Sabbath observance: Church members set Sunday aside as the Sabbath, or the Lord’s day—a day to worship God and rest from their labours. After attending worship services, they may spend the remainder of the day quietly at home, in visiting family or friends, and in doing good.

Mission: Missionaries generally serve when they are between 19 and 21 years old. Retired people are also encouraged to serve missions. Prior to the missionary’s departure, he or she speaks in a sacrament meeting on doctrines or principles of the restored gospel. Family and friends are welcome to attend. As there is no paid ministry, the missionaries usually serve from 18 months to 2 years while being supported by themselves or their family. When a missionary returns home after the mission, he or she reports on the mission experience in a sacrament meeting. Family and friends are also welcome to attend this meeting.

Marriage: For marriages performed in the temple, only a few guests are invited inside the temple to witness the ceremony. These guests are Church members who qualify to be in the temple. Other guests join the wedding party outside the temple. After the temple ceremony, a couple may have photographs taken with family members and close friends outside on the temple grounds. Couples also typically have a wedding reception that evening or on a subsequent evening. The nature of the reception varies with local customs but preserves the reverent and happy spirit of appreciation for the creation of a new family. If it is the local custom, and unless the families indicate otherwise, it is typically appropriate to bring gifts.

Funerals: A Latter-day Saint funeral is similar to traditional Christian funerals in practice. However, the funeral is usually directed by the ward bishop and held in a chapel. The spirit of the funeral is generally peaceful, reflecting the religious belief that families can be reunited after this life. So funerals are conducted with a spirit of hope and sometimes joy. Of course family and friends grieve for their loss, but they know that they will be with their loved one again. This understanding brings great comfort. It is appropriate to send flowers, unless the family indicates otherwise, or if it is contrary to local custom.

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