People are often surprised at the many places around the world where you can find an LDS (mormon) chapel.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is truly a world-wide church.Its members can be found at almost every point on the globe.So, if like many LDS athletes, you decided to attend an LDS church service during the Olympic Games, what could you expect?
The members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are as diverse as those of any congregation.They’re tall, short, nit-picky, or laid-back.But, they share a common bond.They have a belief in Jesus Christ, a desire to serve Him, and a testimony that the LDS church is His church here on earth.Short, tall, skinny, fat, athletic or intellectual, these beliefs bind them all together.Plus, a little something more: leadership and programs that work like clockwork.No matter where you may find that LDS chapel, when you step inside, the people may be different, but the doctrine is the same.
Everywhere around the world, LDS congregations are organized in the same manner.They are lead by the same types of spiritual advisors.They are taught the same principles, in fact the very same lessons, at almost exactly the same time.As a church led by volunteers and a joyful willingness to provide service there is a hierarchy of responsibility.Ultimately, all leadership, all congregations, feed back to the same place: they all sit at the feet of a living prophet and take their direction from him.
So, if you walked into an LDS chapel in China, you’d find a mixture of cultures.In some meetings they would speak your language, in others not.In others still, there might be several languages being used and interpreted all at the same time.
A Sunday worship service actually consists of a three types of meetings that take place over a three hour block of time.In some places it may be necessary to alter the order slighty, but the types of services and their content does not change.These meetings include a general worship service called sacrament meeting, followed by Sunday School and scriptural instruction and finally specialized classes to meet the needs of the various members including women’s meetings, men’s meetings, as well as meetings especially for the children and teenagers.
The sacrament meeting serves as a time to renew covenants that we have made through blessing, passing, and taking sacraments to remember Jesus Christ and His great sacrifice for each of us.The remainder of this meeting is used for instruction under the direction of the local leaders.This instruction is given by the members themselves, not a professional speaker or evangelist.Once a month, the meeting takes a freer form allowing any who would like to share their testimony of Jesus Christ and His church in a formal setting.
Sunday School and specialized curricula are all designed and outlined by the general leadership of the church, under the direction of the prophet, his counselors, and the quorum of the twelve apostles.For these meetings, the curriculum is universalized.No matter where you are, you will be taught the same doctrines of Christ in approximately the same time frames.
Whether in China or your own neighborhood, we welcome you to step inside and see what worship is like in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
You can also read a little bit about Josh McAdams’ time at an LDS church service, here: http://www.usatf.org/Athlete-Bios/Archive-Bios/Joshua-McAdams.aspx
Vai Sikahema, an LDS reporter also provides an account, here: http://www.deseretnews.com/faith/mormontimes/
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