In this episode of Witnessing Christ, host Pastor Mark Parsons welcomes this year’s four evangelist interns—Ethan, Noah, Caleb, and Aaron—for a special discussion on the October General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each intern brings firsthand insights from watching or attending local sessions, reflecting on the experience through the lens of gospel-centered outreach.
Introducing the Interns
Listeners meet the 2024–25 intern cohort: Ethan, a soon-to-be Lutheran pastor from Minnesota; Caleb, an avid outdoorsman from an Air Force family; Noah, a second-year seminarian newly married to his high school sweetheart; and Aaron, the group’s youngest member and duck boat driver from Wisconsin Dells. Each shares their background and passion for outreach.
Initial Impressions of General Conference
The interns discuss the atmosphere of the LDS General Conference—its polished formality and emotional weight following the recent death of President Russell M. Nelson. Dallin Oaks presided, reaffirming the 1995 Family: A Proclamation to the World, which reemphasized traditional LDS views on marriage, gender, and eternal family structures.
Several interns note the grandeur and emotional tone yet describe a recurring sense of emptiness—a focus on effort and presentation without the assurance of grace.
Highlights from Individual Talks
Each intern unpacks a specific conference message:
- Aaron reviews Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s Do Your Part with All Your Heart, noting the stress-inducing message of wholehearted effort. The team contrasts this with biblical assurance that Jesus did His part completely.
- Caleb examines Gary Stevenson’s Blessed Are the Peacemakers, which focuses on harmony in families. He observes that true peace begins with reconciliation to God through Christ, not merely human effort.
- Ethan explores Chad H. Webb’s That All May Be Edified, which emphasizes learning through obedience. He notes the talk’s subtle shift from gospel promise to personal performance, redefining grace as something accessed through covenant keeping.
- Noah analyzes Michael Cziesla's Simplicity in Christ, which promises peace through continual diligence. He contrasts this with the true simplicity of the gospel—that Christ has done everything necessary for eternal life with God.
Pastor Parsons and the interns reflect that across the talks, Christ was often mentioned but rarely proclaimed as the one who accomplished redemption fully. Instead, obedience and covenant-keeping were emphasized as the means to access grace.
Pastor Parsons also highlights two significant LDS updates:
- A pause on new temple announcements
- A reported surge in conversions
Witnessing Reflections
The conversation closes with key takeaways for Christian witnesses:
- Ask Mormons open-ended questions about what Jesus has done for them and what they base their faith on—their testimony or Christ’s finished work.
- Listen with curiosity and compassion, creating a safe space for doubts and reflection.
- Point conversations from human effort toward divine grace, emphasizing reconciliation through Jesus alone.
