I have some ideas of speaker topics but I thought I would start a thread for suggestions of topics, scriptures, conference talks, etc that would help make a great Sacrament Meeting that . Most seemed to realize bishoprics are trying and they appreciate any effort. She talked about how when she was single she was very shallow, only cared about clothes and makeup and boys, didnt prepare herself spiritually, didnt have much of a testimony, and then upon marrying found herself extremely immature and woefully unprepared to be a spiritual leader in her home. I am 70 years old and have never been a mother, but I had one. And this is all in addition to the everyday problems like getting the bills paid and the laundry done. So how does tax exemption relate to churches, and especially churches that [], You are so much more than the worst thing youve everdone., http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/04/daughters-of-god?lang=eng, http://dandelionmama.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/this-this-is-what-i-believe/, Inside the UK's Mormon missionary bootcamp - BBC, Former mayor, LDS bishop gets prison for child sex abuse - Salt Lake Tribune, The anti-racist Mormon trying to teach his fellow LDS church members - NPR, Mormon Church fined over claim it hid $32bn of investments - BBC, Linda King Newell, Feminist Scholar of Mormon History, Dies at 82 - The New York Times. I am a single (divorced) old man with no children. Kind of it takes a village/ward to raise a child philosophy. They would eat honey cakes and give flowers. What is the trigger to close the thread? My worst MD talk came in the Fast and Testimony meeting the week before in which my father, who was visiting since he no longer lived in our ward, decided to give some incredibly intimate details about his divorce and why he blamed it on several of his children, but not others. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/wanted-hands-and-hearts-to-hasten-the-work?lang=eng. Im sure that attendance in RS would be higher on that day though. This talk by Elaine S. Dalton helps fathers understand the importance of loving and cherishing the women in their life. So this year we are setting up tables and chairs in the gym, hauling in meat and cheese and veggies and chocolate, and the Bishop will talk for five minutes and then we will let everybody socialize while I play the tuba for the entire primary. Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their . On this site you will find a variety of arrangements for ward choirs, solo piano, vocal duets and more. It seemed to strike just the right tone. Topical Guide, Assembly for Worship, Index to the Triple Combination, Assemble, Meetings in the Church, Handbook 2, 18, Speaking in Sacrament Meeting? youth.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, Is Sacrament Meeting a Top-of-the-Mountain Experience for You? ChurchofJesusChrist.org blog, Frequently Asked Questions, Music Callings, Appropriate Music for Church Meetings, Music Callings, Worship with Us, ComeUntoChrist.org, The Longest Sacrament Meeting, Ensign, September 2013, Idea List: Getting the Most Out of Sacrament Meeting, New Era, June 2007, Church Leaders Call for Better Observance of Sabbath Day, Church News, Learn Steps for Giving Better Sacrament Meeting Talks, Church News, First Presidency Letter: Testimonies in Fast and Testimony Meeting, Church News, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 6, Speaking in Sacrament Meeting, Media Library, Bearing Testimony in Sacrament Meeting, Media Library, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square App Icon, Teachings of Presidents: Joseph Fielding Smith Manual, 2014, Index to the Triple Combination, Assemble, Is Sacrament Meeting a Top-of-the-Mountain Experience for You?, Appropriate Music for Church Meetings,, Idea List: Getting the Most Out of Sacrament Meeting,, Church Leaders Call for Better Observance of Sabbath Day,, Learn Steps for Giving Better Sacrament Meeting Talks,, First Presidency Letter: Testimonies in Fast and Testimony Meeting,. Then it gives them the option to (1) print traditional paper programs, or (2) give members access to a digital version of the program on their phones. As I journey on my way, No fuss, no muss. You can still give the women the day off. Even now, 4 years after her passing, I miss her. That feels a little thin still, so Im glad this post exists. . Honestly, considering how touchy this subject is (women w/out kids, abusive moms, separated/divorced men who don't want to be, moms who've passed, etc), I'd focus on Womanhood. Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. 34 Ideas for LDS Sacrament Meeting Talks When People Don't Apologize: Forgiving and finding reconciliation with God Would borrow from Forgiveness + Tribulation, a talk I gave fall 2019. Mark, This post was positively Uchtdorfian! Until I see a longer lasting cease fire, Im staying home MD (with my mother and daughters). I guess plants are pretty and mothers are pretty. Someone explain this. Put me in the column of those who think Sacrament Meeting should be about Christ. The speakers were: 70-year-old married sister w/ no children; mid-30s sister who works full-time, dh is the stay-at-home parent, and theyve adopted 2 children through the foster care system; and a single sister. Mother's Day Last year I used the last verse of "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" and the song "Teacher/Mother Do You Love Me" for the Mother's Day Primary songs in sacrament meeting. Well give you an honest deal! What does it mean when we want to remove motherhood from Mother's Day? Said she, If you havent convinced your mother that you love her the other 364 days of the year, nothing you say on Mothers Day is worth a damn.. I hope Sunday goes well for you. I did this for five years and the sisters seemed to enjoy sitting, chatting, and not having a child demanding a bit of their pie. So far, so good. On the road this week I attend Mother's day services with the fourth ward in St George Utah. Avoid speaking of angel mothers. Uchtdorf. Listen to her. Motherhood as a path to choose to be a better disciple of Christ by caring for those Christ lives.feed my sheep, etc. I have been avoiding the mother's day sacrament meeting for the last couple of years. Can I suggest NOT sending the youth out hunting all women? Replies to my comments
Its never the men. Fun Photos of Latter-day Saint Leaders in the Snow! when she becomes a God like I know she will she will be an inspriation to all ladys, In the mean time, please, PLEASE, dont go hunting the sisters. As a member of our bishopric, I assigned the topics for this weeks talks, all motherhood focused, and I have forwarded your paragraph with Elder Eyrings quote to each of them. I still dont understand it, which is probably why Im still very nervous about having kids. Think about your message and how it will sound to the entire spectrum of your sisters in the ward. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. It was my missionary farewell, back when such things were acceptable. My wife spoke on Mothers Day (which I originally thought was a bad choice, because she herself appears to the outside world to be the perfect mother) about her own mother and some of the simple things her mother had done for her that made a big difference in her life and how grateful she was. Actually, Ive never heard anything about Heavenly Mother beyond, Isnt it so wonderful that we believe in a Heavenly Mother?!. Church meetings Sacrament Meeting Overview To find a ward near you, try the Meetinghouse Locator, which will also provide sacrament meeting times, driving directions, and contact information. They do not need to be perfect in order to partake of the sacrament, but they should have a spirit of humility and repentance in their hearts. Have a variety of ages speak on ideas or what they've done to help their mothers and ways they've stayed close to their mothers. Sacrament Meeting - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints So He can be ideal AND real. Ere the sun goes down. Sacrament - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Which meeting do you think would be more meaningful to the participants? Love for mothers is good, but sometimes there is a fine, fine line between love and dysfunction. I totally agree. Next, it is always very specific so as to not offend anyone. Women focused or mainly about Christ too. She was not a perfect mother, but I loved her. In one of my wards, the women of the congregation were given wooden spoons as their gifts at the end of the meeting. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/04/daughters-of-god?lang=eng, Ray (#58) Steve Ps post is evidence that a talk from 2007 which has been essentially corrected is still being recycled today. Can anyone say overdone? It falls short when it is not delivered with love, patience, acceptance, humility, an understanding of the limitations of REALITY, and the the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Although I have the suspicion that he had an ulterior motive of hoping never to be asked to speak again. Excellent suggestions, Mark. Disciples should take this personal holiday to their own homes to celebrate it when and how they choose. I actually think its good to celebrate both Mothers and Fathers Days with the caveat to be sensitive to the feelings of those who have difficulty with that celebration. Its hard for those without children, who are likely never to have children, to listen to motherhood talks that don't address their situation. Last year, I gave this talk. Great post, Mark! We also have free LDS program covers and printable LDS program covers you can print off at home. One of my favorite talks ever wasnt a Mothers Day talk but was given by a mother talking about mothering (we were on vacation, so didnt know the woman speaking). The perfect hymn for Mothers Day Sacrament meeting. One year they handed out Sheri Dews talk Are We Not All Mothers? and I thought that was cool. I have seen women leave the meeting in tears, and I know others who have learned, through sad experience, that it is best for them to take a break from church on Mothers Day. I know that traditionally it has been men and children who honor mothers. Im asking this out of genuine curiosity/responsibility for handing stuff out. And out the door I flee. I have to go home right after Sacrament meeting, because the Sisters all bring their flowers with them to the other meetings. Not using individual's names, I told stories of selfless service performed by sisters in our ward that I had observed during my time as bishop. Those who are not disciples of Christ or do not have faith will find it painful to see the faith of others; thus no one should celebrate Christmas openly. To the light the lost ones leading, The fathers dont seem to feel as guilty about things as the mothers do,,,. I struggled with infertility for nearly a decade. Tell the moms that you'll be playing a game with the kids on Mother's Day and that . lesson about prayer. The Bishopric's Guide to Mother's Day at Church Thank you. We like to celebrate mothers in the Church and we like to ignore fatherhood. I believe he has mellowed and gained wisdom over the years and was a part of a later bishopric. After living with me for almost 17 years, hed better get it right! Again, its about building testimony and gaining faith. Well, I wont bore you with all the mediocre talks over the years, I will just tell you that the best song for MD from the primary children was Armies of Helaman. How about honoring our mothers by not just focusing on what they do or have done for us (guilt trip for those that feel they never do enough) but focus on ways the members can help their mothers throughout each stage of their life. It was a very honest list, but emphasized that the things she would change had nothing to do with looking good, acting a certain way, or different callings. I dont see why having a Tiger Mom would be necessarily any more or less traumatizing than having a Don Draper Mom. She was a wonderful example for motherhood, womanhood, and peoplehood. So He can be ideal AND real. I think it turned out great. Ive endured (and thats the right word) too many Mothers Days that were awful, meaningless, and unrealistic. Kristine, thank you again. Ive never objected to any Mothers Day program, and in my ward, all women get a gift, married, single, divorced, widowed, with or without children. For years the tradition in my ward was a simple gift for all sisters 18 and older. With a purpose firm and willing, But one thing is for sure, Ill be drawing on much of this. If my kids are with me on MD I go, but FD is just too painful. Up til now, I have endured going because I thought I had to. My mother died just a little less than a year ago, and I find that I never appreciated Mothers Day at all until now that my mother is gone. The Spirits constant companionship is one of the greatest gifts of mortality. But shes never experienced the horrors I have where the local ward nut case talks about how his wife isnt putting out thanks to menopause. We can all sound harsh at times, but this seems to be a community of sorts and following through on the different dicussions helps put context to opinions expressed. Its a complete set-up for failure. It is based only partially on a professional clergy with access to time-proven messages and more likely on fundamental theological differences. Yes. JUST kidding. I also have plenty of friends who are single sisters and they mourn growing older and menopause because they wont be able to have the children they want to hold and love. But as for now no praise deserved but the praze to the heavenly Father. This is brilliant, Mark. In order to equally celebrate Fatherhood , the males (12 years+) all get Nachos on Fathers Day (served up by the RS Presidency.). Please Please Please! The Best Ward Mother's Day Gift - Leading Saints This has been a great reminder to be sensitive to all in the congregation with the Holy Ghost as a guide. But her mother held a yardstick, and if her daughter played the wrong key, her mother smacked her across the back ofher hands, thus providing sufficient negative reinforcement to motivate her to do it right the next time through. I remember something I was told many years ago by a young man in Provo, UT. Evry cry of pity heeding, Thanks, kc! Make sure you understand where that line is. Christmas is not a universal holiday and thus we should not celebrate one day a year, We focus on Christ every day and every Sunday so there is no need to celebrate on Christmas. It is even worse when women are so enthused with Father's Day that they want to ignore it completely - as in absolutely not mention it. Thanks. Reading over those messages, it is hard to come up with any form of consensus other than, everyone has a different opinion. Nothanks to my back problems got to fly non-stop from Atlanta to Seattle. The sacrament provides an opportunity for Church members to ponder and remember with gratitude the life, ministry, and Atonement of the Son of God. The best Mothers Day talk Ive ever heard was an illustration of this principle. Diversity and Unity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Environmental Stewardship and Conservation, Joseph Smiths Teachings about Priesthood, Temple, and Women, Peace and Violence among 19th-Century Latter-day Saints, The Manifesto and the End of Plural Marriage, Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham.