Comments on: General Conference Open Thread

By: alea

alea — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 02:10:56 +0000

I was surprised by the lack of the strong “go forth and serve, missionaries!” talk or even a really pointed missionary focus.

Additionally, I have been consistently impressed with the talks of Elder Uchtdorf. He was an excellent choice on the Lord’s part, apparently.

By: Steve EM

Steve EM — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 19:24:00 +0000

I just realized today, if a Bishop and SP had come to my place to invite me to church as Elder Bednar did when he was a SP, I likely wouldn’t have been candid with them as I was with Joe and Jim HTs.

By: rick

rick — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:47:52 +0000

ltbugaf, I wouldn’t know Elder Bednar from Adam, but I question exactly how much “extensive inquiry” really took place. I’ll reserve judmgent until I read his talk in full, however.

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 17:50:21 +0000

Re: #9—I wonder if “pull up your socks” could become the modern equivalent of “gird up your loins.”

(That would make for an unseemly lyric change in Hymn #30, wouldn’t it? “Pull up your socks, fresh courage take…”) :)

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 17:47:12 +0000

You’ll note that in Elder Bednar’s talk, his saying “they were offended” was not an effort to avoid inquiry into the real reasons behind inactivity, but rather the result of extensive inquiry over years of effort to find out said reasons. He notes a pattern—a common element found in the overwhelming majority of the cases he has dealt with. He also stated that the individual reasons and stories were as many and varied as rick suggests.

By: rick

rick — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 15:36:28 +0000

I generally think that the “they must ahve been offended by someone” is a pretty little box that members put less/non actives in in order to inquiry into the real reasons behind the lack of activity in the church.

I believe that there are SO many reasons that people wander away from chruch activities, and SO many reasons why, once absent, they choose not to come back.

It’s just awfully easy to say ‘they were offended” stop thinking about it.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 01:07:49 +0000

I think some do.

By: Steve EM

Steve EM — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 23:28:02 +0000

Before my LDS wife-to-be dragged me back, HT’s would invite me to church. I was honest and said I had nothing against the church, but was sexually active and knew there wasn’t a place for me until I got married. Do some less actives just say “I was offended” when there’s another reason?

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 22:25:49 +0000

There were lots of thought provoking talks as usual.
One that stood out in the last session, was about being/becoming offended and leaving the church. I liked the question Elder Bednar would ask the offended person when visiting. Do you realize you are giving up for yourself and generations to come the blessings of the gospel? (paraphrasing)

I think that question really sums it up.

I’m not trying to sound self righteous as I have struggled in the past with “being offended”…never left the church though.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 16:56:13 +0000

Sister Lifferth is the second woman to speak this weekend. Two women spoke in April’s conference as well.