First Presidency Christmas Devotional . . .

[_Runtu]

I'm suprised you still go to meetings! That is a painful burden to bear.

*from someone who has never been to one.

You're suggesting that sacrament meeting is better than the FP devotional? I wouldn't say that.

[_Buffalo]

I'm suprised you still go to meetings! That is a painful burden to bear.

*from someone who has never been to one.

I knew you were inactive, but I'm surprised to learn you've never actually attended LDS church services.

[_Fifth Columnist]

I really like President Monson, but does a prophet, seer and revelator for the church and . . . wait for it . . . the entire planet, have nothing more profound to talk about than synopsizing his favorite Christmas books?

My thoughts exactly! I think my wife was unhappy that I was falling asleep during his talk (I had been cleaning up downed trees from the wind storm all day so I was tired). But, honestly, he didn't say anything profound or even interesting. I shouldn't be too negative. I agreed with the sentiment expressed in his talk, but it really wasn't anything special.

[_Fence Sitter]

If excommunication was used the same way as it was in Joseph Smiths Jr's time where they kicked people out one day and let them back in the next with full privileges and station, then maybe we would hear more interesting stuff from the pulpit.

[_consiglieri]

I'm really tired of watching him blubber and sniff back snot all over the podium. Blatant manipulation, especially with him trying to manipulate people into conflating their feelings over a Hallmarky video with the holy ghost.

I think this may deserve its own thread, but I have to dash presently so no time to do it on my own.

I do not recall ever having heard this type of manipulation attempted from a member of the first presidency.

A. Show a video.
B. Declare that the people who watched it felt emotion.
C. Declare that the emotion that was most definitely felt equates to the Spirit.

I mean, it wasn't even subtle.

He didn't say, "You may have felt a warm feeling watching."

He said, "You felt an emotion while watching."

I don't know if he thinks this is being bold or something, but it left me feeling cold, not bold.

To be fair, I have had two occasions where I felt the Spirit so strongly in the room that I testified to the other person of its presence. And they agreed with me (thank goodness--you really go out there with something like that). But I have never seen it done on a scale where millions are watching and you are telling each and every person who may be watching that they felt the emotion/Spirit.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

[_consiglieri]

I didn't see it - sounds like I missed out! The only First Presidency message I got yesterday was read over the pulpit - "Give us your money now before you spend it all on presents for your friends and family" (a.k.a. tithing settlement message).

I heard that message last week.

It started out talking about how bad the economy is, and I was hoping it was going to turn into something charitable like remembering the church is always there for you to help in tough times, but no, it ended up being an exortation to be sure and pay your tithing, even if you think you can't afford to.

Downer.

Again, this would be good fodder for another thread.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

[_Drifting]

Interestingly I started a thread last week about the difference between emotion and the spirit. From memory I think posters such as subgenius were quite clear that plain emotion wasn't the spirit. They were disagreeing with a member of the FP, who knew....

[_Buffalo]

I'm really tired of watching him blubber and sniff back snot all over the podium. Blatant manipulation, especially with him trying to manipulate people into conflating their feelings over a Hallmarky video with the holy ghost.

I think this may deserve its own thread, but I have to dash presently so no time to do it on my own.

I do not recall ever having heard this type of manipulation attempted from a member of the first presidency.

A. Show a video.
B. Declare that the people who watched it felt emotion.
C. Declare that the emotion that was most definitely felt equates to the Spirit.

I mean, it wasn't even subtle.

He didn't say, "You may have felt a warm feeling watching."

He said, "You felt an emotion while watching."

I don't know if he thinks this is being bold or something, but it left me feeling cold, not bold.

To be fair, I have had two occasions where I felt the Spirit so strongly in the room that I testified to the other person of its presence. And they agreed with me (thank goodness--you really go out there with something like that). But I have never seen it done on a scale where millions are watching and you are telling each and every person who may be watching that they felt the emotion/Spirit.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

I wish I had seen it now. It sounds almost like a bad attempt at hypnotism. In any case, I seem to remember one GA stating at some point that it's very easy to mistake emotion for the Spirit. Ring a bell?

[_MrStakhanovite]

I'm suprised you still go to meetings! That is a painful burden to bear.

*from someone who has never been to one.

Never been to what? Sacrament meeting or a FP devotional?

[_Simon Belmont]

Never been to what? Sacrament meeting or a FP devotional?

Have you been to either?