Cover image via Gospel Media Library. 

It’s always exciting to look forward to a new general conference.  To prepare for the April 2023 conference it is helpful look back at previous conferences and the instruction that we have already been given:

  • What choices have we made to stay on the covenant path?
  • Are we learning to hear Him?
  • How have we let God Prevail in our lives?
  • What are we doing to help gather Israel?
  • What are we doing to prepare for the second coming of the Lord?

At the last general conference, a new For the Strength of Youth was introduced which emphasizes making covenants and staying on the covenant path.

Looking at General Conference by the Numbers we can see which phrases were trending in the talks from the October 22 general conference and we can visually see the impact Pres Nelson continues to have on our lives.  President Nelson’s influence is reflected in phrases such as:

  • Covenant path
  • Let God prevail
  • Gathering of Israel
  • Covenant(s)
  • Hear Him
  • Second Coming

For each of these phrases, we will compare three time periods[i]:

  • Conference talks prior to Russell M. Nelson’s presidency (3,457 talks)
  • Conference talks given during Russell M. Nelson’s presidency (306 talks)
  • Conference talks given in the October 2022 conference (35 talks)

The phrase “covenant path” has been used frequently since President Nelson used it during his first press conference as President of the Church in January 2018[ii].  The following chart shows that the phrase “covenant path” was used in 34% of the talks in the October 2022 conference:

The phrase “Let God Prevail” was introduced by President Nelson in his October 2020 talk of the same name[iii].  The following chart shows that the phrase “Let God Prevail” was not spoken in general conference prior to President Nelson’s talk and was used in 9% of the talks in the October 2022 conference.

The gathering of Israel has been a favorite topic for President Nelson for his entire tenure as a general authority.  The following chart shows the impact of President Nelson’s inspiration.  19% of conference talks in the Nelson era have referred to the gathering of Israel.

Our covenants with the Lord have always been an important topic in general conference.  Building on that base, President Nelson has increased our focus on covenants.  Three quarters of all conference talks in the Nelson era have mentioned covenants.

In April 2020, at the start of COVID, President Nelson encouraged us to listen to the voice of the Savior during a time of uncertainty and fear.  President Nelson’s talk, Hear Him, was followed up with a new web site: HearHim.org.  The phrase “Hear Him” appears in 11% of talks in the Nelson era.

Another topic President Nelson has emphasized as a general authority is the Second Coming of the Savior[iv].  The following chart shows that the phrase “second coming” has been mentioned in 13% of all conference talks in the Nelson era:

Statistics for October 2022:

  • 1,160 scripture references – the conference average since 1971 is 723
  • Since 1971, there have been 3,798 conference talks given by 517 different speakers.  In those talks there are 76,482 scripture references.
  • The most frequently referenced verses were: John 16:33 and Matthew 11:28 – each referenced in 6 talks.
  • The most frequently referenced chapter was: 2 Nephi 31 – referenced in 9 talks.
  • Overall, the most frequently referenced verse continues to be Moses 1:39 (224 talks) and the most frequently referenced chapter continues to be Doctrine and Covenants 88 (426 talks).
  • In the Nelson era, there have been 341 conference talks by 139 different speakers.  In those talks there are 10,826 scripture references.
    • The most frequently referenced verse in the Nelson era is Alma 7:12  (referenced in 31 talks)
    • The most frequently referenced chapter in the Nelson era is  Doctrine and Covenants 88 (referenced in 60 talks).

[i] The talks given during the Nelson era are not included in the pre-Nelson calculation.  The talks given at the October 2022 conference are not included in the Nelson era calculation.

[ii] General Conference by the Numbers – March 2020

[iii] General Conference by the Numbers – April 2021

[iv] General Conference by the Numbers – October 2020