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I was in a meeting recently that included a couple of people who would be considered relatively high leaders in the Church, and the topic of General Conference talks was mentioned. One of the participants mentioned how hard some talks can be on individual members, especially the ones that can put pressure on members to feel like they need to be perfect – or like everyone else.Another person said the following:
Quote:I tell people that it is called “General Conference” for a reason: the talks are general and might or might not apply to or be helpful for each individual member – so each person can pick the ones that feel good to them and focus on the messages in those talks.
Everyone in the meeting nodded in agreement, including the relatively high leaders.
I just want to share that with everyone here – both the statement and the unanimous acceptance of it.
Old-Timer, I agree completely. Then, in the middle of the talks, there are phrases that are repeated over and over again. Like a Mantra.
— the covenant path.
— think celestial.
— etc.
Yep, that makes it more difficult – but the concept still applies. 🙂 Culture gets in the way of the Gospel – in any religion and, without the religious focus, in many organizations.
The church leader in a closed door meeting said to ***checks notes*** take a cafeteria approach to General Conference and EVERYONE nodded in agreement! 😮 😮 😮 Personally, I need a healthier way to look at General Conference. I seem to purposely look for the “buss” words instead of the big picture. As I look over the individual talks, I find more meaning to the words. For example, Pres Nelson’s talk, I like the following:
“
Mortality is a master class in learning to choose the things of greatest eternal import. Far too many people live as though this life is all there is. However, your choices today will determine three things: where you will live throughout all eternity, the kind of body with which you will be resurrected, and those with whom you will live forever.” Then he adds: “So think celestial.” I missed everything that preceded the buss words.
If not the thread for it, I can move my comment to the other general conference thread, but Nelson’s talk created quite a stir. I think members that have left and even members that haven’t are feeling more and more comfortable calling out things that they feel are harmful in general conference messages. I wonder whether that phenomenon will create more space for people in the church, create more and more situations like the one you shared Old-Timer.
My experience is that more often than not the very talks that this community finds so difficult end up being active members’ favorite talks that get referenced the most. Those talks are also often presented as “this way or the highway.”
People need more space for things said during general conference to not apply. Maybe non-members and members alike being more vocal about their true inner feelings about the talks will create that space.
One thing that helps me with conference is the expectations I have going into conference. Generally there will be two or three bad talks, two or three good talks, and the rest of the talks (20+) are irrelevant. I also find that the two or three talks that I feel are bad are largely predictable. They’re usually on the same subjects and say the same things. Hear enough bad talks like that and they start to movie into the irrelevant category. They’re the background noise you come to expect during any conference.
I still take issue with the way the bad talks shape the culture and the way they shape my experiences with the church at the local level. Local ward experiences would be much better if people felt more comfortable saying things like, “You know, that part of the talk hurt me…” and then maybe the discussion can be more about mourning with those that mourn and comforting those that need comfort.
Joseph Smith – Discourse, 8 Apr. 1843 wrote:I never thought it was right to call up a man and try him because he erred in doctrine. It looks too much like Methodism and not like Latter-day-Saintism. Methodists have creeds which a man must believe or be kicked out of their church. I want the liberty of believing as I please. It feels so good not to be trammeled. It doesn’t prove that a man is not a good man because he errs in doctrine.
I do love it when we find ways to create space for people at church.
I’m good with this basic concept and in practice it’s probably what I’ve done for a very long time. As Nibbler pointed out, there are usually a small number that hit home with me. If you look at the GC thread, looks like two (maybe 3) fell into that category this time. There are also a small number that I find especially irritating, and again looking at the GC thread you can see about 3 that fell into that category. The rest is mostly “meh” same old same old and I can take it or leave it (mostly leave, especially this time around). I do appreciate modern tech where I can decide which ones I like (and don’t like) without necessarily sitting through 10 hours of meetings while also not waiting a month for the printed text to come out.
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