How to Attend a Mormon Church Service

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church, is a Christian church that meets every Sunday in chapels for three-hour services divided into three meetings. Visitors are welcome to attend any or all of the meetings. An LDS church service involves the passing and taking of the Sacrament, hymn singing, prayer, and prepared talks about gospel doctrine. Members and visitors of all ages are welcome.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Appropriate clothing (dresses or skirts for women, slacks & ties for men)

1. Find a chapel near you by going to the following website: http://maps.lds.org and entering your address. The address and meeting times of congregations in your area will appear. As a visitor, you can choose the most convenient time and location if there is more than one listed. This information should also be available in your local telephone directory.

2. Arrive a few minutes before the meeting time in order to find the chapel. Hosts will be at the door to hand you a program and help you find a seat. Families sit together during Sacrament meeting which is generally the first meeting of the three-hour block. Turn off your cell phone before the meeting to show respect for the reverent atmosphere LDS members seek to achieve in their meetings.

3. During Sacrament meeting, the sacrament will be blessed and passed. It is not necessary for visitors to eat the bread or drink the water as it is a symbolic gesture made by baptized members to show their renewed covenant with God to keep His commandments. However it is a personal decision and if you would like to partake of the sacrament, you may. Otherwise, simply pass the tray of bread or water on to the next person once it is handed to you. If you are at the end of a pew, a young man will be waiting to take the tray. This short ordinance is a time for members to think about Christ, so it is the most silent portion of the meeting. The rest of the meeting consists of talks prepared by assigned members, hymns sung by the congregation or a choir, and occasionally testimonies born by voluntary members. Hymn books are located in the backs of the pews in front of you or on your chair, so feel free to sing along or just listen. During the prayers offered in the meeting, members bow their head and fold their arms. Aside from the singing, the congregation observes the service quietly.

4. After Sacrament meeting, the congregation splits up for Sunday School, so ask a host or church member where you should go. Children, young men and women, and adults all have classes taught by members to suit their age groups. New members and visitors usually attend a class called Gospel Doctrine, which teaches basic Mormon doctrine.

5. The final meeting of a Mormon church service is also divided. Men, women, young men, young women, and children under 12 years meet with their respective age groups. Men should ask for the Priesthood class, women for Relief Society, teenagers for Young Men and Young Women, and children under 12 for Primary.

Tips & Warnings

• Although visitors are welcome to come as they feel comfortable, you may want to keep in mind that most women come in modest dresses and skirts and men in slacks and ties. If you are interested in attending regularly or learning more from Mormon missionaries, you can usually find missionaries at the church service or ask any member to introduce you to the missionaries.