GCBC
Welcome to General Conference Book Club!
***There are links to all the posts from the current round at the bottom of this page, so join in at any point. A new post/talk goes up every Sunday.***
The goal is to read one General Conference talk a week and discuss it together as an on-line “book club.”
[The GCBC for the April 2012 conference has been hosted at My Soul Delighteth, so head over there to read the latest discussions.]
(If you’re not familiar with General Conference or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, go here and here and here for more information.)
A new talk will be posted each Sunday.
You don’t have to do anything to “join” the club– You can just visit the Sunday post at any time during the week and share thoughts, findings, favorite quotes, applications, even questions from the talk of the week. Personally, I think it would be a good idea to subscribe to comments from the post so that we can read each other’s insights and have a “real book club” conversation. (One way to do this is to click the little box under the comment form that says “Notify me of follow-up comments via email.”) Or of course, you can just check back often to see what folks are saying.
My own goal is to let each talk guide my personal scripture study throughout the week. First I’ll read the talk all the way through, then look up and read all the scripture references the speaker quoted, and then break the talk down into segments to study them carefully and find other related scriptures that help me understand it better. Feel free to share any ideas of how you plan to study or apply the talks we read. (You’re allowed to do this however you want. You can simply have a goal to read the talk before the week is over, and that’s good, too.)
Here’s a little button you can put on your own blog if you’d like to. Feel free to invite friends (the real kind and bloggy kind as well) to participate. The more the merrier. You can link it directly to this post since it has all the instructions for the Book Club challenge.
<a href=”http://diapersanddivinity.com/gcbc” _mce_href=”http://diapersanddivinity.com/gcbc”><img border=”0″ src=”http://diapersanddivinity.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/genconfbutton1.jpg” _mce_src=”http://diapersanddivinity.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/genconfbutton1.jpg” /></a>
And try to comment when you’ve read each article, even something as simple as “I did it.” Then we have a certain motivation/accountability to each other to meet our goal of reading all the talks from the previous General Conference. The objective is to read the words of the living prophets and learn from them. Our book club community is for sharing and encouraging, but please don’t feel pressure that you have to come around and make profound insights or write eloquent summaries. Just show up and be counted!
So there you have it. A personal invitation. Join us.
Here are the links to the talks we’ve done so far, including the book club comments:
OCTOBER 2012 CONFERENCE:
Week 1: Favorites, Reactions, Quotes, etc.
Week 2: “Can Ye Feel So Now?” By Elder Quentin L. Cook
Week 3: “I Know It. I Live It. I Love It.” By Ann M. Dibb
Week 4: “An Unspeakable Gift from God” by Elder Craig C. Christensen
Week 5: “Because I Live, Ye Shall Live Also” By Elder Shayne M. Bowen
Week 6: “Ask the Missionaries! They Can Help You!” By Elder Russell M. Nelson
Week 7: “Of Regrets and Resolutions” By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Week 8: “Becoming Goodly Parents” by Elder L. Tom Perry
Week 9: “Be Anxiously Engaged” by Elder M. Russell Ballard
Week 10: “Come unto Me, O Ye House of Israel” By Elder Larry Echo Hawk
Week 11: What Shall a Man Give in Exchange for His Soul? By Elder Robert C. Gay
Week 12: Christmas Break
Week 14: (Off)
Week 15: “Trial of Your Faith” by Elder Neil L. Andersen
Week 16: “Protect the Children” by Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Week 17: “Where Is the Pavilion?” by President Henry B. Eyring
Week 18: “The Atonement” by President Boyd K. Packer
Week 19: ” First Observe, Then Serve” by Linda K. Burton
Week 22: “The Joy of Redeeming the Dead” by Elder Richard G. Scott
Week 24: “Blessings of the Sacrament” by Elder Don R. Clarke
____________________________
ARCHIVES
Click here to read discussions from our study of talks from the October 2011 General Conference
Click here to read discussions from our study of talks from the April 2011 General Conference
Click here to read discussions from our study of talks from the October 2010 General Conference.
Click here to read discussions from our study of talks from the April 2010 General Conference.
Click here to read discussions from our study of talks from the October 2009 General Conference.
Click here to read discussions from our study of talks from the April 2009 General Conference.
Veronica
April 13, 2009 at 1:49 pm
I came over from Mina’s blog. I’m so excited about this! Thanks!
Robert
May 9, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I sang in with the Tab Choir for 10 years. I love this site.
Rita
April 14, 2009 at 8:54 am
I’m also excited. This is already a part of my daily scripture study routine but I am very excited to hear from others. Printing my week one article immediately after this post!!
Tara B.
April 14, 2009 at 4:40 pm
What a wonderful idea!!! i’d love to join in!! thank you for putting this together. I love week 1 already…i think i’ve replayed his talk about 10 times on my TV. I just can’t get enough of it….every time i learn something new. ♥
Devon
April 14, 2009 at 10:15 pm
This is a great great great idea! I’m in!
Robyn Hutch
April 15, 2009 at 8:20 am
Oh I forgot to update my Google Reader (despite your reminders!) and am just catching up here. I am so excited about this idea. You amaze me!
Jennifer
April 15, 2009 at 9:30 pm
I followed your link from Mormon Mommy Blogs. This is a great way to get reading those talks. I also love the idea of sharing thoughts on their words. I will defiantly be participating.
Barbara
April 17, 2009 at 9:56 am
I was in need of this talk. I was feeling a little alone in the world at the moment and this gave me some things to think about and to look deeper into my life to see what I can do to change some things.
Kristin
April 17, 2009 at 6:34 pm
This is a brilliant idea! I can’t wait to participate. I think I followed a link, from a friend, from a friend, from a friend. But no matter how I got here, I’m sharing this idea with my friends, hope they can stop by!
Thank you!
Kristin
Rita
April 19, 2009 at 2:05 pm
“None Were with Him” Every quote, every paragraph seemed to have significance to me but one thought that I needed to hear and consider in my life was: when Peter denied Christ ‘thrice’ Elder Holland made a point to acknowledge that, “we don’t know all that was going on here, nor do we know of protective counsel which the Savior may have given to His Apostles privately…”, this spoke loud and clear to the commandment of not judging. We really DON”T know until we have walked in anothers shoes. How grateful I am that I will be judged perfectly by a loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ will stand with me as my mediator.
Christine
April 24, 2009 at 7:47 pm
This seems like a great idea, my husband is the dreaded word “inactive”, so I sometimes feel a little vacant when it comes to finding people to engage in this kind of conversation. My life has not been easy and I have a lot of questions about the church and how it works for me. Am I still invited to be part of the group?
Steph @ Diapers and Divinity
April 24, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Absolutely. Glad to have you! Just hop over to the Sunday posts to see any of the articles and read the comments. (We’ve only done one so far, and are still working on week 2.)
Pam
May 21, 2009 at 10:45 am
This is a great idea.
Amanda D
September 30, 2009 at 10:30 am
Will you continue this after this when November’s Ensign comes out?
Steph @ Diapers and Divinity
September 30, 2009 at 10:39 am
Yes! Join in. It’s fun stuff.
Pam
September 30, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I am so looking forward to conference, and then keeping on track each week with the book club. I like to jot down in a notebook what impresses me during conference from each speaker. Then when I read the talk later I find there new inspirations. Always learning
kate
October 11, 2009 at 10:03 pm
I actually missed Saturday Conference and have been meaning to read through all the talks that I missed.. This seems like the perfect place to do that; sharing insights and keeping myself on top of that goal. Win win!
Jessica
December 28, 2009 at 2:11 pm
What a perfect idea! Thanks for sharing it. I’m going to grab the button & get started reading with this week!
natalie
December 31, 2009 at 3:54 pm
i LOVE this idea! it made me happy when i read about it. and i can’t wait to join in. i will participate fully next week….like comment and everything. but for this week (since it’s already thursday) i will just read the talk for this week. i was thinking my goals (hate the word resolution it makes me fell like i have failed before i even start) for next year and i think this will help me in accomplishing some of them. YAY! thanks so much!! and now i will most likely be a stalker of your blog as well.
happy new year!
regan
January 11, 2010 at 7:25 pm
I love this idea. I was trying to figure out a system that I could stick with and I found your link on another website and she is right, you are wonderful. Now I will have some accountability too.
Jenny
April 5, 2010 at 9:18 am
Joining in, very excited!!
Jenny
April 5, 2010 at 9:19 am
Do you have a HTML code for your button? Trying to figure out how to put it on my blog… I’m not all that techy.
Kristen
April 7, 2010 at 8:44 pm
I love your idea. General conference is so important and we should all cherish the insight we have. I’m totally in! And when I get on the computer, I am definitely linking your blinkie up to my blog. I love sharing wonderful ideas that I have found with the world.
Megan Abbott
May 30, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Oh, I want to join! Pick me! Pick me! I’ve been feeling prompted to study the General Conference edition of the Ensign instead of the Book of Mormon like I usually do and I didn’t know why. Now I know this is a part of it! Thank you!!! for starting this club! What talk are we doing this week?
Steph @ Diapers and Divinity
May 30, 2010 at 7:48 pm
Megan, Yes, of course! You don’t have to be picked. Join right in. A new talk is posted each Sunday, and there’s a running list of them on this page: http://diapersanddivinity.com/gcbc
And welcome!
Asia Snow
September 23, 2010 at 12:48 pm
I am so excited to participate in the General Conference Book Club! I just found this site when I did a search for a specific talk I was reading. I wanted to find out what others had thought on the subject (read other’s blogs). This was the first blog that I pulled up and I’m impressed. I love the gospel and love to share my feelings about it. I love to read. AND I LOVE CONFERENCE! Well, I love the talks anyway. Sometimes it’s hard to hear during the actual live conference since I make 5 unwilling listeners sit with me (the rest of my family). But that is why it’ll be so much fun to be in this bookclub and be able to read them again later and comment with those that share this passion for the truths we have been given! Conference is almost here again and we will be bestowed more truths! Yipee! I can’t wait!
Monique
September 26, 2010 at 9:48 pm
I am so excited about this!! What a fabulous idea. And I linked to GCBC on my blog.
Buffy West
September 27, 2010 at 9:21 am
hey stephanie,
i love this…..thank you so mutch
love ya, buffy
Sister Allen
October 1, 2010 at 4:59 am
My “Companion” of 46 years and I have always meant to read the whole Conference Ensign issue cover to cover after Conference (because we had enjoyed Conference so much) then the big BUT wiggled it’s way in and crouded out our good intentions! When we wandered onto your site we took your suggestion and can now say we’ve read April 2010 Conference talks and are anxiously awaiting Conference this weekend while we are serving here in Brasil. We learn so much from others! Thanks for sharing. Elder & Sister Allen, Belo Horizonte Mission, Ipatinga, BRASIL
Vicki
October 4, 2010 at 11:58 am
I am ready to start!
Jenny
October 4, 2010 at 1:10 pm
You said the GCBC started today. Do you mean for October 2010 Conference or what talk are we supposed to be doing today?
Steph @ Diapers and Divinity
October 4, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Jenny, the week 1 post went up yesterday and you can find it here:
http://diapersanddivinity.com/2010/10/03/general-conference-book-club-week-1-your-favorites-2/
A new post will go up every Sunday evening. Let me know if you have any questions.
keely aka LKP
October 4, 2010 at 4:59 pm
i love this and am so excited about it!
a friend and i started something like this between the sisters in our ward, and it was great for a while (called it “Conference & Cocoa”). but later it died out.
i LOVED it then, and am sooooo grateful to find this type of a forum again, cause i’ve been desperately missing it!
Beth
October 7, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Terrific idea! What would you think of including the General RS Meeting talks, too? President Monson’s talk there is now one of my all-time favorites.
Steph @ Diapers and Divinity
October 7, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Depending on the number of weeks available, I sometimes add in “extra” talks. Yours is a great suggestion. I’d love to study President Uctdorf’s talk from priesthood session, too.
America Jane
October 21, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Lovely idea! I’m hoping this will help me with my goal to reread all the Conference talks before April. I may not have time to participate in the discussion, but I’ll be here.
P.S. I linked to you through my FB page but can’t seem to get your button to work on my blog. Thoughts?
Michelle
January 1, 2011 at 6:08 am
I’ve been wanting a way to enrich my scripture study. So glad I found your site. Wonderful idea!
Annette Ladle
September 25, 2011 at 11:16 am
You have no idea that your blog was an answer to my prayers. I was to teach Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk On the Road to Damascus today in RS for Teaching for our times.. Nothing was coming. I loved this talk when I listened to him at Conference time. So I googled “how to teach Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk on the Road To Damascus” Your blog and another one came up. Both of them were connected to each other. The idea of listening to a talk and then giving your feelings or thoughts during/after were it. That was how I was to give his amazing talk. I am thrilled I was able to find you! And I hope I come back each week as you post new talks to listen and think about. Thanks from FL!
Kathy M
September 27, 2011 at 10:25 am
I have just found this General Conference Book Club. What a wonderful idea.
Cherie
October 2, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Tried the button and it turned out rather large (half the words get cut off), any ideas?
Steph @ Diapers and Divinity
October 2, 2011 at 10:37 pm
I’m really not very savvy in this area, but I’ll try. You’re on wordpress, right? Try uploading/saving the image into your media library in WordPress. Then resize it to smaller. Save it. Then in the code that I gave you for the button, Replace the part right after “src=” with the link to your resized image on your own blog. I think that will work. Anyone smarter than me, please jump in and make it better.
Velda
October 18, 2011 at 1:00 am
Hey, Steph. I think I’m going to have to join the club here and commit to blogging about it — hopefully I’ll get to the point where the spiritual things (which I really care about) outweigh the silly commentary from classes that get me riled up
Christina
October 21, 2011 at 4:22 pm
I stumbled upon your blog while preparing a RS lesson. What a good idea! I’d like to join in
Cindy Madsen
October 30, 2011 at 11:37 am
What a great idea. I’d like to join.
Dori
December 16, 2011 at 6:10 pm
I love, love, love this talk, You Matter To Him! Somehow, instinctively, I have always known these truths, but could have never, and still would have a difficult time, expressing them. In the last 8 years that it’s taken for me to begin that I have God-like potential I have started to understand my nothingness and couldn’t understand where this knowledge was coming from. I mean, I knew it’s something that my spirit was familiar with, but I still couldn’t understand why I knew it. Why was I okay w/ being “nothing” in comparison to God? Why was I not only okay w/ it, but found joy in knowing that I was nothing compared to Him? Though language cannot express my heart is full of understanding and continues to be expounded by the understanding that comes from this as my testimony is strengthened of this truth. One day I will stand before Heavenly Father and I anticipate that I will weep many long hours at His goodness towards me. I am grateful for President Uchtdorf’s knowledge and I am grateful that he was willing to pass through his trials as I know this is how he gained a higher understanding and is able to help me understand myself better.
Susan Rust
January 23, 2012 at 10:04 am
Oh I love this idea! This is right up my ally of thing I love in life. Thanks and I hope to learn a lot from everyone as well as the conference talks.
notaconvert
February 10, 2012 at 11:44 pm
Love this idea. How do I sign up?
notaconvert
February 13, 2012 at 11:22 am
I think I misunderstood, I thought it was find a talk you like and post it. Because I might find something different than ‘Stacy’ then we are seeing all these talks maybe no one has seen for a while… So I read Daughters Of God by PRESIDENT GORDON B. HINCKLEY. It was published in Ensign way back in 1991, but I think the talk was earlier than that, but now I can’t find the date. Anyhow, check it out: http://www.lds.org/ensign/1991/11/daughters-of-god?lang=eng
roxanne
March 6, 2012 at 4:02 pm
hi
just found out about this sight and am excited to discuss the articles with others. i am looking forward to the fun of learning. a great way to be reading the ensign.
i have looked over the site but can find no where where it says what time the discussion takes place and how to be apart of it. please help
Jeanne Nelson
March 25, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Thanks for sharing! I’m anxious to be involved.
Coralee
March 26, 2012 at 8:14 pm
I’m excited to join the club this time around (April 2012). Would love to share and receive insight from others.!
Cara
March 26, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Ahhhh… the more I read of your blog the happier my heart gets!
I am THRILLED about this!
Brittney
June 23, 2012 at 6:53 pm
I just found this site- and saw the most recent archives are from 2011. Am I late, or is this still going on? I’d love to have motivation to read conference articles, and I think this is a great idea!!
Steph @ Diapers and Divinity
June 24, 2012 at 7:23 am
I did the GCBC for 2 1/2 years, but recently started teaching. I kind of stopped blogging and didn’t have time to maintain the book club, so my blog friend Becca is now hosting it at her blog. She puts up a new talk every Sunday and follows the same format I did here. You can find it at : http://delightinscripture.blogspot.com/
Brittney
June 24, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Thanks for letting me know- I don’t have time for blogging, and I don’t even work full time! But thanks for the link- I’ll check it out.