Ward councils To take active part in LDS Sacrament meetings
This image depicts a typical ward council meeting held in wards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
This view shows a congregation typical of a sacrament meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
This image is known well by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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OGDEN — Church leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have instructed LDS wards to work at making Sunday a better day of worship.
As part of this initiative, bishops have been asked to include ward councils in planning Sacrament meetings. According to the Church Handbook 2, members of ward councils include the bishopric, ward clerk, ward executive secretary, high priests group leader, elders quorum president, ward mission leader, and presidents of the Relief Society, Young Men, Young Women, Primary and Sunday School.
Ward councils traditionally meet once a month and during those meetings they have been asked to plan Sacrament meetings together — a month in advance if possible, said M. Russell Ballard in a training held in April.
Videos of the training meeting were disbursed to stakes and wards for training recently, according to LDS church spokesman Erick Hawkins. Hawkins said that bishops are now being asked to counsel with their councils about Sacrament meeting, but bishoprics will make the final decisions once counsel has been given. Before, ward bishoprics planned Sacrament meetings for the most part.
“This will greatly strengthen the spiritual experience that should be provided,” Ballard said. He added that the counsel will enhance meetings with insights of the sisters and Priesthood leaders on the council.
Jeff Wilson serves in the bishopric in a ward in Ogden. He said his ward has just started working with the ward council in planning Sacrament meetings, but so far it has been a good experience. “Sacrament is the most important meeting in the church and should be the most spiritual. Who better to consult with than the ward leadership to make sure each Sunday is uplifting and enlightening,” Wilson said.
Emily Crowton serves as the Young Women’s president in her ward and so serves on the ward council. She has appreciated the opportunity to participate in the planning. “I realized we are not doing as much with special music and I can get the young women involved with that,” she said. She likes the idea of involving the youth in Sacrament planning as a whole a lot more because she is thinking about them during ward council.
Brainstorming with the rest of the council has helped her to think of things people in the ward can contribute, she added.
“We can also be thinking ahead of people we can invite and let know about speakers we may be having for missionary talks or other things,” Crowton said, noting that it can be a good missionary tool because more people know what is coming up and can get the word out.
Wilson said they strive to prepare a month in advance and give letters to those participating so they can be prepared. “We as a bishopric and ward council need to improve our preparation as well,” Wilson said. He has noticed with Sacrament meeting first, everyone does come more prepared to church, especially the Aaronic Priesthood. He has been impressed with how well the young men preparing the Sacrament have respected their duties and come early to church. “I’m sure with a little extra help from mom and dad,” Wilson said.
Mary Ellen Wixom, LDS General Primary president, said parents help preparing children for Sunday is vital and that it loops back to ward council planning. “We can counsel together beginning in ward council and let that experience permeate into the homes of ward members,” Wixom said. “We can help the family to make a plan,” Wixom noted about ward councils.
Crowton can see how that is working. “Everyone feels more responsibility and that is a good thing,” Crowton said of Sacrament planning. “It’s also nice to get it off the bishopric. They have so much they are doing. It is good for us to help,” she said.
This story is part of a series of stories about direction on Sunday worship coming to LDS wards and stakes from LDS church leadership. Coming next week: How families prepare at home for Sunday worship.
