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发帖数: 9485 | 6 General Conference Is Personal
http://newsroom.lds.org/article/general-conference-is-personal
General conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints take
place every six months, originating in the 21,000-seat Conference Center in
Salt Lake City and reaching a global audience estimated to be in the
millions. But for Mormons, the grand scope and scale of the event is merely
backdrop to the real drama taking place in the individual life of each
participant.
As an example of this personal touch, the general conference that was held
in April 2008 marked the first time that the Church provided real-time
interpretation for people who speak Apache. Apache is one of the 92
languages available for attendees to participate in general conference. The
message this sends to Apache speakers and to others is this: if there is
someone who wishes to view or listen to conference, and the Church can find
an interpreter for that person’s language, then it will happen. Such is the
desire to bring the messages of general conference to individuals. Nearly
800 interpreters, located in Salt Lake City and in other countries, help
Latter-day Saints benefit from the messages during the five conference
sessions.
General conference combines the intimacy of the personal and the fellowship
of the communal. There is a power for Mormons watching general conference
in London, England, or listening to it in Chandler, Arizona, even if they
watch or listen alone. That power comes from a sense of gathering with
millions of others who share the same faith in Christ and who are
experiencing the event together.
Many of the Church leaders who speak at general conference, such as
President Thomas S. Monson, travel the world in their respective ministries.
As they do so, they meet members of the Church from Accra to Anchorage and
learn of their challenges. As they prepare to speak at conference, they take
into account the circumstances and difficulties of individual members and
seek inspiration to deliver messages that will be relevant and uplifting.
Church members find that the same address can be understood in different
ways. Mormons ascribe this to a desire on the part of each person to receive
uniquely relevant and applicable instruction and inspiration from sermons,
with the help of God’s Holy Spirit. This form of tailor-made learning —
experienced by people of all faith traditions who sincerely engage with
sacred texts or in religious services — is something that must be
experienced to be truly comprehended.
For Mormons, general conference is an exciting time when large numbers
gather to hear sermons, sacred music and news. But the most satisfying,
profound and exhilarating thoughts and feelings of inspiration come when one
person receives an answer to a personal question or is reassured by a
connectedness to God and others. |
