5 dissenting votes

Mars wrote:


During the sustaining vote in General Conference, 5 individuals stood up to vote "opposed". I find this interesting. I'm not rushing to judgement about them just yet, but I am curious to know their stories and why they chose to do so.

Follow #anyoppose on twitter.

It is. Now.

I'm guessing most don't also seek out their Stake Presidents to make their opposition known.

I was changing the oil in my truck and listening to the Saturday session when this happened. At first I thought to myself "hey, they seem to have changed up the script a little" when Uchdorf kept saying "the vote has been noted." Then it dawned on me at the end when he mentioned that people with dissenting votes can speak with their Stake leaders that there had been actual dissenting votes.



I can't figure out exactly what they wanted by doing this. From the news accounts (AP did a blurb) it seems that they weren't an anti-Mormon group or anything, just a group of Mormons generally upset that the Church still opposes gay marriage and women in the priesthood. In which case, I would think, they would simply abstain from sustaining votes, not cast actual dissenting votes.



My thoughts were always that a dissenting vote had more to do with the individual and knowledge of his circumstances more than simple disagreement with doctrine or policy. Like, if you knew the guy they just called as Young Men's president was a child molester in his previous ward or something. In which case you would follow up your dissenting vote with the Bishop, who may or may not know about something like that.



Anyway, it was interesting at least. Once in a lifetime kind of thing.

CAFB_04-12 wrote:
I was changing the oil in my truck and listening to the Saturday session when this happened. At first I thought to myself "hey, they seem to have changed up the script a little" when Uchdorf kept saying "the vote has been noted." Then it dawned on me at the end when he mentioned that people with dissenting votes can speak with their Stake leaders that there had been actual dissenting votes.



I can't figure out exactly what they wanted by doing this. From the news accounts (AP did a blurb) it seems that they weren't an anti-Mormon group or anything, just a group of Mormons generally upset that the Church still opposes gay marriage and women in the priesthood. In which case, I would think, they would simply abstain from sustaining votes, not cast actual dissenting votes.



My thoughts were always that a dissenting vote had more to do with the individual and knowledge of his circumstances more than simple disagreement with doctrine or policy. Like, if you knew the guy they just called as Young Men's president was a child molester in his previous ward or something. In which case you would follow up your dissenting vote with the Bishop, who may or may not know about something like that.



Anyway, it was interesting at least. Once in a lifetime kind of thing.

There were some people who were part of it on twitter. I saw 2 or 3 of them, not a single one of them identified as LDS. They identified as atheists.

Five out of 20,000+. Yet the press thinks this is newsworthy? Sheesh

Aren't tickets given to stake presidents and then to members of the church.

It becomes pretty obvious that it's all for show when you shout in a disorderly fashion, as opposed to simply raising your hand (if you're afraid you won't be seen, raise it high or just stand up). This is more of the same OW-induced BS and it's not the first or last time that secret combinations will be made against the true church of the Lord. Heaven help these individuals to realize that it's not all about them or what they want, that being a so-called intellectual and getting your fifteen minutes is not worth eternity, and that God asks all of us to do hard things and that every person will have their own individual struggles and that none will be excused by the Lord, who is no respecter of persons, save they repent and follow His counsel as revealed to His servants, the prophets.



The saddest part about all of these in the past several years is that they detract from such a beautiful, enlightening, spiritual, and uplifting experience. I don't know if this conference was extra-special or if I simply am in a better place to receive the messages than ever before, but man, what incredible messages delivered by the Lord's servants; I needed to hear every single one and I pray for our loving prophet's health.

scott715 wrote:
Aren't tickets given to stake presidents and then to members of the church.

"Tickets for the semi-annual conferences are distributed by the church through local priesthood leaders as well as the Conference Center’s ticketing office. Typically members must be in good standing and enjoy certain levels of trust with their priesthood leaders before a request for tickets will be granted. As such, it is often difficult for individuals who wish to express concerns to secure Conference tickets. Accordingly, individuals who do have access to Conference tickets through these avenues are encouraged to secure tickets to all general sessions of the April 2015 General Conference and mail them anonymously to PO Box ____, American Fork UT, 84003. Latter-day Saints who wish to cast a dissenting vote but do not have access to Conference tickets are encouraged to request tickets through http://www.AnyOpposed.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Those requests will be vetted to ensure the safety and confidentiality of all participants, and further details for the distribution of tickets will be provided accordingly. It is also possible for anyone wishing to attend a session of General Conference to obtain a ticket by waiting in a standby line. This line usually forms several hours in advance of each Conference session at the North gates of Temple Square. The earlier you get in this line, the better your chances are of getting a ticket. We encourage anyone wanting to attend Conference to vote in opposition to plan on getting tickets in this manner if they cannot secure them through other means. Even those who contact http://www.AnyOpposed.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for help with tickets need to realize they may need to wait in the standby line as a back-up plan if we are not able to provide them with the requested tickets."



http://anyopposed.org/press-release-mormons-to-cast-opposing-vote-at-lds-general-confernce/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bottom line is groups like this have fundamental misunderstandings of what the church is and how it operates.



When the person conducting asks for a sustaining vote, they are not asking for a vote of approval that could change the outcome. They are asking if we will sustain them in this calling - not if we approve of the calling. Are we going to work with this person while we work under them for a period of time.



Obviously if we have knowledge of potential worthiness issues/questions those could be brought forward.



But the Church is not a democracy. These people aren't nominees to be voted on. They are brothers or sisters we're asked to sustain in these callings.

Excellent point that desires a up vote because I sustain that comment.