Guest Author - P.D. Wiles

By guest author, P.D. Wiles.

When you think of the numbers of church members worldwide, only a small percentage have the opportunity to attend General Conferences in person. I’ve been a member of the church for over twenty years. When I first joined, our ward didn’t even have a satellite feed. We were fortunate if a local affiliate carried the Sunday morning session. Then when our building obtained a satellite dish, we were able to watch all four sessions, and my husband was able to watch the priesthood sessions. A couple of years ago, we listened to the whole conference for the first time over the internet. Now, we have a satellite dish at home, and watching conference is more convenient, and comfortable, than ever. But regardless of where we watch or listen, we should prepare ourselves to learn from the teachings of the prophet and the general authorities of the church.

Where can I hear/view General Conference?

Most stake centers have satellite access, as do most wards and some branches. You can use the meetinghouse locator to find a building near you. Unless you attend in person, the General Priesthood Session on Saturday night can only be viewed at meetinghouses.

There will not be a live video stream, but you can hear conference live over the internet here. Keep in mind that the General Priesthood Session on Saturday night will not be available online.

If you have a home satellite or want to see if your local station is broadcasting conference, you can find instructions for viewing here.

How can I prepare myself to learn from conference?

Plan ahead to make conference a special time you can look forward to. Here are some suggestions:

Put a little extra effort into your scripture study the week before.

Before conference, pray about your concerns, and ask the Lord to open your mind and heart to the truths you will hear.

Set aside all unnecessary activities; make your schedule fit around conference, instead of fitting conference into your schedule.

Have your journal handy to record inspired words that touch you. Or, purchase a composition book solely for recording your thoughts, the teachings that make the most impression upon your mind, and what you see and hear at the conference that may be useful to you later as you are assigned to speak or teach in your own unit. Note the humorous comments offered by President Hinckley, or the experience your favorite speaker shares that evokes strong emotions.

Invite someone who wants to learn more about the church to watch a session of conference with you. This is a great way to help investigators learn basic gospel principles. Use some of the talks as springboards for discussion.

Especially during times of unrest (as we are experiencing now), it is comforting to know that God’s servants are actively at work, continuing under His direction. As a personal testimony, I am grateful that we have a living prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, who leads the Church of Jesus Christ. I will always remember the first conference session when he spoke as prophet of the church. During that meeting, I felt great peace and comfort, and a positive witness by the power of the Holy Ghost that President Hinckley was the chosen holder of those sacred priesthood keys. Members of the church do not worship prophets, but we hold them dear to our hearts, with reverence and respect for their willingness to devote their lives to Christ and His church. We know their calls are challenging, but we pray for them and give thanks for their selfless service.