Once Again, From the Shadow of the Everlasting Hills . .

General Conference has begun.  I always enjoy general conference.  Gradually I am learning how to listen to get more out of it.  

I have heard some people express the opinion that conference is always just the same old thing, year after year.  I am reminded of something Elder Henry B Eyring said at conference, April conference of 1997 to be specific.

"In our own time, we have been warned with counsel of where to find safety from sin and from sorrow. One of the keys to recognizing those warnings is that they are repeated. For instance, more than once in these general conferences, you have heard our prophet say that he would quote a preceding prophet and would therefore be a second witness and sometimes even a third. Each of us who has listened has heard President Kimball give counsel on the importance of a mother in the home and then heard President Benson quote him, and we have heard President Hinckley quote them both. The Apostle Paul wrote that “in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Cor. 13:1). One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude to live in such a blessed time."

Perhaps the repetition ought to be considered as much a flag of something significant being taught, as much so as when Mormon so often says, "And thus we see . . ." and perk up and listen a little bit better.  I have heard it sad that repetition is the soul of learning and I suppose in certain instances that is true.  For myself, I figure if the Lord thinks its worth saying enough that He has it repeated during the same conference or from conference to conference that its probably worth hearing and responding to. Its not always for the new guy, who has not heard it before, or for others who are more in need of whatever is being repeated.

Elder Jeffrey R Holland, speaking to a group of religious educators at a symposium held at BYU in August 2009 spoke of something Elder Boyd K Packer often did when listening to a presentation.

"President Boyd K. Packer, himself a master teacher and long-time administrator in the Church Educational System, has a question he often asks when we have made a presentation or given some sort of exhortation to one another in the Twelve. He looks up as if to say, “Are you through?” And then says to the speaker (and, by implication, to the rest of the group), “Therefore, what?”

“Therefore, what?” I think that is what the Savior answered day in and day out as an inseparable element of His teaching and preaching. I’ve tried to suggest that. These sermons and exhortations were to no avail if the actual lives of His disciples did not change."  

I have learned that one of the keys to receiving guidance and direction from the Lord is to follow the guidance and direction He has already given. A key to receiving revelation is to act on the revelation we have already received.  The Lord is unlikely to give new information if we have done nothing with the information He has already given us.  So as we listen to conference and hear a message that seems familiar because we've heard it before, maybe we should ask ourselves, "Therefore, what?"  What should we do with that piece of information?  How should we change in response to what we have learned?    It was Alma, as he was teaching Zeezrom, who said, "And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him." (Alma 12:9)