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I have become increasingly aware of GC talks being sent from one Mormon to another as a means of chastisement and self-vindication.

I received one such talk about ten years ago from my ex-wife in order to upbraid me for what she perceived as a lack of forgiveness on my part. It was the talk by Elder Monson about the axe-head (or whatever) left in the tree.

While listening to the most recent general conference, a talk was being given by President Uchtdorf about people needing to get over things and move on with their lives. My wife, who is estranged from her step-father due to abuses he visited upon her when she was young, said out loud, "My step-father is hearing this right now and thinking of me."

It was not many days later she received an e-mail from her step-father in which he quoted approvingly those exact lines from Elder Uchtdorf.

I am starting to think this must be a common Mormon pasttime--listening to GC talks with the idea of quoting them to others who "need to hear that message."

Does anyone here know of similar experiences?

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

Happens all the time.

This was sent to me just yesterday: http://www.LDS.org/ensign/1989/05/alter ... s?lang=eng

Carton wrote:Happens all the time.

This was sent to me just yesterday: http://www.LDS.org/ensign/1989/05/alter ... s?lang=eng

So are you one of the "alternate voices"?

And if so, which one?

The middle half of this talk sounds like an apologetic for church leaders not having to answer difficult questions.

And I wonder how a statement like this from Elder Oaks' talk made it through Correlation:

When reason is adopted as the only—or even the principal—method of judging the gospel, the outcome is predetermined.

That's a head scratcher.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

I don't like the way he makes the simplicity of the gospel message into a deep mystery entered into through the door of 'sacred knowledge' which he makes (as far as I can tell with a cursory reading) no attempt to define.

The elitist use of authority, by which he means only those called into leadership in the LDS church is also worrying.

If the leaders are fallible, and they can and do get things wrong (thinks about the recent debacle over the Curse of Cain doctrine/not doctrine) then despite their authority they can still mislead, still teach untruths, still teach destructive and worldly rather than Godly doctrine.

A minefield for sure.

I think, though, that it depends on whether the person who has sent the message truly loves you. I was told I was in Satan's hands by one person that I knew loved me, and although I didn't agree, I could accept because I knew their heart was in the right place.

Another person, who did not love me, did the same thing, and then I believe it becomes destructive and the use of the term 'poison pen' would be valid, whether words were said or written....

Just some thoughts...

My dad sent me a GC talk on repentance. He said, "I don't know what the sin is that you struggle with, but repentance will bring you true happiness." This came about a month after asking if I had a porn prob.

The good 'ol porn prob.

zeezrom wrote:My dad sent me a GC talk on repentance. He said, "I don't know what the sin is that you struggle with, but repentance will bring you true happiness." This came about a month after asking if I had a porn prob.

The good 'ol porn prob.

This type of question occurs because some members are unable to understand why anyone would make a rational choice to leave the Church. I am not sure which is worse Zee, your father's condescending inquiry or my father's wish that God would hurry up and punish me for my disbelief.

consiglieri wrote:I have become increasingly aware of GC talks being sent from one Mormon to another as a means of chastisement and self-vindication.

I received one such talk about ten years ago from my ex-wife in order to upbraid me for what she perceived as a lack of forgiveness on my part. It was the talk by Elder Monson about the axe-head (or whatever) left in the tree.

While listening to the most recent general conference, a talk was being given by President Uchtdorf about people needing to get over things and move on with their lives. My wife, who is estranged from her step-father due to abuses he visited upon her when she was young, said out loud, "My step-father is hearing this right now and thinking of me."

It was not many days later she received an e-mail from her step-father in which he quoted approvingly those exact lines from Elder Uchtdorf.

I am starting to think this must be a common Mormon pasttime--listening to GC talks with the idea of quoting them to others who "need to hear that message."

Does anyone here know of similar experiences?

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

I see you've pretty much left the gospel farm for the greener pastures on the Great and Spacious Country Club in toto, Consig.

Anther one bites the dust.

I hope to hear better from you in years to come.

consig,

You have it all wrong. You need to have a file of these idiotic talks ready and waiting to go. My friends/family know not to send any thing of the kind to me because I'll just respond in nuclear fashion with my own "favorite" talks from the past. Of course, I'll send it to them with love and concern for their eternal soul (not really and the forward will be dripping with sarcasm). But, since I became a follower of Ron White (a true modern prophet) and fully endorsed his view that "You can't fix stupid!", I have found that if people know you think they are stupid and that you will treat them as such - they avoid doing things that will give you an opportunity to highlight that to them.

Droopy wrote:I see you've pretty much left the gospel farm for the greener pastures on the Great and Spacious Country Club in toto, Consig.
Anther one bites the dust.
I hope to hear better from you in years to come.

Come on droppy, the concept here is to pick and quote from a GC talk to help consign along his way.
You must have one in mind.