LDS beliefs are firmly based in the idea of continuing revelation — both revelation to the Church as a whole, and personal continuing revelation to each of us. But sometimes we limit this idea by our assumptions. I think many of us assume that personal revelation comes at home, in personal prayer and contemplation. I’m quite sure that this assumption is incomplete.
So, couldn’t revelation come to us at Church?
And, if it can, are we actually looking for it at Church?
In these posts I am trying to suggest that each of us can have better experiences at Church if we take responsibility for our experiences, and if we are open to what we can be taught to us in many different ways. We can choose to learn and benefit from what happens regardless of whether it fits our perception of what is “good.” Revelation, I believe, can piggyback on whatever communication will be successful in reaching our spirits.
Revelation sometimes depends on how we look at it. It is not different from what many artists figure out—they understand that how you see the world before you is more important than what you see. You might call it ‘active listening’ or shifting perspective. It just means that you see differently. And seeing differently reveals a different world.
In my case, I tend to focus narrowly, thinking about groups of words or sentences, sometimes taking them out of context and thinking about what they say, even if the speaker didn’t intend what I heard. It’s not at all like what we’re taught in school, where the focus is on understanding accurately and completely what the speaker or text says. Its about pulling out useful or inspiring thoughts in spite of what was said.
So, if you aren’t thinking this way, maybe try it next Sunday, or the next time you are in a class or meeting. If you have already thoughts inspired by what happened at church, what are they? How did you react to what happened in Church yesterday? What did you notice? Did you end up thinking differently? Do you think your reactions were what they should be? Were they looking for what God had to tell you? Did your reactions make things better?
This is the latest invitation for reactions to local meetings, continuing the spirit of my post on September 25th about how we receive what happens in Church meetings—sermons, lessons and anything else—and enter a conversation with them, magnifying what was said or adding what we think. In these posts I’m asking us all to think about how we listen and receive what happens at Church. If we only listen for mistakes, or things that bother us, what does that say about us? Is it most important to criticize others? Or to try to change ourselves?
The point here is that no matter how poorly prepared the speaker or teacher is, or no matter how what happens triggers us, or is objectively or doctrinally wrong, we can still find elements in what is said and what happens that inspires and edifies us. Even if church meetings aren’t conducted in a way that reaches us, we can take responsibility and find a way to feel the spirit.
So please, write down reactions and thoughts to what happened in Church. You might keep your own ‘spiritual journal’, or, if you like, you can post your reactions below. I’m adding my own reactions and thoughts as a comment to this post — instead of as a part of this post, because my reactions aren’t any better than anyone else’s.
Let me emphasize that this is NOT a place to criticize what is wrong with church or your fellow congregants. The point is to post what you learned because of what happened at Church or how that led you to think. It’s about the good things we can get out of Church, not the negative things that disturbed or upset us. It doesn’t have to be orthodox, traditional or even on topic.
If you like, make your response in the format, “They said or did this, and I said or thought that.” Even the things you dislike the most can be turned into lessons for what the gospel teaches we should do.
My hope is that these reactions serve as an example of a better way to treat what happens at Church instead of the perennial complaints about speaker or teacher preparation or ability, or complaints that the Church should do things differently.
Comments
4 responses to “What Was Revealed to You In Church (Or What Did Church Lead You to Think About Yesterday), 4/19)?”
Here are a few of the things I thought about because of attending Church meetings yesterday (4/12):
A reminder: Please focus on what you learned or how you reacted to church, not on your criticism of what was wrong or what someone did that was wrong. This thread isn’t about criticizing, its about realizing the vast amount we can learn by thinking about what happened in Church and listening for what will be revealed to us there.
While teaching Gospel Doctrine, I realized that every class is the investigator class, at least in my ward. And that’s okay. The newer members and friends of the missionaries had some great insights to share.
A member of the stake Young Women’s Presidency spoke in sacrament meeting. She started with President Nelson’s quote that “The Lord loves effort” and then talked about the feeding of the 5,000. Her message was that the Lord loves our effort, and he will take our five loaves and two fishes’ worth and make it enough.
Which surprised me, because I’d always taken that quote in a more negative sense: “So put forth effort or else!” Now that I drag it out into the light, the “or else” was “Or the Lord won’t love you.” That got me thinking about why my brain would go there, given what I know about the Lord. Clearly that sister had the better understanding.
I really appreciate these posts. I’ve read them for many weeks/months, and left a comment last week for the first time. It has caused me to think more about my weekly worship experience, so thank you for doing this.
We had a convert from India speak. He sounded like he had been a member of the Church his whole life. I was so impressed with how he has jumped in with both feet and seems to be loving life in the Church.
Before heading to Sunday School, I was speaking with a couple of the YSA out in the hallway. I ended up being invited to attend their YSA class (even though I am an OMA). The few YSA that attended (we are out in the “mission field”) were having a very good discussion. It was good to see, but I still worry about them. I hope they feel supported, and not alone.