LDS Freedom Forum

First off, I don't want this thread to turn into "The Falability of Prophets." There are other threads for people to express their opinions on that. Rather, with general conference just a week away and feeling that the more we prepare for it the more we will get out of it, I wanted to get people's thoughts and feelings about how best to do that.

One of the biggest differences between us and other Christian religions is the belief in continuing revelation, both personal and through our leaders but especially our prophet. I am reminded of 2 Nephi 32:3-5

3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

4 Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.

5 For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.

A couple points from these verses. First off, I find it interesting how the words of Christ will tell us all things we should do and the Holy Ghost will show us all things we should do. Now this may be mincing words, but I think there is a truth found there.

The words of Christ, as spoken by the prophet, tell us in a general sense how we should live our lives. Its like "general" authorities preaching "general" principles of the gospel. But if we want to understand how those principles apply specifically in our own lives, we need the Holy Ghost which will "show" us what to do with the truths we have been taught. It actually walks us through the application of those principles.

In connection with that, vs 4 tells us that it is not enough to just listen to conference, or in other words, just hear the words of Christ spoken. We need to seek the companionship of the Holy Ghost through prayer and righteous living, so that it can bear witness of their truthfulness and strengthen our desire to apply them in our own lives.

So what does that tell us about what we should be doing between now and general conference? With general conference falling on what normally would be fast sunday and easter after that, our ward will be having fast Sunday tomorrow. I think that provides a perfect opportunity to start asking and knocking in preperation. We should also be freeing up our minds from the world around us and start getting our thoughts in tune to the spirit and open up that conduit so personal revelation can flow unhindered.

Conference is ultimately what we make of it. If you don't get much out of it, its because you haven't put anything into it. I have a testimony of the principle that before we seek any blessing from God we must be willing to lay something upon the altar of God. So I guess the question becomes: What are we willing to place there?

I absolutely love General Conference! I record every talk and listen to them several times. I'm always amazed with what I hear. With BYUtv broadcasting every session world wide, our Prophet of the world now has his tower as Nephi of old did. I'm hoping for the same types of messages Nephi preached while upon his tower (Helaman chapters 6-12). Just one of our types and shadows of today's world, perhaps our most important---type!

Bob

bobhenstra wrote:I absolutely love General Conference! I record every talk and listen to them several times. I'm always amazed with what I hear. With BYUtv broadcasting every session world wide, our Prophet of the world now has his tower as Nephi of old did. I'm hoping for the same types of messages Nephi preached while upon his tower (Helaman chapters 6-12). Just one of our types and shadows of today's world, perhaps our most important---type!

Bob

I used to be bewildered when approaching general conference in that there would be a lot going on in the world and I would think "Surely they will address such and such" but then they wouldn't and I would wonder why. Then I realized that the gospel never changes. Times may change, people may change but God doesn't. The truths that saved those back in Nephi's day are the same truths that will save us now. We face the same darkness, the same threats, and now we must make the same decisions of what to do about it. And if we have the Spirit with us, it will tell us what to do about it.

I am looking forward to it! I hope I can make it to the priesthood session as well. Schedule is iffy.

Slightly off topic - I listened to the YW conference tonight. Pres Monson gave an excellent talk.

Perhaps the best preparation we can make is to be open to what the Spirit tells us through the speakers.

Good post laronius.

I have been praying for a couple of weeks now that I will have the Spirit with me and to hear and understand what is being said during GC. I always pray for the leaders of the church as they prepare for their talks. I also pray for their families, and also all the other people connected with General Conference. (The people behind the scenes so to speak.) I always look forward to conference. It is so uplifting. After conference I read the conference talks in the Ensign, If I read a talk a day, it always gives me a better start to and throughout the day. When it starts, I sit down and listen, and don't do anything else, but listen to what is being said. I also watch some of the talks again on the BYU channels.

Laronius, nice thoughtful post. I agree with you. We will take away in proportion to what we bring.
2 Ne 31:20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eeternal life.

bobhenstra wrote:I'm hoping for the same types of messages Nephi preached while upon his tower (Helaman chapters 6-12).

I wouldn't count on it Bobby - not as long as 501c3 is still in force.

I think our leaders would know if the membership was ready for more because the Lord would be pleased with his people because they

-pay full tithes and generous offerings
-have food storage and prepared for emergencies
-attend the temple regularly
-are faithful hometeachers
-read the Book of Mormon diligently and prayerfully

Then I could see our leaders preaching new things to us because we would have repented from our wicked ways and have a hope of removing condemnation from us. Until then, we'll have the same inspirational talks. In any case, I am looking forward to their messages.

Coach Mark - you hit the nail on the head! So simple - but we, as a people, still struggle with these basics.

coachmarc wrote:I think our leaders would know if the membership was ready for more because the Lord would be pleased with his people because they

-pay full tithes and generous offerings
-have food storage and prepared for emergencies
-attend the temple regularly
-are faithful hometeachers
-read the Book of Mormon diligently and prayerfully

Then I could see our leaders preaching new things to us because we would have repented from our wicked ways and have a hope of removing condemnation from us. Until then, we'll have the same inspirational talks. In any case, I am looking forward to their messages.

Don't forget genealogy! But yes, I agree with this too.

-- Geoff

Col. Flagg wrote:

bobhenstra wrote:I'm hoping for the same types of messages Nephi preached while upon his tower (Helaman chapters 6-12).

I wouldn't count on it Bobby - not as long as 501c3 is still in force.

Nephi was first praying about the wickedness of the people. And yet when our prophet talks about the wickedness our members need to stop doing no one seems to be listening. Nephi didn't talk about the corruption in the government until someone asked him what wickedness was he talking about.

Nan wrote:

Col. Flagg wrote:

bobhenstra wrote:I'm hoping for the same types of messages Nephi preached while upon his tower (Helaman chapters 6-12).

I wouldn't count on it Bobby - not as long as 501c3 is still in force.

Nephi was first praying about the wickedness of the people. And yet when our prophet talks about the wickedness our members need to stop doing no one seems to be listening. Nephi didn't talk about the corruption in the government until someone asked him what wickedness was he talking about.

The Nephite government was very much like a "free" theocracy (if that's a real term). It was common for the king/chief judge to be the prophet or another high priest in the church. And yet the laws were such that nobody could be forced to worship or believe a certain way. As a result, politics and religion were often discussed in the same breath. But as Col Flagg points out, the church now days is limited on what it can say politically. But I have always maintained that our problems are not political in a nature. I think our politicians only do what the populace expects or allows. So even when our leaders avoid engaging in politics, that which they do say, if followed, would none the less result in the desired changes in politics. But even if that doesn't happen to our country as a whole this weekend, I still look forward to the words they speak that can help bring about the changes I need to make in my own life. Like somebody in my ward said yesterday, there are blessings that come from watching general conference in real time. I have often had experiences or felt certain things that I don't get later when reading or watching the sessions again. I'm going to have to pay someone to cover for me at work this Saturday so I can watch the two general sessions, but it will be well worth it. Watching all four sessions of conference (five for us guys) can truly be a feast for the soul, but only if we come hungry enough.

I think it is also easy to forget that general conference isn't just for us or just about us. When our leaders prepare their talks, they prepare what the entire world needs to hear. There are countless many who watch general conference who are not members of our church but are seeking something.

D&C 123

12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—

Every now and then it just hits me: "We have a prophet of God on the earth!" That is not something to be taken lightly. I am reminded of Nephi, who after praying on his tower, was put on trail for the murder of the chief judge, during which trial he not only proved his own innocence but also proved his prophetic abilities and yet after all that the people merely went on their way and left him standing there. I wonder if Pres. Monson feels the same way after general conference. Do we just go on our way, never giving second thought to what he has said?

I'm bummed I don't get BYU channel any longer. I tried to find where I could view it on the internet but no such luck

sadie_Mormon wrote:I'm bummed I don't get BYU channel any longer. I tried to find where I could view it on the internet but no such luck

Sadie, you can watch it on the internet through a link right on lds.org. Come Saturday, the link should be right there, front and center, on the main page of the Church's website. Good luck!

Thanks! I tried to find it before but wasn't able to.

Got tickets for Sunday morning session for me and my family! So excited!!

sadie_Mormon wrote:Thanks! I tried to find it before but wasn't able to.

Sadie, this link works for me, perhaps it will work for you, as well?

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng

Gently

1. Keep the commandments; keep the commandments!
In this there is safety; in this there is peace.
He will send blessings;
He will send blessings.
Words of a prophet:
Keep the commandments.
In this there is safety and peace.


2. We are His children; we are His children,
and we must be tested to show we are true.
Hold to His promises;
Hold to His promises,
Heeding the prophets:
Keep the commandments.
In this there is safety and peace.

The best way to prepare for conference is, IMO, to turn on some church music (radio, CD, etc.) and allow the spirit to flourish with uplifting hymns - we try and do that on Sunday as we're getting ready for church - really sets the tone for the day. We like to turn on KSTAR 1400 AM (locally here in Utah County - wonderful music, both instrumental and with lyrics). And, of course, pray to the Lord that you will be alert and receptive and understand the messages delivered.

Truth B Known wrote:The best way to prepare for conference is, IMO, to turn on some church music (radio, CD, etc.) and allow the spirit to flourish with uplifting hymns - we try and do that on Sunday as we're getting ready for church - really sets the tone for the day. We like to turn on KSTAR 1400 AM (locally here in Utah County - wonderful music, both instrumental and with lyrics). And, of course, pray to the Lord that you will be alert and receptive and understand the messages delivered.

I think you hit the nail on the head when talking about the spirit flourishing. What ever we do, that is key.

juniper wrote:Got tickets for Sunday morning session for me and my family! So excited!!

I am excited for you as well!

Juniper-----

That really is exciting to get to go to conference. I'm glad for you.


Believer