Twitter and Facebook exultant following conference.

[Solon]

I liked that.

The world will NOT end anytime soon. Now there's a prophecy I can believe. And he's speaking to the fanatics and idiots there and telling them to quit being crazy -- also good.

Yeah, that surprised me when I read it in the paper this morning.

I grew up believing I was part of an elite and elect generation, held back for my valiance to serve at the very tail end of the Last Dispensation.

Now, I realize I'm no better than those schmucks in the Middle Ages.

[pellegrino]

as I've said elsewhere, I think it would make for an interesting study to analyze LDS members' conference participation and their comments and reactions as a social performance.

[Joe Public]

How about this one yesterday from Boyd K. Packer?

I liked that.

The world will NOT end anytime soon. Now there's a prophecy I can believe. And he's speaking to the fanatics and idiots there and telling them to quit being crazy -- also good.

Isn't this actually very different from what Joseph Smith taught? From what I've learned, the LDS movement - along with many others of that time - believed in a literal gathering of the righteous to prepare for the imminent return of Jesus Christ. With the exception of Solon's chosen generation campaign (and perhaps others), I think this hasn't been a point of focus for a long time. In a sense, BKP's comments are really against the grain.

[SeattleUte]

How are they prophets? When do they prophesy? name the last prophecy...

How about lifting the priesthood ban. That was ahead of its time, wasn't it. Shows you why we need prophets.

[Viking]

That's interesting. Source? Not sure 6% a year of inflation is exactly "free" but it's a lot better than 15-50% a month!

Re: BKP. It's not exactly hard to say "the world's not ending".

Re: financial house in order. That's always a good idea

I'm talking about real, honest-to-gosh: "The Lord told me..."

[Moliere]

That's interesting. Source? Not sure 6% a year of inflation is exactly "free" but it's a lot better than 15-50% a month!

Re: BKP. It's not exactly hard to say "the world's not ending".

Re: financial house in order. That's always a good idea

I'm talking about real, honest-to-gosh: "The Lord told me..."

Pres Monson: Lord, what should I tell the church members this conference?

Lord: tell them to love each other, to serve, and to keep the commandments.

Pres Monson: but they really want a big revelation. They are thinking I'm not really a prophet unless I predict the future.

Lord: [facepalm]

[Moliere]

I feel completely out of touch.

So many comments such as "Conference was wonderful! It's so great to have a modern prophet!"

I thought conference had some nice messages that reminded us of some timeless gospel truths.

I appreciate President Monson and the leadership. They have tough jobs...jobs that are probably a lot more work than the Toyota Avalons they receive in return. ( )

That being said, I'm not sure anything in this conference goes down as prophetic.

The closest thing I felt approached that was the call to action from Elder Holland last night.

I love Uchtdorf's perspective. He doesn't seem to get bogged down by details. His messages are almost always about practical application of gospel principles. His messages, I believe, could be interesting and useful to members of any stripe, recently departed members, non-members an ex-members. He's generally talking about being a better person and getting to work on an individual scale to make life better for yourself and others.

Overall, I think that conference is really more of a 2 day convention with speakers that talk on gospel topics. That's not bad. But it's not as if the stuff is really any different than what you get at a stake conference, education week, etc. It's just that the messages are given by people regarded as carrying more clout, so they are given greater heed by the membership. It's one thing if your bishop gives a 20 minute discourse on how loving your neighbor is the most important thing and that you need to serve one another. It's a different thing if one of the First Presidency says it.

I was going to wait a bit before telling you this but maybe now is a good time. Some people don't like watching football :gasp: Some people like watching conference, BYU devotionals, Education Week, etc. Not everyone has the exact same likes and dislikes.

[wuapinmon]

The Spirit of God like a fire is burning!
The latter-day glory begins to come forth;
The visions and blessings of old are returning,
And angels are coming to visit the earth.
We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven,
Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!
Let glory to them in the highest be given,
Henceforth and forever, Amen and amen!

The Lord is extending the Saints' understanding,
Restoring their judges and all as at first.
The knowledge and power of God are expanding;
The veil o'er the earth is beginning to burst.
We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven,
Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!
Let glory to them in the highest be given,
Henceforth and forever, Amen and amen!

We'll call in our solemn assemblies in spirit,
To spread forth the kingdom of heaven abroad,
That we through our faith may begin to inherit
The visions and blessings and glories of God.
We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven,
Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!
Let glory to them in the highest be given,
Henceforth and forever, Amen and amen!

This seems like exaggeration when I look at the Church in 2011. I don't know anyone who has had a vision. Only the cat ladies claim to have seen their dead relatives in the temple.

[Pheidippides]

Isn't this actually very different from what Joseph Smith taught? From what I've learned, the LDS movement - along with many others of that time - believed in a literal gathering of the righteous to prepare for the imminent return of Jesus Christ. With the exception of Solon's chosen generation campaign (and perhaps others), I think this hasn't been a point of focus for a long time. In a sense, BKP's comments are really against the grain.

And after. There are a score of prophesies - one by Orson Hyde jumps to mind - saying that the second coming would come in some year well before the current one.

Of course, the NT saints believed the same thing: imminent second coming.

There are few things that make me feel like I don't belong in this church more than conference. It's like they are speaking to a group of people that doesn't include me. I realize I am a bit angry some days and that taints my view.

[hopfrog]

Last night I did a video with my home teacher on my YouTube channel, and I asked him what was his favorite part of the General Conference, and he kinda went into raptures about the entire thing and how wonderful it was -- and I was disappointed because I wanted specifics. My favorite part was President Monson's closing comments and his obvious Christian love for all humanity. And I love how poetry is always being quoted in talks. But as I listened to my home teacher, I felt that I was less LDS than he cos I simply cannot be the kind of Saint who swoons over everything the GA's utter. I need to think deeply about policy and doctrine and then pray about it and reach real decisions about how it all affects my mortal life and my eventual hereafter.

As for modern revelation. I served my mission in 1971/72, and was given Bible and the Triple Combination from my ward as a going-away gift, with my name in gilt on the front of each volume. I held on to these during the 25 years of my excommunication, for sentimental reasons. Being a missionary (even though I was a very bad one, lazy and rebellious) planted the seeds for my eventual return to the church. So when I returned, I went to a Fireside and we were asked to look up something in D&C 138. And I was shocked--there WAS NO D&C 138 in my book! It ends with Section 136. I was totally confused but didn't ask anyone about it. Then I bought a current quad and saw that changes had been made since the time I went away. I was amazed.

[falafel]

Last night I did a video with my home teacher on my YouTube channel, and I asked him what was his favorite part of the General Conference, and he kinda went into raptures about the entire thing and how wonderful it was -- and I was disappointed because I wanted specifics. My favorite part was President Monson's closing comments and his obvious Christian love for all humanity. And I love how poetry is always being quoted in talks. But as I listened to my home teacher, I felt that I was less LDS than he cos I simply cannot be the kind of Saint who swoons over everything the GA's utter. I need to think deeply about policy and doctrine and then pray about it and reach real decisions about how it all affects my mortal life and my eventual hereafter.

I think there's a real possibility that your home teacher didn't pay much attention to conference. I watched about 6-7 hours of conference this weekend, but I couldn't give tell you a single detail of any of the talks this morning (scratch that - I remember President Monson illustrating his talk about prayers being answered by referring to when he prayed he'd find his $5 bill he left in his pants pocket).