Conference open thread

[LA Ute]

I am going to admit that I had my doubts about Elder Uchtdorf when he was first called. Not sure why. Perhaps he just seemed a little too tanned and good looking. I suppose I imagined that he would be a wooden, corporate-type GA. Boy, was I wrong. I love his talks.

He reorganized our stake presidency in 2006 and people here still talk about that experience. (Imagine a pair of 45-minute talks by Pres. U. on a wide range of subjects, on top of 2 hours of back-and forth with him in leadership training session.) What we remember most is his incredible warmth. He is amazing in person.

[RobinFinderson]

He reorganized our stake presidency in 2006 and people here still talk about that experience. (Imagine a pair of 45-minute talks by Pres. U. on a wide range of subjects, on top of 2 hours of back-and forth with him in leadership training session.) What we remember most is his incredible warmth. He is amazing in person.

Geesh, are you guys talking about a GA, or are you talking about the Dos Equis man?

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[TripletDaddy]

Geesh, are you guys talking about a GA, or are you talking about the Dos Equis man?

He is quite charismatic. I think some of it speaks to the fact that we are subconsciously starved for non-American leadership at the highest ranks of the Church (cue the Helvecio Martins catch-all reference).

The greater portion of his appeal comes from a legitimate rock star vibe that he emits. Yes, he is a hottie that likes to ski. However, he is articulate, his messages always seem to resonate (every GA will give a clunker talk every now and then....an off-point generic message that, while interesting, doesn't necessarily grab you), he finds a nice balance between being a storyteller and a scriptorian, and by all accounts, everywhere he goes he leaves a trail of happiness in his wake.

He has a very unique ability to command the room, not only by viture of his calling, but by virtue of his personality. We don't see this much in the Q12. He is, in a sense, larger than life. Much love to our other apostles, but again, not sure many of the others can command the room like Pres U. As an example, if these men were never called to be Apostles, some of them would not really merit much special attention. They are fairly uncompelling public figures as standalone individuals. Pres U is a natural born leader regardless of whatever he is going to do, in the Church or in his career. He has a magnetic personality.

Basically, he is very rad. This is a leader that I predict will wind up having a very special tenure as a Special Witness.

[SteelBlue]

Yes it was. I wish we received more instructional talks like his. I thought of you when he related certain parts of his talk actually.

That was a very good talk. He reorganized our Stake in January and gave much of that message to us in our Priesthood leadership meeting. I wanted to share some of it here, but thought that it would be received as hearsay as there is no record of it. I really enjoy talks like that and hope we get more in the future.

[LA Ute]

And a killer rendition of "Abide with Me, 'Tis Eventide" to finish things off. Wow.

[SteelBlue]

Basically, he is very rad. This is a leader that I predict will wind up having a very special tenure as a Special Witness.

You left out the fact that he was a fighter pilot, trained in the USofA, and graduated at the top of his class. This means at one time he must have had a really cool call sign like Maverick, Viper or Iceman and he may well have sung "You've lost that lovin' feeling" a capella in order to woo a fair lady now and again. It just doesn't get any cooler than that; nobody else should even try. If I were DFU, I would be sorely tempted to wear my flight jacket and aviators during an occasional conference talk.

[MarkGrace]

Uchtdorf was a pilot? I had no idea!

[SteelBlue]

Uchtdorf was a pilot? I had no idea!

Yeah, but did you know he was Top Gun?!

[MarkGrace]

The two things I learned from the 2nd session today:

- "The Greatest" sounds as cheesy told from the pulpit as it does sung by Kenny Rogers, only Kenny delivers the punchline much better

- Delaying a family for education is poor judgment

[MarkGrace]

Yeah, but did you know he was Top Gun?!

Did you know Matt Harpring played football?

[SteelBlue]

Did you know Matt Harpring played football?

I barely knew that he plays basketball. I think the key question here though is can these guys play beach volleyball shirtless and in jeans?

[pellegrino]

I have always loved President Monson, but I was such an admirer of President Hinckley that it's taken me a while to get used to the idea as President Monson as Prophet. All hesitation has been demolished today. It's difficult to type because eyesight is so tear-blurred. I love this strange, strange feeling, which I experience only when overwhelmed by the spirit. I thought this Sunday morning session one of the finest I've ever experienced, but TSM's concluding words were amazing. I love how he brings culture into his talks, art, Robert Louis Stevenson, poetry. His love of the Gospel and the Saints is evident with every word he utters. He makes me want to be worthy of that love. I wish I had remembered to watch yesterday's sessions. Can't get enough of this amazing stuff.

I feel the same way about Pres. Monson. He's a great man.

[MarkGrace]

I barely knew that he plays basketball. I think the key question here though is can these guys play beach volleyball shirtless and in jeans?

I'm pretty sure he was on the opposite side of the net from Uchtdorf and Cruise.

[RobinFinderson]

He is quite charismatic... The greater portion of his appeal comes from a legitimate rock star vibe that he emits... He has a very unique ability to command the room, not only by viture of his calling, but by virtue of his personality... Basically, he is very rad. This is a leader that I predict will wind up having a very special tenure as a Special Witness.

Interesting. When these guys come through, I see their pictures, and can thus make the J. Peterson connection, but I will never get to know their personalities. It kind of feels weird, because it is getting to the point where I know longer have a sense of the personalities of a majority of the church's leaders. Eventually I will know none of them, and I will no longer be able to make snide comments about their idiosyncrasies, like Elder Scott's 'talking about porn' voice, or President Monson's 'In the words of the (nameless) poet...' Kind of sad and kind of happy, but mostly strange. The church I once knew so well is slipping from me. But for CUF, it might already be gone.

[Portland Ute]

Interesting. When these guys come through, I see their pictures, and can thus make the J. Peterson connection, but I will never get to know their personalities. It kind of feels weird, because it is getting to the point where I know longer have a sense of the personalities of a majority of the church's leaders. Eventually I will know none of them, and I will no longer be able to make snide comments about their idiosyncrasies, like Elder Scott's 'talking about porn' voice, or President Monson's 'In the words of the (nameless) poet...' Kind of sad and kind of happy, but mostly strange. The church I once knew so well is slipping from me. But for CUF, it might already be gone.

One thing I noticed about Elder Scott's talk this afternoon was that he did not employ the staged-looking-into-multiple-camera technique anywhere near as much as he usually does.

I wonder if he's been told that it's distracting and he's deep-sixed that part of his delivery.