What Is the Funniest Moment From General Conference?

1. Thank you for these! They were so delightful to watch. I love a good laugh.

   • Elder Spencer Condie, “A Mighty Change of Heart,” October Conference 1993:

     “A few years ago, as Sister Condie and I exited the Tabernacle, a lovely sister approached us and said with a very cheerful voice, “Good morning, President Hinckley.” I replied, “I’m sorry to disappoint you, my dear, but I’m Elder Condie of the Seventy.” Her cheerful countenance was crestfallen. Not more than a minute later, we met another sister who greeted us with the same salutation: “Good morning, President Hinckley.” Not wishing to cause her the same disappointment I caused the previous sister, I shook her hand and said, “Bless you, my dear. Have a nice day.”

     Several months later I confessed my sin to President Gordon B. Hinckley during a regional conference in Portugal, and in his typically loving way he said, “Well, Spencer, if you’re going to impersonate me, I hope you behave yourself.”

   • Wish they had included the time President Hinckley challenged Elder Nelson to a duel in the basement of the tabernacle.

2. I am glad the General Authorities have a sense of humor.

   I have always thought that the Savior had a sense of humor. I think he was being sarcastic with the scribes and Pharisees at Mark 2:17, and he cracked a corny pun at Matthew 16:18.

3. Thank you for posting these, it was fun watching them. I was pleasantly surprised to see Brother David B. Haight. I’m a recent convert 16 months ago, but my parents were baptised in 1965, in the presence of President David B. Haight, as he was known back then. My parents were very fond of he and his wife, who were serving as Mission President in Scotland at the time, and although they fell away from the Church a couple of years later due to family pressures, I can remember their stories about him and how he’d made them laugh all those years ago, when they made a sudden decision to be baptised, despite the family pressures, and were whisked away to Edinburgh (the nearest Church with a font) and were baptised at 1am before they changed their minds haha. My parents came back to Church when I was converted, and my dad baptised me. My mum was expecting me, but didnt know at the time of her baptism, does that mean I’ve been baptised twice?. My parents managed to find the Missionaries who taught and baptised them when they were learning the wonders of the internet!!

4. I was sad to see my personal favorite wasn’t listed, but after looking up some of the details, I guess I can see why.

   In April of 1988, President Hunter had recently had surgery. He got up to give a conference talk, then fell down in the middle of it. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it looks like he broke three ribs, but finished his talk anyways!

   • It was included in another string I saw a couple of days ago. Unfortunately, I don’t remember which one. And you are correct, he did break three ribs. They also put more in context the clip where President Monson wiggled his ears.

   • That’s not humorous or funny at all. It may be admirable or memorable, but it isn’t humorous.

     • I am sorry you do not see the humor in these little shots, guess you have to be a little humorous yourself perhaps? They are funny, just not outlandish laughter. It is good to have joy, even in conference. 😉

5. One of our favorite funnies from President Hinckley was when he admonished us “don’t be a scrub”

6. Vids have no sound on my Android

   • time to get an iphone

   • I have to manually click the sound icon on each of these videos to hear the sound.

7. A young man, the son, I believe of the then BYU President, had been called on to give a talk in General Priesthood Meeting. After he finished, President Hinckley said “The only substitute for experience is being 16!”

8. I loved when Pres, Hinckley “knighted” the newly called Pres. Eyring; when he challenged Elder Nelson to a duel; and when Elder Holland wondered, “I have often thought that Nephi’s being bound with cords and beaten by rods must have been more tolerable to him than listening to Laman and Lemuel’s constant murmuring. Surely he must have said at least once, ‘Hit me one more time. I can still hear you.'”

   • That was the one I wanted to see. 🙂
     It’s one of my favorite memories of General Conference.
     But these were all good, too. 🙂

9. I know your post is only about General Conference, but I am just sad that you missed this. When I was in the MTC, Elder David B, Haight came to soeak to us. He started speaking before they wanted him to, because they did not have the camera ready yet (so it is not on camera). He stated that with as much experience as he had in life, it was funny that these camera people in the back thought they could control him by holding up a pencil.

   It was hilarious. You had to be there. The way it was delivered beats all of the ones above, although those ones are funny, too.

10. I wish I could find a video for this, I think it would top them all:

    http://www.deseretnews.com/article/586946/Firm-counsel-follows-lighthearted-comments.html?pg=all

11. October 2003, Saturday morning session. President Monson conducting. Tabernacle Choir had just completed singing the opening hymn, when President Monson got up to announce: “We will now be pleased to hear from our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley”. President Hinckley stood up from his seat. Then someone called out to President Monson, whereupon President Monson announced, “Oh wait, a prayer first”.

    I was a brand new missionary watching this in the Stake Center, and unfortunately I distracted the spirit for the rest of my zone who were in attendance as I could not stop laughing for quite some time.

12. April 2005, Priesthood session. President Hinckley’s son Richard (I think) was called to serve as a Seventy. President Hinckley felt it important to comment on this: “Among those sustained, as you have noted, is my 63-year-old son. I make it clear that I did not advance his name. That was done by others whose right it was to do so….I believe he is worthy and qualified in every respect. In the first place, he had a great and wonderful mother. I wish I could recommend his father.”

    • Do you also remember that at the next conference, Elder Hinckley spoke and said that he was the only general authority serving without the approval of the president of the church.

13. If only we could get some J. Golden Kimball clips! 🙂

    • In re J. Golden Kimball videos:

      J. Golden Kimball died in the 1930s, so I doubt there are any videos of him.

      Maybe there are sound recordings …

14. So pleased to see #5 in there. For me it’s far and away my favourite moment.

15. Two of my favorites. Not sure when they were. In both cases, Pres Monson had just spoken. The first one, Pres Hinckley said, “We have just heard from Pres Thomas S. Monson, the swimming sailor.”

    On the second one after Pres Monson got done speaking Pres Hinckley got up and said “Pres Monson, we all look forward to you dying your hair red.”

    I’d love to see those again.

16. I was hoping to see videos of the fly from a couple years ago that kept buzzing around one speaker. I think it landed on him a couple times and the speaker kept going unfazed. It was pretty funny.

    I also liked after the one session a few years ago that the camera panned out and a guy in the back turned around with a big grin right at the camera.

    Maybe I’m not as spiritual as I should be, but those were the first two moments that came to me when I saw the headline.

17. funny i lick the one about i wiggled my ears

18. About 20 – 25 years ago when our sons were young, they loved it when Pres. Monson was telling about his basketball days: “We want Monson, We want Monson, We want Monson OUT!!” That is a favorite humorous Conference moment!=)

19. It’s been mentioned already, but I thought the funniest Conference talk was Elder Spencer Condie telling his story of how a person mistook him for President Hinckley.

20. I’m deaf and I’d love to understand what is being said in each of the videos. Can a link to the corresponding talk be provided for each video? Thanks.

    • You can actually adjust the settings of each video to show captions while the speaker is speaking. In general, some of these talks will probably not have these moments in the written text.

    • I would be willing to transcribe the comments if that would be helpful for you. I’d need some way to contact you directly…

    • Amber. I’m really sorry that the Closed captioning is so bad! I just watched it and its off in so many place. I’ve transcribed the dialogues for you here. It was hard to find some of the sources for these, but I found them all.

      Video #1 “If You Don’t Repent” by Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley

      “Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Twelve has just spoken to us. We know that it is warm in here. We’re sorry. You’re not nearly as warm as you will be, if you don’t repent.” (Sunday Afternoon Session of October 1993 Gen Conf)

      Video #2 “He Seemed a Little Old” by Elder Joseph B. Worthlin
      “I remember when one of our daughters went on a blind date. She was all dressed up and waiting for her date to arrive when the doorbell rang. In walked a man who seemed a little old, but she tried to be polite. She introduced him to me and my wife and the other children; then she put on her coat and went out the door. We watched as she got into the car, but the car didn’t move. Eventually our daughter got out of the car and, red faced, ran back into the house. The man that she thought was her blind date had actually come to pick up another of our daughters who had agreed to be a babysitter for him and his wife.
      We all had a good laugh over that. In fact, we couldn’t stop laughing. Later, when our daughter’s real blind date showed up, I couldn’t come out to meet him because I was still in the kitchen laughing.” (October 2008 Gen Conf. Come What May and Love It) https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/come-what-may-and-love-it?lang=eng

      Video #3 “I Wiggled My Ears” by Pres Thomas S. Monson
      “I decided to put him to the test. I looked squarely at him, certain I had his attention, and then I wiggled my ears. (My wife told me not to say that). He made a vain attempt to do the same, but I had him!” (April 2008 Gen Conf. Examples of Righteousness.) https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/04/examples-of-righteousness?lang=eng

      Video #4 “Is It My Time to Quit” by Elder LeGrand Richards
      “…buy that kind of feeling in the hearts of young people with money. The Lord who creates the feelings of the human breast is the only one who can put that kind of faith into the hearts of his people. (Is this red now, is it my turn to quit? I think they’ve got the red button on here! And I must’ve [unintelligible] the other man’s time.) (Oct 1978 Gen Conf. The Joy Of Serving a Mission) https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1978/10/the-joy-of-serving-a-mission?lang=eng

      Video #5 “Let Me Tell You” by Pres Dieter F. Uchtdorf
      “One of the things we learn from studying the growth of trees is that during seasons when conditions are ideal, trees grow at a normal rate. However, during seasons when growing conditions are not ideal, trees slow down their growth and devote their energy to the basic elements necessary for survival.
      At this point some of you may be thinking, “That’s all very fine and good, but what does it have to do with flying an airplane?” Well, let me tell you.” (Oct 2010 Gen Conf. Of Things That Matter Most.) https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/of-things-that-matter-most?lang=eng

      Video #6 “He Deals With It” by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
      “Except in the case of his only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with,” he said. “That must be terribly frustrating to Him but He deals with it. So should we.” (April 2013 Gen Conf. Lord, I Believe.) https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/lord-i-believe?lang=eng&query=only+perfect+begotten+son+Jeffrey+Holland

      Video #7 “I’m Waving” by Elder David B. Haight
      “We have a special treat. I’d like to ask Elder David B. Haight to come to the pulpit here. Here is a grand old warrior! He’s 97 years of age. He’s lived longer than any other apostle in this dispensation. He recently became ill and he’s had a little difficulty retiring. But he wanted to come this morning and just wave to you. Here is brother Haight. Thank You.”
      “Thank You.”
      “Do you want to wave to these people?”
      “Yes. I must. I’m waving! Thank you. Thank you. Nice to be with you.”
      “Thank you. We’ll excuse him now.”
      (Oct 2003 Gen Conf).

      Video #8 “It was a tough neighborhood” by Pres Henry B. Eyring
      “I was the only deacon in the branch—not just the only one attending but the only one on the records. My older brother, Ted, was the only teacher. He is here tonight.
      April 2011 Gen Conference Learning in the Priesthood. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/learning-in-the-priesthood?lang=eng&query=I+don%27t+think+there+was+a+priest.+deacon+sailor#watch=video

      Video #9 “He’s Breathing My Air” by Elder David A. Bednar
      As our sons were growing up, our family did what you have done and what you now do. We had regular family prayer, scripture study, and family home evening. Now, I am sure what I am about to describe has never occurred in your home, but it did in ours.
      Sometimes Sister Bednar and I wondered if our efforts to do these spiritually essential things were worthwhile. Now and then verses of scripture were read amid outbursts such as “He’s touching me!” “Make him stop looking at me!” “Mom, he’s breathing my air! It must have happened in your home if you’re laughing” (Oct 2009 Gen Conf More Diligent and Concerned at Home). https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/more-diligent-and-concerned-at-home?lang=eng&query=he%27s+breathing+my+air

      #10 Mustard! By Elder David B. Haight
      “The Savior you’ll recall said, “Oh ye of little faith…little faith…if you had but the faith…of the tiny…I’m trying to think of the name of the little tree…(mustard seed!) What? (mustard!) The Mustard! If you had but the faith of a mustard seed! Thank you President. I keep the president around to help me here. (Oct 2001 Gen Conf. Faith of Our Prophets). https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/10/faith-of-our-prophets?lang=eng

      • Scoff, thank you so much for taking the time to transcribe these videos for me, and adding the links as well! I appreciate it very much!!!

21. I loved it when President Spencer W. Kimball, in his later years, was trying to say “Sesquicentennial”. After several failed attempts, he stopped, looked up, smiled and waved, and then continued speaking.

22. There was one priesthood session when the choir was made up of students from Utah State, University of Utah and BYU. After introducing them or after a song, I believe it was president Hinckley got up and said something like, ‘This is the only place and time you’ll ever see these three schools together in one place peacefully.’

23. many years ago when President Hinckley was thanking all the networks for carrying conference, he was also telling about it being carried over the internet at various sites and giving the web addresses when he suddenly stopped, shook his head and said something like, ‘my goodness we are all being relegated to being dot.com’s.” this has been one of my favorites.. President Hinckley seemed to always be giving us a good laugh while he taught us.

24. One of my favorites not among these I have really laughed over again is the time Elder Holland was talking about temptation and said something like don’t invite then in and serve them tea and crumpets; you shouldn’t be serving them tea anyway! Very funny. Maybe someone could provide a link to this video clip.

    • There’s no single clip available of that moment, from what I can see, but here’s the full talk from what it came from! https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/place-no-more-for-the-enemy-of-my-soul?lang=eng

    • Like thieves in the night, unwelcome thoughts can and do seek entrance to our minds. But we don’t have to throw open the door, serve them tea and crumpets, and then tell them where the silverware is kept! (You shouldn’t be serving tea anyway.)
      Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul

      http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/place-no-more-for-the-enemy-of-my-soul?lang=eng

25. Joseph B. Wirthlin “One Step after Another” October 2001

    “In my younger days, I loved to run. Although it may be hard for you to believe it, I did. And I did win a few races. I’m not so fast anymore. In fact, I’m not sure how well I would do in a race if the only contestants were the members of the Quorum of the Twelve.”

    “My ability to run is not so swift now. While I am looking forward to that future time when, with a resurrected body, I can once again sprint over a field and feel the wind blowing through my hair, I do not dwell on the fact that I cannot do it now.”

    Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin was completely bald.

26. Not gut busting, but i thought it was pretty sweet when i saw a couple members of the 12 sharing a fist bump:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhMadLOONSM

27. What about the “open your eyes man” one? That one had us laughing so hard!

28. One of my favorites didn’t make the list. Elder Holland makes an unexpected joke in a very serious talk. “Like thieves in the night, unwelcome thoughts can and do seek entrance to our minds. But we don’t have to throw open the door, serve them tea and crumpets, and then tell them where the silverware is kept! (You shouldn’t be serving tea anyway.)” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC4aV5WutY0

29. This is the one that has stuck in my mind forever. Jump to 3 minutes into the video and watch a pretty funny experiment by Elder Nelson – https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1997/04/endure-and-be-lifted-up?lang=ita&clang=eng&country=ch

30. One of my favorites happened quite a few years ago–not sure of the year. I believe President Monson was conducting, but it was before he was called as President of the Church. It was a warm afternoon in the tabernacle when he announced the session’s closing hymn, “Awake, Ye Saints of God, Awake.” He was taken aback for just a moment when the audience responded with laughter, and then he got it 🙂

31. Another funny incident was when a speaker had just finished giving a talk in a language other than English, and then Elder Uchtdorf got up and started to conduct in German. Then he laughingly apologized to President Monson.

Comments are closed.