President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has given dozens of conferences addresses since his call as a general authority in 1976. After 46 years in general Church leadership, he joins this episode of the Church News podcast to share his memories of general conference. As members and friends of the Church prepare for the upcoming 192nd Annual General Conference the first weekend of April 2022, President Ballard offers insights into the event and what it is like to prepare a general conference talk. “I try to think through what the current needs and realities of what people are facing and try to say something that would be helpful to them, all focused on the anchor that everyone needs in their life, regardless of what’s happening, and that anchor is to stay close to the Lord Jesus Christ,” he said. 

The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Sarah Jane Weaver, reporter and editor for The Church News for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.