Regurgitating in Sacrament meeting

I remember the very first talk I gave in sacrament meeting, back in the old 2^nd ward on Gunnison Avenue.  It was on reverence, of course my Dad helped me, we looked up the story about the Savior cleaning out the merchants in the temple, then he assisted me in writing the talk and the appropriate comparison of our behavior in the church.  I think I was about 8 and I wore my favorite blue dress.

 I have listened to some very memorable talks in sacrament meeting, including the one about our two year supply and how we needed to be sure to include armaments to defend it (this was back in the 80’s). So it is with a heavy heart many times when I now sit in sacrament meeting and hear the speaker say, “I was asked to speak on a talk that Elder______________ gave in the __________ session of General Conference”.

REALLY!!!!!!          ARE YOU SERIOUS??????????

 

I have so many things to say…..

1)      Great original thought, member of the Bishopric

2)      Isn’t that talk available in my copy of the Ensign that came in the mail?

3)      Isn’t that talk available on line?

4)      Isn’t that session of General Conference available to watch online?

5)      Isn’t the Ensign available in my ward library?

6)      Do you think I was unaware that there was a General Conference in April?

7)      Do you Sister/Brother Soandso really think that you have something to add to the words of an apostle of the Lord?

8)      No, Sister/Brother Soandso, you were not the only ones that Elder________ gave this talk for

9)      No Sister/Brother Soandso, Elder_________ does not need you to give us the interpretation of what he meant.

10)   Actually reading the entire thing, doesn’t make this better

Heaven forbid that we should actually have to look up some information, cite a scripture, look up from the podium, or bear our testimony at the end of the talk.