Priesthood Session Of General Conference

[LDSToronto]

I've never been yelled at but Elder Packer clearly preached repentance to a group of us priesthood holders at a BYU regional conference back in the 90s. I shared his counsel with my wife (a brave move) and she's held me to it ever since.

There is some value to having a gathering with "just the guys" to be able to lean and speak frankly about guy issues. Before the million man march or oathkeepers- we have been doing this for decades.

What types of 'guy issues' are discussed at Priesthood meetings? I don't recall anything that is particularly 'guy-oriented'...

Some observations about the value in my life include:

The opportunity for Scouts to bring up sensitive issues about dating and women during informal discussions at camp or during meetings.

Men & boys have been talking about girls since, well, forever... And I've never heard anything in priesthood that I haven't heard general sessions.

The opportunity for men and their sons to talk about the priesthood without worrying about who is listening

Who would be listening that shouldn't?

The chance to learn how to be a manly man by respecting women and repenting of worldly lusts in intimate conversations with fathers and brothers

What you are describing are private chats between parent and child. Not public meetings. Maybe that's were I am confused.

H.

[Pahoran]

I had a close friend baptized years ago. I took him to priesthood session only days afterward. He was visibly uncomfortable and finally asked, "where are all the women?"

I'm sorry, but that's just too good an opening to pass up. You should have looked at him, raised your eyebrows and, with an air of great surprise, said: "In the kitchen, of course. Where else should they be?"

You can't imagine his relief when I explained that this was like when we split into priesthood and RS during church, and it was the only "male-only" meeting during conference.

Some people have no sense of fun....

Regards,

Pahoran

[blooit]

you'd have to know the guy Pahoran... LOL - would not have gone well. He hasn't laughed in 40 years.

Then again... still would have been fun.

[rongo]

I'm sorry, but that's just too good an opening to pass up. You should have looked at him, raised your eyebrows and, with an air of great surprise, said: "In the kitchen, of course. Where else should they be?"

<slight threadjack>

That reminds me of the business that had a gym for employees to work out at. Female employees complained that they felt self-conscious being with the men and wanted a separate gym. Corporate complied, and provided them their own gym. Then, the women complained that they had been given old equipment. Corporate announced that they would be given brand new work-out equipment, and the excitement built for months. Finally, after making a big deal of the "grand opening," the women were let in to try out their new work-out equipment. They went in and found . . .

A wasing machine and dryer, an ironing board with an iron, and a vaccuum cleaner.

</slight threadjack>

[Calm]

Are those manuals used at all in any official capacity anymore?

My understanding is that they are primarily used with new wards in less developed (church wise as well as economically) areas, much like Gospel Fundamentals is used in places instead of Gospel Principles. Other than that, they can be used as personal resource guides just as Gospel Principles is typically for longtime members (the recent study of it by all members being atypical).

For example: http://www.lds.org/manual/the-latter-day-saint-woman-basic-manual-for-women-part-b/introduction?lang=eng

This manual provides 35 lessons related to basic gospel principles and the responsibilities of Latter-day Saint women. As prompted by the Spirit, leaders and teachers should plan and teach lessons that address the spiritual, emotional, and temporal needs of the members in their branch or ward.

This manual should be used as the instruction manual for both Relief Society and Young Women in units of the Church whereTeachings of Presidents of the Church and Young Women manuals are not yet published in the needed language. In such units, copies of this manual should be made available to all members of the Relief Society and to Young Women leaders and teachers. Local leaders should consult Information for Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders on Curriculum for the schedule showing which years part A and part B of The Latter-day Saint Woman are to be used.

In units of the Church where Teachings of Presidents of the Churchand Young Women manuals are available, this manual should be used (1) as a resource for Relief Society instruction on first Sundays and for home, family, and personal enrichment meetings; (2) as a supplementary resource for Young Women instruction; and (3) as designated, for “Teachings for Our Time” lessons on fourth Sundays. In such units, copies of the manual should be made available to the leaders and instructors in the Relief Society, Young Women, and Melchizedek Priesthood. In addition, leaders may encourage the Relief Society sisters to purchase a copy of this manual for personal study and for family teaching in the home.

Edited April 1, 2012 by calmoriah

[bluebell]

My understanding is that they are primarily used with new wards in less developed (church wise as well as economically) areas, much like Gospel Fundamentals is used in places instead of Gospel Principles. Other than that, they can be used as personal resource guides just as Gospel Principles is typically for longtime members (the recent study of it by all members being atypical).

For example: http://www.lds.org/m...uction?lang=eng

study and for family teaching in the home.

Thanks Cal. I asked because the last time i even saw one of those manuals or heard anyone refer to them was like in 1998 or something.

[Scott Lloyd]

Are those manuals used at all in any official capacity anymore?

I think cal gave a good answer to this.

I'll just point out that the fact they are available at the Distribution Center in hard copy and that digital versions are accessible online at lds.org (and on the Church's mobile device app, "Gospel Library") indicates they are still used in an official capacity. Typically, when curriculum materials are discontinued, they are no longer carried at the Distribution Center or on the website.

Edited April 1, 2012 by Scott Lloyd

[Scott Lloyd]

How did it happen, and how was it different from cdowis' representation?

As I recall, this happened in the late '80s or perhaps the early '90s. Conference was held in the Tabernacle back then, and it was customary to reserve a section in the southwest part of the gallery for news media. Back then, reporters, photographers and videographers were invited to all sessions, including the priesthood session.

It was customary for one of the newspapers to send one reporter to cover all the sessions. I used to work for that paper, and I recall that while I worked there, it was something of a challenge to find someone interested and competent enough to cover the Mormon general conference.

Anyway, on this occasion, that newspaper sent a female reporter (someone with whom I am very well acquainted and know to be an active member of the Church and even a returned missionary). As part of her duty to cover the conference, she showed up at priesthood meeting along with the rest of the media pack.

Reportedly, one of the Brethren looked up toward the press section, saw a woman there, and became rather unnerved. Thereafter, the priesthood session was officially closed to the media (although advance copies of the speeches are still distributed to reporters for the priesthood as well as the other sessions). That policy prevails to this day.

[LDSToronto]

I think cal gave a good answer to this.

I'll just point out that the fact they are available at the Distribution Center in hard copy and that digital versions are accessible online at lds.org (and on the Church's mobile device app, "Gospel Library") indicates they are still used in an official capacity. Typically, when curriculum materials are discontinued, they are no longer carried at the Distribution Center or on the website.

I thought he was originally referring to the new Daughters In My Kingdom manual.

H.

[KevinG]

What types of 'guy issues' are discussed at Priesthood meetings? I don't recall anything that is particularly 'guy-oriented'...

Men & boys have been talking about girls since, well, forever... And I've never heard anything in priesthood that I haven't heard general sessions.

Who would be listening that shouldn't?

What you are describing are private chats between parent and child. Not public meetings. Maybe that's were I am confused.

H.

You are confused or simply ignorant of these experiences. Boys and girls behave differently and are more or less disposed to discuss sensitive issues about dating and gender when they know they have a private opportunity to do so with members of their own sex.

Regarding those topics that are focused on the men. It is about improving the men as men- not excluding the women. For example the discussion with Elder Packer I referenced included these topics:

- Speaking clearly about issues we have in the church in private so he could be very clear with us on private matters of intimacy.

- Admonitions that we are not to ask our wives to do things they are uncomfortable with in intimate situations

- Admonitions to keep our promises and be honorable

- Admonitions to be as prompt about getting home as we are getting to work/school

- Admonitions that we should focus on the family as the most important thing in our lives - the habits we start young are the same that we carry throughout our lives

- telling us that if we honored our priesthood the way we should no one in the world much less the church would wonder why men had it

In short he didn't want to get letters from hurt women any more telling him we weren't honoring our priesthood.

[guitarist]

This may fit under one of those "unwritten order of things", but the explanation I was given as a youth as to why the Priesthood Session was not broadcast on tv (internet wasn't yet popular then), was because the PH Session was the session whereby any new instructions that needed to be given were given to the priesthood body, and so the priesthood were given the responsibility to bring this instruction back to their families that night after the hierarchical order within the priesthood--a sort of "return, and report" thing, though a bit light on the "report" side.

I've not heard anyone else give this explanation since, but it has a bit of sense to it.

[Bernard Gui]

It's the Mormon version of the pub.

Bernard

[cinepro]

In short he didn't want to get letters from hurt women any more telling him we weren't honoring our priesthood.

My solution to the problem: ask people to stop sending letters to the Apostles.

Problem solved.

[mfbukowski]

My solution to the problem: ask people to stop sending letters to the Apostles.

Problem solved.

Nope

People don't listen to anything else the apostles tell them to do- why would that be different?

Edited April 2, 2012 by mfbukowski

[mercyngrace]

My solution to the problem: ask people to stop sending letters to the Apostles.

Problem solved.

Wasn't that memo already presented in Sacrament meetings last year?

[Scott Lloyd]

Wasn't that memo already presented in Sacrament meetings last year?

It has been presented repeatedly for many years.

[LeSellers]

My solution to the problem: ask people to stop sending letters to the Apostles.

Problem solved.

Nope

People don't listen to anything else the apostles tell them to do- why would that be different?

Wasn't that memo already presented in Sacrament meetings last year?

It has been presented repeatedly for many years.

While this is true, it also misses what I conceive of being the gist of the letter we have heard so often. That letter requests that we not ask the Brethren to solve personal problems better (and by stewardship) handled by local authorities (bishops and stake presidents).

This one was a specific request for a specific Conference talk. It would be rather rare for the siblings in the story from the letter to have the same bishop or stake president. I do not believe such an unlikely overlapping, were it to occur, would have led to a satisfactory conclusion to the situation. Further, it was exactly the kind of subject Conference talks are supposed to address. The mother did not say, "Please call my children into your office and settle their differences." She asked that the talk address the generality of hurt feelings and over-reaction to offense.

Lehi

Edited April 2, 2012 by LeSellers

[rongo]

It has been presented repeatedly for many years.

The irony is that General Authorities chronically quote from or read letters they have received (at least three or four in this Conference alone, by my esitmation), despite the repeated letters asking people not to send letters to GAs and stating that such letters will be sent to the appropriate stake presidents. This encourages people who think it would be neat to have their letter read in Conference to continue to write letters to GAs.

[Mark Beesley]

Does anyone know why they don't stream the session or show it on T.V. like they do the General Relief Society Meeting?

Tradition. Anybody know of any scriptural reasons?

[Scott Lloyd]

The irony is that General Authorities chronically quote from or read letters they have received (at least three or four in this Conference alone, by my esitmation), despite the repeated letters asking people not to send letters to GAs and stating that such letters will be sent to the appropriate stake presidents. This encourages people who think it would be neat to have their letter read in Conference to continue to write letters to GAs.

Yeah, and as a matter of courtesy, maybe the General Authority delegates his secretary to respond with a letter, either to the writer or the writer's priesthood leader. Then that private response letter gets leaked out and goes viral as though it were an official pronouncement of doctrine or policy.

Edited April 2, 2012 by Scott Lloyd

[mfbukowski]

While this is true, it also misses what I conceive of being the gist of the letter we have heard so often. That letter requests that we not ask the Brethren to solve personal problems better (and by stewardship) handled by local authorities (bishops and stake presidents).

This one was a specific request for a specific Conference talk. It would be rather rare for the siblings in the story from the letter to have the same bishop or stake president. I do not believe such an unlikely overlapping, were it to occur, would have led to a satisfactory conclusion to the situation. Further, it was exactly the kind of subject Conference talks are supposed to address. The mother did not say, "Please call my children into your office and settle their differences." She asked that the talk address the generality of hurt feelings and over-reaction to offense.

Lehi

I agree. That is exactly what flickered through my mind when he said it. "Oh- this is different".

[mfbukowski]

The irony is that General Authorities chronically quote from or read letters they have received (at least three or four in this Conference alone, by my esitmation), despite the repeated letters asking people not to send letters to GAs and stating that such letters will be sent to the appropriate stake presidents. This encourages people who think it would be neat to have their letter read in Conference to continue to write letters to GAs.

My theory is that each one gets read and sorted into three categories- personal answer, secretary to answer, back to the bishop.

I got a couple of those "back to the bishop" ones in my time. It's not easy to tell someone that their letter came back because people who write them tend to be a little "off" in my opinion, in the first place.

So I think they keep telling people they won't respond just so they have an excuse to kick it back to the bishop so that the writers don't feel bad that their letter was too wacky.

I dunno. Just a thought.

I mean there could be valuable information in there- that the bishop and SP are in cahoots to steal money etc- who knows? They should get read imo.

Edited April 2, 2012 by mfbukowski

[KevinG]

Tradition. Anybody know of any scriptural reasons?

Try as I might I cannot find any references to satellite broadcasts and gender in the scriptures.

[Duncan]

The irony is that General Authorities chronically quote from or read letters they have received (at least three or four in this Conference alone, by my esitmation), despite the repeated letters asking people not to send letters to GAs and stating that such letters will be sent to the appropriate stake presidents. This encourages people who think it would be neat to have their letter read in Conference to continue to write letters to GAs.

EXACTLEY!!!! if they don't want to get swamped with letters then don't read them in a GC talk! or sit next to a GA on the plane! you just might end up in a talk "Met this nutty man whilst flying from..."!

[Cobalt-70]

This may fit under one of those "unwritten order of things", but the explanation I was given as a youth as to why the Priesthood Session was not broadcast on tv (internet wasn't yet popular then), was because the PH Session was the session whereby any new instructions that needed to be given were given to the priesthood body, and so the priesthood were given the responsibility to bring this instruction back to their families that night after the hierarchical order within the priesthood--a sort of "return, and report" thing, though a bit light on the "report" side.

I've not heard anyone else give this explanation since, but it has a bit of sense to it.

The only things that I've ever heard announced in the priesthood session are matters that strictly relate to the organization of the priesthood, and thus do not affect women. For everything else, the church makes its announcements through its press office, or during the general sessions. So I don't think the above theory holds up. Besides, regardless of how one feels about the church's treatment of women, it doesn't make sense that the church would intentionally take the position that women should not be given direct access to information. After all, the church publishes the priesthood session on its website soon after the fact, and even if something is announced in the priesthood session, it is also quickly announced through the press office.