Greetings friends! General Conference is off to a spiritual and exciting start. If you did not have a chance to listen to the Saturday morning session, please go back and listen to Pres. Nelson’s opening remarks. They are important! He let it be known that the Sunday Morning session of Conference will be a Solemn Assembly and that we will have the great opportunity to participate in the Hosanna Shout.
Here are some links to refresh your mind on what these are:
Viewpoint: Why We Shout “Hosanna” for Holy Temples
From the Deseret News: What a solemn assembly is and why President Nelson said the church will hold a Hosanna Shout on Sunday
This link gives some history on why we do the Hosanna Shout and when it has been done in times past, Temple Dedications and Dedicatory Prayers.
Some historical context and history about Solemn Assemblies.
A video of the most recent Solemn Assembly which was in 2018, when Pres. Nelson was sustained as the prophet.
It should also be noted that tomorrow is Palm Sunday — the day of Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem for the last week of his mortal life — the start of Holy Week. When He entered the people shouted:
“And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21: 9).
Traditionally for the Hosanna Shout you wave a white handkerchief, but if you don’t have one you can wave your hand instead. I’m scouring the drawers this afternoon. I know we have a stash of Grandpa’s handkerchiefs somewhere.
I hope you and your family enjoy Conference and that you will leave your thoughts with us here.
Fun conference – as I reflected on the years when we would live blog, I considered that:
Many more people are at liberty to watch, due to social distancing and stay at home mandates.
Video from several of the morning talks are already posted – we used to have to wait a week before content was live.
Hope everyone is enjoying a blessed Conference weekend!
Joyce, Thanks for providing the links to background information! 🙂
Elder Gong’s talk tonight gave more insight on the word “Hosanna”. I encourage everyone to re-listen.
What is a Solemn Assembly?
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/solemn-assembly-hosanna-shout-april-2020
“Solemn assemblies are special, sacred meetings held for a variety of holy purposes. They require Latter-day Saints to bring an elevated sense of spirituality with them into the meeting. These assemblies have included the sustaining of new Church presidents, the dedication of a temple or another significant building (such as the Conference Center), the introduction of new scripture, the instruction of priesthood leaders and other special gatherings. The specific purpose of Sunday morning’s solemn assembly, outside of the Hosanna Shout, will be addressed by President Nelson during his remarks.”
Proclamation on the Family added to Canon of Scripture?
This is amazing thanks for posting!
I’m wrong again about the Proclamation on the Family becoming scripture canon. I felt it came close as I was listening to the prophet and right before the announcement. But the end result is just as great and we need to listen to the words of prophets and apostle. : )
Pres Nelson, Sunday, first session, in proclamation, “… New Testament Church restored.”
“New Testament Church” is going to attract attention. Which is good. It’s going to raise the eyebrows of any evangelicals/pentecostals who see it, as it is a common phrase among some of them.
Has that exact phrase been used recently?
I don’t know if “New Testament Church” has been used before. When I heard it, I thought it was to distinguish between the Book of Mormon Church of Jesus Christ. For a couple of centuries there were parallel Churches of Jesus Christ operating with apparently the same priesthood authority and structure. The Book of Mormon Church of Jesus Christ outlasted the NT Church of Jesus Christ (presumably) but we peg the date(s) of the Apostasy to the NT Church of Jesus Christ, not the Book of Mormon Church of Jesus Christ. At least, that’s what went through my mind when I heard (and like you) noticed the “New Testament” qualifier.
RB, thanks for that viewpoint/insight. I didn’t even think of it that way, but now that you point it out, I can see it.
For those not familar with the Evangelical/Pentecostal use or connection to the phrase “New Testament Church”, it’s something that many of them claim to be, specifically in terms of offices (deacon, bishop, apostle, evangelist, etc.), gifts of the Spirit (prohecy, healing, tongues, etc.), and “walking in the Spirit” (what we call gift and companionship of the Holy Ghost.)
In other words, they claim “If it’s in the New Testament, we believe it, we got it and we do it, therefore we are a ‘New Testament Church.”
My initial reaction was that Pres Nelson was “taking it to them” (if that’s the right way to phrase it) by saying “we are THE New Testament Church, RESTORED.”
Um, … whatever LDS-savvy Evangelicals and Pentecostals (Shafovaloff?) are paying attention, are going to perk up and “comment” to say the least.
I’ve opined that Evangelicals/Pentecostals are our closest religious “relatives” because they are (mainly) the only Protestants who believe in modern revelation and Spiritual gifts like we do. Of the many godly people in those movements, all it takes is one revelation to “get it”, mainly because they do believe in “on the fly” or “in the moment” personal revelation.
President Nelson’s use of the term is both a direct invitation to them, at least a “yoo-hoo! look over here!”, and maybe a stake in the ground (if I’m using that phrase correctly), claiming authenticity, claiming territory (both rightfully so). And by using _their_ phrase, it is just a taaaaad confrontational, or at least will be seen/taken as confrontational.
I think I actually rejoiced when I heard that. A pumping-a-fist-in-the-air kind of “yes!”
At both an intellectual and a gut level, I believe/feel that was inspired. That had to have been something that was included in one of his late-night taking-dictation sessions.
Thanks for all the comments. I logged off the internet after I posted this yesterday.
A few thoughts:
The Family Proclamation, although not part of the cannon of scripture, is doctrine, treat it like scripture. It is a witness of eternal truths that have been taught since Father Adam and Mother Eve walked this earth.
The new Restoration Proclamation can and should also be treated as scripture for the same reasons. We have always proclaimed we are the same church that Christ organized on the earth during his life time here.
Yes, the use of “New Testament” is interesting, good, bold. We’re taking that for our own and telling the world. There were a lot of focus on priesthood keys and authority.
Several scriptures and/or stories from the scriptures were mentioned a few times. When you hear the same thing repeated in Conference it is important — go back and study it. These things were: Isaiah 61: 1, D&C 109, D&C 110, Moroni’s visits to Joseph Smith starting in 1823, Alma the Younger’s discourse to his son Helaman. Prs. Nelson’ use of THREE action verbs: HEAR, HEARKEN, HEED. Will we do those things?