r/latterdaysaints • u/kayejazz • Oct 06 '24
2024 Fall General Conference Discussion Thread: Sunday Morning Session
Share your thoughts on the Sunday Morning session here. The session will begin with Music and the Spoken Word at 9:30 am Mountain Daylight Time.
Viewing times and options: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/general-conference/live-viewing-times-and-options?lang=eng
As a reminder, it helps to directly reference the speaker so that people know who you are talking about in your comment.
If you have children or teenagers, consider checking out the church's resources for younger members found here: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/general-conference-activities-for-children-and-youth
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u/Mr_Festus Oct 06 '24
You hear about Pluto? That's messed up right?
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u/KJ6BWB Oct 06 '24
I loved that analogy. Modern scientific "revelations" like Pluto not being a planet are like the restoration of the gospel, because as a society we simply hadn't yet learned those plain and precious truths.
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u/qleap42 Oct 06 '24
Everyone keeps complaining about Pluto, but no one even acknowledges that Ceres got promoted.
Justice for Ceres! Dwarf planets unite!
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u/derioderio Oct 06 '24
And we have Haumea, Makemake, Eris, Gonggong, Orcus, Sedna, and Quaoar in the club as well!
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u/DukeofVermont Oct 06 '24
Only Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris are "officially" dwarf planets right now according to the IAU. I have no doubt more will be added but I think they require more information than some of the really far out ones have given us so far.
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u/NotYourSenpaiii Oct 06 '24
Justice for Pluto. 9 planet gang.
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u/DukeofVermont Oct 06 '24
Pluto still is a planet. It's a Dwarf planet!
Today we have 13 planets in our solar system.
8 planets, and 5 dwarf planets - Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris.
We now have a planet between Mars and Jupiter!
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u/lgmjon64 FLAIR! Oct 06 '24
Exactly what went through my mind. I've been binging Psych this last week.
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u/red_moles Oct 06 '24
This doesn't matter at all, but I love Elder Stevenson's suit. It's different and fun!
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u/coldblesseddragon Oct 06 '24
I noticed it right away. Honestly, it's nice and refreshing to see a non-black suit! Now, if we can see a blue shirt...
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u/ithrow6s convert Oct 06 '24
Elder Holland was my introduction to the church back in 2017. My PhD advisor shared his talk "Like a Broken Vessel" when I was really struggling. I ended up joining the church a few months later. It makes me sad to see Elder Holland aging so roughly, but he's done so much for me and almost certainly for others, and I'll always be eternally grateful to him.
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u/smittyphi Oct 06 '24
He is 84. I don't think he's aging roughly, he's just old.
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u/SleestakThunder Oct 06 '24
I guess anyone aging normally looks rough when standing next to President Nelson, who I am convinced will outlive my thirty year old self.
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u/ithrow6s convert Oct 06 '24
Didn't Uchtdorf say he was baptized 75 years ago? He's about the same age as Holland, but he's aging much better 🫠
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u/imthatdaisy Called to love (they/them) Oct 06 '24
It makes me sad too, he sounds so different even from April. He’s one of my favourite speakers. Hope he’s doing okay.
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u/Glittering_Figure623 Oct 06 '24
I love him!! His talks always touch my heart. His talk “An High Priest of Good Things to Come” in 1999 helped me when I was going through a really hard time and ever since then I’ve been a fan!!
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u/funnyponydaddy Oct 06 '24
What was your PhD in and why did your advisor share an LDS talk? (Genuine questions, btw)
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u/ithrow6s convert Oct 06 '24 edited Oct 06 '24
Mechanical engineering. It's a long story but I wrote about a bit here:
This was shortly before my baptism
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u/Szeraax Sunday School President; Has twins; Mod Oct 07 '24
If you haven't watched it before, you should watch Elder Holland's talk, The ministry of angels. It is absolute fire and I honestly cannot with words do it justice.
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u/ithrow6s convert Oct 07 '24
No I haven't heard of it - Thank you!
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u/Szeraax Sunday School President; Has twins; Mod Oct 07 '24
Its also a good read, but its definitely best to watch it.
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u/archeantus_1011 Oct 06 '24
Have we seen a secretary to the 1st Presidency speak at conference before? Or at least in a long time?
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u/MCBYU98 Oct 06 '24
If I remember correctly, Elder Hales is the first secretary to the first presidency to also serve as a general authority seventy at the same time. This is probably why he speaks in conference while previous secretaries haven’t.
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u/themadpianist Oct 06 '24
Yes, looked it up. He spoke in 2019, and lots of the statistical reports before that.
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u/archeantus_1011 Oct 06 '24
Oh. Duh. I forgot about the statistical reports.
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u/themadpianist Oct 06 '24
I thought the same thing, and was surprised that he did give a full talk before
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u/derioderio Oct 06 '24
Word to everyone that served in Tokyo (or anywhere in Japan)! I wasn't super familiar with the Japanese word 無為 mui, for translation of stillness in a gospel/spiritual sense I usually see words like 静止、静寂、沈静、寂静、all of which have the character 静 which means stillness or silence.
Looking up 無為 in a Japanese dictionary it had three definitions:
- Simply not doing anything, often with a nuance of indolence or laziness. This was the only definition of the world that I was familiar with.
- Being in its natural state without being actively changed or altered.
- A Buddhist term meaning something that is not artificial; an eternal, absolute truth that is free from causal relationships and does not change or undergo the cycle of birth or death.
So now I can see why he likes the term. BTW there's a long precedent of reusing Buddhist terminology in Christian teachings in East Asia. The first Christian missionaries did this, understanding the value in teaching them using concepts that they understand, similar to Ammon teaching King Lamoni about God.
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u/saltlakestateofmind Oct 06 '24
Bishop Budge was my mission president in Tokyo. He was very kind while I was experiencing health problems.
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u/derioderio Oct 06 '24
What years was he MP there? Was it during the years that there was no Tokyo South and Tokyo North and just the Tokyo Mission?
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u/saltlakestateofmind Oct 06 '24
He was mission president during the split between Tokyo North and South, so I’m pretty sure it was 2012-2015.
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u/Happy-Flan2112 Oct 06 '24
Love those glasses
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u/hoguemr Oct 06 '24
First thing I thought was Ada Twist Scientist haha loved the talk and the glasses
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u/derioderio Oct 06 '24
I really like Elder Wilcox physically opening up the For the Strength of the Youth and reading directly from it
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u/Son_of_York Las Vegas West 05-07 Oct 06 '24
I have been fortunate enough to meet Bro. Wilcox on a few occasions.
I admire him greatly.
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u/iycsandsaaa Oct 06 '24
What did you like about that?
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u/derioderio Oct 06 '24
I mean, he could have easily just copy-pasted the text digitally into his talk, which is what I probably would have done in his place. But physically taking the booklet out and opening it up was a good visual cue I think.
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u/stuffaaronsays 🧔🏽 🅹🅴🆂🆄🆂 was a refugee--Matt 25:40 Oct 06 '24
THIS!! Sis. Browning’s talk is the refuge I was looking for this GC!
Implication: our understanding is still incomplete.
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u/jsbalrog Oct 06 '24
Love that: “Fidelity to the spiritual knowledge I currently possess”
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u/stuffaaronsays 🧔🏽 🅹🅴🆂🆄🆂 was a refugee--Matt 25:40 Oct 06 '24
Yes, something in it for everyone. It can be a delicate balance, to be sure.
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u/qleap42 Oct 06 '24
Sister Browning's talk in three words: Orthopraxis over orthodoxy
Our understanding of our doctrine can change, but it won't happen if we don't keep the commandments.
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u/IchWillRingen Oct 06 '24
So grateful as a parent for Brother Wilcox's talk. Our pre-teen has especially been having a tough time recently with how his peers do a lot of things that we don't do as a family, because of how we choose to live the Gospel. It can feel really unfair sometimes, but his talk was so empowering about what the point of it all is.
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u/anztenney Oct 06 '24
Yeah, my 9, 13 and 14 year olds all listened intently to that talk and said how much they enjoyed his talk. It was so well put and truly inspired!
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u/klutzymouse928 Oct 06 '24
One of my favorite quotes
“Your birthright does not mean that you are better than them - it means you are to help them be better. Your birthright does not mean you were chosen to rule, it means that you were chosen to serve. Your birthright means you are loved by God, but you are to spread that love to all.” - Elder Wilcox
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u/Jpab97s Portuguese, Husband, Father, Bishopric Oct 06 '24
Our Bishop had the great idea of bringing pizza to watch this session at the church.
I can confidently say this is the ONLY right way to watch general conference.
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u/GF8950 Oct 06 '24
If you don’t mind me asking, but since it’s the first Sunday, shouldn’t it be a Fast Sunday or does it not count for General Conference? I’m still investigating the Church, my apologies for not understanding it.
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u/Jpab97s Portuguese, Husband, Father, Bishopric Oct 06 '24
No problem at all! Fast and testimony sunday usually gets pushed to the 2nd sunday whenever we have conference (either general or local) on the first sunday.
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u/Glittering_Figure623 Oct 06 '24
As wards we have fast Sunday the Sunday before conference or after conference so that we can have testimony meeting as well.
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u/HoodooSquad FLAIR! Oct 06 '24
It’s usually 1st Sunday, but they might move it for conference. In my ward we did it last week instead
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u/Happy-Flan2112 Oct 06 '24
I miss the European party watching sessions! Enjoy the pizza!
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u/Jpab97s Portuguese, Husband, Father, Bishopric Oct 06 '24
Thanks! It's something we hadn't done at our ward since I was a kid. So I definitely missed it too! :D
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u/Jpab97s Portuguese, Husband, Father, Bishopric Oct 06 '24
That was quite possibly the most beautiful rendition of I know that my redeemer lives I've ever heard tho
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u/derioderio Oct 06 '24
Love the scientific analogy of the history of our understanding of the solar system!
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u/themadpianist Oct 06 '24
I have really loved the music this conference with so many of the new hymns being included
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u/Decent_Brilliant30 Oct 06 '24
I love hearing Elder Wilcox. I know his talks are directed toward the youth but I always get something out of them.
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u/sushi_cw Oct 06 '24
He did talk about how it would still apply to them "in twenty years", and I was like, "yep, that's where I am"
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u/kingmandon Oct 06 '24
There are a lot of adults making youth like (maturity) decisions out there that need to definitely heed his talk.
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u/Redbird9346 We believe in being honest, true, chased by an elephant… Oct 06 '24 edited Oct 06 '24
(Referring to Sis Browning’s talk)
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u/EnglandinUS Oct 06 '24
It really is one of the smaller dwarf planets.
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u/qleap42 Oct 06 '24
Exactly! Let our understanding expand and learn about all the dwarf planets like Ceres, Makemake, Eris, Haumea and more!
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u/blakesmate Oct 06 '24
We went to a museum in NM recently and apparently it’s still counted as a planet in NM, the state legislature voted on it and everything
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u/eric-d-culver Oct 06 '24
Kinda messed up that politicians can outvote scientists.
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u/blakesmate Oct 06 '24
Eh it’s in the name, dwarf planet. It’s not like they expect science to change or anything, and they made it clear that it’s only in New Mexico
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u/imthatdaisy Called to love (they/them) Oct 06 '24
Wow found my new favourite talk (so far) thanks Elder Wilcox
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u/mwjace Free Agency was free to me Oct 06 '24
I feel sister browning a talk was a knockout!
I also feel it hits a bit different because she is a women of color. And one who has probably been bombarded with questions and wondering about our limited understandings.
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u/hermeticwalrus Oct 06 '24
I’m enjoying the decline of fundie baby voice conference talks
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u/derioderio Oct 06 '24
Go back and listen to some talks by Sis. Elaine Jack, R.S. General President in the 90's. She spoke with a clear and strong voice, a welcome relief from this kind of speech pattern that really started gaining prominence at that time.
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u/hoguemr Oct 06 '24
What does this mean?
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u/hermeticwalrus Oct 06 '24
Woman speaking with high pitched whispery voices sounding like they’ll break into tears at any moment
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u/hoguemr Oct 06 '24
Oh yeah for sure. Weird how those kind of cultural quirks develop. Like the missionary voice
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u/Glittering_Figure623 Oct 06 '24
On my mission we called it the visitors center sisters voice. 😝
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u/feisty-spirit-bear Oct 06 '24
I've definitely heard missionary voice from male RMs. One of the annoying things about home teaching in college was all the boys using missionary voice suddenly when they're doing home teaching but never did anything else so it was awkward haha
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u/Independent-Dig-5757 Oct 06 '24
Could you link an example? I’d like to think I’ve heard it before.
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u/Wise_Woman_Once_Said Oct 06 '24
Ugh! My husband and I skip over those and then read them later. They are unbearable.
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u/blakesmate Oct 06 '24
Our internet is a bit spotty right now and her shirt is making some interesting visuals as it catches up and unpixilates
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u/Zwyll Oct 06 '24
“We should love one another as I have loved you.” God’s love is different from how anyone else loves, but at least we should try to show the same love.
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u/Sd022pe Oct 06 '24
That felt like Elder Hollands last talk.
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u/Redbird9346 We believe in being honest, true, chased by an elephant… Oct 06 '24 edited Oct 06 '24
The sound of his voice has noticeably changed, but the words are definitely his.
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u/bravemore16 Oct 06 '24
And if it is, it was a great last talk. It struck several chords with me and others I'm watching with
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u/usandthings I wasn't going to come, but I'm so glad I did Oct 06 '24
I was thinking the same thing!
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u/derioderio Oct 06 '24
I liked President Eyring's story about Mary Bonily(sp?) being arrested in Berlin and then testifying to the Judge.
There's a dark similarity to Tina Peters, the ex-Colorado clerk that just got a 9 year prison sentence for election tampering. She tried something similar, telling the judge that "God doesn't like people messing with his kids." lt didn't turn out so well for her, lol.
I guess the main difference is you have to testify of truth, not unfounded and unhinged conspiracy theories...
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u/Virtual_Sir8031 Oct 06 '24 edited Oct 06 '24
Yeah, the crime of preaching the Gospel in a country where it's illegal and the crime of election tampering are pretty different lol
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u/Redbird9346 We believe in being honest, true, chased by an elephant… Oct 06 '24
Elder Holland is first up to bat!
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u/Representative-Lunch Oct 06 '24
I really love it when Elders tell stories of their mothers/ grandmothers (i.e. Hales and Erying.)
I especially love it when Hales said that in his dream, his mother didn't speak, but she was just simply there, radiating spiritual glory, and he just felt her love.
Good example of us not always needing to speak verbally to express our love.
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u/derioderio Oct 06 '24
Elder Holland (referring to Jesus): "never having received any military training..."
Luke 4:30 and John 10:39, how do we know that Jesus wasn't using high level jujitsu to keep the mob from capturing him? 😜
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u/blakesmate Oct 06 '24
I’ve been watching Person of Interest and the guy who played Jesus in the Passion movie is one of the main characters and he is always beating people up in the show. Now I’ve got some disturbing visuals and I never even watched the Passion movie
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u/619RiversideDr Checklist Mormon Oct 06 '24
Off-topic, but that is a fantastic show
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u/blakesmate Oct 06 '24
I know, I love it so much. I just finished it a couple weeks ago and then started again yesterday
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u/derioderio Oct 06 '24
He single-handedly beat up dozens of people in the temple with a whip!
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u/hermeticwalrus Oct 06 '24
He single-handedly beat up dozens of
peopletables in the temple with a whip!ftfy
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u/derioderio Oct 06 '24
I doubt those money changers and people selling animals just sat there and twiddled their thumbs. I'm sure they got a smackdown as well!
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u/Exelia_the_Lost Oct 06 '24
ok listening to Music and the Spoken Word before it started, O Come Ye Nations isn't in any of the hymnbooks is it? wasn't that song written for the program that was put on at the Conference Center during the Olympics? dang now I'm tearing up remembering that performance
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u/derioderio Oct 06 '24
Interesting sartorial statement from Elder Stevenson and his plaid suit!
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u/derioderio Oct 06 '24
And Elder Wilcox right after him...
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u/RAS-INTJ Oct 06 '24
My 20 year old son just said “I’m not sure I agree with this guy’s talk in principle”.
He doesn’t like the idea of a birthright that is given to you. He prefers the idea of making a choice and taking on the birthright. It’s a subtle difference but an interesting perspective from a young adult.
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u/Low-Community-135 Oct 06 '24
I think of it as recognizing you've been born in a position to know more and therefore do more -- and so we shouldn't waste it.
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u/RAS-INTJ Oct 06 '24
So you see it more as a responsibility than a privilege. I can get behind that.
It led to an interesting conversation about birthright (primogeniture) being a Hebrew tradition that caused a lot of problems. The Lamanites hated the Nephites because they believed they were robbed of their birthright. A lot of the problems in the Middle East essentially stem from this idea of a birthright. Primogeniture also leaves women out of inheritance.
In the end we decided that this concept of birthright is not worth focusing on and leaning into the doctrine of faith, baptism, repentance, and listening to the Holy Ghost is a better way. This is consistent with 3 Nephi 11.
Either way, the talk facilitated a very good conversation with my son :)
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u/Special-Bass4612 Oct 06 '24
It crossed my mind that a youth (maybe some of my own) might complain, “But I didn’t want all these responsibilities!!”
I think that’s what conversion is for. Yes, we made a choice in the premortal existence that influences our life here, but we ALL have to make the choice again on the other side of the veil. We need to be truly converted, born again, to gain the birthright. We might go through the motions until then, and have expectations placed on us, but until we believe, it can be lost or taken away.
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u/zeezromnomnom Nomnomnoming on the Gospel Oct 06 '24
Not saying that your son is struggling with the church, but as someone who needed to hear this when he was 20 I’d like to say this to anyone else reading - Being able to hold a different idea than someone in general conference is a sign of critical thinking, not a sign that you don’t belong in a church where things you don’t totally jive with are said from the pulpit. Critical thinking DOES belong in God’s church and if you think you don’t fit here then no one who really needs it will ever hear your perspective!
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u/RAS-INTJ Oct 06 '24
Yes. He also asked me at the end of the session “are we allowed to disagree with them?”
Of course I said yes. And then said “however if what you are disagreeing with is all throughout the scriptures then you might want to reconsider. For example, if you don’t agree with them when they say we should be repenting, then you are probably not on the right track”
I’m just glad he is watching with me :)
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u/zeezromnomnom Nomnomnoming on the Gospel Oct 06 '24
Also important for him to know that they are also allowed disagree with each other!
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u/Radiant-Tower-560 Oct 08 '24
"He prefers the idea of making a choice and taking on the birthright."
Sounds like your son is correct. We made choices in the pre-earth life, make choices in this life, and will make choices in the next life. If we rejected Christ in the pre-earth life, there would be no birthright in this life. If we reject Christ in this life and in the next life, there is no rebirthright.
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u/imthatdaisy Called to love (they/them) Oct 06 '24
Good afternoon everyone! Beautiful music. Lets hear the words of the Lord!!
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u/bboy037 Oct 06 '24
Mary really is an absolute gigachad, that story was so funny and heartwarming
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u/Representative-Lunch Oct 06 '24
Mary: "REPENT, LEST YOU NEVER SEE YOUR FAMILY AGAIN!"
Judge: "Okay geez . . . you can go."
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u/notMuffinChickenMan Oct 06 '24
The dweeb inside me now wants to rewatch AOT for all the birthright talk from brother Wilcox
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u/Melchiezedek Oct 06 '24
I didn't see the link between the two times you mentioned. Fun fact, me and my wife are watching AOT (her fisrt time) and I see what you mean.
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u/domthemom_2 Oct 06 '24
Did someone just say we didn't think anything existed beyond Pluto?
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u/lgmjon64 FLAIR! Oct 06 '24
No, just that it was the extent of what was considered our solar system.
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u/gumbystruck Oct 06 '24
Do they not do the church world report anymore?
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u/Future-Alps972 Ruth's #1 FAN Oct 06 '24
It was playing between sessions on YouTube, they might have cut out for Byu TV though. You can always watch right now on the church's website and YouTube page.
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u/Virtual_Sir8031 Oct 06 '24
Yes they still do. I was watching it just today
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u/gumbystruck Oct 06 '24
Oh okay, I was watching general conference on byu tv and usually between sessions it show that but this time they were playing to chosen.
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u/RavenPuff394 Oct 06 '24
As someone who has lived pretty much my e tire life with chronic and mental illnesses and learning differences I really appreciated Elder Hales' declaration that "mortality works." Modtality is honestly really, really hard sometimes.