Today we woke up early, had awesome French toast, and went to Mormon Church service. Not temple, church. It was one of the many, many LDS churches in town. This is the one they have to go to based on their address. It is also the time that they have to go to based on their home address. Right now their “ward” has to go at 11:00am. There is a different ward that goes at 9 and another at 1pm. It was really interesting.
My cousin Heather grew up in Cedar City, UT but was not raised a Mormon. She married Bart who was a Mormon and they were married in a Mormon church. A few years ago, Heather went through the church and converted. She is a dedicated Mormon now. They have been sealed in the temple.
By the way, Whitney does NOT like going. Here is a photo of how she got in the car – the last one to get in:
The service is broken into three sections, one hour long each. We all went to the first hour during which 12 young men (boys) prepared the communion (sacrament) and served it: white bread and water. Then a young man and 4 members of another family got up and talked for about 45 minutes ( yes they ran over the hour by 15 minutes) about their life and how they met and where the worked, etc. I wasn’t too sure how this was relating to the church or teachings of Jesus but Heather said some speakers were better than others. Part of what they were supposed to do was thank God publically for things in their life which they did as a conclusion.
The church was very plain and bright without any ornamentation.
Heather says they sit up front and now I know why. The Mormons have a lot of children and they all come to church. You can imagine the distractions.
We didn’t stay for the next two sections – the bible study and then the hour when everyone breaks into groups based on gender and age and talks. That would have been interesting but we needed to finish packing and go to Las Vegas….sin city.
One thing that struck me as odd was the papers that were in each row. There were a bunch of papers stapled together with several columns. The first column had their name, then their address, email and phone. Each person in the ward was listed on the paper and there were extra rows where people could fill in their info if they were new, I guess. But the last two columns were the interesting ones: list your emergency response equipment at your home and list emergency response skills you have in your family.
I aske my cousins about this and this was totally normal to them. To me, it is so unnerving. I don’t want to think about our devistation all the time or the end of the world or the government taking over or whatever. It was just so strange and I can’t really figure out why. Maybe you can comment and tell me why I felt so strange.
Heather does have 8 months of food in the basement that is security for them. Planning and organization is the LDS Church’s strength.
You’re leaving us hanging! What was on the papers with the columns?????
The last two columns ask about emergency preparedness….do you ask about that at church? It is like they are ready to mobilize but through church. It is strange to me.
Sorry I know this is an older post but I just came across it. Usually about once a year my ward does a similar list. In the event of an emergency, congregation members are expected to help each other, and that is why they ask for what emergency skills you might have. Mormons don’t really feel unnerved by this; most feel calm knowing there is someone they can call on if they need help. It’s not that we have a gloom and doom outlook, but it’s nice to know you’re prepared ‘just in case’. I guess it’s just a culture thing!
Sorry you got stuck there on a day with some bad speakers – thats the risk in not having professional clergy!