Common Questions about Church
Do I have to participate?
Visitors are welcome to participate, but they are not required to. When the bread and water of the sacrament (similar to Communion) are distributed to the congregation, you can either pass the tray to the next person or partake of the offerings. Please feel free to sit back and enjoy the service.
Can I participate if I’m not a member?
Yes! You are invited to join us for weekly activities, social outings, service projects, and church services. We’d love to get to know you and will appreciate your involvement in the community.
What should I wear?
You’re more than welcome to come as you are. We try to wear nicer clothes than what we wear the rest of the week to reflect our reverence for God. The most common attire you’ll see at church is a dress shirt and tie for men and a skirt or dress for women.
How long are Church services?
Our congregations around the world follow a similar two-hour format for Sunday services. There are two meetings, and each meeting is one hour long.
During what we call “sacrament meeting,” all members of the congregation meet together. This meeting consists of songs, prayers, and talks (or short sermons) given by different members of the congregation every week. The most important part of the meeting is when we take the sacrament (which is similar to Communion) to remember our Savior, Jesus Christ.
In addition to sacrament meeting, people are invited to stay for the second hour, where we continue learning about Jesus Christ in a smaller setting with classes for men, women, youth, and children.
What is a ward or branch?
Wards and branches are groups of Church members who live within a specific geographic area and form a congregation—these are the people you will see every week in Sacrament meeting. In these congregations, you can make friends, feel a sense of belonging, and build a support network with others in your community. Depending on where you live, there may be different types of wards and branches available.
A ward is a large congregation and a branch is a small congregation.
General wards and branches
Anyone is welcome to attend a general congregation. Here, people of all ages serve together in the Church community. Families, single adults, children, widows, and young married couples worship together in the same meeting.
Language wards and branches
In some areas, you may notice there are wards or branches listed with a language next to it. These are congregations that hold meetings in a language that is different from of the most common language of the area you are searching in.
Young Single Adult Wards and branches
Young single adult wards and branches are for individuals who are single and between the ages of 18 and 35. These congregations are often found near college campuses and hold activities throughout the week in addition to Sunday worship services.
Single Adult Wards and branches
Single adult congregations are for individuals who are single and between the ages of 36 and 45. These congregations help people worship and serve together who are in similar situations with similar interests.