You raise an interesting question. There is, I think, an extant to which religion fulfills an aesthetic need. The beauty found in a given religion is not necessarily appealing to everyone, and it’s tempting to think that we’d feel the spirit in any environment that conveys gospel truth. Taste matters, and it’s easy to see that a rendition of “We Thank Thee, Oh God, by the band Black Sabbath would not be likely to uplift anyone.

Nephi practically commands us to use “modern language and examples” when he tells us to liken the scriptures unto ourselves. But I don’t think that this requires us to use language that cheapens those that we talk to. I doubt, for example, your neighbor would appreciate being called, the “Ultimate As-Is Shopper,” so why would God?

In entertainment, many movies that are worth watching are not worth watching more than once. A few, the classics, we can watch over and over again. I think that we can add relevance to our meetings in memorable ways that still do not cheapen them.

How can we add energy and “relevance” to our meetings? Should we even try?

Gladys Knight and her Saints Unified Voices choir came to town some months ago and it was interesting to see gospel-style music sung (with accompanying keyboards, bass and drums) and to see LDS people learning to clap along to music like that. It was a fun experience that only briefly and temporarily expanded our worship music experience … but it sure was fun.

I definitely think many sacrament meetings could use more “life”. In my opinion, this is often achieved by GOOD musical numbers.

Katie: Did you ever get to serve in Ann Arbor? (I was the WML there for several years in the ward with sisters).

I like our meetings – not too much formality, except surrounding the sacrament. Very minimalist. Not too much that will detract from the object at hand.

We need comments from a Quaker (with their silent worship) and an Amishman
with their formal, scripture-based sermons and their s-l-o-w, p-o-n-d-e-r-o-u-s
hymns) for a little balance. *They* might think our services were downright
raucus!

Same with the noise our children make. Members and visitors often comment on
the noise level of our children and how it interferes with worship. I’ve
complained, too. But now that I live in an area with virtually no children,
where families with kids are transfered out of our ward when their kids turn
three so that they can go to the ward with the only primary in the stake,
we have only a handful of infants, and a pair of two-year-old twins. Now, the
occasional infant sounds are precious, and when the twins, who are being
potty-trained, leave meeetings accompanied by a parent, with the kids’
arms folded and their steps oh-so-silent, every head turns and every eye
watches those two-year-olds hungrily all the way up the aisle, and
all the way back a few minutes later.

What might sometimes be a distraction or disturbance — either because it’s
too lively or too tame — actually adds to the spirit under other circum-
stances. I think it’s US, and our attitudes, not the style of the service
itself, that makes the difference.

But I do have to admit that when I visit some church that is too “busy” for
me to think, I don’t feel like I’ve had a chance to worship.

Hi everybody.

Nice new blog you got here. I just wanted to add my comment to the question of whether we should….”add energy” to our meetings. Whenever I hear of these mega-churches and their bombastic performances, (and I’ve been to a few–I was a baptist before joining the church), I think of 1 Corinthians 13:1. Paul talks about charity here. He says:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

I want to change that, if I could alter scripture and say this:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not [the Spirit], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

My most moving and edifying moments at church came in the quietest of times when the speaker brought the Spirit through his talk. We go to church to be edified, not to be entertained. A Gladys Knight performance sounds great–she’s a great singer–and normally music helps bring in the Spirit, but in the end, it is not the performance that matters, but how the Spirit is brought in. There is a reason why certain instruments are not allowed for use in Sacrament meeting. You’ll never see a drummer with a guitarist and an amp up front in our church for a reason.

How can you hear the still small voice with all the racket?

Note that the “read more” link is not working for me on any post. I had to click “# comments” to read the full post.

I recently have gone to the Catholic church and found it spiritual in a whole different manner then an LDS church.

My wife, a firm believer, has commented that the local ward, and most wards, cookie cutter meetings bore her to death. Her one light is the odd choir performences.

I meant that I agree with the main post, not necessarily the above comment, no. 14.

I happen to like cookie cutters. And cookies.

Rhapsidiomite, that scripture you site reminds me of a Monty Python lyric from a song in The Life of Brian:

If life seems jolly rotten, there’s something you’ve forgotten. And that’s to laugh and smile and dance and sing.

Crystal, that’s a tough one. If one does not enjoy church on some level, that seems to be something of an impassable obstacle to long-term participation. I can only suggest trying another ward.

DKL:

Always look on the bright side of life!

(Another “merry.”)

Rhapsodiomite,

“Always look on the bright side of life!”

Even up on the cross?

Jordan (#6): Yes, I did serve in Ann Arbor. I serverd in the Huron Valley ward for six months with Sister Hollingshead and Sister…oh dear…it’ll come to me… from Aug 97 to Jan 98. The Huron Valley had an awesome stake missionary program – at the beginning of each school year they called five couples to be stake missionaries and work with the sisters. It was a great experience – they found most of our investigators. Also, we had eight dinner appointments a week.

DKL (2)–

I’ve always wanted to see a Black Sabbath rendition of “Israel, Israel God is calling” in the style of “War Pigs.”

You can generally play whatever instrument you want, as long as it’s not a Sunday meeting, and not in the chapel. Break out the tamborines, drums, and guitars, as long as it’s in the cultural hall or RS room, and not on a Sunday.

I’ve seen no rule that forbids visiting other churches, as long as you still attend your 3 hour block. If you have an 1:00pm afternoon ward, it should be no problem to find a tamborine-banging congregation that has their show at 10 or 11 am.

Hey, if the LDS church can donate tens of thousands of dollars to help build a Hindu Temple in Utah, a few visits to some holy-rollers can’t hurt.

But I can promise you, if you do recognize the Spirit, you’ll eventually get bored with any other congregation where the emphasis is more on outward shows and emotional manufacturing.

[...] – New blog!  Mormon Mentality features several LDS commenters I’ve come to know, including Proud Daughter of Eve, who’s married to a Catholic, and annegb, who’s been sympathetic to Catholicism in her comments.  I peg her as a Someday Catholic. And for my next post, I will have a never-before-seen guest piece! [...]

Kaimi told of a great guy on his mission who spiced up his meetings. Maybe we could pitch in and have him come to the US and visit our wards. I think he break dances during his testimonies or something.

I’m pretty much completely bored with church and the same old trite message. It’s probably me, but I get so sick of the score-keeping patting-of-their-own-back of the majority of the speakers and little real testimony. I think we could use a little evangelism in our meetings. Go Baptists.

PDOE,
My mother-in-law identifies herself as a Baptist. It was fun to go through her hymnal and see how many hymns we share. There are many.

PDOE, now “With God, nothing is impossible” is going to be running through my brain.

You know what would be funny? If you were playing prelude, and slipped in a little of “My girl” or something, just a few bars. And see who notices.

I think it’s really sad how we will enjoy a musical number that departs from the norm, that maybe has a little more rhythm or soul and then feel guilty for it and feel embarrassed for the often-expert performer.

I understand this is an older blog but I just came accross it and I just happen to have two bits to say. It is a good point you bring up. There are many appealing things in other religions and though they may not be appropriate for Sunday worship, they are uplifting in other settings. However, this demonstrates what happened to the original church that Christ established and why we have so many Christian religions today. Too many people want to adapt Christ and His teachings to better suite their desires instead of adapting themselves to fit Christ.
Ultimately it comes down to this, it is the Lords Church and He truley leads it today and it is conducted the way He wants it to be conducted. If we truley believe this and we aren’t getting as much as we would like out of church the best thing may be to re-evaluate ourselves and work on the attitude that we show up with on Sunday.
Now please don’t take offense to this I do not mean it to be harsh or offensive. I only mention it because of a love for each of you my Brothers and Sisters and a desire to see all of us live a worthy and faithful life.