For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, General Conference talks are a treasure trove of inspiration, guidance, and doctrine. Since 1971, these talks have been made available online at churchofjesuschrist.org, offering a wealth of spiritual resources that span over five decades. Yet, despite their accessibility, these talks remain an underutilized gem for many. Enter SearchGeneralConference.com (SGC)—an innovative website developed to help users explore this vast collection like never before.

SGC is designed to make searching and studying General Conference talks both intuitive and powerful. Whether you’re a lifelong member, a new convert, or simply curious about the teachings of the Church, this tool opens up a world of possibilities. Imagine being able to search talks by scripture reference, specific words or phrases, speaker, or even conference date—all with just a few clicks. Beyond that, SGC provides comprehensive statistics, revealing fascinating insights into how scriptures are used across decades of talks.

A Tool for Deeper Study

What sets SGC apart is its ability to deliver tailored, meaningful results. Search for a favorite verse, like Matthew 22:37, and you’ll receive a complete list of every General Conference talk that references it, complete with direct links to the full text on churchofjesuschrist.org.

A screenshot from SearchGeneralConference.com displays a search result for “Matthew 22:37,” showing General Conference talks that reference the scripture. The chart includes speaker names, talk titles, conference dates, and reference counts—illustrating how frequently this beloved verse has appeared in recent Church teachings.

Want to explore how the word “covenant” has been discussed over the years? SGC not only finds the talks but also shows you trends over time—highlighting which speakers emphasized it most and during which conferences it surged in focus.

A bar chart from SearchGeneralConference.com visualizes the percentage of General Conference talks mentioning “covenant” or “covenants” across various Church leadership eras from 1971 to present. The graph shows a dramatic rise in covenant references, peaking in the President Russell M. Nelson era at 84%, highlighting the growing doctrinal emphasis on covenant discipleship.

A line graph from SearchGeneralConference.com displays the steady increase in General Conference talks per year that reference “covenant” or “covenants” from 1971 to 2024. The upward trend highlights a growing emphasis on covenant discipleship in Latter-day Saint teachings over the past five decades.

The app doesn’t stop at search results. It also offers graphical displays that bring the data to life:

Speaker Insights: See which General Authorities or speakers have most frequently referenced your chosen scripture, word, or phrase.

A data chart from SearchGeneralConference.com listing the top Latter-day Saint General Conference speakers who have used the words “covenant” or “covenants” most frequently since 1971. President Russell M. Nelson leads with 77 talks, followed closely by Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring.

 

Bar chart from SearchGeneralConference.com displaying the top 10 General Conference speakers with the highest percentage of talks referencing “covenant” or “covenants” among those who have given 10 or more talks. Elder Gerrit W. Gong tops the list with 100%, followed by Elaine S. Dalton and Dale G. Renlund

Conference Trends: Discover which sessions of General Conference leaned heavily on your topic of interest.

Table from SearchGeneralConference.com listing the General Conference sessions from 1971 to the present that most frequently referenced the keywords “covenant” or “covenants.” Conferences from April 2024 and October 2023 top the list with 88% of talks including covenant-related references.

Bar graph from SearchGeneralConference.com showing the percentage of talks referencing “covenant” or “covenants” across the last 10 General Conferences. Data highlights an upward trend, with October 2023 and April 2024 each featuring covenant-related teachings in 88% of talks.

Historical Patterns: Track how the usage of a scripture or theme has evolved from 1971 to the present day.

Line graph from SearchGeneralConference.com illustrating the number of General Conference talks per year that reference the “Second Coming” from 1971 to 2024. While the overall trend shows a slight decline, notable spikes appear in recent years, especially after 2018.

These features transform SGC into more than just a search engine—it’s a window into the priorities, teachings, and emphases of Church leaders over time.

Why It Matters

General Conference talks are more than biannual addresses; they are a living archive of prophetic counsel and timeless truths. However, sifting through over 50 years of content can feel overwhelming. SGC simplifies that process, empowering users to uncover connections and insights that might otherwise go unnoticed. Whether you’re preparing a sacrament meeting talk, studying a specific doctrine, or analyzing scripture usage for personal enrichment, this tool makes it easier to tap into the wisdom of past and present Church leaders.

For example, a search for “Matthew 22” might reveal not only the most-cited verses but also how its prominence in talks has grown over the decades.

Table from SearchGeneralConference.com ranking the most-referenced verses in Matthew 22 across General Conference talks since 1971, highlighting how frequently speakers have cited scriptures like Matthew 22:37 and Matthew 22:39 in teachings on love, commandments, and discipleship.

Similarly, exploring references to “atonement” could highlight shifts in how this foundational doctrine has been taught across generations.

Bar graph comparing the percentage of General Conference talks mentioning “atonement” across different Church leadership eras from 1971 to present, showing a significant rise in emphasis during the Monson and Nelson eras, based on data from SearchGeneralConference.com.

Line graph showing the steady increase in the number of General Conference talks referencing “atonement” from 1971 to the present, reflecting heightened doctrinal emphasis under Church leaders. Data generated using SearchGeneralConference.com.

General Conference by the Numbers

The entire “General Conference by the Numbers” series at Meridian Magazine has been powered by SGC.  Past issues in this series have explored topics such as:

 Preparation for the Second Coming:

Highlights President Nelson’s emphasis on the Second Coming of the Savior and uncovers how Church leaders have addressed this prophetic theme over time.

Modern Revelation Unfolding Before Our Eyes:

Listening to President Nelson’s address, Let God Prevail, we could feel revelation unfolding before our eyes.

Doctrine and Covenants:

Examining references to this book of scripture across decades of talks.

An Invitation

I invite you to visit SearchGeneralConference.com and experience it for yourself. Dive into the talks that have shaped our faith, uncover patterns that deepen your understanding, and let the words of living prophets and apostles inspire you in new ways. This is more than a website—it’s a bridge to the spiritual legacy of General Conference.

Have a favorite scripture or topic in mind? Start there. You might be surprised at what you find.

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Scott Brown can be reached at se*********************@*ol.com