Why isn't the Priesthood session of General Conference broadcast over television (e.g. BYUTV) similar to the Relief Society general meeting and the other general sessions?
(Especially since they're all later published together publicly anyway....)
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You have to look back in time, as the current practice is likely a holdover from earlier times. When radio and tv broadcasts started, apparently a decision was made to keep the priesthood meeting separate. Indeed, the general priesthood meeting really isn't a general conference session, although it is on the same weekend. Having it as a closed meeting allowed leaders to say things just for that somewhat intimate audience. We have seen instances where a talk in general priesthood meeting was not later published in the Ensign, such as then-Elder Packer's "For Young Men Only" talk back in the 1970s. Nowadays, the ability to videotape might seem to defeat this privacy aspect. But I think the non-broadcast remains because the Church leadership wants to retain the privilege of a more closed meeting, and if they ever broadcast it, they will seem to have lost this privilege. I support them in this, by the way. I would even support them if the meeting was conference center only.
All of the above if my own understanding -- it works for me -- but it might not be Pres. Monson's understanding...
They are loosening up with the Priesthood Session. This past Conference was the first session where the Church posted the video along with all the other sessions (although previously you could watch video of Preisthood online if you selected ASL as the language). But I think what ji wrote is accurate.
Why does it matter. I'm just happy to be listening to the prophet
So people like us will go hang out with the other members of the priesthood. The Relief Society are successful at this just by offering a dinner and having a chance to get away from the kids.
I only have my own assumptions and guesses. So at the risk of speculating:
It makes sense to me that historically it was not meant for a general audience. New recording and distribution technology of the last 30 years has made it impossible to keep it this way and still make it available to the priesthood worldwide.
I appreciate having to get out of the house to go and see it. It has become a tradition in my family to take my sons and go see it with my father. Then afterwards we go to my dad's house and have a treat. I love being able to listen and write impressions in a quiet uninterrupted setting (sans little ones).
I also very much appreciate the talks being published in mp3 and video format. It makes it easy to listen to them again during my commute.
Because if it was broadcast, everyone would stay home and watch instead of attend.
Like Rich said, isn't there something to be said about actually leaving the house to go to priesthood? It's not so much a "secret" thing, but I wonder if it's the concept of the priesthood gathering together in one large group. The Priesthood edition of GC has been posted much quicker than in previous years, it's really only a matter of time before it's posted online instantaneously.
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