Reader comments
Columnist makes plea for humility

Sonora | 1:09 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

Good thoughts on humility and gratitude.

May the usual gang of venom-writers be quiet this day.

utwingnut | 1:53 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

I feel much the same way that Robert Kirby does. I too am in the military. I am a Mormon, and the Utah culture can be a somewhat closed society. Let's all lighten up and try and meet someone outside our normal circle.

Taylor | 6:33 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

Thank you, Mr. Kirby. What a delight. If someone can't laugh at themselves they take themselves too seriously.

Comments continue below

Matthew | 8:36 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

My only comment is that skin color ought to be the least important measure of diversity. The important diversity is what we are inside and what different ways we can come up with to make the world a better place.

Mark | 8:37 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

When it comes to LDS writers, let the scholars have Nibley, Maxwell and McConkie. We commoners will choose J. Golden and Kirby. We may die a little rougher around the edges, but we'll go with a smile on our faces!

Ken Goddard | 8:49 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

Good column but I would have said Utah is where god practices making people and further pointed out the failure rate. Course I claim Idaho.

arc | 9:09 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

Kirby puts a smile on the "active", "less active", or "not of our faith" groups - ie: everyone. I don't always read his articles, but all the ones I have have been great.

Nice to see some multi-religion service. That typically helps bring people together.

Anonymous | 10:24 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

I would have been disappointed if I had attended that service. From the article, the other speakers spoke about things that should be spoken about at a Thanksgiving religious service. What's with the main speaker cracking jokes about whites, Mormons, and what sounds like his own "I'm more of an open-minded Mormon than you are" attitude. Everything has its place, and his comments were entirely out of place.

Wesley | 10:50 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

Robert Kirby is one of the funniest people on the planet. He's much more interesting than any of the nationally syndicated columnists.

Steve Taggart | 11:14 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

Robert Kirby is terrific! I heard Mr. Kirby speak, to include many of the same stories, at a conference in Provo about 10 days ago. I have been a Bishop and a Stake President in the LDS church and I found him to be delightful. In this troubled world we need to enjoy good humor and have the ability to laugh at ourselves. I hope that I will have the opportunity to hear him speak again sometime in the future.

David in CA | 11:32 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

Wish that I could hve attended. I live outside of Utah.

Sounds like most had a good time.

I'm grateful that people can look outside their small cultures. It is an
Educational experience!!

Humor is one of the best ways to do that. Sometimes it backfires, but it's
Worth the risk. Smiling and laughter are some of God's greatest gifts!!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody.....

ladyblueyes | 11:49 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

I, too, wish I had been there. How refreshing to have someone who pokes fun at himself, who admits he's made mistakes, who then laughs and tries to fix it.

We are all imperfect and have our own idiosyncrasies. I'm sorry some of you were offended - but, really, he was just trying to be funny.

He succeeded with me! lol

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Willum | 12:19 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007

I was there and the whole service was delightful.

One point of Mr. Kirby's was that humor is good for the health. And he increased my life expectancy, I figure, at least a day. I laughed heartily.

I am sorry, but I don't believe that he said things that should not have been "spoken about at a Thanksgiving religious service". One thing about "Kirby" is that he knows (he's humble enough to figure that) he's not a philosopher (I personally see great philosophical wisdom in some of what he writes). So he was more comfortable throwing out what he had prepared and instead, relying on his usual funny material...giving us what helped draw us to the event.

Of course I'm one of the several (I figure about one-fourth of the audience) that irreverently clapped at the end of his comments (despite the admonition in the program that requested us to "maintain reverence" by not clapping - and the "flustration" of my wife). I happen to figure that if clapping is irrevent in a "religious service", laughing is way out there.

I had a wonderful time and I thank God for His gift to me through the event.

Humble Pie | 12:25 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007

I would like to answer Bro. Kirby's plea for humility.

I am proud of my humility and am grateful I can share it with everyone.

Wait, that doesn't sound so good...I am well pleased with my humility and grateful to share it with all who need help with theirs.

Ah, that's much better.

Had an obligation | 1:28 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007

I wish I had been there Kirby, but my congregation "The Church of the First Tee" meets at that time every Sunday and I'm the ward clerk (scorekeeper).

denn034 | 2:08 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007

We need humility not arrogantly looking down upon others. There's way too much justification for that unchristian and hypocritical approach to others. Bring on humility.

Adrienne | 2:34 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007

We need humility, as well as more humor in this world. Laughter does help to improve life, and is a drug-free way to treat depression. I don't live in Utah, but I enjoy reading Kirby's column online.

I'll betcha | 5:49 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007

I bet you brother Kirby is so cool that he enjoys a glass of Merlot every now and then.

Jay B. | 6:27 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007

Kirby is and always has been a renegade iconoclast (who probably doesn't even know what those words mean) and, ultimately, a "hack" journalist.

Patrick | 7:51 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007

Humility is over-rated, especially among the LDS where it takes on a false pretense that deliberately hides their self-righteousness.

I think this is exactly what Robert Redford was talking about when he called it "plastic."

Pseudo-humility also comes with a definite gullibility among the LDS

Hack Journalist? | 8:07 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007

I thought reporters were journalists and columnists were editorialists (yeah, I know. It's not a real word).

The former used to report the news without embellishment as it happened. A columnist gave his/her viewpoint about the news.

If those definitions still hold, Kirby doesn't claim to be a "journalist."

Hack -- to damage or injure by crude, harsh, or insensitive treatment; mutilate; mangle: The editor hacked the story to bits.

I just looked at 14 separate definitions for "hack" and not one fits Robert Kirby. Jay B. | 6:27 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007, you be wrong on that one.

Reader in CA | 9:02 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007

I enjoyed this article immensely. Growing up in UT I did notice how everyone was exactly the same. Maybe that's why I tended to be the one who was friends with the outsiders, and the ones who were the most mentioned on the gossiping tongues of church goers.
After being here in CA I've realized how many good people there are and I love being the minority instead of majority. So many different views to hear and different people to embrace.
I'd love for more people to get his "more accepting than you" attitude. I know a lot of people who would have enjoyed not being gossiped about.

Clark Roger | 9:57 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007

Patrick,

I'm sorry you have such bitter feelings toward LDS Church members. I hope that if we ever meet or work together, I can be a good enough erson that it might help change your feelings, just a little bit.

As for Robert Kirby, I thnk he's a really good guy and his columns are often quite interesting. I think that if every Latter-day Saint who was born and raised in Utah spent a little time outside of Utah (not including missions or vacations) life here in the Beehive State might just be a little more colorful and delightful.

Orlovna | 7:53 a.m. Nov. 20, 2007

At the very end of Mr. Kirby's comments, I found myself inadvertantly saying the word "humanity" (instead of humility) each time I re-read the piece.

Maybe the word "humanity" is a better choice, after all, now that I have come to think about it. I find that when I trip over myself--like that--that I end up making "fortuitous mistakes", that way:

Not always, but sometimes.

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