Thoughts On The Broadcast

[BCSpace]

Ha ha! I am red-faced. Guess I got a great review and stil must watch the current one. Glad I did for a reminder on the doctrines sake though...

By the way, it looks like President Packer really did say the line that is apparently scandalizing John Dehlin and his following: "[the] thing that is of most worth for a woman in this life . . . [is] to be the wife and the mother of the children of a worthy holder of the priesthood."

Cool. I'm sure it sticks in the craws of certain folks.

Edited February 12, 2012 by BCSpace

[Freedom]

A few great gems came out of this conference. One was the point that we do not perform service to get into heaven but rather, service is the way of life in heaven. This life is as much a probationary state as it is a training ground, preparing us for life in the Celestial Kingdom.

Another great point was the scriptures provide the opportunity to prepare the heart and mind to receive divine revelation. The pinnacle of the gospel is not the scriptures and conference talks, but our own personal revelatory experiences. All the tools and programs of the church are to lead us to this point. People who get hung up on the trivial challenges of the scriptures or church history are missing the point.

[Nevo]

A few great gems came out of this conference. One was the point that we do not perform service to get into heaven but rather, service is the way of life in heaven.

I hope they gave a hat tip to Marion G. Romney: "Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made." That's one of my favorite quotes.

[Duncan]

I hope they gave a hat tip to Marion G. Romney: "Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made." That's one of my favorite quotes.

they did actually, Elder Christofferson made mention of him! They had a QA with him and Elder Perry with Elder Perry asking Elder Christofferson questions and he made mention of that

[ERMD]

I liked the quote, "We go to the temple to make covenants, and we go home to keep them."

We have our ward conference in 2 weeks, and my assigned topic is, "What it means to do your duty." I'm using that quote!

[Duncan]

I liked the quote, "We go to the temple to make covenants, and we go home to keep them."

We have our ward conference in 2 weeks, and my assigned topic is, "What it means to do your duty." I'm using that quote!

it comes from Elder J. Ballard Washburn's 1995 GC talk

http://www.lds.org/ensign/1995/05/the-temple-is-a-family-affair?lang=eng

[wenglund]

I hope they gave a hat tip to Marion G. Romney: "Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made." That's one of my favorite quotes.

A very inspiring point.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[rongo]

We have our ward conference in 2 weeks, and my assigned topic is, "What it means to do your duty." I'm using that quote!

Do they assign you your topic for ward conference? My stake presidency lets me talk for 15 minutes on whatever I want to (and the stake president talks for 15 minutes).

Our stake did make a change about a year ago, though, and now assigns high council topics on high council Sunday. Prior to that, we gave them topics, which I really liked.

[rongo]

I was gratified to note Dallin H Oaks continue to support what the Church has said about it's own doctrine and refer to the Handbook as "Doctrinal" about 4:20 into his talk.

Actually, if you carefully consider the counsel in the first two "new CHI rollout" training broadcasts with President Uchtdorf's concluding remarks on Saturday, it seems to me you are being Pharisaical about the handbooks, BCSpace. Not to take anything away from them, of course.

Uchtdorf said that the handbooks should be a springboard to revelation in the same sense that the scriptures should be for us. Not "CHI = scriptures." He also referred to our tendency to overly regimentalize and complicate things, and specifically quoted Paul regarding the letter killing, but the spirit giving life.

[rongo]

Here are some things that stood out for me:

1) Significant time was spent by Elders Perry and Christofferson addressing "Are Mormons Christian?" and working together with other faiths on common ground, which I found significant, especially in the context of the rest of the broadcast. Clearly important enough to address, but off-topic with respect to the remainder of the material.

2) Several from President Uchtdorf:

a) caution against the tendency in the Church to complicate and regimentalize

b) when we can answer the question of "why" in anything we do, it will automatically clarify the answers to who, what, when, where, and how.

c) regardless of what our past success or experiences have been, it all comes down to "what have you done for me lately?" i.e., we can't rest on our laurels and grow complacent, even when we have done some good things in the past.

d) "growth" vs. real growth (numbers and statistics vs. actual strength

e) true "key indicators" can not be measured

f) tendency to overly romanticize expectations (i.e., "back of the Ensign" stories). I found this interesting in light of the dramatic clips/vignettes. I know many members who worry that something is wrong with them because their day-to-day service in the Church doesn't produce dramatic clip or "back of the Ensign stories."

Edited February 13, 2012 by rongo

[Duncan]

not to derail this thread but assigning topics is dull and boring and lacks well everything. It should be whatever the HC feels inspired to talk on.

[Duncan]

Here are some things that stood out for me:

1) Significant time was spent by Elders Perry and Christofferson addressing "Are Mormons Christian?" and working together with other faiths on common ground, which I found significant, especially in the context of the rest of the broadcast. Clearly important enough to address, but off-topic with respect to the remainder of the material.

2) Several from President Uchtdorf:

a) caution against the tendency in the Church to complicate and regimentalize

b) when we can answer the question of "why" in anything we do, it will automatically clarify the answers to who, what, when, where, and how.

c) regardless of what our past success or experiences have been, it all comes down to "what have you done for me lately?" i.e., we can't rest on our laurels and grow complacent, even when we have done some good things in the past.

d) "growth" vs. real growth (numbers and statistics vs. actual strength

e) true "key indicators" can not be measured

f) tendency to overly romanticize expectations (i.e., "back of the Ensign" stories). I found this interesting in light of the dramatic clips/vignettes. I know many members who worry that something is wrong with them because their day-to-day service in the Church doesn't produce dramatic clip or "back of the Ensign stories."

I just wonder why they even have key indicators if the real indicators can't be indicated as indicated at the broadcast. What is more I wonder if the GA are going to lighten up on the Mission Presidents in terms of baptisms and the MP's lighetning up on the APs and so on and so on, if not then what was the point of that part of the broadcast

Edited February 13, 2012 by Duncan

[rongo]

not to derail this thread but assigning topics is dull and boring and lacks well everything. It should be whatever the HC feels inspired to talk on.

The original thought was to put the HC "at the bishop's disposal" to address things he felt needed to be addressed. Under the change, the emphasis is on stake presidency priorities.

My assigned topics are never boring . . .

I see what you are saying, though.I agree that both approaches tend to confine the HC speaker.

[rongo]

I had a regular, everyday couple (no leadership callings) come to the broadcast and sheepishly ask me if it was all right that they came.

I said, "Are you kidding? I think everyone who thinks they might be interested should feel free to attend."

[mfbukowski]

Duncan posted a link to a textual summary, here's another one:

http://www.lds.org/c...growth?lang=eng

and here is a link to the broadcast itself: http://www.lds.org/b...012/02?lang=eng

Thanks- I think the problem was when I was looking, where I was looking, it wasn't up yet. I am not sure how BC quoted it so quickly, and he didn't provide a link.

Edited February 13, 2012 by mfbukowski

[Duncan]

there wereonly about 30 folks at ours! my sister's stake had less then that and so they are going to rebroadcast it, they are in BC so maybe everyone was watching "the Beachcombers" or something!

[mfbukowski]

there wereonly about 30 folks at ours! my sister's stake had less then that and so they are going to rebroadcast it, they are in BC so maybe everyone was watching "the Beachcombers" or something!

That must have been uncomfortable for BC.

No wonder he is so "large" on what constitutes doctrine.

[Damien the Leper]

I was gratified to note Dallin H Oaks continue to support what the Church has said about it's own doctrine and refer to the Handbook as "Doctrinal" about 4:20 into his talk.

Awwwkwaaarrrd.

[bluebell]

I went and thought it was pretty good. The part that i thought was awkward was where Elder Perry and Elder Christoferson(sp?) did the joint talk, where Perry asked questions and Christoferson answered them. That just seemed weird and I didn't really see the point of it.

I loved that video of the deacon quorum's president though. So touching.

[sweetpotatoh]

not to derail this thread but assigning topics is dull and boring and lacks well everything. It should be whatever the HC feels inspired to talk on.

An assigned topic wont stop the H.G. from insporing someone. If the HC is supposed to talk on something different then the Holy Ghost will inspire them. Assigned topics don't necesarily limit inspiration.

Edited February 14, 2012 by sweetpotatoh

[ERMD]

it comes from Elder J. Ballard Washburn's 1995 GC talk

http://www.lds.org/e...affair?lang=eng

That's it.

[Duncan]

That's it.

http://sacredsymbolic.com/gospel-symbolic-resources/j-ballard-washburn/

there is even his 1995 GC appearance

[Duncan]

I went and thought it was pretty good. The part that i thought was awkward was where Elder Perry and Elder Christoferson(sp?) did the joint talk, where Perry asked questions and Christoferson answered them. That just seemed weird and I didn't really see the point of it.

I loved that video of the deacon quorum's president though. So touching.

one thing I liked about that segment was it didn't seemed rehearsed and boy Elder Christofferson must have been like oh man give me some easy ones! but yeah that part was a bit different. I was wanting to hear more about "real growth" and possibly some new policies or something but I did love Pres. Uchtdorf's message!

[rongo]

I just wonder why they even have key indicators if the real indicators can't be indicated as indicated at the broadcast. What is more I wonder if the GA are going to lighten up on the Mission Presidents in terms of baptisms and the MP's lighetning up on the APs and so on and so on, if not then what was the point of that part of the broadcast

A man after my own heart! During the 1990 change in budgeting and finance in the Church, President Packer said this:

I once thought the family was unfairly neglected in the Church, particularly in the organization. We have Melchizedek Priesthood quorums to foster the interest of men, the Relief Society for the sisters. We have Aaronic Priesthood quorums for boys, Young Women for girls, Primary for children, and so on . . . But for the family there is no such thing, not so much as a committee. That family has been everybody’s business. Everybody’s business, as we know, is nobody’s business. I . . . worry as we design programs to fit the weak, unstable family, scheduling for men, women, children, youth, young adults, singles, everything, with too little attention paid to the effect it has on families.

I remember when some pressed for the written form so families could report their compliance with the family home evening program. We did not permit it. And to this day we have some who want to program formal interviews between parents and their children.

I once wondered if we should create an agency to represent the family. But on more serious reflection, I changed my view. Some things cannot be counted and should not be programmed. Matters with deepest doctrinal significance must be left to married couples and parents to decide for themselves . . . We cannot program individual and family prayer . . . The family is apart from and above all other organizations and, under the sealing authority, more enduring than them all.

. . . The family may suffer both neglect and intrusion because of our penchant to program everything . . .

I have but to ask one “what if” question to convince you . . . What if, in the correlation process, we had organized a general board of the family? The very thought of it sends chills of horror through my being

Often, we are deluged with "key indicator" reports and reporting requirements. I have wondered aloud what the apostle Paul would have thought about "key indicator" reports, numbers reports, etc. I raised some eyebrows in my stake (with the stake presidency and other bishops) by refusing to set goals that involve other people's agency (i.e., monthly baptismal goals, etc.). Our goals are things we can control and work on (i.e., sharing the gospel regularly and naturally with people), but even then they are not really "reportable" through numbers. My experience is the missionary work ebbs and flows, regardless of goals and reports. Sometimes there is a rash of lessons and baptisms, and there are also dry spells ---- that's just how it works. Our focus is on helping our members be and become missionaries, and the "numbers" will take care of themselves.

Noah and Mormon were outstanding missionaries with dismal "numbers" ----- their quality as missionaries could not be measured by "numbers" or reports.

[Duncan]

A man after my own heart! During the 1990 change in budgeting and finance in the Church, President Packer said this:

Often, we are deluged with "key indicator" reports and reporting requirements. I have wondered aloud what the apostle Paul would have thought about "key indicator" reports, numbers reports, etc. I raised some eyebrows in my stake (with the stake presidency and other bishops) by refusing to set goals that involve other people's agency (i.e., monthly baptismal goals, etc.). Our goals are things we can control and work on (i.e., sharing the gospel regularly and naturally with people), but even then they are not really "reportable" through numbers. My experience is the missionary work ebbs and flows, regardless of goals and reports. Sometimes there is a rash of lessons and baptisms, and there are also dry spells ---- that's just how it works. Our focus is on helping our members be and become missionaries, and the "numbers" will take care of themselves.

Noah and Mormon were outstanding missionaries with dismal "numbers" ----- their quality as missionaries could not be measured by "numbers" or reports.

we'll have lunch sometime and talk some more! you drive I'll pay!