Reader comments: MormonTimes.com: Jerry Johnston
12 comments | Read story
Carole Knowles | 5:55 a.m. June 18, 2008
First time I attended a sacrament meeting in the LDS church, I knew I was home. No babbling baby was taken out. Hungry children were fed Cheerios. No ugly stares. I loved it. I was home. That was 28 years and 8 babies ago. I'm still loving it, still learning from the pulpit and from the congregation.
Grandma Jean | 8:15 a.m. June 18, 2008
I'm grateful for this counsel. I'm the person who always finds the scripture just as the last word is read. Flipping through my scriptures takes my attention off the speaker and his message. As far as visual aids, we are in Sacrament Meeting to worship--not be entertained.
I'm grateful for a Prophet who is in touch with current needs of the members. I hope I can always have the proper perspective when counsel comes from the Prophet.
I'm grateful for a Prophet who is in touch with current needs of the members. I hope I can always have the proper perspective when counsel comes from the Prophet.
just wondering | 9:56 a.m. June 18, 2008
Okay . . . but I need a definition of what is exactly meant by "visual aid." Am I limited to note cards and paper (or the photocopy of the conference talk that I'm reading from)?
I also think we need to teach our youth how to give effective, uplifting talks. Too many just read verbatim from the conference talk or ensign article they were given.
I also think we need to teach our youth how to give effective, uplifting talks. Too many just read verbatim from the conference talk or ensign article they were given.
Comments continue below
re:just wondering | 11:04 a.m. June 18, 2008
I read just wondering comments. You can usually tell a youth speaker without even looking up to the speaker. Have you ever noticed how a youth speaker who is reading "their" talk will sort of drop the last word in each read sentence in order to get to the next read sentence in "their" talk.It happens all the time in my ward. Thats when my ears close and I pinch the baby so I can take him out into the hall.Just Kidding!!!Part of the training we give our youth should be standing on their own two feet and relating their sacrament meeting talk in their own words as the spirit directs as well as not assigning the talk to them on Saturday night late or worse yet just prior to the meeting.
Aggie Father | 11:15 a.m. June 18, 2008
Dear "Just Wondering":
"Visual aids" probably refers to the charts, pictures, props, etc. that speakers sometimes display to the congregation to further illustrate a point or focus audience attention, not papers, photocopies, note cards or written outlines you might choose to read from or refer to as you deliver a Gospel-centered talk.
"Visual aids" probably refers to the charts, pictures, props, etc. that speakers sometimes display to the congregation to further illustrate a point or focus audience attention, not papers, photocopies, note cards or written outlines you might choose to read from or refer to as you deliver a Gospel-centered talk.
NorthboundZax | 12:05 p.m. June 18, 2008
I am guessing this directive won't extend to General Conference, where it is not uncommon to see speakers use visual aids. Or will it?
Curious | 12:31 p.m. June 18, 2008
To NorthboundZax
What do you consider a visual aid? I have been watching General Conference for decades and I don't recall that visual aids are common at all. Sometimes a scripture is flashed on the screen or a picture, but that is done by the broadcasting service. The speakers themselves will rarely hold up any object as a visual aid. I won't say never, but it is very rare.
What do you consider a visual aid? I have been watching General Conference for decades and I don't recall that visual aids are common at all. Sometimes a scripture is flashed on the screen or a picture, but that is done by the broadcasting service. The speakers themselves will rarely hold up any object as a visual aid. I won't say never, but it is very rare.
John Lambert | 12:42 p.m. June 18, 2008
I assume a visual aid is anything that you make the people look at. I think people should use good judgement and not seek for precise definitions.
Also, General Conference is not sacrament meeting. The rules of different meetings are different. Sacrament meeting's main purpose is to participate in the ordinance of the sacrament, which I think people sometimes forget.
On the other hand I do not think I have ever heard a general conference talk where the speaker has asked people to turn to a specific scripture.
Also, General Conference is not sacrament meeting. The rules of different meetings are different. Sacrament meeting's main purpose is to participate in the ordinance of the sacrament, which I think people sometimes forget.
On the other hand I do not think I have ever heard a general conference talk where the speaker has asked people to turn to a specific scripture.
Fredd | 2:02 p.m. June 18, 2008
A visual aide is any prop or picture, chart, drawing designed to assist in communicating. If your talk was on hand cart pioneers you could put a map on an overhead or screen so listeners would understand the geography. You could have a picture of a hand cart or a picture of the roads they travelled to illustrate the hardship. I gave a talk on the history of the Arab/Isreali conflict and I put a map of the region and marked significant geographic points and borders. So when I said Syria was firing from the Golan Hieghts the audience could see where that was.
Chris Plummer | 4:08 p.m. June 18, 2008
Whatever makes a good talk should be fair game. Visual aids or not I've been put to sleep many times.
I guess Power Point is now out of the question.
I guess Power Point is now out of the question.
SDB | 6:27 p.m. June 18, 2008
I understand about visual aids. I have a hard time with not having persons follow in the sacred text. This adds a testimony to the truthfulness of the exposition of the speaker and as much as the hope is that it will opened during the week,for some this is only time Scripture will be opened during the week.
Jeff | 9:17 a.m. June 22, 2008
Wow, no visaul aids and don't ask people to join you in their scriptures. I will faithfully follow the direction of my leaders, but I will have to find a new way to write my talks. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, personal growth is better than always doing things the same way. I guess I thought I was doing sleepy people a favor in making it easier to listen to a talk with those little interactions built in. There must be a better way, something more conducive to the spirit of testimony and personal revelation, or more important to our spiritual growth. I guess it puts more responsibility on the speaker and the listener to be spiritually and physically prepared to worship.
Add your comment
Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.
Words Remaining
