Tactic # 1 is an enduring favourite among the Mormon elite.
"As Boyd K. Packer once said, in quoting Henry D. Moyle, “I never pay any attention to the questions… If he doesn’t ask the right questions [the questions I like to be asked], I give answers to questions he should have asked.”
Packer added, “That short statement from President Moyle held great wisdom, and on a number of occasions I have been rescued in difficult situations by referring back in my mind to his comment.”
[source: Boyd K. Packer, p.63, Teach Ye Diligently] "
So, Boyd Packer was lying? And in a respected mormon reference work, as well? How do you explain that?
I learned an important lesson about answering questions from President Henry D. Moyle. We were in Alaska to attend a youth conference and were scheduled for a television interview. For some reason the cameras had been set up at Elmendorf Air Force Base, so we went there for the interview. A member of the Church who was a television star at that time also was scheduled to be at the youth conference but at the last minute had to cancel.
**When we arrived at the place of the interview the commentator was obviously disappointed as he looked at President Moyle and me and said, “Is this all there is?” **
The mission president indicated that we were the two to be interviewed. “We were given to understand that there would be theatrical luminaries present,” the commentator responded.
**When the mission president explained that the television personality had canceled her appearance, the commentator was obviously irritated. **
When he became discourteous to President Moyle, I could restrain myself no longer. I said to him, “I’ll have you know this is a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And in most places in the world the media are very interested and anxious to have an opportunity to schedule an interview with him.”
The commentator settled down a little and finally said, “Well, I suppose we might just as well go ahead.” **He started the interview with questions that exposed his antagonism. **The interview lasted for over thirty minutes. **Later, as we were returning to the car, I said, “President Moyle, that was marvelous, just marvelous. How did you do it?” **
President Moyle asked, “What do you mean?” I said, “All those antagonistic questions he asked you; it was just marvelous the way you handled them. **He was so antagonistic and bitter and yet the interview itself was successful.” **
I have never forgotten his answer. He said, **“I never pay any attention to the questions-that is, if the interviewer is antagonistic. If he doesn’t ask the right questions, I give answers to questions he should have asked.” **That short statement from President Moyle held great wisdom, and on a number of occasions I have been rescued in difficult situations by referring back in my mind to his comment.
On one occasion,in Halifax, Nova Scotia,I was invited to appear on a talk show on which people who were thought to be interesting were interviewed. The missionaries had arranged my appearance on the show, thinking it would help the Church.
It was obvious to me in the beginning that the commentator wanted to talk about me personally. He asked several questions about my teaching experience, my military experience, and so on, and seemed to be avoiding any questions about the Church.
**
Remembering what President Moyle had said, I paid little attention to his questions and directed the answers in such a way that I explained the Church program rather than talked about myself.**
On another occasion I was scheduled for an interview in Maine. The missionaries who had arranged the radio interview apologized to me beforehand, saying that the commentator appeared to be antagonistic and was intent on embarrassing me and the Church with questions about who could or could not hold the priesthood.
Again I remembered the experience with President Moyle, and when the interviewer raised his first question about the priesthood, I quickly countered with a question: "Do you know anything about the priesthood?"
**He said, “No,” and I was immediately able to take lead in the interview. **“You know about the elders, don’t you?” “Not very much,” he said. So I began to tell him about the elders who were preaching the gospel in the cities and was able to urge those listening to invite them in and hear their message.
**
The time allotted for the interview had elapsed before he was able to twist the conversation back to the point where he had hoped to begin. **
