Thank you for this article! This really helped me with my talk today! The part about not being a tool in satan's hand by giving a bad talk really spurred me on. The first bit of advice about how to turn your topic into a premise was key for me. I usually bounce around from idea to idea and with a narrow focus my talk easily came together! I received many compliments and feel confident speaking in the future. Thanks!
Arizona MormonAugust 7, 2015
Thanks for taking the time to put this together. I am speaking in Sacrament on Sunday so its nice to have a refresher. The only tip I'd have to disagree with is writing your talk out. I think this is really a personal preference, depending on how good you are at public speaking and ad-libbing. I write out every word of my entire talk religiously (pun intended). For one, this gives me a good way of archiving the talks that I've given, but more importantly in my experience, the Spirit talks to me more often in the preparation of my talk, rather than spur of the moment in the middle of me presenting it, though it can happen either way. But I don't shun those that read their talks because they still put forth just as much effort as the person that is a good speaker, but might not have put much preparation into their thoughts. I think they just need to practice the deliverance of it. For example, I'm not a good speaker when I'm nervous so having it all spelled out in front of me keeps me on topic. I agree with not reading it like a story or just reading other people's talks, so to avoid that you practice it. I often go in to the church the night before and just listen to how it sounds. By the point I give my talk I've rehearsed it so many times that I've practically memorized it. And this doesn't take away from listening to the Spirit for guidance at all because it makes me more comfortable and engaged in my delivery that I can have an open mind while sharing my thoughts. But that's just my two cents. I guess I just grew up around a bunch of big egos who were always bragging about not writing down a single word of their talk or how little they had to prepare the 5 minutes before the meeting started. Obviously I was drawn away from those methods. And I still feel that even though I write every word, it's still more of an outline. I have it separated into sections and have certain parts highlighted and marked so I can follow along, but still be able to use it as a simple guide.
East Coast MormonMay 11, 2015
Great article. My one addition is to remember your audience. Over half of our ward is under 18, but rarely do the speakers try to engage the minds of the children. Personal stories work well for all ages, long quotes from the scriptures or General Authorities lose their attention. As you give your talk, look out at the audience. If over half of them are not looking back at you, then you have lost them; just bear your testimony and sit down.
Renaissance NerdMay 6, 2015
Excellent Points all. We've had uncommonly good talks for the most part in my ward, and I couldn't agree more that the personal story is the most effective.
My own term for what you call a premise is a 'narrow focus.' I have heard some excellent seminar talks, and even a few good meandering musings talks, but the best are not so broad, with every part is tied together narrowly (by a premise, one might say).
I have never understood the penchant for talking about how much everybody hates to talk or their nervousness etc. I love to give talks, I gave at least 30 during my mission and many since, but I'm always nervous even so. It's only natural, so it's just stating the obvious and rarely in a way that offers any utility. My last talk I mentioned how much I love speaking. I said 'I'm one of those strange persons who enjoys giving talks. When others look out and see a lot of people, all I see is..." I leaned into the mic... "captive audience."' It got a laugh, but also had the effect of breaking my tension and making me more relaxed throughout. I suppose talking about nervousness does the same thing for others, but I've heard it so many thousand times that I don't think it works. Especially when I've heard the same person say the same thing several times. What I tell the kids I've taught is that when you give a talk, especially if you're a young man or woman, the whole congregation is pulling for you, willing you to do well. The same goes for all of us. Anybody in the congregation who is actively hoping for a terrible talk and pounces on every mistake isn't going to feel the Spirit no matter what you say, so ignore his (or her) existence.
Ed JesseeMay 6, 2015
Should be required reading for all. I'm sure I've violated ALL of these "do's" and "do not's" in the few Sacrament talks I've given.
Comments | Return to Story
Texas MormonJuly 10, 2016
Thank you for this article! This really helped me with my talk today! The part about not being a tool in satan's hand by giving a bad talk really spurred me on. The first bit of advice about how to turn your topic into a premise was key for me. I usually bounce around from idea to idea and with a narrow focus my talk easily came together! I received many compliments and feel confident speaking in the future. Thanks!
Arizona MormonAugust 7, 2015
Thanks for taking the time to put this together. I am speaking in Sacrament on Sunday so its nice to have a refresher. The only tip I'd have to disagree with is writing your talk out. I think this is really a personal preference, depending on how good you are at public speaking and ad-libbing. I write out every word of my entire talk religiously (pun intended). For one, this gives me a good way of archiving the talks that I've given, but more importantly in my experience, the Spirit talks to me more often in the preparation of my talk, rather than spur of the moment in the middle of me presenting it, though it can happen either way. But I don't shun those that read their talks because they still put forth just as much effort as the person that is a good speaker, but might not have put much preparation into their thoughts. I think they just need to practice the deliverance of it. For example, I'm not a good speaker when I'm nervous so having it all spelled out in front of me keeps me on topic. I agree with not reading it like a story or just reading other people's talks, so to avoid that you practice it. I often go in to the church the night before and just listen to how it sounds. By the point I give my talk I've rehearsed it so many times that I've practically memorized it. And this doesn't take away from listening to the Spirit for guidance at all because it makes me more comfortable and engaged in my delivery that I can have an open mind while sharing my thoughts. But that's just my two cents. I guess I just grew up around a bunch of big egos who were always bragging about not writing down a single word of their talk or how little they had to prepare the 5 minutes before the meeting started. Obviously I was drawn away from those methods. And I still feel that even though I write every word, it's still more of an outline. I have it separated into sections and have certain parts highlighted and marked so I can follow along, but still be able to use it as a simple guide.
East Coast MormonMay 11, 2015
Great article. My one addition is to remember your audience. Over half of our ward is under 18, but rarely do the speakers try to engage the minds of the children. Personal stories work well for all ages, long quotes from the scriptures or General Authorities lose their attention. As you give your talk, look out at the audience. If over half of them are not looking back at you, then you have lost them; just bear your testimony and sit down.
Renaissance NerdMay 6, 2015
Excellent Points all. We've had uncommonly good talks for the most part in my ward, and I couldn't agree more that the personal story is the most effective. My own term for what you call a premise is a 'narrow focus.' I have heard some excellent seminar talks, and even a few good meandering musings talks, but the best are not so broad, with every part is tied together narrowly (by a premise, one might say). I have never understood the penchant for talking about how much everybody hates to talk or their nervousness etc. I love to give talks, I gave at least 30 during my mission and many since, but I'm always nervous even so. It's only natural, so it's just stating the obvious and rarely in a way that offers any utility. My last talk I mentioned how much I love speaking. I said 'I'm one of those strange persons who enjoys giving talks. When others look out and see a lot of people, all I see is..." I leaned into the mic... "captive audience."' It got a laugh, but also had the effect of breaking my tension and making me more relaxed throughout. I suppose talking about nervousness does the same thing for others, but I've heard it so many thousand times that I don't think it works. Especially when I've heard the same person say the same thing several times. What I tell the kids I've taught is that when you give a talk, especially if you're a young man or woman, the whole congregation is pulling for you, willing you to do well. The same goes for all of us. Anybody in the congregation who is actively hoping for a terrible talk and pounces on every mistake isn't going to feel the Spirit no matter what you say, so ignore his (or her) existence.
Ed JesseeMay 6, 2015
Should be required reading for all. I'm sure I've violated ALL of these "do's" and "do not's" in the few Sacrament talks I've given.
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