I learned in church today

[Jeff Lebowski]

My guess is this is a mixture of scripture, inspiration and the philosophies of men. I would not be surprised if the first presidency is pushing to improve sacrament meeting quality. This strategic goal is probably then filtered to the area people and then to the stake leaders and then to your bishop in some sort of training session and this list was likely created as part of that process of dissemination of the strategic goal. The odds of this list being from the first presidency directly are, IMO, about nil.

Bingo.

"No more reading talks."? Say adios to the teleprompter at general conf.

[TripletDaddy]

i take my ipad to sac so none of the things on the list really bother me anyway.

[Northwestcoug]

Bingo.

"No more reading talks."? Say adios to the teleprompter at general conf.

Ha. It was well into my undergrad that I thought those talks were memorized . I think I remember noticing the clear screens at the pulpit, but I just didn't clue in. At any rate, my ignorance kept alive the urban legend of Monson's photographic memory!

[thesaint258]

What kind of dad wouldn't want to take his children out in the hall to skip sacrament meeting?

Exactly. If you have to deal with the difficulties of having kids, you should be able to enjoy the positives, too. One of those is getting out of sacrament meeting.

[Stick]

We had stake conference yesterday and Elder Ballard spoke. I don't remember too much of his talk, but I do remember him saying the 1st pres. and q of 12 want our sacrament meetings to be better. They should be invigorating, and should be a known quantity. Missionaries and members shouldn't be afraid to bring their investigators or non-member friends out of fear of what crazy things might be said.

(Or something to that effect.)

[SandYFan]

My guess is this is a mixture of scripture, inspiration and the philosophies of men. I would not be surprised if the first presidency is pushing to improve sacrament meeting quality. This strategic goal is probably then filtered to the area people and then to the stake leaders and then to your bishop in some sort of training session and this list was likely created as part of that process of dissemination of the strategic goal. The odds of this list being from the first presidency directly are, IMO, about nil.

Fair enough. My stake presidency has been known to overextend from time to time.

The point is, this is gospel now in my ward. Not feeling great about it.

[Sullyute]

We had stake conference yesterday and Elder Ballard spoke. I don't remember too much of his talk, but I do remember him saying the 1st pres. and q of 12 want our sacrament meetings to be better. They should be invigorating, and should be a known quantity. Missionaries and members shouldn't be afraid to bring their investigators or non-member friends out of fear of what crazy things might be said.

(Or something to that effect.)

Yea! So no more homophobia tirades, end-of-the-world predictions, world-is-so-evil talks, women-are-equal-but-men-preside speaches, girls-must-cover-their-shoulders modesty lessons. That is great news!

[wuapinmon]

This list is *clears throat* unlikely, but anyone who dictates how I prepare or deliver a talk can take a flying leap (but not in sacrament meeting, because that wouldn't be appropriate).

I never ever read a Sunday School or Priesthood lesson. I almost always read my talks. I can speak extemporaneously, but, my talks now are careful weavings of multiple sources into a narrative that I want to remain the way I prepared it beforehand. Plus, I'm usually asked to speak on something by looking awry at it, so I have to be careful to not adlib my way into a court of love.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

We had stake conference yesterday and Elder Ballard spoke. I don't remember too much of his talk, but I do remember him saying the 1st pres. and q of 12 want our sacrament meetings to be better. They should be invigorating, and should be a known quantity. Missionaries and members shouldn't be afraid to bring their investigators or non-member friends out of fear of what crazy things might be said.

(Or something to that effect.)

Telling members to go off script for their talks isn't going to accomplish that. (Although it will bring much entertainment to this thread.)

Also, listening to 30 people rip through the five testimony glove points once a month does nothing for me. Nothing weird about a straight hour of religious observers stepping up to the microphone and repeating the same "I know..." phrases.

[scottie]

Fair enough. My stake presidency has been known to overextend from time to time.

The point is, this is gospel now in my ward. Not feeling great about it.

Don't worry -- it'll last 2 months, tops.

[RC Vikings]

All I can tell you is that all three members of my bishopric were very excited about this and said it is the key to improving the dwindling attendance in our ward at sacrament meeting.

Our sacrament meeting attendance is down also. I would like to see them shorten sacrament meeting.

[hostile]

Our sacrament meeting attendance is down also. I would like to see them shorten sacrament meeting.

2 hour block.

[TripletDaddy]

2 hour block.

you are getting warmer!

[Commando]

I never ever read a Sunday School or Priesthood lesson. I almost always read my talks. I can speak extemporaneously, but, my talks now are careful weavings of multiple sources into a narrative that I want to remain the way I prepared it beforehand. Plus, I'm usually asked to speak on something by looking awry at it, so I have to be careful to not adlib my way into a court of love.

I don't think that's what they meant. We have all sat through those youth talks where they read an article out of the New Era, right?

[Northwestcoug]

Yea! So no more homophobia tirades, end-of-the-world predictions, world-is-so-evil talks, women-are-equal-but-men-preside speaches, girls-must-cover-their-shoulders modesty lessons. That is great news!

I could be wrong, but I sense much in this post