General Conference Invitation
A few days ago, Elder Anderson posted this on facebook page and I was very impressed that what he was saying was very important and wanted to share my thoughts about it. (My thoughts will be in blue and I've highlighted key phrases in yellow.)
I invite you to prepare yourself for a marvelous general conference with the three suggestions in this video. I express my love and my great happiness at being with you soon."
Think about what will cause you/us to rejoice?
What "great revelation" will we receive as a church and individually?
Answers you need will be conditioned on your preparation
Do you understand that this is an "important time"?
This will be a marvelous General Conference
Prepare yourself by accepting these three invitations
In Come Follow Me September 28 - October 11 we are reading about the Savior's appearance to the Nephites. If the timing of these chapters lining up with General Conference is not a coincidence...what can we learn from Elder Anderson's invitation? Here's a few possibilities: (my thoughts will be in blue)
"We’re all looking forward to General Conference, just in a few days, and it’s a time that will be forever remembered. Last conference we were told that the conference would be memorable and unforgettable. This time he says "it will be forever remembered". Truly, the Savior's visit was "forever remembered" as well. What does the Lord have in store for us? Will we be "visited" by the Lord in our homes?
I think about the First Presidency and the Twelve. We’ve done very little traveling in the last few months. I'm thinking there has probably never been a time in the lives of these 15 men, that from one conference to the next they have been sequestered away from the world the entire six months. Never have they had so much time to study and ponder and pray and prepare. What great things have they learned that the Lord wants them to share? What great things has this time and preparation opened up for them?
We have done all our teaching on this amazing zoom technology. I’ve done priesthood leadership meetings in Indonesia and Brazil and in close areas like St. George, Utah. God has an even greater technology to communicate to His children. It's called the Holy Spirit. He does all His teaching through this great medium of communication and He has no bounds and can reach every corner of the earth.
All of this, though has given us time together, and we have thought deeply about the needs of the wonderful members of the Church across the world. Perhaps they have been able to all be together at the same time more than ever before because their assignments have not limited them like before. One of my impressions from the Savior's visit to the Nephites, is how perceptive He was to their needs.
This scripture has been in our mind notice he didn't said "my" mind, but "our" mind from Jacob:
“For because of faith and great anxiety, two things revealed the will of the Lord - faith and great anxiety. Surely this time we are in has caused great anxiety about how to guide us through "these last days of trouble and gloom" and surely they have great faith that the Lord's will will be made known to them it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people, what things should happen unto them.” Truly, they are seers and the Lord has made manifest unto them concerning what things are going to happen to US!
So I know that in my preparations for general conference, I’ve been very prayerful that the things that I would speak would be what the Lord would want me to speak, and I know that each of my brethren have had the same very conscientious, devoted attention to what they will talk about. He is bearing witness that we can receive answers just as they have received answers. They WILL speak what the Lord would have them speak. They have paid the price in prayer, intention and devoted attention and the the Lord has responded.
And when you think about how the Lord has magnified President Nelson, what a wonderful privilege to hear the prophet of the Lord. The Lord has magnified his body and mind beyond what a man of his age is usually able to do. There have been times past when we have not been able to "hear" the voice of the prophet because of age or infirmity.
"Let me give you three quick suggestions:
First of all, be very prayerful as you go into these next few days. Think about the things that most concern you. You might write them down and pray to our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ that answers can be provided to you – insights. It won’t be so much what is said as what you will feel."
1. Be very prayerful before, during and after conference.
2. What most concerns you?
3. Write it down
4. Pray to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ for answers and insights
5. Pay attention to what you feel
"Next as you attend the conference, don’t be casual in this attendance. Think about it as if you are going to have an interview with a very important person and get prepared for it . Think about the time. And then don’t just come up and down, run into the next room and get some popcorn. This is, this is very serious and can be very helpful to you."
1. Attend conference. Don't just listen to it as you do other things or listen to it later. Sit down and watch it.
2. If you could sit with each of these apostles or the prophet and interview them; how would you prepare?
3. Think about the time. What does this mean? The time spent preparing? The time and experiences they have received? The "time" in which we live and the need for this counsel and instruction? The time the Lord is setting aside for YOU? Think about the time the Savior spent with the Nephites. How did their desire influence how much time He spent with them and what they ultimately received because of their intense desire and faith?
4. Don't be casual or act like you are being entertained or watching a movie. You wouldn't run in and out of an interview with them in person or with the Lord, right?
5. This is very serious. We live in the last of the latter days and this counsel and revelation is very much needed and will be very helpful to each of us.
"And
then the final thing I would recommend is that as you listen, take notes, not
so much as you would if you were in a schoolroom, but notes that come into your
mind: thoughts, impressions. And after
the conference is over, when you go back and read these talks again, read them
realizing that the Lord may give you more impressions, more important things
for your life. "
1. Have a paper and pen to write down the revelation you receive. These are the thoughts and impressions that will come in to your mind as you listen. Writing them down will show the Lord your faith that you will receive and act upon them
2. Read the talks again
3. Have faith the Lord will give you more revelation which will be important for your life - temporally and spiritually.
I have felt that the lead up to this General Conference was much different than April Conference. It has been very quiet. They announced months ago that it would be virtual again. There has not been a flurry of rumors and speculation about what new revelation they will share or changes they will make. I think COVID has had the effect of making it feel like everything is on hold, suspending any forward progress towards anything. (Though I know the work is always moving forward...) Though the world is in commotion, it feels like the church has been "still" and the Brethren have been "still", at least from the outside looking in...
"Be still"...and the rest of the scripture "..and know that I am God." Will this conference bring that knowledge to the world? to you?
We have been promised:
Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. (Pres. Nelson April 2018)
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