Conference began broadcasting in 1924.

Picture a world with only silent, black-and-white films. There are no TVs or computers. And you can buy a new car for about $265!¹

That is the world President Russell M. Nelson was born into.

On October 3, 1924—just days before little Russell turned a month old—a radio was used to broadcast general conference for the first time.

“The radio is one of the most marvelous inventions man knows anything about,” President Heber J. Grant said at the conference. (You can listen to his voice here!) “To have the voice carried for thousands of miles seems almost beyond comprehension.”²

Back then they were excited about reaching roughly a million people with the conference broadcast.

Today, tens of millions of people can listen in about 70 languages!

And one of the voices testifying of Jesus Christ is, of course, little Russell all grown up.

“My dear brothers and sisters, here is my promise. Nothing will help you more to hold fast to the iron rod than worshipping in the temple as regularly as your circumstances permit,” said President Nelson in a general conference talk that you can watch here. (Scroll to 15:15 for this quote.)

“Nothing will protect you more as you encounter the world’s mists of darkness. Nothing will bolster your testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement or help you understand God’s magnificent plan more. Nothing will soothe your spirit more during times of pain. Nothing will open the heavens more. Nothing!”³

Happy birthday, President Nelson! Thank you for guiding us to the temple and our Savior.

Notes
1. How Much Did Things Cost in 1924?, reference.com
2.Conference Broadcasts: General Conference Research Guide, Church History website
3. From “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys,” Apr. 2024 general conference.