Posted by:
Third of Five
(
)
Date: May 17, 2022 06:59AM
Based on a couple of other interesting posts here, (and in the past, stuff about current “prophet” and wife), I decided to watch the latest conference/talk by Nelson and Wendy. I’m sure I must have heard Nelson speak back in the day but nothing that stands out. I haven’t watched anything from the mormon church, except a few clips, in the past 13 years...and I’ve never seen him speak as the “prophet”.
I decided to watch with an open mind and just make notes of any thoughts as it progressed. Obviously I knew this wasn’t going to be fun, but after such a long period of time, I was completely detached and just interested to see. So here were my thoughts.
Easy to find on YouTube mormon channel - it’s the latest talk. First off, it’s 2 hours long so I almost closed the page until I realised the first hour is just singing. An HOUR of non-stop choir singing? Why? Bizarre. Obviously I fast forwarded it.
Uchdorf comes on. Whoever made the comment here that he looks high on something was right. He’s all smiley but doesn’t say anything. The audience laughs. I don’t get it. He is very tanned. And shiny. Does he live in Florida, or Hawaii? He does a weird intro that goes over my head because I’m distracted by his tan.
The choirs sings the Deseret hymn but with the congregation. They sound nice and I’m looking at them for the first time and wondering whether this is a YSA conference or a youth (young men and young women) conference. The young woman conducting has a smile plastered on. Everything looks perfect. I see fear, or at least that’s how I remember feeling when I used to conduct the hymns; I’m having a flashback to that and it isn’t pleasant. This all feels so empty, or contrived; or maybe that’s how I felt back then.
The opening prayer is very short. The guy giving the prayer isn’t a young man, it’s a boy. So this is a conference for teens... I’m not sure... So the choirs sings AGAIN. Hymn about Israel calling. I’m looking more closely and yeah, I’m pretty sure this is a teen thing. Everyone looks perfect. The guys are in dark suits, the girls are all wearing pastel knitwear. It’s disturbing to remember how much I used to love hymns because I remember they were comforting. The camera zooms in on youth at the front of the choir doing sign language; virtue signalling much? The singing is good, but everyone looks like plastic. These youngsters are not well rounded individuals preparing to live in the actual world. But now I’m being judgmental.
With 50 minutes left, Wendy starts her talk. She isn’t an attractive woman but now I’m trying not to judge anyone on looks, so I will listen. She starts by saying “We wish we could take you all home with us”. Insincere.
Here’s the title of the talk: “One question that will change your life”. Instead of just saying what the question is, she gives 4 minutes of exposition on how important this question is, why this will change your life, lists multiple blessings that basically amount to having superpowers. Eventually we get there: “What would a HOLY young adult do?”
So at this point I am now pissed off. Already with the build-up and the manipulation. This way of talking isn’t tolerated in other arenas. Why did I think it would be anything else? Luckily I’m distracted by her references to their “peers”, including married ones, so now I’m confused about the age thing again. These young people look like children and I don’t think I’m being nasty. I feel...confused/concerned. Whatever; it’s probably for all young people and I’m getting old.
What follows is a long list of how life is wonderful when everything is done with the goal of being holy. This is basically a process of constant self monitoring in everything you think, say, and do. I won’t go into it because my anger is triggered. More Superpowers are listed. The message is: You are special. That’s one hell of a mind-f***ing manipulation. How had I forgotten this? I feel sick. This explains a lot in terms of mormon behaviour if they think like this. Luckily the talk ends. I’m thinking disparaging things about her appearance now; her countenance isn’t kind. I don’t like this woman.
As Nelson and Wendy pass on the pulpit or whatever, they share a weird kiss.
Nelson appears at microphone. Well f*** me, he does look evil. As he’s talking though I’m not getting that vibe. It seems there’s some normality, some humanity there(?). Talk is about aaronic priesthood, first vision, photo of him and Wendy in the sacred grove (looking holy!) Oh, okay, this is on the restoration. But the youth/young adults/whatever surely know about that? Why that topic? Let’s see...
Talks about his life experiences (message: he’s old and wise). Mentions 2 of his daughters died of cancer; that’s awful and he looks genuinely sad (of course - but why is he mentioning it?-I didn’t figure that out). His first wife died too, the mother of his 10 children (nasty thought: did she die of exhaustion?). Then to Wendy his second wife, who he married because “it’s not good for man to be alone”. Hmm; there was also a fleeting expression. Yeah, he doesn’t love her in quite the same way.
What follows is a very long talk, which if you take out the manipulation and OTT fear-mongering, is basically this: the meaning of this life is to prepare for the next life. If you don’t make good choices, everything will suck; if you make wise choices you will go to heaven and have “glory forever” (those words were actually used).
My one thought as an outsider: Why would anyone care?
This leads on to the second half of his talk which was basically about identity. They are children of god, therefore other labels don’t matter. All that matters is the truth of who you are. The truth of who you are is holiness and glory with god; (anything else, I suppose, is unimportant/ a lie. The implications are conveniently widespread but obvious). “The glory of god is intelligence” (so not following god means stupidity and missing out on glory?).
Blah blah blah. I was really pissed off by now.
There was still 20 minutes to go but I couldn’t watch any more.
Some observations:
-Mormons have a lame, simplistic sense of humour. No wonder my jokes fall flat because I am really twisted. Jokes told were about: men doing housework, buying bananas, and FOMO (cleverly linked to the celestial kingdom - so cool!).
-When Nelson got to the part of listing universal “truths”, he brought his fist down on the pulpit and his countenance changed. I was reminded of Palpatine.
-I think she only spoke for about 10 minutes; so he went on for nearly 40 minutes.
-Mormons are brainwashed into being up their own arses.
-Nothing new is ever taught, it’s just the same stuff told in different ways. Repetition + Manipulation = brainwashing. The objective of this event was just that. Keep everyone in line using fear. And it must be fear, because I don’t see any other motivating factor for any of this empty nonsense unless you actually want to be/feel superior to everyone else.
Grateful to be free from this bullshit.