Today I’m sharing my April 2020 general conference preparation plan. At the close of the October 2019 General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the prophet, President Russel M. Nelson, gave a challenge.
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He said…
President Nelson’s Challenge
“In the springtime of the year 2020, it will be exactly 200 years since Joseph Smith experienced the theophany that we know as the First Vision. . . . Thus, the year 2020 will be designated as a bicentennial year. General conference next April will be different from any previous conference. In the next six months, I hope that every member and every family will prepare for a unique conference that will commemorate the very foundations of the restored gospel.
“You may wish to begin your preparation by reading afresh Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision as recorded in the Pearl of Great Price. Our course of study for next year in Come, Follow Me is the Book of Mormon. You may wish to ponder important questions such as, “How would my life be different if my knowledge gained from the Book of Mormon were suddenly taken away?” or “How have the events that followed the First Vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?” Also, with the Book of Mormon videos now becoming available, you may wish to incorporate them in your individual and family study.
“Select your own questions. Design your own plan. Immerse yourself in the glorious light of the Restoration. As you do, general conference next April will be not only memorable; it will be unforgettable.”
With this quote in mind, I intend to follow President Nelson’s council and prepare for general conference next April!
My April 2020 General Conference Preparation Plan
President Nelson specifically said to select questions, design a plan, and become immersed “in the glorious light of the Restoration.” The next General Conference will be April 4-5 2020. So, by now I have about 5 months to prepare. With that in mind, here is my monthly plan for my general conference preparation that includes study topics and an accompanying question:
November – Study the First Vision
I will start off by rereading and studying Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision in the Pearl of Great Price.
My Question: What are details in the account of the First Vision I haven’t noticed before?
December – Read “Saints: The Standard of Truth”
I have only heard good things about this book. It’s the first volume of four in the series that tells the story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the latter days. (I’ve heard this book covers the time until the saints begin to leave Nauvoo.) I’ve already ordered the free Kindle book version on Amazon! I hope to gain a deeper knowledge of the timeline of events and hear stories from people who lived through them.
My Question: How can the example of the early saints help me be a better disciple?
January – Study the Restoration of the Priesthood
While giving his challenge, President Nelson said, “The keys and offices of the priesthood have been restored, including the offices of Apostle, Seventy, patriarch, high priest, elder, bishop, priest, teacher, and deacon.” So, during the month of January I will study the restoration of the priesthood. I hope to better understand the responsibilities and keys associated with each office.
My Question: How has the priesthood blessed my family?
February – Study the Influence of Women in the Restoration and Early Years of the Church
I’m currently not sure how I want to execute doing this month’s study. I may choose to deep-dive into a couple of women or try to learn about as many as possible. Either way, I’m excited to study the women in the early years of the church and see what incredible influences they were!
My Questions: Who were some of the influential women in the early church? What are common characteristics they exemplified?
March – Study Joseph Smith’s Life
I will be the first to admit that my testimony of Joseph Smith could be strengthened. So, I hope to better understand Joseph Smith as a person and as the first prophet in the latter days. I intend to use this month as a fill-in-the-blank for any other unanswered questions and areas of Joseph Smith that I need better understanding about.
My Question: Why was Joseph Smith specifically chosen to be the prophet? How has his sacrifice impacted my life?
Your General Conference Preparation
What are questions you want to answer during your general conference preparation? Do you have a plan for accepting President Nelson’s challenge? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please drop a comment below!
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