Sacrament talks.

Just like testimony meetings, sacrament talks can put me on edge when I hear the following:

1. "I’d like to thank Brother So-and-so for the opportunity to speak today … I did see him coming towards me in the corridor, and I tried to avoid eye contact, and push primary children out of my way to run off, and say I might be sick that day ... but here I am."

2. "I hate giving talks in sacrament.  I try to avoid doing it."

3. "I am so nervous ... I’m such a bad speaker."

4. "I was clearly given this topic because I need to work on it."

5. "So I looked up the definition of ‘repentance’ on Wikipedia …"


Okay, I slightly exaggerate, but you've totally heard opening paragraphs like these.

For me, I draft my talk well in advance, and time it several times.  That’s just how I operate.  And I am always well over the time limit - just like how I am always over the word limit for school essays and assignments. 

So why would I waste time in sacrament meeting by telling you how Brother So-and-so asked me to speak?  And then go on and tell you my life story?  And rely on definitions as my opening paragraph?

Remember, this is what NOT to do!