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Has anyone else noticed that it seems all the sessions are letting out about 5 minutes short of the 2 hour mark, and all the prayers are relatively short and not miniature talks by themselves? He has been going downhill for some time. He didn’t stand for the last conference (if my memory is correct). This has the sound of a fair well talk. Pres. Packer’s talk was very touching. As I’ve said here, when he stays away from sex as his topic, his messages tend to be uplifting. In William Walker’s talk about knowing our church history and family history, he used the word “proud”. Last month a member said in their talk that we should use the word “grateful” in place of “pride” or “proud”. Just jogged my memory…. Elder Walker’s talk about the pioneers didn’t do anything for me – and I have to go back and read it to see if he said a couple of things I think he did that I didn’t like. I would recommend skipping it. I don’t like horse-breaking lessons, but I will have to see where he takes it. Elder Perry is talking about Jesus as the driver and trainer, so I’m okay with it. Any other application doesn’t do anything for me. The harness and bit are the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I like that, as well.
Having said that about that part of his talk, I don’t like the Abraham and Isaac story to talk about obedience. I do, however, love that he just mentioned that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to life – and that he said he can’t guarantee what works for him will work for everyone.
Packer quoted the Joseph Smith/Sidney Rigdon testimony of “He lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God, and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the only begotten of the Father.” Then he said, “This is my testimony!” And went on to talk about his apostolic calling, but I can’t remember exact wording. I’ll have to read it later to see if I missed something. So, while not expressly stating he has seen Christ, he clearly gave one of those “clues” or hints of his “special” apostolic calling. I remember as a TBM noticing and talking to other TBM friends of these hints or testimonies apostles would often give in conference to indicate they had received their “special” witness–meaning face to face visit with Christ. I thought this comment by Packer was pretty overt… SO overt, that maybe he was really trying to say that without saying that.
He might have meant simply that his testimony also is that Jesus lives – or he might have meant a personal experience. I don’t really care, honestly. I also loved the following from Elder Perry:
Quote:Someone all wrapped up in himself makes a very small package.
I missed the name of the speaker after Elder Perry (Elder Corbridge), but you all will want to skip it. It’s a classic message about how opposition proves truth. It doesn’t, but it’s a common paradigm. We aren’t right because we are opposed; we aren’t wrong because we are opposed. Lots of things both right and wrong have been opposed.
He also repeats the common categorical idea that either Joseph made it all up or it’s all true. I get tired of that paradigm, but it’s so ingrained within our culture that it’s hard to lose. If this speck is true, it’s all true. If this speck is false, it’s all a hoax. This immature paradigm leads to close-mindedness and judgmental attitudes among TBM’s and negatively affects many disaffected members too, which makes it very difficult for them to stay lds. (In my opinion)
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