# PonderIt

## Sunday, January 21, 2007

### Duplicate Talks From a General Authority

Someone in the Bloggernacle complained (though I don't remember where or when) that a prominent General Authority had come and spoken to their congregation on two separate occasions and had given the same talk both times. This was seen as a great let down by the commenter. The comment was called to memory because of our own stake conference today.
While I don't know the specifics of that commenter's situation, it spurred a thought for me that may or may not apply to that particular case.
The desire to hear something new is, ironically, very old.

> For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing. (Acts 17:21)

"Some new thing." I don't think Luke meant his description of the Athenians to be a compliment. Perhaps the appropriate response to the scenario described above isn't a condemnation of the GA for giving the same talk twice. Perhaps it is a condemnation of the congregation for needing the same talk twice. I stand rebuked.

#### 2 Comments:

- AS a high councilor for over half of my church life, I often gave the same talk to different wards. I have sometimes worried that my record keeping might have been less than perfect and that I may have given the same talk to a perticualar ward more than once. No one ever complained. Perhaps my talks were not all that memorable. Or perhaps I didn't duplicate. Who knows?

  By Dad's Thoughts, at 1/22/2007 8:33 AM

- General Sunday School President A. Roger Merrill said in October 2006 General Conference, "We live in an entertainment world, a spectator world. Without realizing it, we can find ourselves coming to conference or going to church with the attitude, "Here I am; now inspire me." We become spiritually passive."
  He continued, "When we focus instead on seeking and receiving the Spirit, we become less concerned about a teacher or speaker holding our attention and more concerned about giving our attention to the Spirit. Remember, receive is a verb. It is a principle of action. It is a fundamental expression of faith."

  By Reach Upward, at 1/22/2007 11:40 AM

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