Call and Response

Today is Monday. Monday, October 3rd. This is no ordinary Monday. 

And it's not because it's the day mentioned in Mean Girls.

It's because for us Mormons, it is the day after General Conference. Twice a year, in April and October, we have a weekend full of spiritual uplift where leaders of our church speak to our global congregation. It is broadcast out of Salt Lake City, but their messages of guidance and love reach living rooms, meetinghouses and stake centers from rural Africa to urban Hong Kong. 

In the weeks and days leading up to this tremendous opportunity, we are encouraged to think of questions and concerns that are plaguing our minds and our hearts and prepare ourselves for the messages we are about to hear. We share miraculous stories of answered prayers and strong impressions from the Spirit directing us to do some very specific things. Start a family, go on a mission, marry that person you're dating, prepare to go through the temple, etc... I'm not here to say it's not worth the hype. General Conference is a very unique opportunity for Latter-Day Saints to hear from modern-day prophets and to hear messages divinely appointed. For me, the messages shared at General Conference are modern day scripture straight from the mouth of the Lord. And I do my best to treat it that way.

However, I recognize we don't all benefit from this typical approach. It is unrealistic to think every 6 months we will have that deep spiritual experience we often hope to have just by watching the telly for a few hours. And if God is a loving father who knows how to give good gifts to his children, he will give according to our needs. He knows not all of us learn the same way. We can't expect from ourselves to experience the messages of General Conference exactly the same.

The realistic expectation of General Conference looks like this:

10AM: Enjoy a traditionally large and carb-heavy breakfast while Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings us into the first session.

10:15 Take notes actively, write down everything said

10:30 Notes taking slows, hands cramp

10:35 Start coloring in a coloring book to stay awake and retain focus.

10:59 Breakfast-induced coma. Notes have amounted to writing the name of the speaker and topic they're talking about. 

11:00 Stand and walk around for intermediate hymn. Refill breakfast plate.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

You gotta say, there is a whole lot of information to take in at once. To tell you the truth, my attention span sucks. I doze off more than I'd like to admit. But this doesn't make me a terrible person. It's not that I'm not spiritual enough to enjoy conference. And if you struggle in a similar way with sitting through 8-10 hours of conference, don't fret! In my opinion, what you do after Conference has far more impact on your life than what you do during. (this is NOT to say you shouldn't make it a priority to watch the conference live. I would still highly enocurage it!) But how do we plan to respond to His call?

Now if the typical approach to watching General Conference allows you to get all out of it that you need to, then by all means, sally forth! Personally, that doesn't work for me. Here's what does. (and because I am who I am, I MUST MAKE A LIST).

1. Do not go into Conference with Questions.

I swear I'm not being blasphemous. I'm just really stubborn and self-centered, so if I spend time thinking about questions I have, I will ignore everything else said in Conference that doesn't pertain to that question. I get tunnel vision, and I miss messages that I really need to hear. And let's face it, I know a whole lot less about what I actually need to hear than Heavenly Father does.

In my experience, the answers I seek have rarely come from watching the sessions of Conference. Rather, the words spoken and the Spirit brought from Conference teaches me and reminds me how to find the answers I seek. I used to be frustrated that the talks at Conference were shallow and how they never addressed specific challenges or questions pertaining to me. They say the same things every Conference. Like clockwork, there will be a talk about Christ, about the temple, about family, about prayer, about scripture study, about repentance, about the Atonement, about faith in the prophet... You can anticipate these topics, but it does not diminish their value. I have found that as I watch the sessions, the most powerful promptings I experience aren't in the specific words said. Instead, the Spirit tugs my heart strings about specific things I can do to find strength and hope.

2. Take notes -- wisely.

I believe this was under the direction of Elder Bednar, but I've gotten in the habit of drawing a line down the page of my notes. On one side I write things I like from the talk, who is speaking, the overall theme. On the other side I write promptings that are for me personally. Often these have little to do with the talks. Read this, study that, pray about this, seek an opportunity to serve this sister.

3. Reread said notes.

After the conference, I go back through my notes and consolidate them into four sections: themes throughout the entire conference (i.e. five speakers spoke specifically about repentance!), things to study (Preach My Gospel!), things to pray about (How can I analyze political and social issues in a Christian way?), and personal inspiration (call your mom!).

4. Read the talks.

I learn better through reading than I do listening, so when the November Ensign magazine comes to my door I gobble it up. I study each talk thoroughly, starting with the ones I noted liking especially from Conference. I make sure to read each one through. If I don't, it becomes to easy to only read the talks that make me feel good. You know the ones. The talks that we take to be a personal pat on the back. Similar to how we approach our social media intake and news outlets, we lean in to the talks that give us a warm fuzzy feeling and soothe our egos. And then ignore the talks that speak to things I really need to improve upon.

It is different for everyone. My intent is not to tell you how to approach your Conference experience. But rather to help us see that we are not all cookie cutter Molly Mormons who have to benefit in exactly the same ways as everyone else. 

Last General Conference there was a talk by an apostle that I just really didn't like. With all the craziness of the world, I felt this one was petty and unimportant and why would this man think this is the most important concept to talk about for all the saints? As I was reading through the talks, after Conference, I could tell I was procrastinating reading that one. It didn't feel like it applied to me, and worse, I justified it by thinking "Well, it wasn't THE prophet speaking, so it can't be that crucial." Upon reading it again, it was like the scales had fallen from my eyes. There were nuggets extremely important to me personally and to my future family. How easily I could have ignored this talk! How grateful I am that the Spirit tugged on me until I read it and received the message I needed to hear.

That is the beauty of the Gospel. In Christ, we can chisel, bit by bit, at our imperfections in hope and faith of becoming the daughter and son that God intended us to become. General Conference is a tool in this chiseling we cannot allow to grow rusty on our work bench. General Conference should mean so much more to us than a weekend of couch time and cinnamon rolls. It should resound with us for months and months, and roll on into eternity.

I know Heavenly Father speaks to us through his followers, and provides us a special and personal opportunity to hear the messages we need from our church leaders. I am grateful that God answers prayers and always provides a way back home to him. God keeps his promises.