Before we knew it, Saturday morning was here and it was time to join the throngs of Saints headed to the Conference Center. We stayed at the Downtown Marriott this year, so we were the closest to the Conference Center we'd ever been. Made for a nice leisurely walk, actually...
And right across the street from the Conference Center is about where the protesters start...
Sometimes, I look at these signs and think..."WHO are they preaching to, exactly? What do they THINK WE believe?!"
It is a bizarre phenomenon.
I've also made some other observations over the years:
(1) If my church was represented by preachers shouting at people and calling them fiends and serpents of the eternal pit..and telling them they were going to Hell because they have obviously pledged their soul to Satan by wearing a military uniform (yes, these are actual examples we have encountered) I would RUN...not walk, the heck out of there.
(2) If someone wants me to listen to them, they are sure as heck not going to succeed by shouting insults at me...or my husband.
(3) If this were ANY other church in America...this would be on the evening news and there would be such outrage over it. Can you imagine this happening in front of a synagogue or a cathedral in the USA? But yet it happens at every. single. conference. Every six months, they are there, exercising their right to free speech as we exercise our freedom of religion. I guess we should count our blessings it's no longer legal to kill us, at least?
Still, it was such a lovely day...and so wonderful to see so many beautiful, smiling faces...
From all around the world...
And ESPECIALLY this one. (Chika-bow-WOW!)
These pictures were taken over the course of Saturday and Sunday's sessions. Saturday night, Cliff picked up the Navy Chief of Chaplains and his aid. We they were VIP guests for this year's Chaplain Seminar. We brought them to the morning session of General Conference on Sunday.
This little platform is where many wedding pictures are taken, with the temple in the background. This family was adorable, trying to get everyone looking in the same direction for the camera. I couldn't help stealing my own shot of them.
This is the other side of the Conference Center as we are headed over to the Church Office Building for lunch on Sunday. I always wondered how they fed all of the "official" people, who are stuck in town, between sessions. Since we were escorting a VIP, and therefore honorary "official" people for the day, we got to see for ourselves. We were fed in the Church cafeteria...only instead of having tons of choices like we do on a weekday during the Chaplain Seminar, they just hand you a plate of food. It was Thanksgiving dinner*. Yum.
One last shot. This one was taken on our way back to the hotel on Sunday. Just a dude and his dog (in sunglasses) out for a typical, Sunday drive.
*Since this talk had just been delivered in the morning session, there were plenty of Jack-rabbit jokes...even from our VIPs.
3 comments:
What? You were in SLC and didn't tell us sooner?
I guess this is one's own fault from falling behind on blog reading...
We saw many of the same protesters in Palmyra we went back to visit family this summer. They baffled me; I mean, who were they and what did they think they were accomplishing? My father-in-law said that a lot of them are just paid to go hold signs and scream stuff. Then I wondered who pays for this, and what is their agenda.
I dunno; like most protesters, I just shake my head and move along. I've never thought standing in the street and screaming was a great way to get your message across.
On a brighter note, at one point we were stuck waiting for the policeman to signal us across the street to the parking lot after the pageant was over. We could clearly hear the bullhorns, standing as we were outside the perimeter where they'd set up church music to drown it out some. Instead of yelling back, everyone started singing, "I am a Child of God". I was sure happier to be standing with the singers than I would have to be with the screamers.
TF...sorry about that...it was insane! Let's plan to get together sometime next October when we're out again, K?
Ana...I've heard they come out to all kinds of stuff. We saw them at the San Diego temple open house years ago. Sad, really. Usually there are Saints singing hymns, but for some reason they were missing this year.
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