In the run-up to General Conference, some of us who pay attention to what’s done and said there by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have our own ideas about what should be done and said.

I once interviewed a group of Latter-day Saint women about what they wanted to hear. That effort was not just informative, it also would have been wise, practical and useful for faith leaders to have adopted what the women dished out.

Sadly, they did not.

Sometimes, top-down leadership isn’t the ideal course.

In this case, my case, I offer a bit of bottom-up ideology; which is to say, nine things, if I had my way, the brothers and sisters in the cushy crimson chairs at the Conference Center would do and say during this weekend’s sessions. Maybe you have nine of your own.

Here goes:

1. Seeing that the church now has billions upon billions of dollars and assets, tithing will now be voluntary, not mandatory, for temple entry. Tithing will not be abolished. The faithful can pay as much as they’d like, as much as the spirit nudges them to give. It’s called agency. This way the church no longer will be seen as coercing members to buy their way into heaven.

2. The Sunday meeting schedule will be abridged again from the brand-new one hour of sacrament service, 25 minutes of Sunday school and 25 minutes of Relief Society/priesthood to a 40/30/30 alignment, with two 10-minute chunks to meet and greet between meetings. This will give the main meeting enough space to make announcements, serve Communion, and allow for one short talk by a youth speaker and one trim-and-tidy address by an adult; and then provide a bit more time for class instruction and discussion. Members learn the most from one another in applying gospel principles, and don’t underestimate the value of community building in those foyer and hallway chats.

3. Since our beloved prophet Dallin Oaks is an expert on the U.S. Constitution, he will be addressing all the ways the current U.S. presidential administration is blowing that sacred document to smithereens, while Congress sits on its thumbs, turning its back on what it’s pledged to uphold. He’ll also help a large percentage of our American membership, who are taught to love and be loving, understand why supporting a politician who aims to ignore the Constitution and hurt the poor and kick strangers out might not be a good idea.

4. Clarifying the Word of Wisdom for modern application is appropriate, given that a number of the faithful are baffled as to why coffee and many types of tea are banned. From this point forward, much to the benefit of Starbucks and all religious people who have trouble waking up in the morning, members can drink as many cups of java and espresso and cappuccino and latte and mocha and decaf as they want without guilt. All in favor, hoist a cup of Joe.

5. Not only will more women give General Conference talks, they also will feel free to say what they are inspired to say, not just what they think male higher-ups want them to say. Patriarchy, we declare, is for insecure men. So let it be written, so let it be undone.

6. Church leaders – not just apostle Dieter Uchtdorf – will be turned loose to freely admit that mistakes in the past have been made and in the present are made and in the future will be made by human prophets and apostles. Start with the former priesthood/temple ban against Black members. That was racist. There, we said it. All humans sometimes go off track. Repentance is good for all, including institutions and authorities, who would help themselves and the church as a whole by saying three big yet little words: “I am sorry.”

7. Make it clear that eternity is a long, long time. Sons and daughters of faithful members who believe a different course for them is the right path, even if it isn’t the so-called covenant path, is not the religious tragedy that it so often is made out to be. Oaks has mentioned this in a past conference session, emphasizing eternal progression. Yeah, the scriptures at times are rough on individuals who lean away, but that does not make them wicked or condemned. We’re all just bumping and skidding our way through this earthly existence. God loves his children. God loves your children, and cares about them, regardless of whether they do everything adult parents think they should or shouldn’t do. Like the father of the prodigal son, wrap your arms around your young and grown kids, whether they return home in humility or not.

8. Let’s work together on something that’s slightly related to No. 7: Don’t judge others who believe differently than church members do. Nothing wrong with being thankful for the comfort we feel in our interpretation of Jesus’ gospel and conforming ourselves to it. But let’s not judge others because they choose to sin differently than we do. Some things in life must be judged, but when it comes to matters of the spirit, let’s not impose our beliefs on others. Let’s do what God seems to have stressed in important Bible passages, such as “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself,” even if your neighbor mows his lawn shirtless on Sunday with a cold Bud in his hand.

9. Church leaders urging young Latter-day Saints to hurry up and marry and have kids were just pulling your leg. It was a bit of G.A. humor. Here’s what we really meant: Divorce out of a hasty decision is harder than simply waiting until young Latter-day Saint adults know who they are and who they are best suited to try to partner with from now until kingdom come and beyond. Ruptured relationships are hard on everyone, especially children. And to all those who take their sweet time to marry or don’t marry or marry and then divorce or do marry and don’t or cannot have kids, we welcome you warmly aboard. To all saints, come as you are.

Amen, brothers and sisters. That’s what I’d like to hear. Amen and amen.