First, some background on why I missed this announcement.
Ever since we’ve been able to receive General Conference via regular cable here in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve watched it at home. Normally this entails waking up, having a late breakfast and wasting most of the day Saturday and Sunday watching monotonous person after monotonous person speak about the same monotonous things everyone spoke about at the last conference.
I would always give it a soldier’s effort before succumbing to the natural inclinations of one’s body left in a prone position listening hypnotic droning…yes, sleep always overcomes me by the third speaker in the first session.
Later, I could stomach conference better by following running threads on various internet forums. The live feedback was a lifesaver and kept me far more engaged than I otherwise would have been.
This last General Conference was a new one for me. Since my disaffection became known to my spouse, I’ve had less and less reason to pretend to care about these types of things. Frankly, I’ve also had less and less reason to feel guilty too.
Incidentally, I missed my former mission president being called as a General Authority during the conference. He was called as the General Young Men’s President. I have a soft spot for this guy. We practically worshipped him as missionaries. As I look back on it, he was amicable enough, but always aloof and somewhat impersonal. I had always heard all these stories about numbers-obsessed mission presidents and have counted myself fortunate not to have had one. He was a good guy and sincere enough, albeit a little uncreative and stiff. Definitely a white-shirted in-the-box Mormon, though.
So how do I feel about this? Interestly enough, I was in shock to begin with. I NEVER thought I would have any sort of connection to a General Authority of any sort. I don’t live in the Jell-O belt, so I just figured the Utah-centric things would never intrude on my personal life. It seems so strange. I kind of feel like I’m related to royalty.
Add to that the fact that, I have spent 10 of the last 11 years since my mission working with the Young Men in some fashion. I feel a natural affection towards this calling. I am, however, greatly annoyed by those who would turn EVERY damn meeting into a testimony meeting. Boys need to wrestle around and have fun without someone reminding them to feel inadequate at every turn. The previous General Young Men’s President, Charles Dahlquist, was amazing in this regard. He was very Scouting-centric, which appealed to me.
Pres. Beck, I fear, will be the polar opposite. He will be more at home in the white shirt “uniform of the priesthood” than the comforting fun-loving brown khaki of the Scout shirt. I am very afraid for what this means for the focus of the Church-wide Young Men’s program.
Perhaps I got out of Young Mens just in time…
