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Given Ballard’s talk and a prior talk (forget which) I’m guessing leaders got the memo that single members of the church feel like they’re marginalized and don’t belong, even more specifically that they feel like they’re treated like children. They mentioned in two different talks that singles now make up over 50% of membership and that we need to do better to help single members feel welcome.
There was also a recent announcement that single men can now hold a few leadership callings than they could previous:
Quote:Single adult males in young single adult or single adult wards may now serve as counselors in both ward and stake presidencies. They may also serve as high councilors in the stake.
I found some redeeming content in Elder Anderson’s talk. I might deliver it this way: The worth of an anti-abortion position is directly tied to the ongoing, needed and beneficial aid one gives to expectant mothers, who lack clear resources for long term care of their child.
I felt Brother Renlund led off with a terrible analogy about overcoming adversity – where siblings grow up in a bizarrely fictional world were everything is equal. We could add a dime’s worth of reality by having the girl get 70% of the allowance her brother receives for the same chores. But then he brought it all home in some powerful ways. We should be Catchers of Stones hurled at the weak and vulnerable – this should include stones hurled by other members.
I enjoyed Elder Renlund’s talk, especially the concept of Stone Catchers. We have a long way to go just to get to the point of not throwing stones, but I really like the image of catching them as they are thrown at people whom others see as sinners who should be punished in some way. My summary of the first two sessions: A good number of really good talks, some typically good talks, and a couple of really problematic talks.
Also, Elder Renlund has aged a lot visually. He looked like he had lost a lot of weight in a non-healthy way. I was shocked at the physical change and wondered if he had been sick. I knew Elder Gong had COVID, and I wondered if Elder Renlund did, as well.
Old-Timer wrote:
Also, Elder Renlund has aged a lot visually. He looked like he had lost a lot of weight in a non-healthy way. I was shocked at the physical change and wondered if he had been sick. I knew Elder Gong had COVID, and I wondered if Elder Renlund did, as well.Brother Eyring’s gait looks an awful lot like mine when my back goes out.
I wonder if they’ll announce any new temples again. First conference I saw was in ’91 … only 45 temples back then iirc.
The 200th conference in 2030 should be quite the event if I’m around to see it.
I recorded Conference this year and haven’t watched any of the sessions. I am going to rely on you guys to tell me which talks I absolutely should not miss, which ones were just “okay” and which ones I should positively avoid at all costs. (My mind goes back a number of years to Sister Beck’s talk, “Mother Who Know,” which just about caused me to never watch Conference again.) I know that, as I write this, we’ve only had the Saturday session, but I really do hope some of you good people will help me out here. Good, solid Easter talks in this session so far. (Sunday morning) Also, I absolutely LOVE the intentional, explicit, international focus on having speakers from many countries – not one of whom so far has been from the USA. I wish they were speaking in their native languages, with subtitles, but I appreciate the diversity in this session.
Finally, hearing “I Am a Child of God” in many languages, phrase-by-phrase, was awesome!
It’s a shame that a session nearly completely dedicated to Jesus ended on that talk from President Nelson. I can’t really fault him though, he just does not understand a faith crisis. Ugh. American exceptionalism and near worship of the US constitution and the founding fathers in the church is nauseating. I don’t like the beginning of Pres. Oaks’ talk, for multiple reasons, or the focus on one nation’s laws – but I appreciate the disclaimers he is including about the US Constitution. I will wait and see how he addresses the 5 principles he just mentioned. So far, I am not seeing how the principles are going to be related to the Gospel.
All the same, what a topic for EASTER. Yep, there certainly is that. 
I also don’t like even the idea that Christians are being persecuted – and, while he hasn’t gone there yet, I am concerned it is going to happen. (If he ties the idea that there should be no loyalty to an individual to recent developments in the USA, I will be happy – but I have no confidence that will happen.)
He just hinted at gay marriage, even if he didn’t say it. This is going downhill quickly for me.
I would suggest at this point that anyone who is looking for recommendations on talks to read skip this one. There is some good stuff, but it is going to be twisted badly by so many of my friends and loved ones.
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