A seminary teacher once told me: Before conference, write down a question you need answered. Think carefully, ponder and pray about what the question should be. When you have your question, write it down on paper. Pray that an answer will be given in conference. Then, as you listen to conference, listen for your answer.
What (if you don’t mind sharing) will you be listening for, this conference?
My weaknesses are all pretty basic. I have faith – no problem. I just need to work more on putting it into practice – read scriptures daily, be more patient and loving towards my family, work harder to fulfill my callings. I don’t doubt that I will hear something about at least one of these in conference!
i won’t be listening for anything if i can’t figure out when the stake center is broadcasting. we’ve lived overseas the past three years and i’ve forgotten the normal broadcast times (though i’m grateful to no longer have first session at 5am!). we’re in california… am i correct to assume it’s a live broadcast out of utah at 10 and 2 mountain both days? what about the priesthood session? we can’t get a hold of anyone who knows anything, our stake website doesn’t have any info up, and the church’s links to broadcast times haven’t worked each time i’ve looked, argh.
but if i figure it out, i’m just looking forward to going alone. my husband will be taming the beasts at home so i can get the saturday sessions in and actually listen, then we’ll trade off for priesthood. he works sunday and i’ll be wrangling the kids at the stake center. i’m not looking to hear anything specific, just really anticipating feeling edified and not frazzled for once.
The 176th Semiannual General Conference will begin on Saturday, September 30, at 10:00 a.m. in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Saturday general sessions will be held at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.; Sunday sessions will be held at 9:30 a.m. (which includes Music and the Spoken Word) and 2:00 p.m. The general priesthood meeting will be held in the Conference Center on Saturday, September 30, 2006, at 6:00 p.m. (source: lds.org)
All times are MDT. Subtract one hour for the West coast, for 9A, 1P & 5P.
Speaking of things to do during conference to make the proceedings more meaningful, I to play a little game I call “Name that Talk.” Since the title of the talks are not announced, I try to come up with my own title that sums up the main points of the speaker in a headline form–something like what you might see in the Conference Report (Ensign). I usually wait until the speaker is nearly finished, so I have more to go on. Not surprisingly, some of my titles echo that found in the Ensign. Others are a little further off-base, but none are off the point.
It helps me to stay alert and attentive, and gives me an opportunity to think back on the subject before moving on to the next presenter.
How do I, with all my incapacities, fit into things?
Is there any USE, or PURPOSE, to me?
I suspect a thing or two along these lines, a little bit of which was revealed to me in a blessing, but . . . I’m at a point where I feel the need for some heavenly bolstering, some heavenly reassurance that I’m not just a good-for-nothing, that there is some POINT, to all my suffering and struggles, aside from character-building (and YES, that’s a big point, and a big aside, but since every struggle in life potentially builds character, that’s kind of a given . . . .) I feel the need for something less generic than that, to build on. Something to help me feel still connected to the blessing of a year ago, with maybe a bit more, as the Lord sees fit, of course.
I don’t want much, do I? Lol . . .
Then again, mebbe I should be careful what I ask for . . . or mebbe I feel the need for some heavenly reassurance that my efforts aren’t pointless, though I cycle back and back around to the same points of struggle, again, and again, and again, given the cyclical nature of my rapid cycling bipolar disorder, as well as all the “static” interference the anxiety disorders throw into the fray.
Am I overreaching, here?
Urk. How sad is that, that I’m looking for if there is a Point to my me-ness, and struggles.
ah, sare… but what a wonderful thing to find an answer to! that even though you’re one of billions, there ARE answers from on high to your you-ness and personal struggles, even presented in a worldwide conference! as an aside, we have a sister in our ward who has bipolar disorder. i always look forward to when she teaches rs because she usually shares personal things she’s been dealing with lately. she makes those meetings feel so real and human and i just love her to pieces, even though she doesn’t know my name and wouldn’t be able to pick me out in a lineup. i love what she brings into her lessons… she’s so raw and non-lace tablecloth and homemade cookies.
john, you’re my new favorite person of the day. THANK YOU! i’m so stinkin’ excited about this conference!
“O Mother, where art Thou?”
random me,
You can also get live feeds from lds.org (audio) and byutv.org (video).
byu.tv might be more direct :)
byu.tv rocks because you can pause it when your children scream.
Wow, random me, Thanks! That really means alot to me. Thank you thank you!
That is such a cool story/example of how maybe one can have a positive effect and never even know it!
if only i could talk my husband into byutv! we don’t have cable and i thought for sure not having to take the kids to the stake center would be incentive enough to get it, but no dice.
and, interestingly enough, we don’t have internet access at home. i read on my cell phone. seriously.
I’m just happy to be here.
I admit that I didn’t have a burning question or need before attending this morning’s session, but I can’t imagine a better way to find an answer! What a great source of inspiration, that talk by Dallin H. Oaks. The Savior truly has healed us all, and will continue to heal us if we seek him in our trials. Two great talks directed toward new members–an obvious theme, perhaps? Also, what great advice by M. Russel Ballard for wise balance in our church callings and family responsibilities.
A truly wonderful conference so far.
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No, what I mean is byu.tv (byu dot tv) — there is a live stream on the computer if you have a high-speed connection! We don’t even have our local channels, so this is our only option to be able to see Conference at home. It’s slick. They have a recording feature on the video feed, so if you miss something or want to hear something again.
I will be looking for tips on how to teach songs to small children in short periods of time.
random me…sorry i didn’t read the second part…trying to read too fast. Hope you enjoy it at all nevertheless!
I have a feeling that “Sunday will come” will become a beloved and much quoted sermon in the future.
Before Conference I joked with my wife that my question would be: “Should rejoin the book club and get four books for a dollar (with a promise to buy one more in the year)?” After Ballard spoke, my wife keenly pointed out that my question was answered by Ballard when he spoke about initiative and not being commanded in all things. So it just goes to show you that it does work!
Kaimi, great idea for a post.
I’m going through a trial too personal to mention. I was hoping to hear counsel in Conference about my trial. The reassurance I received in just this morning’s session alone, was wonderful. I felt so good after the session!
Where else in the world can you see the power of the Lord resting upon His servants for hours at a time as you can see in Conference?
Wow. There is a particular difficulty in my life–or, more accurately, in the life of someone very close to me–that was so pointedly addressed in THREE talks today that it was stunning. What a blessing and great reassurance.
Tea #8, that was a good question. Did anyone notice if it got answered?
It is a poignant question. I think She is there anytime we hear about Father, Father’s love, the plan of salvation and our eternal potential. We don’t have to hear specifics to know She is real and important. At least that is the way I see it….
I had someone tell me the same thing about Conference, only it involved three questions.I’ve been doing this for a few years with really great results. I wrote my questions down Friday night, but I didn’t see this thread.
I haven’t actually watched Conference yet, because I’ve had to work all weekend, so I don’t know if any of my questions were acually answered, but I’ll share my questions.
1. How do I turn belief into faith into action?
2. How can I get past nagging doubt?
3. What can I do to get over awkwardness/fear of prayer?
Conference is always great, but this one was particularly good! The counsel provided is always so helpful and on a very basic and foundational level helps me do what really matters. But this one seemed even better than usual. I feel strengthened, renewed and reinvigorated. The trick will be to maintain that feeling day in and day out.
YL, I’m sorry that you’re experiencing a major personal trial. My experience tells me that no matter what the problem or question, conference provides an answer and help. For example, while I didn’t hear any specific counsel about a third separation or divorce or about visiting cemeteries for family night, it only goes to show that the messages delivered in conference are aimed at the foundation of problems and not just the symptoms. Conference provides solutions and comfort for every conceivable problem no matter how specific or odd, precisely because the messages from conference are about eternal principles.
In the talk where the story about almost losing the farm, and the $200 . . .
When he said that even the infirm, whether mental illness, physical, whatever, can be an instrument in the Lord’s hands . . . .
THAT right there answered my question of , “Am I useless?”
I posted more about what I got out of Conference, except for the session I haven’t watched yet, on my blog a day or two ago.
Thanks for this thread, it really helped me put my thoughts together and get more out of Conference.