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Jana Reiss: April Fool's Joke Re: "translation" Of Pres. Uchtdorf


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Posted

Here: http://janariess.religionnews.com/2014/04/01/mormon-leader-uchtdorf-translated-heaven-begins-glow-ethereally/

Perhaps I'm turning into an ol' fuddy duddy, but I think jokes of this sort make light of a sacred topic.

-Smac

I agree with this.

 

And while we're on the subject, I find comments I have heard and seen about the man's sex appeal, for want of a better term, to be a bit creepy. He is married and a grandfather, after all, to say nothing of his call as one of the Lord's anointed.

 

Suppose I were to make public comments about the physical attractiveness of one of the leaders in the women's auxiliary organizations. That would be roundly condemned, and rightly so.

Posted

... Suppose I were to make public comments about the physical attractiveness of one of the leaders in the women's auxiliary organizations. That would be roundly condemned, and rightly so.

 

Some double standards are more acceptable than other double standards, depending on who's doing the talking.  (You're welcome; glad I could clear that up for you.)

Posted

I found it funny but I am not an old fuddy-Duddy. I don't think the concept of translation is that sacred that it cannot be laughed about. Some topics are. Cracking jokes about the atonement is in poor taste for example.

Posted

And while we're on the subject, I find comments I have heard and seen about the man's sex appeal, for want of a better term, to be a bit creepy. He is married and a grandfather, after all, to say nothing of his call as one of the Lord's anointed.

I also find it creepy.....no wait, that is jealousy. Doubt I will have the same level of charisma at his age.

Suppose I were to make public comments about the physical attractiveness of one of the leaders in the women's auxiliary organizations. That would be roundly condemned, and rightly so.

What about private comments?

Posted (edited)

What about private comments?

Well now, the public would not be in a position to condemn comments of which they were unaware, would they?

Edited by Scott Lloyd
Posted

Some double standards are more acceptable than other double standards, depending on who's doing the talking.  (You're welcome; glad I could clear that up for you.)

We could regard that as a double standard about double standards, I suppose.

Posted

Oh, I don't think this is making too light...Mormons have always been able to laugh at themselves (although only up to a point).

 

The dividing line between appropriate to make light of and inappropriate in Mormonism seems to shift a little from time to time, but I think this is pretty funny.  Pretty much the only things that seem completely off limits for jokes are temple related.  The jokes Brigham and Heber used to crack about polygamy (some of which now seem offensive) were on a subject that they considered most sacred but that they could still joke about as a cultural thing.

Posted

Oh, I don't think this is making too light...Mormons have always been able to laugh at themselves (although only up to a point).

 

The dividing line between appropriate to make light of and inappropriate in Mormonism seems to shift a little from time to time, but I think this is pretty funny.  Pretty much the only things that seem completely off limits for jokes are temple related.  The jokes Brigham and Heber used to crack about polygamy (some of which now seem offensive) were on a subject that they considered most sacred but that they could still joke about as a cultural thing.

How many times have we been lectured on this board about prophets and apostles not being infallible?

Posted

How many times have we been lectured on this board about prophets and apostles not being infallible?

It's true. Many show their fallibility when they tell jokes that just are not funny.

Posted

I'm not so much concerned about this making light of a sacred subject as I am about how uncomfortable all the praise and acclamation he has received (above that of his fellow apostles) must make Pres. Uchtdorf feel.

Posted

 

And while we're on the subject, I find comments I have heard and seen about the man's sex appeal, for want of a better term, to be a bit creepy.

 

 

 

I'll need to reprove my 81 yr old mother with this.

Posted

It's true. Many show their fallibility when they tell jokes that just are not funny.

From Orson Scott Card's "Saintspeak: The Mormon Dictionary:"

 

loud laughter: what happens when a General Authority makes a joke in Conference.

 

solemn assembly: what happens when you make a joke in a sacrament meeting talk.

 

He had a lot of good "couplets" like that. Here's one:

 

spirit of love: when a leader disagrees with you

 

spirit of contention: when you disagree with a leader

 

 

Another one that isn't a couplet, but pretty true nonetheless, is:

 

agency within your stewardship, complete independence to do what you're told

Posted

I'm not so much concerned about this making light of a sacred subject as I am about how uncomfortable all the praise and acclamation he has received (above that of his fellow apostles) must make Pres. Uchtdorf feel.

 

It's funny you say that, because I posted this on my facebook and my Aunt got all annoyed about how Elder Holland was a humble man and wouldn't want the praise.

 

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Posted

It's funny you say that, because I posted this on my facebook and my Aunt got all annoyed about how Elder Holland was a humble man and wouldn't want the praise.

 

9a12d57b0dd71786a4d1df4d5f0fb3d8.jpg

 

Your Aunt is probably right.

Posted

From Orson Scott Card's "Saintspeak: The Mormon Dictionary:"

 

loud laughter: what happens when a General Authority makes a joke in Conference.

 

solemn assembly: what happens when you make a joke in a sacrament meeting talk.

 

He had a lot of good "couplets" like that. Here's one:

 

spirit of love: when a leader disagrees with you

 

spirit of contention: when you disagree with a leader

 

 

Another one that isn't a couplet, but pretty true nonetheless, is:

 

agency within your stewardship, complete independence to do what you're told

You left out my favorites from that book:

 

councilor A member of a stake high council. A person with much responsibility and uncertain authority. (See counselor.)

counselor One of the two nonpresiding members of a presidency or bishopric. A person with much authority and uncertain responsibility. (See councilor.)

 

Posted

I found it funny but I am not an old fuddy-Duddy. I don't think the concept of translation is that sacred that it cannot be laughed about. Some topics are. Cracking jokes about the atonement is in poor taste for example.

 

I'm somewhere in the middle. I'm not offended by it and I don't think it's sacrilegious, but I don't think it's that funny either. It sounds like a seminary teacher joke. Or a dad joke.  Groan

Posted

I'm somewhere in the middle. I'm not offended by it and I don't think it's sacrilegious, but I don't think it's that funny either. It sounds like a seminary teacher joke. Or a dad joke.  Groan

Yeah, there's that too.

 

Sometimes one can get away with humor in bad taste if it is genuinely funny. This attempt fails on both counts.

Posted

I'm somewhere in the middle. I'm not offended by it and I don't think it's sacrilegious, but I don't think it's that funny either. It sounds like a seminary teacher joke. Or a dad joke.  Groan

When I was a kid I referred to this stuff as "AH" AKA "Adult Humor".

Posted

I agree with this.

 

And while we're on the subject, I find comments I have heard and seen about the man's sex appeal, for want of a better term, to be a bit creepy. He is married and a grandfather, after all, to say nothing of his call as one of the Lord's anointed.

 

Suppose I were to make public comments about the physical attractiveness of one of the leaders in the women's auxiliary organizations. That would be roundly condemned, and rightly so.

 

You should consider yourself lucky that you're not in my stake presidency ... probably for several reasons.  One reason is because I once got up on Open Mic Sunday and started my testimony by affirming the "hotness" of our Second Counselor.  I even went so far as to ask that the congregation confirm his attractiveness with the uplifted right arm.  Surprisingly, no one raised their hands despite the fact that this is a VERY good looking man.

 

Over the next few weeks, several women joked with me that they wanted to confirm his "hotness" but were sitting next to their husbands.

 

Moral: I should probably test my new material at EQ before taking it to the "main stage" of sacrament meeting.  Also, women have eyes too and notice whether a man of God is attractive, whether we want to admit it or not.

Posted

 Also, women have eyes too and notice whether a man of God is attractive, whether we want to admit it or not.

 

Some thoughts and impulses are best left unexpressed.

 

Posted

I don't think this is making light but if you read Jana Riess's Twible tweets this is nothing out of the ordinary. She refers to God as "G."

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