Several years ago, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf told a story of a church member eagerly explaining to a neighbor that we have a prophet who speaks to us and guides us with messages from God during conferences held twice a year. The person became quite curious and asked, in a sincere tone, about his most recent conference message.
As I heard that story and placed myself in the member’s shoes, I felt a little inadequate because, although I had certainly listened to our prophet’s words, I don’t think I would have been able to give a just representation of them. General Conference had faded into the overall message of “Live the Gospel.” That’s how the person in President Uchtdorf’s story felt too. We don’t need to feel guilty about not remembering everything about General Conference, but there are ways to benefit more from it than we might normally.
With General Conference coming up next month, I’d like to offer a reminder of how President Russell M. Nelson suggests we prepare. This will be the conference 200 years after the spring day when God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to the young boy Joseph Smith. That visit began the ongoing restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness, precisely as foretold in the Holy Bible. President Nelson promised that this conference would be different than any previously held. He suggested that we prepare personally by again reading Joseph Smith’s account of that First Vision in the Pearl of Great Price. He also suggested that we ask ourselves questions regarding what our lives would be like without the many truths and blessings brought about through the restoration of the Gospel.
I have listened to Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision since last conference and have felt the peaceful confirmation from the Holy Ghost that it indeed happened. I plan to read his account again and encourage us all to do so before General Conference on April 4-5. Additionally, I encourage us all to ask ourselves questions. President Nelson gave some guidance on asking personal questions to help strengthen our appreciation for the restoration during his most recent conference message. More recently, he has asked us to ponder on the question, ‘How do I hear Him?’
Many of us put aside some time for meditation or pondering, a very healthy and worthwhile habit. Whether you already do so, or intend to start, may I suggest that during this month of March you dedicate a meaningful amount of that meditation/pondering time to asking yourself questions President Nelson has suggested to us. Namely, what would my life be like without the blessings of the restoration and how do I hear Him.
May we all prepare for this historic upcoming General Conference by reading, pondering, asking ourselves key questions, and coming to Conference weekend with questions we hope to have answered.
If we do so, in the words of our prophet President Nelson in his most recent conference message, it “will be not only memorable; it will be unforgettable.”
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