New Letter from the First Presidency

[_Black Moclips]

It was read in sacrament meeting yesterday and boy am I relieved. I mean, this has been such an issue for me over the years, that I'm glad the Lord finally got around to inspiring the leadership of the church to do something about it. From here on and henceforth, no more asking the audience to turn with you to a scripture during a sacrament talk. That incessant page turning just drove the spirit away, just the same as if you blasted AC/DC's Thunderstruck in the middle of the meeting. So thank heavens that is taken care of. And we can all be grateful that we will never have to gaze upon another prop or visual aid EVER again during sacrament. The audacity of some to think that might help the learning experience.

So rejoice fellow saints. God lives and is certainly mindful of our needs.

(ps-I'm not joking.)

[_KimberlyAnn]

BMo,

I heard about that letter being read in Sacrament meeting, and I almost couldn't believe it was true, but I guess it was!

I'm floored. Seriously.

Is there anything SLC won't try to micromanage? Good grief, it's too distracting to look up scriptures in church, but it's not too distracting to endure the squawk of a dozen toddlers, cheerios crunching under one's feet, the snoring of the sleeping Bishop (not kidding--ours sometimes worked nights and often fell asleep on the stand) and the kid in the next pew down coloring with magic marker on the suit of the man in front of her (another true story)?

Don't they have better things over which to worry?

KA

[_bcspace]

I don't see it as an injunction to not open your scriptures. It simply stated that when giving a talk, don't ask everyone to open them. Why, the very week after the letter was read, I opened my scriptures in sacrament meeting and guess what? No lightning. No thunder. No angry glances. Imagine that!

[_TrashcanMan79]

From here on and henceforth, no more asking the audience to turn with you to a scripture during a sacrament talk.

This is so funny to me. On my mission, my MP and his APs constantly emphasized to us mishies the importance of encouraging the congregation to read along with us scriptures referenced in our sacrament talks; the idea being that there was power in both seeing and hearing the word of God or something like that. It was ridiculous. When we gave talks, we would purposely not have a bookmark in our scriptures so that it would take us as long to get to the scripture as it would the congregants.

Wonder what my old MP thinks of the Lord's new instruction....

[_guy sajer]

It was read in sacrament meeting yesterday and boy am I relieved. I mean, this has been such an issue for me over the years, that I'm glad the Lord finally got around to inspiring the leadership of the church to do something about it. From here on and henceforth, no more asking the audience to turn with you to a scripture during a sacrament talk. That incessant page turning just drove the spirit away, just the same as if you blasted AC/DC's Thunderstruck in the middle of the meeting. So thank heavens that is taken care of. And we can all be grateful that we will never have to gaze upon another prop or visual aid EVER again during sacrament. The audacity of some to think that might help the learning experience.

So rejoice fellow saints. God lives and is certainly mindful of our needs.

(ps-I'm not joking.)

And just when we thought that the evils of multiple ear piercing was the pinnacle of wisdom from on high, God outdoes himself with another bit of guidance that is sure to enhance the happiness and well-being of humanity everywhere.

Just think, without a true Prophet of God to guide us, we wouldn't have access to such heavenly wisdom.

[_The Dude]

Wonder what my old MP thinks of the Lord's new instruction....

If he's still a believer, then he likely sees it as further evidence that the Church is guided by revelation and a living prophet, Thomas Monson.

If he's no longer a believer, then he likely sees it as further evidence of human micromanagement of the church's micro-micro-details, as Monson, like Hinckley before him, has nothing profound to share with humankind.

[_Yoda]

Well...the new directive won't affect me much. We're usually sitting on the back row during Sacrament Meeting. My 4 year old is propped in my lap watching either "Star Wars", "Hercules", or "Pirates of the Carribbean" on my iPod. (Actually, he usually has one earphone and I have the other.) ;)

[_Seven]

It was read in sacrament meeting yesterday and boy am I relieved. I mean, this has been such an issue for me over the years, that I'm glad the Lord finally got around to inspiring the leadership of the church to do something about it. From here on and henceforth, no more asking the audience to turn with you to a scripture during a sacrament talk. That incessant page turning just drove the spirit away, just the same as if you blasted AC/DC's Thunderstruck in the middle of the meeting. So thank heavens that is taken care of. And we can all be grateful that we will never have to gaze upon another prop or visual aid EVER again during sacrament. The audacity of some to think that might help the learning experience.

So rejoice fellow saints. God lives and is certainly mindful of our needs.

(ps-I'm not joking.)

What I can't believe is that this came from the First Presidency. Don't they have more important things to worry about?
Are these the same people who are too busy to read/answer letters from struggling members that have questions or concerns about doctrines?

I'm trying to imagine the meetings and discussion that preceded this First Presidency letter.

[_Boaz & Lidia]

And this is not a cult?

The leaders telling the members what they can and cannot do at the podium.

Cult is as cult does.

[_solomarineris]

It was read in sacrament meeting yesterday and boy am I relieved. I mean, this has been such an issue for me over the years, that I'm glad the Lord finally got around to inspiring the leadership of the church to do something about it. From here on and henceforth, no more asking the audience to turn with you to a scripture during a sacrament talk. That incessant page turning just drove the spirit away, just the same as if you blasted AC/DC's Thunderstruck in the middle of the meeting. So thank heavens that is taken care of. And we can all be grateful that we will never have to gaze upon another prop or visual aid EVER again during sacrament. The audacity of some to think that might help the learning experience.
So rejoice fellow saints. God lives and is certainly mindful of our needs.
(ps-I'm not joking.)

Short of telling you that his predeccors all screwed up, what else do you expect?
It is a good course....
Are you jaleous, because he's pursuing such a moderate course Than his bonehead predecessors?
Cut him some slack & see how far he goes with it...