Okay, as I was reading in the Sep. Ensign last night (Oh, and btw, there's an 8 page spread about the MMM, so whoever thought I was all wet about caring about this can kiss my hiney... PLUS they refer you to a new book, not yet published, written by LDS historians and published by Oxford.. neener) and they had some money quotes by various leaders. One quote from Pres. Monson was very good, I thought. I read quotes in my mind with a little more ... what shall we say? ... gusto? drama? feeling? (gasp!) Emotion??? Yes, that's it. I've just discovered the secret to why no one listens to the Brethren or follows their counsel. They are exceedingly DRY! Like some Gen. Conf. talks are just excrutiating to listen to. Now reading them is another story. They're actually very good, all of them. But the delivery! Wow! Sometimes it's all I can do to stay awake, no kidding!
Now let's step back and ask ourselves WHY that is... You know your kids totally pick up on words said with more emotion, such as when a quasi-swearword slips, chances are they'll pick it up instantly, because they "feel" it's importance, or whatever. Are Gen. Conf.'s dry on purpose? Is this by design? Because sure-hure-hurely these guys can't be that dispassionate in real life. Is there some problem with "learning" when emotion is involved? Does it somehow not "stick" so well? Is this all by design, or are we just the dryest Church around?
"Too many in the Church have failed to avoid unnecessary debt." -Pres. Monson Yeah, yeah... Nobody is listening! I think if they said it with some gusto, people may just listen more...???
What think ye?
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
Maybe they're all getting too far up there in years and don't have any gusto left. Or maybe some of them never had any gusto to begin with. Although I have to say the President Hinckley has alot of gusto for a man his age.
I wonder if something along the lines of... "Dagnabbit, people! What do I have to do to get you to get out of debt? Back flip off this pulpit??" I think we'd remember that for a long time...
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
Someone would probably become offended. Personally, I think they speak slowly and keep things pretty monotone to help the translaters for all the various languages and ASL.
I have a hard time listening to conference because it is SO emotional for me. I pretty much cry through half the talks, cuz they're all so good and the spirit is so strong and I just feel so uplifted and grateful God cares enough to give messages directly to me through living oracles.
So um... I have no idea what you're talking about Coco. You sure you're not accidentally tuning into C-Span or something, and you just THINK it's General Conference?
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
I wonder if something along the lines of... "Dagnabbit, people! What do I have to do to get you to get out of debt? Back flip off this pulpit??" I think we'd remember that for a long time...
I already know I need to get out and stay out of debt! I don't need to be reminded! Although I don't recommend any of the general authorities do back flips. I don't even recommend my bishop doing it either. It wouldn't be a pretty sight.
I HAVE fallen asleep during conference. Then I go read the talks online.
I also fall asleep watching Bob Ross. I wonder if it's connected?
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
I've fallen asleep watching conference also. I have to agree with Coco. Reading is great but the lack of mojo in the talks kind of has the same effect as the couches in my old college's library. ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Of course there are some apostles that have this soothing, you will go to sleep now, voice... the most noteworthy being Pres. Richard G. Scott... I recognized this about him a while ago, and have since made a special effort to stay awake during his talks (and others) because they were such good talks... but yes, Coco, sometimes you have to really put a lot of effort into listening to understand the depth of which they speak.
Of course that's also the case with my posts... cuz well... I'm ultimately really deep, though I come across as annoying... :)
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
Nah. Dry Council members have been doing that for years. It's like a first level magic user spell, "Sleep"... doesn't work on Elves or the Undead... cuz they don't sleep, and we know that Jase is a Zombie...
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
So, you're saying he's just faking it? Maybe to get us to come close so he can fire his hog irons and scare us silly?
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
Maybe it's just me, but it seems like that warning is kind of a no-brainer
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
So, is this sleepy-talk by design? Are they "told" to tone things down or don't rile the people up, or is it the translation situation? Do we learn spiritual things more perfectly, minus the emotion or grand delivery...??
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
Maybe it's a result of peace brought by the Spirit?
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
Well the church does live translate all its broadcasts... maybe they talk in a clear level tone, because they want to give the translators time to catch up...
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
Coco, I have just the opposite experience--I get really engaged when I hear the talks, but rarely when I read them. Maybe it's a difference in preferred learning styles. I'm stronger in auditory learning than visual, so hearing makes more of an impact for me than reading. Maybe you're stronger in visual than auditory, which would also correspond with your adeptness at spatial relations.
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The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. - Julie Beck
Of course there are some apostles that have this soothing, you will go to sleep now, voice... the most noteworthy being Pres. Richard G. Scott... I recognized this about him a while ago, and have since made a special effort to stay awake during his talks (and others) because they were such good talks... but yes, Coco, sometimes you have to really put a lot of effort into listening to understand the depth of which they speak.
I know what you mean, similar impact on me. For me it has to do w/his direct eye contact over the satellite system. One thing I learned awhile ago in a church class- "someone said" Elder Scott was a shy person, this person said he used to practice his talks w/his wife. Maybe this has something to do w/this.
I enjoy his talks, his prayer talk last time was one of my top two of all the talks. And I got his book for my mom for mother's day, so I really do appreciate the quiet yet soothing way he speaks to the one.
Personally I ennoy their varied personalities. Maybe what you perceive is just the spiritual demeanor manifest due to the nature of their message and calling? I used to think Elder Oaks looked 100%serious. Then he came to our stake and laughed & joked around in such a great manner. He went up and down the chapel/multicultural hall shaking hands of everyone. His second wife (at a fireside) awhile ago, shared a funny story about when they were dating. And I learned that his personality really is fun.
You're right, roper. I could hear a teacher explain some *thing* over and over for the whole class period and not get it at all. I'd be all nervous about the homework or upcoming test... then I'd talk myself into conquering my assignment... read it over... and I'm like, "What? This is easy!" and it would totally click. I really have to concentrate when listening... but reading, it's like once and it's stuck for good. I think I'm too easily distracted when my physical eyeballs are free to roam around with no absolute task.
So interesting how people can be so different that way...
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
I learn different things from the same talks both ways Coco... I am pretty auditory myself... I just started listening to last April's Conference talks in preparation for October's offering of council.
You know your kids totally pick up on words said with more emotion, such as when a quasi-swearword slips, chances are they'll pick it up instantly, because they "feel" it's importance, or whatever. Are Gen. Conf.'s dry on purpose? Is this by design? Because sure-hure-hurely these guys can't be that dispassionate in real life. Is there some problem with "learning" when emotion is involved? Does it somehow not "stick" so well? Is this all by design, or are we just the dryest Church around?
Nobody is listening! I think if they said it with some gusto, people may just listen more...???
