Category Archives: In real life

How to Give a Great Sacrament Meeting Talk – Part 5 of 5: Delivery

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Part 4 (Memory) here. Part 3.5 (Using Analogies) here. Part 3 (Style) here. Part 2 (Arrangement) here. Part 1.5 (Sources) here. Part 1 (Invention) here. Part 0 (introduction) here.

Well, it’s been awhile, and despite the title, this is not the last installment.

Delivery is something that can be overdone, and when it is overdone, it ruins the talk.

I’ve seen people with horrid delivery move me to tears and plenty of well-versed orators have left me feeling cold.

The first rule is: The Spirit matters most. The second is: Don’t fake your delivery.

That said, here are some ways you can improve the delivery of your talk without faking it. You don’t have to be trained in public speaking (although that’s always a plus, when not overdone), but there are small things anyone can do to improve the delivery of their talk. And if you have the Spirit in your words, a well-delivered talk can move from very good to great (or even excellent). Continue reading →

My Father in the September Ensign. (And what didn’t make it in)

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Page 19 -21.  It’s part of a larger article (that starts on page 18_, but his anecdote about high school wrestling and promptings from the spirit can be found on those pages.  Though the artists rendering on page 20 is all wrong.  It looks nothing like my father and the school color and logo in the picture aren’t of any high school I’ve ever seen.

Now, here’s what didn’t make it in the issue: Continue reading →

How to Give a Great Sacrament Meeting Talk – Part 4 of 5: Memory

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Part 3.5 (Using Analogies) here. Part 3 (Style) here. Part 2 (Arrangement) here. Part 1.5 (Sources) here. Part 1 (Invention) here. Part 0 (introduction) here.

Sorry this is so late.

Anyway –

Memory is the most overlooked aspect of giving a great talk.  Write your talk out (whether by hand or on a computer) and you have it handy.  No need to memorize it.  At General Conference, the GAs even use teleprompters.  So, there’s clearly no need to memorize your talk, right?

Wrong (sort of).

Continue reading →

Eventful moments and milestones

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I recently took a trip to Utah to visit family and celebrate my grandfather’s 84th birthday.

After serving in World War II, raising six children and working as a cook and a plumber to support his wife and children, he looks remarkably good for 84. His favorite line after each birthday is, “I have just 10 more years to go.”

My grandfather has lived a long and fruitful life. Seeing him last month caused me to reflect on my own life and what I have to look forward to.

Continue reading →

How to Give a Great Sacrament Meeting Talk – Part 3.5 of 5: Style (Analogies)

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Part 3 here. Part 2 here. Part 1.5 here. Part 1 here. Part 0 here.

Analogies, metaphors, similes, allegories, etc. all can work well in a sacrament meeting talk (or gospel lesson). They can also be where the talk (or lesson) fails completely. Because Jesus taught in parables (which, when asked, Jesus interpreted allegorically), these types of teaching tools have the highest possible endorsement. But caution is also warranted.

Continue reading →