In his talk “Prophets in the Land” Elder Jeffrey R Holland speaks about the importance of listening to the prophets during General Conference. He begins by telling the story of Carolyn Rasmus. She began teaching at BYU, one Saturday she went hiking with colleagues from the school. She was surprised when they stopped to listen to conference. She did not realize that there were prophets on the earth. After listening to conference she began to investigate the church and finally joined.
Elder Holland says that General Conferences declare three things to the world. He says:
“First, they declare eagerly and unequivocally that there is again a living prophet on the earth speaking in the name of the Lord. And how we need such guidance! Our times are turbulent and difficult. We see wars internationally and distress domestically. Neighbors all around us face personal heartaches and family sorrows. Legions know fear and troubles of a hundred kinds. This reminds us that when those mists of darkness enveloped the travelers in Lehi’s vision of the tree of life, it enveloped all of the participants—the righteous as well as the unrighteous, the young along with the elderly, the new convert and seasoned member alike. In that allegory all face opposition and travail, and only the rod of iron—the declared word of God—can bring them safely through. We all need that rod. We all need that word. No one is safe without it, for in its absence any can “[fall] away into forbidden paths and [be] lost,” as the record says.4 How grateful we are to have heard God’s voice and felt the strength of that iron rod in this conference these past two days.”
Elder Holland goes on to say that the second thing that General Conference does is to urge us to action. He speaks not only of changing our own lives, but also of reaching out to those around us. He uses the story of the Willie and Martin Handcart company as an example. The saints were urged at General Conference to take the steps necessary to rescue the members of these companies from the coming winter. We need to reach out to those around us as well.
Elder Holland goes on to say that the third thing that General Conference does is to declare that Jesus is the Christ and that the Atonement is available for each of us. Elder Holland stresses that each of us has the opportunity to use the Atonement to repent and change our lives for the better. It does not matter how much wrong has happened. We each can benefit from the blessings of the Atonement.
This is a wonderful talk that emphasizes the importance of General Conference. It discusses the different ways that General Conference benefits each of us as well. I am grateful for General Conference because it is a time to reflect on how I am doing in my life. It is an opportunity to improve as I strive to apply the words of counsel to my life. I hope that you will take the time to read this talk and ponder the blessings that General Conference gives you.
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Primary Time: General Conference