Conference Books–Fall 2011

Poetry, poetry everywhere, but not a word by a Mormon. Or, at least, that’s what you might think from the list below. During this recent General Conference speakers cited six books of poetry, half of them obscure works to most English speakers (despite Elder Packer’s claim to the contrary) and none of them works by LDS writers.

Of course, the latter view is not accurate, if you think about it. LDS poetry is cited in general conference all the time–in the form of hymns. LDS poetry was on display this conference in particular as Elder Keith B. McMullin read his own poetry as part of his address during the priesthood session. [The Priesthood Session as a literary salon; what a concept!]

It occurs to me that speakers are less likely to be familiar with LDS poetry that is not in the hymnal. There are few works available that are marketed as LDS poetry, and the best of those works are probably too subtle for use in conference–the poetry read in conference is either very familiar to the audience or has a clear and unambiguous message.

Poetry or not, several works cited were unusual. I think Elder Uchtdorf’s citation of Thomas Merton is very welcome, given our claim to seek truth wherever it is found. I’m still processing the reference to Rabindranath Tagore, the Bengali Nobel Laureate in Literature who, I’m embarrassed to say, I know almost nothing about. And I loved learning that there is a book about the now largely forgotten General Authority Alma Sonne.

I was also impressed to see a citation to Brian Stuy’s Collected Discourses, which includes many addresses given between the run of the Journal of Discourses and the Conference Reports (which began in 1897, if I recall correctly). Without this collection, much of the addresses from the Wilford Woodruff period would be hopelessly scattered among so many sources that they would effectively be lost to most readers.

In an effort to improve this listing, I’ve added the references to Church manuals and handbooks, which I’ve ignored in previous conferences. This is in part because I’ve better realized the important role that they play for the international Church (based on logic I discussed here last night). It appears to me that citations to the “Teachings of the Presidents of the Church” series will increase in the future.

Regardless, here are the books and other outside sources mentioned or citied in the most recent General Conference:

Books

• Alden, Raymond Macdonald, ed., Poems Of The English Race, 1921.
  • Thomas S. Monson, Dare to Stand Alone, Priesthood Session
    
• Ciardi, John, “Fast and Slow,” , 1975.
  • Boyd K. Packer, Counsel to Youth, Saturday Morning Session
    
• Dahl, Roald, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 1964.
  • Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Forget Me Not, General Relief Society Meeting
• Dickens, Charles, A Tale of Two Cities, 1997
  • Neil L. Andersen, Children, Saturday Afternoon Session
    
• Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 1992.
  • J. Devn Cornish, The Privilege of Prayer, Sunday Afternoon Session
    
• Evans, Richard L., ed., Richard Evans’ Quote Book, 1971.
  • Elaine S. Dalton, Love Her Mother, Sunday Morning Session
    
• Lewis, C. S., Mere Christianity, 1952.
  • Tad R. Callister, The Book of Mormon–a Book from God, Sunday Morning Session
• Maxwell, Neal A., Wonderful Flood of Light, 1990.
  • Dallin H. Oaks, Teachings of Jesus, Sunday Afternoon Session
• Maxwell, Neal A., All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience, 1979.
  • Quentin L. Cook, The Songs They Could Not Sing, Sunday Afternoon Session
• McConkie, Bruce R., Mormon Doctrine, 1966.
  • J. Devn Cornish, The Privilege of Prayer, Sunday Afternoon Session
    
• Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition, 2003.
  • Barbara Thompson, Cleave unto the Covenants, General Relief Society Meeting
• Merton, Thomas, Thoughts In Solitude, 1956.
  • Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Providing in the Lord’s Way, Priesthood Session
• Morrison, James Dalton, ed., Masterpieces of Religious Verse, 1948.
  • Dieter F. Uchtdorf, You Matter to Him, Saturday Morning Session
• Packer, Boyd K., The Holy Temple, 1980.
  • Barbara Thompson, Cleave unto the Covenants, General Relief Society Meeting
• Paul, S. K., ed., Collected Poems and Plays of Rabindranath Tagore, 2006.
  • Quentin L. Cook, The Songs They Could Not Sing, Sunday Afternoon Session
• Richards, LeGrand, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, rev. ed., 1972.
  • Tad R. Callister, The Book of Mormon–a Book from God, Sunday Morning Session
• Ricks, Christopher, ed., The Oxford Book of English Verse, 1999.
  • Quentin L. Cook, The Songs They Could Not Sing, Sunday Afternoon Session
• Rigdon, Sidney et al., Lectures on Faith, 1985.
  • Jeffrey R. Holland, We Are All Enlisted, Priesthood Session
• Roberts, B. H., comp., The Seventy’s course in theology, 5 vols., 1907-1912.
  • J. Devn Cornish, The Privilege of Prayer, Sunday Afternoon Session
    
• Rudd, Glen L., Pure Religion: The Story of Church Welfare Since 1930, 1995.
  • Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Providing in the Lord’s Way, Priesthood Session
• Smith, Joseph, History of the Church, ed. B. H. Roberts, 7 vols. 1902-1932.
  • Julie B. Beck, What I Hope My Granddaughters (and Grandsons) Will Understand about Relief Society, General Relief Society Meeting
• Sonne, Conway B., A Man Named Alma: The World of Alma Sonne, 1988.
  • Quentin L. Cook, The Songs They Could Not Sing, Sunday Afternoon Session
• Stuy, Brian H., comp., Collected Discourses Delivered By President Wilford Woodruff, His Two Counselors, the Twelve Apostles, and Others, 5 vols., 1987-1992.
  • J. Devn Cornish, The Privilege of Prayer, Sunday Afternoon Session
    
• Wilcox, Ella Wheeler, Poetical Works of Ella Wheeler Wilcox, 1917.
  • Quentin L. Cook, The Songs They Could Not Sing, Sunday Afternoon Session

Periodical articles

• Benson, Ezra Taft, “In His Steps,” 1979 Devotional Speeches of the Year: BYU Devotional and Fireside Addresses, 1980.
  • Thomas S. Monson, Dare to Stand Alone, Priesthood Session
    
• Cannon, George Q., Deseret Weekly, November 2, 1889.
  • Keith B. McMullin, The Power of the Aaronic Priesthood, Priesthood Session
• Craig, Andrew, “Astronomers Count the Stars,” BBC News, July 22, 2003.
  • Dieter F. Uchtdorf, You Matter to Him, Saturday Morning Session
    
• Brooks, David, “If It Feels Right”¦,” New York Times, September 12, 2011.
  • Thomas S. Monson, Dare to Stand Alone, Priesthood Session
    
• Lee, Harold B., “Be Loyal to the Royal within You,” Speeches of the Year: BYU Devotional and Ten-Stake Fireside Addresses 1973, 1974.
  • Elaine S. Dalton, Love Her Mother, Sunday Morning Session
    
• Millward, Frank, “Eight Elders Missed Voyage on Titanic,” Deseret News, July 24, 2008, M6.
  • Quentin L. Cook, The Songs They Could Not Sing, Sunday Afternoon Session
• “Quotable Quotes,” Reader’s Digest, January 1963.
  • Elaine S. Dalton, Love Her Mother, Sunday Morning Session
    
• Reynolds, Noel B., “The True Points of My Doctrine,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, vol. 5, no. 2 (1996).
  • D. Todd Christoffersen, The Divine Gift of Repentance, Saturday Afternoon Session
    
• Sacks, Jonathan, “,” Wall Street Journal, August 20, 2011.
  • Thomas S. Monson, Stand in Holy Places, Sunday Morning Session
    
• “The Sinking of the World’s Greatest Liner,” Millennial Star, April 18, 1912.
  • Quentin L. Cook, The Songs They Could Not Sing, Sunday Afternoon Session
• “Who Are Utahns? Survey Shows We’re Highest, Lowest, Youngest,” Salt Lake Tribune, September 22, 2011, A1, A8.
  • Neil L. Andersen, Children, Saturday Afternoon Session
    

Manuals and Handbooks

• Daughters in My Kingdom:The History and Work of Relief Society, 2011.
  • Julie B. Beck, What I Hope My Granddaughters (and Grandsons) Will Understand about Relief Society, General Relief Society Meeting
  • Silvia H. Allred, Charity Never Faileth, General Relief Society Meeting
  • Barbara Thompson, Cleave unto the Covenants, General Relief Society Meeting
  • Barbara Thompson, Personal Revelation and Testimony, Saturday Morning Session
    
• Handbook 2: Administering the Church, 2010.
  • Julie B. Beck, What I Hope My Granddaughters (and Grandsons) Will Understand about Relief Society, General Relief Society Meeting
  • Neil L. Andersen, Children, Saturday Afternoon Session
• Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service, 2004.
  • Ian S. Ardern, A Time to Prepare, Saturday Afternoon Session
  • W. Christopher Waddell, The Opportunity of a Lifetime, Priesthood Session
  • Quentin L. Cook, The Songs They Could Not Sing, Sunday Afternoon Session
• Teaching, No Greater Call: A Resource Guide for Gospel Teaching, 1999.
  • Matthew O. Richardson, Teaching after the Manner of the Spirit, Sunday Afternoon Session
    
• Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 1997.
  • Ian S. Ardern, A Time to Prepare, Saturday Afternoon Session
  • Russell M. Nelson, Covenants, Sunday Afternoon Session
    
• Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay, 2003.
  • Robert D. Hales, Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done, Sunday Morning Session
• Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor, 2001.
  • LeGrand R. Curtis, Jr., Redemption, Saturday Afternoon Session
• Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 2007.
  • Silvia H. Allred, Charity Never Faileth, General Relief Society Meeting
  • Boyd K. Packer, Counsel to Youth, Saturday Morning Session
  • David A. Bednar, The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn, Saturday Afternoon Session
    
• Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 2004.
  • L. Whitney Clayton, The Time Shall Come, Saturday Morning Session
• True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference, 2004.
  • Matthew O. Richardson, Teaching after the Manner of the Spirit, Sunday Afternoon Session
    

Other

• Jankovic, Rachel, Motherhood is Calling (And Where Your Children Rank), July 14, 2011.
  • Neil L. Andersen, Children, Saturday Afternoon Session
• Jokes and Funny Stories about Children.
  • Neil L. Andersen, Children, Saturday Afternoon Session
• Monson, Thomas S., “Decisions Determine Destiny” (Church Educational System fireside for young adults), November 6, 2005.
  • Randall K. Bennett, Choose Eternal Life, Sunday Afternoon Session
• Monson, Thomas S., General Authority training meeting, Apr. 2010.
  • Keith B. McMullin, The Power of the Aaronic Priesthood, Priesthood Session
• Packer, Boyd K., “The Play and the Plan” (Church Educational System fireside for young adults), May 7, 1995.
  • Quentin L. Cook, The Songs They Could Not Sing, Sunday Afternoon Session
• Provo Utah Central Stake general minutes, April 6, 1856, vol. 10 (1855-60), Church History Library.
  • Ian S. Ardern, A Time to Prepare, Saturday Afternoon Session

You can see the previous compilations of books cited in General conference here:

Spring 2011
Fall 2010
Spring 2010
October 2009
April 2009
October 2008
April 2008

Notes

¹Ardis Parshall deserves credit for pointing this out to me a couple of years ago.