Elder Paul V. Johnson reminisced about his past experiences with general conference as he spoke in the priesthood session of the blessings of conference.

Elder Paul V. Johnson

The general priesthood sessions "made a difference in my life when I was a young man, and they continue to make a difference in my life now," said Elder Johnson of the Seventy. Noting that he had great memories of sitting with his sons in the meetings, he said, "I know they have been an influence on my sons and on millions of Aaronic Priesthood holders around the world."

He remembered that his mother loved general conference and always tuned in the radio and television and turned the volume loud enough that the proceedings were present throughout the house. "I have grown to love general conference, I'm sure partly because of my mother's love for the words of the living prophets," he said. "I remember listening to the sessions of a particular conference all alone in an apartment while I was in college. The Holy Ghost witnessed to my soul that Harold B. Lee, the president of the Church at that time, was truly a prophet of God. This happened before I went into the mission field, and I was excited to testify of a living prophet because I had come to know for myself. I have had that same witness about each of the prophets since that time."

He added that he grew to love the voices and words of the prophets and apostles while listening to audio tapes of conference sessions sent to him by his mother while he was in the mission field.

He quoted from the journal of his great-grandfather, Nathaniel Hodges, who described a conference he attended in which he heard the remarks of Joseph F. Smith, George Q. Cannon and President John Taylor. "I heard some of the oldest inhabitants say they never attended a more powerful and spiritual conference," his ancestor wrote.

"I think the members of the Church have similar feelings about each general conference," Elder Johnson said. "It seems that each is more powerful and spiritual than the last."

For conference messages to change their lives, listeners need to follow the counsel they hear, he noted.

He remembered that a year ago in the priesthood session, President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke about the dangers of pornography. "Imagine how the world would be impacted if every priesthood holder blocked pornography from his life in response to the prophet's counsel," he mused.

"Decide now to make general conference a priority in your life," Elder Johnson admonished. "Decide to listen carefully and follow the teachings that are given. Listen to or read the talks more than once to better understand and follow the counsel."