Non Major Doctrinal Changes You Would Like To See...

[volgadon]

I spoke last February, and told them if they assigned me to "talk on a talk", I would just get up and say "Elder _____ said...." and then read the talk and sit down.

I got a topic.

Good tip, I'll have to try it next time.

[volgadon]

All I can say is, you try to come up with better ideas year after year.

I have!

I've served in branch presidencies and have assigned people topics for talks, so it can be done.

[rpn]

A minor doctrinal change which I'd like to see is North American bishoprics stop assigning talks about talks.

Perhaps you get assigned talks because (a) too many in your group* refuse to give talks because they claim not to know how to do them or not to know what to talk about; (b) too many in your group teach for doctrine the doctrine of men, when left to their own devices; ( c) too many need the counsel of general conference but don't pay enough attention in april and october, and forget about it or fail to apply it the rest of the time; (d) the bishop doesn't want to call those who would teach for doctrine the doctrine of men, out personally, so he assigns to all those who give talks; or (d) getting inspiration as to what their flock needs is the stewardship of bishops, not necessarily the stewardship of individual ward members just because they are sermonizing in sacrament meeting.

And I'm interested in the suggestion that being assigned a talk somehow impedes revelation. All of us have to figure out how the counsel applies to us, and get testimonies that the counsel is of God. Maybe being assigned a topic is an invite to actually apply the words and testify of them ourselves.

*Our last bishop assigned talks all the time, SP does still. Current bishop often assigns talks, but not always (which has left some members disgruntled).

Edited November 26, 2012 by rpn

[Duncan]

Perhaps you get assigned talks because (a) too many in your group* refuse to give talks because they claim not to know how to do them or not to know what to talk about; (b) too many in your group teach for doctrine the doctrine of men, when left to their own devices; ( c) too many need the counsel of general conference but don't pay enough attention in april and october, and forget about it or fail to apply it the rest of the time; (d) the bishop doesn't want to call those who would teach for doctrine the doctrine of men, out personally, so he assigns to all those who give talks; or (d) getting inspiration as to what their flock needs is the stewardship of bishops, not necessarily the stewardship of individual ward members just because they are sermonizing in sacrament meeting.

And I'm interested in the suggestion that being assigned a talk somehow impedes revelation. All of us have to figure out how the counsel applies to us, and get testimonies that the counsel is of God. Maybe being assigned a topic is an invite to actually apply the words and testify of them ourselves.

*Our last bishop assigned talks all the time, SP does still. Current bishop often assigns talks, but not always (which has left some members disgruntled).

I get new members or members that request a topic to get one but honestly if I want to hear say Elder Oaks' April 2002 GC talk then I have that option but i want to hear what you have to say, and you need to get your own inspiration and stand on your own spiritual two feet. Besides of which researching and figuring out what to say is fun!

[volgadon]

Perhaps you get assigned talks because (a) too many in your group* refuse to give talks because they claim not to know how to do them or not to know what to talk about;

What I've done in cases like that is to recommend a few scriptures and talks to look into, by way of possible directions for a talk.

(b) too many in your group teach for doctrine the doctrine of men, when left to their own devices;

Why, then, be given the scope for any individual words? Why not just read the assigned conference talk verbatim? Better yet, why not skip the members entirely and broadcast the conference talk instead?

( c) too many need the counsel of general conference but don't pay enough attention in april and october, and forget about it or fail to apply it the rest of the time;

From my experience, conference talks are among the first resources to which members turn.

(d) the bishop doesn't want to call those who would teach for doctrine the doctrine of men, out personally, so he assigns to all those who give talks;

How does this avoid having members mixing in the doctrines of men?

or (d) getting inspiration as to what their flock needs is the stewardship of bishops, not necessarily the stewardship of individual ward members just because they are sermonizing in sacrament meeting.

So, you are advocating rote readings of conference talks, I take it?

And I'm interested in the suggestion that being assigned a talk somehow impedes revelation. All of us have to figure out how the counsel applies to us, and get testimonies that the counsel is of God. Maybe being assigned a topic is an invite to actually apply the words and testify of them ourselves.

The scriptures and topics such as faith, hope, and charity, aren't an invite to "actually apply the words and testify of them ourselves"?

I'm interested in the suggestion that scriptures are somehow inherently dangerous and untrustworthy, like the members who use them.

*Our last bishop assigned talks all the time, SP does still. Current bishop often assigns talks, but not always (which has left some members disgruntled).

I'd never, ever been assigned to talk on a talk as opposed to a topic before moving to the USA.

[volgadon]

Besides of which researching and figuring out what to say is fun!

No to mention that it contributes to personal growth in the gospel.

[Nathair/|\]

A minor doctrinal change which I'd like to see is North American bishoprics stop assigning talks about talks.

The one time that happened to me, I started my talk telling the story of the time Heber J. Grant gave J. Golden Kimball a pre-written talk in his (poor) handwriting. President Kimball got to the stand, looked at the talk and said, "H@!!, Heber, I can't read this d@mn thing!" I never got assigned to speak since and that was 12 years and more wards and branches than I can count ago.

[volgadon]

The one time that happened to me, I started my talk telling the story of the time Heber J. Grant gave J. Golden Kimball a pre-written talk in his (poor) handwriting. President Kimball got to the stand, looked at the talk and said, "H@!!, Heber, I can't read this d@mn thing!" I never got assigned to speak since and that was 12 years and more wards and branches than I can count ago.

Plan B if Cinepro's method fails.

[canard78]

It lacks guitars.

I would love guitars in sacrament meeting. Maybe even a snare and high-hat.

[canard78]

All I can say is, you try to come up with better ideas year after year.

This is a bit of a lame cop-out if the bishopric can't come up with topics. Ideally they'd pick a theme for the sacrament meeting and have 2-3 talks that work around aspect of the central theme so the whole meeting builds through talks, hymns (and if they're really 'smart', feeds into either the Sunday School or Pr/RS lesson). And I speak as someone who had the job of assigning topics for several years. I've seen the difference in a 'lucky dip' set of topics versus when I actually spend some time thinking about it and preparing for it. They could even use the themes in conference to inspire the topics, but just handing over a conference talk to talk about is a bit weak. Do they suppose the member will somehow add more value than an Apostle?

A casual approach to sacrament meeting is often the reason why it has the potential to be quite dry.

[Saints Alive]

Consider the practical logistics of this. Not just the cost (tap water vs. purchased juice), but the mess. It's easy to fill the cup tray using a running faucet. Grape juice would inevitably get spilled in the preparation, to say nothing of the passing.

Interesting update: I was in a Christian book store the other day with the wife and MIL. They had prefilled grape juice cups. They were kinda like those little single serve coffee creams. They were about $ 0.20 each. I'm sure that was marked up. I bet if the church produced their own they could get it down to $ 0.05 each. It will likely never happen but I found that interesting none the less.

[blackstrap]

With all the kids in church they would need something that would use a straw if there was juice.

[Saints Alive]

With all the kids in church they would need something that would use a straw if there was juice.

or they could have the children under 8 refrain, that would lower costs even more.