Coreyb Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 Watching this last session it really struck me how diverse our seventies quorums have become. I think it's great. I suppose it won't be long before we have a few more international apostles. I really enjoyed the closing prayer. Hearing someone struggle with a language foreign to them in such a public meeting drives home the humanity of the brethren and of us all. We are all struggling in some way and none are pristine or picture perfect. Beautiful 2
rhythm Posted April 6, 2015 Posted April 6, 2015 I saw talks given in Spanish and Portuguese, but a speaker from Kenya (whose native language I assume is not English) gave his talk in English. Also President Uchtdorf doesn't speak in his native German (although he jokingly began to for a second while conducting). Is everyone given the option to speak in their native language?
Calm Posted April 6, 2015 Posted April 6, 2015 (edited) English is an official language of Kenya. According to wiki, there are 69 total languages in Kenya. If English wasn't the language he was first taught, it is possible that his preferred language may have lacked a translator available and since he is probably very at home with English even if it sounded heavily accented to American ears. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Kenya Edited April 6, 2015 by calmoriah
BlueDreams Posted April 6, 2015 Posted April 6, 2015 I saw talks given in Spanish and Portuguese, but a speaker from Kenya (whose native language I assume is not English) gave his talk in English. Also President Uchtdorf doesn't speak in his native German (although he jokingly began to for a second while conducting). Is everyone given the option to speak in their native language? I know the Kenyan guy's on....they speak English fluently. So does Uchtdorf. I think, when they first announced it, they mentioned it was particularly for those who were not fluent in English...but my memory is rusty. But yes, the 70's are getting very diverse. I love when they make the new calls and the names are very obviously from all over the world. Although my personal favorite moment of diversity that day, came way later at a fireside at genesis that I was singing in a multicultural gospel choir for. It looked like you took an international sampling of humanity, put them in one room to worship in a way that gives new meaning to making a joyful loud noise (see Psalms 98:4) followed by frank and earnest testimonies. Or as my culturally shocked friends put it, it was like we mixed a southern baptist meeting with a mormon one. I'm still a little hopped up from the meeting, if you can't tell. With luv,Bd 2
Okrahomer Posted April 6, 2015 Posted April 6, 2015 I know the Kenyan guy's on....they speak English fluently. So does Uchtdorf. I think, when they first announced it, they mentioned it was particularly for those who were not fluent in English...but my memory is rusty. But yes, the 70's are getting very diverse. I love when they make the new calls and the names are very obviously from all over the world. Although my personal favorite moment of diversity that day, came way later at a fireside at genesis that I was singing in a multicultural gospel choir for. It looked like you took an international sampling of humanity, put them in one room to worship in a way that gives new meaning to making a joyful loud noise (see Psalms 98:4) followed by frank and earnest testimonies. Or as my culturally shocked friends put it, it was like we mixed a southern baptist meeting with a mormon one. I'm still a little hopped up from the meeting, if you can't tell. With luv,Bd I love your description here. It makes me wish I had been there. When I was newly home from my mission, I came home from BYU in the summer to work. I got a job at a paper mill near my home in Oklahoma. My boss was an African American Vietnam Vet. He liked me, and I liked him. He was interested in my mission experience, and he was very open about his own recent re-conversion (I think he called it "re-dedication") to Christ. He asked me to come to his Church (Missionary Baptist) to take part in a special service that was to mark his "re-dedication." My recollection is that I was literally enveloped in hymn-singing. I was shocked when the minister also asked me to speak!!! I was not at all eloquent, but I do recall several loud "Amen's!" being offered up when I spoke about my belief in the Saviour. This experience was (and still is) a treasured tender mercy. 3
Robert F. Smith Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 Watching this last session it really struck me how diverse our seventies quorums have become. I think it's great. I suppose it won't be long before we have a few more international apostles. I really enjoyed the closing prayer. Hearing someone struggle with a language foreign to them in such a public meeting drives home the humanity of the brethren and of us all. We are all struggling in some way and none are pristine or picture perfect. BeautifulYes, and the prayers seemed honest and uncontrived.
Robert F. Smith Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 I love your description here. It makes me wish I had been there. When I was newly home from my mission, I came home from BYU in the summer to work. I got a job at a paper mill near my home in Oklahoma. My boss was an African American Vietnam Vet. He liked me, and I liked him. He was interested in my mission experience, and he was very open about his own recent re-conversion (I think he called it "re-dedication") to Christ. He asked me to come to his Church (Missionary Baptist) to take part in a special service that was to mark his "re-dedication." My recollection is that I was literally enveloped in hymn-singing. I was shocked when the minister also asked me to speak!!! I was not at all eloquent, but I do recall several loud "Amen's!" being offered up when I spoke about my belief in the Saviour. This experience was (and still is) a treasured tender mercy.Reminds me of that wonderful scene in "Elmer Gantry" (1960) in which he goes into a Black Church and joins in the singing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMXR2wBcLIM .
Okrahomer Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 Reminds me of that wonderful scene in "Elmer Gantry" (1960) in which he goes into a Black Church and joins in the singing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMXR2wBcLIM ."Elmer Gantry" had a better voice than I do, plus he actually knew the hymn. I basically stood with the congregation, closed my eyes, and just absorbed it. It was wonderful.
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