Serving in the Church

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Rebecca - What to Expect at a Mormon Church

Rebecca - What to Expect at a Mormon Church
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Everyone is very friendly and says hello. The first few times are hard because you don't really know anyone or understand the religion, but stick with it.

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One of the great blessings of membership in the Church is the opportunity to serve, for when you give loving service to others, you are serving God.  At baptism, Church members make a covenant to give service and to become aware of others’ physical and spiritual needs (Mosiah 18:8–10) .  Members then give of their time, talents, and means in any way possible to help meet those needs, thus following the example of the Savior, who came to serve others.

Soon after baptism, priesthood leaders give new members the blessing of a responsibility to help in the Church, referred to as a calling.  All work in the Church is voluntary, and no one is paid for service.  After accepting a calling, members are sustained publicly in a Church meeting so that other members can acknowledge the calling and provide support.  A priesthood leader then lays his hands on the person's head and sets the member apart for the work and gives the person a special blessing to help fulfill the calling.

The Church needs the talents and abilities of every member to fill a wide variety of callings, and all callings are important in helping build God’s kingdom.  Members are expected to accept callings and work diligently to learn and fulfill their duties.  In doing so, they grow in faith, develop new talents, find a greater ability to serve, and receive numerous other blessings.

All males who join the Church and live worthy lives may be ordained to the priesthood. Priesthood holders may be assigned as home teachers, a responsibility that includes making at least monthly visits to the homes of assigned member families to teach the gospel, support parents, nurture friendships, and help families prepare to receive and keep temple covenants.  Women in the Relief Society make similar monthly visits to adult women as visiting teachers.

Members strive to follow the teachings of an ancient prophet who taught that when we are baptized, we are “willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light” and are “willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” ( Mosiah 18:8–9).  Through service, members lift one another’s burdens and gain opportunities to learn, grow, and express their love.

There are no ethnicity restrictions on who may join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or may hold the priesthood in the Church.  An official declaration of the Church states, “Every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood” ( Doctrine and Covenants, Official Declaration 2, 294). 

Gordon B. Hinckley, former President of the Church, reaffirmed this principle when speaking to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.: “We believe in the old adage that many hands make light work.  We have a lay priesthood and every worthy man is eligible to receive this priesthood.”

From the earliest days of the Church, women have worked to bring the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.  Women continue to contribute to the Church through their strength, courage, and faith in God, and they hold leadership positions, sit in leadership councils, and regularly teach and pray in congregational worship services.  Faithful women also teach the gospel throughout the world and work to relieve suffering in their own communities as well as abroad.

Women direct several worldwide organizations within the Church, including:

• The Relief Society, the largest women’s organization in the world, with more than four million members across the globe.
• The Young Women organization, serving young women 12 to 18 years of age.
• The Primary organization, existing to teach children from 18 months to age 12.

Each of these organizations also operates on a local level, where women are responsible for supervising teachers and committee members, as well as meeting the needs of Church members whom they are called to serve.

Women supervise teachers and committee members, serve as teachers, missionaries, chapel librarians, music directors, temple workers, and activity committee chairpersons, among other positions.  Opportunities for service are almost endless and, working together, the women and men of the Church can truly answer the call of the Savior, who asked His disciples to feed His sheep ( John 21:16–17). 

Covenant

A binding and solemn agreement, contract, or promise between God and a person or group of persons upon which eternal blessings are based.

Priesthood

The power and authority of God, given to men on earth to act in all things for the salvation of God’s children.

Calling

A duty, position, or responsibility in the Church that is issued to a member by priesthood leaders. A calling is an opportunity to serve.

Sustain

To give support; to accept. Members who are issued callings have their names put before the body of the Church for a sustaining vote before beginning service in that calling. Once each year officers called to direct organizations on a local Church level are presented to the members for a sustaining vote. General officers of the Church are presented for a sustaining vote every six months at general conference.

Temple

The house of the Lord prepared and dedicated for sacred gospel ordinances. Also a place of worship and prayer.

Relief Society

The women’s organization of the Church, which complements the priesthood. The Prophet Joseph Smith organized the Relief Society in 1842. It is the largest women’s organization in the world. Two primary objectives of the Relief Society are compassionate service and strengthening the women of the Church.

Visiting Teaching

A program of the Relief Society that enables every woman to be visited in her home and to receive instruction, fellowship, and needed assistance from fellow sisters. Each woman is typically assigned two visiting teachers who visit monthly.

Young Women

A youth organization of the Church for young women ages 12-18. Young women meet for religious instruction on Sunday, and during the week for other activities designed to strengthen relationships, develop skills, and build testimonies of Christ.

Primary

The organization of the Church for children from ages three to twelve. Beginning at three years of age, children receive two hours of religious instruction each Sunday. One hour is spent with a teacher who provides a lesson for an age-specific group, and a second hour is spent in a combined group of children in instruction and singing.

Chapel

The room in a church building where the main worship service is held. Chapel is sometimes used to refer to the entire building.

Baptism

An essential step in receiving forgiveness of sins. Through baptism and confirmation by priesthood authority, we become members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Baptism is by immersion, meaning that the person being baptized is briefly submerged in water. Baptism shows our willingness to follow Christ’s example and to make covenants with God.