Conference Favorite – Not Favorite

[Anonymous]

There maybe a concern that it is similar to a sporting event? Or, choosing sides in a competition.

I’m ready to boo, we don’t have a temple in our state. One temple closed (3) months this winter because there

was a lack of activity. (Nauvoo)

Has anyone participated in the “Hosanna shout” during a temple dedication? (I know this isn’t the same thing.)

I did at the Washington DC temple. It was an interesting experience.

[Anonymous]

Minyan Man wrote:

Has anyone participated in the “Hosanna shout” during a temple dedication? (I know this isn’t the same thing.)

I did at the Washington DC temple. It was an interesting experience.

Yes, I have… and that’s an interesting subject. We often conceptualize reverence as being dead silent, yet during a temple dedication, something I assume is supposed to be one of the most reverent events (due to the rarity if nothing else), and we’re instructed to shout. Kinda weird when we’re instructed to suppress emotional reactions in most scenarios, then instructed to produce an emotional reaction on cue.

Ah, introversion in the church.

Story time. When I was in a YSA ward I was the SS president. Being a YSA ward, the chapel got fairly raucous when SM was over. I remember the big stick in my craw at the time was maintaining the spirit for the start of SS. I’d bring the “problem” up during every ward council.

Now, all these years later I may be on the dead opposite side of the fence. :crazy: Coming together to interact with others… isn’t that the purpose of church? I can stay at home and be all stoic, silent, and broody over my religion. But with Holland’s talk and Nelson’s talk… public brood-idity it is. :thumbdown:

And this coming from a guy that ducks out of meetings immediately after the closing prayer. I’m not big on church socializing, but I’m glad it happens.

[Anonymous]

Quote:

I think Pres. Nelson sees GC meetings as worship services (perhaps as sacred as Sacrament Meeting), so he doesn’t like shouts “disrupting” the spirit of the meetings. I think in his mind laughter at a joke is one thing; I think he sees shouting, even in joy, as different.

Curt, I’m sure you’re right. And President Nelson certainly has the right to impose whatever standard of behavior that he feels is appropriate. But I worry about trickle down effects. I don’t think our leaders (at all levels) sometimes realize the influence they can have. President Nelson shushes the audience and now leaders of the same mind may demand silence from their congregations as well but not just during announcements but throughout the meeting (perhaps focusing on the crying children that are always present in many wards). Now, I recognize that this is not that likely to happen (except in a few extreme cases) but the “law of unintended and unexpected consequences” hovers over all our decisions.

Quote:

Has anyone participated in the “Hosanna shout” during a temple dedication? (I know this isn’t the same thing.)

I did at the Washington DC temple. It was an interesting experience.

I have quite a few times. I found it weird…not because of the shout but because of how stilted and unnatural it is. Same thing, why not allow (at the appropriate time) cheers of joy at the dedication? I can’t see the early Saints awkwardly flipping their white handkerchiefs back and forth at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple (or at any of the other early temples). I know I’m off topic (sorry) but when did expressions of joy become so formalized in our Church?

[Anonymous]

I understand and agree, Gerald.

[Anonymous]

Quote:

But I worry about trickle down effects. I don’t think our leaders (at all levels) sometimes realize the influence they can have. President Nelson shushes the audience and now leaders of the same mind may demand silence from their congregations as well but not just during announcements but throughout the meeting (perhaps focusing on the crying children that are always present in many wards)

It does happen.

Elder Bednar stood up an revoked and apostolic blessing he had given during a Stake Conference because the congregation at the end of the meeting were too loud.

I had a former SP who loved to build upon something. Anything. His favorite was to grant minuscule budgets to wards. Then send the remaining back to Salt Lake to be used “to build the Kingdom”.

Elder Holland commented on flip flops in GC a decade or more ago. Suddenly any girl who showed up in them got a mention, or eye roll.

I love reverence, for reverence sake. I also know (and stated it in RS this past week) for many members Sunday is the only time we see our church friends. (Hint – I don’t live in Utah.) We aren’t throwing parties. We are “ministering” – “greeting each other with a kiss (nudge,etc.)”.

My Jesus would be doing this. Heck his chapel was on a rock, boat, beach, desert.

[Anonymous]

Didn’t watch it enough to have an opinion, and don’t have plans to.

[Anonymous]

I was disappointed last Sunday in that we took turns reading Holland’s talk during PH. I had planned on showing up in sweatpants and a t-shirt the Sunday we covered that talk (yeah, I can be juvenile. ) but leadership didn’t announce what we’d be discussing ahead of time.

It actually turned into a good discussion because the person giving the lesson introduced that portion of the talk as something that should be used for introspection, not judgment. :thumbup:

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