Improving Sacrament Meeting: Seeking Suggestions

[Okrahomer]

Ward councils and Bishoprics in our Stake were instructed this past Sunday by members of the Quorum of the 12 and Young Women General President (Bonnie Oscarson) and Primary General Prsident (Rosemary Wixom) regarding a change in the way Sacrament Meetings are to be planned throughout the Church. Some of the content of this training has already been discussed on two currently open threads on this Board. The main takeaways of the training for me were:

1. The Quorum of the 12 wants Sacrament Meetings to be more spiritual and Christ-centered.

2. The ordinance of the Sacrament should be emphasized as the key to the spiritual experience of the meeting.

3. The ordinance of the Sacrament is an opportunity to renew all of our covenants.

4. The entire Ward Council should participate in planning Sacrament Meetings.

5. Sacrament planning should incorporate strategies--in particular--that account for and address the needs of women and children.

At the end of the training, our Stake President charged the Bishops to conduct a discussion during the next Ward Council about specific suggestions each of us might have that will help accomplish these goals.

My wife and I have discussed 2 possible suggestions I could make:

1. Assign a scripture reading or short spiritual thought to a Woman or Young Woman to be read just prior to the Sacrament hymn.

2. Assign the Young Women to alternate with the Young Men as ushers.

I would be interested in (and very much appreciate) your feedback on these two ideas, and would also be very interested in any other ideas/suggestions you--especially the women among us--might have. What would enhance your spiritual enjoyment during Sacrament meetings?

Edited June 18, 2015 by Okrahomer

[Duncan]

I wish High Councilors would get rid of parroting general conference talks, if my 12 yr son has to come up with his own material for a primary talk then certaintly high councilors should come up with their own stuff

[bluebell]

What I need in order to get more out of sacrament no one can give me.

I have four kids, two who are still babies. Last Sunday was very difficult for me, and many times I had to fight to keep from crying. All I wanted was to be able to feel the spirit and listen to the talks but both babies would have none of it. Eventually both my husband and I ended up in separate foyers with screaming kids.

At the end of the meeting I could hear the bishop praising the speakers and saying how much we had all been spiritually fed and I just wanted to leave. It felt like hearing about some awesome party that everyone got an invitation to but me.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I had the chance to be spiritually fed during the other two hours but because of my calling in primary I don't.

So I honestly have no idea how to meet my needs in sacrament meeting. It feels like catch 22. As a mother i have limited opportunities to be spiritually fed in church, and so I feel like I need it desperately. However, because I'm a mother I have limited opportunities to get that.

[Calm]

Is there any older couple who would like to help out...if you were in my ward, you would have two ready made baby entertainers. I bring finger puppets in my scripture holder and my husband collects apps on his phone to play with kids. I pay better attention with a baby on my lap these days...not obsessing about how I just can't find a comfortable way to sit.

I understand why they stick moms in primary in the past, easier to control the kids...but now I think it would be best to split Primary into two...one teacher and one crowd controller so one takes the lesson, the other sharing time...that way primary teachers'manage at least one adult meeting a sabbath.

I could see asking young men and women to volunteer to serve as big brothers and sisters during SMas well. How much do they listen really?

Edited June 18, 2015 by calmoriah

[Calm]

Have scouts and AD girls organize reverence packets Not including food, but erasable crayons blank and coloured paper, easy interactive soft books with stories from current theme or scripture, matching puzzle games...lots of materials from the Friend. I know some parents want their child to sit through the whole thing like a statue but some kids need more then a parent's stare to keep them occupied. The packets can be kept in libraryto be checked out leaving name, only for one meeting and gets disinfected each week.

Make sure to have a rest song be the primary songs and have kids stand up.

It is a pity they don't allow more use of visual aids in SM for talks to children. It would be nice to have a very short talk each week for those 8 and younger, maybe a scripture story or about an ancestor who was spiritual. It be nice to put up unusual pictures and expand how different things stand for Jesus or other things...a good way to introduce everyone to symbols.

[Duncan]

What I need in order to get more out of sacrament no one can give me.

I have four kids, two who are still babies. Last Sunday was very difficult for me, and many times I had to fight to keep from crying. All I wanted was to be able to feel the spirit and listen to the talks but both babies would have none of it. Eventually both my husband and I ended up in separate foyers with screaming kids.

At the end of the meeting I could hear the bishop praising the speakers and saying how much we had all been spiritually fed and I just wanted to leave. It felt like hearing about some awesome party that everyone got an invitation to but me.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I had the chance to be spiritually fed during the other two hours but because of my calling in primary I don't.

So I honestly have no idea how to meet my needs in sacrament meeting. It feels like catch 22. As a mother i have limited opportunities to be spiritually fed in church, and so I feel like I need it desperately. However, because I'm a mother I have limited opportunities to get that.

 

 

sorry to hear that, it's hard I know. I remember when my son was much smaller I would say to myself if I get one thing out of church i'll be happy and that is what I would aim for

[Calm]

Bluebell, our ward records talks for shut ins. You should push to make them available to parents who have to focus on their kids.

I think I will ask my bishop if I can list that as an option In Our bulletin (miss a Sunday in spirit if not in body? Redo but in a soft chair without interruptions for an uplifting moment.)

Our RS has a study group as well, but they should have a nursery as young moms need that chance too. Or maybe trade baby coverage with another ward?

[Rain]

A lot of the youth really listen. My daughter even takes a spiritual journal to church to take notes. Two of the young men in our ward were just baptized and several of the youth were a part of that. But I suspect that if several of them knew just how hard it was for moms they would be right there for you.

I kind of like the scripture/spiritual reading, but I kind of don't. I can't quite put my finger on it. You would want to make sure it isn't the same reading every week or some will think it is required down the road.

Part of the reverence problem comes from wanting to be welcoming before the meeting starts. I was just wondering if there could be several announcements made about not visiting in the chapel, but to do it in the foyer beforehand. The child could be singing The Chapel Doors for several weeks. Then instead of someone welcoming others at the open doors, someone could be stationed there to open the doors just when people come in signifying that are now in a reverent place.

In our ward along with the bulletin, coloring pages are handed out. I'm ok with the packet idea, but I discovered that the more things I had for my children the less reverent they tended to be. Also, I found usually it is better to have mindless things for them to do. If they are reading the friend then they aren't any more reverent, they are just quiet. So maybe instead of various things then just one coloring page or puzzle or whatever each week, but make it different each week. Hey! It could even be tied with the theme of talks for that week.

[Calm]

My bulletin cover is a colouring page from the theme of the month, different each week...save for the Payson Temple one I repeated 3 times cause life was too complicated at the time and I was barely getting them ready in time. I use mostly images from lds.org...on occassion use some collections made by the most popular artists of the Friend so they generally look coherent. Have a relevant scripture each week as well. I've had some parents tell me their kids love them.

[Rain]

DH talked with a former bishop once. The man never went to the podium to pray before the song is over, unlike what I almost always see. One of the reasons was because he recognized that people just weren't ready for prayer immediately after the song. He found that waiting and then walking up gave time for people to prepare themselves. I started doing that and found the same.

This may be difficult for some, but if you had a young woman give a thought you could ask her to wait at the pulpit afterwards _____ seconds, giving the ward time to prepare.

[strappinglad]

I am a bit of a heretic when it comes to church and kids. When mine were very young I would hire a babysitter for the block time so my wife and I could listen to the meeting. We forget that sacrament meeting in the days of BY was mainly for adults. What did they do with the kids? Maybe the wives alternated watching them .

Also, I am torn about the need to emphasize women in sacrament. I suppose I am just oblivious to gender needs during the sacrament. Women in my ward give prayers, talks, musical numbers, lead the choir , hand out the bulletin etc. They do anything and everything that does not require a specific priesthood function. What am I missing ?

[Avatar4321]

Maybe we should train people on how to get the Spirit and use it in their talks.

[Stargazer]

I wish High Councilors would get rid of parroting general conference talks, if my 12 yr son has to come up with his own material for a primary talk then certaintly high councilors should come up with their own stuff

 

I think that might be a local phenomenon.  Our HC speakers don't seem to do this.

[Stargazer]

DH talked with a former bishop once. The man never went to the podium to pray before the song is over, unlike what I almost always see. One of the reasons was because he recognized that people just weren't ready for prayer immediately after the song. He found that waiting and then walking up gave time for people to prepare themselves. I started doing that and found the same.

This may be difficult for some, but if you had a young woman give a thought you could ask her to wait at the pulpit afterwards _____ seconds, giving the ward time to prepare.

 

We started to do this in our Ward, too.  But it was because the music director complained because she got distracted from leading the music while the pray-er was moving to the podium.

[The Nehor]

I am a bit of a heretic when it comes to church and kids. When mine were very young I would hire a babysitter for the block time so my wife and I could listen to the meeting. We forget that sacrament meeting in the days of BY was mainly for adults. What did they do with the kids? Maybe the wives alternated watching them .

 

From a talk about proper conduct in meetings:

 

"In all probability our congregations will be large, and we shall be under the necessity of being a little stringent and exacting in regard to leaving the children at home and in preserving quietness and order while in the house. You may think it a little unreasonable, sisters, to make such a request, but it is not so, for you who are here this morning have seen the great amount of confusion and annoyance the crying of children has caused; and if you cannot, for the space of two or three hours, forego the pleasure of gazing upon the faces of your little darlings, just stay at home with them." -Brigham Young

 

More from the same talk:

 

"One thing which strikes me here this morning, and which is a source of considerable annoyance to the congregation, appears to me might be avoided, and that is bringing children here who are not capable of understanding the preaching. If we were to set them on the stand, where they could hear every word, it would convey to them no knowledge or instruction, and would not be the least benefit to them. I will ask my sisters: Cannot we avoid this? Have you not daughters, sisters, or friends, or some one who can take care of these children while you attend meeting? When meetings are over, the mothers can go home and bestow all the care and attention upon their children which may be necessary. I cannot understand the utility of bringing children into such a congregation as we shall have here through the Conference, just for the sake of pleasing the mothers, when the noise made by them disturbs all around them. I therefore request that the sisters will leave their babies at home in the care of good nurses."

 

How time changes things.

 

On building cleanliness from the same talk:

 

"There is another subject I wish to refer to. Last Sabbath this front gallery, the gentleman's gallery, was very full. After meeting was dismissed I took a walk through it, and to see the floor that had been occupied by those professing to be gentlemen, and I do not know but brethren, you might have supposed that cattle had been there rolling and standing around, for here and there were great quids of tobacco, and places one or two feet square smeared with tobacco juice. I want to say to the doorkeepers thatwhen you see gentlemen who cannot omit chewing and spitting while in this house, request them to leave; and if such persons refuse to leave, and continue their spitting, just take them and lead them out carefully and kindly. We do not want to have the house thus defiled. It is an imposition for gentlemen to spit tobacco juice around, or to leave their quids of tobacco on the floor; they dirty the house, and if a lady happen to besmear the bottom of her dress, which can hardly be avoided, it is highly offensive. We therefore request all gentlemen attending Conference to omit tobacco chewing while here. To the Elders of Israel who cannot and will not keep the Word of Wisdom, I say, omit tobacco chewing while here."

 

Puts cheerios on the floor into perspective.

Edited June 18, 2015 by The Nehor

[Kenngo1969]

More Cheerios and picture books.    Any questions?

 

P.S. Re: The Nehor's last sentence - We posted roughly simultaneously.

Edited June 18, 2015 by Kenngo1969

[Senator]

From a talk about proper conduct in meetings:

 

"In all probability our congregations will be large, and we shall be under the necessity of being a little stringent and exacting in regard to leaving the children at home and in preserving quietness and order while in the house. You may think it a little unreasonable, sisters, to make such a request, but it is not so, for you who are here this morning have seen the great amount of confusion and annoyance the crying of children has caused; and if you cannot, for the space of two or three hours, forego the pleasure of gazing upon the faces of your little darlings, just stay at home with them." -Brigham Young

 

I volunteer to stay at home with the little darlings!

[JLHPROF]

Perhaps the Bishop could give a short talk before testimony meeting reminding the congregation what "testimonies" actually are and reminding speakers to stick to that.

Have you ever attended a testimony meeting where all the speakers actually stuck to testimonies?

I have on rare occasions and it is usually a true spiritual feast.

[rpn]

I don't know why YW cannot do all the ushering, giving them a role in the meeting.

 

I suggest that the ward council decides who should talk, and then the instructions should be, pick your favorite hymn and teach the gospel based on it.  The include that hymn on in the music.

 

I would absolutely NOT provide quiet activities, as a ward.   The goal of including children and training them to listen and feel the spirit and enjoy it, cannot be met by encouraging the use of toys.   Parents sometimes bring things to help children who are having trouble with appropriate focus.   But training people to need those things isn't helpful.  (But yes, there might be some families that cannot afford or haven't figured out how to help their children stay in the meeting both in mind and body --- allowing them to check out a kit from the library might be kind.   And making those kits about things related to the sacrament meeting subject would be awesome.)

 

When I did our ward bulletin, I found out in advance what the theme was, and then I created a word search or puzzle or game that supported the theme.

[HappyJackWagon]

Ward councils and Bishoprics in our Stake were instructed this past Sunday by members of the Quorum of the 12 and Young Women General President (Bonnie Oscarson) and Primary General Prsident (Rosemary Wixom) regarding a change in the way Sacrament Meetings are to be planned throughout the Church. Some of the content of this training has already been discussed on two currently open threads on this Board. The main takeaways of the training for me were:

1. The Quorum of the 12 wants Sacrament Meetings to be more spiritual and Christ-centered.

2. The ordinance of the Sacrament should be emphasized as the key to the spiritual experience of the meeting.

3. The ordinance of the Sacrament is an opportunity to renew all of our covenants.

4. The entire Ward Council should participate in planning Sacrament Meetings.

5. Sacrament planning should incorporate strategies--in particular--that account for and address the needs of women and children.

At the end of the training, our Stake President charged the Bishops to conduct a discussion during the next Ward Council about specific suggestions each of us might have that will help accomplish these goals.

My wife and I have discussed 2 possible suggestions I could make:

1. Assign a scripture reading or short spiritual thought to a Woman or Young Woman to be read just prior to the Sacrament hymn.

2. Assign the Young Women to alternate with the Young Men as ushers.

I would be interested in (and very much appreciate) your feedback on these two ideas, and would also be very interested in any other ideas/suggestions you--especially the women among us--might have. What would enhance your spiritual enjoyment during Sacrament meetings?

I'm glad to see this focus for improving Sacrament Meetings. Our ward generally has very good Sac Meetings but it hasn't always been the case. One thing I've noticed regarding gender participation is that some of the old, cultural rules that we had been hanging on to in our area, were chucked.

 

For example, it used to be that a Priesthood holder was required to open the meeting with prayer to invoke the spirit and a woman could close the meeting with prayer. Now there is no requirement for who prays at which time.

 

It also used to be the case that the priesthood holder was required to give the final talk. So we would have a youth speaker, then a female speaker, intermediate hymn and then the "real" sermon by a priesthood holder. This has also been done away and the closing speaker varies between men and women.

 

These are very little things but were a form of institutional sexism in our ward until it was changed. Maybe my area hung on to this kind of thing longer than most due to Stake Presidency instructions, but it is nice to get rid of those sexist vestiges.

 

Also, in our ward the YW hand out the fliers and act as ushers every week.

[stemelbow]

We've always had sacrament meeting last in our ward. Moving it to the front will help, I think, immensely. It's always felt backwards to put sacrament at the end. Of course for years I've had a little kids and they are always worse at the end of a 3 hour block. I look forward to improvement with that change alone. I'm like, why we waiting until July to make the change? Let's do it now.

But with the OP. Having more people share their own personal thoughts always helps in my book.

[Senator]

I'm glad to see this focus for improving Sacrament Meetings. Our ward generally has very good Sac Meetings but it hasn't always been the case. One thing I've noticed regarding gender participation is that some of the old, cultural rules that we had been hanging on to in our area, were chucked.

 

For example, it used to be that a Priesthood holder was required to open the meeting with prayer to invoke the spirit and a woman could close the meeting with prayer. Now there is no requirement for who prays at which time.

 

It also used to be the case that the priesthood holder was required to give the final talk. So we would have a youth speaker, then a female speaker, intermediate hymn and then the "real" sermon by a priesthood holder. This has also been done away and the closing speaker varies between men and women.

 

These are very little things but were a form of institutional sexism in our ward until it was changed. Maybe my area hung on to this kind of thing longer than most due to Stake Presidency instructions, but it is nice to get rid of those sexist vestiges.

 

 

My area still hangs on....

[stemelbow]

I don't know why YW cannot do all the ushering, giving them a role in the meeting.

 

I suggest that the ward council decides who should talk, and then the instructions should be, pick your favorite hymn and teach the gospel based on it.  The include that hymn on in the music.

 

I would absolutely NOT provide quiet activities, as a ward.   The goal of including children and training them to listen and feel the spirit and enjoy it, cannot be met by encouraging the use of toys.   Parents sometimes bring things to help children who are having trouble with appropriate focus.   But training people to need those things isn't helpful.  (But yes, there might be some families that cannot afford or haven't figured out how to help their children stay in the meeting both in mind and body --- allowing them to check out a kit from the library might be kind.   And making those kits about things related to the sacrament meeting subject would be awesome.)

 

When I did our ward bulletin, I found out in advance what the theme was, and then I created a word search or puzzle or game that supported the theme.

I know I'm off the rails on this but I have no idea why it's a priesthood thing to go around carrying trays of bread and water to people. We all pass it along anyway. My girl often takes it to the people on the far side of the aisle. It just seems pretty cultural at this point. But, then again, I'm odd enough to think women should have the priesthood anyway.

[HappyJackWagon]

I know I'm off the rails on this but I have no idea why it's a priesthood thing to go around carrying trays of bread and water to people. We all pass it along anyway. My girl often takes it to the people on the far side of the aisle. It just seems pretty cultural at this point. But, then again, I'm odd enough to think women should have the priesthood anyway.

Preparing and passing the sacrament wasn't always a priesthood duty. It is something that evolved over time as the timing of Aaronic Priesthood ordinations became standardized as a way to keep the YM engaged. I believe it was even up until the 1940's that women prepared the sacrament. Ironically one of the reasons for that change was that the move to plastic or paper cups the women were no longer needed to wash the glass cups. When we didn't need women to do the dishes they were no longer involved (snarky I know, but it's pretty sad really)

 

Likewise, passing the sacrament became a priesthood duty when they needed to codify priesthood duties for young deacons.

 

If someone would like to point out how passing or preparing the sacrament is a priesthood duty outlined in the D&C I'd be happy to listen.

 

ETA- here's an interesting podcast that outlines the evolution of Aaronic Priesthood changing from men to boys and the implementation of various duties. http://www.mormondiscussionpodcast.org/2014/09/men-to-boys-development-of-the-priesthood/

Edited June 18, 2015 by HappyJackWagon

[Storm Rider]

Ward councils and Bishoprics in our Stake were instructed this past Sunday by members of the Quorum of the 12 and Young Women General President (Bonnie Oscarson) and Primary General Prsident (Rosemary Wixom) regarding a change in the way Sacrament Meetings are to be planned throughout the Church. Some of the content of this training has already been discussed on two currently open threads on this Board. The main takeaways of the training for me were:

1. The Quorum of the 12 wants Sacrament Meetings to be more spiritual and Christ-centered.

2. The ordinance of the Sacrament should be emphasized as the key to the spiritual experience of the meeting.

3. The ordinance of the Sacrament is an opportunity to renew all of our covenants.

4. The entire Ward Council should participate in planning Sacrament Meetings.

5. Sacrament planning should incorporate strategies--in particular--that account for and address the needs of women and children.

At the end of the training, our Stake President charged the Bishops to conduct a discussion during the next Ward Council about specific suggestions each of us might have that will help accomplish these goals.

My wife and I have discussed 2 possible suggestions I could make:

1. Assign a scripture reading or short spiritual thought to a Woman or Young Woman to be read just prior to the Sacrament hymn.

2. Assign the Young Women to alternate with the Young Men as ushers.

I would be interested in (and very much appreciate) your feedback on these two ideas, and would also be very interested in any other ideas/suggestions you--especially the women among us--might have. What would enhance your spiritual enjoyment during Sacrament meetings?

 

I resist creating situations where competition is created between boys and girls.  I dislike parenting processes that demand that if I give X to one child then I need to X to every other child.  Making decisions driven solely on gender seldom lead to actually meeting the need without creating a host of other problems and issues. The idea of a spiritual thought seems nice, but what is the objective? What need is being met?  The more I think about it the more I appreciate it and think it could prove very helpful to the sacredness of the Sacrament.  

 

• If Ward Council could plan anything it is to become cognizant of spiritual holidays during the year - when it is Easter, Christmas, etc. then the entire meeting schedule should celebrate that specific holiday/purpose.  
• Meetings should begin on time...period.  No excuses.  Make that happen.
• Sacrament is not a dining experience for small children.  IF they eat, then their parents should clean up after them.  Supply them with those little hand vacs to clean up the mashed cheerios and other food crumbs after the close of the meeting.
• Moroni 6:9 - Follow the Spirit - sometimes plans change or need to be changed.
• Never let the words "Visiting Teaching" or "Home Teaching" be spoken.  Teach the principles and concepts that lead an individual to want to serve their neighbor and community.  

A little too much soapbox, but it comes too quickly and I am not very disciplined.