In my professional life, my work is to explore how we can be well in a digital world. There are so many facets to wellness — mental, physical, emotional, social, spiritual. We talk about civic wellness as well — about the impact of digital life on our ability to talk about hard things and solve hard problems.

For me, this continual interest in understanding wellness is not just my job. I’ve long been fascinated with human nature and behavior (my background is in Psychology and studying the human side of organizations and systems). But beyond all of that still is something deeper.

And once in a while, in my networking and study and reflection for work, I come across material that stops me in my tracks.

I recently learned about a new initiative called AI and Faith, seeking to bring the perspectives of people of faith into discussions about and design of Artificial Intelligence. In talking with one of the leaders of this organization, I learned about some of the work of Andy Crouch. Crouch is an author of several books; he was the executive editor of Christianity Today for four years; he’s involved in other organizations like Fuller Theological Seminary and the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

I’ve only started his newest book, but the following video gives a glimpse into what he sees as the antidote to the negative impacts of technological advances. To be sure, progress has its upsides, but, as he notes, it also has its paradoxes.

How he connects some of his thoughts into Romans 16 is thought-provoking and inspiring. I’ll never look at the chapter the same again (which, as Crouch helped me see, was not written by Paul, but by a person named Tertius.)

In addition to the video below, I wanted to share a snippet from his newest book that I just started (this share is not promotional, it’s emotional; what he said moved me deeply).

In the first chapter, he shares his perspective on what early Christianity was: a radical kind of social revolution, a movement toward the truest kind of inclusion in divisive times.

Much like the struggles of our day, there was increasing fragmentation and stratification of society as the quest for wealth and power became more of a focus in an “ever-more complex and urbanizing empire.” But, Crouch notes, “The Roman empire was a lonely place for almost everyone, powerless or powerful.” So what was the countercultural movement about?

People from all walks of life and social strata came together — such as the group greeted and seen and acknowledged by Paul in Romans 16 — around a shared belief. “They had come to believe, against all evidence and social convention” (and in the face of oppression in the culture and in the political power structure), “that they were in fact fully persons and that they had discovered the way to a flourishing life together.” (Of course we who are Christians know that that belief was not fabricated by them, but instilled by their belief in Someone who sees all as equals, and Who gave His life for each one.)

If you have ever seen a portrayal of the kind of excess and social inequality found in these ancient times, you can imagine the contrast he draws as he describes what early Christians did instead.

“[G]roups of men and women, Jews and Greeks, slaves and free…enjoyed a very different kind of meal. In halls that were accustomed to to feasts that signaled the status and significance of the host, this community would pass a single loaf of bread from hand to hand, in remembrance of someone not present. In place of reverent toasts to the emperor, they would sing songs both ancient and new that spoke of a different king and kingdom.” (The Life We’re Looking For, p. 17)

I won’t ever think about my church’s sacrament in the same way, either.

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A disclaimer for all of my posts is this: I am not authorized to officially interpret anything. These are just my personal thoughts. Your mileage may vary.

Recently in a Facebook group I belong to, a poignant question was posed — a question asked by a young girl to her mother — about why girls don’t pass the sacrament in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My pondering and study and personal impressions have led me to agree what Sister Cheryl Esplin shared in a General Conference talk on the sacrament, given a couple of years ago.

“Aaronic Priesthood holders represent the Savior when they prepare, bless, and pass the sacrament. As a priesthood holder extends his arm to offer us the sacred emblems, it is as if the Savior Himself were extending His arm of mercy, inviting each one of us to partake of the precious gifts of love made available through His atoning sacrifice—gifts of repentance, forgiveness, comfort, and hope.”

This concept was brought to the forefront of my mind again on Christmas day, as my mom gave each of her grown daughters a print of a painting called “Sacrament Meeting” by Don Christensen. It’s one I had never seen before. The artist’s recorded experience (you can read it here) mirrors a vague memory I have of an experience I had.

But my personal feelings about all of this come mostly from my study of the scriptures and my own experiences with the Spirit.

First of all, the Savior Himself instituted the sacrament with His apostles right before His death. It was, from the beginning, a very personal — and presided-over — ordinance. He held, broke, blessed, and passed the bread Himself. He held, blessed, and passed the cup Himself.

I think this is so important to consider. The Savior first gave this ordinance to His apostles, those who would be charged with continuing the Church after His death. But the ordinance was instituted as a very personal experience. One by one the apostles partook of the emblems of the Savior’s sacrifice and were invited to ponder what it meant.

After His resurrection, when ministering to the Nephites in the Americas, He instituted the sacrament among them. Again, He was presiding over the ordinance.

He first took the bread, brake it, and blessed it. He then gave it to His disciples. He then commanded the disciples to give the broken pieces of bread to the multitude. Before repeating the process with the wine, He taught about how the sacrament was to be administered in the Church, and that it needed to be done with priesthood authority:

“And when the multitude had eaten and were filled, he said unto the disciples: Behold there shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and bless it and give it unto the people of my church, unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name” (3 Nephi 18:5, emphasis added).

He then repeated the process with the wine — blessing it, giving it to the 12 disciples, and then commanding them to distribute it to the multitude.

In 3 Nephi 20, the Savior visits the people again and repeats the pattern of giving the sacrament to His disciples and then commanding them to give the sacrament to the multitude. This repetition of the ordinance — and the pattern of delegated authority with this ordinance — to me is not insignificant.

In Restoration scriptures, we also see the Savior teaching that authority is essential to administering of the sacrament.

“The priest’s duty is to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the sacrament…”(Doctrine and Covenants 20:46).

Interestingly, though, the Doctrine and Covenants also talks of deacons and priests not being authorized to administer the sacrament.

“But neither teachers nor deacons have authority to baptize, administer the sacrament, or lay on hands… (Doctrine and Covenants 20:58).

However, the scriptures also talk about teachers and deacons assisting priests in their duties.

I think it is worthwhile to consider these patterns that appear in the scriptures and how they might relate to how things are done today. To me, what is done today is consistent with scriptural patterns and how I understand priesthood keys and authority and their purpose and functioning.

• When Jesus was present, He did not delegate the breaking of the bread or the blessing of the sacramental emblems. But He knew He would not be present always, so…
• He taught in more than one place and time that the sacrament and its administration is a priesthood ordinance that requires authority.
• He gave the sacrament to His apostles/disciples and then commanded them to give to the multitude. (I think this pattern is reflected in the fact that the presiding authority gets the sacrament first, and also that the sacrament cannot be given without authorization of one who has keys for that ordinance.)
• He did delegate the distribution of the sacrament, but the responsibility was still given to those who had authority to act in His name.
• The authorized administration of the sacrament is part of the commandments given to His apostles (and the 12 disciples in the Americas).
• Delegated authority is an obvious part of that commandment in both the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants.

One of the things I love about priesthood ordinances is that you can ponder them for a lifetime and not stop get insights about them. To me, the sacrament continues to be an ordinance that teaches me the more I ponder it, both at a doctrinal and a personal level.

To me, the fact that the sacrament is administered by males is not something to be coveted by women and young women, but something to be cherished and pondered. I think priesthood execution can signal something to our minds: Christ is in it all. He’s in the taking, breaking, blessing. He’s in the emblems. He’s in the passing, the giving, the desire for all to partake. To me, priesthood has come to signal to my mind, “This is what Christ would be doing if He were able to be in millions of places at once.”

That we all help pass to each other along the pews is something that some would say is also significant. That has never struck me in the same way that it does others because the authorized element of the ordinance is important and meaningful in my mind, and because we don’t see that pattern reflected in scriptural text. To me, scriptures do present a more ‘vested’ responsibility in the giving of the sacrament to the Church, and I think it’s important to not dismiss the fact that this is a priesthood ordinance through-and-through (from authorization to administration) as a cultural oversight.

And yet, I think there are always layers to truth and surely in the Church we are both receivers of the heavenly gift of the Atonement and the Spirit, and we are also able to help others partake of the blessing of the Atonement.

Either way, though, all of the pondering of the scriptures to me still takes me to one place: that to me the focus of the sacrament should be mostly on the receiving of it and on Who the Giver truly is. The Savior gives Himself to us in it all, and we — each of us, all of us, male and female, old and young — have the opportunity each week and through the collective experiences of a lifetime to learn what it means to receive, to partake, to be nourished, to be filled, to be loved by the Son of God and by His Father.

The post Thoughts about the sacrament and priesthood appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

~by Michelle

It took a few minutes for my subconscious, sleep-seeking self to realize that my body was saying it was time to look at my clock. Time to see what God was going to do today with my Sabbath schedule.

God and I have an interesting deal when my ward meets in the morning hours — an arrangement I am sheepish to share because I don’t like being the exception to the rule. I’d always been a diligent, three-meetings-no-matter-what and no-matter-what-time kind of Mormon church-goer. So when the impression came about two years ago to not set an alarm on Sundays, I was nervous. But I also knew that the stress of trying to decide what the “right” thing to do each Sunday was reaching a breaking point. To try to balance my serious sleep disorder + my chronic-fatiguey-thing, while also trying to be obedient about attending my meetings and partaking of the sacrament, was too difficult for me and my weary body and mind. I needed God to carry this one. And He nudged me to let Him do it.

I am still amazed to say that I only missed the sacrament once that year (and I think that was a day when my body really did need sleep). My testimony of this sacred ordinance increased in unspeakable ways as I could feel how much God cares about me receiving the blessings and power of the ordinance — power that, as the scriptures say, can only be found in ordinances of the gospel.

Nevermind the wonder of seeing God work miracles each week. Last year, our ward had the 1:00 slot, but this year, I’m back to not setting an alarm. Every Sunday really is its own adventure in gratefully witnessing what God does.

For example, a week ago last night, I went to bed so entirely exhausted that I actually suggested to Heavenly Father that perhaps this Sunday, it might be a good Sunday to just let me sleep. But I fell asleep with my heart open to see what Father would do.

I finally rolled out of my sleepy state at 1:05. Even as I was certain I wouldn’t make it to the building in time to take the sacrament, I felt I should still at least try…at least do my part of the deal to get out of bed and to the building. (This is because I’ve experienced too many perfect-timing miracles to not try!) I got ready in a little over five minutes and ran out the door. Driving toward the stake center and a ward I know more personally, I felt impressed to go to the other building, which is a little closer; I knew seconds could matter at this point.

But maybe there was more to the impression than that.

When I arrived at the building, I could tell by the silence that the sacrament was already underway. I asked a brother in the foyer if they had already received the bread. They had. Through the (usually-closed) door to the overflow, I could see a young deacon (12-13 year old young man) standing at the end of a row. I don’t even know if what I did was okay (after all, I had missed the hymn and the prayer, so in the full spirit of the ordinance, I was too late) — but in my yearning to take both the bread and the water, I stepped inside the door and reached out to tap the deacon on the shoulder.

I missed him by only inches.

A dear friend of mine was sitting on the end of his row. As he realized what was happening, he walked briskly behind the deacon (who by this time was up to the front of the chapel). The deacon came back to where I was and held out the tray. A little embarrassed, but so, so grateful, I reached out for that piece of bread, retreated back to the foyer, and wept in gratitude — both for the timing of yet another sacrament miracle, but also for the kindness of my friend and the service of that young deacon.

It seemed not coincidental that a member of our stake presidency ended that sacrament meeting speaking about how the sacrament is one way we can touch the hem of the Savior’s garment. This New Testament story holds special meaning for me for various reasons — not the least of which is that I have dealt with my health issues for over a decade now, and have spent thousands of dollars, countless hours, and a collective torrent of tears on doctor’s visits, surgeries, and medications. Physical healing has yet to take place, and may not take place in this life, but I testify that I have felt the Savior’s healing power through my weekly sacrament miracles.

I am grateful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and grateful to those who hold the priesthood (both those carrying and blessing the bread and water and those willing to flag down the boys who do) who enable this sacred moment to take place for me every week.

The post The Sacrament as the Savior’s Hem appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

We just received this question from Todd, who writes:

Thank you for your wonderful site and effort here. I am a 40 yr. old man away from religion for many years. I’ve been invited for some time to an LDS church service by a friend of many years. She has often asked me to come with her on Sunday mornings, and now I am thinking of finally doing it. Do you have any general advice? I want to be a good guest.

Just caring about “being a good guest” is plenty, but I think more of the responsibility goes the other way around! I hope you have a good experience and that you feel welcomed by those around you. Feel free to ask your friend questions about anything that is said or done, or about what each of the meetings is about.

Here is some information that we hope might be helpful.

This video,
Attending a Mormon Church Service – Made Simple explains a lot of details of what you can expect at Mormon Sunday meetings.

And here’s another video from Mormon.org:

And here is some of the same information in a couple of brief articles:

What to expect in Sunday meetings

What are Mormon church services like?

Those articles will probably give you a good overview, but here are a few other articles if you are interested:

Mormon Meetings

A Peek into a Mormon Sacrament Meeting

Why do Mormons go to Church for three hours?

The post What to Expect at Mormon Church Services on Sundays appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Willing Sanctification

~by Marsha

I am one of those women who never feels ‘good enough.’ It seems like no matter how much I try, no matter how many things I accomplish; it is never ‘enough.’ I always seem to see the flaws, the places I could and should have done better. That makes it difficult to receive compliments, and to be content with any accomplishment.

When I was teaching Seminary [an LDS youth scripture study class for teens 14-18], we had the lesson on the sacrament. I knew all the typical Mormon answers about it. I was well aware of the lists of why and how and what. Suddenly however, as I was reading the prayers on the bread and water** aloud, I was struck by two words. 1) “sanctify” and 2) “willing.”

Deep into my heart that first word settled. I heard myself telling the students what ‘sanctify’ meant: to ‘make holy.’ I could literally hear my voice, watch my hand writing on the chalkboard and feel the word like a tangible thing settle into my soul. I was not in charge of sanctification! It had nothing at all to do with me. I was simply a ‘willing’ student, child, servant. If I am willing, I can be sanctified—made holy–because of the Savior.

The sacrament means so much more to me. I am still imperfect. I rarely have a whole Sabbath where I feel I am connected to the Spirit as I would wish. I still struggle to keep my mind centered, my heart pure, my actions reverent. I still find myself thinking about dinner, about my need to talk to sister-so-and-so. . .and these days, cuddling my new grandson. Yet. . . I am not in charge of the sanctification. I am merely in charge of being willing.

I am willing. I just received a calling that I’ve had six other times in my life. (It’s often the curse and blessing of Mormon music people to have this happen.) It isn’t my preferred calling, for many personal reasons, and yet, I am willing to serve. I don’t always serve happily with the attitude I ought, and yet I serve. As I serve, as I give my will to the Lord, I am made holy.

Tiny bit of bread by tiny bit of bread. Little sip of water by little sip of water. Small services, open hearts, tears, smiles, failures and trying again, each individually turn my heart towards sanctification. I am not perfect. Most days I struggle for the ‘good’ let alone the ‘better’ or ‘best’. . . But I KNOW I am willing. Perhaps that is what is most important.

Perhaps that is enough.

– – – – – – – –

**Sacrament Prayers

The prayers on the Sacrament are set prayers. There are only a handful of those, and all have to do with ordinances in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are the scriptures most heard by Mormons because they are repeated every week.

Prayer on the bread: “O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen [Moroni 4:3].”

Prayer on the water: “O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine  to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen [Moroni 5:2].”

(Since August 1830 (D&C 27) a revelation substituted water instead of wine.)

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