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Elder Keaton quickly is becoming one of my favorites. I absolutely LOVED his talk, especially the last few minutes. His direct statement that peace in Sacrament Meeting can be difficult to experience with young kids and those with special needs. My wife said she wishes that talk had been given when we were young parents.
I also love Elder Buckner’s talk thus far, especially his focus on loving everyone despite differences in a world that divides so regularly. “We must live our faith,” focusing on loving and serving people, is so needed. Our unique talents can unite us if we truly love people. “There is room for everyone.” We aren’t living that fully, but I love that it is being said.
It is our responsibility to be one by accepting others no matter our differences, not others’ responsibility to accept us.(Not a direct quote; my summary.)
I’m assuming Kearon is speaking to a church that he’d like to will into existence because it’s certainly not a church I’ve experienced. Buckner’s talk was also aspirational. I appreciate calling for a space for people to be different. It’s just not my experience. Like at all. We’re still in the mindset of running off people that think, believe, dress, and love differently that we do. A lot of that culture is driven from the top down. Can the church change to be more accommodating?
I appreciate those two talks, even if they don’t come close to my lived experiences. I’m assuming that they feel similarly and are asking people to make a change.
My only qualm with Buckner’s talk was his all too common conflation of the church and the Gospel. Yes, the Gospel is for everyone and the church could be – but it isn’t. Elder Goury was mostly about being worthy (my perception anyway).
…and the very next talk is about successfully convincing someone to take off their sunglasses in church. But we’re welcoming of people that are different.
Different people with different personalities and perspectives. I am okay with and appreciate aspirational, especially if more voices are giving aspirational messages. Leaders who see things differently are necessary for changes to occur, and changes have occurred more often and quickly in the last few years than I have seen in the past.
Everyone here probably will want to skip Elder Soares’ talk. It is quite exclusionary in nature. The irony of citing the Pharisees rigidity and self-righteous judgment as a good example of how people need to reject their natural biases and follow Jesus will be missed by most people.
I have to say how much I love the youth choir and the focus of the songs they are singing. Old-Timer wrote:
Elder Keaton quickly is becoming one of my favorites.
I quite like him. Another thing worth considering, he wasn’t called to apostleship in a vacuum. That leaders tapped him to be an apostle gives me some hope.
I like that Elder Holland mentioned Jesus was not a “handsome” man. If we could use images more likely to match that description, I would rejoice. I was hoping his talk would take the truly balanced approach he mentioned. I love every part of it, except the implication many will hear that those who leave the Church fail. He didn’t say that, and I am happy he didn’t say it. He focused on the principles.
Overall, I really liked his talk. My only concern is how some will hear it, not what he actually said.
I love that a Black woman, Sister Browning, is giving a scientific, intellectual explanation of our solar system as a metaphor for our eternal progression without a complete knowledge of all things. Asking questions is not a weakness but a precursor to growth and new wisdom. We need intellectual understanding of the currently knowable AND faithful seeking of the unknown.
The sacred space between what we now now and what we will know in the future.
Our individual obedience to what we understand will allow us to understand more. I love that she framed that at the individual level of our own understanding. Her talking about following God’s commandments followed that framing and understanding.
Some questions may persist until God provides enlightenment. Our own questions can bring new knowledge.
There are a few sentences that could be interpreted negatively, but I absolutely loved her talk.
I understand Elder Hales’ “mortality works” concept, and I respect it greatly, even though I could quibble about its application to those who live truly horrible lives. I really like his focus on trials not being punishment and that, in the end, “mortality works”. He experienced great pain and shame that led to emotional issues. I love his openness about that.
He referenced Paul’s thorn of the flesh that he couldn’t conquer in life, which is one of my favorite verses.
I love his sharing of his mother’s life and her trials – and his vision of her after her death. This hits me harder than most, due to my own parents’ issues.
Elder Budge is focusing on creating time for spiritual health as well as physical health – and slowing down, contemplation, rest, quiet time, and peaceful time. Being still is necessary to good overall health. Being still requires effort to focus our minds – and he then mentioned meditation. I like how he is using Japanese characters to explain what he is saying.
This is another talk I will remember and use.
My own favorite reason for going to the temple is exactly what he is describing in his talk: a chance to separate, have stillness time, and see what comes to my mind and heart. The concept applies to other settings, but I do believe the concept is critical. Even Jesus separated for quiet time to be with God. “Always being in motion can contribute to commotion.”
Elder Stevenson mentioned 1820-1830, then compared it to the next 10 years. I am not sure where he is taking this. We will see. First, he mentioned temple open houses scheduled in the next 10 years. He then mentioned celebrating the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Church in 2030. He then mentioned the Olympics in SLC in 2034. So far, I think this is a massive stretch as a comparison to the founding decade.
He is repeating the “chosen generation of youth theme for the last days” theme. It is hard to accept that every generation of youth is “THE chosen generation” – since it has been said for a long time.
This is not a troubling talk for those here, I think, but it certainly isn’t one that will be special.
Elder Wilcox – “Children’s Letters to God” Question to address: Why must Latter-Day Saints live so differently than others? Many valiant disciples of Christ who are not LDS. I like that direct statement. I like his reference to forefathers AND foremothers.
Inheritance as a joint-heir of Christ to love and serve others. The birth right does not mean better; it means to serve and be trusted.
The cruise ship example of crew members to serve and care for the other passengers is a good one for a lot of people. My only real issue is him implying it automatically brings peace and happiness.
I like the overall framing. My biggest wording issue was the statement that there is a greater portion of his grace for faithful members. I see that as a misapplication of that key word. Other than that, I have no deep issues with this talk.
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