A Study on “Edification” at the LDS October 2022 Conference

If you’ve ever been to a big company event, you’re likely familiar with the idea of “Edification”. At least that’s what we used to call it. In a financial services company that I was a part of (that had multilevel marketing leanings) we’d often put on big events. A speaker from out of the area, generally that few to none really knew personally, would be invited to come to train and get the people excited to work hard. Being from out of town, and no one having a real personal relationship meant that they were unaware of his personal flaws and other business sins that might turn them off to his message if they did know. To build anticipation for the event we’d start talking up this person who was coming to our office and amongst our agents. We’d also have lined up a bunch of speakers, generally from the main speaker’s inner circle that were his partners in crime. These would all be instructed to “edify” the main speaker. This edification might be to mention the main speakers’ successes in business, to speak of what an honor it is to even hear him, share some quotes from the person, and basically build credibility. If done correctly, when this speaker got up, people who didn’t know him from Adam would be hanging on his every word as the “Expert of experts” hoping to get a gold nugget with which to better their businesses. Even though previous speakers may have had better information, delivery, and even more potential value to someone’s actual business, the work that had been done to repeatedly edify the main speaker would have established them as THE authority. They could come to the stage and fart into the microphone and people would be jotting down notes.

In General Conference there is much “edification” that goes on. Repeated quoting of RMN and other leaders, glowing praise, effusive attestations of authority. Apologists will be quick to say “They’re merely sharing their testimonies”. Well, ok…I guess that’s possible. It is possible that there are speakers who believe that Russell Nelson and his inner circle are prophets, seers, and revelators so strongly that they want everyone to know it. Shouldn’t there be a point at which one truthfully concedes though that “I’m hearing it SO much that it’s obviously contrived”. I think there should.

Why would they do that you ask? Well, to do just like in my example…to establish the current president and his cohorts as THE “authorities” that must be followed.

Many conversations are taking place nowadays pointing a finger at the church saying “”Follow the prophet” has gotten out of hand! While there are times to follow a prophet, like on an end times exodus, as a rule the scriptures tell us to follow Christ, the Holy Ghost, and scripture. There is too much emphasis on putting trust in man”!

In response apologists say “President Nelson doesn’t say to follow him…he says to follow Christ!!” While there are quotes out there that could be shown that he has said to follow him…generally this is true. He generally does point to Christ! But what about everyone else in his crew?!! Do the apostles, seventy, auxiliary leaders also speak of following Christ or do they emphasize President Nelson. The answer is generally…both. When they mention Christ…RMN isn’t far behind or vice versa.

I wanted to make a point. I went through the entire conference and picked out the “edification” primarily with living church leadership. You’ll find this breakdown below. Here are some of my findings.

1.       Out of the total of 35 talks, there were 37 Russell Nelson quotes.

2.       Out of the 10 prayers in conference, all 10 “edified” speaking of gratitude for prophets, seers, revelators, Russell Nelson, the Twelve, and so forth.

3.       The ONLY talks out of 35 talks that contained  NO edification were by David Bednar, Paul Johnson, and Russell Nelson. (Apparently it only goes up and not down)

Here are my notes…

Saturday Morning Session

Opening Prayer – “under direction of prophets seers and revelators.

1^st speaker – Dallin Oaks –

1.       “Beloved President Nelson”

2^nd speaker – Dieter Uchtdorf –

1.       “The Lord, through His prophets, has always been guiding us in that direction.”

2.       Quotes RMN

3.       self-edification of authority “Of this I bear my solemn witness as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ…”

3^rd speaker – Tracy Browning –

1.     “to hear messages from prophets, apostles, seers, revelators, and leaders in God’s kingdom. We figuratively become like the people of King Benjamin’s day, pitching our tents and having our doors open and directed toward God’s prophet on the earth,¹ President Russell M. Nelson.”

2.     “The words and teachings of Jesus Christ as recorded in scripture and messages from His chosen prophets”.

3.     “Our dear prophet has taught that…”. Quotes RMN

4.     Quotes RMN again

5.     Quotes Russell Ballard.

6.     “…why I believe in and incorporate the teachings of modern-day prophets and apostles into my life;…”

7.     “…to the scriptures and teachings of prophets to learn of His words.”

4^th speaker – Dale Renlund

1.        Quotes Robert Hales

2.       “Doctrine, commandments, and revelations for the Church are the prerogative of the living prophet, who receives them from the Lord Jesus Christ.¹⁷ That is the prophet’s runway.”

3.       “I invite you to have the confidence to claim personal revelation for yourself, understanding what God has revealed, consistent with the scriptures and the commandments He has given through His appointed prophets and within your own purview and agency.”

5^th speaker – Rafael Pino

1.        Quotes RMN

2.       Quotes RMN a second time

3.       “I testify of the 15 men whom we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators, including our beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson.”

6^th speaker – Hugo Montoya

1.        Quotes RMN

2.       Quotes RMN a second time

3.       “He has been sending messengers for years and years so that we can receive His love and His commandments.” (This is true…but ambiguous and appears to be a nod to leadership)

7^th speaker – Ronald Rasband

1.        ““This day,” one of the greatest missionaries of the Book of Mormon is President Russell M. Nelson.” “Following President Nelson’s remarks, he was approached by that king, who asked in perfect English, “Just who are you?” President Nelson explained that he was an ordained Apostle of Jesus Christ.” Not sure how this would be split. It’s one long story praising RMN.

2.       “That is not an isolated example of how our beloved prophet shares the Book of Mormon.” Second talk to call RMN “beloved”. Who else in scripture was called “Beloved”?

3.       Quotes RMN

4.       “Our living prophet is doing his part to flood the earth with the Book of Mormon.²⁰ But he cannot open the floodgates alone. We must follow his lead.”

5.       Self-edification sharing how he has shared scripture with heads of countries.

6.       “My dear friends, as an Apostle of the Lord, I invite you to follow our beloved prophet, President Nelson, in flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon.” Second invitation to “Follow the prophet”.

8^th Speaker – Russell Nelson - The previous speaker gave a big crescendo of praise to bring on the final act! I see nothing in his talk that could be construed as edification of himself or other leaders.

Closing Prayer – “We are grateful for our living prophet, President Nelson and his counselors and the members of the 12 apostles…”

Saturday Afternoon Session

Opening Prayer – “Grateful for the opportunity to hear the words of our prophets seers and revelators”

Sustaining of General Authorities – Henry Eyring

1.        Sustaining of RMN not just as president…but as a prophet seer and revelator

2.       Sustaining of apostles also as prophets seers and revelators. These are gifts that are received…not ecclesiastical positions to sustain.

Speaker 1  - Russell Ballard

1.        Quotes RMN

2.       “President Nelson has been a pioneer in the Church. As an Apostle he has traveled to and opened many lands for the preaching of the gospel. Shortly after becoming the prophet and President of the Church, he pled with us to “increase [our] spiritual capacity to receive revelation.””

3.       Quotes RMN again

4.       Quotes RMN at third time

5.        “I testify that President Russell M. Nelson is the prophet of God on the earth today.”

Speaker 2 – Kristin Yee –

1.        Quotes RMN

Speaker 3 – Paul Johnson -  He apparently didn’t get the memo. There was no edification in his talk! He may not be invited back.

Speaker 4 – Ulisses Soares

1.        “They also help them face the spiritual dangers of our day by nurturing them with the good word of the Lord as revealed to His prophets.”

Speaker 5 – James McConkie III

1.        Quotes Joseph Wirthlin

2.       Quotes Joseph Wirthlin again

Speaker 6 – Jorge Zeballos

1.        “Over the years from this beautiful pulpit at the Conference Center, we have received magnificent counsel, inspiration, instruction, and revelation.” Makes reference to Uchtdorf and RMN talks.

Speaker 7 – Todd Christofferson

1.        “The Church is the custodian of the covenants of salvation and exaltation that God offers us through the ordinances of the holy priesthood.¹⁵ It is by keeping these covenants that we obtain the highest and deepest sense of belonging.” Indirect edification

2.       Quotes RMN

Closing Prayer – “Grateful to have been able to hear from thy servants”. “Blessing on our prophet RMN and members of the first presidency and quorum of the 12…”

Saturday Evening Session

Opening Prayer – “That we have a living prophet today.”

Speaker 1 Gérald Caussé

1.    Quotes RMN

2.    Quotes not to long ago deceased Thomas Monson

Speaker 2 – Michelle Craig

1.        Quotes Joseph F Smith. The focus of this is on edification of current leadership. Added for interest.

2.       “I choose to stand with His chosen servants—President Russell M. Nelson and his fellow Apostles—for they speak for Him and are the stewards of the ordinances and covenants that tie me to the Savior.”

Speaker 3 – Kevin Pearson

1.        “We could also choose to change our daily news feed to the words of Christ in the holy scriptures and to prophetic words of His living prophets.”

2.       Quotes RMN

3.       “Are we still willing to follow the living prophets?”

Speaker 4 – Denelson Silva

1.        Quotes Dieter Uchtdorf

2.       Quotes RMN

3.       In the above quote calls him “Our Beloved Prophet”

4.       “We have a living prophet,…”

Speaker 5 – Neil Andersen

1.        Quotes Henry Eyring

2.       “May this blessing be ours as we listen closely to the words of the Lord through His prophets and others in this conference.”

3.       Quotes RMN

4.       Quotes RMN again

5.       “Can we see why the Lord would direct His prophet to bring the holy temples closer to us and allow us to be in His house more often?”

6.       Mentions Russell Ballard and Kevin Pearson both quoting RMN and quotes RMN a third time!

7.       Quotes Dallin Oaks

8.      Quotes RMN a 4^th time!!!!

Closing Prayer – “We thank thee for our living prophet, the first presidency, and the quorum of the 12”

Sunday Morning Session

Opening Prayer – “We thank the for our living prophet for whom we pray.”

Speaker 1 – Jeffrey Holland

1.        “I note two pieces of art⁸ that serve as backdrops for the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in their sacred weekly temple meetings each Thursday in Salt Lake City. These portrayals serve as constant reminders to us of the price that was paid and the victory that was won by Him whose servants we are.”

2.       Quotes Gordon Hinckley

3.       “This day I bear apostolic witness of Him…” self-edification  of authority.

Speaker 2 – Anette Dennis

1.        Quotes Joseph Wirthlin

2.       Quotes Gary Stevenson

3.       Quotes RMN

4.       Quotes RMN again

Speaker 3 – Gerrit Gong

1.        “In a remarkable way, the Lord’s prophet is drawing us closer to our Savior, including through sacred temple ordinances and covenants coming closer to us in more places.”

2.       “The Lord’s prophet is leading the way. Latter-day revelation continues.”

Speaker 4 – Joseph Sitati

1.        Quotes RMN

2.       “This resonates with the pattern of consecrated service in the kingdom of God that is set before us by the Lord’s living prophets and apostles.”

3.       “Like the Lord’s living prophets and apostles, we can go forth with “bowels … full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, [with] virtue [garnishing our] thoughts unceasingly; … [and our] confidence [waxing] strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood … [distilling] upon [our souls] as the dews from heaven.””

4.       “With the Lord’s living prophets and apostles, we too can join a virtuous circle of faith strengthened by consecrated service in which “the Holy Ghost [is our] constant companion, [our] scepter [is] an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and [our] dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it [flows] unto [us] forever and ever.””

Speaker 5 – Steven Lund

1.        Quotes RMN saying “Hear Him”

2.       “And they follow a living prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, who leads with the knowing optimism of a seer in proclaiming that the great endeavor of these times—the gathering of Israel—will be both grand and majestic…”

Speaker 6 – David Bednar. None! A scripture based talk!

Speaker 7 – Russell Nelson

1.        “With the power of the holy apostleship vested in me, I bless you in your quest to overcome this world.” Statement of self-proclaimed authority. (There was also a Ezra Benson Quote…but he’s long dead)

Closing Prayer – “Father we are so grateful for a prophet. A living prophet we rejoice in his message.”

Sunday Afternoon Session

Opening Prayer – “We are grateful for our prophets…and the sacrifices they make on our behalf” “To do as our prophet has asked them to do today…”

Speaker 1 – Henry Eyring

1.        “President Russell M. Nelson is the living prophet of God for all the earth.”

Speaker 2 – Ryan Olsen

1.        Quotes Henry Eyring

2.       Quotes RMN

3.       Quotes Howard Hunter

4.       Quotes RMN again

5.       Quotes RMN a third time

6.       “Everything that President Nelson lovingly encourages us to do will lead us closer to the Savior.”

Speaker 3 – Jonathan Schmitt

1.        Quotes RMN. Shares his good example of scripture study.

Speaker 4 – Mark Eddy

1.        Quotes RMN

2.       Quotes RMN again

3.       Quotes David Bednar

4.       “Ultimately, the virtue of the word of God is the Lord Jesus Christ.²¹ As we comprehend this more fully, we can make an eternally significant connection between the role of His prophets and the Redeemer Himself. Our love for Him, our desire to draw closer to Him and to abide in His love,²² will motivate us to try the virtue of the word in our lives—both the virtue that flows from Him as our personal Savior and Redeemer²³ and the virtue that flows from Him through the words of “the chosen vessels of the Lord.”²⁴ We will come to discern that, as helpful as other sources may be in our study of the Savior and the words of His prophets, they must never become a replacement for them. We must drink deeply and often²⁵ directly from the source.²⁶”

5.       Quotes RMN a third time

6.       “I know that His virtue flows through the words of His prophets, both past and present.”

 

Speaker 5 – Gary Stevenson

1.        Quotes Dallin Oaks

2.       “Each beloved member of the First Presidency has provided us with direction on how to keep a testimony.” Yet another reference to calling top tier leadership “Beloved”.

3.       Quotes Henry Eyring

4.       Quotes Dallin Oaks

5.       Quotes RMN

6.       “…and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s Church on the earth today led by our dear prophet, President Russell M. Nelson.”

Speaker 6 – Isaac Morrison

1.        Quotes RMN

Speaker 7 – Quentin Cook

1.        Shares story dropping the names of Jeffrey Holland and Russell Ballard. Then says “President Russell M. Nelson, teasing us about this assignment, noted that it was unusual to assign three Apostles to visit the area where they had served as missionaries in their youth.”

2.       Quotes RMN

3.       Quotes RMN again

4.       Quotes RMN a third time

5.       “I am grateful that we will now hear from President Nelson. I testify that President Nelson is the Lord’s prophet for our day. I love and treasure the marvelous inspiration and guidance we receive through him. As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I bear my sure witness of the Savior’s divinity and the reality of His Atonement in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” RMN edification and personal.

Speaker 8 – Russell Nelson – No edification of self or other leaders.

Closing Prayer – “Grateful for living prophet seers and revelators. Especially we’re grateful for president RMN”.