Since watching last GenCon, I've wanted to set out a list of overlapping topics that come up. It's no secret that there is no planned correlation between speakers, and thus, I think it could be good to make a list of topics that pop up as either main themes of talks/conference or overlapping ideas of importance.
I've been wanting to do this for the latest GenCon for quite some time now, but haven't gotten around to doing it. And then I found that the Church had already done it for me. At least partially.
I don't really know how the Church's methodology works, meaning I have no idea how they decide what qualifies as something to be put in these categories (i.e. is it just a mention? spending a certain number of words on one topic? etc). I'm fairly certain that every single speaker mentions Jesus Christ at least once during their talk since they all end in His name. So, I'm sure that it's not just word mentions. Similarly, the lists don't make a distinction about what was said and how the topic was addressed (i.e. there are a number of different ways that one can talk about obedience: to commandments, to covenants, to spiritual promptings, to parents, to priesthood leaders, etc).
Still, I think that looking at the lists in general can give a certain amount of indication of what was said. And since repetition in a scriptural context generally connotes importance, this can give an idea of what the General Authorities of the Church, particularly those that travel and meet with saints all over the world, think are the most important messages for us at this time. And/or perhaps an indication of what the Spirit, which "knoweth all things" (Alma 7:13), wants us as members of the Church to focus on specifically in our lives.
For my own analysis, I've found that it's interesting to note the few that are always mentioned multiple times:
Obedience
Jesus
Holy Ghost
Faith
Service
As well as those that are at the top as being mentioned the most in each Conference:
Faith/Service, Obedience, Jesus Christ, Love/Testimony, and Priesthood/Faith
The obvious questions for each of us to ask are:
How important are these topics in our lives? How well are we heeding the messages shared about them? What can we do better? What is the Lord trying to tell us with their repetition?
So, here's the list taken from the Church's topic's list from GenCon:
Topical lists for Gen Con: Top Corresponding Topics for last 5 Conferences
I've been wanting to do this for the latest GenCon for quite some time now, but haven't gotten around to doing it. And then I found that the Church had already done it for me. At least partially.
I don't really know how the Church's methodology works, meaning I have no idea how they decide what qualifies as something to be put in these categories (i.e. is it just a mention? spending a certain number of words on one topic? etc). I'm fairly certain that every single speaker mentions Jesus Christ at least once during their talk since they all end in His name. So, I'm sure that it's not just word mentions. Similarly, the lists don't make a distinction about what was said and how the topic was addressed (i.e. there are a number of different ways that one can talk about obedience: to commandments, to covenants, to spiritual promptings, to parents, to priesthood leaders, etc).
Still, I think that looking at the lists in general can give a certain amount of indication of what was said. And since repetition in a scriptural context generally connotes importance, this can give an idea of what the General Authorities of the Church, particularly those that travel and meet with saints all over the world, think are the most important messages for us at this time. And/or perhaps an indication of what the Spirit, which "knoweth all things" (Alma 7:13), wants us as members of the Church to focus on specifically in our lives.
For my own analysis, I've found that it's interesting to note the few that are always mentioned multiple times:
Obedience
Jesus
Holy Ghost
Faith
Service
As well as those that are at the top as being mentioned the most in each Conference:
Faith/Service, Obedience, Jesus Christ, Love/Testimony, and Priesthood/Faith
The obvious questions for each of us to ask are:
How important are these topics in our lives? How well are we heeding the messages shared about them? What can we do better? What is the Lord trying to tell us with their repetition?
So, here's the list taken from the Church's topic's list from GenCon:
Topical lists for Gen Con: Top Corresponding Topics for last 5 Conferences
April 2011 | Oct 2010 | April 2010 | Oct 2009 | April 2009 |
Faith (9) Service (9) Obedience (7) Priesthood (6) Jesus Christ (6) Atonement (5) Family (5) Holy Ghost (5) Love (5) Marriage (4) Adversity (4) | Obedience (8) Holy Ghost (6) Repentance (5) Agency (5) Service (5) Faith (4) Family (4) Revelation (4) Jesus Christ (4) Prayer (4) | Jesus Christ (12) Priesthood (7) Teaching (7) Family (6) Obedience (6) Faith (5) Holy Ghost (4) Service (4) Scriptures (4) Adversity (4) | Love (6) Testimony (6) Missionary Work (5) Priesthood (5) Service (5) Spirituality (5) Jesus Christ (4) Holy Ghost (4) Faith (4) Family (4) Obedience (4) Relief Society (4) | Priesthood (6) Faith (6) Temples (5) Service (5) Jesus Christ (5) Adversity (5) Holy Ghost (4) Obedience (3) Atonement (3) Prayer (3) Prophets (3) Responsibility (3) Example (3) Family (3) Testimony (3) Hope (3) Virtue (3) |
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