Elder Brent H. Neilson, Second Counselor in the Area Presidency - March 2010

On April 3rd and 4th, we will have another opportunity to learn from our Prophets and Apostles as we listen to General Conference. As we listen, we might ask ourselves, "What is the great need of our generation?"

From the very beginning of time the Lord has made it clear that He will communicate His will to us through his Prophets. In Amos 3:7 we learn, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, save he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

President J. Reuben Clark, a former member of the First Presidency of the Church, when speaking in General Conference, actually posed the question, "what is the greatest need of this generation?" Responding to that question, President Clark stated, "What we need are more people with listening ears. That is the great need of our generation." (October General Conference 1948)

President Harold B. Lee made this important statement regarding our need to listen to and follow the Prophets and Apostles: "Now I want to impress this upon you. Someone has said it this way, and I believe it to be absolutely true: "That person is not truly converted until he sees the power of God resting upon the leaders of this church, and until it goes down into his heart like fire." Until the members of this church have that conviction that they are being led in the right way, and they have a conviction that these men of God are men who are inspired and have been properly appointed by the hand of God, they are not truly converted. "(Harold B. Lee, "The Strength of the Priesthood" Ensign 2:103 – July 1972)

The Lord's instruction to us in modern scripture is quite explicit when He states, "Whether by mine own voice or the voice of my servants, it is the same." (D&C 1:38)

I had an interesting experience while serving as a full-time missionary. We would often teach our investigators that there was a living Prophet on the earth. This was actually an intriguing thought for most people. They envisioned a man with a long white beard sitting high in the mountains somewhere sharing wise words with those who would come to see him. We would help them understand that there was a Prophet on the earth and as we shared his picture, they always asked this question: What has he said? They wanted to know, if there is a Prophet on the earth, what is he telling us to do? I realized how critical it was for me, because I knew there was a Prophet on the earth, to know his words and understand his direction for us today. If we don't have listening ears and we don't follow the Prophets' words, then we are in the same position as those who have no knowledge that the Lord has raised up Prophets in our day.

As we listen to General Conference may we ask the questions; what does the Lord want me to understand from the Prophets and Apostles? What can I learn? What should I change in my life to follow their instruction? What can I do to become a better spouse, parent, employer, employee, church member and friend? We should listen carefully to the Spirit of the Holy Ghost during Conference, because the Holy Ghost will put into our minds and our hearts those things that we individually should know. He will tell us all things that we should do.

What is the great need of our generation? It is people with listening ears. It is my prayer that we will listen carefully this Conference to the Prophets and Apostles and let their words become our guide and our direction for the next 6 months.