Thursday, October 21, 2010

When Our Leaders Speak, the Thinking Has Only Just Begun

When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done - Steve P (BCC)
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4 comments:

R. Gary said...

Papa D,

Elder Neil L. Andersen told this story: "On one occasion some years before my call as a General Authority, I conducted a meeting presided over by one of the Apostles. After the meeting, I asked him about his stake conference talks. 'Do you prepare something specific for each stake conference?' I asked. He replied that he generally did not, but relied upon promptings received just prior to and during the conference. But then he added, 'But my general conference talk is very different. I will normally go through twelve to fifteen drafts to be certain that it is what the Lord would have me say.' Many times since then I have asked myself, If an Apostle will go through twelve to fifteen drafts, is it pleasing to the Lord if I listen to or read his message one or two times? I don’t think so."

Elder Andersen then quoted President Harold B. Lee's instructions: “As the Latter-day Saints go home from this conference, it would be well if they consider seriously the importance of taking with them the report of this conference and let it be the guide to their walk and talk during the next six months. These are the important matters the Lord sees fit to reveal to this people in this day."

I really like the title of your post.

October 21, 2010 at 9:53 AM
ji said...

For me, I tend to interpret Brother Lee's statement as "These are the important matters the [Lord's servants feel are important to share with] this people in this day." In doing so, I don't want to diminish the Lord or His servants, as I know that inspiration and revelation are real. And I see no substantive difference in result between President Lee's words and my interpretation. But almost always, when a man speaks at a pulpit, he speaks as himself and in his own name, offering whatever helps and good examples and so forth that he can for the benefit of those he loves who are listening.

Everything said in General Conference should be given every respect and every careful consideration. We should accept counsel from those who love us and have watch over the Church to which we belong. Where we don't understand or initally agree, we should question ourselves, our experiences, our motives, our thought processes, and so forth. And we should give the speakers every possible benefit of any doubt. Sometimes, as a result of what I hear, I must be willing to change.

I know that when I speak at a pulpit, I speak for myself and in my own name, even when I am speaking on official assignment. My stewardship is smaller than others, but the principles are the same. Even when I feel inspired, I am VERY hesitant to teach that the Lord told me to say this and you MUST accept what I say as the word of the Lord himself speaking through his servants. But I do hope those to whom I am speaking will know that I love them, and that I am teaching them as best as I can. I hope they will take what I say as counsel, even good counsel.

Because I am not willing to claim the Lord's imprimatur for everything I say in formal addresses according to my Church assignment, I hesitate to claim the Lord's imprimatur for everything said by everyone else fulfilling their Church assignments. I value the teachings and counsel and helps I receive from others. We speak, we listen, and the Holy Ghost helps us both. Both of us are edified in this process.

I do tend to believe that it is a weakness, not a strength, to accept every statement from every speaker at a certain pulpit as the word of the Lord. Well, actually, it is not so much a weakness for a person to do this for himself, with the guidance of the Spirit -- but more especially, it would be a weakness for me to impose my interpretations of General Conference talks on other persons, and to zealously say that those other persons need to start ___ing and ___ing and need to stop ___ing and ___ing. I prefer to listen to General Conference for myself and for how I, me, myself, can improve in my daily walk. I tend to feel I err when I use General Authority quotes to prove a point to someone else or to win an argument -- I prefer to use those quotes far more carefully. I am generally content for others to arrive at their own interpretations and applications of General Conference addresses. I tend to believe that Christ-like charity, as I understand it, requires this of me.

In none of this do I question or challenge the role and office of those we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators. They are, and I sustain them as such. And in none of this do I want to disparage any other member of the Lord's Church. Let us all try to do the best we can.

October 25, 2010 at 4:33 PM
ji said...

For me, I tend to interpret Brother Lee's statement as "These are the important matters the [Lord's servants feel are important to share with] this people in this day." In doing so, I don't want to diminish the Lord or His servants, as I know that inspiration and revelation are real. And I see no substantive difference in result between President Lee's words and my interpretation. But almost always, when a man speaks at a pulpit, he speaks as himself and in his own name, offering whatever helps and good examples and so forth that he can for the benefit of those he loves who are listening.

Everything said in General Conference should be given every respect and every careful consideration. We should accept counsel from those who love us and have watch over the Church to which we belong. Where we don't understand or initally agree, we should question ourselves, our experiences, our motives, our thought processes, and so forth. And we should give the speakers every possible benefit of any doubt. Sometimes, as a result of what I hear, I must be willing to change.

I know that when I speak at a pulpit, I speak for myself and in my own name, even when I am speaking on official assignment. My stewardship is smaller than others, but the principles are the same. Even when I feel inspired, I am VERY hesitant to teach that the Lord told me to say this and you MUST accept what I say as the word of the Lord himself speaking through his servants. But I do hope those to whom I am speaking will know that I love them, and that I am teaching them as best as I can. I hope they will take what I say as counsel, even good counsel.

Because I am not willing to claim the Lord's imprimatur for everything I say in formal addresses according to my Church assignment, I hesitate to claim the Lord's imprimatur for everything said by everyone else fulfilling their Church assignments. I value the teachings and counsel and helps I receive from others. We speak, we listen, and the Holy Ghost helps us both. Both of us are edified in this process.

I do tend to believe that it is a weakness, not a strength, to accept every statement from every speaker at a certain pulpit as the word of the Lord. Well, actually, it is not so much a weakness for a person to do this for himself, with the guidance of the Spirit -- but more especially, it would be a weakness for me to impose my interpretations of General Conference talks on other persons, and to zealously say that those other persons need to start ___ing and ___ing and need to stop ___ing and ___ing. I prefer to listen to General Conference for myself and for how I, me, myself, can improve in my daily walk. I tend to feel I err when I use General Authority quotes to prove a point to someone else or to win an argument -- I prefer to use those quotes far more carefully. I am generally content for others to arrive at their own interpretations and applications of General Conference addresses. I tend to believe that Christ-like charity, as I understand it, requires this of me.

In none of this do I question or challenge the role and office of those we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators. They are, and I sustain them as such. And in none of this do I want to disparage any other member of the Lord's Church. Let us all try to do the best we can.

October 25, 2010 at 4:33 PM
ji said...

So sorry for the double posting...

October 25, 2010 at 4:35 PM

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