Let’s talk CONFERENCE

[Anonymous]

SilentDawning wrote:

…These are my hopes as well. When I heard the new convert rates were declining a few years ago, I was actually a little thrilled. We are so stuck in our old way of doing things, that it’s hard to get any kind of positive change, even if it is morally neutral. At least, this was the experience when I was a leader in my current Ward. When activity rates fall, new converts stop joining in the same droves in spite of our best efforts, and efforts to get the members to intensify their efforts fails, they may think about looking inside…Sadly, the approach often used is to drill down on the members to change or give more…If they really listened to people like us, I wonder what changes they might make from a policy/organizational standpoint to make the Church’s implementation of the gospel a more positive experience for new members, and us veterans?

I think they pay some attention to the complaints and criticisms of disaffected members and my guess is that this is one reason some of them have made comments that there is no middle ground because the BoM supposedly has to be either the literal word of God or a complete fraud. Some things would be hard to change when looking at them from a typical TBM perspective but I think it would be fairly easy for them to make a few tweaks in what they emphasize in lessons, shorten or eliminate some meetings, and reduce the time they ask members to spend on callings and home/visiting teaching.

[Anonymous]

I would add — increasing Ward budget and also access to certain services, like LDS Social services. That service has never been very accessible in my view. Plus, altering home and visiting teaching so its truly voluntary, with measurement made on a “best efforts basis”. I think all these meetings which train leaders could focus more on how to treat the local leadership so they want to serve again, and try to build some more accountability to the members into the overall experience. Not overt accountability, but at least stay in touch with how the membership is feeling as a whole. I also think better meetings, with resources sunk into improving the teaching and speaking ability of the members would help.

And if I may beef for a moment. My daughter is a beehive president. She was called many months ago. I approached the YW presidency and asked how I could be a supportive parent for her Beehive leadership calling. I offered to coach her behind the scenes, help her with meeting preparation — anything to use the experience to expand on her strengths. They said they’d get me a calendar of events. Which I thougth was odd – because SHE should be doing the calendaring and planning.

After 4 months in the calling, I asked her what leadership coaching they had dong with her and she said “nothing — all we do is go to BYC and the Bishop asks us to go after the less actives”. She also mentioned the activities are lame, poorly planned, and that when she invites friends to them, they don’t want to come again.

I realize the time and money we invest in Church responsibiilties is voluntary, but I would like to think that programs should run better than this. There are times I feel the Wards are cash cows which fund the higher up operations and bare local necessities, but there is little return on that investment in the form of good programs.

It’s almost as if the leadership’s attitude is “We don’t mind if you have a good program”.

[Anonymous]

DevilsAdvocate wrote:

… like Ray says it’s easy for people to see the same exact thing very differently

… especially on the internet. Truer words were never spoken.

And for the record, I was more than a little happy to see cwald back. Hopefully he won’t disappear again for long. Maybe he knew what I was talking about.

[Anonymous]

doug wrote:

DevilsAdvocate wrote:

… like Ray says it’s easy for people to see the same exact thing very differently

… especially on the internet. Truer words were never spoken.

I visited a Buddhist temple last week, the sensei taught that when I speak to you, you will only understand 10% of what I mean through my words. When I write something, you will only understand 1%. The True message is between the lines.

This seems to make sense in how we can draw variation of meanings out of the scriptures and out of conference (and out of doug).

[Anonymous]

PiperAlpha wrote:

This seems to make sense in how we can draw variation of meanings out of the scriptures and out of conference (and out of doug).

🙂 I will keep that foremost in mind, especially if I am ever again tempted to try any humor here.

Anyway, regarding conference, did anyone read the latest puremormonism.blogspot.com offering regarding GC? Once again, I thought Rock was right on the money. I, also, was unimpressed with Pres Monson’s derisive comment and tone about ‘all you need is love’, and annoyed by the resulting all-too-willing chuckling from the audience, but it followed the tone and spirituality of most of the rest of what I heard. Sorry, but I did not enjoy conference at all this time.

Regarding humor in GC, over the various sessions, I heard several outbursts of laughter/chuckling but was somehow able to maintain a completely straight face myself. Did anyone else hear anything funny? I know this is probably not the best time to put my own sense of humor forward as some kind of standard, but what exaclty is going on in the conference center that’s so funny?

[Anonymous]

Doug.

I did not take offense at your vomit comment. Nor did I find it funny. I think it is actually pretty damn accurate. For me, who has stayed away from the church for the most part for six months, and have been pretty comfortable and at peace with the decision, and then to watch conference with the “expectation” that things would have changed or have been better for me —- is yeah, like dog to his vomit. Why would I do that? I’m not saying that the church is vomit. I’m saying that for me, at this time, the analogy works.

I have no business expecting the church to evolve or change just because I want it too. It works for many many people.

No, Doug. I did not find any humor from conference or Monson’s talk. I watched about 1:45 minutes of conference last weekend. Couldn’t do anymore. I started to get sick, especially after Callister’s talk, and just had to walk away.

As far as monson’s talk goes, I was so disappointed. I just wanted to get up there and say —- “it’s not the 50’s anymore!” Yeah, the 50’s may have been a good time for white males —- but we have moved on, and I think it’s for the better. Yeah, perhaps our sexual immorality is more open today, but overall I think our morality is much much better: Less racism, less sexism, less homophobia, and more humanitarian, more environmentalism, more universalism, more gender equality, more freedom throughout the world, more democracy, more acceptance and more tolerance. That is just my opinion.

[Anonymous]

doug wrote:

🙂 I will keep that foremost in mind, especially if I am ever again tempted to try any humor here.

🙂 I love your comments doug, and your sense of humor! Truer words were never spoken!!

[Anonymous]

doug wrote:

…I, also, was unimpressed with Pres Monson’s derisive comment and tone about ‘all you need is love’, and annoyed by the resulting all-too-willing chuckling from the audience, but it followed the tone and spirituality of most of the rest of what I heard. Sorry, but I did not enjoy conference at all this time…Regarding humor in GC, over the various sessions, I heard several outbursts of laughter/chuckling but was somehow able to maintain a completely straight face myself. Did anyone else hear anything funny? I know this is probably not the best time to put my own sense of humor forward as some kind of standard, but what exaclty is going on in the conference center that’s so funny?

I thought this conference had some entertaining comments, just not the ones most of the audience was laughing at. To me, most of the real humor was unintended. I’m sorry but I can’t help but think the idea that finding a quarter just so you have enough loose change to buy a piece of fried chicken was a specific answer to your prayers is downright silly. Someone could do entire stand-up comic routines about this if there were more people paying attention to what these leaders say that don’t already think it would be terrible blasphemy to openly criticize or question their ideas.

[Anonymous]

Based on the weak economy, threats of unemployment (or existing unemployment) to members, and the world wide turmoil…what do you think the GA’s had to say to help us this time around?

[Anonymous]

DevilsAdvocate wrote:

I’m sorry but I can’t help but think the idea that finding a quarter just so you have enough loose change to buy a piece of fried chicken was a specific answer to your prayers is downright silly. Someone could do entire stand-up comic routines about this if there were more people paying attention to what these leaders say that don’t already think it would be terrible blasphemy to openly criticize or question their ideas.

I recently heard a comic do a routine on how he gets prayerful in the casino. “I don’t even want to win, I just want my money back. If You could see it in your heart to help me out – I will be done.” And then when he gets the card he needs to win, he sees it as a sign… a sign that God wants him to keep going! 😆

[Anonymous]

To answer SD:

Quote:

Sometimes you might be tempted to think as I did from time to time in my youth: “The way things are going, the world’s going to be over with. The end of the world is going to come before I get to where I should be.” Not so! You can look forward to doing it right—getting married, having a family, seeing your children and grandchildren, maybe even great-grandchildren.– Elder Packer

I like this because I really have a problem with dooms-dayers and the LDS culture (at least where I live) is really bad for that.

[Anonymous]

Ho Hum! I go on with life. Enjoyed the cult of personalities.

[Author]

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