FAIR

Asking Big Questions

Why Should I Watch General Conference?

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Why Should I Watch General Conference?

We live in the time of the ongoing Restoration, a time when the heavens are open and God wants to continue to speak to us. And He does! He teaches us both through personal revelation and through His appointed servants at general conference. Twice a year, we have the opportunity to listen as God’s mouthpiece – the prophet – and also other global leaders teach us what God would have us know.

However, our lives become busy, and the commitments on our social and work calendars fill up. It’s hard to take two weekends out of the year and completely step away from the world, tuning in to general conference broadcasts all weekend when there are so many other things we could be doing. Our Heavenly Father knows that it is a big sacrifice. He blesses us for our efforts to hear from Him, no matter how big or small those efforts are. Here are three specific reasons why we should watch general conference:

  1. To find answers to questions
  2. To receive spiritual power
  3. To increase our faith

Finding Answers to Our Personal Questions

General conference is a way for God to speak to us individually. Our leaders are inspired by Him in the messages that they prepare for conference. Even though they may not know us personally, we have a loving Heavenly Father who does. He is aware of every trial, pain, heartache, and question we face. We can come to general conference to find answers to our questions. In the Book of Mormon, the missionary Ammon taught, “And he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning” (Alma 18:32). Just as we receive revelation from the scriptures, listening to our prophet today is our modern-day scripture and revelation for our lives.

Wilford Woodruff invited the Saints in an 1881 discourse,

“Seek after God; call upon Him in your secret places, and do not turn away from righteousness and truth. There is nothing to be gained by doing that, but everything to lose.”[1]

 

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How Can I Prepare to Enter the Temple?

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The House of the Lord

The temple is the holy house of the Lord. Therefore, President Russell M Nelson and the other leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have encouraged us to attend more regularly. President Nelson promised,

“If you don’t yet love to attend the temple, go more often—not less. Let the Lord, through His Spirit, teach and inspire you there. I promise you that over time, the temple will become a place of safety, solace, and revelation.”[1]

Preparing to enter the temple for the first time can be daunting for anyone. Why? Because it is a grand building, a place we cannot enter unless we are worthy, and a place of sacred promises to be made. So how can we prepare to enter this holy place?

Here are three suggestions:

  1. Consider what it means to hold a temple recommend.
  2. Use temple preparation resources provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  3. Listen to the Holy Spirit.

A Temple Recommend

A necessary piece of preparing to enter the temple is gaining a temple recommend. We cannot enter without one, but it isn’t about the piece of paper. Rather, it’s about what it means to “be recommended to the Lord”.  As Elder Ronald A Rasband said:

“To be ‘recommended to the Lord’ is to be reminded of what is expected of a covenant-keeping Latter-day Saint. . . . To be ‘recommended to the Lord,’ we strive to be like Him.”[2]

The process of receiving a temple recommend includes interviews with Church leaders: first the bishop and then the stake president. They will ask the same questions in each interview, and these questions are a great tool for reflection when preparing to enter the temple.

The temple recommend questions can be found at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Reviewing these topics will not only help us strengthen our commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ, but also see where we may have questions, and seek the answers.

Temple Preparation Resources

The Church has created resources for anyone who is preparing to go to the temple for the first time, including:

  1. Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple[3]
  2. a virtual tour of the Rome Italy temple led by Elders David A. Bednar and Ronald A. Rasband[4]
  3. and temple preparation classes (ask your bishop for more information)

In addition to these temple-specific resources, some of the best preparation consists of regular faith-building actions like daily scripture study, meaningful prayer and fasting, and weekly church attendance. Continually seeking the Lord will lead us closer to Him and invite His Spirit to teach and prepare us to make further covenants with God.

Wilford Woodruff counseled,

“Pray, pray always, there is where our help lies, even in temporal affairs, we should go before God. He will answer our prayers, and we will have power to overcome all evil.”[5]

We may have questions, doubts, or opposition as we prepare to enter the temple, but as we pray for help, the Lord will answer our prayers.

The Holy Spirit

How do we know if the temple ordinances are from God? We can listen to the Holy Spirit.

When the Savior left His disciples at the end of His mortal ministry, He told them,

“I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive . . . but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16–17).

Every baptized member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is given the gift of the Holy Ghost when they are confirmed into the Church. He is the Second Comforter, a teacher, and a revealer of truth.

We can choose to listen for and identify the promptings of the Holy Ghost in daily life. Nurturing this habit will make it easier to tune in to the Spirit in the temple. Though not everything will make sense at first, we will be able to sense the goodness and truth in the temple and feel the Spirit’s encouragement.

The temple ordinances are built upon the Savior and His Atonement. We should go to the temple looking for Him. President Nelson said,

“Here is my promise to you: Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple. You will feel His mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of His gospel.”[6]

Even our “most vexing questions” are good because they lead to further learning and growth. But as we seek to find answers to those questions, we can remember the Lord’s counsel to “doubt not, fear not” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:36). He has also promised, “I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee” (Isaiah 41:13).

As we seek to find answers in the temple, we can rely on the Spirit to help us come closer to Christ. The Apostle John wrote,

“When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (John 15:26).

The Spirit will testify of the Savior not only in the temple, but also during our time of preparation. Seeking Him out will invite the feeling of His love and strength.

Blessings of the Temple

The Savior will always lift His people higher. Wilford Woodruff described the joy he felt as he saw and entered the Kirtland temple for the first time. He said,

“We came in sight of the Temple of the Lord before we reached the village, and I truly felt to rejoice at the sight, as it was the first time that mine eyes ever beheld the house of the Lord built by commandment and revelation. We soon entered the village and I spent one of the happiest days of my life at this time in visiting Kirtland and the House of the Lord.”[7]

God will send the Holy Ghost as a guide and comfort, and all our questions will be answered according to His will and timetable. As we trust in the Lord and hold to the rod, we can and will have a joyful experience as we prepare diligently and press forward with faith.

Caralyn Bullough is studying Public Relations at BYU–Idaho. She has enjoyed working as an intern on the Public Relations Team for the Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation and greatly admires the goals of the Project. She has a large family and loves singing, cooking, and being outdoors.

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.

  1. Russell M. Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” October 2021 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  2. Ronald A. Rasband, “Recommended to the Lord,” October 2020 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  3. Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  4. “Two Apostles Lead a Virtual Tour of the Rome Italy Temple,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  5. Discourse by Wilford Woodruff, August 30, 1891, p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/discourse/1891-08-30. ↑
  6. Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” October 2024 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  7. Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, November 25, 1836, p. 113, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/journal/1836-11-25. Punctuation and capitalization standardized. ↑

 

How Can I Love People I Disagree With?

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The two great commandments are to love God and love our neighbor. But because God’s children have a wide diversity of opinions and personalities, the second commandment can be difficult to keep. Contention has always plagued the human family, and it seems to only grow louder with the rise of social media.

Respectful communication may feel like a dying art, but it is still possible, and it has never been more needed. With the help of our Savior and His teachings, we can learn how to navigate these tough conversations and maintain our commitment to both truth and love.

So, how can we love someone we disagree with? Here are some suggestions:

  1. Be humble and teachable.
  2. See them as a child of God.
  3. Actively love.

Be Humble and Teachable

First, we can remember to practice humility. Wilford Woodruff reminded:

“We all have our weaknesses; God has permitted them that we might be taught humility in ourselves and charity toward others. We none of us are perfect whilst we dwell in the flesh.”[1]

A disagreement is an opportunity to practice the virtues of humility and charity. When we sincerely listen to someone’s perspective and try to recognize and correct our own mistakes, it can do a lot to heal a strained relationship, even if we still disagree.

Wilford Woodruff, 1888, Salt Lake City, Utah

On many topics of opinion and public policy, there may be more than one right answer, and answers may change as new evidence comes to li

ght. We can try to be open minded toward other people’s ideas and conscious of where we may be biased or misinformed. As the Savior taught in His Sermon on the Mount, we shouldn’t rush to remove the mote from our brother’s eye while we may have a beam in our own (>Matthew 7:3–5).

There is such a thing as absolute truth from the mouth of God, where answers don’t change. If a friend is disagreeing with revealed eternal doctrine or teachings from the prophets, humility does not mean retreating from our testimony. The message is not the problem, but our approach may be.

The Lord has instructed us to teach by persuasion, gentleness, meekness, and kindness (Doctrine and Covenants 121:41–42). Rather than speaking the truth with aggression or condescension, we are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Being rude isn’t justified by being right, and jumping to correct someone may not be productive. Elder Gary E Stevenson explained, “When it comes to missionary work, God doesn’t need you to be His sheriff”.[2] President Dallin H Oaks further stated that being a peacemaker “does not mean to compromise our principles and priorities but to cease harshly attacking others for theirs”.[3]

Speaking to the Saints in Ogden in 1880, Wilford Woodruff said,

“Our aim is high and glorious and our mission is sublime above all others. . . . Let us, therefore, be one; be ready to forgive, let us never think we have so much dignity that we need no instruction or chastisement. Let us be humble and ponder what we are here for.”[4]

One of the things we are here for is to stand as examples of Christlike love. What message is our behavior during an argument sending? Are we inadvertently teaching our friends that Church members are judgmental, self-righteous, and unkind? Or are we showing them that disciples of Christ are humble, compassionate, and welcoming?

See Them as a Child of God

When we feel we are under attack, our brains often fail to keep a clear perspective. Our drive toward self-defense can lead us to overestimate our own wisdom and virtues, while hyperfocusing on the faults and errors of our perceived attackers. If we aren’t careful, we may see the person in front of us as a problem rather than a human being.

In an 1889 letter to Church leadership in New Zealand, Wilford Woodruff wrote:

“All men are the sons of God and should be treated as brethren in all the relationships of life.”[5]

Elder Ulisses Soares reaffirmed this message in 2023:

“We are all begotten spirit sons and daughters of heavenly parents who truly love us… We all have divine nature, heritage, and potential… We are all equal before God.”

</blockquote>A person who argues with us is much more than an adversary; they are our spiritual brother or sister, and they have a loving Father in Heaven and a future full of divine po

ssibilities. Instead of reducing them to one opinion, we should open our eyes to see more of who they really are. If this is someone we see regularly, we could write out a list of their positive attributes to keep as a reminder. We can set aside their “bad parts” for a moment—what are the good parts? We could think of what we first remember admiring about them, their skills and talents, the good memories we’ve shared, what we both enjoy, the positive impact they have, and the wonderful person they may yet become.Seeing people as children of God can also help us see ourselves in them. Just like us, all of God’s children experience hurt, frustration, and sadness. Just like us, their emotions and negative life events can influence the way they see things. In their bad moments, we should treat them the way we wish people would have treated us in our bad moments. We should pray for the strength to give them grace, just as we have been given grace, and to feel God’s love for them. Elder Karl D. Hirst said,

“Whichever parts of us seem different, His love is where we find togetherness. . . .  When we love one another in this way, as completely and fully as we can, heaven gets involved too.”[6]

In the early years of the Church, members were often persecuted in ways we are blessed to not experience. The Saints were imprisoned, attacked, and discriminated against on many sides, and yet they resisted the urge to demonize their persecutors. In an epistle to the Saints in 1886, Wilford Woodruff wrote:

“Do not harbor envy, vengeance, or hatred against this nation or against those who have aided or abetted in your suffering, but rather go before the Lord and pray that He will soften [their] hearts.”[7]

He remembered everyone’s status as children of God with the option to repent, and he firmly held out hope that they would. With help from heaven, we can carry on this legacy, following our Savior’s example of loving even our enemies (see Matthew 5:44). Christ never gives up on them, and neither should we.

Actively Love

Love is both a feeling and an action. Having this perspective can expand our understanding of the command to love our neighbors and enemies. If we aren’t experiencing feelings of love, we can still obey by doing actions of love. If we don’t love someone, we should love them anyway!

Charity, the pure love of Christ, is another description of love in action. President Russell M. Nelson taught,

“Charity is the antidote to contention. Charity is the spiritual gift that helps us to cast off the natural man, who is selfish, defensive, prideful, and jealous. Charity is the principal characteristic of a true follower of Jesus Christ…  In situations that are highly charged and filled with contention, I invite you to remember Jesus Christ.”[8]

Looking to Jesus Christ as our example, we can put off the natural man and choose charity instead.

There are many ways to apply this advice in tough moments.

  • If we want to scream or throw out an insult at someone we disagree with, we can make an effort to take a deep breath and speak calmly instead.
  • If we’ve started mentally labeling them as a bad person, we can make an effort to rewrite those thoughts.
  • If we feel the urge to talk badly about them behind their back, we can make an effort to say positive things about them instead.</li>

Anything we can do to help them is loving them, even if our emotions aren’t on board—and our actions will influence our emotions over time.

Elder David L. Bucker taught, “In a world calling for division, distance, and disengagement, there is always much more that unites us than divides us.”[9] Sometimes a conflict feels so big that we forget all the space around it. If we set aside our fight for a moment, could we still be good study partners in geometry with someone we disagree with? Could we have great conversations about other topics? How about getting a group together and playing pickleball, hiking, seeing a movie, or going to a football game? Could we drop small compliments, help with little inconveniences, or share good news and lucky breaks? Every time we interact with them, we have an opportunity to take steps in a more positive direction.

Press Forward in Faith

In an epistle to the Saints in 1893, Wilford Woodruff wrote:

“We feel now that a time for reconciliation has come; that before entering into the Temple to present ourselves before the Lord in solemn assembly, we shall divest ourselves of every harsh and unkind feeling against each other; that not only our bickerings shall cease, but that the cause of them shall be removed, and every sentiment that prompted and has maintained them shall be dispelled.”[10]

His optimism may seem bold, but remember what the God we worship is able to do! Remember what incredible promises He makes with us in the temple! We have much more important and joyful things to do than hold grudges.

Navigating disagreements is not an easy task, but our prophet Russell M Nelson confirms that “the Lord loves effort”.[11] As we keep making efforts to love those we disagree with and improve the way we communicate, the Lord will be with us and work miracles in His time.

Cammie Garner studied biodiversity and conservation at Brigham Young University. Next, she completed a master’s degree in biology education from Grand Canyon University. After working as a tutor and STEM camp counselor, she became a full-time service missionary for The Church. As a missionary she serves in the temple, FamilySearch center, humanitarian center, and local art lab. Cammie also produces content for missionary social media projects. Cammie enjoys writing, painting, music, and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

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. We 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.

  1. Discourse by Wilford Woodruff, circa 1888, p. 4, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/discourse/1888. ↑
  2. Gary E. Stevenson, “Love, Share, Invite,” April 2022 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  3. Dallin H. Oaks, “Following Christ,” April 2024 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  4. Discourse by Wilford Woodruff, December 19, 1880, p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/discourse/1880-12-19. ↑
  5. Letter to William Paxman, May 23, 1889, p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/letter/1889-05-23. ↑
  6. Karl D. Hirst, “God’s Favourite,” October 2024 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  7. Epistle to the Saints Scattered Abroad, November 1886, p. 21, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/epistle/1886-11. ↑
  8. Russell M. Nelson, “Peacemakers Needed,” April 2023 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  9. David L. Buckner, “Ye Are My Friends,” October 2024 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  10. Epistle to the Saints, 1893, p. 2, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/epistle/1893. ↑
  11. Russell M. Nelson quoted by Joy D. Jones in “An Especially Noble Calling,” April 2020 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑

Asking Big Questions: Why Should I Attend the Temple Regularly?

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by Maddie Christensen

The “Asking Big Questions” series is made in cooperation with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are frequently invited by Church leaders to attend the temple regularly. For instance, in the April 2024 general conference, Elder Neil L. Andersen advised, “My beloved friends, if we are able and have not already increased our attendance at the temple, let us regularly find more time to worship in the house of the Lord.”

Even though we know temple attendance is a good thing, sometimes it can be hard to understand why attending regularly is fundamental.

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Asking Big Questions: How Can I Know if I’m Being Guided by the Holy Ghost?

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by Lyndie Jackson

The “Asking Big Questions” series is made in cooperation with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project.

With conflicting voices coming at us from all sides, we can find comfort knowing that we have the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide us. As we partake of the sacrament each week, we are promised that we can “always have his Spirit to be with [us]” (Moroni 4:3). What an amazing promise and privilege to be permitted the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost!

Wilford Woodruff counseled, “Every man should get the Spirit of God and then follow its dictates. This is revelation. It [doesn’t] make any difference what the Spirit tells you to do, it will never tell you to do anything that is wrong.”

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Asking Big Questions: Why Should I Do Family History?

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by Michelle Pack

The “Asking Big Questions” series is made in cooperation with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project.

Time is at a premium these days. Between school, homework, sports, jobs, and so much more, it seems like there isn’t extra time to do something like family history work. But what if doing family history work were easy or came with a blessing? Well, it can be, and it does.

Why is family history work important?

When we do family history work, we find names of our ancestors who need temple blessings. When we find those names, we can take them to the temple so their ordinance work can be done. It is our covenant obligation as members of the Church to give those who have not heard the gospel the opportunity to receive the ordinances necessary to live with God again.

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Asking Big Questions: What Can I Do to Prepare to Receive Personal Revelation at General Conference?

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by Scott Hansen

The “Asking Big Questions” series is made in cooperation with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project.

The closest scriptural parallel we have to modern-day general conference is found in the Book of Mosiah. People who gathered to hear the words of King Benjamin “pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which King Benjamin should speak unto them” (Mosiah 2:6). Each April and October, we do our best impersonation by remaining in our pajamas with our attention fixed on the television screen. All kidding aside, this multi-day sermon recorded in the Book of Mormon was a pivotal moment in the lives of everyone in attendance. What can we do to make general conference a pivotal moment in our lives? Here are three ideas:

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Asking Big Questions: How Can I Find Answers to Tough Topics in Church History?

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by Kamryn Maughan

The “Asking Big Questions” series is made in cooperation with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project.

Have you ever had a question about a topic in Church history? Because we were not there, some Church history events and topics can be hard for us to understand. For example, plural marriage, also known as polygamy, is a difficult topic for many members of the Church. So how do we approach questions about topics like plural marriage? Here are three ideas:

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Asking Big Questions: How Can I Gain a Testimony of Temple Ordinances?

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by Michelle Pack

The “Asking Big Questions” series is made in cooperation with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project.

Wilford and Phebe Woodruff’s first child, Sarah Emma, was born on July 14, 1838. Just over a year later, Wilford left his family to serve a mission in England. In his journal on July 14, 1840, he wrote, “Sarah Emma is two years old this day. May the Lord preserve my wife and children from sickness and death until my return. O Lord, I commit them into thy hands. Feed, clothe, and comfort them, and thine shall be the glory.” Wilford had a strong testimony of the power of covenants to unite his family for eternity. In a letter to Phebe on July 16, 1840, he said:

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Asking Big Questions: Why Does the Church Change?

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by Scott Hansen

The “Asking Big Questions” series is made in cooperation with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe “that God has revealed” and “will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (Articles of Faith 1:9). However, change can be unsettling after we have already gotten into a routine. Ordinances, policies, and procedures serve as a mechanism for us to have spiritual experiences. When these things change, it can be hard. So, why do Church policies and procedures change? Here are three reasons:

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