Along with activities and programs during the week, Latter-day Saints gather on Sundays for an approximately hour-long “sacrament” meeting, where men, women and younger members offer prayers and give sermons, sing hymns and partake of the sacrament (similar to receiving communion).
Like other Christians, Latter-day Saints attend church every Sunday — over 30,000 congregations meet weekly in chapels throughout the world. These local congregations are geographically designated so as to bring neighbors and communities closer together and give them greater opportunities to serve each other.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognize Sunday as the Sabbath in commemoration of the fact that Christ came forth from the grave on Sunday, and the Apostles commenced meeting thereafter on the first day of the week.
Worship services of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) include weekly services, held in meetinghouses on Sundays (or another day when local custom or law prohibits Sunday worship, such as in Israel), in geographically based religious units (called wards or branches).
Church services last for two hours. The first meeting is called sacrament meeting. It lasts for one hour.
The church did not — and does not — have any rule about clothing at church, but the cultural expectations of dresses and skirts on women have been strong and fairly uniform.
In keeping with the Mormon belief that heaven is full of millions of spirits awaiting an earthly body, birth control and abortion are also forbidden. Since the female body is regarded as the tabernacle of the spirit and the residence of God's spirit children, a high priority is given to prenatal care.
Mormons tend to be very family-centered people who love life, their families and God. That makes them, in general, good neighbors. We use electricity, we have the internet, we drive cars, Mormons can use phones. Mormons aren't Amish.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches members it is important to “keep the Sabbath Day holy” and forgo certain activities; however, playing sports on the Sabbath is an individual decision many athletes are faced with in professional their careers.
In Utah, where many parents are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and don't participate in certain activities on Sunday, trick-or-treating on the Sabbath is often seen as a no-no. Many LDS families bump up the holiday to Saturday night to avoid the Sabbath day conflict.
Alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee and drugs
These are all specifically banned in the Word of Wisdom, except for drugs. The prophets have made it clear that drugs, other than for medical use, are also banned. Mormons are also strongly discouraged from drinking soft drinks containing caffeine.
The policy of companionships staying together at all times serves to discourage these activities. While missionaries may interact with members of the opposite sex, they may never be alone with them or engage in any kind of intimate physical or emotional activity (e.g., kissing, hugging, holding hands, flirting).
In the Word of Wisdom, the Lord commands Mormons to abstain from harmful substances. Mormons are taught not to drink any kind of alcohol (see D&C 89:5–7). Mormons are also taught not to drink “hot drinks,” meaning coffee or any tea other than herbal tea (see D&C 89:9), and not to use tobacco (see D&C 89:8).
Non-Mormons are, however, welcome to attend the Latter-day Saints' chapels, where weekly Sunday services and meetings take place. The general public are also allowed to tour newly-constructed temples during the brief window of time before they are officially dedicated.
All members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ages 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School classes, which are held on the first and third Sundays as part of the regular weekly worship services. Those of other faiths are also invited to attend.
Kimball stating that the church does not "condone nor approve of" measures of contraception which greatly "limit the family".
Can LDS missionaries use messenger? The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced full-time missionaries may now communicate with their families every week via phone calls, text messages, online messaging and video chats, in addition to letters and emails.
Since 1980, church members have been expected to attend a one-hour sacrament worship service each Sunday, followed by two hours of meetings such as Sunday school and men's and women's groups.
The LDS Church reports that it uses most of its financial resources to construct and maintain buildings and other facilities. The church also spends its funds on providing social welfare and relief and supporting missionary, educational, and other church-sponsored programs.
First, philosophical materialism is clearly a feature of Mormon theology. Thus, the ontology of Mormonism lays a foundation for positive attitudes toward the possession and consumption of material goods, for more than any other Christian religion, Mormonism is built upon materialist foundations (McMurrin 1965).
One of the Mormons' basic beliefs is that they are called by God to serve others. Thus, practicing members of the LDS Church act under the belief that they are called to give time and expertise to church, society and humanity, the study says.
Mormon women have the specific responsibility to be righteous daughters of God; good, faithful wives; and loving mothers. A woman should give her greatest priority to her home: her husband, her family, and the opportunity to child-bearing. That is her divine mission.
Though not deemed an appropriate part of formal worship, dancing has ever after been an essential element of LDS culture.
Mormons, more properly referred to as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are counseled by Church leaders not to tattoo their bodies–as their body is considered a temple and a gift from God. (see 1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
According to the church, adult Mormons are required to wear special garments, a type of underwear that covers the shoulders and upper thigh, at all times after their first temple visit. However, Section 21.1. 42 of “Handbook 2” states that the garments may be removed for swimming.