The next scene is only to be expected—people turn their heads to see whose child it is.

Some of us might look just out of curiosity, while some might intentionally do so to signal the mothers to quickly calm their kids down. But whatever our reason for looking, LDS mothers have one plea: DON’T LOOK.

Don’t look as if they are not already trying their best to control the situation. Don’t look thinking that they have not disciplined or taught their kids enough. Don’t look as if they are the culprit of irreverence at church. Don’t look as if they are doing something wrong. Don’t look because they are probably already discouraged and wondering if all these things are true.

In reality, they probably have prepared for Sunday long before many others do. They probably have reflected on things that they could improve on in advance, knowing that their kids will not permit a quiet moment of reflection at church. They probably have kneeled and prayed for patience for another rough day at church, and for understanding from the ward members when their kids get out of hand. They probably have pled throughout the week for Heavenly Father to grant them even just a few quiet moments of sacred reverence at church.

Mothers with young ones, just like any of us, also want to have a reverent and fortifying spiritual experience at church. During sacrament meeting, they also want to participate in this sacred ordinance and ponder its significant just as much as we do. Their desire to learn from the speakers might be just as deep as ours. They, too, want to sit reverently and feel the Spirit of the Lord.

So the next time we are tempted to look, let’s do our best to restrain ourselves. Our rule should be to look only when we are willing to leave our seats and help them out. If we are willing, we can even look around before sacrament meeting starts and evaluate which mothers might possibly need some help. A mother whose husband is helping to bless or pass the sacrament could be a good candidate. A single mother who is taking care of her kids alone, a bishop’s wife who has toddlers, or even a grandmother who brought her grandkids to church might need an extra hand.

There are many ways that we can make our Sunday attendance at church more meaningful. One of which is simply not to look when a child starts to scream, or to look and extend a hand to those mothers who might need some help.

Lastly, it is important to note that reverence does not necessarily equal silence. “A reverent attitude toward God includes honoring Him, expressing gratitude to Him, and obeying His commandments.” Although silence adds to the desired reverence we want to feel at church, we must never feel that our Sunday experience is ruined because of a screaming child. The Savior Himself has nothing but love and gratitude for these little ones at church who are still learning.

Ultimately, our Sunday experience largely depends on our spiritual preparedness to feel the Spirit, receive revelation, and remember the Savior.

The post Don’t Look: LDS Mothers’ Plea When Their Kids Cry At Church appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Get enough rest on Saturday night. Most of us use Saturday as a day to get everything done before Sunday comes—clean the house, do the laundry, shop, minister, prepare our Sunday lesson or talk, catch-up with friends, do recreational activities with family, etc. Saturday seems to be the best day to do all these things, but sometimes we try to fit so many of these activities into our Saturday that they don’t end until 11:59pm. The next thing we know, we are so exhausted from Saturday’s activities because we didn’t get enough rest.

One of the best ways to prepare for Sunday is to get a good night sleep on Saturday night, so that we are invigorated the next day for our Sunday worship. Adequate sleep helps us to have clear focus and attention, increases our capacity to receive revelation and spiritual inspiration, and prepares our minds to receive additional knowledge during our Sunday worship.

There is so much that we need to accomplish on Saturdays, but as we allocate time to rest adequately, we will be able to feel that the Sabbath is truly a delight. The primary song teaches, “Saturday is a special day, it’s the day we get ready for Sunday,” and is counsel that we must all take to heart.

Read the lessons that will be discussed on Sunday. In order for us to get the most out of our Sunday lessons, we have the responsibility to read the lessons in advance. This gives us the opportunity to ponder how the lesson relates to our own experiences, answers some of our life’s questions or concerns, and adds to our understanding of gospel principles. As we do this, we will be able to better participate in class by sharing the spiritual impressions we have received while studying the lesson. Doing this will not only improve class participation but will also help members who might need to hear our thoughts and experiences.

Choose to do activities throughout the week that will invite the Spirit. We may do activities throughout the week to relieve stress or relax such as watching movies, listening to music, attending concerts, going to parties, reading books, and other activities that are exciting and fun. As we do this, may we always ask ourselves, “Will this invite the Spirit?” “Will this activity uplift me?”

What we do throughout the week greatly affects our Sunday experience. Any activity that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic offends the Spirit and does not help us prepare to partake of the sacrament or participate in our Sunday activities at church. When we choose to do activities that invite the spirit, we will be more attuned to receive spiritual promptings and personal revelation. We will also receive the blessing of having the Spirit always with us.

Being worthy to have the companionship of the Spirit doesn’t happen overnight. We cannot just plan on inviting the Spirit on a Saturday to prepare ourselves for Sunday. It is a continuous process of keeping ourselves clean and worthy of its companionship.

As we do our best to prepare for our Sunday worship in our homes and at church, may we take a step back and consider these three things that can help us get the most out of our Sunday experience. We all have diverse situations and struggles regarding our Sunday preparation, but as we strive to do these things, we can be inspired how to make the Sabbath truly a delight, not only for ourselves but also for our families.

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Sharing personal experiences at church is common in an LDS congregation and is encouraged to inspire others. But do we sometimes get so caught up in sharing our experiences that we forget to reflect if others can relate to what we are sharing? When we share our experiences, we must consider that our audience is a mix of converts, people who grew up knowing the gospel, and those who are still investigating the gospel. To be able to share an experience that people can relate to, we must think about why we are sharing that experience—to inspire others and share a story that people can learn from.

One common theme that people share is the blessing of being born in the church. Sometimes our sharing is so focused on the importance of being raised in a gospel-centered home that we accidentally exclude others who did not grow up knowing the gospel. They may feel inferior, as though they have not been as blessed by the Lord, after hearing how important it is to be born in the church.

To make our experiences more relatable, we can share the important lessons we learned growing up, such as the importance of family prayer, family scripture study, family home evening, and how these activities built and increased our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and helped our family stick closer together through the years. These are activities that both members and non-members can do. Sharing the lessons and blessings our family has received through these activities, can inspire others to try them with their own families.

Another commonly shared source of spiritual experiences is the mission field. Returned missionaries often speak powerfully of events during their mission that helped them come closer to the Savior. However, when returned missionaries emphasize how being a full-time missionary enabled them to have that experience, it may convey a different message. Why? Because the message may come across as “the only way to have such powerful experience with the Lord is to become a full-time missionary.”

Instead, we should focus on the virtues and principles that we exercised that led to the spiritual experience. If the experience was finding an investigator who had been waiting for years to learn about the gospel, then we could share the importance of being worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost and giving heed to its promptings. Everyone who has received the gift of the Holy Ghost can pick-up a lesson from our experience that they can use, as they aspire to be in-tune with its promptings. Non-members can be inspired to become worthy to receive such a gift.

Sharing our experiences is a powerful source of inspiration and learning for people around us, so when we share, we must ask ourselves what lessons we have learned from the experience that can help people in their present circumstances.  By focusing on the lessons that we have learned, we become more inclusive to those who are not of our faith, friends who are just being introduced to the gospel, and new converts who are just starting to develop their understanding of basic gospel principles.

We must learn the art of story sharing from the Master Himself, who taught Pharisees, Sadducees, Samaritans, Jews, Christians, and many more people—both those who believed in Him and those who did not. He welcomed all who wanted to listen to His words. As we seek to inspire others with our experiences, may we seek to teach with the intent of inspiring everyone who has ears to hear, like our Savior Jesus Christ.

The post Are We Accidentally Excluding People At Church? appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Prepare ourselves to worthily partake of the sacrament. Partaking of the sacrament worthily is the most sacred part of our Sunday service because it is the act of renewing our covenants with the Lord. It is a way of spiritually recharging our souls. This is our opportunity to feel the peace and sweet companionship of the Holy Ghost, reflect on the Savior’s atonement, and offer our broken hearts and contrite spirits to the Lord.
Preparing for Sunday takes conscious effort, both temporally and most importantly, spiritually. It requires a recollection of our sins, repentance, and the desire to forsake them. It also requires going to church, both to be cleansed from sin and to renew your commitment to follow the Savior. We should go to church early enough to not be rushed, and be reverent throughout the service.

Prepare ourselves to receive inspiration from the speakers. Listening to the speakers during the service can enlighten our minds and strengthen our souls. To fully attune ourselves with the Holy Ghost, we must listen with our spiritual ears and understand the principles that the speakers are trying to teach. Avoid criticizing the speakers. The inspiration we receive is not based on how eloquent the speakers are, but on how well we listen to the voice of the Spirit through the speaker’s message. Our daily prayers and daily scripture study can also be a big help as we prepare for the Sabbath.

Prepare to participate in Sunday School, Relief Society and Priesthood Classes. Sunday school is a time for us to share our thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This is a time for us to comfort and to be comforted, uplift and to be uplifted. It is a time to strengthen those with feeble knees, enlighten those who are confused, and counsel together to bring back to the fold those who are lost. It is a time to learn the principles of the gospel through the lives of prophets and apostles recorded in the scriptures and to learn of the Savior.

To fully prepare for these classes, it is important that we study and ponder the lesson in advance so we are prepared to share our insights about the lesson. It is also important that we are willing to share our experiences if they could potentially help or inspire others. In addition to our spiritual preparation, we must also make sure that we are well rested so that we can be alert and focus on the things Heavenly Father would have us learn in our classes.

Our Sunday worship will have a greater positive effect on our lives as we continually seek to improve our physical and spiritual attendance on Sundays. The Lord will be happy and pleased, and abundantly bless us beyond our expectations if we put our best efforts toward preparing for our Sunday worship.

The post How Will I Improve My Sunday Worship Experience? appeared first on morefaith.ph.

In one of his speeches at Brigham Young University in Utah, USA, President Henry B. Eyring, one of the Apostles or Representatives of Christ today, shared a Sunday meeting experience with his dad. He recalled:

Years ago I was sitting in a sacrament meeting with my father… He seemed to be enjoying what I thought was a terrible talk. I watched my father, and to my amazement, his face was beaming as the speaker droned on. I kept stealing looks back at him, and sure enough, through the whole thing he had this beatific smile.

Our home was near enough to the ward that we walked home. I remember walking with my father on the shoulder of the road that wasn’t paved. I kicked a stone ahead of me as I plotted what I would do next. I finally got up enough courage to ask him what he thought of the meeting. He said it was wonderful.

Now I really had a problem. My father had a wonderful sense of humor, but you didn’t want to push it too far. I was puzzled. I was trying to summon up enough courage to ask him how I could have such a different opinion of that meeting and that speaker.

Like all good fathers, he must have read my mind because he started to laugh. He said:

“Hal, let me tell you something. Since I was a very young man, I have taught myself to do something in a church meeting. When the speaker begins, I listen carefully and ask myself what it is he is trying to say. Then once I think I know what he is trying to accomplish, I give myself a sermon on that subject.” He let that sink in for a moment as we walked along. Then, with that special self-deprecating chuckle of his, he said, “Hal, since then I have never been to a bad meeting.”

Can we do the same? I am sure that this requires a lot of practice, prayer, humility and faith but it can be done. However, before it can be done, we must understand why we need to listen, even to the words of a seemingly boring talk. President Eyring shared two reasons:

…you and I need a check on our own inspiration occasionally. We can be mistaken. We at times, even with real intent and with faith and with careful prayer, may come to wrong conclusions. Listening to others can provide correction. It can promote more careful consideration. I hope you will always remember that there is safety in counsel.

I can think of another reason why we are blessed to be required to be taught by other human beings. For me, that is made clear in the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants (another scripture used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), verse 23, which says: “That the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.”

Notice that the Lord used the words weak and simple. These talks from inexperienced or nervous speakers may be considered weak and simple but we can still receive inspiration from the Lord by listening to their words. We should be humble enough to realize that profound words can come forth even from the mouth of a little child.

When asked about what we do when we hear an unexciting talk, may we delightfully be able to say, “I cannot remember the last time I’ve heard one.”

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To help you feel more comfortable and informed, here are answers to some of the most common questions regarding a Mormon sacrament meeting.

How Long Is A Mormon Sacrament Meeting?

The sacrament meeting itself lasts for one hour. It is typically part of a two-hour block of Sunday services, where the second hour is dedicated to smaller classes for men, women, youth, and children.

What Happens During A Mormon Sunday Service?

A Mormon sacrament meeting is a worship service that centers on Jesus Christ. You can expect:

• The congregation sings songs of praise.
• These are offered by members of the congregation.
• Two or three members of the congregation share short sermons on gospel topics.
• The central portion of the service where members partake of bread and water to remember the Savior.

Do Mormons Have Communion During Their Sacrament Meeting?

Yes. While members call it “the sacrament,” it is very similar to what many other Christian denominations call “Communion” or “the Lord’s Supper.” It serves as a time for members to renew their baptismal covenants and remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

What Happens In A Mormon Sacrament?

During this ordinance, bread is blessed and passed to the congregation to represent the body of Jesus, followed by water to represent His blood. There is no collection plate passed around. While members use this time to reflect on their commitment to follow Christ, the experience is meant to be peaceful and personal for everyone present.

Do You Have To Be A Member Of The Church To Join The Sacrament Meeting?

Absolutely not. Everyone is welcome to attend. Visitors are encouraged to join, whether they are interested in the faith, supporting a friend, or simply curious. If you choose not to participate in the sacrament (the bread and water), you are welcome to simply pass the tray along to the next person; there is no pressure or expectation for guests to partake.

Is There A Dress Code During A Mormon Sacrament Service?

There is no strict, enforced dress code, and no one will be turned away for their clothing. However, because it is a place of worship, most members choose to wear their “Sunday best” to show respect for the occasion. For men, this usually means a dress shirt and tie (often with a suit), and for women, it typically means a dress or skirt and blouse. You are welcome to come as you are, provided your attire is modest and respectful of the sacred setting.

How Can I Attend?

You can easily find a congregation near you by visiting the official Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “Find a Church” page. You can search by your current city or neighborhood, see the meeting times, and find the address of the nearest meetinghouse. There is no need to register or call ahead—you are welcome to walk in, find a seat, and enjoy the service.

Attending a Mormon sacrament meeting is a wonderful opportunity to experience a community dedicated to faith, reflection, and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Whether you are searching for spiritual connection, support, or simply an understanding of what your neighbors experience on Sunday mornings, please know that you are welcomed with open arms. You do not need to be a member to find peace and perspective in these services, and we hope this guide has made your first visit feel a little more familiar. If you have more questions, message us.

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However, time has changed. Technology has become part of nearly every aspect of our lives. We are missing the simple joys of quality time with family now a days. Parents get home from the office but the shadow of their workplace keeps following them. Children get home from school and they go online and update their social media account or simply scroll down and read statuses that never end. They might also do their homework but when they have questions, they ask google. Gathering in the living room after dinner will be great if only everyone will not look down on their phones.

I am not saying I don’t enjoy virtual conversations. Believe me, I enjoy it as much as you do but it lacks personal connection. How often do you go on social media and post about your problems thinking that in one way or another, someone who will read it will help you solve them? I have been tempted many times to do the same because I thought that the solution I am looking for will be found when I look down on my phone. But as I looked up one night that I was tempted to turn on social media for solution, I saw my mother approaching me and she asked, “Do you need someone to talk to?” Her question came like a bucket of cold water drenching me with the reality that my family will always be willing to listen to me whatever difficulty I may be facing, that they will sit down on the floor with me and listen to my problems, that they will not judge me even with my ugliest sobs and stubborn mistakes, that I don’t have to reach people I hardly know and desperately ask for their opinion about my personal life. That night, I put down my phone and talked to my mom and I did not regret even a second of it. In seeking the answers to our questions or the solution to our problems, Elder José A. Teixeira, one of the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mentioned that we have to cultivate a habit of setting mobile limitations. He said, “[Make] time to set aside your mobile devices.”

Our families, even with our differences and complexities, are willing to listen, succor, and comfort us when we need them. We need not go far a long ways searching for friends because the best friends we’re looking for are found within the four corners of our home. But we will never find them if we don’t put our phones down. Setting mobile limitations and resetting ourselves in reading the scriptures and listening to our inspired family members can make us understand that we are loved.

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I was at a fast and testimony meeting with my family one Sunday morning. My brother in law was conducting the meeting so he had the opportunity to bear his testimony first. He started off by sharing his struggles with his young family and the blessings he knows he will receive as he keeps the covenants he made with God. I can sense in his deep voice the difficulties he is facing as a young father doing his best to support his family and preside in their home. This was evident as he shared how demotivated he was to get up that morning to prepare to go to Church. He was tired from a long week’s hard work and thinking that they have struggles that seem to never end did not add color to his day. Until his almost 2-year-old little girl came grabbing his shirt and tried to wake him up. He said with a crack in his voice, “I was wondering why my daughter was grabbing my shirt. I thought she wanted something from the kitchen she cannot reach because she was pointing at something. As I got up and followed her lead, my heart started to tighten because my tears began falling down my cheeks. My daughter was pointing at the shower room. I don’t know how she knew that we had to prepare to go church, I don’t know how she knew that it was a Sunday and that we have to get dressed. I don’t know how but clearly she knew.”

I found my heart pounding hard in my chest because that same day, I found it hard to get up to prepare for Church too. If you keep finding yourself feeling the same like my brother-in-law and I did, then I think we need to step back and reflect on why children are excited to go church. They are excited to learn a new primary song, they are excited to recite a scripture verse they have been trying to memorize all week, they are excited to say the opening or closing prayer because they were assigned the prior week, they are eager to raise their hands to answer questions because they read their lesson last Saturday, etc. This excitement may have been because of the candies and chocolates that they will receive when they perform well. Are we not excited as they are because we are not offered any incentive? Aren’t the knowledge and continuous conversion that have been promised to us as we come to church spiritually prepared not enough to excite us to go to church?

We may have different reasons why we go to church every Sunday. However, may the excitement of our kids or kids in the Church be an inspiration to us to continue to find joy and meaning in our Church attendance. May we become like the little children, ever teachable and excited to learn more about Jesus and become more like Him.

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