Rivers Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 I've recently acquired an interest in listening to old General Conference talks. I just got done listening to Elder McConkie's final talk. Are there any other great or iconic talks anyone recommends? 1
Calm Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 One of my favorites: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2000/10/the-challenge-to-become?lang=eng 3
JustAnAustralian Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 Not sure about iconic, but if you're into OLD conference talks you can listen to them starting from the mid 1930s in the church history catalogue https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/record?id=2b8598d8-cb11-4dc0-940b-bf84d68f85e5&compId=27e55dd0-d8ae-4ffb-91c3-7d68a6dce4ad&view=browse 2
Scott Lloyd Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 (edited) I don’t have time to look for it just now, but if you can find one by Elder (he wasn’t yet President) Gordon B. Hinckley, titled “And Peter Went Out and Wept Bitterly,” it’s worth a listen. Timely for this time of year, too (Easter). It would probably be in the 1970s sometime. Added later: Don’t bother looking. I found it for you: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1979/04/and-peter-went-out-and-wept-bitterly?lang=eng Edited March 17, 2021 by Scott Lloyd 2
Scott Lloyd Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 This one has a pioneer theme, but it IS a general conference address. In fact, it was given at general conference in October 1947, the centennial anniversary year of the Pioneers coming to the Salt Lake Valley. It is a classic by President J. Reuben Clark, first counselor in the First Presidency, and is titled, “To Them of the Last Wagon.” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1997/07/to-them-of-the-last-wagon?lang=eng 1
Scott Lloyd Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 (edited) Here’s an October 2011 conference talk by Elder M. Russell Ballard about the importance of not severing the name of Christ from the name of His Church. It shows this matter was on the minds of the Brethren long before President Nelson issued his imperative as president of the Church. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2011/10/the-importance-of-a-name?lang=eng Edited March 17, 2021 by Scott Lloyd 1
Scott Lloyd Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 President David O. McKay uttered the now-famous sentence “No other success can compensate for failure in the home” in two general conference addresses, one in April 1935 and the other in April 1964. I can’t link to either of them, because neither is accessible online. But here’s an interesting backstory about the quote. The maxim didn’t originate with President McKay. He was actually quoting another author, a nonmember of the Church who has long since faded into obscurity. https://www.google.com/amp/s/latterdaysoprano.com/2010/01/08/no-other-success/amp/ 2
Scott Lloyd Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 Boyd K. Packers analogy, “The Mediator,” has since been repeated several times, including in a film portrayal produced by the Church. But here’s the 1977 talk in which he originally gave it: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1977/04/the-mediator?lang=eng 2
Robert F. Smith Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 For some reason, I really liked President Monson's talks, even when was getting very old and forgetful -- his talks got very short, and he couldn't stand for very long. Somehow what he had to say seemed very important. Not sure why. 3
Duncan Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 But if Not by Elder Dennis E. Simmons of the 70 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2004/04/but-if-not?lang=eng Pres. Packer's April 2001 talk about the Atonement of Christ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2001/04/the-touch-of-the-masters-hand?lang=eng Elder L. Lionel Kendrick of the 70's talk about the temple, also from April 2001 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2001/04/enhancing-our-temple-experience?lang=eng just a few that come to mind! 2
Kenngo1969 Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 9 hours ago, JustAnAustralian said: Not sure about iconic, but if you're into OLD conference talks you can listen to them starting from the mid 1930s in the church history catalogue https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/record?id=2b8598d8-cb11-4dc0-940b-bf84d68f85e5&compId=27e55dd0-d8ae-4ffb-91c3-7d68a6dce4ad&view=browse Wow! That's quite a find, Mate! (American here, just pretending to speak Australian! ) 1
Kenngo1969 Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 (edited) President Ezra Taft Benson (April 1989) "Beware of Pride": https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1989/05/beware-of-pride?lang=eng Here's the thing. I would swear (if I were a swearin' man! ) that I saw President Benson deliver this address live, yet President Hinckley is the one who read it. (President Benson, although he wasn't quite up to delivering a 20-minute address in front of a worldwide audience of Latter-day Saints and other interested parties that day, apparently, otherwise, was none the worse for wear, because he can be seen over President Hinckley's shoulder in the video.) https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/1989-04-1010-president-ezra-taft-benson?lang=eng As Forrest Gump said, "It's funny what a young* man recollects ..." especially when what he recollects jest ain't true! I guess I've simply become so familiar with President Benson's mannerisms and manner of delivery that its easy for me to imagine him delivering this address, as well. *Yes, I know I ain't a young man no more ... Don't rub it in! Edited March 17, 2021 by Kenngo1969 1
Kenngo1969 Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 4 hours ago, Robert F. Smith said: For some reason, I really liked President Monson's talks, even when was getting very old and forgetful -- his talks got very short, and he couldn't stand for very long. Somehow what he had to say seemed very important. Not sure why. Try this on for size, then (apologies: it's a slight thread derail). I don't know about anyone else, but, certainly, I'm not prepared to say that this five-year-old didn't see what she says she saw: 2
The Nehor Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 9 minutes ago, Kenngo1969 said: President Ezra Taft Benson (April 1989) "Beware of Pride": https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1989/05/beware-of-pride?lang=eng That talk was in our Mission packet. We had to read it at least once a month. 2
Kenngo1969 Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 19 minutes ago, The Nehor said: That talk was in our Mission packet. We had to read it at least once a month. While I can understand why some people might think that once a month is overkill (not necessarily, though, with the amount of time missionaries are scheduled or expected to study), it's a good reminder for all of us from time to time.
JAHS Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 I wasn't much of a fan of scouting but I liked President Monson's story he tells in his Oct 1982 talk:“Run, Boy, Run!” 1
Kenngo1969 Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 (edited) I was asked to address the ward I lived in at the time in Sacrament meeting on the subject of following the prophet, and, immediately, I thought of President Benson's "Fourteen Fundamentals of Following the Prophet." (For some reason, I can't find it. I can find plenty of commentary by purportedly-faithful Latter-day Saints discussing what, allegedly, is wrong with it, but I can't find the address itself. ) Well, the hapless, poor guy who was to join me on the program that day (actually, to this day, he's one of my favorite people, even though he and his wife had the misfortune of having me for, at the time, a Home Teacher ) was asked to address the same subject, and, immediately, he thought of President Benson's "Fourteen Fundamentals of Following the Prophet." We didn't coordinate as well as, perhaps, we should have. I spoke first. I having stolen all of his thunder, when he got up, he, of course, didn't have much left to say in the way of prepared remarks, but, fortunately, he is an excellent extemporaneous speaker. Edited March 17, 2021 by Kenngo1969
Kenngo1969 Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2005/04/he-knows-you-by-name?lang=eng
AtlanticMike Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 "Finishers Wanted" by Thomas Monson Also, he doesnt have any General Conference talks but George Durrant is a great speaker, he's funny. I think he was a professor at BYU
JustAnAustralian Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 3 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said: Wow! That's quite a find, Mate! I saw a post about them on another blog. The main thing was that they (the church) had the recordings already, but a lot of work had to be put in to get the time stamps with speakers and hymns etc. 1
Kenngo1969 Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 (edited) 8 hours ago, Duncan said: ... Elder L. Lionel Kendrick of the 70's talk about the temple, also from April 2001 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2001/04/enhancing-our-temple-experience?lang=eng ... The question that occurred to me as I read this address is, "You may be in the Temple, but is the Temple in you?" (For what it's worth ... ) And, while others mileage may vary, I think, actually, that there's some there there more than simply a clever (or not) play on words: See also 1 Corinthians 3:16. Paging @mfbukowski Edited March 17, 2021 by Kenngo1969 1
mfbukowski Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 (edited) 32 minutes ago, Kenngo1969 said: The question that occurred to me as I read this address is, "You may be in the Temple, but is the Temple in you?" (For what it's worth ... ) And, while others mileage may vary, I think, actually, that there's some there there more than simply a clever (or not) play on words: See also 1 Corinthians 3:16. Paging @mfbukowski Yes that is a great talk and You make a great point about how much the temple is in us. If you make a list of every point he brings up about being IN the temple those points actually make a great model for an emulation of Christ, If we make them a part of our stream-of-consciousness. And that list would be a great thing to read every morning, I think I will actually do that, thanks for the idea!! Edited March 17, 2021 by mfbukowski 1
Duncan Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 44 minutes ago, Kenngo1969 said: The question that occurred to me as I read this address is, "You may be in the Temple, but is the Temple in you?" (For what it's worth ... ) And, while others mileage may vary, I think, actually, that there's some there there more than simply a clever (or not) play on words: See also 1 Corinthians 3:16. Paging @mfbukowski that idea of the temple in you has been around for quite awhile, I think as far back as Elder Widtsoe, going through the temple but are we allowing the temple to go through us? various leaders have said it one way or another 1
Kenngo1969 Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 Here are the questions that occurred to me in reviewing Elder Kendrick's address (your/others' mileage may vary): Did you make some time today for reverence and contemplation, to "overcome the world" and to have peace despite the world's tribulation and chaos for at least a brief time? Did you ponder and/or implement (a) way(s) to purify yourself for your next Church, Sacrament, Temple, family, personal, or other sacred experience? Did you, in the spirit of this hymn, Take Time to Be Holy ? Did you take at least some time today to leave the world behind in your thoughts and in your communications? What added "light and knowledge" did you seek, or did you gain, today?
Kenngo1969 Posted March 17, 2021 Posted March 17, 2021 11 minutes ago, Duncan said: that idea of the temple in you has been around for quite awhile, I think as far back as Elder Widtsoe, going through the temple but are we allowing the temple to go through us? various leaders have said it one way or another Heck, leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ have been "reinventing the wheel" since the Apostle Paul, for goodness' sake! See I Corinthians 3:16-17. 1
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