Boring Sacrament Meeting - Revisited

[smac97]

From Jana Riess:

A couple of weeks ago I attended one of the most memorable and spiritual sacrament meetings I’ve experienced in my twenty years as a Mormon.

After the usual ward business and passing of the sacrament, we learned we were going to do something different than the usual standard. (Which, if you’re not Mormon, goes like this: have a youth speaker for 3-5 minutes; have another speaker, often female, for about 10 minutes; then have the final speaker, often but not always a man, for 15-20 minutes. Choose a general theme that will be the topic for all of the speakers, insert a relevant hymn in the middle, and gently stir. Do not season with spice.)

I’ve written before about how dull many Mormons (and, perhaps more to the point, most visitors) find sacrament meetings. “Peaceful” is an optimistic way of describing them. “Funereal” is another.

While we always have room for improvement, I am not sure the situation is as dire as Sis. Riess makes it. My ward's sacrament meetings are often quite good, largely because we have a significant turnover rate (lots of college kids, lots of renters, etc.), And the point of the meeting is, after all, a sacred ordinance. It is my understanding that the meeting is built around, and therefore should reflect reverence for, that event.

Instead, the bishop’s counselor said, we were going to mix it up. I sat up a little straighter.

The format was to have half a dozen members of the congregation speak from the heart about a favorite hymn, sharing a story about why that beloved hymn had lifted their spirits or provided them with revelatory guidance in a particular situation. After each speaker, the entire congregation would sing that hymn, knowing the context for a fellow brother or sister’s regard for it.

A simple format. A very basic switch. Yet to me, the whole sacrament meeting felt new and marvelously unexpected. I felt closer to Christ, and to the people in the pews with me. I also did not open even once the book I always bring to sacrament meeting to fortify myself if things get impossibly dull. Things never did get dull. The congregation was active and engaged.

Why don’t we do this kind of thing more often?

We shouldn't go to church to be entertained, but I wonder if "spicing up" meetings would end up taking us in that direction.

In any event, Sis. Riess is inaccurately characterizing sacrament meetings in Mormonism. She suggests that the formula never varies, and yet she fails to mention Fast & Testimony meetings, which are held once a month, and also high council speakers, who speak once a month. She does not mention ward conferences. Or stake conferences. Or General Conference. Or the Easter and Christmas and Mother's Day programs, or the primary programs. By my reckoning, these alternative formats mean that the "usual standard" described by Sis. Riess is actually a minority event. Take a look at my ward's Sacrament Meeting calendar for the first half of 2013 (through June 30):

• Fast Sunday
  
• Topic: Teaching
  
• High Council
  
• Topic:Faith
  
• Fast Sunday
  
• Ward Conference
  
• High Council
  
• Topic:Priesthood
  
• Fast Sunday
  
• Topic:Adversity
  
• High Council
  
• Commemoration of Easter
  
• Fast Sunday
  
• General Conference
  
• Stake Conference
  
• Topic:Atonement
  
• Topic:Testimony
  
• Fast Sunday
  
• Mother's Day
  
• High Council
  
• Topic:Discipleship
  
• Fast Sunday
  
• Topic:Temples
  
• High Council
  
• Topic:Conversion
  
• Topic:Commitment
  

Out of 25 Sundays in the first half of the year, only 10 are based on the "usual standard" format so drably maligned by Sis. Riess. I also think we have scheduled a primary program, which would take us down to 9 "usual standard" meetings. In a six month period. So I think Sis. Riess significantly overstates the problem here.

I have heard precisely two stories about sacrament meetings that dared to deviate from their stultifying script. In one story, church ended early because a family was in need. Inspired by a famous General Conference in which Brigham Young canceled sessions to help the stranded handcart pioneers who were perishing in the wilderness, this bishop felt that the entire ward community needed to drop everything to save those who were in trouble in their midst. It made a lasting impression.

In another anecdote, a friend of mine said that when he was a kid, the bishop actually ended church immediately after members had taken the bread and water, saying, “That was the most important reason we get together on Sunday. We’re done now. Go home and think about what Christ did for you.”

That made a lasting impression too.

But these exceptions are just that—exceptions. In general, the structure and language of our sacrament meetings are not intended to ignite the kind of engaged participation I experienced two Sundays ago. And by “language” I mean not only the formulaic things we say during the meetings, but how we refer to those gatherings in the first place.

I agree we should stay away from formulaic expressions of faith. But "spicing up" meetings is probably not the way to do that. And again, she utterly ignores the fact that the majority of Sunday meetings in Mormonism utilize some format other than the "stultifying script" she is complaining about.

I am a person who feels that language is important.

So do I. So it's irritating to see Church members publicly malign their own services in such an unfair and inaccurate manner. Language is important.

[

The language Christians use to describe what we do when we gather on Sundays both reveals and shapes what we expect to get out of the experience.

--Catholics go to “mass,” which refers to both the centrality of the Eucharist in the Catholic experience and the universality of that sacrament across the world.

--Protestants experience “worship” followed or preceded by “Sunday School,” a division of inspiration and education that strikes me as fascinating.

--Orthodox Christians daily “celebrate”—note the triumphant terminology—the Divine Liturgy.

And what do Mormons do? We “attend our meetings” or, in particular, we “attend sacrament meeting.” We even do so in a “meetinghouse.”

The corporate language of the meeting is striking here. A meeting is something that you attend, or that you lead, primarily because you have to, not because you desire to. Some meetings may be more or less boring than others, but at its core a meeting is a duty, an obligation. It is an eat-your-brussel-sprouts event.

Note how Sis. Riess slides on past an inconvenient fact in her gripefest: Catholic Mass is formulaic, too. It is perhaps susceptible to the same criticisms as Sis. Riess is directing at her own faith. But she instead focuses on how Catholics use a more interesting word to describe the worship session, and that makes all the difference! I guess.

Additionally, lots of other Christians describe themselves as "going to church" or "attending church," which is just as boring as the Mormonspeak of "attending meetings."

She describes as "fascinating" the Protestant division between "worship" and "Sunday School." How this is materially different from the LDS division of "Sacrament Meeting" and "Sunday School" eludes me. "Sacrament" just ain't kewl enuf for ya, Sister Riess? Would adopted terminology ("Eucharist," or "Holy Communion," perhaps) make so, since "Sacrament" just isn't sacred enough?

Note that in both of the stories I recounted above about unusual sacrament meetings, the main feature was getting out of church early, which is the reaction we have when a business meeting is canceled unexpectedly or school is on a 90-minute delay: Hey, it’s a snow day!

Those were not sacrament meetings to remember; what was memorable was the absence of the meetings altogether. What I long for, and what I felt two Sundays ago, was something hopeful and quite different.

That was worship, not merely instruction. It had the feel of celebration. And Mormons could use a good deal more of worship and celebration when we gather as a church on Sundays.

Mormons could also use a lot less public navel gazing exercises like the one just published by Jana Riess.

Thanks,

-Smac

Edited March 8, 2013 by smac97

[Tacenda]

I could use a good deal more worship and celebrations. If I hear one more sacrament meeting about missionary work I'm going to explode! My son who is missionary age but not yet sure if he should go, is finding it tougher and tougher to sit through that.

[Duncan]

It is proposed we all do one or more of these all in favour?

16 Things to Do When Bored in Church

1. Oppose someone's calling (always wanted to do this)

2. Tell kids to pipe down or they'll go to Hell (say it awkwardly loud)

3. Look around during prayers – make eye contact with others – give thumb's up

4. Slip random notes into hymnbooks – ‘Dinosaurs are a lie Satan invented to trick us.’ Etc.

5. Play Testimony Bingo

6. Look around room – guess which kingdom each ward member is going to (DO NOT write down guesses)

7. Pull aside every deacon that's walking by – whisper, ‘You're doing a really great job!’

8. Give some audible ‘Mmm-hmms’ during prayers

9. Casually slip in alternate lyrics while singing hymns

10. Mess with the kid sitting in front of me (if he tells his parents – just keep a straight face and deny it – who are they gonna believe? – I’m like 30)

11. Act out Book of Mormon stories with G.I. Joe action figures

12. Look up dirty scriptures—show them to wife (*Genesis 38:9 is a good place to start)

13. Embarrass wife by staring at her for 5 minutes straight

14. Learn the sacrament prayer in Sign Language – perform it with eyes closed

15. Look through hymnbook & add "...in the toilet" after each title (Note: some are blasphemous; some are wonderful)

16. Wrap scripture cover around Johnny Cash's autobiography Cash by Johnny Cash – read during high council talk

http://www.modernmormonmen.com/2013/03/what-to-do-when-bored-in-church.html

[bluebell]

In my experience, it all depends on the bishop. I've had bishops who seemed to believe that it was a rule that you had three speakers and a rest hymn no matter what. And i've had bishops who sometimes had 5 people speaking or more, who would call on people at the spur of the moment to share their testimonies (people generally in leadership positions, or those being called or released to leadership callings), and do other things that changed the flow, but not the focus of the meeting.

Familiarity does often breed boredom. If that sister was in a ward where every sunday they did the hymn thing, eventually it would seem stale and uninspiring as well. We need to be careful though that we don't introduce change just for the sake of it. I don't think there's anything wrong with a bishopric being aware of keeping things feeling more spontaneous, but at the same time, trying to make sacrament meeting more exciting does seem kind of tacky.

[Spammer]

To the OP's point (since Orthodoxy was mentioned in the quoted material), I'm Eastern Orthodox and even our "celebratory" Divine Liturgy would quickly become trite and repetitive if its purpose and meaning is not understood and kept in mind. For those seeking only to be entertained or to hear a good message, the beautiful but often very long service, that follows prescribed rubrics week after week, would quickly become old hat and boring. For those of us who understand and believe, and seek the Lord, the Liturgy is life itself. Every Sunday we embark on a journey to the Kingdom of God, traveling to an encounter with Jesus himself, who at the same time comes to us and makes himself present to us at the altar behind the veil, in the form of bread and wine in the Eucharist. The space behind the veil is the holy of holies, the place where heaven and earth meet, the place where the Lord comes to meet us as we journey during the Liturgy to meet and receive Him. We call our churches temples for this reason. Every repetitive rubric, prayer, chant, use of incense, etc., during every Liturgy, week after week after week, is done for the sole reason of preparing ourselves and the church to receive The Lord of Glory in his temple. The Liturgy is not about us. The overarching principle applies to sacrament meeting or any Christian service: If you're bored and not entertained, then perhaps you're there for the wrong reason.

Edited March 8, 2013 by Spammer

[Scott Lloyd]

A look at Riess's book title indicates perhaps that she is trying to be the Erma Bombeck of Mormonism. By disparaging Latter-day Saint liturgical forms in front of a secular and largely uncomprehending audience on the Internet, she is doing so at the expense of the Saints and their faith.

Spencer, I appreciate and agree with your comments among the responses on the blog.

[smac97]

To the OP's point (since Orthodoxy was mentioned in the quoted material), I'm Eastern Orthodox and even our "celebratory" Divine Liturgy would quickly become trite and repetitive if its purpose and meaning is not understood and kept in mind. For those seeking only to be entertained or to hear a good message, the beautiful but often very long service, that follows prescribed rubrics week after week, would quickly become old hat and boring. For those of us who understand and believe, and seek the Lord, the Liturgy is life itself. Every Sunday we embark on a journey to the Kingdom of God, traveling to an encounter with Jesus himself, who at the same time comes to us and makes himself present to us at the altar behind the veil, in the form of bread and wine in the Eucharist. The space behind the veil is the holy of holies, the place where heaven and earth meet, the place where the Lord comes to meet us as we journey during the Liturgy to meet and receive Him. We call our churches temples for this reason. Every repetitive rubric, prayer, chant, use of incense, etc., during every Liturgy, week after week after week, is done for the sole reason of preparing ourselves and the church to receive The Lord of Glory in his temple. The Liturgy is not about us. The overarching principle applies to sacrament meeting or any Christian service: If you're bored and not entertained, then perhaps you're there for the wrong reason.

Spammer,

Thank you for your thoughts. I enjoy hearing about the spiritual journeys of people in other faith traditions.

Thanks,

-Smac

[smac97]

A look at Riess's book title indicates perhaps that she is trying to be the Erma Bombeck of Mormonism. By disparaging Latter-day Saint liturgical forms in front of a secular and largely uncomprehending audience on the Internet, she is doing so at the expense of the Saints and their faith.

Yep. I think that her faux modesty (writing a book called "Flunking Sainthood") entitles her to say whatever she wants about the Saints. As long as she denigrates herself as well as her fellow church members, such denigration is apparently hunky dory.

-Smac

[Buzzard]

It is proposed we all do one or more of these all in favour?

16 Things to Do When Bored in Church

1. Oppose someone's calling (always wanted to do this)

2. Tell kids to pipe down or they'll go to Hell (say it awkwardly loud)

3. Look around during prayers – make eye contact with others – give thumb's up

4. Slip random notes into hymnbooks – ‘Dinosaurs are a lie Satan invented to trick us.’ Etc.

5. Play Testimony Bingo

6. Look around room – guess which kingdom each ward member is going to (DO NOT write down guesses)

7. Pull aside every deacon that's walking by – whisper, ‘You're doing a really great job!’

8. Give some audible ‘Mmm-hmms’ during prayers

9. Casually slip in alternate lyrics while singing hymns

10. Mess with the kid sitting in front of me (if he tells his parents – just keep a straight face and deny it – who are they gonna believe? – I’m like 30)

11. Act out Book of Mormon stories with G.I. Joe action figures

12. Look up dirty scriptures—show them to wife (*Genesis 38:9 is a good place to start)

13. Embarrass wife by staring at her for 5 minutes straight

14. Learn the sacrament prayer in Sign Language – perform it with eyes closed

15. Look through hymnbook & add "...in the toilet" after each title (Note: some are blasphemous; some are wonderful)

16. Wrap scripture cover around Johnny Cash's autobiography Cash by Johnny Cash – read during high council talk

http://www.modernmor...-in-church.html

Your list needs a little modern update, since the additions of smart phones and tablets, I notice and am sometimes guilty myself of doing one or more of the following:

-Checking out MDDB, or Cougarboard.com if the game Saturday is generating controversy. Or maybe the Drudge Report during election season.

-Sometimes cruising lds.org for a reference to what is being discussed.

-As a last resort, playing Angry Birds with the sound off.

[Scott Lloyd]

Yep. I think that her faux modesty (writing a book called "Flunking Sainthood") entitles her to say whatever she wants about the Saints. As long as she denigrates herself as well as her fellow church members, such denigration is apparently hunky dory.

-Smac

I'll probably kick the hornets nest of his admirers by saying so, but that is essentially my objection to what Robert Kirby does Edited March 17, 2014 by Scott Lloyd

[Scott Lloyd]

Your list needs a little modern update, since the additions of smart phones and tablets, I notice and am sometimes guilty myself of doing one or more of the following:

-Checking out MDDB, or Cougarboard.com if the game Saturday is generating controversy. Or maybe the Drudge Report during election season.

-Sometimes cruising lds.org for a reference to what is being discussed.

-As a last resort, playing Angry Birds with the sound off.

I don't see a thing wrong with the second item on your list.

[Buzzard]

On a serious note, I have been bored to tears and moved to tears at various times in Sacrament-and other meetings as well. As long as people run the meeting and do the speaking, you will have that, but one of the reasons to show up is that you never know which Sunday will give you that wonderful experience that will stay with you and sustain you through hard times as well as Sister Smith's recitation of her gall bladder operation.

[Calm]

There was a time when I couldn't handle crowds so I went to Church solely for the Sacrament, left after it was passed.

It was still worth the effort to go....if that is all I ever get out of a Sacrament Meeting, it is still worth it even for 3 hours.

Edited March 8, 2013 by calmoriah

[Scott Lloyd]

On a serious note, I have been bored to tears and moved to tears at various times in Sacrament-and other meetings as well. As long as people run the meeting and do the speaking, you will have that, but one of the reasons to show up is that you never know which Sunday will give you that wonderful experience that will stay with you and sustain you through hard times as well as Sister Smith's recitation of her gall bladder operation.

Moreover, it's not just about what we individually can get out of the meeting but what we ourselves bring to it: support, spiritual influence, perspective, participation, talents, gifts, personality, faith, love, devotion.

Edited March 8, 2013 by Scott Lloyd

[rongo]

There has been counsel from Salt Lake that specifically instructed not to hold the type of sacrament meeting Jana Reiss described. When I was newly called as a bishop (Fall of 2007), none of the speakers showed up one Sunday. The congregation had just heard from all three of us the previous week, and while we could easily have spoken again on no notice, I didn't want to do that. So, I told the counselor conducting to do exactly what was described, except we were more strict about the criteria: members would briefly tell why a certain hymn was meaningful to them, and then we sang that hymn.

It was a wonderful meeting, and very much enjoyed by the members. I particularly remember my first counselor, a former atheist with a powerful conversion story, and the story he told. He is the only member in his family, and joined when he was 19. Shortly before serving his mission (which was strongly opposed by his family), his brother committed suicide. This was a devastating loss to the family, and especially to him, and while waiting in the chapel of the temple before an endowment session, he was feeling terrible ---- like he couldn't do this, and nothing had any meaning. He prayed and told God that he needed help to go on with the session and beyond. The woman playing the organ music instantly changed from the hymn she had been playing and began playing his brother's favorite song, a non-hymnal piece by Sebellius. As many of you probably know, the specific hymns allowed to be played in the temple are tightly regulated, and what this sister did was against protocol. But for my first counselor, it was a bolt out of heaven and a sign that God knew him, had heard him, and was with him. He told us that for this reason, the hymn in our hymnbook whose music was written by Sebellius has special meaning to him, and we sang it.

Shortly after that, the stake president told us in bishopric training that the area authority at their coordinating council meeting had said that there is a fad sweeping through the Church of sacrament meetings built around members giving a favorite hymn and then the congregation singing it. He said that the Brethren he reported to had made it crystal clear that no such meetings are to take place. The stake president said that he knew nobody in our stake would ever do this, but he just wanted to let us know. We three looked at each other with raised eyebrows. It was undeniably an extremely spiritual and uplifting meeting, but we never did anything like it again. We didn't have a need to.

[Duncan]

Your list needs a little modern update, since the additions of smart phones and tablets, I notice and am sometimes guilty myself of doing one or more of the following:

-Checking out MDDB, or Cougarboard.com if the game Saturday is generating controversy. Or maybe the Drudge Report during election season.

-Sometimes cruising lds.org for a reference to what is being discussed.

-As a last resort, playing Angry Birds with the sound off.

ha! you could get up to give a talk and have the Imperial Death March go off on your phone and then pretend to fiddle with it till you get to the pulpit!

[ksfisher]

As long as we're spicing things up...how about those temple sessions, it's the same thing every time I go. Same ordinances, same covenants, same clothing. Maybe once we could get out of an endowment session early, say half way through. Or if we get bored go to the water fountain and spend 15 minutes in the hall talking to other bored people. Maybe Angry Birds is a better use of my time than listening to the creation account one more time.

Edited March 8, 2013 by ksfisher

[Calm]

ha! you could get up to give a talk and have the Imperial Death March go off on your phone and then pretend to fiddle with it till you get to the pulpit!

That was the ringtone on my old cell phone.

[Garden Girl]

Yep. I think that her faux modesty (writing a book called "Flunking Sainthood") entitles her to say whatever she wants about the Saints. As long as she denigrates herself as well as her fellow church members, such denigration is apparently hunky dory.

-Smac

Hello Smac...

I get distressed at those who find Sacrament meetings so boring... I agree not only does it depend upon the Bishop but more importantly, upon us. I am fortunate to be in a ward that has mostly wonderful sac mtgs... but when a speaker is what might be considered mundane, I try to listen even more because usually there are gems contained in the talk... we include special musical numbers, etc.

Smac, was this placed in a venue that provided for comments or opposing remarks? I hope so... IMO people like Ms. Reiss really don't get it themselves and can do harm actually in that someone who might have been curious to attend a Mormon meeting would be put off...

GG

[Calm]

Smac, was this placed in a venue that provided for comments or opposing remarks? I hope so... I

It was and Smac spoke up as well.

[Duncan]

There has been counsel from Salt Lake that specifically instructed not to hold the type of sacrament meeting Jana Reiss described. When I was newly called as a bishop (Fall of 2007), none of the speakers showed up one Sunday. The congregation had just heard from all three of us the previous week, and while we could easily have spoken again on no notice, I didn't want to do that. So, I told the counselor conducting to do exactly what was described, except we were more strict about the criteria: members would briefly tell why a certain hymn was meaningful to them, and then we sang that hymn.

It was a wonderful meeting, and very much enjoyed by the members. I particularly remember my first counselor, a former atheist with a powerful conversion story, and the story he told. He is the only member in his family, and joined when he was 19. Shortly before serving his mission (which was strongly opposed by his family), his brother committed suicide. This was a devastating loss to the family, and especially to him, and while waiting in the chapel of the temple before an endowment session, he was feeling terrible ---- like he couldn't do this, and nothing had any meaning. He prayed and told God that he needed help to go on with the session and beyond. The woman playing the organ music instantly changed from the hymn she had been playing and began playing his brother's favorite song, a non-hymnal piece by Sebellius. As many of you probably know, the specific hymns allowed to be played in the temple are tightly regulated, and what this sister did was against protocol. But for my first counselor, it was a bolt out of heaven and a sign that God knew him, had heard him, and was with him. He told us that for this reason, the hymn in our hymnbook whose music was written by Sebellius has special meaning to him, and we sang it.

Shortly after that, the stake president told us in bishopric training that the area authority at their coordinating council meeting had said that there is a fad sweeping through the Church of sacrament meetings built around members giving a favorite hymn and then the congregation singing it. He said that the Brethren he reported to had made it crystal clear that no such meetings are to take place. The stake president said that he knew nobody in our stake would ever do this, but he just wanted to let us know. We three looked at each other with raised eyebrows. It was undeniably an extremely spiritual and uplifting meeting, but we never did anything like it again. We didn't have a need to.

hmm, interesting. In our ward and a few wards here we have this "quick choir" thing where the person conducting says that we will now have this choir deal where anyone who wants can get up and with everyone else just sing whatever song the chorister wanted to. I think it's goofy as heck and I never join in as I am an excellent, excellent singer and don't want to makes others feel bad by my beyond above average vocal abilities

[smac97]

Smac, was this placed in a venue that provided for comments or opposing remarks? I hope so... IMO people like Ms. Reiss really don't get it themselves and can do harm actually in that someone who might have been curious to attend a Mormon meeting would be put off...

GG

Yes, it's on her blog. I am commenting on her blog at the moment.

Thanks,

-Smac

[Kenngo1969]

LOL @ Duncan & Buzzard!

P.S.: In a "How-do-we-enliven-Sacrament-meeting?" thread that was on here a few months ago, I chimed in with, "More Cheerios and picture books! Any questions? "

Edited March 8, 2013 by Kenngo1969

[Rock_N_Roll]

As long as we're spicing things up...how about those temple sessions, it's the same thing every time I go. Same ordinances, same covenants, same clothing. Maybe once we could get out of an endowment session early, say half way through. Or if we get bored go to the water fountain and spend 15 minutes in the hall talking to other bored people. Maybe Angry Birds is a better use of my time than listening to the creation account one more time.

Apples and Oranges my friend.

[ksfisher]

Apples and Oranges my friend.

How so? Both sacrament meeting and the temple are centered around the performance of rites and ordinances. Are they different because we can pick when we want to go to the temple and we "have to" go to sacrament meeting every Sunday? How are they apples and oranges?