Meetings in the Church

18. Meetings in the Church This chapter summarizes information about Church Leaders should ensure that Sunday meetings are not meetings. Meetings that are specific to an organiza- so numerous that there is little time for parents and tion, such as quorum, Relief Society, Young Men, children to be together on that day. Where possible, Young Women, Primary, and Sunday School meet- leaders should avoid scheduling Sunday meetings ings, are described in that organization’s chapter of other than those in the standard two-hour sched- this handbook. ule, leadership meetings in the early mornings, and occasional meetings in the evenings. In addition to the meetings outlined in the hand- books, presiding authorities occasionally may call other meetings and define their composition 18.2 and purpose. Ward Meetings The bishop oversees ward meetings. He presides at 18.1 these meetings unless a member of the stake pres- Guidelines for Planning and idency, an Area Seventy, or a General Authority Conducting Meetings attends. His counselors may conduct ward meetings and may preside if he is absent. Presiding authori- Leaders plan and conduct meetings “as they are ties and visiting high councilors should be invited led by the Holy Ghost, according to the com- to sit on the stand. High councilors do not preside mandments and revelations of God” (Doctrine and when attending ward meetings. Covenants 20:45; see also Moroni 6:9; Doctrine and If the bishop and his counselors are all absent, the Covenants 46:2). stake president designates who presides at sacra- Leaders prepare an agenda for each meeting or ment meeting. Normally he designates the elders assign someone else to prepare it under their quorum president, but he could authorize another direction. An agenda helps participants focus on priesthood holder instead. the meeting’s purposes and use time effectively. It should be prioritized to ensure that the most important matters are discussed first. 18.2.1 Schedule for Sunday Meetings Leadership meetings should focus on strengthening individuals and families. Time spent on calendaring, Sunday meetings provide vitally important time for program planning, and other administrative busi- members to increase their faith in Heavenly Father ness should be minimal. and His Son, Jesus Christ, as they partake of the sacrament, worship, learn the gospel, learn their duties, For guidelines on counseling together in meetings, and give service. Those learning about the Church see 4.6.1. are invited to attend these meetings. The presiding officer may conduct a meeting or ask Wards are to hold the following Sunday meetings a counselor or someone else to conduct it under his in one two-hour period, as outlined below. (For or her direction. meeting schedule options, see the “Sunday Meeting Schedule” chart, 18.9): Meetings should not be longer than needed. 158 MAY 2019 18. Meetings in the Church 1. Sacrament meeting weekly partaking of the sacrament. Members renew their commitment to take upon them His name, always 2. Priesthood quorum meetings on the second remember Him, and keep His commandments. This and fourth Sundays (for all priesthood holders, ordinance is the center of members’ worship on prospective elders, and unordained young men the Sabbath. of Aaronic Priesthood age; young men typically join the deacons quorum in January of the year Each sacrament meeting should be focused on deep- they turn 12; see 18.2.4) ening conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Other purposes of sacrament meeting 3. Relief Society on the second and fourth Sundays are to worship, provide gospel instruction, perform (for women ages 18 and older and for younger ordinances, conduct ward business, and strengthen women who are married) faith and testimony. 4. Young Women on the second and fourth Sundays (for young women ages 11 to 18; 18.2.2.2 young women typically join the Young Women organization in January of the year they turn 12) Planning and Conducting Sacrament Meeting Members of the bishopric plan sacrament meet- 5. Primary weekly (for children ages 3 through 11; ings and conduct them in a reverent and dignified also for children ages 18 months through 2 years manner. They oversee the administration of the if a nursery is organized and parents want their sacrament, select subjects for talks and music, select children to attend) and orient participants, and invite members to give 6. Sunday School on the first and third Sundays opening and closing prayers. It is not necessary to (for those ages 11 and older; youth typically hold a prayer meeting before sacrament meeting. join Sunday School in January of the year The bishopric ensures that sacrament meetings they turn 12) begin and end on time. Meetings should not be During the week, leaders are encouraged to invite overprogrammed. A sample agenda follows: members to worship together on Sunday. They can 1. Prelude music (see 14.4.3 for guidelines) send invitations via email, text, social media, or other means. Invitations can remind members of the 2. Greeting and welcome meeting schedule for the next Sunday and include 3. Acknowledgment of presiding authorities or topics for discussion for quorum and class meetings. visiting high councilors who are attending A reminder might be as simple as “This week we will hold Sunday School. We will study Luke 2 and 4. Announcements (most announcements should Matthew 2.” be printed or electronically distributed so they do not take time in sacrament meeting; the bishopric may give essential announcements 18.2.2 briefly before the opening hymn) Sacrament Meeting 5. Opening hymn and prayer 18.2.2.1 6. Ward and stake business, such as: Purposes of Sacrament Meeting a. Sustaining and releasing officers and teach- The primary purpose of sacrament meeting is ers (see 19.3 and 19.5) for Church members to remember the Savior by MAY 2019 159 Handbook 2: Administering the Church b. Recognizing 8-year-old children who Members should be taught to make the time before have been baptized and confirmed (see sacrament meeting a period of prayerful meditation “Introducing New Members,” 18.2.8) as they prepare spiritually for the sacrament. c. Presenting names of brethren to receive The bishopric encourages families to arrive on time or advance in the Aaronic Priesthood (see and to sit together. Handbook 1, 16.7.2) d. Recognizing young women as they advance 18.2.2.4 in their classes Blessing and Passing the Sacrament e. Presenting names of new ward members The bishopric ensures that the sacrament is blessed (see “Introducing New Members,” 18.2.8) and passed in a reverent and orderly manner. The sacrament table should be prepared before the 7. Naming and blessing children (usually in meeting begins. For instructions on preparing, fast and testimony meeting) and confirming blessing, and passing the sacrament, see 20.4. and bestowing the gift of the Holy Ghost on new members 18.2.2.5 8. Sacrament hymn and administration of the sacrament Selecting Subjects for Talks and Music The bishopric selects subjects for talks and music in 9. Gospel messages and congregational singing or sacrament meetings. Talks and music should focus special musical selections on gospel subjects that help members build faith 10. Closing hymn and prayer and testimony. 11. Postlude music 18.2.2.6 Occasionally something unexpected may occur Selecting and Orienting Participants during the meeting that the presiding officer feels a need to clarify. In this situation, he should make Selecting Participants. The bishopric selects members any clarification that is needed, being careful not to to participate in sacrament meetings. Most oppor- cause embarrassment. tunities to participate are given to ward members. If the bishopric invites members from outside the ward to speak, the guidelines in 21.1.20 should be 18.2.2.3 followed. Time before Sacrament Meeting Members of the bishopric regularly invite youth Leaders set an example of reverence during the time to speak in sacrament meeting. Youth should before sacrament meeting. The bishopric and the speak briefly (about five minutes each) on assigned speakers should be in their seats at least five min- gospel subjects. They should prepare their own utes before the meeting begins. This is not a time talks, though the bishopric may encourage par- for conversation or transmitting messages. Setting ents to help. an example of reverence encourages the congre- gation to be spiritually prepared for a worshipful The bishopric usually invites missionaries to speak experience. in sacrament meeting just before they depart and when they return (see Handbook 1, 4.8.1 and 4.10.3). The bishopric makes it clear that this is a regular 160 MAY 2019 18. Meetings in the Church sacrament meeting and is not to be a missionary To maintain an atmosphere of reverent worship in farewell or homecoming. The bishopric plans and sacrament meetings, when speakers use scriptures as conducts these meetings. Family members and part of their talks, they should not ask the congre- friends of the missionary are not invited to speak. gation to open their own books to the scriptural However, other departing or returning missionaries references. or other members may be invited to speak. Members who participate in sacrament meeting The bishopric schedules high councilors to speak as should stay until the meeting ends. assigned by the stake president. The stake president determines the frequency of such assignments. It is 18.2.2.7 not necessary for high councilors to speak in sacrament meeting every month. Music See 14.4.3 and 14.4.4. The bishopric schedules one sacrament meeting each year for the Primary children to take part in a Primary program (see 11.5.4). 18.2.2.8 Occasionally the bishopric may invite the full-time Introducing New Members missionaries who are serving in the area to speak.

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