29 Thoughts on April 2026 General Conference

Lincoln Cannon

5 April 2026

Yesterday and today, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met for our worldwide general conference. The Saturday morning session was a solemn assembly in which we sustained our new Church president, Dallin H. Oaks. Oaks succeeded former Church president Russell M. Nelson upon the latter’s death, as is our custom. The act of sustaining a new Church president is an expression of support, not a vote.

Often, while watching, I share my thoughts and feelings about conference in posts on social media. My intent is to promote deeper engagement with the conference. To that end, I generally express both affirmations and constructive criticisms. Below is a list of my posts during this conference.

Elder Kearon points out that sustaining votes for persons called to fill positions in the Church don’t entail that we intend always to agree with them. They entail our willingness to support those persons in those positions.
Still thinking about the structure of the solemn assembly, which implicitly emphasizes Church hierarchy and its predominantly male composition. Perhaps we should re-examine the extent to which doctrine demands this structure.
President Yee says that “ministering is the essence of who God is,” implying that we become more like God as we minister to each other.
President Yee says God needs help with the “staggering task of answering prayers.” Amen, sister. That’s practical faith.
Love the artwork of Minerva Teichert, particularly the pioneer woman raising her arm, that Elder Gilbert references. It channels a substantial Earthy determination.
Elder Gilbert addresses those “trapped in traditions,” illustrating with a story about people slow to join the Church, to honor another religious tradition. But this also applies to us in the Church, trapped in traditions that inhibit fuller emulation of God.
Assuming technological change continues to accelerate biomedical interventions, Elder Bednar has the best chance of becoming the last president of the Church to receive the calling based on the death of a predecessor.
Elder Bednar quotes D&C 93, emphasizing that Jesus, like us, did not begin with a fullness, but progressed grace to grace – again like us. This is the heart of theosis, exemplified by Jesus in Christosis.
Elder Becerra speaks of tithing, suggesting it gates emergence from poverty. I think a communal case can be made for this, particularly when tithing is understood broadly. But I suspect many individual cases contradict this.
Characteristically, President Eyring speaks of peace, encouraging prayer to facilitate that. He’s right, probably even for you, if you will. Look at the science.
Elder Ortega compares theosis to climbing a mountain, where the direct path is rarely the fastest or safest. I’d add that there are also many ways up a mountain.
Elder Caussé is something of a celebrity in my home. My French wife is currently posing for a photo offering him (on the tv) a piece of baguette. Oh la la.
Elder Caussé points out that, although we may serve those we love, we also tend to come to love those we serve. This is a salient practical observation. Investment in cooperative ecosystems reinforces emotional attachment to those ecosystems.
Elder Matswagothata has presence — capturing presence. The second he smiled, I wanted to listen to him.
Elder Soares warns against the philosophies of men. Scripture advocates love of wisdom of God, which is the philosophy of God. Philosophy, the love of wisdom, in itself isn’t the problem. The problem is aspiration to anything less than divine wisdom.
Good to see Elder Uchtdorf as the opening Easter speaker for the second day of General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He’s one of my favorites.
Elder Uchtdorf says the Easter story of Jesus changed the world forever. This is objectively true, even from a non-religious perspective. No ideology in human history has come even close to the number of Christians.
Elder Uchtdorf says he saw “with spiritual eyes” that Jesus is resurrected. When I was young, Church members commonly supposed that apostles must see Jesus more literally than “spiritual eyes” may suggest. That seems not to be as commonly supposed today.
President Freeman says that God’s promises will be fulfilled in us, regardless of the bad days through which we must pass, if we trust. That’s how prophecy works. It’s not about fortune-telling. It’s forth-telling. We make it so.
Elder Rowe quotes Jesus, ‘that which you have seen me do, that you should do.” The Bible says Jesus consoles, heals, and raises the dead. Do Christians take Jesus seriously? Do we aim to console, heal, and raise the dead?
Elder Rowe again quotes Jesus, “be converted that I may heal you.” Consider the conditional or causal structure of that invitation. What is it about change that mediates healing?
Elder Rasband echoes thoughts and feelings of previous speakers, celebrating Jesus Christ. Many other Christians reject our Christianity, because we don’t embrace particular creeds or whatever. But it’s pretty hard to ignore Mormon emphasis of Jesus Christ.
Elder Renlund references the “infinite atonement” of Christ, asserting that it’s inly possible through Jesus. I’ll suggest that it’s also only possible through you. You must be part of that pervasive reconciliation. Or it’s neither infinite nor atonement.
Elder Walker cites the Pearl of Great Price: the work and glory of God is to bring about human immortality and eternal life. In my experience, the Bible and scripture generally takes on more deeply practical meaning when we read it with this idea in mind.
President Oaks asserts that resurrection is certain and universal. I share his trust. I’d add, however, that we should not assume such entails no work. Early Mormon leaders explicitly taught resurrection would be an ordinance – a work to perform for each other.
President Oaks emphasizes Jesus’ admonition to love our enemies, even those for whom we might feel disgust. He explicitly extends this to social and political disagreements, and echoes former President Nelson’s call for Church members to be peacemakers.
President Christofferson says, “It is in emulating the character of Christ that we become the kind of person we’re supposed to be.” Another word for this is “Christosis.” Become Christ.
Christofferson says that “adopting the character of Christ” is essential to bringing about the return of Christ and the Millennial world. Put differently, we’re each responsible for the return of Christ. “When he appears we will be like him.”
Elder Hall mentions the Book of Mormon characterization of death, including physical death, as an awful monster. May we conquer it together.

More Thoughts on General Conference

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on this general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you might also enjoy reading my thoughts on other general conferences. Here's a list, in reverse chronological order, of the conferences for which I've published thoughts:

29 Thoughts on April 2026 General Conference

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