Activity in the Mormon Church

Activity in the Mormon Church means attending worship services on Sunday and partaking of the sacrament, attending Sunday School and other activities in your local congregation and accepting responsibility by getting a calling, and fellowshipping with the other members of your local congregation.

The following is advice on staying active in the Mormon Church.  President Gordon B. Hinckley, the prophet, seer, and revelator to the whole Church, has said that three things are necessary to help a new convert feel welcome and comfortable in the Mormon Church.  They are a responsibility, a friend, and nourishment by the good word of God.

A Responsibility

One of the most unique features of the Mormon Church is its lay ministry.  When you join, you should receive a calling or job in the Church.  If you do not receive one right away, talk to the missionaries or the bishop.  Taking on a calling in the Mormon Church can be scary, but it is an important way we can serve God.  Everyone who is able should have a calling in the Church.  This gives us opportunities to grow spiritually and to develop our talents.  Your calling may not always be what you think you’re best suited for, but accept it with faith and the Lord will help you.  Be sure to let your bishop know about any difficulties such as work schedules or handicaps that could affect what job you get.

When you receive your calling, your name will be read aloud at Sacrament meeting and the members will vote to sustain you in your new calling.  There will of course be others to help you in your new calling and the Mormon Church publishes manuals to help people learn how to do everything from running the church library to vacuuming the floors on Saturday.  Don’t be afraid, but trust in Jesus Christ who will help you.

You will likely also receive an assignment to visit and strengthen other members of the congregation as a home or visiting teacher.  This sounds scary, but you will be assigned a partner to go with you and the two of you will prepare lessons and ensure that every member is doing okay and has all their needs met.  Being a home or visiting teacher is one of the most important jobs in the Church.

A Friend

Everyone needs friends, especially when moving into a new environment.  So far, your friends have been the Mormon missionaries who guided you and taught you and served you.  You can, of course, continue to be friends with the missionaries, even though the ones who taught you will likely not stay around for long.  The missionaries have a responsibility to teach people the restored Gospel and so they must move on.

You should also find new friends in the Mormon Church.  Hopefully the members of your ward will reach out to you and welcome you.  However, don’t wait to be befriended, go out and meet new people yourself.  Introduce yourself and explain that you’re a new member.  Everyone is shy sometimes, so a little effort on your part will help a lot.

Besides making friends at church and at church-sponsored socials and activities, you will also receive home or visiting teachers of your own.  If your home teachers have not contacted you yet, ask the elders’ quorum president who they are and introduce yourself.  Having home teachers is an important part of staying in touch with the Mormon Church.  Your home teachers or visiting teachers can provide answers to any questions you may still have about the Church.

Nourishment by the good word of God

Everybody needs to be uplifted occasionally.  Joining the Mormon Church will be a difficult transition and you need God’s help when things get rough.  Friends and even family members may oppose you or question what you are doing.  For this and many other reasons, God wants us to continue studying the scriptures alone and with our families.  He wants us to pray everyday and attend church meetings on Sunday where we will hear inspiring messages and learn about our duties to God.

The Spirit of God is essential to help us be strong enough to follow God’s commandments and one of the most important ways we do that is by studying God’s word privately and at church.  We also have an opportunity each Sunday to renew our baptismal covenants by partaking of the sacrament with the other Church members.  Never miss this opportunity if you can help it.