Years ago a previous bishop of one singles ward attended a training meeting with other bishops and stake presidents (“a meeting of key holders,” he called it). A member of the Twelve taught them that we as a church need to “elevate our meetings.” We should not waste the opportunities or time Sunday meetings present. The quality of our teaching, singing, prayers, etc., should be the very best we can offer each other, and the Lord.
This is not concern for appearances or show. Sacrament meeting, worship services and classes we attend on Sunday are meant to keep us “more fully…unspotted from the world” (D&C 59:9). At their best, Sacrament meeting and the Sunday classes we attend polish our armor and protect us from Satan’s attacks that come during the week. We benefit from each other’s spiritual gifts and talents.
It is the Holy Spirit that delivers that fortification, builds our faith, gives us hints of what we can do better and which direction to go, and generally prepares us for the challenges we face. The Spirit testifies of truth, and so it is vital that speakers, teachers, musicians, those who pray, and those who comment in class testify of eternal truth, speak the truths that matter most to our salvation. There are many things we can say that are good and practical, but the Spirit might not testify of them as clearly as of testimonies of the Savior or a call to repent.
God has assigned us to “meet together oft” (Moroni 6:5), not to be hermits. Heaven is an innumerable company; learning to get along with others and benefit from each others’ gifts is training for heaven. Many people come to Sacrament meeting and other meetings each week seeking edification, solace, hope, and forgiveness for sin. Those who speak, teach, or pray should never detract from those righteous hopes of a congregation or class. Everything we present to each other should meet those deep needs, and be of highest quality.
Below is a list of ways we could fine-tune our Sunday worship, teaching, etc., to meet those needs and fulfill the ultimate purposes of Sabbath meetings and worship. Each one is something all of us could choose to work on. These thoughts have accrued over the years; there is no intent to accuse any individual.
In His Name
An angel explained to Adam why he sacrificed animals: “This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
“Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt…call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore” (Moses 5:7-8).
Accordingly, we as members of the Church speak, pray, teach, and perform ordinances, all in the name of Jesus Christ. He is called “the beginning and the end,” and we end everything we do in the Church in His name.
I have noticed a trend, especially among the young people in the Church, to take this casually and slur through His name when they end their talks. I understand stage fright and the urge to get out of the spotlight as quickly as possible, but we should at least pronounce His name with clarity, giving Him due honor.
Repetition can render the sacred mundane. The scriptures tell us that before Melchizedek, the greater priesthood was called “…the Holy Priesthood, after the order of the Son of God.
“But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called [it] the Melchizedek Priesthood” (D&C 107:3-4).
When we say “…in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen,” we are standing and announcing to the world that we are speaking on behalf of Christ; we are His, His representatives, His hands. Speaking in His name, as though we were each Jesus Christ, is no small thing, and should not be done casually. “Wherefore, let all men beware how they take my name in their lips—
“For behold, verily I say, that many there be who are under this condemnation…” (D&C 63:61-62).
We should enunciate His name clearly and with respect, rather than slur it in the rush to finish. One day, His sacred name will be necessary to get us past “the angels and gods” (D&C 132:18) who stand as sentinels at the entryways into heaven. We each hope one day to hear Him pronounce our names with love and tenderness. The way we pronounce His name should show our respect and love for Him.
Teach By the Spirit
Public speaking, in Church or anywhere else, can be unnerving. Humor can help to unravel that fear. Humor in talks is like salt and pepper; a little sprinkle adds flavor, but serving it by the pound is unhealthy. A little is appropriate (as talks by the Brethren demonstrate). Edification, not entertainment, is the point of our Sunday teaching.
Samuel the Lamanite had reason to be nervous; his audience was armed with stones and arrows, but he went back anyway:
“But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, that he should return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart.
“…they would not suffer that he should enter the city; therefore he went and got upon the wall thereof, and…prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart” (Hel. 13:3-4).
If we pay attention when preparing to give talks, we will notice the strict and specific promptings about what to say, and what to exclude. The Lord knows what those two to three hundred people in sacrament meeting need to hear, and we are often prompted to trash what we thought would be impressive or great ideas in favor of something else the Lord wants them to hear.
There are almost 2500 pages of Latter-day Saint scripture; why look elsewhere, especially why look to worldly stories or sources? The Spirit is the metronome we should follow in preparing talks, but we cannot go amiss if we quote scripture and focus on the Savior. How can we end our talks in the name of Jesus Christ if we do not say what He would say if He were speaking? It is sad when speakers in Church do not even quote from the scriptures.
“He that speaketh, whose spirit is contrite, whose language is meek and edifieth, the same is of God if he obey mine ordinances.
“And again, he that trembleth under my power shall be made strong, and shall bring forth fruits of praise and wisdom, according to the revelations and truths which I have given you” (D&C 52:16-17).
When we speak humbly and quote from the scriptures, and say what the Spirit prompts us to say, the Holy Spirit will confirm our words.
“Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question—unto what were ye ordained?” That is a great question. The answer is astonishingly simple:
“To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth” (D&C 50:14). Our main concern should be saying what the Lord puts into our hearts, not pleasing an audience. A good recipe for teaching preparation is given in the Book of Mormon, regarding the missionaries to the Lamanites:
“…and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
“But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.
“And they…had much success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, by the power of their words many were brought before the altar of God, to call on his name and confess their sins before him” (Alma 17:2-4).
Fasting is a way to show God we are serious about something we want—it charges our scripture study, lesson preparation, and teaching with power.
Another lesson from the missionaries in the Book of Mormon:
“Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls unto repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance” (Alma 26:22). We must be living righteously and repenting in order to have and teach by the Spirit.
The Night Before
There are many worldly distractions outside the Temple, including on the way there. Traffic, driving, music, worries about work and money, all sorts of concerns, trivial or otherwise, are present. Nearing the Temple, walking onto the grounds, seeing the beautiful landscaping and fountains, reminds us that we are about to enter the Lord’s home. We can silence the jabbering of voices and noise in our heads as we pass through the doors. Changed attitudes, feelings, and focus elevate our mindset to a higher plane, one befitting that sacred place.
Moses was told to take off his shoes as he approached the burning bush; whenever we approach a sacred place, the Lord requires us to shed something of this world.
Sunday, the Lord’s Day, is also sacred. It is not really a different place; but as Saturday rolls over to Sunday, it is as though we have entered a Temple with walls of time, the space between Saturday night and Monday morning. We enter it whether or not we are properly clean and prepared; we can choose to shed worldly things in preparation BEFORE we enter it.
Saturday night can set the tone for Sunday, especially forgoing late nights and less worthy entertainment. Music in our heads when we go to sleep on Saturday might be in our heads when we wake up, as will movies and novels and anything else we focused on the night before.
To keep the Sabbath Holy does not mean becoming stodgy or contracted or judgmental in our feelings. We shed worldly concerns, slowing down, and opening up our ears and our hearts. Sabbath observance is a personal thing, between individuals and the Lord, and we should each seek His guidance in finding what to do, as well as eliminating things we should not do, on that day.
The Sabbath is supposed to be a “delight” (Isaiah 58:13). How can it be a delight without any worldly entertainment we are fond of? “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy…” (D&C 11:13). There is a kind of joy we find only in the Temple; the Sabbath is a Temple with walls made of time, and it can also be filled with its own distinct joys. The Sabbath is for our benefit, not a burden, but as a chance to put down our burdens, distractions, noise, and worldly anchors. We can draw nearer to God on the Sabbath because it is a day set apart by Him for that purpose.
Technology
The promise we make in partaking of the sacrament is to “always remember” Jesus Christ. To remember means to focus; anything that distracts us robs us of our focus and keeps us from remembering Him.
The term “digital distractions” has been used by general authorities to describe the poor use of smartphones, tablets, and other devices. People not even attending meetings can interrupt them when phones are not turned to silent. Even when these devices are silent, they still present distractions. Leaving these things at home might be the best way to go, if not turning them off completely.
“Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
“It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever…” (Ex. 31:16-17). Playing with a digital device instead of paying attention during meetings is a sign that we do not even want to be there. If our bodies are present, but our hearts are elsewhere, what can we expect the Lord to give us?
“Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind…” (D&C 64:34). In the end, what do we really have to offer the Lord but our hearts and minds? Sabbath observance is internal, a different way of thinking and feeling.
Moses’ shoes served him on the way up Mount Sinai, but he was required to remove them when interacting with the Lord. Our digital devices serve us throughout the week. But if our flashing, chirping devices rule us to the point that they interfere with our sacrament meetings, perhaps it is best to leave them home altogether.
There are many ways that each person can improve Sabbath observance; the point is not to feel guilty, but to ask in prayer what to do in order to enhance that day, make it a show of our love for our Father in heaven and His Son, and reap the benefits.
