...For General Conference????
from an interview with Elder Samuelson in 2005:
"As dandelions break through the cold soil, patches of fresh grass appear and birds can be heard singing in a nearby tree, many Latter-day Saints get ready for this years 175th Semi-Annual General Conference. But some have more preparing to do than others, and sacrifice days and weeks to get ready — namely, the general authorities. They have more to do and organize in advent of conference than most other members.
President Cecil O. Samuelson, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, shared some of his thoughts on general conference with The Daily Universe regarding the preparation that goes into conference.
“In general, these are wonderful days of instruction, edification and spiritual enlightenment, just as they should be for every church member,” Samuelson said. “It is true that there are also some circumstances that apply uniquely to the general authorities and general officers.”
Albeit they have the best seats in the Conference Center between President Hinckley and the choirs, those seats also bring the pressure to stay constantly alert — a TV camera may swing in their direction without warning, Samuelson said.
He also pointed out that preparing a talk requires much more effort than just listening to one.
“With respect to speaking assignments, general authorities and general officers are informed in which session they will speak, the speaker they will follow, and the amount of time they will be given for their messages” Samuelson said. “No topics are assigned because it is assumed that speakers will take their counsel from the Holy Ghost.
"It is fascinating how coordinated the messages often seem. It is a testimony of the reality of inspiration and revelation. In spite of this obvious help from Heaven, all work diligently, usually for three to four weeks in preparation,” he said.
General conference is translated live into more than 50 languages, and the speakers are encouraged to submit, when possible, their text some days before conference so the translators can be as familiar with it as possible as they perform the translation. No practice is required, but those who wish to can rehearse their talks with the teleprompter in advance."
Some Interesting Facts about the History of General Conference:
1830—First general conference of the church held in Fayette, New York. All 27 members attend. A second general conference is held in September, also in Fayette. 1848—The Saints hold their first general conference in October, following their arrival in the Salt Lake Valley. General conference and other meetings are held in the Bowery.
1863—Construction begins on the Tabernacle
1875—The Tabernacle is dedicated during October conference
1885—April and October conferences held in Logan, Utah, due to safety concerns.
1919—April general conference postponed until June because of a flu epidemic
1923—First radio broadcast of a conference session. The entire two days of conference proceedings were broadcast in the following conference. Radio broadcasting was very successful, except for during one October general conference session, when the radio signals were temporarily switched and conference listeners received seven minutes of play-by-play account of a World Series baseball game.
1949—First televised broadcast of general conference
1957—October conference is cancelled, due to the Asian flu epidemic
1977—In preparation for April conference, the First Presidency announces the implementation of a two-day conference schedule, where conferences occur on the first Saturday and Sunday of the months of April and October. Prior conferences lasted three days and always included April 6, regardless of whether the it fell midweek.
1999—The first live audio and video broadcasts of conference available on the Internet
2000—Conference Center dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley during October conference, as “a place to be used in honor to the Almighty and for the accomplishment of His eternal purposes”
2005—General conference proceedings are broadcast via radio, television and Internet in fifty-five different languages
Enjoy!!!!!!!
