59 Thoughts on October 2025 General Conference

Last weekend, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met for our worldwide general conference. The conference occurred just a week after Church president Russell M. Nelson died, and Thomas Jacob Sanford killed several Church members. Emotions and words at the conference reflected those events.

When I can, I like to interact with others watching the conference in real time via social media. This helps me engage with the substance of the conference on a deeper level. And I’m often told by others that it helps them. Afterwards, I collect my thoughts here.

1. High on a mountain top, it’s time for general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I’ll be sharing my thoughts and feelings, affirmations and criticisms, aimed at increasing my and your engagement with the conference. Let’s go.

2. President Oaks opens the conference with remarks on the death of President Nelson about a week ago at age 101. He was, in my estimation, an overall excellent leader. In particular, I appreciate his changes to Church policies and practices related to women.

3. Elder Stevenson begins by mentioning the killing of Church members in Michigan last weekend. From there, he proceeds to comment about peacemaking, reflecting Jesus’ words, “blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”

4. Sister Browning observes that music taught to us as children influences us throughout life. She’s right. It’s powerful (and could be abused). I love many Church songs I learned as a child, notably “I Am a Child of God.”

5. Elder Barcellos says the Jewish leaders that Jesus criticized were insufficiently concerned with the motives behind their actions. Better actions result from better motives. Generally speaking, I agree. But actions also matter independent of supposed motives.

6. Elder Barcellos also says that we should align our will with God, quoting Jesus, “If you love me, keep my commands.” I’ll add that this is a two-way street. Before that, Jesus also says, “I will do whatever you ask of me.” And he repeats it.

7. Elder Eyre points out our doctrinal emphasis on our status as children of God, exemplified by Jesus. I couldn’t agree more enthusiastically. This is the immersive Christianity that we advocate. We, all of us, are children of God with sublime potential.

8. Elder Johnson references the use of “reconciliation” in the New Testament. I like to remember that this is the word that the Apostle Paul uses for what many of us might call “atonement.” It’s a work, not exclusive to Jesus, to which we’re all invited.

9. Does anyone else think that Elder Johnson looks a little like the actor Jonathan Banks? He was Mike in Breaking Bad, among other roles.

10. Elder Uchtdorf is among my favorite Church leaders. And he always talks about planes. Wait for it. Bingo!

11. Elder Uchtdorf observes that discipleship of Christ “is a gift, but receiving it is a conscious choice that requires a commitment of all our might, mind, and strength.” Grace and work. It’s always both.

12. “You are a blessed being of light, a spirit child of God, with a potential beyond your ability to imagine. … Your origin story is divine, and so is your destiny.” Amen, Elder Uchtdorf.

13. The opening session of general conference is ending early. I imagine the remaining time would have been used by President Nelson, who died last week. Rest in peace. The resurrection is near.

14. Elder Rasband discusses the Proclamation on the Family. For some, this document is controversial. To them and their antagonists, I encourage you to consider the possibility that what it doesn’t say (even if commonly assumed) is as important as what it does say.

15. For example, the Proclamation on the Family says that “gender is an essential characteristic of … eternal identity.” It doesn’t say eternity is static or final, as that would be contrary to the doctrine of eternity, which is as dynamic as life.

16. As another example, the Proclamation on the Family says that “marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God.” It doesn’t say that God couldn’t also ordain plural or gay marriage.

17. Elder Webb talks about the Holy Ghost. For some, this title immediately provokes an eye roll, imagining fairy tales for children. To them, I encourage consideration of the practical function associated with some different words: “sublime esthetic.”

18. “The Gospel is not a list of demands. It’s the good news that Christ overcomes sin and death.” Amen, Elder Webb. May we reflect that in our advocacy and actions.

19. Elder Jaggi tells the story of Adam, offering sacrifices without knowing why, and learning that we sacrifice “in similitude” of Jesus. Like him, we sacrifice for each other, that we may reconcile with each other, that we may become one in the glory of God.

20. Elder Brown says that God encourages us to “emulate his vision and nature.” I would add that this is the essence of ethical worship – worship of the only God worthy of such, because this God would raise us together to share fully in Godhood.

21. I am thoroughly enjoying the enthusiasm exuding from Elder Brown. His shrill voice and strong gestures stand out among the more reserved manner of expression that is traditional among general authorities of the Church.

22. Elder Gong asks Church members to ensure “no one sits alone emotionally or spiritually. … We love and are loved, serve and are served, forgive and are forgiven.”

23. “Worry less, judge less, be less demanding of others, and, when needed, less hard on ourselves. We do not create Zion in a day, but each hello, each warm gesture, brings Zion closer.” Thank you, Elder Gong.

24. Elder Cziesla suggests the world is increasingly secular. But we may have passed peak secularism. Per capita religious adherence worldwide is growing, due in part to birth rates in the developing world. And we may be having a resurgence of religion in the USA.

25. Elder Cziesla tells the story of his father attending Church for the first time, and not being impressed until the congregation began singing hymns. I know the feeling. Hymns can sometimes save us from otherwise tedious meetings. Let’s sing more.

26. Elder Cook says that conversions to the Church in much of the world, including Europe and North America, have increased by over 20% year over year. Remember that resurgence of religion that I mentioned a few minutes ago?

27. I love the hymn, “How Firm a Foundation,” when the congregation sings in the voice of God, concluding: “That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”

28. Elder Kearon says that Jesus needed no forgiveness. That’s a common perspective among Christians. But I wonder, if someone holds a grudge against Jesus, doesn’t Jesus need that person’s forgiveness in the very least to reach that person effectively?

29. Elder Kearon says that “Jesus wants so dearly to be our king.” But I wonder. In the scriptures, I read that Jesus wants to raise us all together as his friends, even when and perhaps especially when we’re tempted to raise him above us as a king.

30. Jesus is the God of new beginnings, says Elder Kearon. Indeed. As the scriptures depict him, Jesus is the God of creation, of repentance and change and transformation, of transfiguration and resurrection to immortality.

31. Sister Dennis tells an inspiring story of a person, over 100 years old, who beat five world records mostly because he was willing to enter and finish a difficult race. I wonder how often we recognize the contextual victories in each others’ lives.

32. Sister Dennis asserts that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not one of check lists, but rather one of “becoming as he is and loving as he does.”

33. Elder Barlow points out that love, to be received as love, must be given in the way that the recipient recognizes love. Jesus says that we show our love for him by keeping his commands, only after repeatedly telling us that he will do what we ask of him.

34. Elder Barlow asks, “are you ready to have your will swallowed up in his?” This is a common approach among Christians. But it leaves out the other, equally important component: God submitting to our will – even if it damns us, the scriptures teach.

35. Elder Jackson discusses a strength of the Church: remembering and accounting for each other. It’s not perfect. But it’s remarkable, the sense of mutual concern that the Church facilitates, even among otherwise dissimilar people. Need community? Try the Church.

36. Elder Andersen addresses the pain of families and friends of Church members killed in Michigan, acknowledging that he cannot say how long their pain will endure, but assuring them that peace can come. Hard things. Soberingly tragic things.

37. Elder Holland says evidence is important to the truth, citing a New Testament account of Jesus healing a blind man. But this is a problematic notion of evidence for those who don’t already revere the authority of the New Testament.

38. Elder Holland points out that the Church appears to be unique in its performance of vicarious rituals for the dead. This practice has important practical consequences, such as motivating an unparalleled magnitude of work on genealogy.

39. Elder Evanson encourages service, appealing to Jesus’ example and quoting him saying, “Go and do likewise.” The New Testaments says that Jesus consoled the sad, healed the sick, and raised the dead. Imagine that. What if we could do likewise? Shall we try?

40. Elder Soares talks about temperance. All other virtues could be expressed in terms of temperance, moderation, or self-control, particularly compared to contrasting vices. Intemperate in love? Even there, I temper my desire so as to love as another desires.

41. Elder Johnson extols ministering, one on one. This can be hard work. It’s often easier to compose a social media message for many. But, useful as that may be, it can never be enough. It can never fully achieve that which intimate personalization can achieve.

42. As Elder Johnson talks about one-on-one ministry, I feel it’s important to have realistic expectations of one’s self in such work. Jesus couldn’t visit everyone’s home. This must be a the work of a decentralized Christ.

43. Elder Christofferson has an intriguing name. Christ-offer-son makes me thank of a recursive version of the Abrahamic narrative of a father offering a son in sacrifice. Christians associate the sacrificed son with Christ. What of the sacrifice of Christ’s son?

44. I share Elder Christofferson’s concern with the risks of sexual promiscuity. But I wish he and other Church leaders would stop referring to it as “immorality,” as if it were the summation of all sin — all unethical action. Immorality encompasses much more.

45. Sister Spannaus offers an account of prophecy that obfuscates scriptural distinctions between prophets, seers, and revelators. This can be helpful as an introduction. But explore the distinctions. Prophecy may not be as exotic as commonly imagined.

46. Elder Eyring says his “struggle with physics was a gift” from God. It strengthened him, like steel proven in a furnace. How does hard-won physics knowledge strengthen a man who becomes a religious leader? Orthogonal to his main point, but worth considering.

47. Elder Eyring’s point, that challenges can strengthen us, even to Godhood in Christ, is the only explanation for the problem of evil that makes any sense to me. God would make you “strong enough to bear the weight of eternal life.”

48. Elder Bednar calls attention to the scriptural emphasis of agency. Some critics of Mormonism overlook this emphasis, imagining that we might wish to impose our views and practices on them. But that would actually horrify most of us.

49. Elder Bednar talks about the “final judgment” in useful ways, asserting that it will be a self-judgment rather than anything like a court of law. But those who remember Doctrine and Covenants 19 might also imagine that “final” isn’t ever literally final.

50. Elder Cuvelier reminds us of the Book of Mormon passage that tells us to take on the name of Christ. Read it. It even goes so far as to say that “Christ” is the only name by which we will be called to salvation. I think that merits more careful attention.

51. Elder Holland (the younger) tells the story of Jonah and Nineveh. I love this story, in particular, because it illustrates the function of prophecy, not as fortune telling but as forth telling. It’s good when negative prophecies fail. That’s their purpose.

52. Elder Godoy calls attention to members of the Church in Africa, where growth is rapid. I’ve enjoyed the opportunities that I’ve had in recent years to commune virtually with fellow Mormons there. And I look forward to visiting the Ivory Coast in-person soon.

53. Elder Renlund quotes the scriptural claim that salvation is “only in and through” Christ. But this doesn’t exclude us – our work and grace for each other. Remember that Jesus invites us to take on the name of Christ with him, helping him facilitate salvation.

54. Elder Renlund encourages us to approach God in the name of Christ, emulating Jesus, that we may be exalted as joint heirs in the glory of God with Jesus. This is the great mystery of which Paul speaks in the New Testament: Christ in you.

55. It sounds like Elder Amos is telling me to add some spicy Jesus to my recipe of life.

56. Some of us have a tendency to say that Jesus has already done everything needed for salvation, and then in the same breath encourage us all to do something for salvation – even if only repent. It’s mostly a desire to give hope. But it’s a bit incoherent.

57. Elder Farias extols the Book of Mormon. I regularly interact with non-Mormons with interest in religion generally, who’ve never read this book. It’s odd. Why not read such an influential book? I got the most out of the Bible when I read as an atheist.

58. President Oaks emphasized his conference remarks about the importance of family were written by inspiration before President Nelson died. Why did he want to emphasize that? It seems to deprecate the degree of authority, but I’m not sure that was his intent.

59. I echo President Oaks’ praise of family – such a sustaining and fulfilling aspect of my life. And I think most people would echo such praise in the abstract, even if many struggle with family in practice. Life can be hard. Family can make it more worth while.