During conference this last weekend, in discussing Elder Holland's talk and how it did or did not address those of us with questions, I was invited to write the talk I would like to hear instead.

The above graphic aside, this is not meant to be flippant. I have not written an entire conference talk, nor necessarily wrote this talk as Elder Holland or as a replacement for his talk, though I did obviously use a few key statements and phrases as starting points. Overall, I wrote exampmles of sorts of statements which would make me feel optimistic about general conference, about my relationship with the Church, and about the future. I've tried to be relatively realistic about what I could hope to hear in a current conference session–much as I'd enjoy hearing it, I didn't include a pie-in-the-sky announcement about female ordination, for example, or make any concessions about the divinity of Christ or this being the Church built around the Restored Gospel.

What sorts of messages would you reasonably hope and like to hear in general conference?

My brothers and sisters; I am glad to be able to speak with you today, as we try to grow together in understanding and love for the Lord. For that is the purpose of religion, why the Lord has called on us to meet.

10.And now come, saith the Lord, by the Spirit, unto the elders of his church, and let us reason together, that ye may understand; 11.Let us reason even as a man reasoneth one with another face to face. 12.Now, when a man reasoneth he is understood of man, because he reasoneth as a man; even so will I, the Lord, reason with you that you may understand (D&C 50:10-11).

The Lord here has set forth the method by which His will is to be revealed: Not by command, but through interaction, through reasoning together.

Though he speaks of reasoning together between the elders of the Church and He, his will is also made manifest as his elders–or rather, his children of all sorts within the Church–reason together.

This is a divine work in progress. It is not yet finished, maybe not even close. But it is divine. So please do not abandon it if from time to time issues arise that need to be examined, understood, and resolved. They do and they will–or rather, they will only if we do not give up and do not allow ourselves to be divided by different understandings and perspectives.

Imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, as it is for so many of us in the Church. That includes us, his apostles and authorities. We make mistakes. Among our mistakes has been not being aware and explicit enough of this fact. We have perhaps been too confident in our own claim to inspiration and understanding, and not done as good a job as we might have in reaching out to know and understand your experiences. I ask your forgiveness and patience. Just as the Lord, in spite of his frustration, continues to work patiently in and through us, I ask that you do not turn away, abandon us, but rather work with us. Come to us, share your perspectives and struggles honestly and sincerely. Help us to understand, to know how better to serve and meet your needs. Let us reason together, to improve this, the Church of the Lord, that we can better bring about the fullness of His Gospel.

I recognize that there are questions for which neither I nor the rest of the brethren have answers right now. I can't explain with certainty all of the aspects of the Book of Mormon, for example. Do some trouble you? That is okay. I know that it has provided me with great comfort and guidance in my life. It has helped me to grow closer to the Savior. I believe it can somehow do the same for you. But let neither your heart nor your mind be troubled if it does not right now. I accept your questions, and hope that as we continue to seek truth together, we will find the answers and assurances that can help us both find peace and joy.

We know that we will perhaps never completely be united in our understanding and experience with faith. I don't know why. The Lord's ways can be very puzzling. But again, do not let this become a wedge between us. I embrace my experience, but please, do not let that make you feel that the Church does not have room for yours. Do not feel alone. We can embrace you and your honest doubt, and only ask that you embrace us and help us to grow. I have confidence that, if you will reason together with us, God will ultimately help us understand.

To my brothers and sisters whose experiences with the Church are more conventional, please do not turn away our brothers and sisters who struggle to find a place, who do not see things as you do. Just because you do not see the struggles they face does not mean that they are not valid. Do not question their sincerity. We can work together on the things we understand in common, and grow closer to full understanding in the other areas in time. Be an example, not a judge.

I know, above all else, that God is our father. He wants us to have peace and joy, in this life and that to come. I want to continue to serve him with all my might, mind, and strength in this cause. I have confidence that if we reason together in humility and sincerity, we can move closer to those goals. But we can only do that be sincerely and humbly loving each other for who we are, where we are, and by seeking to better know God by any and all means possible. That we can do so is my prayer, in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, amen.