36 - Responding to a Prophet's Call: The Impact of President Monson's Last Talk

Although we are releasing this in January, Jason and I had the idea to do this episode right after General Conference in October. So many talks referenced President Monson’s April 2017 challenge to read the Book of Mormon every day, and we thought it would be fitting to see how people responded to the call. We listened to the talks, prepared ourselves for the discussion, and scheduled to make it happen. Twice.

Each time, something came up. Our schedules just weren't having it.

I’m grateful that it took so long, though, because it finally worked out soon after President Monson’s passing. Having the discussion at this time allowed us to reflect on President Monson’s last General Conference talk as we remembered his life of service, also while preparing ourselves for the organization of a new First Presidency. How fitting that the focus of this episode was also how our new president of the church, President Russell M. Nelson, responded to the prophet’s challenge to read the Book of Mormon every day!

As a tribute to both of these great men, along with all others who bore testimony of the power of President Monson’s challenge, we hope you gain something from listening to our discussion.

Show Notes:

The talk where President Monson challenged us to read the Book of Mormon every day: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/04/the-power-of-the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng

Video of President Monson’s first talk as an Apostle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpdyCxUgvZU

President Monson’s talk “Finding Joy in the Journey”: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/finding-joy-in-the-journey?lang=ase

Math to find out when President Erying might have begun reading the Book of Mormon every day for more than 50 years. Current age: 84. 84-50 = 34 years old. So since before he was 34 years old, President Eyring has read the Book of Mormon every day.

Elder Evan’s talk “The Truth of All Things”: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/the-truth-of-all-things?lang=eng

Elder Ardern’s talk “Seek Ye Out of the Best Books”: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/seek-ye-out-of-the-best-books?lang=eng

Elder Andersen’s talk “The Voice of the Lord”: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/the-voice-of-the-lord?lang=eng

President Nelson’s talk “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like Without It?”: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/the-book-of-mormon-what-would-your-life-be-like-without-it?lang=eng

The analogy of the Book of Mormon and the Bible being two points, through which you can only draw a single line comes from Tad R. Callister’s talk “The Book of Mormon - A Book From God”: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-book-of-mormon-a-book-from-god?lang=eng

Rainn Wilson’s post about being visited by Sister missionaries: https://www.instagram.com/p/BbijWuknJzm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_ufi

JB Rittenhouse’s poem “My Wage”: http://holyjoe.org/poetry/rittenhouse2.htm

Theme Music: “Homeward Bound” by Jonny Easton