conference requires a willingness to listen. It takes humility to be taught from on High. We may not be able to digest everything we hear but as we listen with an open heart and resolve to be taught by the Spirit, our knowledge and understanding will increase.

Watch with the Intent to Obey

General Conference will take on a whole new meaning if we listen in order to obey. Our intentions determine how the messages will affect our lives. Within every principle and doctrine taught, there is a challenge for us to obey. We need to resolve to truly follow the prophet and the Lord, in our deeds as well as our words. True understanding comes through action, and in obedience we become who we are meant to be.

Invite our Non-member Friends to do the Same

The messages of General Conference are for all of God’s children. As we look forward to attending, let us extend the invitation to our non-member friends as well. The conference messages can bless their lives and provide answers to their questions. Don’t worry if they will opt not to attend an entire session. When they attend with the purpose to learn, the Spirit will touch their hearts and they will want to listen more.

Share What is Learned

Radiate the joy that comes from General Conference by sharing the things we learn. Either by word-of-mouth, by text messages or by social media, we can tell the world that prophets speak in our time. Think of people who may need to hear specific messages. We can tell them of God’s love for them by sharing words from the speakers. The warm, comforting feeling of the Spirit is viral and must be available to all.

General Conference is a beautiful event. It is a venue for instruction and inspiration. Listening to living prophets and leaders of our time has never been more important. The two-day event will not be an issue of length but an affair of character. As we “tarry and watch”, may we feel the great love of our Father in Heaven and the tender mercies of His Son, Jesus Christ.

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A recent article from Deseret News related a recent change on how to get tickets for General Conference if you plan to travel to Salt Lake City and watch it live. David Miles, the director of events and support services at Temple Square, shared that the change will leverage the use of technology. People living outside the United States of America and Canada will need to inform a Stake President in their area about their plans to attend. The Stake President will then order the tickets online in advance. The electronic tickets, which can be printed at home, will then be sent to an email account of the Stake President specifically set-up for this purpose.

This new method is a lot easier than what we have been used to: going through long lines and presenting documents to prove that we are indeed from international countries before we can get our tickets.

This is also not limited to members of the LDS church. Non-members and friends who are travelling to Utah during General Conference weekends, who are interested in attending, are more than welcome to approach the Stake President in the area and ask for ticket reservations.

It is also important to note that aside from this change, other general conference ticketing guidelines have not changed and are still in effect.

You can share this good news with family and friends who might be taking a trip to Utah for the April 2018 General Conference so they get their ticket orders in early. This could also open doors for missionary work if non-members who are curious about the LDS church know that they can attend this event.

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It is a testimony that everyone shares after listening wholeheartedly to the General Conference talks that they bring hopes to our hearts.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, one for the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:

If we teach by the Spirit and you listen by the Spirit, some one of us will touch on your circumstance, sending a personal prophetic epistle just to you.

We are gathered together to be instructed directly by our Lord through his messengers. All throughout the scriptures, we read that either the Lord’s servant prophets or Himself did similar patterns to gather the multitudes to listen and learn together.

In Numbers 8:9, the Lord instructed to “gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together.” In Exodus 35:1, Moses “gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words with the Lord hath commanded, that ye should do them.”

Multiple times have these similar gatherings were conducted in the New Testament by Jesus Christ Himself and in the Book of Mormon through his prophets like King Benjamin.

By listening and remembering the words of our modern day prophets, we fulfill our purpose as witnesses of our Savior stated in 2 Nephi 25:26:

We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

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