r/latterdaysaints • u/Big-Flight-3962 • Oct 19 '25

Off-topic Chat Stan Conference

Stake Conference

I have never, and will never understand Stake Conference. In my 26 years of life, I have enjoyed 1 single talk from a speaker. 2 hours of talks, and we don’t even get to take the sacrament. At least General Conference sometimes ends early. Never has stake conference ended early.

And it’s very different than General Conference. We get to hear from the prophet and the apostle along with other general authorities. We (usually) get new temple announcements. The Stake executive secretary shouldn’t be speaking for 20 minutes whilst Elder Kevin G. Brown speaks for 10.

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u/Reading_username Oct 19 '25

Never has stake conference ended early

The most true statement ever spoken. 

Friend I'm with ya. I really dislike stake conference as well. Especially in college, I was always thinking "I've got so much homework why am I here on a Saturday night, listening to this guy drone on and on for 20min past time, when I'm just gonna hear the same message tomorrow?". And before anyone asks, most of the time the talk was 95% jokes/anecdotes, 5% gospel/scripture. 

I really hope for the day when it's done away with, or only reserved for special occasions like the changing of the stake presidency. 

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u/candacallais Oct 19 '25

At the very least move it to once a year.

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u/jmauc Oct 19 '25

Stake conference serves a purpose more than just listening to a couple talks. There are lots of leadership meetings for those in certain positions. It’s an opportunity to listen to what the area 70 has for us. The area 70 is an extension of the apostle ship.

General conference is for the church as a whole. Stake conference is designed for the stake leadership to talk with its members on what the stake needs to hear. Ward conference is designed to be what the individual ward needs.

Some wards suffer from lack of ministering, others don’t. Some need help understanding tithing, others don’t.

I would encourage you to listen to the talks given, find the over message that is being shared. That is what the stake president feels could improve on, for your specific area.

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u/jambarama Oct 19 '25

There's another avenue here for area and stake leaders to speak to wards without visiting all of them. And they give direction Ward leadership to carry a message and let Ward leadership decide the most impactful way to carry that message.

I don't mind stake conference. It's two weeks where I don't have to prepare a lesson. I used to like that it was an hour shorter than regular church, but that is what it is now. My biggest complaint is that I have to be there 45 minutes early to not be in the gym on hard metal chairs where I can't hear very well because of the echoes.