LDS General Conference Fall 2015

[Bronco70]

Does this mean that most members think only white people can be inspired by the almighty?

On the one hand, as an active member who has all sorts of issues with the culture within the church, I'm a little insulted at your generalization.

On the other, I'm not particularly mystified that you would see it that way.

While the church has taken some small steps of late to foster tolerance and inclusion, it's lost on a large segment of the membership who have been conditioned, over generations, to think in an exclusive fashion. It's particularly pronounced in Utah, where being a mormon doesn't put you in the minority.

 

[b_line]

Does this mean that most members think only white people can be inspired by the almighty?

I don't think so. It is frustrating that the church does not have a more diverse leadership, but the issue lies more in the past than in the current times. These guys have basically been being groomed to be apostles for at least a decade. There just aren't isn't a lot of diversity in the top levels yet, and it seems it will take some time for that to change. There are a lot of new members of the quorum of the seventy who are from somewhere other than utah or north america, but they have been called to that position relatively recently. It takes time for them to get the experience that others have just by virtue of being in the leadership positions longer.

Those are my thoughts. Maybe I am wrong, but in my mind the alternative is that the old dudes are still racist and they think God never changed his mind about black people.

 

[Stoked]

Does this mean that most members think only white people can be inspired by the almighty?

No it doesn't. It means they believe these men were chosen by inspiration. If it had been 3 blacks they'd believe they were chosen by inspiration.

 

[colton]

I thought Elder Bednar's talk at the end was powerful, talking about the final messages that had been given by the apostles who have passed away since he himself was called. Perhaps my favorite talk of the conference.

 

[Jazz Spazz]

There were quite a few really good talks/topics.

Elder Hales - Challenges of today's world
Elder Holland - Mothers
Pres. Utchdorf - Be not afraid, only believe
Elder Renlund - Through God's eyes
Pres. Nelson - Sisters
Elder Schwitzer - Clarion Trumpet
Br. Durrant - Ponderize
Elder Bednar - Chosen

Those are my favorites off the top of my head. I may change my mind a bit after I read them again and let them sink in.

 

[Jazz Spazz]

I didn't see you singing Colton. Maybe because I was looking for someone in a Jazzfanz t-shirt.

 

[b_line]

Renlund is going to be a fan favorite for disaffected mormons, similar to Uchtdorf, Eyring, Holland and Christofferson. It will be interesting to see who is called next time there are vacancies. With the health of Monson and Hales, we might have 2 or 3 new apostles next conference as well.

 

[fishonjazz]

I don't think so. It is frustrating that the church does not have a more diverse leadership, but the issue lies more in the past than in the current times. These guys have basically been being groomed to be apostles for at least a decade. There just aren't isn't a lot of diversity in the top levels yet, and it seems it will take some time for that to change. There are a lot of new members of the quorum of the seventy who are from somewhere other than utah or north america, but they have been called to that position relatively recently. It takes time for them to get the experience that others have just by virtue of being in the leadership positions longer.

Those are my thoughts. Maybe I am wrong, but in my mind the alternative is that the old dudes are still racist and they think God never changed his mind about black people.

Good post/explanation

 

[colton]

I didn't see you singing Colton. Maybe because I was looking for someone in a Jazzfanz t-shirt.

Dang it! I knew I forgot something!

 

[mellow]

Renlund is going to be a fan favorite for disaffected mormons, similar to Uchtdorf, Eyring, Holland and Christofferson.

I thought everyone loved Uchtdorf, he seems pretty mellow to me. And I don't remember him ever saying anything controversial. I understand some of the others, for instance, I have a friend who still struggles to pay tithing years after Elder Eyring talked about selling his extra property in San Francisco to get out of debt. And holland gave some fiery sermons as byu president and in his early days, but Uctdorf? Who are these disaffected people?

In other news, I liked Elder Andersons talk, and Larry Lawrence from Saturday morning.

 

[Bronco70]

Many good talks, but my favorite was Uchtdorf's talk about simplifying. I'm pretty sure it will be totally lost on 75% of Utah Mormons.

My least favorite, far and away, was "Ponderize". Too gimmicky. Felt like an attempt to manufacture a new buzzword.

 

[green]

I don't think so. It is frustrating that the church does not have a more diverse leadership, but the issue lies more in the past than in the current times. These guys have basically been being groomed to be apostles for at least a decade. There just aren't isn't a lot of diversity in the top levels yet, and it seems it will take some time for that to change. There are a lot of new members of the quorum of the seventy who are from somewhere other than utah or north america, but they have been called to that position relatively recently. It takes time for them to get the experience that others have just by virtue of being in the leadership positions longer.

Those are my thoughts. Maybe I am wrong, but in my mind the alternative is that the old dudes are still racist and they think God never changed his mind about black people.

I think there is a lot of truth in this. And that bothers me. It feels like the Church is more worried about LDS, Corp sometimes than proclaiming the gospel of Christ.

Oh well, life goes on. I'll be baptizing my oldest boy later this year and am looking forward to it. He's a good kid who tries to do the right things. I'm excited for him.