I learned in church today

[PaloAltoCougar]

A friend who attended a session this morning reported that it lasted approximately 45 minutes. Applying BM's hypothesis (and what a surprise that was!), I assume the reason for brevity is the hope that more time can now be devoted to hourly employment that will result in a tithing uptick.

[Jeff Lebowski]

A friend who attended a session this morning reported that it lasted approximately 45 minutes. Applying BM's hypothesis (and what a surprise that was!), I assume the reason for brevity is the hope that more time can now be devoted to hourly employment that will result in a tithing uptick.

Interesting. News reports are saying a 20-minute reduction. 45 minutes would be more than a 20-minute cut, no?

[ByronMarchant]

A friend who attended a session this morning reported that it lasted approximately 45 minutes. Applying BM's hypothesis (and what a surprise that was!), I assume the reason for brevity is the hope that more time can now be devoted to hourly employment that will result in a tithing uptick.

I think they're just trying to appeal to a younger audience that has been taking more offense to things like sexism.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Interesting. News reports are saying a 20-minute reduction. 45 minutes would be more than a 20-minute cut, no?

Agreed, and I'm skeptical about the friend's report. A 20-minute cut sounds more plausible, esp. given that they've added to Eve's lines. Still, I'd be happy with even a mere 20 minute reduction.

BTW, I suspect that with the exception of Joseph Smith, no LDS President has implemented more changes in his first year of service than has Pres. Nelson. Certainly true in my lifetime.

[cowboy]

Wow, cowboy taking a shot at the big guy. Something happen locally to bring this out or were you just a big MoTab fan?

PS. I love the “hold-my-root beer” phrase.

I didn't see this until today. It wasn't intended to be a shot. Just the opposite. While I'll admit it will be a while before I give up the 'Mormon' label, I think it's awesome, and a little hilarious at times, how much President Nelson has changed the church and some of the culture's long-revered measuring sticks of righteousness. Today is another one of those days that will leave members backpedaling from the 'priesthood holder decides who blesses the food' type nonsense that has led so many of us to practice our religion by adhering to cultural traditions rather than loving God and our neighbor.

President Nelson has accelerated the process of showing us that we have all been guilty of teaching as commandments the the doctrines of men, but he's done it in a way that makes us love him for it. Over the last decade more than a few people have been forced to accept that Pepsi isn't really evil, righteousness isn't as simple as keeping a few strict rules, priesthood service involves more than wearing a tie while reading three paragraphs out of the Ensign to four families every month, and that a kid can grow up to be a good husband and father even if he doesn't become an eagle scout. The difference now is that we have a prophet who tells us we're idiots in a way that makes us want to thank him for the news.

President Nelson doesn't just say "hold fewer meetings"; he gives us an extra 48 hours a year to spend with our families. He doesn't just say "sorry guys, you aren't the boss, even at home"; he says "sorry guys, you aren't the boss, even at home, but I made the temple ceremony a lot shorter, so you'll hate it less when she drags you there every month." He calls his shot and hits it straight over the Green Monster every time he gets up to the plate.

[Walter Sobchak]

"I made the temple ceremony a lot shorter, so you'll hate it less when she drags you there every month." He calls his shot and hits it straight over the Green Monster every time he gets up to the plate.

How much shorter? Not sure that has been clarified here yet. This will determine (in my mind) whether this is truly a bomb over the Green Monster or just a double off the wall. A 20-minute abbreviation only returns the length to the previous iteration, amirite? However, if there has been a wholesale abridgment of the dang thing, then I will never say the word "Mormon" for the rest of my life in Nelson's honor.

[Uncle Ted]

BTW, I suspect that with the exception of Joseph Smith, no LDS President has implemented more changes in his first year of service than has Pres. Nelson. Certainly true in my lifetime.

Pres. Nelson is like the Drumpf of LDS church presidents... #MakeChurchGreatAgain


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[Uncle Ted]

How much shorter? Not sure that has been clarified here yet. This will determine (in my mind) whether this is truly a bomb over the Green Monster or just a double off the wall. A 20-minute abbreviation only returns the length to the previous iteration, amirite? However, if there has been a wholesale abridgment of the dang thing, then I will never say the word "Mormon" for the rest of my life in Nelson's honor.

If Nelson allows robots to do temple work for the dead then count me in on never using the work “Mormon” again.


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[ByronMarchant]

Also, these are not just decisions made without data. That's the thing that's most interesting to me.

Everything is based on studies (of some sort), focus groups, etc. They are attempting to identify significant problems and to correct them. I view this as a good thing. It makes me optimistic for the future of the Church.

[Moliere]

Also, these are not just decisions made without data. That's the thing that's most interesting to me.

Everything is based on studies (of some sort), focus groups, etc. They are attempting to identify significant problems and to correct them. I view this as a good thing. It makes me optimistic for the future of the Church.

And tithing revenue. Don’t forget tithing revenue.

[ByronMarchant]

And tithing revenue. Don’t forget tithing revenue.

Yeah, well money is almost certainly what motivates change more than anything else.

My view is this:

1. The apostles work in an echo chamber. This disincentivizes change.
2. Money and church activity trends, which are linked to each other, call the most attention to real-world problems.
3. Issues related to money and church activity motivate the Church to identify drivers of problems. This is done using focus groups.
4. Once they identify problems using focus groups, they become motivated to enact real change in order to reverse negative trends.
5. One caveat is that change is more feasible when the highest leader is not suffering from dementia.

[smokymountainrain]

Pres. Nelson is like the Drumpf of LDS church presidents... #MakeChurchGreatAgain


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nelson's changes are smart.

[jay santos]

Focus groups -> positive changes.

I'm more interested in what is motivating them to study these focus groups.

My hypothesis is that they are hemorrhaging $.

Or they really want to do the right thing. One of those two, probably.

[ByronMarchant]

Or they really want to do the right thing. One of those two, probably.

If they really wanted to do the right thing, they'd do it first.

The list goes on and on.

Civil rights.

Women's rights.

Gay rights.

In other words, if they really just wanted to do what was right, they would lead the way rather than lagging behind the rest of society.

Women will eventually get the priesthood, and gays will eventually marry in the temple. Of course that's a good thing, but it's not because they want to do what's right. It's because they cave to pressure.

[Bo Diddley]

Pres. Nelson is like the Drumpf of LDS church presidents... #MakeChurchGreatAgain


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Not even Clack would say something like that.