Cornucopia

Saturday Afternoon General Conference Open Thread

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As we’ve done in the past, here’s a space to share any thoughts, inspirations, insights, and/or revelations that come to you through general conference. Enjoy!

112 comments for “Saturday Afternoon General Conference Open Thread”

  1. Why can’t it be “copyright The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” instead of “copyright Intellectual Reserve?”

    “Intellectual Reserve” rubs me the wrong way.

  4. I clicked on the ksl.com link on the Church’s website and it started playing video for this morning’s session.

  8. Two talks about music so far. Are the youth of the Church listening to too much indie rock?

  9. More praise for music. “akin to revelation” now and from this morning that it was the best way of getting close to God apart from prayer.

  10. I missed the first part of this session. Is President Hinckley in the conf center, or is he over in the old Tabernacle?

  11. I heard some sirens in the background during Elder Packer’s talk. They sounded like they were just outside the Tabernacle.

  12. Sirens seem a little odd. You’d think they’d be quite insulated from outside noise.

  14. I heard them, too.

    I think I really did miss something, because the pulpit does not look like the one in the conf center. They’re doing the entire session in the old Tabernacle?

  19. @It’s Not Me:

    Yes, I think they’re doing the session in the Tabernacle to re-dedicate it because it has just been renovated.

  20. How come we are discouraged from calling ourselves “Mormons” but the Tabernacle Choir can call itself “The Mormon Tabernacle Choir?” I would rather call myself a Mormon rather than a Latter-day Saint. But I feel slightly guilt when I use the term “Mormon.”

  23. Has anyone noticed that the LDS Temple boom seemed to coincide with the dot-com stock market boom?

  24. This speaker sounds seriously out of breath. I hope he’s ok (I can’t see him, which probably makes it sound worse than it really is).

  26. I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone say that President Hinckley “sees the future” before. Of course our leaders are sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators so this might be considered part of the basic Mormon belief system, but this comment really struck me. Do most Mormons think of the current President of the Church as having seen the future? I don’t think this is the only way to understand either “prophet” or “seer.” And it’s quite a different claim than believing that the President of the Church is in frequent conversation with God, for example.

  27. I don’t know if it’s because I don’t have any memories associated with the tabernacle or because I don’t live nearby, but this talk is leaving me cold.

  29. Elder McConkie’s final talk is probably the most famous General Conference talk ever given.

  31. Why did Bishop Burton skip the 1978 announcement on the Priesthood? I imagine there was some sort of announcement made in the Tabernacle. Perhaps the church does not want to draw attention to this.

  32. For those unfamiliar with the Tabernacle, there is a retrospective article about it in the latest Ensign.

  35. Melissa,

    “Do most Mormons think of the current President of the Church as having seen the future?”

    In my experience, yes. Look at what Nephi and Lehi get to see in the BoM. That’s the model I suspect most cling to.

    “I don’t think this is the only way to understand either “prophet” or “seer.”’

    Me neither.

    “And it’s quite a different claim than believing that the President of the Church is in frequent conversation with God, for example.”

    Yep.

    Aaron B

  36. we heard the sirens too. my dad thought that it was coming from outside our house….. it was that noticeable.

  37. Has anyone noticed that John Williams asks a lot of inane questions?

    Why can’t it be “copyright The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” instead of “copyright Intellectual Reserve?”

    Will we every have another Apostle in his thirties?

    Two talks about music so far. Are the youth of the Church listening to too much indie rock?

    How come we are discouraged from calling ourselves “Mormons” but the Tabernacle Choir can call itself “The Mormon Tabernacle Choir?” I would rather call myself a Mormon rather than a Latter-day Saint. But I feel slightly guilt when I use the term “Mormon.”

    Did Elder Packer just say “a hit hymn?” Or did he just stutter a bit?

    Has anyone noticed that the LDS Temple boom seemed to coincide with the dot-com stock market boom?

    Why did Bishop Burton skip the 1978 announcement on the Priesthood? I imagine there was some sort of announcement made in the Tabernacle. Perhaps the church does not want to draw attention to this.

  38. Why is President Monson speaking again?

    Is Pres. Hinckley in bad health?

    Uh oh. Female speaker (I’ve only got an audio feed) claiming that LDS women have more freedom and status than any other women. Safety goggles on.

  39. there’s a teleprompter there I can see it right now. i don’t know why he was reading from a paper.

  40. It is true, there is much of questioning by our friend and cyber neighbor, even John Williams.

  41. Danithew. Be nice. Traffic is relatively low on this Conference thread. If you want to raise the dialogue, be my guest.

  43. so here’s a rumor that’s been circulating down here at BYU… now that the conference center is fixed up and earthquake-savvy… the earthquake that’s been predicted in the utah area is now ‘welcome’ to come… what do you guys think?

  46. John Williams,

    Don’t worry about danithew’s ad hominem, and by the way, great job on the score for Raiders of the Lost Ark. Loved it.

  50. Most speakers tend to cite the current president, who now happens to be GBH, frequently.

  51. Not just cite his words but his life/example. For example he talks about GBH being discouraged as a missionary etc.
    That is not surprising for the reasons you state but it seems the seventies always do it and the apostles don’t.
    It’s as if they feel they don’t have authority to speak so they need to lean on his authority in their talk.

  57. Hey new to the blogs…..this is great, I wish i would have known about this 5 years ago during my first GC.

  58. madera verde, you may be on to something. It would be interesting to look at past conferences and see how often the 70s cite/refer to, etc., the current president and compare that to the Q of 12.

  61. I still can’t believe how lucid he is being almost 97 years old…I can only wish.

  63. John & Seth,

    Just as Gutenberg was inspired to invent the printing press so God’s word could be disseminated via the Bible, Al Gore was inspired to invent the internet so God’s word could be disseminated via General Conference.

  68. I find it fun when GBH cites one of the 12 (50% of the time Maxwell) and especially one of the 70. Oh, I’ve got to get ready for the prayer.

  69. it seems the seventies always do it and the apostles don’t.

    I don’t know that I would agree with this from a gut standpoint, but it would be interesting to do a comparison since guts aren’t worth much with such a claim. :)

  70. My husband thought the convert baptisms were up…just checked and for three years they hovered around 240K and now we are at 270K plus. Thought that was noteworthy. Preach My Gospel, maybe?

  71. The change in the priesthood policy was announced at a press conference, which occurred at the church office building. At least, that’s my understanding.

  73. m&m,

    Total missionary force has gradually increased for the last two years. This coupled with an increase in missionary effectiveness (5.1 converts/miss–this is the first time effectiveness has been above the 5.0 level since 1999) lead to the larger conversion number number. However, the 270k figure is still below the high of 320k from 1996 when the church had 25% fewer members than today but the same number of missionaries.

    I’d like to think that Raising the Bar and Preach My Gospel will produce better missionaries and better, well integrated converts. I think we are moving in the right direction.

  75. Here’s the 1975 talk that President Monson mentioned.

    So, in this conference he told a story about a little girl’s prayer that he was privileged to be the answer to by singling her out and telling her a story in general conference about a little girl’s prayer that he was privileged to be the answer to. That’s just so recursive, and miraculous. Recursively miraculous? Miraculously recursive? Amazing either way.

  77. You know, I’ve never thought of doing a priesthood session thread, because I figured everybody went to the church to watch that session. But I guess that only reveals the degree to which I am a prisoner of the personal computer model. I have no Blackberry, or Ipod, and my wife has our only cell phone. But I guess if the demand exists, to satisfy those of you who are interested in e-mailing and posting while sitting in the pews, we could supply one. Or you could use this one. But isn’t it nearly halfway over by now?

  78. Sisters, please avert your eyes as you are apparently not authorized to access real-time Priesthood Session information.

    Elder Wirthlin looks like he got dresed in the dark. Great talk, though.

    I think Elder Hales used to be a fighter pilot. Good message to the Jung men: when it’s time to do your duty, be there.

    Elder McMullin could narrate movie previews–a fine voice, well-modulated. Seems to think we ought to avoid debt and store food.

  79. Pres Faust is addressing us seated. Looks comfy, but a lot of things look comfy to me now, sitting on a metal folding chair on a basketball court.

  80. President Faust just slapped down those who would attempt to scrub Mormonism from their resumes.

  81. President Monson recalled being cold-called into a stake presidency during the stake conference. He immediately thought of the Word of Wisdom song that Young Men just sang: “Have Courage, My Boy, To Say No.”

  82. President Hinckley: 40 percent of the missionaries that have served in this dispensation served in the last 12 yrs (his tenure as President).

  83. Pres Hinckley is recounting Joseph F. Smith’s Hawaii vision of Joseph Smith. “Joseph, you are late.” “Yes, but I am clean.”

    “There is something in this prophetic dream for each man and boy here tonight…. Be clean.”

  85. I thought it was wonderful that they did the re-dedication of the tabernacle during a conference session, rather than holding a special broadcast.

    One less meeting, and much more respectful of the members’ time.

  87. “Elder Wirthlin looks like he got dresed in the dark.” He had a sort of mad scientist vibe going on. I loved it–and I think his talk was one of the best he has given in a long time.

  88. I\’m wondering how many of the (american) football references get lost in translation – thus affecting the message of the talk… Though the messages were were wonderful, especially Wirthlin\’s, during the first half of the P-session two of the talks were practically based on the game. What does \”left wing\” or \”linebacker\” mean to our brothers in Brazil or Ghana?

  90. The performance of “Be Still, My Soul,” by the men of the BYU choruses was the best I can ever remember from a session of conference. I know we heard earlier in the day that “performances” are bad because they draw attention to themselves. When a big group sings so perfectly in unison, it can’t help but draw attention to the talent and hard work of the individuals involved.

  91. Re 89,

    Left wing is the communist section of Lula’s workers party. Compared to them he’s a centrist.

  92. I just logged on to see if anyone agreed with me that the closing choir number was phenomenal. I don’t know if they attracted attention to themselves, I had the thought that this was Heavenly Father showing off what He can do with a bunch of righteous young men in a choir. I saw many mouths moving during those unison parts, but only heard one voice. Incredible.

  93. Bill, Amen to your comments on the closing hymn by the choir. It was worth coming to the whole session at the stake center just for that.

    To be technical, I don’t know if you would still call it “Be Still My Soul” though because it sounded like they used a different text. The tune and much of the part writing is still from Sibelius’s Finlandia.

  94. The young men’s closing number was spellbinding. A bit of Gregorian Chant sound, and such unity in their faces. Worth a tear in the eye. Wow!

    This conference session was very gratifying. Our youngest son, 21, woke me from a nap to go and his older brother text messaged us from work to say he was just leaving and we should save him a seat. It wasn’t that long ago, I was bribing them with ice cream to at least sit through the first hour.

  95. I love the Lord. In Him my soul delights.
    Upon His word, I ponder day and night.
    He’s heard my cry, brought visions to my sleep,
    And kept me safe o’er deserts and the deep.
    He’s filled my heart with his consuming love,
    And borne me high on wings of His great dove.
    Yet oft I groan, “O wretched man am I!”
    My flesh is weak, and I’m encompassed by
    A world of sin, which holds me in its thrall,
    If I give in and to temptations fall.
    Then strength grows slack, I waste in sorrow’s vale.
    My peace destroyed, my enemies prevail.
    Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin.
    Rejoice, my heart!
    And let me praise again
    The Lord my God, who is my rock and stay
    To keep me strict upon His straight, plain way.
    O let me shake at the first sight of sin
    And thus escape my foes without and in.
    —Poetic paraphrase of II Nephi 4 by John S. Tanner
    Jean Sibelius
    (1865–1957)
    Arr. Ronald Staheli

  96. The closing “hymn” also coincided nicely with Pres. Hinckley’s reference to Pres. Joseph F. Smith’s vision as a young missionary in Hawaii seeing the prophet Joseph and stating that after that dream from that point forward he was a man.

  97. I just wanted to mention that I was very disappointed with the afternoon session and the way it was handled.

    My father-in-law came from out of town, and he was able to get tickets for the afternoon. So the three of us (incl. my wife) went, and had an ordeal with our seating. My wife and I are Deaf, so we get seats in the deaf section with captions and an ASL interpreter – except for the fact that they\’d already filled the overflow section that is normally set aside for us. We had gotten there with time to spare, but the oh-so-helpful assistants wouldn\’t let us through the normal door, telling us instead we had to take the escalator upstairs to the terrace and then walk down a long flight of stairs to the section which by that time had filled. We ended up standing around while the ushers gently asked some other people to sit elsewhere so we could benefit from the Deaf accomodations.

    And then, after all that.. we realize.. hey, wait. The seats up front are dark; nobody had informed us that the afternoon session was at the Tabernacle. We could have just stayed at home for a much more comfortable television viewing experience. I felt awful, my father-in-law having flown all the way out here to see conference… ah well. And then every talk had to mention the tabernacle (apropos, given the situation, of course..) but further reinforced the fact we were here, and they were there.

    We would have gotten tickets for a different session had that information been forthcoming. We did feel somewhat cheated, but oh well. Made up for it by taking him to the Genealogical Library afterwards so he could do some family history research.

  98. Just another comment on the closing song at the Priesthood session. I almost wish I hadn’t heard that was the song performed. My husband sang with BYU Singers a few years ago and they performed that song, I believe at the 2nd session of conference in the new conference center (along with many other times). I have such strong feelings for that song. The power of Nephi’s lament and the music of Be Still My Soul, and Dr. Staheli’s amazing choir combine for an amazing musical experience. I wish I could have been there.
    But, I’m a woman.
    So, I’ll listen to a recording, and try to stop crying.

  99. I too agree Bro. Wirthlin gave one of his best talks this evening. I think he gives the best sports related talks given in General Conference right up there with Paul Dunn and Dale Murphy. I too was taught by McKinley Oswald at East High School in Salt Lake. Mac was near the end of his career at East in the early 1960\’s in a health class I had with him. His sage advise was, \” Remember–it doesn\’t matter if you are first but just don\’t be last.\” Perhaps there is a gospel message here? I heard Bro. Holland\’s talk and agree it was superb gospel message directed equally at sexes. I missed Bro. Monson\’s talk this morning but my wife said she cried all the way through it. I heard Bro. Monson\’s talk this evening and listened with rapt attention to his stories. What a gift he has for story telling par extemporaneous. I feel I was touched by the spirit.

  100. Walter Warlimont #99: “I think [Elder Wirthlin] gives the best sports related talks given in General Conference right up there with Paul Dunn….”

    WW, are you trying to tell us that Elder Wirthlin really DIDN’T play football?

  101. Whenever I hear one of Elder Wirthlin’s football talks, and remember that he played college ball before WW2, I have this image of him running around the hallways of the church office building wearing a leather helmet, and the others calling him ‘Champ.’

  102. We heard sirens too but we didn’t think it was from the broadcast. We don’t live in the best area.

  103. The choir sounded great in the Tabernacle. The lovely one and I both commented on it.

    I couldn’t believe how good the closing number in Priesthood session sounded. Our stake is more than a little bit country in its tastes but we were all spellbound.

  104. I liked all the history and the particularism. Its nice to have an excuse.

    Sister Parkin (?) quoted the scripture on thanking the Lord in all things and said that meant all things good and bad. Been chewing on that since.

    Brother Jesson (?) talks about President Hinckley’s discouragement on his mission. “Forget yourself and go to work” is good advice. Have to ponder how to apply that.

    In Priesthood session, Brother Wirthlin has this advice: “set goals that fire your imagination and then keep your eye on those goals.” Seems I could stand to do that, or else to get my imagination fired up about the goals I already have.

  105. MP, are you trying to tell us that Elder Dunn really DIDN’T play baseball? I can state with certitude Elder Withlin played football. Look at the 1932 East High yearbook.

  106. Adam, I felt the same way about the closing number in the Priesthood session. It was wonderful. About half way through I pulled out a hymn book because I wanted to follow along. Then I couldn’t figure out what they were singing. I believe I read somewhere (in this thread?) that the words varied from what we have in the hymn books. If someone has that alternate reading, I’d love to see it.

  107. I know I am late, but I was in awe of the closing song for Priesthood. I’ve had that melody going through my head ever since it ended. As we stood around the gym eating our ice cream, every one I talked to had more to say about that number than anything else. Too bad the church doesn’t let you download the PH session–I would download that so I could listen to it again and again.

    Loved Elder Wirthlin’s talk. Want to bet they have him dress again and retape it? Because of the subject of his talk, I thought he gave the impression of a dumb jock trying to dress up in something other than sweats and a t-shirt. From what I understand, he was The Man in his day.

  108. My son happened to be in the choir for the priesthood session, prompting my wife to join me in attending. We got a few sidelong glances, but no direct objections, perhaps because some in our congregation knew of the situation.

    The closing song was incredible. One of the greatest benefits my membership in the Church has afforded me was the opportunity to sing for several years under Ron Staheli’s direction. I’m joyed that my son has now had the same opportunity, particularly to sing such a piece, and that my wife was able to see it happen.

  112. Conference time is the best time of the year. make sure that your testimony is in the right place and don\’t let little things with no importance get on the way of your personal progression. The church has the right to administer its bussines in the way the prophet considers appropiate. I think that letting a small thing like the way the church\’s copyright is set annoy you is dumb.

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