General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gives us an
opportunity to learn from living prophets, listen to the Spirit, and receive
answers to personal questions. We are so blessed to be able to watch
General Conference from the comfort of our homes. I know most members of the
church are glued to their TV’s as each speaker comes to the podium to fill us
with inspired knowledge about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The first General Conference of
the current Latter-day Church was held on June 1, 1830 — a little less than two
months after the church was organized — in the same Peter Whitmer Sr. home in
Fayette, N.Y., in which the organization took place. Records indicate 27 church
members were present for the conference, along with 30-40 others who were
interested in the proceedings.
While the primary purpose of
those earliest conferences was to conduct business, the church-owned Times
& Seasons newspaper reported that “much exhortation was given, and the Holy
Ghost was poured out upon us in a miraculous manner.”
“Many of our number prophesied,
whilst others had the heavens opened to their view, and were so overcome that
we had to lay them on beds, or other convenient places,” the report indicated.
“The goodness and condescension of a merciful God, unto such as obey the
everlasting gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, combined to create within us
sensations of rapturous gratitude, and inspire us with fresh zeal and energy,
in the cause of truth.”
Haven’t we heard these messages before?
They all sound the same. Why is it necessary for us to be taught the same things over and over again? Can’t we just get it?
Elder Bednar has said “Repetition
is a vehicle through which the Holy Ghost can enlighten our minds, influence
our hearts, and enlarge our understanding.”
Knowing that we need to learn
principles line upon line, precept upon precept, the Lord repeats many concepts
so that we do not miss them.
Heber J Grant
taught “Like the frequent singing of our songs … , we can never
repeat too often the commandments of the Lord to this people, and urge upon the
Saints to live up to them”.
“Very many times people have said to me, “I am sick and tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. There is no need of repeating.” Many men find fault with the sermons they hear because there are repetitions in them. … It seems that the Lord recognizes the necessity of repetition in impressing upon the minds of the people any message that he has to give. Our Savior, in his teaching, would repeat, time and time again, in different language the same idea, apparently to fasten it irrevocably upon the minds and hearts of his hearers. “
"Prophets
have always taught by repetition; it is a law of learning. You will hear
repetition in themes and doctrines in general conference. Let me reassure you:
this is not due to a lack of creativity or imagination. " -Dieter F.
Uchtdorf
Isn’t it wonderful that we can gain the added benefit of repetition? Even the Savior taught the same doctrines multiple times to reinforce concepts. Consider how often He teaches us through the scriptures to believe and be baptized.
Imagine being present at what might be considered to be the
first General Conference when Jesus
Christ visited the American continent after his resurrection. For 600 years,
Nephite and Lamanite prophets had talked, written, and prophesied of the coming
of Jesus Christ. They knew that He would not come to them during His mortal
life, but that He would appear to the children of Lehi after His Resurrection. Believers
put their whole faith and hope in Him and His saving mission.
3 Nephi 11 is the glorious fulfillment of those prophecies. Ponder
what it must have been like for those who were present when the Savior appeared.
Consider carefully what Jesus chose to say and do in the short time He spent
with them and what that teaches us about what He considered essential.
3 Ne 11:10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets
testified shall come into the world
3 Ne 11:11 I am the light and the life of the world...I have
suffered the will of the Father in all things
3 Ne 11:15 did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and
his feet...one by one until they had all gone forth
3 Ne 11:19 Nephi...bowed himself before the Lord and did
kiss his feet
3 Ne 11:21 I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this
people
3 Ne 11:25 Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I
baptize you...
3 Ne 11:26 then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come
forth again out of the water
3 Ne 11:28 there shall be no disputations among you
3 Ne 11:30 this is my doctrine, that such things should be
done away
3 Ne 11:32 the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to
repent and believe in me
3 Ne 11:33 And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the
same shall be saved
3 Ne 11:35 this is my doctrine
3 Ne 11:40 whoso shall declare more or less than this...the
same cometh of evil
General Conference
Today is Meant To Guide Us In Our Lives Today
Our marching orders for each six
months are found in the general conference addresses. As you thoughtfully
listen to and study addresses by living prophets, you can learn the will of the
Lord for you at this time. Prayerfully determine how you can use these skills
to increase your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in the messages He inspires
His appointed leaders to give us.
“Nephi teaches us, ‘When a man
speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth
[the message] unto the hearts of the children of men’ (2 Nephi 33:10).
