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I went with friends to a worship service at a Methodist church last evening. It was Native American based. The smoking of sage, prayers and hymns in Native languages and story tellers. We learned of coyote, butterfly, spider woman and others. We laughed, we cried. It was amazing. There was no missionary effort, not even a collection. It was all about religious diversity. Afterwards, coffee and dessert in the fellowship hall… It brought a question to me. I was there because I’m Muscogean. But can the sharing of religious tradition and diversity add to our love of the Savior. Does it all have come through the Mormon pipeline? How many of you have worshipped in other faith communities?
Quote:But can the sharing of religious tradition and diversity add to our love of the Savior.
Absolutely!Me too. I’ve been to a number of other churches to participate in worship. A good recent memory was our family trip to the beach. It’s like a big family reunion each year we attend. There’s this little Episcopal church that is actually an open-air wooden pavilion on the sand bar where all the beach houses are located. They do an early morning service every Sunday. I woke up and went down to this chapel for the service. The warm, fresh, salty morning air was blowing in from the Atlantic. I could hear the sound of the waves rolling, and sea gulls squawking. It was a very beautiful and peaceful setting. I really enjoyed the combination of the church service and the beauty of nature right there all around me.
Valoel, what a beautiful picture you paint through words. Anyone reading it would want to be sitting in that open air pavilion. My oldest son, LDS raised, a returned missionary, says the most spiritual experience of his life was sitting in an ancient Episcopal church in Santa Fe, where a Christmas cantata was being presented. He considered it a priceless gift. I respect all religious traditions, and I enjoy encountering other worship services. We were able to attend a wonderful evensong service at Westminster Abbey last Christmas. It was a great way to bring in the holidays. I most often seem to encounter Native American or new age spirituality, and I also appreciate those traditions. Likewise, I have gained a lot of respect in my travels for Greek and Roman mythology. Those belief systems brought meaning to people for thousands of years. I love the feedback on members attending other faith communities. I think it really stimulates religious thought and acceptance. I have served two stake missions (as well as a full-time one). As a ward leader in one of those missions, I planned for six missionaries. I asked once in a ward meeting how many had attended other churches. Not one person raised their hand (this was California, not Utah). We changed it within a month, as we attended mid-week meetings at three churches. Only the Assembly of God was a little negative, the pastor suspicious of our motives. Two other churches welcomed our group. All three acknowledged our presence. I don’t think I had been to another church service until I was an adult! I have been to a catholic wedding. That was interesting. Since it was a wedding I didn’t feel odd or strange.
I have been to a black Baptist church. They invited our ward choir to sing and they sang. There was a little meet and greet after. It was fun and interesting. It was VERY awkward when they announced time to fill the plate. We all sat there with no idea what to do. In this particular church you filed up to the front to drop in your contribution. HAHA! I was sitting in the back and the back goes first. It is really funny to see a bunch of Mormons filing up the isle to give their offerings!
I went to a church in the area a few Sundays ago. It was a wonderful service. All about love and that type of thing. Great singer who sang about love. It didn’t feel like home, but the message was worth going. I did freak a little when I saw on the agenda the “pass the plate” thing but I quickly wrote out a small check so I would be ready. They are into “New Thought” and religious science.
I’d love to visit other churches. I’m hoping to find one to go to on Christmas Eve. The church I went to the other Sunday has a Thanksgiving session I’d like to go to, too. It is something VERY out of my comfort zone, though.
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