Every six months, you might notice a particular giddiness among your Mormon friends as our bi-annual General Conference rolls around. It's not a holiday, but man-o-man, I cannot get that 'N Sync Christmas song out of my head.
Because, you guys, it is a wonderful feeling. And there is love in the room from the floor to the ceiling.
It's that time of year: conference time is here.
My sister-in-law, Tiffany, will likely make her yummiest oatmeal, all my Mormon parent buddies are starting to assemble quiet activities for their littles, and J and I are getting our questions ready that we are hoping our leaders will address.
We believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be the church that Christ established in his day, which was lost through apostasy, and then restored in our day through the prophet, Joseph Smith. The church follows the same organization that Christ established: we have twelve apostles, just like he did, as well as a prophet with counselors.
Twice a year, the prophet, his counselors, the apostles, and other general leaders in our church prepare inspired instruction for all the members of the church. It is six two-hour sessions of talks, interspersed now and again with songs and prayers.
So, you may wonder, what is all the hub-bub about. Surely the oatmeal isn't that good.
Well, truth be told, it is--but of course conference is about more than that. Here are some things to know about conference time to explain your enthusiastic Mormon friends:
1. We believe the prophet acts as the mouthpiece for the Lord.
Our prophet, Thomas S. Monson, is a nice guy, there is no question about it. Any other weekend I would love to go visit him and listen to the myriad of stories he has collected through his lifelong pursuit to serve God and His children. But we don't watch conference just to hang out with our beloved Tommy Monson. We believe that President Monson receives revelation for the whole 15 million member church, and we believe that this instruction comes from the Lord. In fact, the Doctrine and Covenants tells us that the inspired instruction we receive at conference is scripture. There are MORE words from the Lord, that will be spoken clearly and directly in my own language TO ME! That alone just makes me want to skip.
2. Conference is edifying.
If you are thinking, "Hey-o, this General Conference thing sounds suuuper entertaining! It's like Comic-con for Mormons" you're wrong, my friend. General Conference is not entertaining. There will be a few jokes, the world renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir will sing in front of a massive organ, and probably 80% of your Mormon friends will post a Dieter F. Uchtdorf quote to every social media platform immediately after he speaks (I may be one of them). But conference is "entertaining" like going to university classes is entertaining. It is awesome. It is filled with amazing things you want to learn. But the school itself is not for fun times, you know? It's for learning times!
Every single conference, there is so much to learn, and so many good and hopeful truths to make note of. It doesn't entertain, no, but it nourishes the soul. It is like this great, big, invisible feast of truth. The things I need help in have never NOT been addressed. Even when I am chasing babies around during the meetings, I love to keep a piece of paper and pen close by and jot down little truths as they come, and sometimes they come pretty fast and furiously. The word of God does wonders for the soul.
3. Conference is unifying.
There is something so stirring about that fact that beside being united by little green hymn books across the world, our church preaches the same doctrine in every meeting house. Conference is a reminder of our unity as a church: that in 197 countries and 94 languages, we are learning together and growing together. I feel it...I'm going to break dance.
4. Conference strengthens faith and testimony.
Says Elder Hales. It is so true! I always feel a lift after General Conference. The world hasn't changed, but my outlook inevitably brightens as my faith is enlarged.
5. Conference is for every single person in the WORLD!
Let me blow your mind right now: this is the most general meeting where you can get the most specific instruction for your own life. It is KA-razy that the old men and women that will speak know so well how to uplift and edify the world--but the thing is, going back to number 1 here, they rely heavily on the Holy Ghost to prepare their messages. So while not every single message may resonate in your soul, there is something for you there, and probably a lot for you there if you go with a sincere heart with real intent to learn learn learn.
So you are invited to join us and see for yourself why Conference is the most wonderful time of the year.
But also Christmas.
Watch a little or a lot at gc.lds.org
Because, you guys, it is a wonderful feeling. And there is love in the room from the floor to the ceiling.
It's that time of year: conference time is here.
My sister-in-law, Tiffany, will likely make her yummiest oatmeal, all my Mormon parent buddies are starting to assemble quiet activities for their littles, and J and I are getting our questions ready that we are hoping our leaders will address.
We believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be the church that Christ established in his day, which was lost through apostasy, and then restored in our day through the prophet, Joseph Smith. The church follows the same organization that Christ established: we have twelve apostles, just like he did, as well as a prophet with counselors.
Twice a year, the prophet, his counselors, the apostles, and other general leaders in our church prepare inspired instruction for all the members of the church. It is six two-hour sessions of talks, interspersed now and again with songs and prayers.
So, you may wonder, what is all the hub-bub about. Surely the oatmeal isn't that good.
Well, truth be told, it is--but of course conference is about more than that. Here are some things to know about conference time to explain your enthusiastic Mormon friends:
1. We believe the prophet acts as the mouthpiece for the Lord.
Our prophet, Thomas S. Monson, is a nice guy, there is no question about it. Any other weekend I would love to go visit him and listen to the myriad of stories he has collected through his lifelong pursuit to serve God and His children. But we don't watch conference just to hang out with our beloved Tommy Monson. We believe that President Monson receives revelation for the whole 15 million member church, and we believe that this instruction comes from the Lord. In fact, the Doctrine and Covenants tells us that the inspired instruction we receive at conference is scripture. There are MORE words from the Lord, that will be spoken clearly and directly in my own language TO ME! That alone just makes me want to skip.
2. Conference is edifying.
If you are thinking, "Hey-o, this General Conference thing sounds suuuper entertaining! It's like Comic-con for Mormons" you're wrong, my friend. General Conference is not entertaining. There will be a few jokes, the world renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir will sing in front of a massive organ, and probably 80% of your Mormon friends will post a Dieter F. Uchtdorf quote to every social media platform immediately after he speaks (I may be one of them). But conference is "entertaining" like going to university classes is entertaining. It is awesome. It is filled with amazing things you want to learn. But the school itself is not for fun times, you know? It's for learning times!
Every single conference, there is so much to learn, and so many good and hopeful truths to make note of. It doesn't entertain, no, but it nourishes the soul. It is like this great, big, invisible feast of truth. The things I need help in have never NOT been addressed. Even when I am chasing babies around during the meetings, I love to keep a piece of paper and pen close by and jot down little truths as they come, and sometimes they come pretty fast and furiously. The word of God does wonders for the soul.
These mud masks were supposed to do wonders for our skin.
I don't know, man.
3. Conference is unifying.
There is something so stirring about that fact that beside being united by little green hymn books across the world, our church preaches the same doctrine in every meeting house. Conference is a reminder of our unity as a church: that in 197 countries and 94 languages, we are learning together and growing together. I feel it...I'm going to break dance.
4. Conference strengthens faith and testimony.
Says Elder Hales. It is so true! I always feel a lift after General Conference. The world hasn't changed, but my outlook inevitably brightens as my faith is enlarged.
5. Conference is for every single person in the WORLD!
Let me blow your mind right now: this is the most general meeting where you can get the most specific instruction for your own life. It is KA-razy that the old men and women that will speak know so well how to uplift and edify the world--but the thing is, going back to number 1 here, they rely heavily on the Holy Ghost to prepare their messages. So while not every single message may resonate in your soul, there is something for you there, and probably a lot for you there if you go with a sincere heart with real intent to learn learn learn.
So you are invited to join us and see for yourself why Conference is the most wonderful time of the year.
But also Christmas.
Watch a little or a lot at gc.lds.org
All women ages eight and older are invited to participate in the March 2014 general women's meeting. The meeting will be held on Saturday, March 29, at 6:00 p.m. mountain daylight time (MDT).
The 184th Annual General Conference will be held on 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), and the general priesthood meeting on Saturday, April 5, 2014, at 6:00 p.m. MDT.
3 comments:
Kimberly~ You are so amazing!!! I think you should be our ward's official blogger. You inspire me and help me want to be better. I loved both Jason's and your talks yesterday! Thanks for sharing your love and enthusiasm for my favorite holiday's of the year! General Conference is the best!!!!
Well said!
Kimberly, I can't help but re-read your message. I am getting so excited about conference too even more now because of you :) Love ya darlin'
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