Ward: a congregation. Wards are organized according to the number of active members within a specific geographical location.

Branch: a very small congregation. Branches are also organized according to the number of active members within a specific geographical location, but they are much smaller congregations.

Stake: a group of congregations. Stakes are organized according to the number of wards or branches within a specific geographical location.

Meeting house: the church building where a group of wards and branches meet for Sunday meetings and other activities during the week. It is usually shared by 2-4 wards and branches. Also sometimes called a Ward building.

Stake Center: a larger meeting house or church. It usually has a gym with a stage for performances and other activities, the chapel is larger to accommodate more people, and a viewing screen for watching televised programs. The Stake President’s office is located in the Stake Center.

Bishop: a lay pastor for a ward. Bishops usually serve for a period of about five years, sometimes more.

First/Second Counselor: all Bishops and Presidents of all the auxiliaries in the LDS Church have two assistants called Counselors. Not only do they assist the Bishop, but they have specific responsibilities dependent on whether they are the First Counselor or the Second.

Primary: the children’s program for ages 18 months to 12 years. Primary meets during the 2nd and 3rd hours in the 3-hour block on Sundays. The classes are arranged according to birth year and each class moves on in January of each year. The Primary is divided into Nursery (18 months to 3 years), Junior Primary (3 to 7 years), and Senior Primary (8 to 11 years).

The Nursery is a self-contained classroom where the children play, have a short lesson and a snack. The older children meet in their classrooms for a lesson time, then divide into Junior and Senior primary for group activities, lessons and singing. During opening and/or closing exercises, a few children are assigned talks (speeches), scripture recitation and prayer to do in front of the entire Primary.

Young Men/Women: the program for youth ages 12 to 17 years. They meet during the 3rd hour and have weekly activities. They divide up according to age and gender and then move on to their next class on their birthday. The girls are divided into Beehives (12-13), Mia Maids (14-15), and Laurels (16-17). The boys are divided into Deacons (12-13), Teachers (14-15) and Priests (16-18).

Mutual: When speaking of Young Men and Young Women programs collectively, they are often called Mutual.

Gospel Doctrine: the main adult Sunday School class.

Gospel Essentials: a Sunday School class for those who are new to the Church, whether they are newly baptized or visiting.

Relief Society: the women’s program. On Sundays, they meet for lesson time during the 3rd hour in the 3-hour block. Once a quarter, they have an activity night called Enrichment Night. During Enrichment Night, they have a short lesson then divide into workshops on a variety of topics of interest to women. They also have various satellite groups that meet weekly or monthly. The groups vary widely by each ward are designed to meet the individual needs of the ward and women.

Priesthood: the men’s program. On Sundays, they meet for lesson time during the 3rd hour in the 3-hour block. They have quarterly family activities.

Calling: a position or responsibility in the Church, such as Primary teacher or Bishop. Members are invited to serve in the Church through their Bishops and/or his Counselors by inviting them into his office and extending the request that they serve in a specific capacity. The member can accept, decline or request time to think and pray about it before accepting or declining.

Sustain: to pledge support for someone in their calling.

Setting Apart: when a member receives, accepts and is sustained for a calling, they are then “set apart” for the calling. This is done with the Bishop and/or his Counselors laying their hands on the head of the person to bless the newly called member and offer guidance specific to the member and his calling.

Sacrament: often called communion in other faiths. The sacrament is offered each week except during Stake and General Conferences. It is bread and water.

Sacrament Meeting: the worship service. Often the 1st hour of the 3-hour block, Sacrament Meeting is the time when the sacrament is blessed and offered to the members of the congregation. Announcements are made and callings sustained during these meetings. The sermon is given by the members themselves. The Bishop and his Counselors call on members of the Church in advance to prepare talks (sermons or speeches) on a specific topic. There are usually 2-3 talks each week, one of which is given by a youth over the age of 12 years old.

Rebecca W

Becoming LDS is hard

Not only do new members have “the fullness of the everlasting gospel” to learn, but they also have an entire language, lifestyle and to leave behind. We’re all creatures of habit and we all like to feel comfortable. For some, becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is like moving to another country.

It is not an easy thing to become a member of this Church. In most cases it involves setting aside old habits, leaving old friends and associations, and stepping into a new society which is different and somewhat demanding (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Converts and Young Men,” Ensign, May 1997).

Sadly, I have, on occasion, seen newly baptized members criticized and treated poorly because they may talk or act differently than seasoned members. Some weather such actions against them and lean on their belief in the doctrines of the Church. Others, however, are deeply hurt or offended and walk away. Church members need to remember that it is often a significant paradigm shift when becoming a member, and that takes time and patience.

Be accepting

New members need nurturing, and that nurturing must come from Church members, particularly those within their own ward (congregation). They need people who will accept them as they are while helping them to learn and grow toward their potential.

And everyone, especially new members, needs to see friendly faces smiling at them when they walk into the building or classroom. They need to know that they are needed and wanted. They need true friends.

As members of the Church, we have the opportunity to shape the soil in which the new seedlings, or converts, try to grow. We can help provide either a nourishing or a hostile environment. In describing a nourishing environment, President Hinckley has stated that each new member “needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with ‘the good word of God’ (Ensign, May 1997, 47)” (David E. Sorensen, “Why Baptism Is Not Enough,” Ensign, Apr 1999).

Be a friend

After a new member joins your ward, reach out to her. Walk up to her and introduce yourself and your family (if applicable) and what responsibilities you have in the ward. Tell her that she can contact you if she has any questions or needs some support. When she does, do all you can to be kind and accepting. You never know, she might become a cherished friend.

As I reflect back on my 16 years as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I remember many blunders and offenses – either on my part or that of other members. Thankfully I have weathered the fierce winds that blew. I’m still here to tell the tale. I also remember with fondness the members who accepted me as I was at the time yet encouraged me to grow. I will always be grateful for their friendship and kindness.

Rebecca W

Why does the LDS Church put such a strong emphasis on missionary work? Because the Lord commanded it.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

 

Latter-day Saints believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restoration of the church Christ organized during His ministry on earth; they believe that the LDS Church is the only one to contain the full gospel of Jesus Christ. As such, members of the Church believe it is their responsibility to share the message of Jesus Christ and the doctrines of the LDS Church with all of God’s children.

It is because of their belief in a restored church that members of the Church seek out all who might be interested in learning more. They naturally want to share this knowledge with all who will hear their message. They share because of love for the gospel and love for their friends and neighbors.

Latter-day Saints are not only encouraged by their leaders to share the gospel with love and respect, but to also honor the religious beliefs of our friends and neighbors.

“But even more important than respecting other churches for the good work they do, we should respect our fellow human beings—not in spite of their beliefs, but because of them! A man or woman who carefully obeys all the laws and teachings of the Catholic or Buddhist or Shinto or Lutheran religion is obviously striving to do right.” (Gerald E. Jones, “Respect for Other People’s Beliefs,” Ensign, Oct 1977, 69)

It is not the desire of the LDS Church to condemn or criticize those of other faiths but to share their beliefs and knowledge to those who desire to learn more about them. Latter-day Saints are encouraged to share with an attitude of love, accepting their friends and neighbors as they are. Former Church President, George Albert Smith, explained:

“President George Albert Smith, a man of unusual warmth and compassion, expressed very cognecently the attitude we ought to take into a conversation with nonmembers: ‘We have come not to take away from you the truth and virtue you possess. We have come not to find fault with you nor to criticize you. We have not come to berate you because of things you have not done; but we have come here as your brethren. …

 

We are asking [you] to keep all the glorious truths that you have acquired in your churches, that you have absorbed from your scriptures. … Then let us sit down and share with you some of the things that have not yet come into your lives that have enriched our lives and made us happy.’ (Sharing the Gospel with Others, pp. 12–13, 217–19.).” (Gerald E. Jones, “Respect for Other People’s Beliefs,” Ensign, Oct 1977, 69)

When the Lord commanded all who believe in Him to go forth and “preach the gospel to every creature,” He did not say, “except those who might believe something else or who do not look interested.” His intent was for every person to hear His gospel and be provided an opportunity to accept or reject it by their own free will and choice. Therefore, every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is obligated to share the message of the gospel with everyone.

Rebecca W

Once you have invited the missionaries into your home, they will want to talk to you about your faith and religious beliefs and they will share theirs as well. They will invite you to read scriptures from the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon. They will invite you to pray with them, as a family and/or privately about your discussions with them. They will also invite you to read some passages of scripture between meetings.

How do I find missionaries?

There are a variety of ways you can invite the missionaries to come talk to your family. Here are five options available:

1. If you have a friend, family member or neighbor who is a member of the LDS Church, tell her you are interested in meeting the missionaries from her church.
2. Go to the Meetinghouse Locator and enter your address. It will give you the address, directions, and meeting time of your local LDS congregation (Ward).  You will also find contact information for the Bishop of the Ward. Reach out and they will be happy to send someone your way.
3. If you chance to meet a missionary for the Church, invite them into your home.
4. Go to Mormon.org/missionaries. Fill out the form and someone will reach out to you.
5. Contact one of the writers here at LDSBlogs. Or just make a comment on this post. We will be more than happy to help you connect with the missionaries in your area.

They are happy to visit

They will return to your home as many times as you desire to have them there. The entire purpose of full-time missionary work is to be out teaching others about the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When scheduling meetings with the missionaries, give them clear answers to your availability and they will work around your schedule. They will also come at the frequency you desire.

Simply be open about your needs when they visit your home. If I had a better understanding of full-time missionary work when the missionaries were teaching me about the church, I would have had them visit more often and at times that were more convenient for me.

Rebecca W

I asked my friend, “Who are those guys?” He explained that they were full-time missionaries for the Church. Having been intrigued by missionary service since I was about 10 years old, I then expressed interest in learning what the missionaries do.

I was especially interested in what two missionaries in the United States do. My view of missionary service was going out into the wilderness of Africa or something of that nature.

My friend mentioned that sometimes his family had the missionaries over to their home for dinner, which prompted me to say, “Hey, next time they are over at your house, let me know. I’m interested to find out what they do.” Ironically — or planned that day after church — I found myself sitting across the dining room table from those two young men.

As we spoke of what they do and why they were doing it, they explained that they share a message about Jesus Christ and asked if it would be okay if they shared it with me. Believing that they were simply practicing on me, I said, “Sure!” I was also interested to hear what they had to say.

That is what any proselyting missionary does: share a message about Jesus Christ. Full-time missionaries share this message, sun up to sun down, for 18 to 24 months. Most are between the ages of 19 and 26 years old but older single women and married couples also serve as full-time missionaries.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends missionaries to many countries all over the world to share not only the message of Jesus Christ but also the message of the restored gospel and a living prophet and apostles. This is what Latter-day Saints call proclaiming the gospel.

Full-time missionary service begins in the Missionary Training Center (MTC). The Church has 17 training centers in various parts of the world. The most well-known is the center in Provo, Utah. New missionaries are trained in the study and application of the scriptures in their own lives, how to talk about the scriptures with others, and how to effectively teach about the basic beliefs of the Church.

If they are to go to their missions speaking in their native language, the missionaries usually spend only a few weeks in the MTC. Those who are to go forth to teach in a new language usually spend two months in the MTC, and their training includes language instruction.

Once in their assigned area, called a mission, the new missionaries are assigned to a companion who has been serving as a full-time missionary for several months and is well-trained.

Whether new or seasoned, all full-time missionaries spend their days seeking out people who might be interested in their message, teaching those who have invited the missionaries into their homes and completing community service inside their designated area within the mission boundaries.

After a period each morning of personal and companionship scripture study and planning, most missionaries are out working by 9 a.m. and work until about 9 p.m., breaking only for meals and performing service. Part of one day each week is set aside as a Preparation Day where the missionaries are encouraged to write letters to their family and friends, buy their groceries, do their laundry and rest.

Single full-time missionaries are assigned a partner or companion — usually in pairs but occasionally in threesome partnerships. Every 1-4 months, the companionships are shuffled so that a full-time missionary will have 3 or more companions by the end of their service. Married full-time missionaries serve their entire mission service together.

Rebecca W

“With the ever-increasing number of needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with ‘the good word of God’ (Moro. 6:4). It is our duty and opportunity to provide these things (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Converts and Young Men,” Ensign, May 1997).”

Therefore, it is not uncommon for a newly baptized member of the Church to receive a calling soon after his/her baptism. A new member can expect that their calling will be low key while they learn and grow in the gospel of Jesus Christ and doctrines of the Church.

About 2-3 months after my baptism, I was invited into my Bishop‘s office where he talked to me about teaching in the Primary (children’s program), and I accepted the calling to teach the 4- and 5-year-old children each Sunday. My knowledge of the doctrine and culture of the Church was ample for the responsibility and I enjoyed being with the children.

When a member of the Church is invited to accept a calling, the invitation is extended by the Bishop or one of his Counselors (assistants). Typically the member is called into the Bishop’s office where the Bishop or one of his Counselors will talk to them about the calling and the responsibilities of the position. He will then invite them to accept the calling. They can either accept it, decline, or request time to think and pray about it before accepting or declining the calling.

If the member accepts the calling, their name is then read over pulpit to the general membership of the Church in his ward. The members are asked to raise their right hands to sustain (support) the person in that calling or to say that they will not sustain the member. If he is sustained, the newly called member is then invited into the Bishop’s office again to be set apart for the calling. To be set apart means that the Bishop or one of his Counselors lay their hands on the head of the person being set apart and give a blessing and guidance to them for the responsibilities required in the calling for which they have accepted and been sustained.

The time a member is responsible for a calling will vary by the calling. Some are understood to be a pre-determined length of time, but most are up to the individual and Church leaders. It is common for a person to be released from a calling and immediately called to another within the Church. It is also okay to request a release.

In my time as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have served in a variety of callings. Currently I am the Primary teacher for the 3- and 4-year-old class. I have been in this calling for 10 months. Previously I was the 3rd Sunday teacher in the Relief Society. I held that calling for over two years.

Rebecca W