Jokes from the Pulpit

When was the last time you were sitting in a sacrament meeting and the speaker started telling jokes? Do you feel the cringe now, I know I do. It seems as though our favorite talks are marbled with humor, but it doesn’t ever seem as if the speaker is telling a joke. This talent can be cultivated but if we craft the talk around a funny moment, or try to create or force one it usually backfires. If we prepare in advance and review our material, we will see areas we can season with an appropriate ironic story, or comment. The raw truth is often very funny especially when the story is ours. I remember Elder Bednar’s “you’re breathing my air” story, very well. This is a serious talk with a spice here and there. Or Elder Wirthlin’s story of the blind date and the baby sitter mix up. Practice makes perfect, so practice your talk with a spouse, friend or parent before giving it in a meeting. This will give you a gauge as to how funny it is and if it is worth the time to include it. “O be wise” applies to our use of humor especially from the pulpit.

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