cinepro Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 (edited) Sacrament Meeting, July 24 ("Pioneer Day")Youth Speaker is asked to speak on a pioneer related subject. He stands at the podium:Good morning brothers and sisters. My talk today is on how the pioneers' example helps me have faith in Jesus Christ. Do you know what the pioneer secret to a happy marriage was?.....Nametags.(Silence. I had no idea what he was talking about either. So he has to explain it....)Did that go over your heads? It's because of all the wives they had.(Mercy chuckle. Talk continues...) Edited July 25, 2011 by cinepro
juliann Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 That is right up there with I sure hope polygamy is over 'cause I can't even handle one wife!
bluebell Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 Well, he tried.Most people don't associate pioneer day talks with polygamy without anything leading up to the connection.
Mark Beesley Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 Sacrament Meeting, July 24 ("Pioneer Day")Youth Speaker is asked to speak on a pioneer related subject. He stands at the podium:(Silence. I had no idea what he was talking about either. So he has to explain it....)(Mercy chuckle. Talk continues...)Hadn't heard that joke before. Funny.
BCSpace Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 Give the young man a break. Plural marriage is part of our heritage and doctrine and it isn't going away.
alter idem Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 (Mercy chuckle. Talk continues...) super inappropriate. It's always a good idea for parents to read through their children's talks.
Areabird Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 super inappropriate. It's always a good idea for parents to read through their children's talks. What was inappropriate about it? 2
Mortal Man Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 He needs to substitute "Brigham Young's" for "the pioneer" to help people make the polygamy connection. 1
CARPE DIEM Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 super inappropriate. It's always a good idea for parents to read through their children's talks. actually due to the long history of the church and plural marriage it was actually funny and meant in fun as well IMO.
etana Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 If you tell yer wife to shut up and t'other'n keeps yammerin anyways, you might be a Utard.
CARPE DIEM Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 Give the young man a break. Plural marriage is part of our heritage and doctrine and it isn't going away.Whenever I talked to anyone about the Mormon church this was usually the first item on the agenda!
LeSellers Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 (edited) actually due to the long history of the church and plural marriage it was actually funny and meant in fun as well IMO. You weren't there.Lehi Edited July 25, 2011 by LeSellers
CARPE DIEM Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 You weren't there.LehiCorrect I wasn't at that Sacrament meeting, don't even know where it was, but I'm sure when preparing his speech he truly didn't mean to be crass or disrespectful!
elguanteloko Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 (edited) Sacrament Meeting, July 24 ("Pioneer Day")Youth Speaker is asked to speak on a pioneer related subject. He stands at the podium:(Silence. I had no idea what he was talking about either. So he has to explain it....)(Mercy chuckle. Talk continues...) LOL! The whole thing was funnier than the joke. I would have laughed at that. Edited July 26, 2011 by elguanteloko
CARPE DIEM Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 LOL! The whole thing was funnier than the joke. I would have laughed at that.I wonder if this kid will have to live with this for the rest of his life and it will effect his public speaking aspirations?
Messenger Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 That is right up there with I sure hope polygamy is over 'cause I can't even handle one wife!The theory is that they cancel each other out.
volgadon Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 At least he tried to liven up his talk and inflect some personality into it. 1
Jeff K. Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 There are a number of things in the world that are funny but maybe inappropriate for Sacrament meeting. Polygamy is a side issue as it relates to doctrine (though it looms large in the minds of anti-Mormons), it was a small part of our history in a small part of our population, which was heavily penalized by a powerful government. In other words, in relation to our doctrine, its small... The joke is funny, but not necessarily appropriate for sacrament. 1
alter idem Posted July 27, 2011 Posted July 27, 2011 There are a number of things in the world that are funny but maybe inappropriate for Sacrament meeting. Polygamy is a side issue as it relates to doctrine (though it looms large in the minds of anti-Mormons), it was a small part of our history in a small part of our population, which was heavily penalized by a powerful government. In other words, in relation to our doctrine, its small... For those who wondered why I thought it was inappropriate, Jeff answered it with this comment.I think we forget what Sacrament meeting is for. It should be a sacred meeting where we come together to take the Sacrament, renew our covenants and are able to feel the spirit and be taught. Some speakers will use humor and it can be fine, but too often it is not--it's definitely not if it drives the spirit away.I assume the talk was supposed to be about our pioneer heritage and the sacrifices of those who settled the Salt Lake Valley. IMO, the joke was not appropriate to the topic or the setting.I'm sorry if some felt I was harsh in my assessment, but I think our Sacrament meetings should be a place where the spirit is able to witness to the congregation the truthfulness of gospel principles. Parents can also help their children learn how to prepare a talk that is appropriate for Sacrament meeting by teaching them of its purpose and sacred nature.
David T Posted July 27, 2011 Posted July 27, 2011 super inappropriate. It's always a good idea for parents to read through their children's talks. I'm not convinced the dad didn't suggest the joke
kolipoki09 Posted July 28, 2011 Posted July 28, 2011 I think we forget what Sacrament meeting is for. It should be a sacred meeting where we come together to take the Sacrament, renew our covenants and are able to feel the spirit and be taught. Some speakers will use humor and it can be fine, but too often it is not--it's definitely not if it drives the spirit away.My personal motto: Don't say anything J. Golden Kimball wouldn't say. Two weeks ago when I spoke in Church, I mentioned that I, like Terryl Givens, have a tremendous capacity for doubt and consider it a spiritual gift. The ward thought that was funny...I didn't. I also quoted Joanna Brooks, but that's another story all together.
bluebell Posted July 28, 2011 Posted July 28, 2011 Generally speaking, i think we need to do away with the cultural idea that you have to start your talk with something funny. I can think of quite a few examples in the last two years where someone started a talk with something like "I know it's standard to begin your talk with a joke, so..." and then went on to tell the equivilant of a 'why did the chicken cross the road' joke and we all had to mercy laugh while feeling a bit awkward.I know people do that because of nerves, and i can understand that. Also, there's nothing wrong with sincerely beginning your talk with something that also happens to be humerous, in my opinion. But saying something just because you want to be funny doesn't ever seem to work in sacrament meeting. A sacrament talk isn't stand up comedy and it becomes uncomfortable pretty fast when someone tries to go that route.
Jeff K. Posted July 28, 2011 Posted July 28, 2011 Starting the talk with something funny is a basic attempt at putting the audience at ease and making them more receptive and open to the message. As I say it is "basic". There are better approaches, but these are not always discussed or taught.
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