jkwilliams Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 I hadn't thought of that, I bet you are right. They used to just get up there and speak and over time it has gotten pretty technical and more controlled. They practice their talks in a small recording room (with a duplicate podium) partly to make sure they are within their alloted time to speak, but also to help them with delivery, I'm sure, and they also are more concerned with lighting, colors and even use theatrical makeup to make them look better on camera. I suspect that they've also been coached some in how to speak and I know they are coached on how to use the teleprompter.I had a mission companion who was always correcting my English pronunciation, which I thought was really odd. I asked him why he was so sure these odd-sounding (to me) pronunciations were correct. "That's how the General Authorities talk," he said. It turns out he had lived alone from age 16 and spent each evening listening to conference recordings. I told him they talked that way because they were from Utah. 1
Senator Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 I've never felt let down after conference. Probably because I never 'get up' for conference. I don't know. I always kind of appreciated King Benjamin's 'aggregational' approach to teaching discipleship. 29 And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them. However, it seems the very purpose of general conference is to " tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means" I nevertheless am glad it inspires so many. 2
Tacenda Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 I hadn't thought of that, I bet you are right. They used to just get up there and speak and over time it has gotten pretty technical and more controlled. They practice their talks in a small recording room (with a duplicate podium) partly to make sure they are within their alloted time to speak, but also to help them with delivery, I'm sure, and they also are more concerned with lighting, colors and even use theatrical makeup to make them look better on camera. I suspect that they've also been coached some in how to speak and I know they are coached on how to use the teleprompter.I wish they could just be themselves especially in the recent funerals for deceased apostles. Even the children had to read from the teleprompters. Why not just read from paper work, it just looked to perfect for me. But what do I know. 1
Provence Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 Also, using the LDS Gospel app, I've started loading up old conference talks from as far back as it will let me and listening through those. Is it just me or did the older talks seem to hit more on doctrinal matters?I agree with you, iWriteStuff. There may be various reasons why this seems to be the case - one of which may be that now that GC is broadcast to the whole world on a grand scale, to so many different countries, etc. they deem it more appropriate to focus on the basics. I remember growing up in Arizona, we only got one session on Sunday broadcast on TV - we had no access to any of the other sessions until the Conference issue of the Ensign came out. So, far fewer people were listening to or watching GC even just 30+ years ago than now. Maybe when it was more of an intimate group of mostly LDS people watching/listening, the Brethren felt they could delve into more doctrinal, meaty matters. Who knows, just my thoughts. I love reading those older talks though! 2
jkwilliams Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 I wish they could just be themselves especially in the recent funerals for deceased apostles. Even the children had to read from the teleprompters. Why not just read from paper work, it just looked to perfect for me. But what do I know. In fairness, they can't just go up and wing it because everything has to be translated into so many languages (I assume even funerals are translated for satellite broadcast). Yes, you lose some spontaneity, but it really can't be avoided. I do recall Elder Haight speaking extemporaneously several years ago when he could no longer read from paper or a teleprompter, but that was an exception. 1
iWriteStuff Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 I agree with you, iWriteStuff. There may be various reasons why this seems to be the case - one of which may be that now that GC is broadcast to the whole world on a grand scale, to so many different countries, etc. they deem it more appropriate to focus on the basics. I remember growing up in Arizona, we only got one session on Sunday broadcast on TV - we had no access to any of the other sessions until the Conference issue of the Ensign came out. So, far fewer people were listening to or watching GC even just 30+ years ago than now. Maybe when it was more of an intimate group of mostly LDS people watching/listening, the Brethren felt they could delve into more doctrinal, meaty matters. Who knows, just my thoughts. I love reading those older talks though! Amen to that! There's nothing quite like a McConkie talk to stretch the ole brain and get one motivated to think deeper about the gospel and all its applications. 1
jkwilliams Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 Amen to that! There's nothing quite like a McConkie talk to stretch the ole brain and get one motivated to think deeper about the gospel and all its applications. When I was younger, I devoured everything I could read from McConkie. As I got older, I began to see him as dogmatic in presenting his own opinions and biases as doctrine. The man knew his scriptures, and he spurred me to more intensive study, but often I found myself walking back from his assertions because they were sometimes not in line with doctrine. Maybe I was a heretic even then. 1
Tacenda Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 When I was younger, I devoured everything I could read from McConkie. As I got older, I began to see him as dogmatic in presenting his own opinions and biases as doctrine. The man knew his scriptures, and he spurred me to more intensive study, but often I found myself walking back from his assertions because they were sometimes not in line with doctrine. Maybe I was a heretic even then.I remember my husband reading out of the Mormon Doctrine all the time early in our marriage. Sometimes I'd get these feelings that what he was reading wasn't truth, nice to know I was right, IMO. 1
jkwilliams Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 I remember my husband reading out of the Mormon Doctrine all the time early in our marriage. Sometimes I'd get these feelings that what he was reading wasn't truth, nice to know I was right, IMO. In my mission, we were expressly forbidden from reading MD, which was referred to among missionaries as "Bruce's Believe It or Not."
Senator Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 In my mission, we were expressly forbidden from reading MD, which was referred to among missionaries as "Bruce's Believe It or Not." Ha! That was in my mission too
jkwilliams Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 Ha! That was in my mission too My MP, who was a professor of church history, said, "I admire Elder McConkie greatly and sustain him as an apostle, but sometimes he lets his opinion get in the way of doctrine."
rewcox Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 I remember when Elder Bednar and Ucthdorf were sustained. I was amazed by Elder Bednar's talks. He has given many good ones. Elder Ucthdorf seems to be given classics. 2
hagoth7 Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 ...I'm trying to figure out ways to implement this in my life a bit more.... Maybe a sticky note on my desk that I update weekly with new verses or something...Years back, my wife and I used to put a verse on an index card and work on memorizing it together while we went for our daily walk. We need to get back to doing both of those (memorizing and regular walks). 1
iWriteStuff Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 I remember when Elder Bednar and Ucthdorf were sustained. I was amazed by Elder Bednar's talks. He has given many good ones. Elder Ucthdorf seems to be given classics. I'll admit, both have given talks of significant importance to my spiritual growth since their calling as apostles. Side note: my wife had Elder Bednar's son as an instructor in the MTC the weekend he was called as an apostle. She never stops reminding me how "cute" his son is <- me 1
Scott Lloyd Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 (edited) Haha! The irony is that for me, having to wait a whole week to get them seems like forever! There were several talks where I wanted to go back and re-read the words *right then* because the talk impacted me so much. Granted, I could have just gone back on the DVR to listen to a section again. But, alas, chasing my twin toddlers while listening to Conference makes for a difficult listening environment May I recommend ldschurchnews.com Granted, these are not verbatim texts, but they are summaries, and they do contain directly quoted material. This might help tide you over for a few days. The summaries on the site are posted literally within minutes after the sermons have been delivered from the pulpit. Edited October 7, 2015 by Scott Lloyd 1
Avatar4321 Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 Only let down I have is that I have to wait three days for transcripts 1
BTH&T Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 Years back, my wife and I used to put a verse on an index card and work on memorizing it together while we went for our daily walk. We need to get back to doing both of those (memorizing and regular walks).your version of Ponderize? 1
jkwilliams Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 My letdown is the sudden realization that I'll be in sacrament meeting this week. 1
KevinG Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 My disappointment is primarily from not being able to wear my pajamas to Sacrament meeting. 1
hagoth7 Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 your version of Ponderize?I wouldn't go so far as to call it my version. I don't even recall its actual origins (too much time has passed), but I suspect that what we ended up doing was gathered or extrapolated from something suggested in a local or general church meeting.
filovirus Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 You can now print them out: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2015/10?lang=eng 1
rewcox Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 My disappointment is primarily from not being able to wear my pajamas to Sacrament meeting.I wonder if our bishops would have a pajama Sunday? 1
rewcox Posted October 7, 2015 Posted October 7, 2015 So many good options to see and review conference now. Our new tradition is watching Priesthood at home. My wife listens in to the "secret" stuff!I enjoyed reading President Uchtdorf's first talk."Sometimes, the truth may just seem too straightforward, too plain, and too simple for us to fully appreciate its great value. So we set aside what we have experienced and know to be true in pursuit of more mysterious or complicated information. Hopefully we will learn that when we chase after shadows, we are pursuing matters that have little substance and value." 2
Bee Sweet Posted October 8, 2015 Posted October 8, 2015 My son went to BYU Idaho when Elder Bednar was President. We met him and his wife, they were very gracious. The students teased him about his hair never being out of place.
iWriteStuff Posted October 8, 2015 Posted October 8, 2015 I wonder if our bishops would have a pajama Sunday? Totally count me in on that one!
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