Tuesday, March 11, 2008
How NOT to begin a talk
This is related to the Sunday School post below. It provides a perfect example of how NOT to begin a Sacrament meeting talk.
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Two weeks and two days ago, I was minding my own business at home, not bothering anyone, when the phone rang. Maybe it was 15 days ago. Anyway, it was Brother Harvey and he asked me to speak in Sacrament Meeting today. I told him he must have the wrong number. (Pause for chuckle) Seriously I told him I would, but that I just spoke in 2003. I mean, it was Fast and Testimony meeting but that counts, right? (Hopeful for another chuckle.) Well, the topic that Brother Harvey asked me to speak on is forgiveness. I’m still trying to forgive him for calling me. (Please chuckle! Look over shoulder at Brother H., hoping that he gives the obligatory slow head shake.) Why me? I guess I need to learn about forgiveness. Trust me, I am not perfect and I probably got more out of preparing this talk than any of you can even hope to get. My wife already introduced the family, so I guess I don’t need to do that. She did forget to mention that I collect rocks. And llama hair. Yeah, I collect stuff. Another thing about us is...
Oh-kay. Forgiveness. Well, my wife used all the scriptures that I found, and we didn’t coordinate, so I’m going to spend the next 15 minutes repeating what she said.
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8 comments:
I don't even like the talk intro "I've been asked to speak on tithing." So why aren't you? You're allowed to delve right in without blaming the bishopric for the topic. Wouldn't a better intro be, "Malachi wrote anciently that if we fail to pay an honest tithe, it is as if we are robbing God." Isn't that more powerful?
Man, I'm a hard grader. I really don't sit there in church with such a critial ear, but just thinking about it I realize that we can probably all do better.
Am I lame for commenting so much on my own blog? I want to recant the last rant of mine. I think it is OK to begin a talk by saying what you were assigned. I was just on one...
Ok Ok this is about your quotes. The CS Lewis quote is my FAVORITE quote ever. Nice touch! stink that I didn't think of it before you!
BTW I think on a blog you can put whatever you darn well please. I say if people don't like it, don't come back. I imagine people think I gush too much about my kids. Who cares! If they don't like it don't come back. I personally was dying over the Sunday School post. As the Public Speaking merit badge counselor I agree. Not to toot my own horn!
Rachel - thanks for helping me with the Words to Live By.
I agree in the freedom of speech concept, but after I wrote it I feared it gave the wrong impression. I do not consider myself the Simon Cowell of Sacrament meetings. Not only am I not that great of a speaker, I generally cut people a lot of slack. We're all volunteers here, and I'm sure they are doing their best. My job is to hear the message (even if poorly delivered) and apply it to me. I think it is dangerous to let "presentation pride" cloud that.
I HATE the non-related, no thought, filler introductions!!
We have been talking about this in PEC - that we need to teach people how to do this. "How about trying something new and different to being a talk, like a scripture, experience, story that introduces the principle you are teaching????
Sheesh.
Good post man (and good self-comments).
You forgot one.
-I should just say Amen and we could all go home.
If you start your talk like that...please do!
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