For twenty years, from 1980 to 2000, the Monday following general conferences I headed to the Church Office Building in downtown Salt Lake City to help proofread or index conference addresses for publication in the Ensign and Liahona. Because the May and November conference issues had to be ready for printing in two weeks, the Ensign staff needed extra eyes and hands. A small cadre of proofreaders came together every six months, and I was fortunate to be part of this group.
I gained many things through this experience, such as learning how a magazine is readied for publication, why magazine pages need to be proofed numerous times, and how to index. The association with many wonderful full-time editors and “seasonal” workers developed into caring friendships. I enjoyed working for two weeks, then “retiring” for six months, especially since my children were young during this time period.
During this process, I read and re-read conference addresses numerous times. While I looked for typos, punctuation, widows, and orphans as a proofreader, and as an indexer key points to include, what I really gained through these processes was familiarity with the words spoken in any given conference address given by the Brethren and general auxiliary leaders. These weren’t just words printed on galleys but words of counsel, inspiration, and revelation: “And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation” (D&C 68:4). These messages were impressed upon my mind and heart.
At the time I began my proofreading career, there were no such things as the Internet or smart phones. Church members waited eagerly for the conference issues of the magazines to be mailed so that these important messages could be revisited. Excerpts, however, did appear in newspapers and the Church News shortly after general conference.
And those living far away from Church headquarters and out of reach of broadcasts to stake centers had to wait for audio or video tapes to arrive to experience general conference initially. Now, general conference messages can be accessed instantaneously in an array of ways through current technological wonders. Viewing conference worldwide can be accomplished through live streaming and television and radio broadcasts. My husband and I watched this October conference via live streaming in our apartment in New York City, where we serve as missionaries and don’t have a television hook-up.
But I didn’t head to the Ensign office to proofread on Monday, nor have I for many years. I wish I could say I know general conference addresses now as well as I did back then. As for most Church members, my absorbing 10 hours of magnificent talks (Relief Society general meeting or Priesthood meeting included) and then remembering all the particular messages and details doesn’t happen altogether. Besides, these messages bear study and pondering for individual personal study.
Over the last few years, I have revisited general conference in a variety of ways, including listening to talks on my iPhone while walking for exercise, reading the conference issue of the Ensign from cover to cover in a short period of time, watching a selected speaker on my iPad, or printing a talk to study, highlighting and writing notes on it.
I have asked a few friends how they revisit general conference:
- One said she acquires her own copy of the Ensign aside from her family or roommates so that she can mark it. The first addresses she re-reads are those that stood out to her when she watched conference. Then she studies the rest of the talks and finds that “each one has something for me the day I’m reading it.”
- Another presents the monthly “Teachings for Our Times” lesson in his elders quorum and thus devotes his study to the particular address from a previous general conference.
- A group of young adults meets within the week following conference to discuss addresses that had particular import for each of them.
- Members of an empty nesters family home evening group take turns leading a discussion on a conference message.
- Two friends who walk together make their morning conversations for the weeks following conference about the messages and how they can apply them in their lives. This takes rereading a certain talk the night before.
President Thomas S. Monson, said at the conclusion of the April 2013 general conference: “My brothers and sisters, what a glorious conference we have had. I know you will agree with me that the messages have been inspiring. Our hearts have been touched, and our testimonies of this divine work have been strengthened as we have felt the Spirit of the Lord. May we long remember what we have heard these past two days. I urge you to study the messages further when they are printed in coming issues of the Ensign and Liahona magazines.”[1]
What are some of the ways that you have found effective as you revisit general conference?
