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For a few years, I would take notes during General Conference then post them on the blog. I always thought it was an absurd, self-indulgent exercise, but every time I said I was stopping, people would tell me they looked forward to this mess of comments and quotes and ask me to keep going. Talking about Conference live on Twitter finally killed it, but I’m bringing it back this year because I’ve been asked to prepare a few thoughts for Dialogue about this conference and making some pulic-facing notes should help keep me focused for the mere eight hours left of Conference in 2026.
That’s my introduction.
On with the show.
Saturday Morning
Christopherson conducting.
Choir starkly split, the women in bright white, the men in black.
I do like this thing of inviting singers around the world to join the choir. Do the singers have to pay their own way? I hope not. Appropriate that Wales gets shouted out as it’s own entity—a nation of singers!
Pr Oaks up first, welcoming members and nonmembers alike. Introducing the solemn assembly, calls it both sustaining and voting. This recognizes the challenges of leadership in a significant way.
Solemn Assembly!
“Is this good tv?”
I suppose this is best treated as a meditative opportunity. Best of luck to those with young children.
Am I right that General Authorities were not given the opportunity to oppose?
Am I wrong in remembering the RS used to stand after the AP? A sensible change if my memory is correct.
Elder Patrick Kearon
mid-twenties convert, sustained in sacmoim, felt welcomed
a week later, bishop thwacking ruler, offers him a calling, based in prayer: assistant ward clark/clerk
sustained again
back in the days, I assume, when there was a lot of paper and stamps involved
meanwhile, sustaining others
Common Consent “a beautiful mix of something, agency, and faith”
“we sustain each other with our prayers and something and our faith”
(I’m not transcribing very well this morning)
serving with love sometimes with people different from us
not all can always serve
whatever our offering in the lord’s economy we always come out ahead
drop your nets!
what call could have been more incomprehensible than that one?
“pur service is a choice, an offering to god, and a blessing”
callings have a foundational role in growing our faith
(I wonder if accepting callings is a worldwide problem and not just something blossoming locally….)
your callings today do not predict your callings tomorrow
he’s not saying this directly, but what I’m hearing is “stay humble”
the solemn assembly as a type of whatever calling you were sustained to
can it make us see the holy connection more clearly?
in accepting a calling we’re joining the Savior in his redemptive work
Sister Yee, painter
“ministering brother” (anachronism) invited her father at a low point to weekly temple attendance
it changed his behavior to others, his motivations, and more
that couple still his dearest friends
when we serve in our assignments we are the savior’s hands and blessing people loved by their families
“I find the Savior when I minister”
(current Conference theme: serving in the Church)
love one another as I have loved you
we minister while we and they are yet imperfect
loving someones over somethings
just go
exercise faith
HF wants you to be happy; ministering is designed with that in mind
this is the way (don’t miss the mandalorian and grogu in theaters this may)
new guy, Clark Gilbert, starts with a nice callback to a Kearon joke
one’s first talk as a member of the Twelve is a special genre of talk, innit?
pledge my life to be a witness of Jesus Christ
today, focus on “redeemer” and “repairer”
His first quotation as an apostle is Shakespeare which I have to say bodes well.
Next allusion is Minerva Teichert! This is doing a lot to dilute the negative things I’ve heard about him from people who went to highschool with him or disliked his work in university administration.
Reaching out to those who feel set aside is an appropriate first topic.
this story reminds me of a work of fiction I published in Irreantum a few years ago
life is long but eternity is longer—what is thirty years, really?
comparing oneself to others really is a viciously demonic tool
anchor in the things you do believe and the lord will help you out with the others
recognizing the Holy Ghost is step one
truth so well disguised now you need the HG to recognize it
everyone’s journey is unique; we can’t ask people to take steps identical to anyone else’s
Elder Bednar has a love/hate relationship with running
He’s not selling me on running
ah. a metaphor for enduring to the end
many of us associate endure with drudgery
but in a spiritual context it is more than that
confirmed members eligible for spiritual gifts, which are essential to coming to the Savior and becoming more like him
the very term teaches that they are gifts, unearned solely by effort or discipline
charity is the greatest of all
endure used to describe charity
charity never faileth
found with charity at the last day? well with you!
we can possess charity but, ultimately, charity must possess us
(charity is truly one of the primary spiritual queries of my life—the double direction of of is an excellent point I’d not previously considered)
hope to be able to endure all things
we do not merely do benevalent deeds but we are changed
jesus was with the father in the beginning—so were we
when he came to earth he grew grace to grace until he received the fulness
that’s the patter we follow as well
fun substitution game
“endure to the end” = “is possessed of the pure love of christ”
enduring to the end is inseperable from developing charity
compelling thought, Bednar
“enduring to the end is the joyous quest of a lifetime”
a gradual process of trusting in and becoming like our savior
John U Teh
ah, the rich young man—we need this as a culture
when traditions are incompatible with the gospel
a process of consideration, action, outside pressures
takes faith to keep covenants over nationalized peer pressure
Oaks: the gospel challenges us to change
(will the Nelson-era trend of constantly quoting the current church president continue?)
he quotes Oaks a second time
we can reflect the Son onto others
ends with testifying of leadership
Elder Becerra
miracle of the used car(s)
[sorry, got a little distracted]
windows of heaven—windows allow light in—tithing does this
Pr Eyring
fun fact: his family was almost certainly part of my current ward before he was born (although it’s possible they lived in Oakland; that’s where son one was born)
let’s not be afraid!
wars and rumors of wars, economies faltering, etc etc
people are petitioning the lord for comfort, peace, etc
perhaps you have observed prayers both more numerous and more heartfelt
turning to the lord in times of chaos a trend as old as mankind
do I think I will be heard for my much speaking (a poky question for one as I)
lift up your heads and be of good comfort for I will ease your burdens even while you are in bondage—and so it was
the lord will do this for us just as he did for alma and his people
as we pray continually no matter the circumstances the lord will offer peace and abiding support
nice quoted blessing
the Savior’s promise is true
a humble prayer or peace will be honored
I felt this at the funeral of my wife
allowed to envision the happy reunion ahead
peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you…let not your heart be troubled
…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..
Saturday Afternoon
Choir from the University of Idaho? That’s interesting.
Elder Rasband conducting
Oh, no. It was BYU–I. Less surprising.
Some more releases and sustainings.
Did the new Primary president share a last name with a released 70? Coincidence? Was he released so she could serve, perhaps? Shall I start any more rumors while I’m here?
Wish we had more detailed money reports…. Was interested to see during the World Report the totals spent on charity. That was nice. No breakdown, but still.
He shouldn’t read that off the teleprompter….
You really got to reign in your Utah accent when announcing that hymn. I assume the choir ain’t actually singing all hell to Jesus’ name.
GE Stevensen worried about luggage
33million bags mishandled last year?? Maybe low as a percentage but still a big number!
one Japanese airport, in 30yrs, did not lose a single bag
they believe in the preciousness of luggage to people and their attention to detail follows
kaizen
fragile items hand-delivered to passengers, bags returned handle-out
but what about their dealings with other airports?
we are the luggage in this metaphor, come to earth to be cared for by others until we can be returned to Him
his label on our heart
this is more than logistics; thisis redemption
ministering as baggage hangling
I’m charmed by this metaphor but I predict some people being offended online thereby
Eduardo Ortega
spirituality is not just heritage—it must also be a decision, a search for one’s own testimony
growing up attending meetings was not enough; I needed to know for myself
that undeniable testimony didn’t arrive before serving a mission
your circumstances though imperfect maintain hope in Christ
time reveals the hand of Christ
Did he call him President Nephi?
Ah! Another Oaks quotation. I’m thinking this might be an at least semi-permanent alteration to GC culture
interesting in this safe and sure path being better than the shortest path—a common misreading of strait for straight
Elder Wu
I’d love to know more about this religious tradition—Chinese polytheism!
then immigration to Bolivia where he met missionaries
WHERE IS THE DB-PUBLISHED BIOGRAPHY OF THIS MAN??
(quick internet search) he’s only six years older than me….
very straightforward call to Christ
Elder Wunderli
kids and rocks—my favorite genre of anecdote?
(this was a pretty good one)
removing Jesus will not lighten your load
curious to see if the Jesus-is-rock metaphor will find its way into this talk
keeping Jesus with us requires daily worship (pray, read, trust, repent, live, renew)
Oaks said: Jesus Christ is the way (not as good a star wars ad)
Elder Gérald Caussé
up above a tiny flickering point of light then another
the sky filled with stars
this is like our relationship with God—when you look, He is here
ala David, how is it you have made us a little lower than the angels?
how can I be discourage when I know my father watches the sparrows?
God and Son love all and love each
reading the scriptures and noticing the alls and eaches and everys
all=universal aspect of love
each=care for the individual
there really is no end to the lenses one can bring to the scriptures
no strangers or outcasts, only brothers and sisters
we don’t serve those we already love
we come to love people as we serve them (fine thesis, that)
la belle et la bête—disney version
a number of connectings of service to joy today
Elder Holmes
expecting to get the right talk here, no matter how improbable
combining Bednar’s running with Ortega’s mountain, with a hint of blindness
another Oaks quotation!
Jesus as guide
only he has the words of eternal life
to walk with jesus is to follow his prophet
God desires us all to come home
Jesus climbed the steepest mountain of all, ergo we never have to mountaineer alone
this guy’s a year younger than me…if you’re wondering what stage of life I’m in
Elder Matswagothata has a challenging name, evidence we can do hard things (assuming I did spell his name correctly)
[missed a bit as I explained teleprompters to the 9yrold]
“pain and silent tears”
“many carry quiet burdens”
“trust his promise that the sun will rise again for you”
(incidentally: four years younger than me)
“when are you going to stop being a naughty boy?”
“I felt seen, I felt known, I felt not alone”
(yes, yes, I’m crying)
“just as [that family] prayed for me, there is someone praying for you”
come follow him and find peace in this tumutuous world
(nicely international Conference so far)
he reaches for us because he wishes to lead us home, one by one, by name
Elder Ulisses Soares
blue ties are in
abiding in Christ is a constant and conscious and sacred choice
including in digital spaces: consecrate
(exhibit a: svithetacular)
abiding in Christ does not remove our burdens but makes them lighter
in a world of many voices it’s essential to remain connected to the true vine
anecdote: Eld Holland called Soares to welcome him to the Quorum only moments after receiving the call; feeling served by the Lord through his servents
as we hear the savior’s voice through his servants we bring forth much fruit
His voice IS THE voice of truth and light
abide in him
continue in his love
recognize his power in your life
his love will be perfected in us
…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..
Sunday Morning
Pr Eyring conducting
Acting President Uchtdorf
Happy Easter!
From those in the Quarum at the time I memorized the Twelve in the MTC (Packer Perry Haight, Maxwell Nelson Oaks, Ballard Wirthlin Scott, Hales Holland Eyring), this is the first time someone not on that list leads the Quorum (ie, I’m getting old; cf, ages of Seventies noted yesterday)
the best place to go when the world is dark: the light
bc of what happened easter morning we can speak of Jesus Christ in the present tense
bc of His strength, all obstacles can be overcome
we too must encounter the Empty Tomb
confront what it means
then share our witness with others
blessed are those who have not seen but have believed includes us
like the women at the tomb, even when things seem dark, we can walk forward in faith
that faith will be rewarded
each morning let the daily rising sun remind you of Jesus
He is not here! He is risen!
let that inspire you
with a disposition to do good continually
jesus is our strength, our guide for making choices, will bring joy now and later
“he lives” is the testimony that has made all the difference in my life and it will make a difference to you
President Sister Emily Belle Freeman
wedding + cancer = mortality
best days and worst days allow mortality to do its work on us
Peter’s best day: recognizing messiah
Peter’s worst day: messiah calls him satan
——only three verses apart from each other
walking on water to immediately sinking—
best day / worst day
accepting an invitation from the Lord? He is there in (on) the water with you
worst day: Peter sees Jesus arrested then denies him
on the next walk, Jesus looks at him
what was that look to mean?
perhaps Jesus’s instructions to remember and to strengthen thy brethren—through the worst to come
whether today is a best day or a worst day (or both day) remember: God’s plan is for you and you can trust him; he knows you; pour out your heart; be still and listen (from fsy booklet)
fsy not just a guide for standards but a guide for strength
which angel do you suppose it was that was sent to strengthen jesus when he required it?
Elder PX Larreal
his accent makes me realize I shoulda just gone for it in Spanish
honestly, genuinely difficult to follow
when Jesus taught the sacrament, he was equally focused on us
the sacrament is for you and for me
a time to remember we are never alone
gift of HG a compass
Elder Ed Rowe
deactiviting mines without knowing where they all are
“Carefully follow your guide. Winta knows this place from personal experience. Follow in his footsteps, a few paces behind. Where he steps, you step.”
as time passed, my trust in Winta grew, and I returned home without harm
I developed a great trust and gratitude in him
we follow in His footsteps through covenants / temple worship / sacrament / ministering
following His example builds trust
even our very natures change to become more like him
when injured by spiritual landmines Christ’s healing power is enough
you can be too
return unto me and repent of your sins that I may heal you
Elder Rasband
ON Easter Sunday, yes, but THIS Easter Sunday?
tfw angels announce the risen savior
Pr Oaks has testified the resurrection a pillar of our faith the trickles into everything else
Jesus more than just a prophet
baby Paxton
blessing him just two fingers on his skull
“weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning”
“because I live ye shall live also”
someday Paxton will be resurrected whole and perfect
resurrection not just a whole body but whole with God and Christ and our family
that’s the new painting from the World Report!
he is risen, he is risen, tell it out with joyful voice and let the whole wide world rejoice
Elder Renlund
the parable of the two balls
two balls were too many for this poor dog
we have even more balls and we too may want to climb back into bed
remember: not all balls equal; maintain an eternal perspective
why focusing on Jesus is of greatest value and helps us no matter how many more balls we have
“no man cometh unto the father but by me”
the Savior can and will declare guiltless all who repent and strive to the end
all means everyone
if eveyone then anyone
if anyone then even one
if even one then even you
(nice use of language, that)
repented-of sins leave no scar, no trace
post-repentence, we owe no more to justice
focus on the ball that matters most: Jesus
and you’ll be okay
Elder Th. Mutombo
the pascal greeting / easter affirmation:
1O: Christ is risen.
2P: Truly, he is risen.
blessed are those who come unto me
he’s arguing God loves you more each covenant you make which isn’t something I buy (according to the latest Sunstone, this is an argument Oaks used to make)
four of their ten children died in the early years of their marriage
our prayers did not change God’s will
his family tried to split him and his wife given their bad luck with children and according to their children
he didn’t go for it
Oaks: following Christ is a continuous commitment
keeping covenants can require leaving behind that which is highly esteemed among men
satan’s program is play now, pay later (if ever) or so he claims
Elder AR Walker
into treasure
I’d love to know his list of favorite movies as a kid
living next to the Andes seems good for treasure
the word treasure occurs in scriptures dozens of times—warnings against earthy treasures—but also the Lord speaking of us as his treasures, “a peculiar treasure” if we come unto him and keep his covenants
each of us has a special place in god’s heart
he has high hopes for us
think of blessings Only He can bestow
another Oaks quotation! (obedience essential to rise above life’s challenges)
as we choose to follow prophetic counsel even when hard that’s a signal to God of our priorities
“a continual stream of blessings from god”
a real…baby-bird kind of talk
President Dallin H. Oaks
1: the Resurrection
Jesus’s resurrection settled doctrine for all Christians
a universal resurrection settled doctrine for those who accept the Book of Mormon
do we accept the significance of believe in a universal resurrection?
death not being a conclusion affects our entire perspective on day-to-day life and life as a whole
mortal deficiencies, only temporary
death, even premature death, nbd
many people call today toxic (accompanied by delightful stock photo)
even those whose Christian beliefs should be preventative are toxic
Jesus taught the two great commandments, clarifying with the Good Samaritan
He also declared you should love your enemy
“bless them that curse you…pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you”
hard words in 2026, to be sure
our enemies to our beloved children of God
old stake conference story:
inspired to ask woman in yellow dress to give surprise talk
she’s a nurse in a max-care facility
one of her patients the most repulsive man she’d ever met
he had an accident in his room at which point she felt an “almost electric current of love from God to this man” and she saw him as God saw him; she held him and comforted him as he cried that he just wanted to go home
that was one of the great spiritual experiences of her life
and a powerful lesson to me
loving others isn’t surrendering our values—it IS our values
balancing various responsibilities is hard
expect to be accused of not valuing obedience when showing love and of not showing love when valuing obedience
strangers’ hostility give way to friendship over time and contact
follow Jesus by choosing to love others even when they show no love for us
how it would change the world if Christians would embrace peacemaking
drawing a deliberate continuous line from Nelson’s tenure by focusing on peacemaking
as followers of Christ let us forego contention and embrace peacemaking
let us seek to be holy like our savior
(was there no #2?)
He…chose not to say amen! Quite the move.
…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..
Sunday Afternoon
Elder Renlund conducting
Pres D Todd Christopherson
Peter back again, this time reminding us the last days will have Second Coming doubters
but, hey, you nondoubters—what manner of persons ought you to be?
live a life holiness
obv we should emulate Jesus, so what is his character?
Christlike character grows out of a Christlike heart so how do we obtain his motivations, desires, intents?
a willingness to correct when moved upon by the HG / always a willingness to forgive
character is revealed in being able to see the suffering of others when we ourselves are suffering
what better example than missionaries
a life of moral excellence is virtue is thought patterns good
no one of us alone can change the world but we each can have an influence on the world
Elder Wong
five remember-remember verses in BofM
see? so many ways to sort and resee the scriptures
God gives us knowledge and thus makes us free
Elder AT Hall, Happy Easter!
I glory in my Jesus for he hath redeemed my soul from hell
in every circumstance, bitter and sweet, Jesus trusted
“perfect empathy”
he heals us one by one
I rejoice that he can deliver us
Oaks quote!
Sister Porter
after establishing she’s gonna speak to the children, she changed to her for-the-kids voice
more speakers should speak to the kids than just the Primary presidency
your spirit is old, kids
He can help you stand for truth so you can share the light with others
even small children can say here I am, send me / here’s what I have, share (as in loaves and fishes)
dessert anecdote: get blessings now and later
she has an interesting way of suddenly changing how quickly she is speaking
Elder Neil L Anderson
sealing power’s pretty great
(the l is for linden)
marriage is a journey—to what God would have us become
“love is not love that alters when it alteration finds”
which is the real test of the opening months of marraige
the napkin joke’s pretty good.
second time today quoting you need the HG bc the devil’s so good at masquerading as truth
Packer gets a nice bonmot at Anderson’s expense! Zing!
everyone gets a righteous companion of their choosing eventually
sometimes divorce has to be a yes but always proceed with caution
this health-based anecdote seems a peculiar response to the divorce question….
Elder Q Cook
Moroni not letting Joseph sleep
questions Joseph likely had after this infodump
Cook and Holland escorting folks including religious leaders through open-house temple tours in Utah; discussing baptisms for the dead; connects directly to Malachi; read about Solomon’s temple; some leaders recognized this, some moved by it; in sealing room, Holland, teary, compelled to share that Elijah had come and restored the sealing keys; Jewish visitors appreciated all the OT stuff; later invited to go to Jerusalem to note anniversary of Orson Hyde’s dedication; Holland in his 30s spearheaded BYU–J; he worked with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders; together at the garden tomb with wives reading relevant scriptures; you do not needto visit Jerusalem to feel these same things yourself
Elder Wakolo
daughter called GC unmisunderstandable
but stop signs might be clearer
Oaks: doctrine of church centers on family which centers on temples
lots of temple stuff this weekend
some families are not yet sealed—to you I say you are essential to God’s plan
his example stories are so stripped of detail as to lose their value as lived experience
I repent—the second one’s better than the first one
but all these stories are resolved before death which I think could offer limited comfort to many
throwback to Elder Gong’s last-conference talk: no one sits alone
Elder Gong!
(incidentally, I was thinking, the Bay Area is deeply over represented among the 15 right now: Gong’s from San Francisco; Bednar’s from Oakland, which is where Clark too was born; Cook was a San Francisco stake president; Eyring was born a couple years after his family left Berkeley—am I missing any?)
never judge people for not recognizing what is directly before them—have not we done the same?
let’s just all abide with each other
historical aside on solemn assemblies
that must make Pr Oaks feel old, that Gong was a new student when he was the new president, turning forty and feeling old
Oaks told him a story about a grandfather who offered up coins to his grandchildren; the granddaughter who was careful only chose the best
if you see someone walking alone and sad, will you please walk with them?
no one should walk to road to Emmaus unseen
Pr Oaks
true nuff—lotta Jesus stories this conference
brief summary of such
we’ve been reminded about marriage and families
may we all represent the pure love of Christ in all our interchanges with God’s children
as these messages are published, check them out (until then, you have this svithetacular)
amen
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previous svithetacular on thmusings
