Saturday evening session of conference

[Bernard Gui]

3 hours ago, bOObOO said:

Change of some sort is inevitable while we are mortal.  Sounds like you carried on the tradition of always watching at least one general conference session with people you enjoyed watching it with.  The locations changed and while you enjoyed your tradition in all those locations the fact that locations changed did not deter you.  I know what it is like to not be able to go back to a particular place, or to always be with the same people, but at least there are still general conference sessions every 6 months. And you can still get together with other people to enjoy those sessions, and eat whatever foods you want to eat with those people.

Yes. Thanks. I am describing the role the Priesthood session has played in my life for over 60 years…in response to some comments that have been made about that Conference session in particular and traditions in general. I don’t know if you are old enough to value traditions. I think they are critical to a healthy life, but that’s just my opinion.  I doubt anyone at the higher levels would be much concerned with my traditions or thoughts on Conference anyway. But that’s OK. The Church is true and good.

Edited August 23, 2021 by Bernard Gui

[Hamba Tuhan]

8 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

If I get your direction correctly, it may be bordering on cruelty. I hope not. 

I have no idea what you mean by this, but now I'm scared to respond lest you see me as cruel.

[Bernard Gui]

1 hour ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

I have no idea what you mean by this, but now I'm scared to respond lest you see me as cruel.

I have said several times that cancelling the Priesthood session ended some wonderful traditions that at my age would probably not be replaced with something else. Someone added that the sessions were just about avoiding porn and getting married and therefore expendable.

After I shared some significant personal experiences and family traditions related to the value of the Priesthood sessions, you quoted Elder Bednar…something about “there is way too much tradition going on in this room.” You asked what I thought of it. I hoped he wasn’t referring to what I had described.

When you asked exactly what I thought Elder Bednar meant, I said I did not know because I wasn’t in the meeting. It appeared that my response would eventually end up pitting me against an Apostle. That would be unfair and unkind. If that was not the direction this was going, then some clarification would be much appreciated.

I still don’t know what Elder Bednar meant.

Edited August 24, 2021 by Bernard Gui

[2BizE]

23 hours ago, Logan said:

I don't see it. Do you have a link?

Printed paper magazines don’t have links.

[Logan]

2 minutes ago, 2BizE said:

Printed paper magazines don’t have links.

Well it should be the same as the digital version. Can you upload a picture of the page and include the article title so we can compare the two?

[Tacenda]

On 8/22/2021 at 6:51 PM, Bernard Gui said:

I’m 74. Not much time left to establish new traditions. Takes a while to get them going.That’s why they are called traditions. 
 

tra·di·tion

/trəˈdiSH(ə)n/

noun

• 1.the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way.

 

[Bernard Gui]

24 minutes ago, 2BizE said:

Printed paper magazines don’t have links.

Wouldn’t it be on the Church news page?

Edited August 24, 2021 by Bernard Gui

[Calm]

On 8/22/2021 at 6:47 PM, 2BizE said:

The printed version of the Sept 2021 Liahona indicates the alternating priesthood and women sessions are back on.

Where?  What page?

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/09/respect-for-all-of-gods-children?lang=eng

[Calm]

5 minutes ago, Calm said:

Where?  What page?

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/09/respect-for-all-of-gods-children?lang=eng

I am assuming it would be on this page and could have been an error from a too asleep writer and editor. 

 

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Each conference has five sessions: three on Saturday and two on Sunday.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/09/general-conference-a-worldwide-church-meeting?lang=eng

Could you take a photo of the page and post it?  I don’t see it as anything but a goof, but still curious. 

Edited August 24, 2021 by Calm

[Hamba Tuhan]

1 hour ago, Bernard Gui said:

I still don’t know what Elder Bednar meant.

Fair enough. The context for this particular statement was that too many priesthood leaders were simply doing what they had always seen be done instead of doing what the First Presidency, Church training, and Church manuals had been instructing them to do.

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It appeared that my response would eventually end up pitting me against an Apostle. That would be unfair and unkind

I like to know what apostles teach so that I can align myself with them instead of being pitted against them, so maybe that's why I was confused? Certainly not my intention to be unkind.

Anyway, earlier in our meeting, he did warn us that too many of us liked 'Church culture' so much that we were going to struggle as the Lord stripped it away. He said that American Saints would struggle the most, in his opinion, but noted that we here would too. It is a necessary process, however, so that the Church can fulfil its divine mandate across the entire earth and not just in certain nations where it has been long established. I don't have my notes, but he said something along the lines of: 'If it doesn't work in Zimbabwe, we're not going to keep doing it in Salt Lake City'. He noted that, by the time the Lord is finished building up the Church He needs, nothing familiar will be left but the doctrines and the ordinances, and we should both get used to that idea and make sure that our conversion is to the doctrine and not to the culture.

You can of course distil from that whatever you feel inspired to. 

[Bernard Gui]

8 hours ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

Fair enough. The context for this particular statement was that too many priesthood leaders were simply doing what they had always seen be done instead of doing what the First Presidency, Church training, and Church manuals had been instructing them to do.

I like to know what apostles teach so that I can align myself with them instead of being pitted against them, so maybe that's why I was confused? Certainly not my intention to be unkind.

Anyway, earlier in our meeting, he did warn us that too many of us liked 'Church culture' so much that we were going to struggle as the Lord stripped it away. He said that American Saints would struggle the most, in his opinion, but noted that we here would too. It is a necessary process, however, so that the Church can fulfil its divine mandate across the entire earth and not just in certain nations where it has been long established. I don't have my notes, but he said something along the lines of: 'If it doesn't work in Zimbabwe, we're not going to keep doing it in Salt Lake City'. He noted that, by the time the Lord is finished building up the Church He needs, nothing familiar will be left but the doctrines and the ordinances, and we should both get used to that idea and make sure that our conversion is to the doctrine and not to the culture.

You can of course distil from that whatever you feel inspired to. 

I appreciate your concerns. I recall you mentioning some beloved cultural things of your own over these years of conversing. 

A Priesthood session of conference or something like unto it with some associated local cultural trappings might work in some way to build the kingdom and foster unity in in Zimbabwe, but we shall see. I understand that they have some spicy chili’s there, too. 
 

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• The Zimbabwe Bird Chili, as you can tell by its name, derives from Africa. In both Africa and Portugal this pepper is extremely popular because it is so spicy and flavorful. One of the most common dishes which includes this pepper is the Piri Piri Chili dish [Yum!]. Often times, the pepper is dried and then ground into powder to use to flavor food up.

Not my decisions to make, however. 

I hope you would indulge an old man his beloved memories of how he came by his testimony and shared some precious time with family and friends. I don’t believe the Lord would want to strip him of those because He provided them in the first place.

If any doubts arose from what I have written, let’s be clear that my conversion is to the gospel, not to chile burgers made with Chimayo chiles, but my oh my, they are delisshhious!

BTW, in New Mexico it is a hanging offense to spell ”chile,” “chili.” Any substitute is heresy. Did I hear someone say, “Hatch?”  Lottaburger in Santa Fe always used Chimayo chiles, green or red …that’s why we always ate there on the way back from Conference in Albuquerque.

Some testimonials…..

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The tiny New Mexican village of Chimayo, 28 miles north of Santa Fe, holds a chili [chile] treasure dear to heart. There, the Chimayo pepper – in its twisted, knotted beauty – is king. Its sun-dried skin and smoky, simmering taste are so dependent on this unique mountainous region that the Chimayo is not a chili [chile]  that you’ll find that often commercially unless you’re in that region come harvest season.

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Chimayo is a tiny village in northeastern New Mexico nestled in the enchanting foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Amidst the aroma of piñon and the scent of fire roasted chile, the people of Chimayo weave the fabric of their lives—which are inextricably tied to the piquant chiles that they harvest, roast, eat and sell.

If you stroll through Chimayo in autumn as the cottonwoods turn variegated shades of yellow and orange, you will detect the scent of apples wafting from the old orchards. What’s even more, the men and women of Chimayo will roast their chile crops in traditional hornos (or clay ovens)—letting the intoxicating scent of the chiles permeate the air.

The fabric of this little community is dependent on its chiles, which grow in twisted little shapes because of infrequent watering—giving them a special character which reflects the landscape in which they are grown

A change came for this little close-knit community when Mark Miller—a chef from Santa Fe—”discovered” Chimayo’s chiles and utilized them in recipes, giving his dishes a distinctive flavor. Soon, chefs and home cooks from all over clamored for pure de-seeded and de-stemmed New Mexico chiles, desiring the authenticity and flavor of a “native” chile.

What chile aficionados don’t know is that the pure de-seeded and de-stemmed New Mexico chile is a rare commodity. Producing no more than 500 acres of chile a year, Chimayo cannot supply the demands of a global market. Therefore, most of the chile marketed as “Chimayo Chile” is actually produced throughout New Mexico or other parts of the Southwest and a large majority of Chimayo’s crop is used to make decorative ristras, or ground into pure de-seeded and de-stemmed New Mexico chile powder.

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The Chimayo Heirloom chile is an increasingly popular variety. This chile is grown from the original Chimayo seed passed down through generations of growers in the valley. The chile pods are small and therefore more difficult to process. Chimayo Heirloom chile has a unique, rich and earthy flavor. The availability of this chile is limited and it is the most expensive variety.

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• If someone from Chimayo says that Chimayo chiles are the best, there is no arguing. It’s not a question of intrinsic good. It’s a taste and smell people have grown up with—their version of Proust’s madeleine or an Italian mother’s cooking. They’re not just a spice; they’re part of an old culture, an ancient way of life.

[Hamba Tuhan]

24 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

I appreciate your concerns. I recall you mentioning some beloved cultural things of your own over these years of conversing. 

Oh, yes. For the six years that I was Young Men president, our wonderful bishop and I worked hard to get as many boys as possible to the priesthood session every six months. For far too many of them, this was their first experience watching any General Conference session, and our 'tradition' grew quickly and organically (i.e., based on what these particular boys liked). It soon involved heading down to the river afterwards, building up a huge fire, jumping into the icy water, and then drying off around the heat of the fire. My favourite experience happened one night when one of the boys, beyond the light of the fire, spontaneously started to sing 'The Spirit of God' as he pulled his clothes back on, and immediately all the other boys, Bishop and I joined in. The riverbank became sacred space!

Those boys are all grown up now. One of them serves as second counsellor in our bishopric. And General Conference has moved from something we watch together at the chapel at a specific time to something that we can all watch at home with families and those we invite into our lives. I hope families and individuals are using this opportunity to create their own traditions whilst including more people ...

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I hope you would indulge an old man his beloved memories of how he came by his testimony and shared some precious time with family and friends. I don’t believe the Lord would want to strip him of those because He provided them in the first place.

Oh, no. I'm certain that the Lord doesn't want to strip us of good memories. It's like the invitation from Joseph (or was it Brigham?) to hold onto all the good we have whilst being open to more. The way I deal with all this is a bit like a full-time mission. My mission experiences are absolutely foundational to my discipleship, but I can't afford to let them be the pinnacle of that discipleship. And as missionary work changes, I have to figure out how I continue to engage in the work in the new space.

I'm not always very good at this either, I assure you!

Quote

But my oh my, they are delisshhious!

From one chilli-head (our spelling!) to another ...

Edited August 24, 2021 by Hamba Tuhan

[Bernard Gui]

41 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

From one chilli-head (our spelling!) to another ...

Someone get a rope. 

[Hamba Tuhan]

8 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

Someone get a rope. 

Two l's! That's not an offence ...

[Hamba Tuhan]

Duplicate.

Edited August 25, 2021 by Hamba Tuhan

[Bernard Gui]

45 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

Two l's! That's not an offence ...

The word is “chile”…..😁

[esodije]

I figured that sooner or later the leadership would realize that four sessions of GC don’t provide sufficient slots for the expanded pool of soeakers.