http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-6,00.html"The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church." I am grateful to Elder Dallin H. Oaks for addressing this subject. Most of us can identify with distractions while the "sacrament" is being passed...Whether it was our children needing our attention or our thoughts far, far, and away....perhaps this address will help us find ways to "prepare" for this sacred time in our week...
Will look forward to your thoughts on this important subject.
A few thoughts... Buddy and I went to a funeral mass last week and the catholics put us to shame as far as singing. Everyone sings... it sounds so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting that he mentions worship for music not for performance. I hard Morgan Busch (from Lake Mary Ward) sing in sacrament meeting once. He is such a sweet humble young man and he truly sang for worship not to take any attention on himself. Beautiful.
I had a similar experience to the one shared about the sacrament being taken to a bedfast brother. I've been there to watch the aaronic Priesthood administer the sacrament to my dying grandmother and another time to my very ill father. Both times I was truck by the fact that the power of the ordinance is not in the chapel, not in the sacrament table, not in the cloth, not in the trays but in the simple ordinance itself as pronounced by a humble aaronic priesthood young man. So powerful.
Also noticed that it is just a suggestion that Aaronic priesthood wear white shirts to bless the sacrament (wherever possible). Perhaps we shouldn't be so harsh on these boys if they've hit a snafu (shirt is dirty, couldn't find it) but are still wonderful and worthy.
As for text messaging I wish he hadn't qualified it by saying to not text people in other locations because one of my sons (I won't name names) texts his pal on the other end of the bench. I know I know listen to the spirit of the law.
What do you think about the comment that amusement, laughter and light-mindedness are out of place. Should we not tell funny stories, start out talk with a Mormon joke etc. It occurred to me that Gail had once been told by a priesthood leader that her laughter was inappropriate to sacrament meeting. Perhaps what was inappropriate was something funny being said? Do you agree?
Anyway great talk and a good reminder to focus better and be more reverent.
Oh I read some e-mail comments from a sister that is in a ward that they are not allowed to even whisper one word in the chapel. Not a greeting, not a question... nothing. She was complaining because it is often hard to catch someone elsewhere in the building if you have to touch base about something. What do you think? I do feel that stress to find someone for a quick word before they exit out another building and off to YW or Primary. What do you think?
Sandee
Sandee, you offer some great questions...I have to admit...after reading this talk...I find that I was...in need of "repentance"....before I ever LEFT the chapel after Sacrament meeting...because...I am guilty of nearly everything he told us we shouldn't do...(I never have TEXTED in a SACRAMENT MEETING, however) (smile) You asked about a "quick word" - is it inappropriate...It seems according to Elder Oaks...if we need to say a "quick word"...that, perhaps, we should motion to the person we need to speak to...and step outside the chapel...so as to ALLOW those who are in the chapel...to meditate without any "whispering" or "conversation" in the chapel...I suppose, this means "greetings" as well...It would "disturb", again, those who are preparing to partake of the sacrament...
ReplyDeleteI can see...that during this time of preparing to partake of the sacrament...if I want to read...it should only be my "scriptures", not any type of church books, etc....The most SACRED EVENT in the HISTORY OF MAN...was the ATONEMENT...so if we are "commemorating the Savior's death and sufferings for the redemption of the world..." then...what I am taking from this talk...is that the chapel is like being on SACRED GROUND...before and DURING our SACRAMENT meeting...in order to HONOR this MOST IMPORTANT EVENT...Plus, if I am to be in the spirit of a BROKEN HEART and CONTRITE SPIRIT...in order to EXPERIENCE the "atoning sacrifice of our Savior"...I must put ALL THINGS FROM MY MIND...and be heavily concentrating on the SAVIOR...Am I on the right track in my thinking?
Debbie, our family attended the Mexico City Temple Dedication last night (Chris served his mission in Mexico City)... as you know the Parr building was (for this event) turned into a special annex of the temple itself. We were met at the door and reverently asked to show our tickets. Throughout the building there was not even a whisper. When we entered the chapel the spirit was palpable. Honestly I have never felt the spirit so strong in that building before a word was even said. We entered and the chapel was completely silent. It was so sweet and wonderful. Not long after taking a seat a younger gentleman behind us started chatting with the fellow behind him. I guess he had not read the back of his ticket that indicated we were to have temple reverence. They chatted for awhile. I have attention deficit and I was so terribly distracted by his conversation. I gave a few pleading glances (at least I hoped my glances said 'could you please finish your conversation so the sweet peace that was here can return?) but he continued to chat. Finally his friend left our area and it was silent again. Oh one interesting thing. We were not allowed to bring anything in. No backpacks, purses, cell phones... I found that contributed to the quiet as well. I was so mad at myself as I had planned to bring my bible and had forgotten so I had to read Buddy's Book of Mormon. Don't misunderstand I love the Book of Mormon it's just that I can hardly study the scriptures without marking and this wasn't my own book.
ReplyDeleteAnyway it was interesting. I'm not sure how we could work toward that in our sacrament meeting. It takes everyone to be totally reverent to obtain that level of the spirit.
Also what do you think. Once we have the closing prayer can we visit and nurture one another? With Sunday School in the chapel we don't have that luxury of moving on to a more communicative class... we are still there??
Sandee
What you EXPERIENCED in the CHAPEL for the rededication of Mexico City Temple probably illustrates, perhaps, the difference on how we "behave" in the chapel...The chapel was turned into a "temple" therefore...the instructions on what was expected during that experience was RAISED UPWARD...When the chapel is in use for a SACRAMENT MEETING, then...there is a CODE of behavior associated with that...per Elder Oaks's teachings...When the chapel is used for SUNDAY SCHOOL, FIRESIDES,SEMINARY GRADUATIONS, and a number of other purposes, there is a code of behavior, but different levels of STRICTNESS in terms of "reverance" is associated with the PURPOSE of the meeting... hough we are to develop a "reverent" manner in ALL that we do...I think there is a time and place where the SACREDNESS of the event will determine the LEVEL of conversation...Am I making any sense, here? If I am, am I off track in this mode of thinking?
ReplyDeleteI believe our understanding of the solemnity of the Sacramaent meeting is like the rungs on a ladder...we are close to one another in the ward and our laughter is not out of "wildness" but from affection for each other...we feel good to be there, to embrace, to see our "extended family"...it is very hard to walk in and not speak to anyone...it is hard to "round" up everyone you wanted to greet afterwards for they are running out all 4 doors. And for me...babies...are my downfall - EVERYTHING they do amuses me...but having said all that...I see the wisdom as I glance upward on the ladder and realize the untold blessings accompanied by tremendous impressions from the Spirit. I know it is for our good; for our "spiritual" good - we ARE to rise much higher than we have comfortably settled into.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read what an apostle and prophet have spoken about that sacred meeting (in this talk; also by Bruce R. McConkie who said we should abstain from all laughter in the chapel)...they...my leaders...who have the quality of my soul uppermost on their minds..I will obey and greet the "hidden treasure" that surely can be found in so complying with prophetic advice.
I want to imagine what awaits for me on those rungs above my head...it must be even greater than the feelings I feel when I talk and laugh with my friends there in the chapel...a greater love, a deeper joy, an inexpressible opening of who knows what personal revelation awaits! I will do better - no, that's a crutch, saying you'll do better, because it kinda puts it off - if an apostle of the Lord in this talk wants me to reach higher...then I will quickly embrace...even if I don't yet understand or fully "get it"...it is enough he has asked this of me...because as we know, it's really the "LOrd" asking this of me
THROUGH his mouthpiece on the earth right now.
We may have to adopt the saying "I know not except the Lord commands me"...until we have grown in understanding and our spiritual eyes have matured, then we will know and "get it", but until then isn't it a walk in faith, a raising of my right hand when I sustain my leaders...to just...do it! If I'm to be tested and can't pass this teensy test of complying with what's been asked, then heaven help me when the "real" stuff comes!
It's a changing of the mind set too - our "preparing" and washing and finding those white shirts way in time before the Sabbath; maybe emailing those we may not "catch" at church, ahead of time and tell them we love them, but will greet them before in the hall or after because we want to show our respect for a servant of the Lord.
I was raised to never enter the chapel in pants even on other days of the week (unless cleaning), even if just passing thru...I read in the Church News of saints in poor countries who take off their shoes because of the mud and rain on them when entering church (even if in a broken down rented room)to show "respect"...I believe and am excited to know there is much for me to learn, to feel and experience...
If we truly desire a "celestial sphere" then seems we'd be knocking chairs down that are in our path to get to our Ensign on the end table to eagerly read with a open heart, a heart for God "what else can I do to better show my love to the Christ I say I love"...yes, I'd say our attitudes would change, we wouldn't see the "laughter" issue as a restriction, but as a way to become more Christ-like...must be so, why else would an apostle be so impressed to say so? We would lose the desire to make jokes at the pulpit...our hearts would be broken in humility for what the Savior has done for us...
and the beauty of it is we can help each other, drawing us even closer together because we are working "together" to please the Lord....it must be an indescribable feeling to stand on those upper rungs....look forward to what that's going to feel like:)
The hardest part of going into the chapel will be refraining from "hugging, greeting and talking" with my brothers and sisters...BEFORE Sacrament meeting...but,I like your thoughts, Joanna...on what it might be like...to "stand on the upper rungs on a ladder"...We have been taught that the FIRST GREAT COMMANDMENT was to "Love the Lord FIRST"....and the SECOND GREAT COMMANDMENT is to "love thy neighbor"...Here we will have an opportunity...to put it in correct order...
ReplyDeleteDebbie, we only need to refrain from talking...we most certainly can hug and greet and whisper a "hi" - those are loving feelings and things we do in the temple and in no way would take away from our "worshipping" feeling in our hearts...we can whisper "I'll talk with you after Sacrament"...I can already feel the spirit this will create...it will be marvelous!....
ReplyDeleteOnce the Sacrament meeting closes and the emblems of the Sacrament are taken out...although we meet in the chapel for SS and even if we did for RS...I would say we are certainly fine to talk and discuss, etc....there still needs to be a respect for the "chapel", just as if it were a Friday and the lights were out in there...just like we hold the upper reverance for the flag and never let it touch the ground...even those little cheap ones I would always tell the children to never lay them down on the floor; I never lay my scriptures on the floor unless they're in their case, but never the book itself touching the floor - like our garments - it's an "unspoken" code of honor...
I appreciate those leaders who are endeavoring to lift us higher, reminding us to be more holy...the scriptures are full of wonderful verses about having a "holier walk, a holier conversation"....we need to see beyond the words in this talk and FEEL the beauty ot it...marvelous!!
Sorry to be so late to the discussion. You all have had such wonderful thoughts and questions. I say ditto. This was one of my favorite talks from Conf. I love going to the temple to take in the peace and perspective there but also to step out of the world and into another. I wish we could have a little bit of that during Sacrament Meeting. It strenghthens me, and inspires to return to the day to day grind.
ReplyDeleteI wish everyone could have the experience of playing prelude for Sacrament Meeting. There you are up on that bench, playing those beautiful hymns, singing the words in your head, feeling the Spirit. Then you glance out over the Chapel and almost everyone is oblivious, milling around, chatting, etc. It is such a contrast! What a missed opportunity!
It has been a challenging year. I need every moment I can find of peace and comfort in the Spirit. I hope this talk will inspire us all to help each other. Hugs!