Prepare for General Conference

                The annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be held three weeks from today on April 2-3, 2016.  The conferences always consist of addresses by prophets, apostles, and other general leaders.  The addresses are always time appropriate and helpful.  One such address was presented by Elder Russell M. Nelson when he spoke about the need for us to “learn to listen and listen to learn.”  I encourage you to read his remarks to be better prepared for General Conference.  

                “Members, learn to listen, and listen to learn from Church leaders. Faithful members love the Savior and honor His servants, having faith in the Lord’s declaration that “whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”

            “One day in Italy I met a wonderful priesthood leader and his wife. In him I saw a man with great potential. But my language was foreign to them. Through an interpreter, I challenged them to study the English language. They listened obediently and studied diligently. Now six years later, ably sustained by his wife, Carolina, Vincenzo Conforte is faithfully serving his second assignment as a mission president, interviewing missionaries well in Italian or in English.

            “President Ezra Taft Benson has proclaimed the importance of studying the Book of Mormon.  People throughout the earth are being blessed as they follow this and other counsel he has given.

            “Gratefully we thank God for a prophet to guide us in these latter days. But many turn a deaf ear to his teachings, oblivious to his prophetic position. They do so at great risk, for scriptures contain this warning:

            “`A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you …; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. …

            “`Every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.’

            “President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., said, `We do not lack a prophet; what we lack is a listening ear.’ Words of the Lord are taught by His disciples. Wise members listen to learn from Church leaders.”