Tuesday, September 16, 2014

What's a Mormon Church Service Like?

Like the BEST! 

Mormon church services are 3 hours long. Yes, you read that right. THREE t-h-r-e-e 3 hours long. What?! "I can't give up that much time on a Sunday! I have stuff to do! You guys ask too much!" It's not like Christ came to the earth and died so you could have this gospel and return to live with Him again... God expects us to actually do stuff. Get over it. 

The first hour is generally what we call Sacrament Meeting (some congregations have it last). During Sacrament Meeting, we take the sacrament or communion which is the bread and water to remember Jesus Christ. Although it is meant for those who have been baptized, everyone is allowed to have it. I would love to spend a whole post explaining the sacrament but for now this awesome scripture will do: "For, behold, I say unto you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory - remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins"(D&C 27:2). 

Along with taking the sacrament, we have speakers from the congregation who give 10-15 minute talks on an assigned topic. So the great thing is that if you don't like a speaker, they'll be done soon anyway. We also sing hymns and open and close the meeting with prayer. Everyone sits with their families except for the Bishop and his two counselors and the speakers who sit on the stand. Everything that is done during Sacrament Meeting is voluntarily done, no one is paid or hired.


After sacrament meeting, we have two hours of classes. The first class is called Sunday School. The youth are put into Sunday School classes based on age and then all adults 18 and older go to Sunday School together. There is Gospel Principles for new members and anyone who would like to join, Gospel Doctrine, and sometimes other classes as well set up by the the Bishop. There, everyone reads the scriptures and learns different principles of the gospel such as faith or repentance or keeping the commandments. 

The third hour the adults go to Relief Society and Priesthood and the youth go to Young Men and Young Women. Relief Society is the biggest and oldest women's organization in the world. In Relief Society Women learn more about the gospel and study the scriptures and words of the leaders of our church together. Priesthood is where the adult men go where they learn more about the gospel together. Young Men and Young Women is for youth ages 12-17 and they are taught more about the gospel. 

 

All children ages 3-11 go to Primary. There, they go to class with other kids their same age for an hour and learn from the scriptures. For the other hour all of the children come together and learn more from the scriptures and sing songs. It's super fun and educational.

Babies 18 months to 3 years go to nursery where they have a short lesson and snack and play games during the two hour block of classes.





Everyone has a place at church. There are leaders and teachers for every age group and lots of people willing to help out. All of the leaders and teachers are volunteers and no one is paid. The Primary teacher, Sunday School teacher, Librarian, Bishop, piano/organ player, etc. are all assigned to have that "calling" for a certain amount of time. Once they are "released" and no longer have that calling, they will receive another one. The Bishop that I had while I was in middle school is now in charge of nursery. Everyone helps out because we are all there to worship God and teach and learn from and love one another. 

I am so grateful for church. I love going. Sure, it isn't always entertaining or exciting but I always feel so good while I am there. I get to take the sacrament, learn more about the gospel, study the scriptures with others, and makes friends with other people who I might not get to associate much with otherwise. The Spirit is so strong there and so is the sense of love and community. Going to church is what helps me get my spiritual strength for the week.

To find your nearest worship service, go here!

"They were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.
"And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.
"And they did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus"(Moroni 6:4-6). 


Amen.

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