Last weekend was General Conference for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS).  If you follow me on Twitter and are not LDS, I may have driven you a little nuts last week.  I watched eight hours of conference last weekend and was busy twittering the highlights for all eight hours.  And it was a wonderful conference, so there were lots of highlights.

In recent years, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has become one of my favorite speakers.  His recent conference addresses have been wonderful and so inspiring.  In April 2009, he gave a talk on Christ that has become one of my favorite talks of all time.  I am certain I shared it on this blog last Easter.  It was entitled None Were With Him.  And in October 2009, he shared a stirring testimony of the Book of Mormon (Safety for the Soul).  His talks are truly something I have come to eagerly await.

Last weekend, he did not disappoint.  His talk, An Ensign to the Nations, did not disappoint.  His talk was actually about General Conference itself.  And I think he did a wonderful job of explaining why we have General Conference and why it is so important that people attend and really listen.  I think this quote from Elder Holland really sums up why it is important.

If we teach by the Spirit and you listen by the Spirit, some one of us will touch on your circumstance, sending a personal prophetic epistle just to you.

I know that there were several points made in last week’s Conference that I really need to work on.  And there were also several messages that just really moved me.  I am so glad I took the time to listen to all four general sessions.

Here is another one of my favorite points from Elder Holland’s talk.

Brothers and sisters, this general conference and the other annual and semiannual versions of it are the continuation of that early declaration to the world. I testify that the proceedings of the past two days are yet one more evidence that, as our hymn says, “Lo, Zion’s standard is unfurled”

Truly General Conference is not just for members of the LDS church but really is for the whole world.  It has messages that are important to everyone, regardless of church membership.

And here is one final quote from Elder Holland regarding General Conference.

We testify to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people that God not only lives but also that He speaks, that for our time and in our day the counsel you have heard is, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, “the will of the Lord, … the word of the Lord, … the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.

If you missed Elder Holland’s talk last week, I highly recommend taking the time to read it or listen to it now.  And if you did here his talk,  And even if you did listen, his talk is worth reviewing.  Below, are links to read and to listen to the talk Elder Holland gave.

I am truly grateful for the opportunity I had to listen to conference last weekend.  It was a great experience for me and I am glad I can take a moment to share it with you.