How to Attend a Mormon Service if You're Not Mormon

By eHow Culture & Society Editor

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The Mormon Church, properly called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, welcomes guests to its Sunday services all over the world. Here are a few hints that will make visitors more comfortable if they aren't members of the church.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Call ahead to be sure you know the time. Mormon buildings are usually shared by several "wards," with each holding its main Sunday service at a different time. Look in the yellow pages under "Churches - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Call one of the numbers listed and ask what time Sacrament Meeting is held.

Step2

Dress properly. Dresses or skirts are considered appropriate for women, while men generally wear dress slacks and dress shirts, usually with a tie.

Step3

Arrive on time. You will most likely be greeted by an usher at the door to the chapel. You can sit anywhere in the chapel.

Step4

Join in the singing. A hymnal will be in the pew in front of you.

Step5

When church members vote on business concerning the church, you do not need to raise your hand.

Step6

Do not take the sacramental bread and water when it is passed unless you are a baptized member of the church. Simply pass it on to the person next to you. If you are at the end of the row, a young man should be there to take the bread or water tray from you.

Step7

Keep in mind that after the service church members will proceed to subsequent meetings, including Sunday School and church auxiliary meetings. If you'd like to stay, ask one of the ushers or another member where classes will be held in the building. Children can be directed to classes with other children in their age group.

Tips & Warnings

A Mormon chapel - where Sunday services take place - is different from a Mormon temple. Only members in good standing are admitted to temples.
Sunday Mormon meetings last for a total of three hours, but you can feel free to leave any time after the first meeting if you wish.
Small LDS Family History Centers, which are research centers for those tracing family roots, are located throughout the country and are open to non-members. If you're interested, ask about the nearest Family History Center when you call, or while you're at church.
Mormons believe that families should be together for church, so small children are always present at Sacrament Meeting. Non-members sometimes find it a bit noisy when compared to the noise level in other churches.

Comments

darger3 said

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on 8/25/2007 As stated above, 'you can sit where ever you want'...this is true. It is always a more pleasent (or bearable to some) experience if you arrive 10 minutes ahead of the meeting time to be able to sit near the front in the padded benches. NOTE: Do not sit on the VERY FRONT row....this is assigned to the young men passing the sacrament (bread and water). Anywhere behind the front row is good. There are also usually smaller (by length) benches in the front row also...these are just fine to sit in because the young men do not use those.

Members are very friendly and may ask "are you new or visiting" and introduce them selves. No one is trying to sell you anything (some may feel) it is just 'mormon culture' to be out going and polite to visitors.
On every FIRST Sunday of every month it is a different meeting style.
Relax and enjoy the meeting

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 After special musical numbers or talks, do not clap or shout. After the meeting however, please go up to the speaker/performer and thank them.

Anonymous said

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on 12/22/2005 Be sure your dress has at least short sleeves and is around knee length. This is standard for all Mormon girls and you'll feel more comfortable in the services.

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 Don┬┤t be shy. Ask the questions that come to your mind. Members are friendly, and they enjoy answering your questions. Contact the missionaries. They can really help you learn more about themselves and their beliefs. They will always try to make you feel comfortable. Don┬┤t be fooled by old myths. There is no problem if you want to stop attending church meetings or receiving the missionaries.

Anonymous said

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on 6/30/2006 The how to lists that you are free to leave after the first meeting. While this is true and correct, it should be noted that Sacrament meeting is not always the first meeting. Sometimes it is the last.
Call the Ward (building) nearest you and ask them what time the Sacrament meeting is, and also whether the rest of the meetings are held before or after Sacrament.

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