Real Life Answers

This post comes from guest author Luke, a student at Harvard Divinity School.

Different faith traditions use different words to describe the words they preach: sermons, homilies, discourses, etc. As Latter-day Saints we use a term that is worth explanation: our sermons are called “talks,” and if you ever visit a Latter-day Saint congregation during its sacrament services, you are almost guaranteed to hear at least two to three of them.
The unsophisticated, and somewhat ambiguous, nature of the word “talk,” points in some ways to the nature of the discourse itself. Latter-day Saints do not employ a paid ministry, nor do our congregations have designated preachers. Instead, each week two to three members of our congregation (women, men, and youth) are asked to speak for 10–15 minutes on a previously arranged theme (e.g. faith, suffering, the mission of Jesus Christ, etc.). Church members are usually given 1–2 weeks to prepare their remarks. No one is required to give a talk, we are simply invited to accept or refuse the opportunity.
As a student at Harvard Divinity School, I believe in the godliness of all inspired speech. I’d like to conclude, however, with why I love the “talk” format within the LDS Church:

1. All are teachers and learners alike.  By giving one another opportunities to seriously prepare and preach to one another, we sustain the Lord Jesus Christ’s mission to convert all of His children into people of great faith. Something changes in the man or woman who prayerfully seeks to study and then teach God’s word to the best of his or her ability. This concept is especially valuable for our youth.
2. A multi-vocal community.  The LDS preaching format reminds us of the importance of our community and of listening to its individual voices. Each week, we learn the word of God from different neighbors with unique sets of life experiences, concerns, and insights.
3. Opportunities to listen and love as Christ does.  As you can probably imagine, this type of system can allow for a wide variety of talks: some perhaps more polished, or more in line with our individual perspectives, than others. And yet despite our personal biases, in all cases we are called to listen to and, most importantly, to love the speaker even as Christ loves and listens to us, regardless of whether or not He agrees with everything we say or do (John 13:34–35).

LDS sacrament services are held every Sunday in local LDS chapels worldwide.

As I leave my apartment each Sunday morning to head to church, I’m struck by how quiet the neighborhood is. Weekdays bring the hustle and bustle of a community rushing separate ways to work and school. On Friday and Saturday nights the restaurants and bars on my street are packed (and parking is extremely frustrating). But Sunday mornings are different.

For some, Sunday is different because it’s the last sleep-in day before a long week of work or study. For other people, it’s different because they understand that God created it to be so.

The pattern began thousands of years ago when God created the earth. In the book of Exodus we learn that God labored for six days to form the earth and everything on it, but on the seventh day he rested — “wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:11). As a Mormon, I also hallow one day each week — Sunday.

Growing up, Sunday was largely about dos and don’ts. Going to the movies and playing at friends’ houses were both don’ts. Attending church and spending quality time with my family (board games and popcorn happened frequently) were definite dos. I appreciate my parents’ efforts to set aside the Sabbath as a holy day, but as I’ve grown up I’ve realized the day is about far more than what I can or can’t do. Ideally, the whole day should be filled with worship to God through prayer, meditation, and study of the scriptures and teachings of modern prophets. Additionally, we can participate in activities patterned after Christ’s behaviors — like visiting a sick friend or serving a neighbor in need.

I still have moments where I think about the don’ts. For example, I abstain from shopping on Sunday, which proves difficult when I’m cooking dinner and I realize I’m missing a seemingly essential ingredient. But overall, I find great peace in dedicating the Sabbath as a day reserved for holy activities. It is a day sanctified by God for his followers; we are blessed by Him when we treat it as such.