Comments on: Let’s give them something to talk about

By: nesquik405

nesquik405 — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:04:32 +0000

I’m OK with living the gospel, but I’m not much for spiritual conversation. I look back at a childhood where it seems there was plenty said about eternity, but not much help figuring out the here and now.

By: Paula

Paula — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:18:04 +0000

Years ago when I was reading the Work and the Glory series I was struck by how often the characters made a biblical reference or spoke of testimony-building experiences with each other. Now, I know it’s a work of fiction, but I was jealous. I don’t recall quotes in conversation. Partly because I don’t know many references. (I might know much of the text of what I’m thinking, but I couldn’t tell you book/chapter/verse.) Also, like you said, the only real spiritual conversations I have are when my visiting teachers share the monthly message with me. As a primary worker, I miss the discussion in Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society. Maybe I should be generating more conversation outside of a structured setting. . . food for thought.

By: Brooke

Brooke — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 05:53:34 +0000

i have no filter. i just let it fly! so usually that means i talk about the gospel and Christ and God without really thinking whether it’s appropriate. unfortunately, this also means i say a lot of things i might eventually regret as well.

makes for lively conversation though, right?

By: Janet

Janet — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:41:01 +0000

The older I get (51) the more my conversations with friends during walks, over lunch do tend to be more about spiritual things. It feels good.

By: Rubia

Rubia — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:41:24 +0000

Love this topic!

For the most part I reserve spiritual conversations to times when I am with a good friend or a very small group. Having said that, whenever I feel that little internal shove (Holy Ghost) telling me to share my testimony, whether just by example, by conversation, or by directly testifying, I really try to follow that. I find it a giant turnoff when people throw God’s or Christ’s names around too casually. I don’t take that as further devotion at all.

I like one the person said about her sister who left the church though because I have the same situation. I like talking about things like that with her because it makes me a better teacher and member in general. Sometimes we get too caught up in the “traditions of our fathers” (or neighbors, etc.) and not in the gospel and Christ.

I am in Utah, though not a Utahn, and I think there are the “best and the worst” members here. I get really tired of hearing about BYU and so many (not all, thankfully) BYU fans thinking BYU is the one and only source of all righteousness. And I went to BYU for part of my education, btw. Just sayin’….I think half the sacrament meeting talks are wasted during football season on BYU adoration.

By: KevinR

KevinR — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:55:59 +0000

Let’s get your Stake President to talk to our stake president. Ours talked about the BYU/Oklahoma football game that he travelled to (several thousand miles) and how much he enjoyed it with some of his sons. He did so AT the Saturday Adult Session of our recent stake conference.

By: Ann Moulton Johnson

Ann Moulton Johnson — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:37:04 +0000

Talking about the church all the time is probably one of the reasons so few Mormons have close friendships with non-Mormons. There is a perception that Mormons are trying to convert when they mention a religious topic.

It also leads to non-Mormon co-workers feeling shut out when Mormons are discussing a church-related (though not necessarily gospel-related) issue in the break room and stop the conversation as soon as a nonmember walks in.

I don’t think God has any problem with our broadening our conversations out to include simple friendshipping (health, football, Twilight),as well as dialogue on a multitude of uplifting topics.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:10:05 +0000

I never noticed the lack of gospel related conversation among my LDS friends until I became friends with a couple of people who had recently converted to the gospel. They had truly had a change of heart and a change in their lives. They talked about the gospel all the time, in all types of situations.
After that, I was determined to talk about the gospel more in casual settings. And it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Instead of sharing a special story in a testimony meeting, I’ll share it with friends while jogging. When I tell someone that my kids are sick, I’ll also tell them that I’m worried and praying hard. Sometimes if I read something great in the scriptures or in a talk, I’ll email it to my husband or other family members.

By: Sage

Sage — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:32:40 +0000

I’ve found one of my hardest things as a parent to be my ineptness at discussing the gospel with my kids. And I am someone who has always loved to talk about the gospel with others. Like Selwyn, it is the breath behind every part of my life.

But, as has been mentioned, maybe it is too far hidden. I also yearn to hear more testimony of Christ from the podium. (I do get it in Sunday school because I am assigned to attend Gospel Essentials and the basics of the gospel are the focus on Christ).

When I taught the Teacher improvement class it increased my desire to have every lesson make a verbal reference to Christ. Even a lesson on geneology, at heart, is about bringing people to Christ. But too often we omit the verbal acknowledgement–which would help strengthen our testimonies of the Savior and remind us what He’s done for us–and even help others realize we are Christians!

I think as Mormons we feel we shouldn’t discuss our most sacred feelings as often, but Nephi said, “we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ…that our children may know…” (2 Ne. 25:26).

I agree that we could all improve in following Nephi’s example. My oldest son was always interested in church-related things, but somehow I didn’t develop the habit of gospel-centered discussions well enough. He has told me that I annoy and irritate him when I talk to him about church things. He attends Seminary and is a good kid, but it breaks my heart not to have a deeper spiritual bond with him.

By: wonder woman

wonder woman — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:32:21 +0000

I have always loved to discuss gospel topics, but I rarely do. When my husband and I were dating, we discussed spiritual matters and doctrine often. We still do that occasionally, but it’s become more of I ask a question and he answers, the end.

I yearn for the kind of friendships where I can discuss deep matters. Not always things of a spiritual nature, but deep matters in general. Mental illness, death of a loved one, wayward family members, marital dischord, politics, AND doctrine. And Twilight and American Idol. )

I yearn for the kind of home where those discussions abound. Right now I blame it on the fact that I’ve got two young boys at home, but it’s just an excuse. Am I going to wait for them to be teenagers and suddenly it will be easy to discuss the gospel? Am I waiting for that dream daughter I will bond with, but who will probably be a drama queen for a good 15 years? Am I waiting for my husband to……..I don’t even know on that one.

I’ve just gotta start NOW. With me.