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Volume 20, Nos. 1-2 April 2013

APRIL CONFERENCE CRITIQUE missionary age and Elder Oaks‘s stunning laundry list of social issues that he was newly defining as MORMONISM’S MAIN PUBLIC RITUAL child abuse. But the discussion also managed to work in several warm spots and, as a very nice The Mormon Alliance's April 2013 Conference balance, some utterly cool ones Critique will convene Monday, April 8, at 8:30 As announced at the press conference, the pm. in Conference Room A of the Salt Lake quorums of the seventies, mission presidents, MTC City Main Library, 210 East 400 South. A presidents, and Church school presidents received stimulating couple of hours of vigorous no advance information about the option now extended worldwide for elders to be called at discussion of trends, hot topics, overworn eighteen (and after graduation from high school) topics, theological innovations, and glimpses of With a corresponding drop in age for sisters to little-seen Seventieswill highlightthe gathering. nineteen The one leak seems to have been Elder Don't overlook the Young Women's Russell M. Nelson, chair of the Missionary conference session, Saturday evening, March Executive Councn, who had reportedly told stake 30 (live on KBYU-TV and the usual Church presidents in the Denver area and elsewhere that sites, Given the "new curriculum," designed to PreSident Morison had had a revelation that he teach teens how to be effective discussion would announce at general conference, “It‘s the leaders coinciding with the drop in mission first time in a long time,” commented one eligibility age for young women from 21 to 19, participant, “that I heard a conference rumor that will we see a heavy "missionary prep" theme in actually happened," Elder Holland, atthepressconference between the addresses to these young women? Saturday sessions, had clarified that only the Reportedly, a majority of mission applications Twelve and had been involved in have been from young women. Will the the decision, leading another participant to point doctrine (or policy) catch up to the out, “This means that no women--not even the demographics? Young Women and Relief Society general presidencieswwere informed aboutthedecision, let OCTOBER CONFERENCE CRITIQUE alone asked for input." No surprise there, but it‘s STlRS COMMENTS possible that they might have been aware of some The October 2012 semi-annual conference issues not apparent to the men who made the critique hosted bythe Mormon Alliance’s focused in decision. October on two obvious hotspotswthe drop in The press conference was the first time that some participants had “heard someone say in 2

public” that men over age twenty-five would not be The press conference had noted that, after called on missions, even though several of those President Monson’s plea for more missionaries two present had had older converts as companions, years ago, the increase in elders had been 6%, in including one who was forty‐two. This policy was sisters 12%, and 18% in seniors. (As a side note, seen as a rough screening mechanism to exclude one participant commented on an article in the new possible gays. issue of BYUStudies providing the first hardfigures Among the consequences of the policy she’d seen on the gender proportion. For BYU decision were: students who were returned missionaries, 85% 1. Significantly, it was not called a revelation, were men, and 15% were women--no information either by President Monson or by Apostles Holland on returned missionaries outside the BYU pool.) and Nelson at the press conference (or by William 6. One participant pointed to anecdotal Walker of the Seventy, the managing director of the evidence that a lot of couples meet on their Missionary Council). Perhaps this terminology missions. It’s an emotionally intense experience, a decision was away of underscoring the often-made shared experience, and usually a good sign of point that the age change presented an “option, not shared values as well. “They keep the rules but an expectation, an edict, or a mandate.” It will, three months after they come home, they’re however, no doubt be treated as one. married. 80 a lot of women will go on missions as 2. It may make it easier for some elders to be a form of husband-hunting, whether that’s an awarded scholarships on the basis of their high explicit goal or not.” Almost certainly these will be school records but have them deferred for two temple marriages, which the Church would years. On the other hand, it may make it harder, for encourage, but low age at marriage is one of the those applying at some schools, to be admitted or predictors of marriage failure. On the bright side, awarded scholarships. The 120 days before the one participant currently predicts less emphasis on eighteenth birthday now allowed as papers‑ having children right away, which means that these submission time may mean that the missionary couples who are finishing their educations together processing will begin at the same time as early‑ may sidestep that additional stress until after admittance decisions. graduation. (This prediction counters the "do not 3. Those financing their educations with delay starting a family" advice that has been government loans and Pell grants should exercise coming over the pulpit since the 1960s with particular caution in their decisions, since only one especial emphasis in the past decade.) deferral is allowed for loan recipients. “Ifwomen (or 7. This “small step" toward gender equality of men, for that matter), take out a loan for their closer parity in ages still does not change the fact freshman year and then decide to go on a mission, that sister missionaries have to turn their converts the requirement kicks in that they must immediately over to elders who will conduct pre‐baptism begin repaying that loan,” commented one interviews (will mostadultconverts willingly answer knowledgeable observer. “As a second problem, no questions about their sexual histories posed by other deferments are possible. And third, teenagers?) and also perform the baptisms. missionaries who return home and live with their 8. The Young Women curriculum will probably families are not eligible for Pell grants.” “switch from marriage prep to mission prep.” This 4. The fact that there is no upper age limitation may be a good thing, just in relieving some of the for women is nota policy anyonewanted to change relentless stress on temple marriage as the only in the interests of parity, “but it does communicate and ultimate goal. that the Brethren don’t believe in lesbians.” 9. Likely more missionaries who exercise the 5. A more positive conclusion about lowering early departure option will be coming home early. the age for women to nineteen is that “they’ve given Missions are high-stress experience; and younger up on the ‘hang around and get married, sweetie’ missionaries will have fewer resources for dealing model for women.” Most participants expected to with that stress, hornesickness, and companion see a bigger bump in women serving than in men. compatability. 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listenedcarefully and compassionatelyto them and metaphorizes to produce a gospel principle, which their parents, who want them to have a place in the he (very occasionally she) supports with relevant Church. This fact led another participant to scriptures." speculate on whether, because Elder Oaks could Another participant, a research fiend, had be expected to be more supportive and is also listened to the first few October 1971 conference “intelligent enough to appraise the literature." he talks (the earliest videos available on the Church‘s was “assigned to be the point man on this issue. website) and said that the difference between the He‘s expected to close ranks, not be a dissenting old-style and new»style talks were clearly apparent. voice," PresidentJoseph FieldingSmith, who died the next The final comment on Oaks’s talk had to be year. “Just rambled and free-associated; his talk this me “He's using child welfare to push his social was long and tedious," while Elder Packer was and political agenda, and I think that’s child abuse." “almost folksy" by comparison. The new ReliefSociety presidency, who spoke Examples of the new style included: in the Relief Society session the weekend before, 1. President Eyrlng'stalk in the general session got high praise for speaking on the atonement, One describing his own inspiration about refusing a man pointed out that, in Peggy Fletcher Stack‘s lucrative offerthatwould havetaken him away from interview with them the week before, they had Ricks College, where he was president, a month identified their goals as the atonement keeping before the collapse of the Teton Dam, and also the covenants, and unity, “They know they’ve only got consolation of the Spirit to his daughter-in-law who five years,“ he commented “I think we heard them had been unable to have more than three children address their first goal in this conference.“ Another butwhose prayer of relinquishment was answered, man said that he “felt the Spirit“ as they spoke, All she felt, when her husband was called to be a agreed that, in their use of personal stories, “they and she had two additional didn’t present themselves as morally superior to children. (One ofthe participants, who had talked to members They seemed real " herfather immediately afterconference. mentioned Janice Allred did hersemi-annual classification that President Eyring had not asked her permission of the talks given in the five general addresses-‑ to share such a personal experience ) institutional, 13; Christian living, a surprising 13, 2. Elder Larry Echo Hawk's engaging story and doctrinal, only two Elder Craig Christensen‘s about being a young Marine whose sergeant‑ address on the Holy Ghost, and Elder DaVId A. instructor switched from screaming profanity and Bednar‘s “valid but inaccurate distinction between Obscenities when he saw Echo Hawk’s Book of testimony and conversion." One of the students of Mormon to ask him if he believed it, Elder Echo theology in attendance pointed out that, contrary to Hawk‘s identification of himself, Central and South Elder Bednar‘s statement, conversionCANhappen Americans, and PacificIslandersas descendants of instantly, Alma and Paul being the classic Book of Mormon people was a reminder that such examples. “You can have a testimony only of what identifications have virtually disappeared since you experience. including your conversion. What DNA studies have created a different genetic he meantwas living a life of dedication, which most picture. “Maybe he feels that bearing such Christians call sanctification.“ testimony is part of his mission," suggested one Elder Hales “looked very frail" and also gave participant one of the few “old»fashioned" talks presented, One As a bit of “conference esoterica." one observer reminded participants: “Conference talks participant pointed out the inadvertent irony that used to start with a dictionary definition of the topic Elder Echo Hawk and Elder Robert Gay spoke under discussion. then string together a few back-to-back. Elder Echo Hawk is the highest scriptures. Also, they used to be addressed to a ranking with ties to the Obama mythical nonmember audience that didn’t exist administration, while ElderGay was Mitt Romney‘s Now, the typical conference talk begins with a business associate in Bain Capital. Furthermore. meaningfulpersonal experience,which the speaker his father, Frederick William (“Bill") Gay headed 5 what was popularly known as Howard Hughes‘s “beautiful prayer," which opened the Sunday “Mormon Mafia,“ a phrase that saw a recurrence morning session. “cast a halo around the whole during Romney's campaign. session." 3. Elder Neil Anderson‘s talk was appreciated One participant had done demographic studies for the most part, but one participant pointed out based on the average age, predicted that, that his stress on not leaving the Church during “the statistically, someone in the First Presidency or trials of your faith" fails to acknowledge “those Twelve would die, on average, about every situations when the trial of yourfaith is the Church." eighteen months. Then current average age is 72-‑ One participant said that a twentyvyear‐old man in but “it’s only that low because of really youthful theirward had committed suicidetwo weeks earlier. members like Elder Bednar, who turned 60 this “Was he gay? I don‘t know. But surely there are summer " Nobody in the Twelve is under 60 now. some situations when leaving the Church is the Heposed the question "Who would you liketosee right thing to do." as the next apostle?" The question drew the 4. Technically. President Packer's talk also realization that hopes for a Hispanic or Asian matched this new model, even though the story he apostle have actually receded in the past couple of told about a dangerous and stormy night approach years to small island was one that he had told earlier. As always, President Uchtdorf’s talks, which However, one participant commented, “His one participant characterized as “wisdom retelling, which stressed that he had refused to literature,“ were conference favorites. Participants learn the names of the missionaries who had fallen generally agreed that President Monson no longer asleep instead of tending the ‘Iower light’ revealed has the ability to prowde more than ceremonial that he still hadn’t learned the lesson of leadership, which means that his counselors are forgiveness. A compassronate person would have doing most of the administration. Of the two insisted on learning who the missionaries were so counselors, most participants seemed to feel that that he could go to them and tell them that it was all the vigorous, healthy-looking, animated President right, that he understood how they could fall asleep Uchtdorf seemed more likely to provide energetic after hours of watching." leadership than frail and emotional President 5. Elder Shane Bowen‘s talk was built around Eyring. One participant confided his hopes that his experience in having a child die. “He President Uchtdort, who has come into the U.S. acknowledged that he felt negative emotions, he political scene from a European perspective, may acknowledged that you don‘t ever really get over it, have the ability and will to move the Church out of and he didn't claim to speak for his wife," said one the corner it has painted itself into on the gay rights participant who also nominated this address for issue. “best of conference " This comment caused another partiCipant to Elder Holland‘s talk drew fierce partisanship. point out that President Packer’s article in the “He created a monster," was one position, “by October Ensign was a marked retreat from his patronizmg people who are less than totally prevrous hard line on gay rights. “Elder Packer committed all of the time. Itwasjudgmental Itsays quoted President Hinckley extensively‐and that there's only one way.“ The opposite partisan President Hinckley, though not exactly liberal, was countered, ”Jesus was pretty clear that He is the reasonable and compassionate-and then Packer way--the only way," then went on to praise the underscored that President Hinckley ‘spoke for the eloquence of the literary parallel in the narrative Church.‘ I think he has accepted the fact that he's Elder Holland created. (Both partisans agreed that never going to be president of the Church and he “Jesus is not the Church" and also agreed that the doesn‘t want to be identified as being on the wrong excellentdelivery matched the eloquent message.) side of this issue for all time," summarized this Participants couldn’t remember if released optimistic listener. Seventies have been asked to give prayers in the Another related discussion was an analysis of past, but all agreed that Marlin K. Jensen’s the Brigham City Temple dedication, which many 6

participants had attended or watched via satellite here in the United States. (Names and places have broadcast, since services in Utah had been been changed to ensure privacy.) cancelled that Sunday, Sister Packer’s talk was Right away, Ron began initiating the many “inspiring,” observed one participant. It has also surgical procedures that would begin to correct been years since a member of the First Presidency Timothy’s condition and permit him to lead a life has not presided at a temple dedication, so their somewhat closer to what the rest of us take for assignnment of President Packer to that granted. Ron’s ability at fathering and raising responsibility was a way of honoring his service, Timothy are what any objective, disinterested not only because of the hometown connection but observerwould haveto appraise as stellar. Timothy also because of his obviously failing health. was exceptionally well cared for, schooled, and nurtured. Now at age thirty-two, Timothy has more friends than anyone else we know and is the Elder Oaks and One Boy’s Life director of a 400-student preschool. A well-liked By Ron’s Partner and hard-working fellow, Timothy is a wonderfully delightful young man who makes his father proud. In January of 1980, a little boy was born to Elder Dallin H. Oaks condemned single and heterosexual parents in Chile. Because he had a same-sex parents, observing that they are selfish cleft lip and palate, his parents handed him over to and should put children’s interests ahead of their an orphanage where he survived his first two years own. I’m not sure where Elder Oaks gets his of life. In 1982, this child was adopted, with the help inspiration for such pronouncements, but it: of Catholic Charities by my partner, Ron, who then reassures me again that my decision to leave became a father to this boy, whom he named Mormonism was the right one. Timothy, and they began a father/son relationship

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