A Former Apostates Observations Of General Conference

[Pandorian]

Just a little background on me and why you should even care what I observe.

I am a returned missionary, married in temple, etc., who after doing some research on the Church a while ago, ie., about 10-15 years ago, went through a very serious period of apostasy. I was a frequent poster on that OTHER BOARD of some repute.. I went through a period of full disbelief and had come to believe that the guys who lead the church were the most evil people that even existed. These guys would not give a second thought to feeding their own child to cannibals if it would get them a better paycheck. I hated and despised these guys. They were liars, they were thieves, and they were cheats. Members of the church were delusional zombies who would fall for any sort of crap. No more evil had been foisted on the good people of the planet then by Joseph Smith...you get the idea.

The ONLY thing that kept me IN the Church was the threat from my wife that if I left, she was gone. So I spent MANY years in misery attending the church KNOWING it was false...much like Grant Palmer has supposedly said regarding an anonymous 70 and a mission president.

During this time though, I had some experiences that changed my thinking and slowly moved me back to full belief in my miserable activity.

House flood and I lost my job within a month. Who was there to help pick up the pieces...the church.

Went through various other problems. Who was there for me? the church.

So I slowly started doing a more prayerful study of LDS teaching and tried to come at it by an angle of openness and not a mindset that these guys were trying to put one over on me. So I was reading Church, and apologist stuff, and also reading at the same time the anti-mormon stuff I had read for years, and was still 'kind' of participating with that group online.

I was really confused. There were many things the church taught that I 'liked' intellectually, and seemed reasonable, but by gosh...the founders were completely evil and only put on sheepskin to hide their nefarious true selves.

The real struggle occurred when they asked me to serve with my Bishopric as an assistant and attend Ward Council. One part of me was saying "these guys are trying to play Masters Of the Universe' and interfere in peoples lives where they had no business to, while another side of me said...well, it looks like they are really concerned and care and are trying to help. Seeing the Bishop cry over the trials people were having, and his real concern were also an eyeopener. Also seeing the Stake President at the gym come up and personally great me and other members of the stake, and trying to get to know everyone personally was touching as well.

So one day I wasn't feeling all up to going to church and like I said I was very confused by it all. When you get right down to it, there is enough information to prove the church is completely false, and enough information to prove it is completely true. You can go either way depending on what you want.

I just couldn't continue like this though. I either had to be HOT or COLD. So I figured I would do like Joseph Smith said and ask God (now don't laugh)

So I went for a drive, found a nice clearing in the woods..we have lots of them here, and knelt down to pray. And lets just say I haven't had a problem with things since. That was 6 months ago, and this is the most peace my mind has had FOR YEARS.

Okay so now for my observations on conference. For the first time in my life I attended conference in person at the Saturday Morning Session. Got tickets from the stake and made a 20 hour drive from home to Salt Lake City. So these observations are MY impressions from seeing all the BACKGROUND stuff that one sees when one is there, and not watching it on Television or listening to the radio.

(these will be random as I think of them)

1. That conference center is huge. It's like a baseball stadium. How many people does it hold, like 20000 or more? Never seen so many members in one place at one time.

2. All the parking and lining up are very coordinated for the maximum efficiency of getting large amounts of people in and out.

3. People of all varieties and all types, not just WHITE MALES. I saw people from every culture on earth. Some must have come much further than I did. I boggles the mind to think that with all those people, this is just a tiny drop, because when you come from an area where a ward barely has a hundred people, and many struggling branches, you don't realize all these members are there.

4. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sounds MUCH better in person then it does on CD. You just don't get the acoustical qualities you do when listening in person.

5. Wow, there sure is a lot of security. Now I will be honest, that did make me do some questioning about all the security and the police, etc.

6. Standing when the Prophet walked in. I know it's a sign of respect and reverence, but it did have my...'why is he so much better than me?' thoughts going.

7. Boy do the panhandlers come out in force, as well as protesters (I have probably talked online with some of the protesters, and if we gave our handles to each other, they would be shocked that it was ME going in there)

8. You could see the REAL hate that these people had, much like I did for the prophet and his GAs. Thus the need for the security. These men are marked if some lunatic like Sandy Hook guy were able to get through. I am surprised actually that a massacre HASN'T happened. I KNOW how I thought and felt, but of course I had control of my actions in that respect. I don't like Obama at all, but he is our duly elected President. But you get someone off the hinges, and yes, there could be trouble. (wasn't there an incident involving Hunter a few years back?)

9. As I saw the GAs, the apostles, etc., walking in, I saw them warmly greeting each other, shaking hands and giving hugs. I saw Bednar motion to someone near the front who came up and warmly greeted each other. I saw all the 12 warmly greeting each other.

10. When they gave their talks, and I saw it on the big screen and also saw it down below, I didn't feel like they were using the teleprompters as crutches and reading. I felt that they had worked had to come up with their speeches and had practiced hard. I felt like they really had BEEN prayerful in choosing their topics.

11. I really FELT the spirit strongly when Packer gave his talk, though he is one of the most hated and reviled of the apostles. I FELT that he believed and knew what he was saying and that he wasn't trying to put anything over on anybody, nor dupe anyone in anyway. I didn't think ANY of them were trying to put anything over on me or lie, so they are either the most skilled speaking liars ever, or what they said, they felt was the truth. I have worked in sales, and can sense when someone is trying to put one over on me...(at least I hope this has given me some advantage)

12. A further thing regarding Packer, because it really did touch me is this. IF he was LYING, and IF he KNOWS the church is FALSE...then by GOSH...HE'S THE BEST GD LIAR I HAVE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE. I would have bought a car from that man if he were trying to sell me an obvious jalopy.

SO,

1. Either Boyd K. Packer is currently the best liar on Earth, or 2. He is what he claims to be.

13. I also got the feeling that he isn't long for this world, AND if the Church is false, and he KNOWS it, he would have been in the BEST position to spill the beans right there.

Just some thoughts from an anonymous former apostate.

[Garden Girl]

Thank you, Pandorian...

I can relate to your story... while never really losing my testimony fully, I was inactive for many years... just over 30 to be exact. Circumstances were such that when I lost my mom unexpectedly, it really turned me around and sent me back to the Church... So, 17 years ago I started all over again, studying, fasting, praying... and finally that peace you speak of... and my testimony came back stronger than ever.

Now watching conference, hearing Elders Packer, Holland, Uchtdorf and so many others, my heart sang with joy and thanksgiving that I had had the good sense to stop and turn back to the gospel... my "worldly" life pales now in comparison...

GG

[jwhitlock]

Thanks for sharing. The Lord has a way of making course corrections in our lives that can really grab our attention.

[oMtonic]

I'm happy for you, Pandorian.

I hope to be able to attend General Conference in person someday. I know what you're saying about the size of the conference center though, as I've been there in 2006 during Christmastime in temple square.

[Daniel Peterson]

Welcome back.

[tyler90az]

I was in a similar situation as you. Not into the church, then now being very dedicated and a strong believer. Your story is much more inspirational about coming back after years on the ex board. That takes some real courage and strength. Not a whole lot different then that Paul guy in the New Testament.

I just couldn't continue like this though. I either had to be HOT or COLD. So I figured I would do like Joseph Smith said and ask God (now don't laugh)

Not many people here are laughing that you went to ask God. Then you say, you received an answer, what better answer then to have a strong belief. You can rest assured with your backstory and testimony of prayer no one is laughing. If anyone is laughing they should take strong heed your testimony. That strong testimony to the listener and bearer alike coupled with our own miracles occuring from prayer make it no laughing matter. You are around mostly faithful brothers and sisters, welcome back into the household of Christ. I know that feeling I had when I was back was amazing, enjoy and build on it.

He is what he claims to be.

13. I also got the feeling that he isn't long for this world, AND if the Church is false, and he KNOWS it, he would have been in the BEST position to spill the beans right there.

For all the flak Apostle Packer receives no one can deny he is a believer. He may have said or says things I do not agree with. But you and I alike feel that his testimony is true. Just his faith alone makes up for all the mistakes he has made as a mortal man.

This church is true! Thank you for strengthening my testimony!

[changed]

I'm a convert, and have never been to GC on person, I don't have any relatives in Utah, did not attend BYU... I feel like a bit of an outsider because of that. One of these days, I really really want to go to conference. Thanks for your post!

[tyler90az]

I just had this pop into my head, thinking you may enjoy.

When I first started my journey back I was given a book of Joseph Smith teachings. It was a small, old, blue book that was falling apart. You could almost smell that it was an antique. It may have been old, that did not deter me from feeling like the spirit was permeating from the book. As a man who had said vicous things about the chuch, I started feeling guilty as I felt the Spirit, yet at that time an immense joy filled me. It made me desire to start reading immediatly. As I browsed not reading many words just turning pages a miracle occured. I flipped through about three different pages. Feeling as though the spirit was guiding me. Then I turned to a section, laid eyes on the section title and knew the Lord loved even the most vile sinners, even myself.

“DEAR BROTHER PHELPS: I must say that it is with no ordinary feelings I endeavor to write a few lines to you in answer to yours. It is true, that we have suffered much in consequence of your behavior….one with whom we had oft taken sweet counsel together, and enjoyed many refreshing seasons from the Lord - had it been an enemy, we could have borne it.

Believing your confession to be real, and your repentance genuine, I shall be happy once again to give you the right hand of fellowship, and rejoice over the returning prodigal. ‘Come on, dear brother, since the war is past, For friends at first, are friends again at last.’ Yours as ever, JOSEPH SMITH, JUN.”

That was in response to Brother Phelps who was partially responsible for incarcerating Joseph Smith Jr. in Liberty Jail. Brother Phelps put Joseph in jail for four months. Yet, Joseph Smith Jr. the Lord's mouthpiece on earth was able to forgive him immediatly. Signing off with, "Come on, dear brother, since the war is past, For friends at first, are friends again at last." Nothing had ever made me feel the love of God more then that amazing miracle. It was as if in that moment my soul was lifted from the pits of hell, a guilty conscious to the heights of heaven. For I knew at that moment, that the Lord forgived all men, loving them unconditionally, thereby receiving them back into his father's house to receive all his blessings.

[CASteinman]

Just a little background on me and why you should even care what I observe.

Your testimony brought tears to my eyes.

[Avatar4321]

I just had this pop into my head, thinking you may enjoy.

When I first started my journey back I was given a book of Joseph Smith teachings. It was a small, old, blue book that was falling apart. You could almost smell that it was an antique. It may have been old, that did not deter me from feeling like the spirit was permeating from the book. As a man who had said vicous things about the chuch, I started feeling guilty as I felt the Spirit, yet at that time an immense joy filled me. It made me desire to start reading immediatly. As I browsed not reading many words just turning pages a miracle occured. I flipped through about three different pages. Feeling as though the spirit was guiding me. Then I turned to a section, laid eyes on the section title and knew the Lord loved even the most vile sinners, even myself.

That was in response to Brother Phelps who was partially responsible for incarcerating Joseph Smith Jr. in Liberty Jail. Brother Phelps put Joseph in jail for four months. Yet, Joseph Smith Jr. the Lord's mouthpiece on earth was able to forgive him immediatly. Signing off with, "Come on, dear brother, since the war is past, For friends at first, are friends again at last." Nothing had ever made me feel the love of God more then that amazing miracle. It was as if in that moment my soul was lifted from the pits of hell, a guilty conscious to the heights of heaven. For I knew at that moment, that the Lord forgived all men, loving them unconditionally, thereby receiving them back into his father's house to receive all his blessings.

That truly is one of my favorite accounts of the early Saints. The power of forgiveness is truly amazing. There is power in forgiveness. Another one of my favorite stories of forgiveness regarding to the prophet Joseph Smith are after him and Sydny were pulled out, beaten, tarred, and feathered. Joseph's tooth was chipped after the mob tried to force poison down his throat. Sydney was seriously hurt in the head, and some think that injury gave him some mental health probems when he was older. Most tragic of all, one of Joseph's adopted children died because of exposure to the elements when Joseph was ripped from his bed.

And yet, despite having a rough night being tarred and feathered, and then the effort to clean it off. And despite losing his child soon afterwards because of that night. Joseph was went and preached the next morning. Some of the mobbers were among the congregation and Joseph gets up and preaches a sermon on forgiveness. I dont know if I could have done it if I were him.

It's little things like that that make me wonder how anyone could think him an evil man.

[Avatar4321]

Your testimony brought tears to my eyes.

Mine as well

[Avatar4321]

Just a little background on me and why you should even care what I observe.

I am a returned missionary, married in temple, etc., who after doing some research on the Church a while ago, ie., about 10-15 years ago, went through a very serious period of apostasy. I was a frequent poster on that OTHER BOARD of some repute.. I went through a period of full disbelief and had come to believe that the guys who lead the church were the most evil people that even existed. These guys would not give a second thought to feeding their own child to cannibals if it would get them a better paycheck. I hated and despised these guys. They were liars, they were thieves, and they were cheats. Members of the church were delusional zombies who would fall for any sort of crap. No more evil had been foisted on the good people of the planet then by Joseph Smith...you get the idea.

The ONLY thing that kept me IN the Church was the threat from my wife that if I left, she was gone. So I spent MANY years in misery attending the church KNOWING it was false...much like Grant Palmer has supposedly said regarding an anonymous 70 and a mission president.

During this time though, I had some experiences that changed my thinking and slowly moved me back to full belief in my miserable activity.

House flood and I lost my job within a month. Who was there to help pick up the pieces...the church.

Went through various other problems. Who was there for me? the church.

So I slowly started doing a more prayerful study of LDS teaching and tried to come at it by an angle of openness and not a mindset that these guys were trying to put one over on me. So I was reading Church, and apologist stuff, and also reading at the same time the anti-mormon stuff I had read for years, and was still 'kind' of participating with that group online.

I was really confused. There were many things the church taught that I 'liked' intellectually, and seemed reasonable, but by gosh...the founders were completely evil and only put on sheepskin to hide their nefarious true selves.

The real struggle occurred when they asked me to serve with my Bishopric as an assistant and attend Ward Council. One part of me was saying "these guys are trying to play Masters Of the Universe' and interfere in peoples lives where they had no business to, while another side of me said...well, it looks like they are really concerned and care and are trying to help. Seeing the Bishop cry over the trials people were having, and his real concern were also an eyeopener. Also seeing the Stake President at the gym come up and personally great me and other members of the stake, and trying to get to know everyone personally was touching as well.

So one day I wasn't feeling all up to going to church and like I said I was very confused by it all. When you get right down to it, there is enough information to prove the church is completely false, and enough information to prove it is completely true. You can go either way depending on what you want.

I just couldn't continue like this though. I either had to be HOT or COLD. So I figured I would do like Joseph Smith said and ask God (now don't laugh)

So I went for a drive, found a nice clearing in the woods..we have lots of them here, and knelt down to pray. And lets just say I haven't had a problem with things since. That was 6 months ago, and this is the most peace my mind has had FOR YEARS.

Okay so now for my observations on conference. For the first time in my life I attended conference in person at the Saturday Morning Session. Got tickets from the stake and made a 20 hour drive from home to Salt Lake City. So these observations are MY impressions from seeing all the BACKGROUND stuff that one sees when one is there, and not watching it on Television or listening to the radio.

(these will be random as I think of them)

1. That conference center is huge. It's like a baseball stadium. How many people does it hold, like 20000 or more? Never seen so many members in one place at one time.

2. All the parking and lining up are very coordinated for the maximum efficiency of getting large amounts of people in and out.

3. People of all varieties and all types, not just WHITE MALES. I saw people from every culture on earth. Some must have come much further than I did. I boggles the mind to think that with all those people, this is just a tiny drop, because when you come from an area where a ward barely has a hundred people, and many struggling branches, you don't realize all these members are there.

4. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sounds MUCH better in person then it does on CD. You just don't get the acoustical qualities you do when listening in person.

5. Wow, there sure is a lot of security. Now I will be honest, that did make me do some questioning about all the security and the police, etc.

6. Standing when the Prophet walked in. I know it's a sign of respect and reverence, but it did have my...'why is he so much better than me?' thoughts going.

7. Boy do the panhandlers come out in force, as well as protesters (I have probably talked online with some of the protesters, and if we gave our handles to each other, they would be shocked that it was ME going in there)

8. You could see the REAL hate that these people had, much like I did for the prophet and his GAs. Thus the need for the security. These men are marked if some lunatic like Sandy Hook guy were able to get through. I am surprised actually that a massacre HASN'T happened. I KNOW how I thought and felt, but of course I had control of my actions in that respect. I don't like Obama at all, but he is our duly elected President. But you get someone off the hinges, and yes, there could be trouble. (wasn't there an incident involving Hunter a few years back?)

9. As I saw the GAs, the apostles, etc., walking in, I saw them warmly greeting each other, shaking hands and giving hugs. I saw Bednar motion to someone near the front who came up and warmly greeted each other. I saw all the 12 warmly greeting each other.

10. When they gave their talks, and I saw it on the big screen and also saw it down below, I didn't feel like they were using the teleprompters as crutches and reading. I felt that they had worked had to come up with their speeches and had practiced hard. I felt like they really had BEEN prayerful in choosing their topics.

11. I really FELT the spirit strongly when Packer gave his talk, though he is one of the most hated and reviled of the apostles. I FELT that he believed and knew what he was saying and that he wasn't trying to put anything over on anybody, nor dupe anyone in anyway. I didn't think ANY of them were trying to put anything over on me or lie, so they are either the most skilled speaking liars ever, or what they said, they felt was the truth. I have worked in sales, and can sense when someone is trying to put one over on me...(at least I hope this has given me some advantage)

12. A further thing regarding Packer, because it really did touch me is this. IF he was LYING, and IF he KNOWS the church is FALSE...then by GOSH...HE'S THE BEST GD LIAR I HAVE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE. I would have bought a car from that man if he were trying to sell me an obvious jalopy.

SO,

1. Either Boyd K. Packer is currently the best liar on Earth, or 2. He is what he claims to be.

13. I also got the feeling that he isn't long for this world, AND if the Church is false, and he KNOWS it, he would have been in the BEST position to spill the beans right there.

Just some thoughts from an anonymous former apostate.

Few comments:

Welcome back brother. Im glad you never stopped coming to Church because I would hate to think we might have lost you.

I've never understood why some saw President Packer as harsh. Every time I've ever listened to him, I feel his love for us. He has given some of the most amazing sermons I've heard. He isn't lying. That's why he sounds sincere. But I think you know that.

Finally, no one who has recieved a testimony of Jesus Christ will laugh at you for praying to God for an answer. We all have at one point or another. I know my own experiences were so amazing that I dont know if Id believe them if someone else told me they had them. And I know my experiences are nothing compared to what some have had.

Isnt it amazing to have the Spirit back.

[tyler90az]

That truly is one of my favorite accounts of the early Saints. The power of forgiveness is truly amazing. There is power in forgiveness. Another one of my favorite stories of forgiveness regarding to the prophet Joseph Smith are after him and Sydny were pulled out, beaten, tarred, and feathered. Joseph's tooth was chipped after the mob tried to force poison down his throat. Sydney was seriously hurt in the head, and some think that injury gave him some mental health probems when he was older. Most tragic of all, one of Joseph's adopted children died because of exposure to the elements when Joseph was ripped from his bed.

And yet, despite having a rough night being tarred and feathered, and then the effort to clean it off. And despite losing his child soon afterwards because of that night. Joseph was went and preached the next morning. Some of the mobbers were among the congregation and Joseph gets up and preaches a sermon on forgiveness. I dont know if I could have done it if I were him.

It's little things like that that make me wonder how anyone could think him an evil man.

That is a good story also.

[wenglund]

Wonderful story! Sometimes it takes losing something to eventually understand its true meaning and value. Best wishes in your continued journey.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[ERayR]

Just a little background on me and why you should even care what I observe.

I am a returned missionary, married in temple, etc., who after doing some research on the Church a while ago, ie., about 10-15 years ago, went through a very serious period of apostasy. I was a frequent poster on that OTHER BOARD of some repute.. I went through a period of full disbelief and had come to believe that the guys who lead the church were the most evil people that even existed. These guys would not give a second thought to feeding their own child to cannibals if it would get them a better paycheck. I hated and despised these guys. They were liars, they were thieves, and they were cheats. Members of the church were delusional zombies who would fall for any sort of crap. No more evil had been foisted on the good people of the planet then by Joseph Smith...you get the idea.

The ONLY thing that kept me IN the Church was the threat from my wife that if I left, she was gone. So I spent MANY years in misery attending the church KNOWING it was false...much like Grant Palmer has supposedly said regarding an anonymous 70 and a mission president.

During this time though, I had some experiences that changed my thinking and slowly moved me back to full belief in my miserable activity.

Welcome back. It really is a choice isn't it?

[Avatar4321]

Welcome back. It really is a choice isn't it?

Much in life is a choice. Much more than we'd like to admit. But then that's why we fought a war in Heaven to protect our agency.

I realized reading a book, I believe it was one of Stephen Covey's books, that often we are blinded to what things we actually can do. But as we have faith and do little things we will eventually see more things we can do and choose. Often our worst enemey is our own myopic view. Which is probably why the Lord tells us to pull the beam out of our own eyes before we try to remove the motes from the eyes of others.

[Buzzard]

Just a thought about conference that this thread set off in my feeble little mind.

What a gift we have in the church to have witnesses, and especially apostolic witnesses.

I have seen and heard powerful sermons preached by articulate, and I am sure, sincere and god loving men and women of other faiths. This is not to take away from what they preach or what they offer their followers, but I do not ever recall them bearing witness in the same manner as was borne several times this conference and in many before. That doesn't make them bad, it just means that they seem to view their mission as relaying to us what is in the Bible. And so they preach the Bible. And maybe I have not watched enough of these preachers, but I just do not remember any of them telling their audience that they know these things to be true by the witness of the spirit.

To have a man, who has shown by his life and actions to be a man of integrity, look the camera in the eye and tell you that he knows of a surety that Christ is our savior and that the restoration of the gospel is a real event, has always been a powerful thing to me.

Just my .02 for the day.

[Tacenda]

Just a thought about conference that this thread set off in my feeble little mind.

What a gift we have in the church to have witnesses, and especially apostolic witnesses.

I have seen and heard powerful sermons preached by articulate, and I am sure, sincere and god loving men and women of other faiths. This is not to take away from what they preach or what they offer their followers, but I do not ever recall them bearing witness in the same manner as was borne several times this conference and in many before. That doesn't make them bad, it just means that they seem to view their mission as relaying to us what is in the Bible. And so they preach the Bible. And maybe I have not watched enough of these preachers, but I just do not remember any of them telling their audience that they know these things to be true by the witness of the spirit.

To have a man, who has shown by his life and actions to be a man of integrity, look the camera in the eye and tell you that he knows of a surety that Christ is our savior and that the restoration of the gospel is a real event, has always been a powerful thing to me.

Just my .02 for the day.

This stood out to me as well, their bearing witness of the spirit and/or of Jesus Christ. I wondered if I just wasn't paying enough attention before, but you verified that it was significant.

[Ahab]

12. A further thing regarding Packer, because it really did touch me is this. IF he was LYING, and IF he KNOWS the church is FALSE...then by GOSH...HE'S THE BEST GD LIAR I HAVE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE. I would have bought a car from that man if he were trying to sell me an obvious jalopy.

SO,

1. Either Boyd K. Packer is currently the best liar on Earth, or 2. He is what he claims to be.

13. I also got the feeling that he isn't long for this world, AND if the Church is false, and he KNOWS it, he would have been in the BEST position to spill the beans right there.

Just some thoughts from an anonymous former apostate.

Sounds like Elder Packer really made an impression on you. I like him too, and some others as well, but isn't it odd that some people can still think some really bad things about him as if he doesn't at least have good intentions and sincere beliefs. All people in all other religions should have those things too, and yet some people stand out and make a bigger impression on us than some others. The witness of the Spirit accounts for a lot of that, I think, but it also seems as though we are living in another world than all other people. Some people just don't seem to be able to see it, or hear it, or feel it, and in a sense it is kinda hard to believe.

[Buzzard]

Sounds like Elder Packer really made an impression on you. I like him too, and some others as well, but isn't it odd that some people can still think some really bad things about him as if he doesn't at least have good intentions and sincere beliefs. All people in all other religions should have those things too, and yet some people stand out and make a bigger impression on us than some others. The witness of the Spirit accounts for a lot of that, I think, but it also seems as though we are living in another world than all other people. Some people just don't seem to be able to see it, or hear it, or feel it, and in a sense it is kinda hard to believe.

I think is is fair to say that Elder Packer calls em like he sees em, and has a rather strong personality as well. That rubs some people the wrong way.

[cinepro]

President Packer spoke at my Stake Conference about 10 years ago, and it was a great experience. He told many personal stories (he had once lived in the area), and it was a very enjoyable (and memorable) experience.

Upon reading your post, it occurs to me that I've never been to a live session of General Conference, which seems odd. I rarely go to Utah, but maybe one day. Although if they ever do this show again, I'd walk there to see it...

[wenglund]

I think is is fair to say that Elder Packer calls em like he sees em, and has a rather strong personality as well. That rubs some people the wrong way.

It would probably get him banned from a number of threads were he posting here--speaking from experience. LOL

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[Robert F. Smith]

President Packer spoke at my Stake Conference about 10 years ago, and it was a great experience. He told many personal stories (he had once lived in the area), and it was a very enjoyable (and memorable) experience.

I have never had a warm spot in my heart for Pres. Packer, but I did very much enjoy seeing him dedicate the Brigham City Temple. Was nice to hear from his wife there as well. A well-deserved homecoming.

I think that every member has particular general authorities in mind who seem to speak to their particular needs and personality. I'm glad that they are all different.

Upon reading your post, it occurs to me that I've never been to a live session of General Conference, which seems odd. I rarely go to Utah, but maybe one day. Although if they ever do this show again, I'd walk there to see it...

I haven't either, although I did once manage to be in the Tabernacle for a live broadcast of "The Spoken Word," with Richard L. Evans. That was a treat. I sure miss him.

[Calm]

I wondered if I just wasn't paying enough attention before...

You can always go back and watch previous conferences to see if it is lacking there....

[Tacenda]

You can always go back and watch previous conferences to see if it is lacking there....

It's embarrassing to say I pay more attention to conference now than I ever have, in the past I was too busy getting my kids to listen or letting Saturday sort of slide, this past conference and the last few, I've listened to every one of the speakers. Weird, huh?