Faith that can shut down a rock concert.

[_JohnStuartMill]

WARNING: Link to Telestial-caliber image of the Asian tsunami aftermath

Nice. Perfect counterargument!

[_Seven]

WARNING: Link to Telestial-caliber image of the Asian tsunami aftermath

John,
Right after I read the OP, I immediately thought of the Tsunami and other natural disasters. Didn't a special LDS chapel just burn to the ground in MA? Where was God's rain then?

How silly it is that this story is supposed to be faith promoting with all the atrocities that take place everyday. So God cares to intervene during church meetings rather than helping children being ripped out of their mothers arms in the tsunami? Or how about intervening with the children who are kidnapped, tortured, and brutally murdered? No, it's more important that the General Authorities can have a reverent meeting.

I'm with Shades. That story has many holes in it and sounds greatly embellished.

[_Rollo Tomasi]

For your reading pleasure.

http://mormontimes.com/around_church/general_authority/?id=7888

At least Elder Cook didn't bring up Mick Jagger.

That has to be among the silliest stories I've ever read. The Brethren just need to tell Cook to shut up.

[_JohnStuartMill]

The only thing that could convince me further that this story is not true is if Will Schryver appeared in this thread to defend its veracity.

[_Ray A]

It seems Gene R Cook may be another Paul Dunn in the making. In 1988 he gave an address to Ricks College titled, Conversation with Mick Jagger.

Let me try to bring this principle alive by relating a true story that happened with an individual of whom you have probably heard. How many of you have heard of Mick Jagger? I think almost everyone has as he is one of the most famous rock stars in the world. Well, you might be surprised to know that I had about 2 1/2 hours with him on an airplane and it was quite an experience. I'm going to relate part of that to you to try to illustrate this important point about selecting wholesome music.

Mr. Jagger and I were on a flight that originated in Mexico and were headed, I believe, to either Houston or Dallas. As I sat down in the plane, the seat next to me was empty. Later a man came and sat down by me. I noticed immediately that he was reading a rock magazine. I offered a silent prayer as I often do when I try to talk to people about the Church. I prayed that the Lord would inspire me in what to say as I talked to this man. After the prayer, I said something like, "My name is Gene Cook. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. What's your name?" And he said, "My name is Mick Jagger." Not realizing who he was I said, "Well, I'm glad to meet you, Mick." And then he said, "I said my name is Mick Jagger." I said, "I heard you, Mick." And then he opened up the magazine and pointed to his picture and said, "This is me." Of course, then I finally realized who he was. I just hadn't ever thought about sitting next to him, but it was so.

What I'm going to say is in no way speaking evil of Mick Jagger himself. Please understand that. I'm not speaking evil of the man, but I am of what he represents because it is wrong. It is of the devil himself, in my opinion.

Even before I knew who Mick was, I noticed that his pant leg was pulled up a little on his calf. As I looked at his leg I thought for some reason, "This fellow looks a little sick." I'm not sure why, but that caught my attention before I even knew who he was.

[snip]

Then other young people have told me very honestly that your kind of music has a real effect on them for evil and that it affects them in a very bad way. You've been in this business a long time, Mick. I'd like to know your opinion. What do you think is the impact of your music on the young people?"

This is a direct quote, brothers and sisters. He said, "Our music is calculated to drive the kids to sex." I'm sure I had a real look of shock on my face in receiving such a bold response. He quickly added, "Well, it's not my fault what they do. That's up to them. I'm just making a lot of money."

[snip]

He told me that he was not married but that he had three children and was proud of it. He told me that he had one woman pregnant in Virginia, one in New York, and one in England, as I recall. He told me that it didn't matter what you did in life, that you could take whatever you wanted, and you could do whatever you wanted.

I checked Wiki, and according to the information there Jagger had four children by 1985 (Cook's talk was in 1988, but it's possible he was relating back to pre-1985).

Jagger has seven children by four women:[29]

* By Marsha Hunt, he has daughter Karis Hunt Jagger (born 4 November 1970).
* By Bianca Jagger, he has daughter Jade Sheena Jezebel Jagger (born 21 October 1971).[29][30]
* By Jerry Hall he has daughter Elizabeth Scarlett Jagger (born 2 March 1984), son James Leroy Augustin Jagger (born 28 August 1985), daughter Georgia May Ayeesha Jagger (born 12 January 1992) and son Gabriel Luke Beauregard Jagger (born 13 December 1997)[4][29]
* By Luciana Gimenez, he has son Lucas Maurice Morad Jagger (born 18 May 1999).[29]

The story about having three women pregnant in Virginia, New York and England doesn't add up either, unless they all had abortions, as his other children were born in 1992, 1997 and 1999.

Cook also said he didn't realise it was Mick Jagger, in spite of hearing his name and sitting in his presence. Yet at the start of his talk he said this:

How many of you have heard of Mick Jagger? I think almost everyone has as he is one of the most famous rock stars in the world.

Someone is going to have to start keeping a check on this guy Gene R. Dunn, er, I mean Cook.