Discussions toward a better understanding of LDS doctrine, history, and culture. Discussion of Christianity, religion, and faith in general is welcome.
Since there have not been any Q12 deaths in the past 6 months, I thought I would start a segment for all to contribute about your favorite GA.
My first encounter with a GA was at a special youth fireside with Paul H Dunn and an apostle. I was immersed in Paul’s war stories, zigzagging as bullets sprayed around him, then playing baseball... the apostle later pronounced an apostolic blessing on us. It was so powerful as a teen aged that I don’t even remember who the apostle was..
Served a mission in SLC, so I got to meet several GAs there.
My favorites:
Companion and I got to eat breakfast once with President Faust and really liked him. Down to earth and a nice guy.
Met Hinckley, very nice and outgoing just like you'd expect.
Once after p-day we had to rush up to University hospital to give a blessing. We didn't have time to really get cleaned up, and as we were walking in Elder Wirthlin was standing there. He greeted us, was really friendly, and couldn't have cared less that we looked terrible.
Not so much:
Monson was very standoffish which at the time sort of surprised me.
Packer was everything you'd expect him to be. He spoke to us once at our mission Christmas devotional and it was quite depressing. He shook all of our hands afterward, but you could tell he wasn't into it.
Uchtdorf spoke at my mission when he was a new GA in the states, back in 2001. I will give him credit that his English has come a LONG way in a few years. When he spoke, he had a very thick accent and was actually a bit difficult to understand. I din't remember the topic of his talk, but it was a good warm fuzzy talk on Christ. A few years later when he was called to the Q12, I was amazed how clear and articulate he was. While he still has an accent, it is worlds better than what he was. Of all the Q15, he seems to be the most human of them. He may be stuck between a rock and a hard place, testimony wise.
As far as actual favorite, J. Golden Kimbal. More than any I have read about, he had a realistic love of Chirst and an understanding of human nature as well as true humility about himself.
"The story so far: In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." -- Douglas Adams
Culper Jr. wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 11:41 pm
Companion and I got to eat breakfast once with President Faust and really liked him.
I worked for his brother in Las Vegas. The brother was an unscrupulous wack job. One of his companies sold anti-heart-attack pills (you couldn't PROVE they didn't work) and magic gas additives that were supposed to double your mileage. James seemed like a nice guy. I recall that they were very careful where they went to eat. He didn't want to get spotted in a casino.
Derailment warning: I remember that Faust's nephew, who I worked with closely, said his uncle told him about a time when he noticed that the door of the Salt Lake temple Holy of Holies was ajar, so he went to close it and caught a glimpse of the sword of Laban inside. I thought that was pretty amazing until I saw a masonic sword in one of Gisbert Bossard's unauthorized 1911 photographs. It seems more likely that was the sword President Faust saw.
“The easy confidence with which I know another man's religion is folly teaches me to suspect that my own is also.” -Mark Twain
Jesus: "The Kingdom of God is within you." The Buddha: "Be your own light."
Of note--there were spittoons in Bossards's pictures of the SLC temple interior that Talmage's temple publication's photos had removed. Fascinating stuff.
Back on topic, I liked Howard W. Hunter's talks as a teen, and I was sad he didn't live very long as a prophet. He probably has not so great talks that I don't have the interest in researching, I am sure. I just remember thinking Hunter's talks were more peaceful feeling to me than Packer or Dallin Oakes' talks were in the 1990s.
Hagoth wrote: ↑Thu Dec 13, 2018 9:12 am
Does Ronald Poleman count?
Culper Jr. wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 11:41 pm
Companion and I got to eat breakfast once with President Faust and really liked him.
I worked for his brother in Las Vegas. The brother was an unscrupulous wack job. One of his companies sold anti-heart-attack pills (you couldn't PROVE they didn't work) and magic gas additives that were supposed to double your mileage. James seemed like a nice guy. I recall that they were very careful where they went to eat. He didn't want to get spotted in a casino.
Derailment warning: I remember that Faust's nephew, who I worked with closely, said his uncle told him about a time when he noticed that the door of the Salt Lake temple Holy of Holies was ajar, so he went to close it and caught a glimpse of the sword of Laban inside. I thought that was pretty amazing until I saw a masonic sword in one of Gisbert Bossard's unauthorized 1911 photographs. It seems more likely that was the sword President Faust saw.
Just watching Faust in conference I thought he was o.k.
But I saw him give a talk in 2005 about the misery apostates experience when they leave the church using Lyman Johnson as an example.
He pulled a quote from Brigham Young stating how he had heard Lyman say how dark and miserable his existence had become and that he would cut off his hand if he could believe in Mormonism again.
I looked up Lyman's biography only to find he had done very well after leaving the church, becoming a successful lawyer and a town father in the city where he resided. He was happy and highly respected.
Brigham is the sole source on this quote. Now I wouldn't want to accuse Brigham of bending the truth for his own benefit or Faust of knowing better than to paint the picture of Lyman the way he did but......well, we know Brigham always told the truth, right?
And can we blame Faust for following in his dead leader's footsteps??
"There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily."
"Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light."
deacon blues wrote: ↑Fri Dec 14, 2018 9:33 pm
I though Steven Covey should have been a GA. His book “Spiritual Roots of Human Relations” was way ahead of the curve back on the 70’s
Covey was too intelligent to have been a GA. He would have expected intelligent and courageous decisions and actions. Too much hand kissing and groveling in the upper quorums for him to have been happy there.
And he would have intimidated the higher ups.
"There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily."
"Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light."
deacon blues wrote: ↑Fri Dec 14, 2018 9:33 pm
I though Steven Covey should have been a GA. His book “Spiritual Roots of Human Relations” was way ahead of the curve back on the 70’s
While in the MTC, we had a jarring discourse on the importance of always dressing our best as missionaries. Not to put ourselves in the spotlight. Wear a dark suit with plain, basic tie. Nothing to stand out. Later that night, Monson was a speaker. He came in with a charcoal grey suit and a hot pink tie.
2bizE wrote: ↑Sat Dec 15, 2018 2:40 pm
Didn’t he leave the church for having an affair?
What?! I thought Mormons were immune from affairs. That only happens to Mormons who leave the Mormon church...
“How valuable is a faith that is dependent on the maintenance of ignorance? If faith can only thrive in the absence of the knowledge of its origins, history, and competing theological concepts, then what is it we really have to hold on to?”
D Brisbin
deacon blues wrote: ↑Fri Dec 14, 2018 9:33 pm
I though Steven Covey should have been a GA. His book “Spiritual Roots of Human Relations” was way ahead of the curve back on the 70’s
Didn’t he leave the church for having an affair?
I don’t think so. That would have been a big news item.
God is Love. God is Truth. The greatest problem with organized religion is that the organization becomes god, rather than a means of serving God.
deacon blues wrote: ↑Fri Dec 14, 2018 9:33 pm
I though Steven Covey should have been a GA. His book “Spiritual Roots of Human Relations” was way ahead of the curve back on the 70’s
Didn’t he leave the church for having an affair?
I don’t think so. That would have been a big news item.
I agree. I highly doubt that Covey ever strayed.
"There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily."
"Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light."
2bizE wrote: ↑Sat Dec 15, 2018 2:42 pm
While in the MTC, we had a jarring discourse on the importance of always dressing our best as missionaries. Not to put ourselves in the spotlight. Wear a dark suit with plain, basic tie. Nothing to stand out. Later that night, Monson was a speaker. He came in with a charcoal grey suit and a hot pink tie.
Sometimes that little bit of the "Dapper Don Mafiosa" just has to wiggle it's way out.
"There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily."
"Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light."
deacon blues wrote: ↑Fri Dec 14, 2018 9:33 pm
I though Steven Covey should have been a GA. His book “Spiritual Roots of Human Relations” was way ahead of the curve back on the 70’s
Didn’t he leave the church for having an affair?
It was his co-founder of Franklin Covey. With a name like Hyrum Smith could you imagine him keeping it in his pants?
