What do Mormons do at Church on Sunday?

Once again, this topic is in response to someone who voted on the next topic. I appreciate your comments, questions, and concerns. They are one example to me that you are truly seeking Christ!

 

Three Hours?!?!




Wonder What's on the inside? Doors are open!

That's Right. Church on Sunday lasts for Three Hours. It is separated into one hour segments. The first of which is a Sacrament Service. The second and Third are class room experiences to help us learn of Christ, grow closer to Christ and grow closer to each other.
*For this blog, I'm just going to give a more brief overview of what goes on, but rest assured, there are no secrets. For those who want more information on one or more of the segments, I will add them in as possible topics on the poll. (left hand side of the page, near the top of the blog posts) Also, If anything I say doesn't make sense, feel free to ask for clarification in the comments section at the bottom of this post.


First Hour: Sacrament Service




An empty sacrament room

This most closely resembles Worship services of other Faiths. Every person that so desires to participate comes together into one large room in our meeting house. There we sing together, we pray together, we listen to people talk about different doctrines that Christ and other Prophets have spoken, and we partake of the sacrament together.This service is our most cherished and important "meeting".
Partaking of the sacrament helps us fulfill the commandment Jesus gave to His Apostles while he was on the earth, which says:
"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."
 (Luke 22:19-20)


Young Men preparing the Sacrament

Something you may have noticed that also sets us apart from many groups was that we listen to "people" talk, not a "person" or a "pastor". That's because in our Church, we have an entirely lay ministry (No one is payed to preach. They are willing members of the Church who spend a couple weeks preparing to teach us from the scriptures about Christ and His teachings whenever they are asked)

 

Second Hour: Sunday School

After Sacrament, we then separate into smaller classes based on age and spiritual needs. For example, Children join together in a class called "Primary" where they learn about Christ, Commandments, Heavenly Father, and Prophets in fun activities and songs just for them. Youth Ages 13 - 18 meet together to learn the same basic principals, but on a higher level of participation and understanding (in larger wards, they will sometimes separate them into 2 year increments) adults also meet together to learn, once again, the same principals, at a more advanced stage, and in a way that it becomes more applicable to them in their lives.
Here, too, none of the teachers are paid; and so most of the time, these classes rely heavily on group participation, for as Jesus Taught:
"...where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)
Your comments, questions, concerns, and feelings are completely welcome. However, if you prefer to just sit, listen, and learn, you are more than welcome to do so.
(Examples of Youth, Primary, and Priesthood classes on the left. I couldn't find a good one of the Women)

Third Hour: Priesthood, Relief Society, Young Men, Young Women, and Primary.

Phew... That was a mouth full!
Once again we separate and meet in different groups for classes. Girls ages 12 to 18 are invited to attend Young Women classes. Women age 18 and up attend Relief Society. Boys and Men ages 12 and up attend various Priesthood meetings. Children ages 3 - 11 attend other Primary classes. (Most often, a nursery is provided for Children from 18 months to 3 years for both second and Third hour.)
These classes are designed for each of us to develop closer elation ships with people of our own age and gender, as well as allow us to gain insight from these close peers. Although each class or meeting has an un-payed teacher, here too, participation is appreciated (though not required ;)

Things to Consider

-These meetings, services, and classes all work together to help us as Children of God fulfill the Words of Nephi, which are: "...we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:26 in the Book Of Mormon)

-No Brain washing takes place during any of the Three Hours of Church

- (Guilt Trip incoming) God gives you every single minute of every single day for you to live, laugh, love, grow, play, work, and experience, and he asks in return for you to learn of Him speak of Him, and grow in His influence for three Hours a week. (for the record, a week is 168 hours. 3 hours of that is less than 2% of your time) Isn't the Lord worth three hours of your time?

-For a more in depth description of our Church Building and some of the things we do there, visit http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/what-you-will-find-when-you-step-inside-a-mormon-chapel