For that matter, if you could have a non-member speak at General Conference, who would it be and what would they talk about?
Ok, I know who I would invite (though having a baby speak, as implied by the photo could be fun), who would you have? Why?
(for a clue as to who I would have speak, http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/?p=3446 but this post isn’t about me, it is about you.)
Wheat & Tares 
My gutt response was CS Lewis, because he wouldn’t distrupt from the spirit, but he’s quoted so often he pretty much DOES speak at General Conference.
Then I thought of Elderige Cleaver (you didn’t specify that they had to be alive) who qualifies as both a member and a non member.
If it could be ANY person, dead or alive, I would choose Joseph Smith. I think it would be interesting to hear him discuss how far the Church has drifted/changed since his times.
If I could choose any person, I would choose the Dalai Lama. His message is encouraging and uplifting.
More realistically, if I could choose any topic from someone who is likely to speak in conference, I would love to hear the current prophet at any time say things that other prophets have said historically. I would love to hear him talk about actually seeing Christ, talking with Him, and bringing a message to the Church directly from Christ. I would love to hear the prophet directly say, “Thus saith the Lord…” and have the Spirit testify to my heart that he is a man who genuinely communes with Christ on a regular basis. I would love to hear the prophet prophesy about something that is going to happen. I would love to know that the Christ leads this Church directly through a prophet and not in Hinckley’s descriptions of “well, we generally feel good about something like it’s probably the way we should do it” or “I’m not really sure what that means or if that’s something that we really teach”.
I have no interest in hearing the Dalai Lama or any other non LDS speaker in general conference. Who would I like to hear? How about Elder Holland in every session? And if we’re just dreaming I would love to hear President Hinckley in conference one more time.
Who don’t I want to hear in GC? I have no interest in listening to anymore anonymous 70s who stand there like dictation machines and recite bland platitudes.
I would like to hear Emma Lou Thayne. Her inclusive Mormonism and her focus on what really matters–love of God and others would be a welcome relief from lists of commandments to follow and warnings about Satan’s power.
Wow everyone is picking dead people?
How about Harvey Cox, retired professor of divinity at Harvard University, speaking on faith, ecumenism, and the moral life?
How about Marcus Borg, professor of religion and culture at Oregon State University and columnist at Beliefnet, speaking on panentheism, and reading scripture from an historical-metaphorical approach that respects cultural and religious diversity, and at least acknowledges that the texts of the Bible (and in our context other scriptural writings) have flaws and inconsistencies, none of which need to destroy our faith in God or our efforts to build his kingdom.
Or how about Evangelical pastor Brian McLaren, speaking on celebrating post-modern thought in the contemporary Church, social justice, and how we can build bridges between Christian denominations.
I would also love to hear from New Testament scholar Bart D. Ehrman, James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, or John Dominic Crossan, retired professor of comparative religion at DePauw University and former Catholic priest. Either one could speak about the historical Jesus, the Church in 1st and 2nd centuries, AD, or about textual criticism of New Testament texts as a means of uncovering likely interpretations of scripture in historical context. I’m less confident, however, that their messages would go over well for a GC audience, and I’m not sure their messages would do much to exhibit the value of having non-LDS speakers at a GC of the Church.
I would also love to hear Jan Shipps, professor emeritus of history and religious studies at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, speaking on Joseph Smith, Mormonism in the 19th century, or some other topic related to church history.
Teryl Givens or David Paulsen. Maybe Richard Bushman.
One more suggestion: Stephen M. Veazey, President of the Community of Christ, or one of his counselors, Becky L. Savage, or David D. Schaal. Any one of them could speak about the value of continuing revelation and the importance of building bridges of understanding with both the Utah LDS Church and the Christian community at large. They could also speak on promoting peace and justice in the world. Wouldn’t it be interesting to see Becky Savage be introduced in GC as the 1st Counselor of the 1st Presidency of the Community of Christ?
I’d like to hear God or Christ speak. Seeing as how much they are invoked during conference, it would be nice to actually get their perspectives once in while.
Question cowboy – if they did, would my DVR still work to record it? I’d really want that one on my playlist to watch, right after I finish Castle season 3.
Amen to Mike S. (#2).
I’d also add Wayne Jacobsen to the list. A non-member, but his words have taught me more about Christ than any other living person – especially his books He Loves Me! and So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore.
Plus, his giving his posting his books for free online passes my smell test a lot easier than selling books at Deseret Book for $31.49, or more, does.
31.49, Ouch those are airport prices.
Rabbi Harold Kushner (How Good Do We Have to Be?) or Carol Lynn Pearson talking about Heavenly Mother.
#12 Cowboy:
$31.49 – That’s even the discounted price for Monson’s latest biography – To The Rescue on Deseret Book’s website or in their store. On Amazon, which is generally a great place to buy books, it’s actually the FULL price of $34.99.
It seems a bit steep to me. I haven’t paid that much for a regular book in decades, which is probably why I haven’t bought his biography.
Benedict XVI, to speak on the interplay between faith and reason.
I watched an interview with the woman who was commissioned to write the biography, and was given the impression that this particular bio would probably be more “flowery” than most of the others. Of course, titles like “To the Rescue” on a biography that would be better titled “Biography of Thomas S. Monson” can’t be expected to even sort of attempt objective history. I don’t need more LDS fiction passed off as fact.
Chiam Potak- Rabbi and American Author and Professor At University of Pennsylvania.
He is now deceased, but his books speak volumes about Jewish life and culture. And he does it without hitting you over the head with it.
Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the Britsh Commonwealth would be a great speaker, I’ve heard him a few times.He was interviewed on Speaking of Faith recently. I’d like to hear Karen Armstrong or Joan Chichester in conference too. Shame Truman Madsen never got to speak in General Conference…How about Ricky Gervais…ok just kidding on that one…
#16 – But Cowboy, just think of how many faith-promoting anecdotes you’ll miss out on in which “tears were shed, smiles of gratitude exchanged and testimonies strengthened.”
@JackUK
Well as you are being irreverent, how about RoseAnne Barr, I hear she owns a Macadamia Nut Farm in Hawaii. That really would be interesting
Brjones: yes, the emphatic trinty of descriptions. I will miss out on that, but I always liked the notion of “standing a little taller”.
““tears were shed, smiles of gratitude exchanged and testimonies strengthened”
“…the passive voice was overused.”
I would also like to see more of a debate format:
– Duwayne Anderson vs FAIR on science and religion
– Richard Dawkins vs Bednar
– BKP vs Dalai Lama
– Etc.
I would also like to see Ronald Poelman give an encore presentation of his original talk in 1984 about “The Gospel and The Church” framed by the 2 talks from last conference reiterating the “14 points…”
#24 – I think a Q & A session per Conference would be fascinating. It would be interesting to see how long it would take for that to get out of hand.
salt h2o — I remember Cleaver when he spoke to the law school (I heard him at a distance, but he was good).
KLC — you made me smile.
brjones — a Q&A session would be good (you refer to #24, but you are the #24 right now).
SteveS — thanks, that is the sort of thing I was hoping to hear from people.
Course Correction — thanks for a suggestion with a reason.
Eric Nielson — that is interesting, the idea that people who are part of the culture and the intellectual life of the people in the Church, and who are members, should be part of it even if they are not in the authority structure.
J – I’ll have to read those.
CatherineWO — Rabbi Harold Kushner (How Good Do We Have to Be?) or Carol Lynn Pearson — having them speak directly rather than by talks influenced by their works or quoting them, I should have thought of that.
diane — I heard Chaim Potok speak at BYU, he was excellent.
JackUK — interesting thoughts.
Thomas, as for Pope Benedict, I wonder if he would speak if invited?
Mike S — you bring up an entirely different (and a good) topic, “If you could change the format for Conference talks, what changes would you make?”
How about a local leader from far away maybe even one who does not speak English? He could have a returned missionary translate and also bear a short testimony in English at the end. The tabernacle choir could sing a local hymn from his country in the same session.
Note that I say ‘he’ but it could easily be a sister or a couple could both speak.
My mother
I’d second Mike’s recommendation for a Poelman encore – an unedited version this time. Would also love to see George Pace get up and talk about Christ, especially with 20 years of water under the bridge that was the McConkie diatribe debacle against Pace’s writings/beliefs.
As for Bart Ehrman – I’d likewise love to see his perspective. Just ordered a couple of his books and am looking forward to them.
There are many great suggestions here. I will add rabbi David Wolpe, of the Jewish Theological Seminary. I could listen to him talk about the Bible for hours. William Dever from the University of Arizona is another person I enjoy to listen to. I did see this youtube video in which Pres. Kennedy made some remarks in the Tabernacle, a few weeks before Conference in 1963 (and just 2 months before his death.) See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CHSVC2nAl8
J Golden Kimball
Not sure about a speaker, but I would love to have Ira Glass conduct. “This morning’s Session is in four acts: Act One, Sustainings. Act 2, Repentance. Act 3, Lessons from my childhood. Act 4, More repentance.”
Jesus
#33: Combined with Spencer Kimball.
Topic: “Do it, dammit”
Relates to my comment #14
Even the Kindle price for Monson’s biography is around $20, so they can’t claim the high price is for “publishing costs”. It seems somewhat ironic that a book published about our prophet is about the most expensive one you can find.
re: #37
What’s interesting about the whole Deseret Book thing (sorry for the tangential hijack), is that they supposedly approached Monson and told him the book needed to be published and needed to happen quickly.
The author, Swinton, once related to Deseret News that Monson told her the following:
It’s not the first time Deseret Book would be accused of “pressuring” general authorities to publish books or other goods – they’re the golden goose of publishing to the homogeneous Mormon culture – especially when you can mark it up to $34.99 and sell potentially hundreds of thousands of copies (if not more). If even 10% of active members buy a copy at an average cost of $32, then you’re looking at close to 400,000 copies (or more) sold – total revenue would then be approaching $13 million. Just a hypothetical, but this is clearly a big business.
Back when the Quads were first published, Monson was the spokesperson championing the new Quads whose sales were languishing while sitting on Deseret Books’ shelves. Members didn’t understand the need for new scriptures – especially at the inflated DB prices – until Monson got up in general conference and told every member to get a copy in their hands. (For more info, I’d recommend reading this book – and, it’s $10 cheaper).
Sales picked up, balance sheets were strengthened, bonuses paid. 😉
Sorry for that last sentence. Couldn’t resist.
Seriously, though, it is unfortunate.
Pope John Paul the II
Judas and Pontious Pilate. I’d just be interested to hear their side of the story.
Thanks for the additional suggestions.
I think it is very unfortunate that various competing religions don’t have the old fashioned “bible debates” anymore like the ones they used to have in the Bible Belt.
Those were extremely informative and got people into the scriptures.
They also held various religions accountable for publicly justifying their beliefs from scripture under the scrutiny of the view points and interpretations of other bible scholars.
I have noticed that there are no longer any true gospel scholars among the brethren.
Anciently it was the apostles who were the defenders of the faith.
That was true in early Mormonism with Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon and Oliver Cowdery fielding doctrinal questions and even participating in public debates, however contemporary general authorities seldom get into deep doctrine in their talks and they NEVER respond doctrinally to critics.
They rely on FARMS and FAIR to be the defenders of the faith.
It seems like Bruce R McConkie was the last GA that was considered to be somewhat of a scholar, although I doubt he could hold up against a knowledgeable Baptist Preacher in a bible debate.
I would love to see knowledgeable bible scholars from other christian churches have the opportunity to debate the issues against knowledgeable LDS scholars in general conference.
I would love to see LeGrand Richards debate Abraham Gileadi on whether the Marvelous Work and a Wonder took place back at the time of Joseph Smith or whether it is yet to be a future event.
And now that the internet and scripture searching programs have created so many Mormons who are critical of their own religion, I would like to see some debates from within the church membership.
I would love to see some of the most knowledgeable scholars at FAIR debate OWIW on the three watches doctrine.
Debatable — there are some gospel scholars who are general authorities, just FYI.
I like J Golden Kimball as well and I bet there would be a hell of a lot of colorful language.
Parley P. Pratt
Margaret Barker
Bart Ehrman (I think he has made public statement about all the attention he receives from Mormons)
Doestyevsky – relating the Grand Inquisitor to the concept of agency
Wyoming- I attended a lecture Margaret Barker gave in 2009 to a Masonic association here in England. She spoke on the ‘Symbolism of the Temple of Solomon’. It was a great talk. I had an interesting discussion with her after the lecture. I’d like to hear her speak in conference too…