Comments on: You Need To Speak Better. I Don’t Know, You Figure It Out.

By: David T.

David T. — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:35:22 +0000

I realize you can’t assign a sacrament talk on the subject, “How to Give a Sacrament Talk,” but as an alternative to a class, fireside or seminar (which many wouldn’t attend anyway), wouldn’t it be a neat trick if a particularly talented speaker gave a talk on a gospel subject, but framed it within a How to Give a Talk talk? For example:

The topic I’ve been asked to cover is “faith.” But my challenge isn’t talking about faith. My challenge is, how can I share something with you about faith that you haven’t already heard a hundred times? So, let me talk about something you haven’t heard much about over this pulpit– baseball.

And then he shares rules, anecdotes and scriptures while talking about baseball, when he’s really talking about faith, and it’s clear he’s talking about faith.

I don’t know, that probably wasn’t a good example. But the idea of framing a topic within a how-to lesson… That would certainly inspire me for the next time I had to give a talk.

By: David T.

David T. — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:20:54 +0000

I didn’t know how spoiled I was until we moved from the Studio City Ward. All those actors and industry types, giving talks “in character.” No one in Valencia sings their testimony or shows “The Greatest Story Ever Told” Beatitudes scene (with a Swedish savior) during their talk. Gladys Knight and Marie Osmond never make cameos, and Larry King isn’t kvetching to his wife in the pews during a particularly ridiculous testimony. Alas, I was once served such a delightful banquet and now I dine at the Sizzler.

Thanks for citing that post, Rusty. It made some very legitimate points.

By: annegb

annegb — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:00:15 +0000

Floyd: my sentiments exactly.

Susan m. I completely agree. But I usually agree with you.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:13:16 +0000

Sorry, hit the “Add my comments” button too early.

An adult could give the talk but they would need to have a focus on the younger crowd.

What I see now is people often have a comment or two directed at the young men/young women. But, really having a complete talk focused on the younger set, including primary could be valuable.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:10:58 +0000

An earlier comment made a great point . . our meetings are way too focused on the adults.

In my ward, our sacrament meeting is probably 50% youth and primary age kids. And, we provide very little that focuses on them.

It would be very interesting to have at least one talk that was focused on them . . by design. It might be interesting to have a primary child give a primary talk — with visual aids. Or, a youth speaker who talks to their peers (ours are just given a regular adult-oriented topic).

By: Susan M

Susan M — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 03:19:55 +0000

If you were in my stake, I’d say this: Never allow a SM without at least one woman speaking. I cannot believe how many Sundays we have with no women speakers in my ward. But I never complain about it because I know when I do, I’ll be asked “Are you willing to give talks?” Which I am, I really don’t have a problem with it–except I don’t want to be asked to just because I complained about something.

For me, there’s really only one thing people need to know to give good talks: make it personal.

By: Floyd the Wonderdog

Floyd the Wonderdog — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:43:07 +0000

My SP said “There’s no sin in a short meeting, but there often is in a long one.”

By: annegb

annegb — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 05:46:35 +0000

Shorter is better.

By: John Mansfield

John Mansfield — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:14:23 +0000

An obstacle to speaker improvement is that most of us don’t do it that often, so it will take quite a bit of dedication to diligently acquire additional skills that I will be called upon to employ one afternoon, maybe nineteen months from now, and then, when that occassion arrives, to recall what those skills are.

By: Floyd the Wonderdog

Floyd the Wonderdog — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:47:11 +0000

When I was called to the HC, the SP informed me that I would be trained in my responsibilites including how to give a great talk. Along with the mechanics, we were emphatically instructed to teach with the Spirit. Bearing testimony is the best way to do that. I’ve been released from the HC for over a year, but last week I ran into a sister from the stake and she thanked me for a talk I had given 3 years ago. She remembered the talk because the Spirit was there teaching her.

We were given our topics at the beginning of the year. This allowed us to begin preparation well ahead of time. I hate being asked after Sacrament Meeting if I would speak the next week. I understand that there are emergencies, but this is SOP in our ward now.

I would memorize at least the first 5 to 10 minutes so that I could look at the congregation. I also emmorized the closing. I used the teenagers as a gauge of my speaking. If they got bored, I needed to punch it up. They are the canary in the coal mine.