Digital Only: Young Adults
5 Ways to Refresh Your General Conference Experience
A change in routine can deepen your love for the guidance from our living prophets.
This past general conference, my wife and I looked at each other and said, “What are we doing for conference? Who are we inviting over?” In our YSA ward, we’d gotten used to gathering with other young adults to listen to the messages from our prophet and other Church leaders. We also both come from larger families, so now that it was just us, it felt odd not to watch conference surrounded by people.
But we decided not to have anyone over for conference. And honestly, breaking from our routine helped us listen more closely to the messages and focus more on how we could develop our relationship with the Savior.
In our own individual ways, none of us are in the same place we were six months ago when we last heard from our leaders. We’re likely each a little older and wiser, and maybe we feel changed and molded by the events that have happened in our lives. But sometimes when we reach general conference time, tradition and convenience win out. We just do the same things we’ve always done.
I’m not saying that the traditions we’ve made are bad. I have many general conference traditions that I love dearly. But if our habits have made it so that we’re not getting the most out of conference, why not experience general conference differently each time too?
Here are just a few ideas of things you could do.
1. Watch general conference somewhere new.
My wife and I have felt energized to pay attention more as we’ve watched conference in a new place. The Spirit can speak to you anywhere, and with the power of technology, you can watch conference almost anywhere too.
2. Change what you take notes on.
Instead of just writing down quotes that stick out to you, try writing down the thoughts you have while hearing the talks, what the talks remind you of, or applications you might try implementing into your own life.
For example, for many years I would just write down statements that were interesting or that stuck out to me. Now I make one or two notes of things I feel the Spirit telling me based on each conference talk. The note-taking possibilities are endless!
3. Fast during the conference.
You might try taking the phrase “feast upon the words of Christ” (2 Nephi 32:3) literally and fast for one of the days of general conference.
Speaking of fasting, Isaiah says:
“And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not” (Isaiah 58:10–11).
As we fast, the Lord will nourish us and give us the enlightenment we’re looking for during conference.
4. Invite someone to watch conference with you.
I also find that I am always blessed by the insights others have during conference. So, be it an old friend, a new friend, another member, someone who has never heard of the Church before, or a family member, invite someone else into your home to enjoy conference together.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “The Spirit cannot be restrained from attending a gathering of holy people. If you hope to feel the Spirit, be with people with whom the Spirit can easily dwell. … Choose to be with people and go to places where righteousness is found. Find your strength in numbers. Find good friends. Be good friends. Support one another wherever you are. Stand with holy people.”
5. Listen to conference with someone else in mind.
It can be easy to focus on our own issues and lives and only look for revelation and answers for our own circumstances. However, the Lord would have each of us learn to love our neighbor as He loves them (see 1 John 4:11). One great way to learn to love others is to focus your thoughts on their lives and their needs. Listen to the messages at conference with someone else in mind. You never know what you might learn that will help you better minister in the Savior’s way.
What are you going to do to refresh your conference experience? Let us know on our Instagram page, @ya.weekly!