General Conferences of the Church
Each April and October, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have the wonderful opportunity to be inspired by Church leaders at general conference.
This is a time of spiritual revival and inspiration for many people. Wilford Woodruff spoke of how conference moves can move us when he wrote about the 1856 general conference:
The preaching of the First Presidency has been soul stirring indeed. We may safely say in a measure that such sermons were never heard before, as have been delivered unto us of late by the prophet of God, and they are weighing the people, and the people feel that they are dealing with the quickening spirit and power of God which discerns and knows their hearts and they feel the importance of repentance and baptism for the remission of sins and leading holy lives before God that we may be prepared for the events which await the whole earth.[1]
While these messages often motivate us to make positive changes, it can sometimes be overwhelming to know where to start. So, how can we apply what we hear in general conference to our lives? Here are three suggestions:
- Pray for guidance.
- Listen to promptings from the Spirit.
- Study regularly.
Pray for Guidance
As with many things in life, one of the most effective ways to apply what we have learned in general conference is to pray about what to do next. As we come to our loving Heavenly Father in prayer, with a sincere desire to become better, He will guide and bless us.
Wilford Woodruff knew of the importance of prayer and often taught the Saints to pray and trust in the Lord. He once declared,
Therefore I say to the Saints, fear not. Trust in God. Let not your hearts be faint. Let your prayers ascend to the ears of the Lord of Sabbaoth day and night. Ask what you want. When you do that, the Lord will answer your prayers if you ask what is right. There is where our strength lies. It is in God.”[2]
Wilford Woodruff, 1882, Salt Lake City, Utah
Heavenly Father knows what is best for us. Through Him we can find strength and peace, and as we earnestly seek His guidance, we will receive the inspiration needed to guide us and help us fulfill our divine potential as sons and daughters of God.
Listen to Promptings from the Spirit
Another way we can apply conference talks to our lives is by listening to promptings from the Spirit. President Wilford Woodruff bore testimony of the importance of the Holy Ghost when he said,
We must obtain the Holy Spirit of God and the mind and will of God concerning us, and be governed and controlled by it in all our movements and acts in order to be safe and secure unto ourselves salvation.”[3]
As we strive to apply general conference messages into our lives, it’s important to listen to the promptings we feel as we listen to and study the conference talks. Elder Paul V. Johnson said,
In order for the messages of general conference to change our lives, we need to be willing to follow the counsel we hear.”[4]
When we follow the promptings of the Spirit as we continually study talks after conference, the Spirit will help us best understand how we can apply the messages we are studying and ultimately help us to become more committed disciples of Jesus Christ.
Study Regularly
Finally, we will be blessed as we make an effort to regularly study the past talks that have been given. Doing so can help us remember the messages that were shared and the promptings from the Spirit that we felt at the time they were given.
President Russell M. Nelson extended this same invitation. In the April 2018 general conference he shared,
I exhort you to study the messages of this conference frequently—even repeatedly—during the next six months. Conscientiously look for ways to incorporate these messages in your family home evenings, your gospel teaching, your conversations with family and friends, and even your discussions with those not of our faith.”[5]
In Doctrine and Covenants 88:118 we are reminded of the importance of seeking learning through study:
And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”
Goals and Plans
One thing that can help us more regularly study past conference addresses is to set specific goals and make a study plan. While this may look different for everyone, it’s important to remember that being intentional and consistent with our study will help us gain the most out of these talks.
Elder Quentin L. Cook taught,
Just as repetition and consistent effort are required to gain physical or mental capacity, the same is true in spiritual matters.”[6]
Applying Conference Messages
As we strive to apply general conference messages in our lives, let us remember this wise counsel from Wilford Woodruff:
All that we have to do is to be faithful, to keep His commandments, to be humble, to seek Him in mighty prayer, and all will be well with us.”[7]
Sometimes after general conference we feel very overwhelmed. But as we pray for guidance, listen to promptings from the Spirit, and study regularly, we can receive guidance on how to apply the messages into our daily lives and ultimately become closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Maddie is a graduate of Brigham Young University and holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations. She currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She enjoys cooking, traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family. Maddie has always loved learning about Church history and is greatly inspired by the words of Wilford Woodruff. She is passionate about sharing those words with everyone and is grateful to be part of such an incredible project.
The Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation’s mission is to digitally preserve and publish Wilford Woodruff’s eyewitness account of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and make his records universally accessible in order to inspire all people, especially the rising generation, to study and to increase their faith in Jesus Christ. For more information, please explore wilfordwoodruffpapers.org.
- Letter to the Editor of The Mormon, September 30, 1856, p. 3, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/letter/1856-09-30. ↑
- Discourse by Wilford Woodruff, January 6, 1884, p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/discourse/1884-01-06. ↑
- Discourse by Wilford Woodruff, January 25, 1857, p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/discourse/1857-01-25. ↑
- Paul V. Johnson, “The Blessings of General Conference,” October 2005 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
- Russell M. Nelson, “Let Us All Press On,” April 2018 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
- Quentin L. Cook, “Foundations of Faith,” April 2017 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
- Discourse by Wilford Woodruff, February 2, 1892, p. 4, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/discourse/1892-02-23. ↑
