We now conclude By Common Consent’s live coverage of the 180th Annual General Conference from the Conference Center at Temple Square in Salt Lake City! Check out our minute-by-minute coverage on Twitter in addition to coverage of this final session on the blog. We also encourage you to follow Conference streaming live from LDS.org.
I remember last October when the final session of Conference started I was essentially out of energy and ran out of things to say after the first 10 minutes. I have taken precautions this time around to ensure that such a letdown won’t happen again. Basically I spent the entire break scarfing Little Debbie Swiss Rolls. My hands are shaking a bit, but my eyes are open. Roll BCC!
(Fun Fact: My wife has been asked multiple times by folks around the CC if she would take their picture so they could get in the Ensign. She always agrees, and then tells them it’ll be included “For sure!”)
And on the beginning of the 5th session, President Monson said, “President Eyring shall conduct.” Or something to that effect. MoTab is back for the final session, and is preparing to sing now.
Wow. There is just no question but that MoTab’s performances have made all the difference so far in this conference. The Spirit the music brings is impossible to overemphasize.
Elders Nelson & Hales from the 12, followed by Elder Foster of the 70 up now.
—————–
Elder Nelson: “Generations Linked in Love”
Elder Nelson is speaking about temple and family history work, with an emphasis–or perhaps introduction, for some members–to New FamilySearch.
“I won’t show you my picture as a baby. That would not help.”
“New FamilySearch may expose duplicate entries or errors that had not been previously recognized. This feature is especially useful for those with early pioneer ancestry.”
Polygamy strikes again! Well, I can say for my part that I was pleasantly surprised by the New FamilySearch website–I’ve really enjoyed it. However, this business about removing errors is not as easy as it is made to sound here, precisely because of my pioneer ancestry. The fact is, there are so many disputed relationships/spouses for my pioneer ancestors that they are all locked down–no changes are allowed to be made.
————-
More photos from around the CC are up! Leave a comment; praise my wife; adore her awesomeness!
————-
Elder Robert D. Hales: “Our Duty to God: The Mission of Parents and Leaders to the Rising Generation”
“I have a grandson who once asked me to go with him to a popular but inappropriate movie. I told him I wasn’t old enough to see that film. He was puzzled until his grandmother explained to him what I meant. ‘I get it now, Grandpa, you’re never going to be old enough to see that movie, are you?’ And he was right!”
(Somewhere, Rusty Clifton is mourning.)
On scouting activities the Church’s leaders often plan:
“I have learned that what makes a scout activity most meaningful to a boy is not just getting a merit badge but having the opportunity to sit and talk with a leader who is interested in him and his life.”
Commence scouting mega-thread!
Elder Hales is bringing pure humor and emotion to this talk–this is very unexpected; a definite break from what I have come to expect, though perhaps that expectation itself is a sign of my sinfulness.
“It is our imperative duty to help youth understand and believe the gospel in a deeply personal way. We can teach them to walk in the light, but that light cannot be borrowed. They must obtain their own light of testimony directly from the Source of spiritual light–God Himself. They must understand who they are and who Heavenly Father wants them to become.”
Fun Fact: This talk is basically all off-script. Elder Hales is letting us see what is truly in his heart right now.
————–
Elder Bradley D. Foster: “Mother Told Me”
Everything you ever wanted to know about Elder Foster
“By Divine design, nurturing seems to be part of the spiritual heritage given to women. I’ve seen it in my daughters, and now, in my granddaughters–even before they could walk, they wanted to carry and care for their little baby dolls.”
Cattle, calves, women, mothers, children, dolls…oh my this is going to be a fun thread. Please try to control yourselves. Well!
Elder Foster’s talk would have been so much more fun if he had been a goat farmer and not a cattle farmer–then it could have been all about lost kids. Get it? Baby goats are “kids” right? Get it?!?
—————
Batting order now: Elders Martino, Schwitzer, and Vinas of the 70, followed by Elder Andersen of the 12.
Everything you ever wanted to know about Elder Martino
Everything you ever wanted to know about Elder Schwitzer
—————
Elder James B. Martino: “All Things Work Together for Good”
FINALLY! A talk about sports! I thought we’d never get there. Too bad 3/4 of BCC’s readers will check out now…
(Fun Fact: My favorite video game as a child was Bases Loaded 2, and I was pretty much unbeatable at it, except for my neighbor Steve.)
“Each of us will face trials and tests and…it is how we react to those difficulties that will determine our success and happiness. Each of us will face adversity no matter where we are.”
“Now I realize that it is much easier to look back when a trial is over and see what we have learned from our experience, but the challenge is to gain that eternal perspective while we are going through our tests.”
Elder Martino’s List of 5 Lessons from the last hours of the Savior’s life:
1. He sought not to do His will but only the will of His father.
2. When we are faced with trials, we must learn not to complain or murmur.
3. When we face our challenges, we must seek greater help from God.
4. Learn to serve and think of others even in our times of trial.
5. Forgive others and do not seek to pass the blame of our situation to them.
————
Elder Gregory Allan Schwitzer: “Developing Good Judgment and not Judging Others”
*Point of interest: Elder Schwitzer uses his full name. None of this “initial” business for him.
Martha vindicated!
“How often has Martha been misjudged as being a person who cared more for the deeds of doing than for the Spirit? …. Many a sister has often heard the first story and wondered if she were a Mary or a Martha, yet the truth lies in knowing the whole person and using good judgment. By knowing more about Martha, we find that she was a person of deep spiritual character, who had a bold and daring testimony of the Savior’s mission and His divine power over life. A misjudgment of Martha may have caused us not to know the true nature of this wonderful woman.”
Somewhere, Kristine Haglund is rejoicing.
Elder Schwitzer’s List (the 70s are all about lists this conference!) for developing good judgment:
1. Put your own personal standards in alignment with the Gospel of Jesus Christ
2. Listen to the messages of the living Prophet
3. Cultivate with the Holy Spirit a relationship of listening
4. Keep the commandments.
———-
Elder Francisco J. Vinas: “Things Pertaining to Righteousness”
(I hope you folks have your scriptures handy, folks, cuz we’re gonna read them for a bit.)
(I can’t really say much about this–what Elder Vinas is saying is true and good; however, supplying quotes requires copying large passages of scripture, and I’m afraid Steve Evans will ban me if I do that.)
———–
Elder Neil L. Andersen: “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus”
(This talk will likely set a General Conference record for most question posed in a single talk. Also, it’s phenomenally good, and likely to bring tears. You have been warned!)
Elder Andersen was set apart as a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles one year ago. I have sincerely enjoyed hearing him speak over the past year; his sermons have been heartfelt, touching, and inspiring. Even though, admittedly, I would have been disheartened at the idea of yet another talk this conference about teaching children, Elder Andersen’s quizzing on what our children know, believe, and think about Jesus feels right, necessary, and important for me today.
(Of course, my two children are angels, who know the gospel inherently, but still…)
What a story. Wow. The interesting thing to me is that stories such as this affect me more–and cause me to recommit to teaching my children the gospel more completely–than any of the scripture passages or exhortations of ancient or living prophets ever seem to.
———–
President Thomas S. Monson: “A Word at Closing”
President Monson gives a shout to the musical performances, as well as those individual men and women who were released yesterday afternoon–Amen!
“My counsel for all of us is to look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what what its beacon light can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. The lighthouse of the Lord sends forth signals readily recognized and never failing.”
“I love you. I pray for you. May God bless you. May His promised peace be with you now and always.”
————-
MoTab sends us home with one more hymn–Abide With Me, ‘Tis Eventide. Lovely.
————
Thanks to everyone who participated in the comments, and thanks especially to Beatta for the excellent photography. Be well, all!
Stay tuned all this next week for early, in-depth analysis of talks from this General Conference.
April 4, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Oh good I can fit in a 17 minute power nap before it all gets going!
April 4, 2010 at 12:53 pm
I went to breakfast with my in-laws this morning. In a restaurant. With an overworked waitress. I didn’t have the heart to play the holier-than-thou Sabbath card and decline, so I paid for it by missing the Hallelujah Chorus, and the first half of a terrific session. Did I miss any good ties?
April 4, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Really?
“(Fun Fact: My wife has been asked multiple times by folks around the CC if she would take their picture so they could get in the Ensign. She always agrees, and then tells them it’ll be included “For sure!”)”
That is so exquisitely awesome. Your wife rocks.
April 4, 2010 at 1:00 pm
BCC needs to do a special post with the crowd shots taken by Scott’s Awesome Wife: Not The Ensign
April 4, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Love the “Fun fact”
If the session is socially just, I hope nobody walks out. :)
April 4, 2010 at 1:02 pm
The Word of the Session is JESUS CHRIST.
Not a single session conducted by TSM. Interesting.
April 4, 2010 at 1:03 pm
President Monson hasn’t conducted any meetings this conference.
April 4, 2010 at 1:03 pm
I’ve got a bowl of popcorn to start off this final session. A first at general conference for me.
April 4, 2010 at 1:03 pm
you beat me to it Rob.
April 4, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Yes I did, but I wasn’t going to rub it in. I’ve noticed both this conference and last that President Eyring is moving a bit slower to and from the pulpit as well. Wonder how much more conducting he has left in him.
April 4, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Awesome–a “Come, Thou…” hymn :)
April 4, 2010 at 1:05 pm
I’ve prepared a healthy salad for this session. A first for me.
April 4, 2010 at 1:05 pm
the womens earrings look like gauges.
April 4, 2010 at 1:07 pm
If you are in the Tabernacle choir, does the Church pay for your suit?
April 4, 2010 at 1:08 pm
I wonder how many married couples there are in the choir, and how many, if any, of them are seated side by side along “the border.”
April 4, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Parley P. Pratt hymn up in the house!
April 4, 2010 at 1:09 pm
@Rob (15) In the DC temple, unlike most temples, they have a border where couples can sit and hold hands like that.
April 4, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Mommie Dearest–don’t worry. At least you already know how the Hallelujah Chorus ends.
April 4, 2010 at 1:10 pm
I normally don’t get too into the music, but that was a pretty exuberant rendition of that hymn. Me likey.
April 4, 2010 at 1:10 pm
I think that would make the other borderlanders a bit uncomfortable.
April 4, 2010 at 1:10 pm
The first MoTab Choir number rocked! Bonus points for the key changes.
April 4, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Condor–I remember experiencing that in about 2001 when I was visiting there for my wife. It was pretty cool.
April 4, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Swiss Rolls! Yes! God bless you Brother Scott.
April 4, 2010 at 1:13 pm
in #22, I meant to say WITH my wife.
April 4, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Parley doesn’t get the lyricist credit that he deserves. I guess Phelps and Snow took it all.
April 4, 2010 at 1:14 pm
#14 The church doesn’t pay for motab at all. they pay for everything themselves with cd revenue.
April 4, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Also, the tab choir pitched in from their funds to help pay for the conference center organ, which was not in the original plans for the building.
April 4, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Isn’t Christoffel Golden Jr. the first African GA?
April 4, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Ruby’s eyes look like they were touched up to be SUPER blue.
April 4, 2010 at 1:16 pm
RUBY!!!
April 4, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Pres. Eyring has picked up the elderly shuffle. But it may be more caution than neurology.
April 4, 2010 at 1:18 pm
The BYU.TV feed sucks.
April 4, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Is a SSM talk coming?
April 4, 2010 at 1:20 pm
If Jesus died of old age or falling down the stairs, would there have been no resurrection?
April 4, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Nope, work for the dead and family history.
April 4, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Steve M: No.
April 4, 2010 at 1:20 pm
34 was responding to 32
April 4, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Phew.
April 4, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Wow — nothing says “Easter Sunday” like a talk on the dead and family history.
April 4, 2010 at 1:25 pm
It’s actually kind of informative
April 4, 2010 at 1:26 pm
I’ll trade you about 1,000 Choose the Rights and Sunshines in my Soul for two Parley P. Pratt’s.
April 4, 2010 at 1:27 pm
The family history talk certainly ties in to at-one-ment.
April 4, 2010 at 1:27 pm
NFS is especially useful in showing how thoughtless someone can be in entering errors into the system.
April 4, 2010 at 1:27 pm
I’ve heard that Elvis Presley has had his temple work done a dozen times.
April 4, 2010 at 1:27 pm
I think work for the dead is very Easter. It is related to Christ’s work between Good Friday and Easter.
I like these talks because they are Mormony. It is a fun aspect of Conference for me…for the most part.
April 4, 2010 at 1:28 pm
The streamlining of information and work in the temple makes it difficult to feel like I am doing work for individuals who have passed. I feel no connection to them. Instead, I read their full names a couple times and really only think of their first name. Rather than feeling like I’m connected with the dead, I feel like I’m just working. This is further complicated when my active temple-going extended family have virtually finished all of the work of my ancestors.
Any suggestions?
April 4, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Anyone else notice that a sister in the picture of recent converts at the Temple was wearing a hoodie? I hope she was wearing jeans, too.
Now if we can just get well-meaning sisters working in the Temple to stop chastising members coming in pants.
April 4, 2010 at 1:29 pm
OK, Chris Henrichsen. But only because you said it. /grin
April 4, 2010 at 1:30 pm
My Grandma had a temple baptism done in her behalf a few years after her death — she was first baptized at the age of 16.
April 4, 2010 at 1:30 pm
narrator,
I think that family history, not filling out family trees, but actually studying our history connects us to them.
While doing work for the dead is forr…the dead, the benefit is mostly for us because it reminds us of our covenants and other lesson of the temple.
April 4, 2010 at 1:31 pm
One of my mission companions used to go paint-balling with Elder Hales.
April 4, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Grandpa is not old enough for that movie. Awesome warm fuzzy happy moment for me.
April 4, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Hunter, some day I need to figure out who you are. I actually am not a fan of family history program talks. Just trying to be optimistic. For that one comment at least.
April 4, 2010 at 1:34 pm
narrator, I can almost promise you that if you do a thorough job of looking over your family tree, you’ll find some individuals whose work has been overlooked.
April 4, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Wow. a one-sentence sermon on what gives scouting an engine.
April 4, 2010 at 1:35 pm
I recently read that quality is better than quantity when it comes to time that parents spend with their children.
April 4, 2010 at 1:36 pm
I love grandpa and grandson stories. I miss my grandpa and my opa. They did a lot for me, most of which they never realized.
April 4, 2010 at 1:37 pm
CC #55,
That may be true, but a certain amount of quantity is needed in order for there to be quality.
April 4, 2010 at 1:39 pm
What Elder Hales didn’t mention was that the movie in question was Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.
April 4, 2010 at 1:40 pm
I missed the latter half of Nelson’s talk. Did he request that members stop baptizing President Obama’s mother?
April 4, 2010 at 1:40 pm
@Eric Russell (58)
LOL
April 4, 2010 at 1:41 pm
I do not think about Elder Hales much. But I always like his talks. I am feeling his love.
April 4, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Elder Hales’ talk was virtually all ad-lib. Didn’t use his planned talk hardly at all. Amazing.
April 4, 2010 at 1:42 pm
#58…I think Elder Hales was saying we shouldn’t go to R rated movies
April 4, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Eric (58), That makes sense. It fits my definition of an “inappropriate” movie anyway.
April 4, 2010 at 1:42 pm
@62 How can you tell?
April 4, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Foster looks like Harry Reid Jr.
April 4, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Before I forget, three cheers to Scott B. (and wife) and John C. for the most excellent BCC Conference coverage this weekend. It just keeps getting better and better all the time. Thanks!
April 4, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Scott #62,
Thanks for sharing that. That context adds even more meaning to me.
April 4, 2010 at 1:44 pm
k5ne — He’s a “media” member, and has advance copies of all talks.
April 4, 2010 at 1:44 pm
@Scott (62) Um, I’m pretty sure that these talks need to be written and printed out before hand for the translators, for the time limits, and to have them vetting for any controversy.
April 4, 2010 at 1:44 pm
“Because Mother told me.”
Sweet.
April 4, 2010 at 1:44 pm
My wife on the “mother told me” story:
“Funny, but booo!”
April 4, 2010 at 1:45 pm
CC, Scott has the transcripts already.
April 4, 2010 at 1:45 pm
The responsibility for nurturing falls primarily on parents–not just mothers! Men can nurture too, apparently.
April 4, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Did someone say Harry Reid Jr.?
April 4, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Mothers are sure great… but fathers are the authoritative final answer in the home.
April 4, 2010 at 1:47 pm
I join Hunter #67 in the three cheers. Okay, only 2 for John, but three for Scott.
April 4, 2010 at 1:47 pm
BHodges (72) That was pretty much my reaction too.
April 4, 2010 at 1:48 pm
I just want it to be know that I am currently watching GC in my black KISS concert t-shirt.
April 4, 2010 at 1:48 pm
#76 narrator,
I took it to mean that fathers are merely figure head, but I do not think that is what the speaker is saying.
April 4, 2010 at 1:48 pm
@ the narrator (#76),
Did he say (or imply) that?
April 4, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Because I can.
April 4, 2010 at 1:49 pm
CC#75,
??????
April 4, 2010 at 1:49 pm
And I’m watching it in a long sleeved t-shirt and crocs.
April 4, 2010 at 1:50 pm
I need to start paying more attention.
April 4, 2010 at 1:50 pm
The more I watch conference, the more I feel like my role as a father is to be an absent provider whose abilities to nurture are negligible and unneeded.
April 4, 2010 at 1:50 pm
@KerBearRN
That’s cool if you are wearing it ironically.
April 4, 2010 at 1:50 pm
#84
Crocs for me too. Of course, I wear them most days.
April 4, 2010 at 1:50 pm
re: nurturing falls primarily on parents
I concur. DH is an awesome nurturer.
Mother told me story, ick.
April 4, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Hey, narrator, at least no one’s comparing you to a cow!
April 4, 2010 at 1:51 pm
I think this will be a good talk to review with the young men in our ward on Mother’s Day.
April 4, 2010 at 1:51 pm
tn,
There is no need to assume that a lack of speaking of fathers nurturing children indicates that there should be a lack of nurturing by fathers.
April 4, 2010 at 1:51 pm
the narrator #86:
“negligible and unneeded.”
It is best that you realize this while you are young.
April 4, 2010 at 1:52 pm
@ the narrator (86)
Well, did you notice that the pre-med and pre-law guys had BYU were particularly popular amongst the girls?
April 4, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Bring on the Johnny Lingo-inspired cow/mother jokes.
April 4, 2010 at 1:52 pm
the narrator, Here’s my go-to quote from Elder Packer on that topic:
“There is no task, however menial, connected with the care of babies, the nurturing of children, or with the maintenance of the home that is not the husband’s equal obligation. The tasks which come with parenthood, which many consider to be below other tasks, are simply above them.”
Does that help?
April 4, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Kristine, I think we are just stuck in eternal 1950s gender roles.
April 4, 2010 at 1:53 pm
His tie is golden. Elder Hales’ tie looked like the undertaker special.
April 4, 2010 at 1:53 pm
97,
Well, duh.
April 4, 2010 at 1:53 pm
It’s interesting that there has been so much attention to women’s roles this conference. Too bad they didn’t bust a move and have some actual women talk about what it’s like to fill those roles.
April 4, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Of all the people here, I am pretty sure that I am closest to being the size of a cow.
April 4, 2010 at 1:54 pm
I timed the difference between my BYU-TV feed (in the other room) and the web-streamed feed from LDS.org: The web feed is almost 2 minutes behind the TV feed.
April 4, 2010 at 1:55 pm
100,
Amen.
April 4, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Chelsea, that was clearly just a token attempt at gender equality. If I was truly just as needed as a father for things other than providing and ruling over the dinner table, they would talk more about the nurturing roles and capabilities of fathers, and not just give that to women all of the time.
April 4, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Kristine, keep in mind that nobody is given a topic for Conference. They are simply given a time-slot.
April 4, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Sorry, but 1950′s gender roles themes invites my attention to wander.
April 4, 2010 at 1:56 pm
105,
What does that say?
April 4, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Baseball, I’m out. Off to get a treat and hug the kids a bit.
April 4, 2010 at 1:57 pm
#100 well it would be out of place for women to talk about the role of women. The priesthood decides that.
I’m betting that President Beck will have to give another homemaking talk for speaking out of line.
April 4, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Chelsea–
That is a great quote by Packer. Source??
ANother one by him I love came from a talk entitled Reverence Brings Revelation from, I believe, a 1991 General Conference Talk. He is discussion reverence in sacrament meetings, and the occasional need to escort irreverent children out of the chapel. He states, “Unless he is seated on the stand, the father should be the one doing the escorting.” Or something close to that.
April 4, 2010 at 1:58 pm
It says that none of the sisters felt a need to address the topics that Kristine wished to hear them address.
April 4, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Alright narrator, let us move on.
April 4, 2010 at 1:58 pm
I hate that they switch to a wide angle view before we finish singing. How can I finish when prompted if I can’t see the chorister?
April 4, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Um, no, Alex–Sister Beck did. But it also means that women have a grand total of 9 minutes in the 10 hours of conference.
April 4, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Little known fact: the little boy in this story is Paul H. Dunn.
April 4, 2010 at 2:00 pm
tn, I know you’re right, so I hang onto the few quotes like the one I posted with all I’ve got. The fact that those statements make it through at all gives me hope for the future.
April 4, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Moving on…
I just ate my seventh colored egg that my wife and I dyed yesterday.
April 4, 2010 at 2:01 pm
I think the necktie commentary is lacking. Or at least the necktie knot commentary.
More stripes. Huzzah.
April 4, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Kristine – true. President Beck’s talk was awesome.
I wonder, though, how much time should the sisters be given? There are what, nine sisters in the General Auxiliary presidencies, compared to how many brethren? What should the time balance be?
April 4, 2010 at 2:02 pm
117–I just ate 1/4 lb of Sees chocolate…while wearing my KISS concert t shirt (ironically of course). Self-medicating to I can ignore the kids fighting over the Easter candy in the next room.
April 4, 2010 at 2:03 pm
I’m pretty sure he just quoted a Kenny Roger’s song.
April 4, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Back with some Mountain Dew and cheese and crackers. What did he say about clinging to a social issue? Missed the story.
April 4, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Alex, the problem is that women make up over half of the church. Perhaps it would be nice to feel better represented.
April 4, 2010 at 2:04 pm
121–ya gotta know when to hold ‘em… know when to fold ‘em…?
April 4, 2010 at 2:04 pm
I do like the tie. I wouldn’t have thought that purple and red would look so good together.
April 4, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Rob, It’s from a talk he gave at a Priesthood Commemoration Fireside in 1989: http://bit.ly/cqiYoN
To be honest, the rest of the talk kind of makes me cringe, I just focus in on that one gem.
April 4, 2010 at 2:05 pm
@Chris Henrichsen (122)
It takes a lot more than drinking Mountain Dew to ruffle the feathers of the BCC crowd.
April 4, 2010 at 2:06 pm
#123
Better represented would be nice, but I’d take being better understood as people with actual hopes and dreams, not just as “nurturers”.
April 4, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Lavender, cherry-red, navy blue and white. It’s downright psychidelic.
April 4, 2010 at 2:06 pm
I like the 4th point.
April 4, 2010 at 2:07 pm
CC,
I make enemies here just with my comments. Was just adding to the chocalate egg and sees candy discussion.
April 4, 2010 at 2:08 pm
“but I’d take being better understood as people with actual hopes and dreams, not just as “nurturers”.”
Oooh, well said.
April 4, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Thanks for the reference Chelsea.
April 4, 2010 at 2:10 pm
“I wonder, though, how much time should the sisters be given? There are what, nine sisters in the General Auxiliary presidencies, compared to how many brethren? What should the time balance be?”
I don’t know. Maybe it should be proportional to the members of the audience rather than the people on the stand.
Or maybe we should have more leadership opportunities available to women. Or maybe, if we’re going to talk about how wise mothers are, and what good teachers, and read sentimental poems about grown men longing to hear their mothers’ voices, we could just, y’know, hear their voices regardless of how much time they _should_ be benevolently granted by the men who are really important.
April 4, 2010 at 2:10 pm
EM, by ‘better represented’ I didn’t just mean in quantity. Both my wife and I struggle at time through conference feeling like we are note represented by the gender-types the speakers want to impose on us.
April 4, 2010 at 2:11 pm
I like that he drew a distinction between judging others and exercising good judgment. I’ve occasionally heard Mormons point to the “judge righteous judgment” scripture as proof that we must, in practice, judge others. Srsly.
April 4, 2010 at 2:11 pm
@Kristine (134)
I think we’ll see a woman in the Oval Office before we see that.
April 4, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Martha is harshly judged on one sentence. Reclaiming the biblical righteous feminine.
April 4, 2010 at 2:13 pm
narrator,
DH and I also have those same struggles since we don’t fall within those prescribed roles. It’s frustrating. I’m glad we’re not alone, though.
April 4, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Oh, and Alex–if you had been around for a few conferences, you’d know that my little tantrum on this topic is almost inevitable. It’s nothing personal :)
April 4, 2010 at 2:13 pm
AMEN, Kristine!
April 4, 2010 at 2:13 pm
My understanding of Jesus’ teaching on judgment was concerned hypocrisy–ie. we should only make judgments that we are willing to also be judged by.
April 4, 2010 at 2:14 pm
@Ella Menno (139)
Are you a “sugar momma”?
April 4, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Kristine,
Was that a tantrum?
April 4, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Long-hair, unwashed clothing . . . I don’t know, I fit that description occasionally.
April 4, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Kristine, Don’t feel bad, I always have conference tantrums too.
April 4, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Chris–a little. You can tell from the run-on sentences :)
April 4, 2010 at 2:16 pm
“A person can never be a good judge without the gospel of Jesus Christ as a reference.”
I don’t know about that, unless he is speaking ontologically as opposed to epistemologically (which seems somewhat less likely.)
April 4, 2010 at 2:16 pm
#137
I think it’ll be longer than that, since a woman in the oval office is another of the signs of the end, right?
April 4, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Add my wife and I to the “we don’t fit prescribed gender roles” roster.
April 4, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Kristine, I know, and nothing has been taken personally. :)
April 4, 2010 at 2:17 pm
did he just say noone can be a good person without the gospel?
April 4, 2010 at 2:17 pm
#143
Maybe :)
April 4, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Kristine-I wish I could get my kids to limit their tantrums to run-ons. You are great.
April 4, 2010 at 2:18 pm
My internet feed was cutting out. Did he really condemn long hair?
April 4, 2010 at 2:18 pm
“The Blair of other media?” Crud. I anticipate lower readership at LifeOnGoldPlates.
April 4, 2010 at 2:19 pm
I’m all for financial prudence, but a lot of the personal bankruptcies that have occurred over the past few years are not the result of consumer debt or financial irresponsibility. Just sayin’.
April 4, 2010 at 2:20 pm
A part of “nurturing” that gets zero pulpit time, is teaching children (and husbands (or how ’bout husbands teaching children)) that they also need to serve the needs of their nurturer, lest she fall into burnout. Trust me on this one.
April 4, 2010 at 2:21 pm
tn, No, he used it as an example of how we shouldn’t judge based on appearances.
April 4, 2010 at 2:22 pm
@155,
No, he didn’t. He was just describing some patients that he had early in his medical career. He observed the husband’s long hair and unwashed clothing, and concluded that he had come from a hard background.
April 4, 2010 at 2:22 pm
@Steve M,
Okay, you’re a rebel, we get it.
April 4, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Mommie Dearest #158,
Much of the philosophical literature on caring relationship focuses on the need, if not moral imperative, to value, protect, and care for the care-giver. I agree.
April 4, 2010 at 2:23 pm
156. And well you should.
April 4, 2010 at 2:23 pm
chelsea, good. my wife loves my long hair. she’d probably leave the church if it required that I cut it.
April 4, 2010 at 2:24 pm
the narrator=Samson
April 4, 2010 at 2:25 pm
@161,
Because clearly that’s the message I was trying to send.
Besides, I got a haircut last Saturday.
April 4, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Honor Code Office = Delilah
April 4, 2010 at 2:26 pm
#156
I didn’t know about it before, but you can count on me. At least that’s one, right?
April 4, 2010 at 2:28 pm
LOL @ Brad!
April 4, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Isn’t it ironic that the statue of Brigham Young at the university that bears his name is in violation of the honor code (long hair)?
April 4, 2010 at 2:30 pm
(FYI: Elder Andersen’s talk would function very well as a contestant on Jeopardy)
April 4, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Yeah, CC, that irony has never been noted before…
April 4, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Never mind Brigham Young, the Native American statue is breaking every part of the dress code.
April 4, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Vinas: teach righteousness and facilitate personal revelation. Good.
April 4, 2010 at 2:31 pm
CC,
I believe there is a de-bearded statue of BY on campus as well.
April 4, 2010 at 2:32 pm
I wonder if they’re harping on teaching children because there are loads of young adults that are leaving the church. I have no proof of that, just wondering why children have been such a common theme.
April 4, 2010 at 2:34 pm
EM, well if they are trying to respond to my many friends who have left, they are going about it all wrong.
April 4, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I think they are focusing on us teaching children, because mine check out of conference sessions ago. The older two attended the Saturday afternoon session and they feel that they have done that time.
April 4, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Yes, my kids do not many of these things. They are also some of the best Christ-like examples in my life. I hope they do not turn out like me.
April 4, 2010 at 2:39 pm
@ Brad (#174),
The BY statue in front of the Smoot Administration Building is beardless.
April 4, 2010 at 2:42 pm
But was not always so, no?
April 4, 2010 at 2:43 pm
The story of Dallin H. Oaks childhood needs to be told more often.
He was raised by a single mother who was a strong-willed woman highly involved in the community. She actually had a nervous breakdown at one point and Dallin had to go live with his grandparents. He calls that one of the darkest periods of his life. His mother recovered eventually and Dallin was reunited with her.
I remember thinking that was a great story about how “life” even happens to apostles and their moms.
April 4, 2010 at 2:43 pm
j/k. Amen to your #134.
April 4, 2010 at 2:44 pm
I leave BYU employ in July. Then the Chris-beard will return. Cannot wait (well, I could do without the unemployment, but the beard will be sweet).
April 4, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Do you think that conference will always be 10 hours long?
April 4, 2010 at 2:46 pm
@ Brad,
I heard a rumor when I was at the Y that the statue previously had a beard, but I could never confirm its truth.
The closest thing I could find was an incident a few decades ago where some official BYU publication had included a picture of a beardless Karl G. Maeser–the photo had obviously been doctored. Apparently some students began printing up “beards” that students could paste to the photo, so as to render it complete.
I think the rumor about the BY statue may actually be derived from the Maeser story.
April 4, 2010 at 2:49 pm
The blessing of nurturing belongs to everyone to do, regardless of gender. For it to be assigned only to men appears to be a convenient cop-out. Would be nice to have women characterized as competent.
April 4, 2010 at 2:49 pm
CC,
I need these 10 hours to get through the next 25 weeks.
April 4, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Correction to 186: for nurturing to be assigned only to women by men appears to be a convenient cop-out….
April 4, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Why would anyone want to be characterizes as competent. I think we should all be characterized as awesome.
April 4, 2010 at 2:52 pm
My mom says I’m awesome.
April 4, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Well, she does! :-)
April 4, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Well Folks, fun as always. Thanks again Scott and Co. for all you do to make Conference more enjoyable.
April 4, 2010 at 2:53 pm
CH, I concur. As we conclude this GC I want you all to know you are awesome to me. So glad I found this thread. See (figuratively) you again in 6 months.
April 4, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Chris, competent at the very least! :-) We know that each of us are awesome!
April 4, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Tom,
My Mom thinks I am competent. My kids think I am awesome! My wife….well….depends on the day.
April 4, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Chris, competent at the very least! :-) We know that each of us is awesome!
April 4, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Well, better get the kids ready (we are at the in-laws). See you all around. BCC is awesome for sure. I hope to someday be that awesome.
April 4, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Ella Menno,
No need to wait 6 months! We’re here every day!
April 4, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Thanks BCC for the awesome live blogging and great discussion!
April 4, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Chris, I think you are the awesomest. even more awesomer than most.
April 4, 2010 at 2:56 pm
all of us have our competent days and our awesome days, except the choir. They are always competent and awesome.
Thanks everybody!
April 4, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Thanks, everyone, for adding to my Conference experience! I look forward to debating in the future whether or not the Brethren think only women should be the nurturers in the home. (Spoiler: I disagree with this sentiment.)
Off to Easter dinner with the in-laws!
April 4, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Abide with Me Tis Eventide. Wonderful Easter hymn.
April 4, 2010 at 2:57 pm
You guys are so cool. It’s been so fun to hang with this crowd for the past two days. Thanks for the opportunity!
I’d like to express my thanks to everyone who participated in this thread, from those who took the pictures and pay for the webhosting, to the commenters who filled each post with hundreds of comments. May we all enjoy the next six months of hearing these talks as sacrament talks in our wards.
But seriously, it’s been awesome to watch with all of you. You’re all awesome! :-D
April 4, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Ha! Well played, Scott. Too bad you never learned to play BL2 that well…
April 4, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Steve, I welcome a rematch, anytime.
April 4, 2010 at 6:38 pm
SOmetimes, after reading these threads, I wonder if I was at the same session. The lengths some will go to to feel offended…
April 4, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Amen TMD (#209). Good gravy.
Today = The last time I’m coming to BCC to read about General Conference. Or -anything- that may be impacting upon my eternal salvation, for that matter.
April 4, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Brett and TMD,
I cannot speak for the good people of BCC, but I am not sure why we should care. Threatening to leave when the party is already over is kinda lame. Those of us who participated enjoyed a peaceful time. Do not let the door hit ya.
April 4, 2010 at 8:37 pm
So, with all the questioning about President/Sister usage for the Saturday morning session, did no one else notice that President Monson referred to the outgoing Primary Pres as “President”? He said, “President Lant, and her counselors…thank you.”
April 4, 2010 at 11:18 pm
OK, so I missed the discussion during the session but to the comments regarding a more equal representation of sisters speaking … Their may be 9 women presidencies but we shouldn’t forget that voices could also be given to the board members who sit on the stand as a way of at least getting another woman speaker per conference. Just an idea.
April 5, 2010 at 4:10 am
Kelly Ann, you’re right. I think if we decided that hearing women’s voices was important, we could find all kinds of practical ways to increase their number.
April 5, 2010 at 6:09 am
Kiitos Scott, oli mukavaa lukea lyhyt selonteko siitä mitä puhuttiin kun olimme jo nukkumassa. Hienot kuvat myös!
April 5, 2010 at 9:22 am
It’s interesting to me that people make the cognitive leap that an emphasis on mothering means a devaluation of fathering. I think that reveals what peoples are sensitive about rather than what the speakers are trying to say.
As a teacher I’ve realized along time ago that no matter what I say someone will take offense because of the way individuals perceive things, judging not only what is said but what is not said as well. There really is no way to win.
April 5, 2010 at 9:46 am
echoing jtb, I tend to think that the problems that speakers address in their talks are those problems which they have personally observed recently. I don’t think that the ratio of problems discussed to total minutes preached has any relation to the actual percentage of audience members who have that problem.