Freedom Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 Well then i've never yet (in the more than 10 wards i've been a member of) had a ward that followed those strict instructions. I've always been a member of a ward that had a Christmas ward party and a very special Christmas sunday service that was mostly musical in nature.Individual wards are not the same as the church, nevertheless the church instruction is that the only special sacrament is the primary presentation. Every other church service is to follow the same pattern and not to have a special theme. Ward christmas parties are a party, far from a liturgical celebration of the saviors birth. Even the church curriculum avoids having a special theme around Easter and Christmas. I feel it should be left as a secular holiday and not to be included in the worship schedule of the church.
DispensatorMysteriorum Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 I think this is extreme. More could be done, probably, but this does not take due cognizance of cantatas and other choir programs, sermons, narration, etc. that are traditionally a part of sacrament meeting on Easter Sunday.You clearly attend a big ward in Utah. I don't think there has been a special musical number on Easter in any of my wards or branches I've attended in the last 10 years (at least).
DavidC Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 Actualy it doesn't. Other than the christmas broadcast early in December, there is strict instructions NOT to make anything special for christmas.I don't see anything in the manual about NOT doing anything special for Christmas. It just says the Bishopric chooses the topic. Maybe it's just me, but I wish there was something in the manual about not doing anything special for Mother's Day.
blackstrap Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 I don't see anything in the manual about NOT doing anything special for Christmas. It just says the Bishopric chooses the topic. Maybe it's just me, but I wish there was something in the manual about not doing anything special for Mother's Day.Hear,hear. My wife has a particular dislike for the Mother's day program.Always makes her feel uncomfortable and guilty/unworthy.As for Easter,I was impressed with the faith of those in Central America who walked on their knees on cobblestone streets for a blessing . 1
Freedom Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 I don't see anything in the manual about NOT doing anything special for Christmas. It just says the Bishopric chooses the topic. Maybe it's just me, but I wish there was something in the manual about not doing anything special for Mother's Day.It comes down to the choices of the individual wards. the church provides a fair bit of lenience with Bishops. I don't ever recall Salt Lake getting involved in the types of topics for Sacrament. I just reject the notion that the church should officially adopt a special style of worship for, let me say it again, secular holidays.
ChristKnight Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 Here in NYC we're having stake conference this weekend. I assume the Easter morning sacrament meeting will have Easter/Resurrection themed talks and hymns. There is also an Easter concert. For Christmas, my ward (which is a YSA ward if that makes a difference) had Christmas hymns, a special quartet hymn, and Christmas themed talks. We of course had a Christmas party, and the stake had a Christmas concert by members of the stake (it was pretty awesome). The weeks leading up to Christmas we also had Christmas themed hymns in sacrament meeting.
Daniel Peterson Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 Although I've been pretty busy this week, I'm making an effort, over at my blog, to do some Easter- and Holy-Week-related entries:http://dcpsicetnon.blogspot.com/Thus far, the entries entitled "Christ Carrying the Cross," "Maundy Thursday and the Holy Triduum," "Wednesday of Holy Week," "The Events of Jesus' Last Week (Monday and Tuesday)," "Part of the Problem that the Events of Easter Address," and "Palm Sunday" are designed for Easter. And there will be more.My Deseret News column this morning was focused on Easter:http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765566003/The-gospel-truly-brings-joyful-news.htmlAnd, on Saturday, there will be an Easter-related Hamblin/Peterson column in the Deseret News.I really feel strongly that Latter-day Saints should celebrate Easter more than we do.And I think having family or even ward Passover seders is a fine idea. I've done several over the past few years, and will do another later this month. They're fairly easy, and they're easy to relate to Christ, the Last Supper, the sacrament, atonement, salvation/liberation, and resurrection.
Scott Lloyd Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 Are most LDS wards having F&T meetings this Sunday?In my ward we had it the week prior to rather than the week following general conference. In fact, it strikes me as odd that a ward would schedule it on Easter, but maybe that option is permitted.
Scott Lloyd Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 It comes down to the choices of the individual wards. the church provides a fair bit of lenience with Bishops. I don't ever recall Salt Lake getting involved in the types of topics for Sacrament. I just reject the notion that the church should officially adopt a special style of worship for, let me say it again, secular holidays.Does that mean you would try to talk the First Presidency out of putting on their annual televised Christmas devotional?
Scott Lloyd Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 You clearly attend a big ward in Utah. I don't think there has been a special musical number on Easter in any of my wards or branches I've attended in the last 10 years (at least).[Darn] Utah Mormons and the quirky things they do -- like holding Easter programs in sacrament meeting on Easter.
Freedom Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 Does that mean you would try to talk the First Presidency out of putting on their annual televised Christmas devotional?a devotional is a far cry from a worship service. If this devotional was a knod to recognizing christmas as a legitimate, doctrinal based celebration on par with the passover for ancient israel, you would think it would at least be held on December 25th. And since the doctrine acknowledges that the resurrection is the most important aspect of the atonement, why doesn't the church hold such a devotional in the Spring? Why doesn't the annual general conference even has a single talk about Easter? It is a tasteful broadcast that lends homage to a common christian tradition with no basis in scripture. I love Christmas and Easter but they belong in the secular realm, not as an official sanctioned ceremony. I would suggest that the creation is just as important than the birth of the Savior so why do we not have a special ceremony focusing on this doctrine? What of the fall of Adam that got it all started? it becomes a worship of an event like unto what occurs in Central America with people acting out the crucifixion. It was a sacred event that changed the world. We don't need a public display to show how much we revere it. It would be come a slippery slope. I can see it getting completely out of hand. In no place in our scriptures is there any precedence for such a special ceremony after the completion of the law of Moses.
Saints Alive Posted April 6, 2012 Author Posted April 6, 2012 Freedom:There is a whole lot more to Easter and Christmas than what the secular world has attached to it. Surely you see the value in honoring and remembering Christs last week on earth and most importantly his resurrection. Sure we remember his sacrifice every week but holding an official celebration or remembrance of that on the annual anaversery provides a more sacred atmosphere. That's my 2 cents anyway.
Zakuska Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 Col. 215 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 1
Log Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 Col. 215 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.Ha, hadn't thought of that in this context.
bluebell Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 In my ward we had it the week prior to rather than the week following general conference. In fact, it strikes me as odd that a ward would schedule it on Easter, but maybe that option is permitted.Our whole stake is having fast and testimony meeting this sunday. Absolutely no mention has been made of it also being Easter (though i'm sure it will be acknowedged once sacrament meeting starts).
bluebell Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 Even the church curriculum avoids having a special theme around Easter and Christmas. I feel it should be left as a secular holiday and not to be included in the worship schedule of the church.I know that my sunbeam manual two years ago had special themed lessons in the back of the book for both Christmas and Easter. I feel that viewing Easter as a secular holiday is very sad (and i'm not trying to be snarky or judging with that statement-i just can't imagine wanting to view the day we go out of our way to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior as secular). 1
blueadept Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 At least fasting part of F&T that LDS do is a part of Christian tradition everyone else does at this time of the year especially since today is Good Friday and many are fasting today.
Saints Alive Posted April 6, 2012 Author Posted April 6, 2012 (edited) On an interesting side note: The last supper is the only annual religious holiday that Jehovah Whitesses celebrate. Edited April 6, 2012 by Saints Alive
Saints Alive Posted April 6, 2012 Author Posted April 6, 2012 At least fasting part of F&T that LDS do is a part of Christian tradition everyone else does at this time of the year especially since today is Good Friday and many are fasting today. I just wish we had the same rules about fasting that you do, one small meal and two snacks! Now that's my kind of fast!
blueadept Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 (edited) I just wish we had the same rules about fasting that you do, one small meal and two snacks! Now that's my kind of fast! That's the minimum requirement and I actually practice the LDS version of fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. I just don't want a day like my last Ash Wednesday. I fasted all day and was looking forward to a nice dinner. A suicidal death of a friend at that moment changed my perspective and food really wasn't important and I needed to be somewhere else for the family. I gained a lot of perspective that day about fasting. I believe I had something small for dinner even though I fasted all day. Edited April 6, 2012 by blueadept
Kenngo1969 Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 [Darn] Utah Mormons and the quirky things they do -- like holding Easter programs in sacrament meeting on Easter.Yup!
Kenngo1969 Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 (edited) On an interesting side note: The last supper is the only annual religious holiday that Jehovah Whitesses celibate.Uhhh ... Shouldn't that be, "The last supper is the only annual religious holiday that Jehovah Witnesses celebrate"? Just wonderin'! Edited April 6, 2012 by Kenngo1969
Kenngo1969 Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 ... I just don't want a day like my last Ash Wednesday. I fasted all day and was looking forward to a nice dinner. A suicidal death of a friend at that moment changed my perspective and food really wasn't important and I needed to be somewhere else for the family. I gained a lot of perspective that day about fasting. I believe I had something small for dinner even though I fasted all day.Sincere condolences on the loss of your friend; any such loss is hard, but losing someone in that manner is especially difficult. I believe the Lord is pleased with all sincere expressions of faith: the one you undertook on Ash Wednesday, Ramadan, Passover, and others.
Kenngo1969 Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 Hear,hear. My wife has a particular dislike for the Mother's day program.Always makes her feel uncomfortable and guilty/unworthy.That's unfortunate. I'm sorry to hear that.
blueadept Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 On an interesting side note: The last supper is the only annual religious holiday that Jehovah Whitesses celibate.While I feel LDS can improve upon their celebrations in regards to Easter and other religious everts, at least you do try to celebrate.Life is too precious not to celebrate 1
Recommended Posts