Priesthood Session Rocked

[BCSpace]

The first talk by Robert D Hales was stupendous; talking about what the young men face today compared to earlier generations and putting on the armor of God. We were all riveted. Wish I had remembered to invite a less active Aaronic priesthood holder as I always do when home teaching but I was in a hurry and was almost late.

I believe it was him also who said the Church was prepared to stand up in the face of derision, discrimination, or persecution for our stances on the issues and the doctrine.

Uchtdorf gave a great talk, which I think some will misinterpret as is their wont (by forgetting that he also spoke a lot about agency and that we, despite our diversity, stand united in belief in the gospel and obedience to the commandments), and afterwards, when he said "Amen" and the the rest of the assembly "Amened", there was a very loud obnoxious sounding "Amen!" from some individual and I wondered if it was a case of over zealousness or if security had to be brought in.

Monson was very lucid, very animated, and told great anecdotes as usual. He made it clear that the Church does not expect a substantial drop in missionaries a few years after this first batch comes home. Given as a challenge.

Edited April 7, 2013 by BCSpace

[Rivers]

I wasn't able to go to the priesthood session. I had to work. But if you say that it rocked, I'll have watch it once its available on lds.org.

[Bikeemikey]

A great session... though you might be a little over sensitive with the Uchtdorf disclaimers.

[canard78]

The first talk by Robert D Hales was stupendous; talking about what the young men face today compared to earlier generations and putting on the armor of God. We were all riveted. Wish I had remembered to invite a less active Aaronic priesthood holder as I always do when home teaching but I was in a hurry and was almost late.

I believe it was him also who said the Church was prepared to stand up in the face of derision, discrimination, or persecution for our stances on the issues and the doctrine.

Uchtdorf gave a great talk, which I think some will misinterpret as is their wont (by forgetting that he also spoke a lot about agency and that we, despite our diversity, stand united in belief in the gospel and obedience to the commandments), and afterwards, when he said "Amen" and the the rest of the assembly "Amened", there was a very loud obnoxious sounding "Amen!" from some individual and I wondered if it was a case of over zealousness or if security had to be brought in.

Monson was very lucid, very animated, and told great anecdotes as usual. He made it clear that the Church does not expect a substantial drop in missionaries a few years after this first batch comes home. Given as a challenge.

Are you talking about the 'oil and bread' comment?

[Stargazer]

Of course it would rock. Since I was unavoidably detained, naturally it would be a great meeting. I will have to wait until they publish them I guess.

[BCSpace]

Pretty good overall. But I never would have expected Hales to do such a great job. It's really nothing we haven't heard before but it was a powerful presentation to me at least. I immediately regretted within the first few sentences not bringing another young man to hear it.

[BCSpace]

Are you talking about the 'oil and bread' comment?

That was one of them yes. Edited: Uchtdorf? No, not at all. See below. Unfortunately, I can say little else on the matter here else I would be more specific.

A great session... though you might be a little over sensitive with the Uchtdorf disclaimers.

Not at all. When he spoke of diversity, the last type mentioned, there will indeed be some who will take it as continued license to believe and do against the doctrines of the Church. SSM and women and the priesthood might come to mind, but I speak of the broader picture.

Edited April 7, 2013 by BCSpace

[CASteinman]

Thanks BC.. I decided to rest in bed.. I have been SERIOUSLY ill for half a week now and needed the rest. This gives me added stimulus to watch it. Thanks again.

[BCSpace]

Thanks BC.. I decided to rest in bed.. I have been SERIOUSLY ill for half a week now and needed the rest. This gives me added stimulus to watch it. Thanks again.

You're welcome. I hope it comes across to you as well as it did to me. One person's exciting session could be another's boring session. Hope you get well soon. I recently got over strep throat and have finished my regime of amoxicillin.

[ERMD]

Agree it was excellent. Elder Callister gave great instruction on training Aaronic priesthood presidents/leaders. I wouldn't be surprised to see him called to the Twelve.

[Bikeemikey]

That was one of them yes. Edited: Uchtdorf? No, not at all. See below. Unfortunately, I can say little else on the matter here else I would be more specific.

Not at all. When he spoke of diversity, the last type mentioned, there will indeed be some who will take it as continued license to believe and do against the doctrines of the Church. SSM and women and the priesthood might come to mind, but I speak of the broader picture.

I guess there may be some people to take his comments to that extreme... I did like that he specifically state political diversity... where I come from I am part of a liberal LDS majority... however since moving to the USA I have discovered I am part of a liberal LDS minority.

[Stargazer]

The first talk by Robert D Hales was stupendous; talking about what the young men face today compared to earlier generations and putting on the armor of God. We were all riveted. Wish I had remembered to invite a less active Aaronic priesthood holder as I always do when home teaching but I was in a hurry and was almost late.

I met Elder Hales once. Back before he was member of the Q12, in 1983, he came to reorganize the Servicemen's Stake I was a branch president in. Of course I got interviewed like the other unit leaders -- interestingly enough, my fellow mission alumnus Bruce D. Porter (now a member of the 1Q70) was another branch president and was likewise interviewed. I remember talking briefly with Elder Hales, and it was one of those searching spiritual experiences you puzzle over for years afterwards. He asked me a few questions, and I answered him. I knew what he was looking for -- it wasn't my answers -- and it was almost like a clinical experience -- a spiritual CAT scan. He was very pleasant, smiling the entire time, and I could almost feel the love streaming from him. It seems clear to me now that he was a man who knew the Lord Jesus Christ. Not just who He is, but actually knew him.

Amazing experience.

[Duncan]

I have a little man here so I couldn't attend. I knew Elder Callister from the mission field, had dinner with him several times and had some other experiences with him, decent man.

[BCSpace]

He asked me a few questions, and I answered him. I knew what he was looking for -- it wasn't my answers -- and it was almost like a clinical experience -- a spiritual CAT scan. He was very pleasant, smiling the entire time, and I could almost feel the love streaming from him. It seems clear to me now that he was a man who knew the Lord Jesus Christ. Not just who He is, but actually knew him.

Amazing experience.

I had a similar experience just a few years after that with my mission president. He asked me in a private interview "Who are you?". I kept answering with facts about me, my interests, that I was a child of God and a priesthood holder and a missionary, etc. but he kept saying, "Yes, but who ARE you?" I felt the same as you, that he was searching for something but my answers did not pass muster. Since I often fall into humor, I almost, and I stress almost, answered "One of the Three Nephites."

[Stargazer]

Actually, for those who missed it (like me) the Priesthood session is available already online! Here:

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2013/04?lang=eng&vid=2277147574001

[Stargazer]

I had a similar experience just a few years after that with my mission president. He asked me in a private interview "Who are you?". I kept answering with facts about me, my interests, that I was a child of God and a priesthood holder and a missionary, etc. but he kept saying, "Yes, but who ARE you?" I felt the same as you, that he was searching for something but my answers did not pass muster. Since I often fall into humor, I almost, and I stress almost, answered "One of the Three Nephites."

I can appreciate that!

I didn't mean that my answers didn't pass muster, but that what I said didn't matter so much as he was there to determine if I were to be the one the Lord wanted called as the next stake president. I wasn't, so the conversation was short.

[TAO]

Yes, go watch it guys! Priesthood session is nearly always good... it was good last year, and it's good again this year. Definitely worth the time! The music is pretty good as well

Edited April 7, 2013 by TAO

[canard78]

I guess there may be some people to take his comments to that extreme... I did like that he specifically state political diversity... where I come from I am part of a liberal LDS majority... however since moving to the USA I have discovered I am part of a liberal LDS minority.

Lol, I can only imagine

[Gohan]

there was a very loud obnoxious sounding "Amen!" from some individual and I wondered if it was a case of over zealousness or if security had to be brought in.

Until just now, I thought that was just someone being loud in the stake center I was watching it in...someone was enthusiatic...

Agree it was excellent. Elder Callister gave great instruction on training Aaronic priesthood presidents/leaders. I wouldn't be surprised to see him called to the Twelve.

I had the same feeling, I really enjoyed his talk, it was really motivational.

The entire session was just completely legit, I got a ton out of it.

[Shanky82]

AMEN!!!

[BCSpace]

I guess there may be some people to take his comments to that extreme... I did like that he specifically state political diversity... where I come from I am part of a liberal LDS majority... however since moving to the USA I have discovered I am part of a liberal LDS minority.

As it should be as we come to know the doctrine.

[bdouglas]

B. H. Roberts: "In essentials, let there be unity; in all else, let there be liberty." (This is a paraphrase.)

One can be a member with a pedigree going all the way back to church founders, one can know and understand the doctrine--and still come to different conclusions regarding politics and other non-essentials than the brother (equally versed in doctrine, etc.) sitting next to you. We agree and our united as to the essentials: this is what unity is, and it is what the Lord expects of us. But in other matters there are going to be differences...and that's okay. (A good example of this might be BY and Orson Pratt, who had sharp differences in some matters but nevertheless were united in essentials.)

What is the BY quotes that goes like, "There is too much sameness among the people. Let there be no stereotypical Mormons!" I can't think of anything more boring than a church made up of people who are all the same, who vote the same (i.e., have the same politics), think the same, etc. Even now, in Utah, it can feel claustrophobic in church priesthood gatherings--like sitting in a room that has no fresh air blowing in, a room where we sit inhaling not only the same air, but each others gases. There is a term for this: in-breeding. And it is not healthy.

It's okay to be different!

As Pres. Uchtdorf said (as summarized by Des. News):

It would also contradict the intent and purpose of the Church, which acknowledges and protects the moral agency of each of God's children, President Uchtdorf added. "As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are united in our testimony of the restored gospel and our commitment to keep God's commandments. But we are diverse in our cultural, social and political preferences."

The Church thrives when members take advantage of this diversity and encourage each other to develop and use talents to strengthen one another, he said.

Edited April 7, 2013 by bdouglas

[bdouglas]

I remember in college I had a music teacher who was not only LDS, but unusually committed and knowledgeable LDS. And he was a classical music lover--everything else was garbage, basically. He once went so far as to say that a young man (or woman) could not go on a mission and serve the Lord for two years, and then start listening to "rock 'n roll" again and still retain the Spirit. In fact, he said, "love of "rock 'n roll, or anything like it," was a sign of apostasy (or something like that, it's been a while since I was a college student).

Well, as a classical music lover myself, I credited what he said, believed it. But then later I became friends with a jazz musician, in fact he played in BYU's jazz band, and later I would acquire a step-son who played (and still does play) in a rock band--this despite a testimony and knowledge of the Gospel that I think rivals my own.

And so my opinions about music have changed....

[Scott Lloyd]

B. H. Roberts: "In essentials, let there be unity; in all else, let there be liberty." (This is a paraphrase.)

One can be a member with a pedigree going all the way back to church founders, one can know and understand the doctrine--and still come to different conclusions regarding politics and other non-essentials than the brother (equally versed in doctrine, etc.) sitting next to you. We agree and our united as to the essentials: this is what unity is, and it is what the Lord expects of us. But in other matters there are going to be differences...and that's okay. (A good example of this might be BY and Orson Pratt, who had sharp differences in some matters but nevertheless were united in essentials.)

What is the BY quotes that goes like, "There is too much sameness among the people. Let there be no stereotypical Mormons!" I can't think of anything more boring than a church made up of people who are all the same, who vote the same (i.e., have the same politics), think the same, etc. Even now, in Utah, it can feel claustrophobic in church priesthood gatherings--like sitting in a room that has no fresh air blowing in, a room where we sit inhaling not only the same air, but each others gases. There is a term for this: in-breeding. And it is not healthy.

It's okay to be different!

As Pres. Uchtdorf said (as summarized by Des. News):

It would also contradict the intent and purpose of the Church, which acknowledges and protects the moral agency of each of God's children, President Uchtdorf added. "As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are united in our testimony of the restored gospel and our commitment to keep God's commandments. But we are diverse in our cultural, social and political preferences."

The Church thrives when members take advantage of this diversity and encourage each other to develop and use talents to strengthen one another, he said.

Here's a link to the Church News article you are quoting.

There are summaries of the other talks there as well, put up not long after the talks are delivered.

Edited April 7, 2013 by Scott Lloyd

[Bikeemikey]

I had a similar experience just a few years after that with my mission president. He asked me in a private interview "Who are you?". I kept answering with facts about me, my interests, that I was a child of God and a priesthood holder and a missionary, etc. but he kept saying, "Yes, but who ARE you?" I felt the same as you, that he was searching for something but my answers did not pass muster. Since I often fall into humor, I almost, and I stress almost, answered "One of the Three Nephites."

Now that would been epic!!