Trying Too Hard

[tyler90az]

It seems like the last few conferences the Prophets have been trying too hard to connect with the younger crowds. Using sayings that most youth use and now with the fist pump. We can appreciate the effort but I doubt it changes much for the younger crowd. It is not going to magically take the earwax out of ears. The words of the spirit they speak are much more powerful then trying to go with trendy youth sayings.

It is funny in a good way though. I like David A. Bednar's follow through facial expression during the fist pump. Russel M. Nelson looks like he is trying to figure out this foreign form of greeting.

http://tinypic.com/r/25q7of9/6

What do you think, is this the normal way they speak and act?

Edited April 8, 2013 by tyler90az

[Calm]

What do you think, is this the normal way they speak and act?

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Elder Bednar greeted friends like that on occasion. He was a professor like my husband, just three years older than him and my husband has picked up the habit from having his students do it with him.

And my husband even on occasion will tease some of the older men in the ward and/or neighbourhood by doing it to them. They tend to look clueless or laugh.

I've also seen older people who have picked it up from their kids. My son tries to do it to me every now and again, but I just ignore him.

Edited April 8, 2013 by calmoriah

[tyler90az]

Interesting. I did in church last Sunday out of habit and was pretty embarrassed. Guess I do not have to be anymore.

[Calm]

Wouldn't have any reason to be embarrassed in my wards.

[altersteve]

My dad met Elder Bednar a few years ago and said he fist bumped him. It must be something he does regularly. I do it with people all the time.

[Tacenda]

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Elder Bednar greeted friends like that on occasion. He was a professor like my husband, just three years older than him and my husband has picked up the habit from having his students do it with him.

And my husband even on occasion will tease some of the older men in the ward and/or neighbourhood by doing it to them. They tend to look clueless or laugh.

I've also seen older people who have picked it up from their kids. My son tries to do it to me every now and again, but I just ignore him.

I recall it was talked about when the swine flu broke out. That since we shake hands a lot either in church or elsewhere, especially men, that we should refrain from shaking hands. I think that's when the fist bumping started.

[Calm]

I think that's when the fist bumping started.

I remember people making a point of doing this for awhile just for fun. I've also had a few people do a fist bump saying "I've got a cold"....at which point I feel the urge to say "how about a face mask as well then?"...the older I get, the less kindly I feel toward people who go out in public when they are sick because they can 'tough it out'...what about those of us who can't?

[Glenn101]

Sometimes I wonder if some people watch General Conference to find items that they can use for criticism of the General Authorities and their messages.

I watch for the inspiration that I can receive, and this one was replete with inspirational stories, themes and anecdotes. I really loved the "Blanca, shake hands with everyone" story by Elder Falabella.

Glenn

[Calm]

Sometimes I wonder if some people watch General Conference to find items that they can use for criticism of the General Authorities and their messages.

One thing that has really annoyed me over the past couple of years is that I just can't sit and enjoy Conference like I used to, instead stuff pops into my head attached to "this one is going to set off the critics"......

I have lost the ability to just listen, I critique all the talks even when I am really drawn into them. Most frustrating...

[Kenngo1969]

Everybody knows that a fist bump is the only true greeting on the face of the whole earth with which the Lord is well pleased ... because it spreads fewer germs than a handshake!

[altersteve]

I recall it was talked about when the swine flu broke out. That since we shake hands a lot either in church or elsewhere, especially men, that we should refrain from shaking hands. I think that's when the fist bumping started.

The omniscient Wikipedia says it may have its origins in the 1970s, possibly a little bit later.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fist_bump

[Gohan]

Elder Bednar, Elder Andersen, and an Area Seventy - whose name escapes me - came to my mission a couple years back. After Elder Andersen had spoken and sat down, Elder Bednar fist bumped him before he got up to speak.

[Freedom]

I think it is important to use the vocabulary of the youth, it confirms for them that you are aware of their culture. What needs to be avoided (which I find myself doing) is making fun or mocking it. I try to use it in a manner that makes me look stupid so that they can acknowledge I am aware of their language but lack the skills to converse fluently. I recall in my youth a stake leader being critical of the raised collar style of the mid 1980s, as if this unique style was somehow inappropriate. He would go around putting the collars down and my bishop would come back and put the collar back up. There is a fine line, however, between using their culture to reach out to them ad a leader and adopting their culture to be accepted as an equal. The latter, perhaps, is what tyler90az is wary of.

[tyler90az]

Sometimes I wonder if some people watch General Conference to find items that they can use for criticism of the General Authorities and their messages.

I watch for the inspiration that I can receive, and this one was replete with inspirational stories, themes and anecdotes. I really loved the "Blanca, shake hands with everyone" story by Elder Falabella.

Glenn

Sometimes I wonder if some people watch General Conference to find items that they can use for criticism of the General Authorities and their messages.

I watch for the inspiration that I can receive, and this one was replete with inspirational stories, themes and anecdotes. I really loved the "Blanca, shake hands with everyone" story by Elder Falabella.

Glenn

Do me a favor since the way you watch is the ideal way. Could you record yourself next conference so I can get down your sitting position and any other things that you deem as necessary to "watch for inspiration?"

[Calm]

I think it is important to use the vocabulary of the youth, it confirms for them that you are aware of their culture. What needs to be avoided (which I find myself doing) is making fun or mocking it. I try to use it in a manner that makes me look stupid so that they can acknowledge I am aware of their language but lack the skills to converse fluently. I recall in my youth a stake leader being critical of the raised collar style of the mid 1980s, as if this unique style was somehow inappropriate. He would go around putting the collars down and my bishop would come back and put the collar back up. There is a fine line, however, between using their culture to reach out to them ad a leader and adopting their culture to be accepted as an equal. The latter, perhaps, is what tyler90az is wary of.

Well put (out of points)

[Ahab]

It seems like the last few conferences the Prophets have been trying too hard to connect with the younger crowds. Using sayings that most youth use and now with the fist pump. We can appreciate the effort but I doubt it changes much for the younger crowd. It is not going to magically take the earwax out of ears. The words of the spirit they speak are much more powerful then trying to go with trendy youth sayings.

It is funny in a good way though. I like David A. Bednar's follow through facial expression during the fist pump. Russel M. Nelson looks like he is trying to figure out this foreign form of greeting.

http://tinypic.com/r/25q7of9/6

What do you think, is this the normal way they speak and act?

As we get nearer and nearer to the day of our Lord's return more signs associated with our Lord's return will be made manifest. What you are seeing here is a new handshake associated with the priesthood, and it's been around for eternity. It didn't just spring up from out of nowhere, and it's not something only young people do when they greet each other. It has a more eternal significance than that. It binds friends to friends, and families to families, and it can be associated with other signs of the priesthood that are often associated with other purposes. You can scoff, if you like, or you can get with the program. And please smile when you do it, if you choose to do it. It's not something that should be done in anger.

[KevinG]

Shame on those old men for not shuffling in on walkers and snapping at kids to "get off their lawn!"

[Ahab]

I still remember President Hinckley knighting Elder Bednar with his cane. We need more people with canes.

[SamIam]

One thing that has really annoyed me over the past couple of years is that I just can't sit and enjoy Conference like I used to, instead stuff pops into my head attached to "this one is going to set off the critics"......

I have lost the ability to just listen, I critique all the talks even when I am really drawn into them. Most frustrating...

PTMDS Post Traumatic Mormon Dialogue Syndrome

Edited April 12, 2013 by SamIam

[Glenn101]

Do me a favor since the way you watch is the ideal way. Could you record yourself next conference so I can get down your sitting position and any other things that you deem as necessary to "watch for inspiration?"

Do you think that watching General Conference for things to criticize is the "ideal way?" You seem to think that watching General Conference for inspiration is somewhat less than ideal. I am open to a "course correction" by someone with greater knowledge of the Gospel and closer to the Lord than the First Presidency and General Authorities of the Church.

In checking on comments by apostles and prophets and the scriptures concerning General Conference I have found references learning and inspiration, but I just have not been able to find any that advocate listening to find things to criticize.

Thanks,

Glenn

Edited April 12, 2013 by Glenn101

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

It seems like the last few conferences the Prophets have been trying too hard to connect with the younger crowds. Using sayings that most youth use and now with the fist pump. We can appreciate the effort but I doubt it changes much for the younger crowd. It is not going to magically take the earwax out of ears. The words of the spirit they speak are much more powerful then trying to go with trendy youth sayings.

It is funny in a good way though. I like David A. Bednar's follow through facial expression during the fist pump. Russel M. Nelson looks like he is trying to figure out this foreign form of greeting.

http://tinypic.com/r/25q7of9/6

What do you think, is this the normal way they speak and act?

The "fist pump" is older than they are...

[urroner]

I'm getting to be an old geezer, but I really try hard to not act like it. My two younger sons and I occasionally do the "pound cake and french fries" routine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRIbCUcQZvY

Edited April 12, 2013 by urroner

[tyler90az]

Do you think that watching General Conference for things to criticize is the "ideal way?" You seem to think that watching General Conference for inspiration is somewhat less than ideal.

Glenn,

You should not judge my spirituality based on posts online. This is a discussion board and that is just what I do discuss. I am moldable like clay in a potters hand, my views frequently change based on this forum. Discussion is for knowledge and insight. To not ask questions and discuss is to not progress.

Now I will tell you have many times I received an impression and wrote it in my journal. For no other reason to quiet you and any doubters as to why I discuss. In my Journal during GC, I received six revelations. I like the word revelation over impressed.

Now that I shared, do you keep a journal? If so, how many impressions did you have during GC?

Has been joyful,

Tyler

[Glenn101]

Glenn,

You should not judge my spirituality based on posts online. This is a discussion board and that is just what I do discuss. I am moldable like clay in a potters hand, my views frequently change based on this forum. Discussion is for knowledge and insight. To not ask questions and discuss is to not progress.

Now I will tell you have many times I received an impression and wrote it in my journal. For no other reason to quiet you and any doubters as to why I discuss. In my Journal during GC, I received six revelations. I like the word revelation over impressed.

Now that I shared, do you keep a journal? If so, how many impressions did you have during GC?

Has been joyful,

Tyler

Tyler, I am not judging you or your spirituality. I was only asking you to state your position about attitudes while watching conference. I.E. whether watching conference in order to find things to criticize is ideal.

My original post was not aimed at any one person. I just have noted that there is a plethora of critical views posted after just about every general conference (and often criticl previews), which led me to voice that concern.

Sister Elaine Dalton's talk has received a lot of criticism from different areas. I've seen President Monson criticised for blowing his own horn about all of the good deeds he has done. On a nomonally LDS blog, a blogger is criticising a 2006 talk by Elder Bednar on being offended. The list could go on and on.

My main observation from this is that a person can find just about whatever they may be looking for while watching general conference. If they wish for something with which to find fault, surely those imperfect human beings who give those speeches will provide somehing for them. If, however, a person is looking for inspiration and learning experiences, those same imperfect beings will provide that in spades.

And, to answer your question, I do not maintain a journal while watching conference addresses and cannot, nor would not if I did, engage in a number of impressions competition with you.

I think the greates impression I received was from the talk by Elder Alfalala. The faith that he and his wife showed in buying one way tickets to a temple over two thousand miles away, not knowing how they were to be able to return, was truly remarkable and in the spirit of the pioneers who left Nauvoo for the Great Salt Lake Valley decades ago.

Glenn

[tyler90az]

My original post was not aimed at any one person. I just have noted that there is a plethora of critical views posted after just about every general conference (and often criticl previews), which led me to voice that concern.

And, to answer your question, I do not maintain a journal while watching conference addresses and cannot, nor would not if I did, engage in a number of impressions competition with you.

Glenn,

I apologize for assuming you were directing your comments at me. This just happens to be a post I started and you also commented the same thing on another thread right behind my post.

As far trying to engage in a number of impressions competition that is far from the truth. I am trying to help you master your doubts, as it appears you have doubts about my/others spirituality level. Which appears to be a roadblock on focusing on your own spirituality. Also just to let you know, I never told you how many impressions I acted on, few, or that this is my first time ever recording in a journal.

Has been joyful,

Tyler

Edited April 13, 2013 by tyler90az