Come Listen to a Prophets Voice

"Twice a year, modern-day prophets and apostles gather at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, to speak the words of the Lord. " (1)

General conference only comes twice a year, and this weekend is it!!!!! I am so excited for conference!!!!

So what is general conference anyways?

General conference is a time when we get to listen to a prophets voice! Conference is five different sessions spread across two days. The sessions include, "Messages... given by the First Presidency, members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and other General Authorities and general officers of the Church." (2)

"The messages, which are broadcast to the world, are prepared under the guidance of the Holy Ghost and are directed to every person, in every country, in every circumstance. Everyone has something to gain from general conference, according to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He says that with the companionship of the Holy Ghost, each individual participating in the conference is entitled to personal revelation. 'If we teach by the Spirit and you listen by the Spirit, some one of us will touch on your circumstance, sending a personal prophetic epistle just to you,' Elder Holland says."(1) 

Conference is a time where we get to gather as friends and families to hear the sacred words from the prophet and apostles. It is a time of peace love, revelation, instruction and introspection. Conference is especially exciting while on my mission! My companion describes it as the super bowl for missionaries!! It definitely is exciting now, but it has been exciting in the past as well. I remember in April of 2009 my priests quorum made the trek to Salt Lake for the conference! It was a wonderful experience. We had the opportunity to see the sites of the area, and prepare to hear the prophets voice!

It was special to be there in person, however I remember for many years growing up watching conference in the church building, and while at BYU watching it on a laptop in my living room with my roommates! No matter where we have the opportunity to watch, whether it be at the conference center, in a church building, or in our own home, we can feel the spirit of the conference! 

Just as the people in 3 Nephi 11 who, "While they were thus conversing one with another... heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard... And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not. And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came. And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard."

The third time, they understood the voice, because they opened "their ears to hear it and their eyes were towards the sound thereof." So it is with general conference this weekend. We can hear the words of these great men and women that will speak to us, but if our ears are not opened and if our focus is not on them and the spirit we will not understand the things that God wants to tell us!!!

There is a God and he loves each and every one of us. He has something to tell us this weekend no matter who we are or the background we came from, or the position we are no in! I know that is true! I have seen in over and over at conference time, when I open my ears to hear, and my eyes to see!

You can watch conference at a church building near you, or online at lds.org.