I OFTEN IMAGINE what it would be like to be a visitor for the first time attending one of our Sunday worship services.
Some things might be familiar to a visitor, such as the church pews or maybe hearing the organ playing hymns and the congregation singing.
Other things might be different or unexpected, such as members of the congregation giving a prepared talk rather than a priest or pastor giving a sermon. Also, the opening and closing prayers are usually given by members of the congregation.
Another thing that might be unique to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that after the hour-long sacrament meeting, we break out into different classes for the next hour.
The youth have classes, the adults have a class and children younger than 12 go to primary.
Primary is fun. They have lessons and might even play a game.
In primary, they also sing songs that teach about our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. One song that every primary-aged child quickly learns is “I am a Child of God.”
I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with Him someday.
I have always loved this primary song. It is simple, beautiful, and teaches truth.
It is a treat to hear the young voices singing what they intuitively know to be true.
We believe that before coming to earth, we lived with Heavenly Father, as His spirit children. Earth is part of our eternal progression.
It’s part of His divine plan for us. “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).
Prayer is a divine gift to His children and is fundamentally part of mortality as we seek God’s guidance in our personal lives.
Every now and then, I meet someone who would like to pray but doesn’t know how.
I recently shared with a young man how to do this.
I explained that we begin by addressing our Heavenly Father. Then, we thank Him for our blessings; giving thanks for what is on our mind. We then ask for His help or direction for things that might be troubling us. We close in the name of Jesus Christ, typically saying “Amen” when finished.
I suppose that the primary song is something of a prayer, “Heavenly Father, please lead me, guide me, and walk beside me. Please help me find the way. Please teach me all that I must do, to live with Thee someday.”
I know that it pleases God when we pray to Him daily.
We look to Jesus as our exemplar. He prayed often to the Father, encouraging us to do likewise.
In my personal prayers, when possible, I like to pray out loud.
We can have a prayer in our hearts or pray in our minds when others are around, but if we find ourselves alone, vocal prayers can be remarkably powerful.
I have found beauty in the services of other faiths. I enjoy seeing how others worship.
There is a wide variety found in the different faiths around the world and around town.
I marvel every week at those in our congregation who are doing their best to follow the Savior Jesus Christ.
I’m grateful for those of other faiths who love their neighbors and follow the Lord.
Take time to pray. Be humble and speak from your heart to your Heavenly Father, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ.
He hears us. He knows each of us. He answers us.
“For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:8).
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Issues of Faith is a rotating column by religious leaders on the North Olympic Peninsula. Bishop Jason Bringhurst is the leader of the Mount Pleasant Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Port Angeles. His email is jasonbring@gmail.com.
