Personally, I don't start my talks with a joke. I'll try to insert something funny organically within my talk, this usually results in awkward silence.
Very funny. This is actually a talk I'd stay awake for. Can you arrange to have this guy come do a guest speaker gig in my ward? I think our visiting high counselor scheduled for next month wouldn't mind stepping aside.
I, too, have noticed that a lot of people start their talks off with a joke--most often a bad one. Being a rather holy person myself, I've always felt this detracts from the spirit of the meeting and stands in contradiction to the doctrine (found in "Doctrines of Salvation" or something like that) that all Sacrament Meeting sermons "shall thus commence with a quotation from Webster's Dictionary."
The only other opener that competes in popularity goes something like this: "I started preparing for this talk at about 11 p.m. last night . . ." When you hear that line you know you're in for a riveting half hour or so.
I think that talk openings can be split equally into thirds: those that open with a joke, a webster's dictionary definition, and a brief overview of the speaker's life. I like the joke openers the best...because they are usually so bad. I'm sure the Mormon Cartoonist could come up with some opening zingers.
Not only do I open my talks with a joke but I also open my testimonies at fast and testimony with a joke. Sometimes I even close with a joke to end on a high note and leave them wanting more.
Here's a poll: do you start your church talks with a joke?
Personally, I don't start my talks with a joke. I'll try to insert something funny organically within my talk, this usually results in awkward silence.
ReplyDeleteVery funny. This is actually a talk I'd stay awake for. Can you arrange to have this guy come do a guest speaker gig in my ward? I think our visiting high counselor scheduled for next month wouldn't mind stepping aside.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have noticed that a lot of people start their talks off with a joke--most often a bad one. Being a rather holy person myself, I've always felt this detracts from the spirit of the meeting and stands in contradiction to the doctrine (found in "Doctrines of Salvation" or something like that) that all Sacrament Meeting sermons "shall thus commence with a quotation from Webster's Dictionary."
The only other opener that competes in popularity goes something like this: "I started preparing for this talk at about 11 p.m. last night . . ." When you hear that line you know you're in for a riveting half hour or so.
Congratulations from a loyal reader on your 3-year streak!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I love the box of Kleenex on the podium.
I think that talk openings can be split equally into thirds: those that open with a joke, a webster's dictionary definition, and a brief overview of the speaker's life. I like the joke openers the best...because they are usually so bad. I'm sure the Mormon Cartoonist could come up with some opening zingers.
ReplyDeleteYay for 3 years!
Not only do I open my talks with a joke but I also open my testimonies at fast and testimony with a joke. Sometimes I even close with a joke to end on a high note and leave them wanting more.
ReplyDeleteYou're an inspiration to us all, Joel.
ReplyDelete