April 2020 General Conference - Global Pandemic Edition

[Walter Sobchak]

There are two GA's that I know very well. One has an openly gay son and the other has some inactive/struggling kids. Brilliant, compassionate, salt-of-the-earth guys. This stereotype of stiff, out-of-touch bureaucrats is like most stereotypes - pretty much useless.

Come on. As individuals, sure. As a body politic, bureaucratic to a T.

Corporate lackey indeed!

[Jeff Lebowski]

Who of the brethren grew up in homes with a single mother, or a father who was not a member? Which of the brethren have lost a spouse and remarried, or have lost adult children and grand children to illness; how about those that have lost a spouse and are now experiencing a terrible loneliness as they wait to join their companion in their eternal rest? How often do the brethren speak of their childhoods, or young adult years, or their failures as surgeons and as young fathers and husbands?

How much more public do you wish them to be with their imperfections? You are exercising a curious selective memory here in support of an idea that frankly is just not tenable.

There are two GA's that I know very well. One has an openly gay son and the other has some inactive/struggling kids. Brilliant, compassionate, salt-of-the-earth guys. This stereotype of stiff, out-of-touch bureaucrats is like most stereotypes - pretty much useless.

[tooblue]

We have every card carrying member confirming the belief that these men are "prophets, seers, and revelators" and they only are authorized to speak for God's church. In order for this to work, the leadership must constantly and repeatedly focus on and exemplify humble imperfection. The scriptures are replete with the prophets showing this characteristic. Peter, Nephi, King Benjamin, etc. All proclaim their unworthiness. It's the needed mitigation to counteract the natural effects of sitting on a pedestal that they must sit on. It's a difficult balance for which I personally forgive failures because I honestly believe they are trying, but perhaps it could be manifest a little more in public.

Who of the brethren grew up in homes with a single mother, or a father who was not a member? Which of the brethren have lost a spouse and remarried, or have lost adult children and grand children to illness; how about those that have lost a spouse and are now experiencing a terrible loneliness as they wait to join their companion in their eternal rest? How often do the brethren speak of their childhoods, or young adult years, or their failures as surgeons and as young fathers and husbands?

How much more public do you wish them to be with their imperfections? You are exercising a curious selective memory here in support of an idea that frankly is just not tenable.

[Brian]

Guys, I am sympathetic to and agree with many of these wishes for change. But to be upset that the church would put so much focus on the first vision/restoration on the 200-year anniversary of arguably the seminal event in the history of the church is just not rational or realistic.

I think the disappointment is not in the idea, but in the execution. The crowd here is much different than a standard ward, and I'm interested in hearing what a variety of viewpoints thought. Maybe if church ever starts again we'll find out. We're having a video stake council this week, so maybe some perspectives to be learned.

On the otherhand, for many here, GC is usually 2 or 3 great talks, 2 or 3 nails on the chalkboard, and a lot of sleepers. So, probably par for the course this year.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Guys, I am sympathetic to and agree with many of these wishes for change. But to be upset that the church would put so much focus on the first vision/restoration on the 200-year anniversary of arguably the seminal event in the history of the church is just not rational or realistic.

[Paperback Writer]

The GA's were once youth leaders and bishops. Some of them were type A's, but they undoubtedly cared for the members then (just as they care for them now). A lot of them weren't out of touch when they were local leaders. But it just seems as they rise through the ranks their focus becomes more of enforcing church teachings and doctrine, rather than the real world problems they dealt with as local leaders. I'm not even sure that's a terrible thing organizational-wise. But it does reinforce the optics that they stand apart from the membership. And speaking from a former hero-worshipper, it makes it easier to venerate them too much. And to also become more frustrated when they don't seem to address significant problems, not only doctrinal but real-world ones.

Thanks for posting this as it helps me to understand what I see as a transformation of a local person whom I hold in high regard. About 30 years ago, he was my first bishop upon graduating from BYU and starting my career and family. Truly an awesome bishop who cared deeply for his ward members, especially the youth and those perceived as at risk or being marginalized. Always asking for ideas and ways to strengthen and keep people in the fold. As a stake president, he was a little less awesome and seemed more concerned about upholding church policy that was sometimes ignored when he was a bishop. He is now a regional authority and recently gave a talk that was out of the DHO playbook. My wife commented that there was no way he would have given that talk when he was a bishop. Did the man change fundamentally or was he merely upholding his role of enforcing current teachings and doctrine/policy? I suspect the latter.

[Northwestcoug]

President Nelson does what no Laminate was able, removing Moroni from the earth.

[Bo Diddley]

President Nelson does what no Laminate was able, removing Moroni from the earth.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I'm going to go with pretty much everyone.

Did tooblue mean who could describe Ucht better than Cook? Yeah that’s everyone who isn’t in Cook’s family.

[All-American]

And how many people could describe how Elder Uchtdorf looks as well as they could describe Elder Cook?

I'm going to go with pretty much everyone.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Renderings of three temples released. Two do not have Angel Moroni statues.

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist...9s8FdOeoN4N4a0

President Nelson does what no Laminate was able, removing Moroni from the earth.

[All-American]

Renderings of three temples released. Two do not have Angel Moroni statues.

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/renderings-released-three-temples-western-united-states?fbclid=IwAR3aOKmuUkqs1Ef-OC3gjjxcCeZv6F6zZVuGtCLMf7ZCB9s8FdOeoN4N4a0

[tooblue]

Is this a recent update? I have never seen a portrait of anyone not in the first presidency hanging in any building I’ve ever been in. I know for a fact this is not the case in my building or stake center. To be fair we are no frills church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saintism here as less than half of the electrical outlets in our building have worked for the 18 years I’ve been going to it. The good news is that the light switch in my new Sunday school classroom does work, in the room I had for the last 4 years it was a fun start to each week’s class “will or won’t the lights work today?”

I think it would be a fun contest to ask 100 women and 100 men to have a police sketch artist (preferably not the one from Making a Murderer) make renditions of what the first presidency and the relief society first presidency looks like.

The sisters ordered the portraits from Salt Lake and hung them up. And how many people could describe how Elder Uchtdorf looks as well as they could describe Elder Cook?

[Northwestcoug]

Like this, a lot. I think that the Church will continue to sound tone deaf to youth the longer they pull stunts like this last Conference, e.g. dedicate an entire conference as "Praise to the Man". Instead, the Church needs to have a come-to-Jesus reckoning that the life of JS followed the arc of David. A vessel of the Lord at the beginning, but a fallen prophet in the end. Repeal 132 for starters. Then let's talk.



Amen.

Now you’re talking!

[Jeff Lebowski]

Is this a recent update? I have never seen a portrait of anyone not in the first presidency hanging in any building I’ve ever been in. I know for a fact this is not the case in my building or stake center. To be fair we are no frills church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saintism here as less than half of the electrical outlets in our building have worked for the 18 years I’ve been going to it. The good news is that the light switch in my new Sunday school classroom does work, in the room I had for the last 4 years it was a fun start to each week’s class “will or won’t the lights work today?”

This has been the case at our church as long as I can remember. (portraits of rs pres, not the light switches)