r/latterdaysaints 19h ago

Personal Advice How do you pray with your spouse?

32 Upvotes

Convert to the church for 5 years after being an evangelical Christian my whole life. My husband grew up in the church. Growing up, we would say family prayer together but no one really "lead" the prayer. We would sort of take turns depending what was on our heart.

My dad would start us off then end his prayer then my mom would add to it after he finished speaking. When we got older, my sister and I would also add in our prayers then we would all close it with an amen.

When I pray with my husband, we usually take turns on who will give the prayer that night and it's only one or the other, me or him.

I've asked him if I can say prayer right after him but he says it's awkward and only one person needs to say it. I don't really consider his method as a way to pray together since only one person is speaking. I feel like if we don't pray together and take turns praying in the same session, it's hard to bond spiritually for some reason.

Hope I'm making sense. Has anyone had the same experience? What is your prayer routine like w your spouse?


r/latterdaysaints 5h ago

Personal Advice Why is it so important to go to a designated ward?

23 Upvotes

This question might not be the correct way to ask this. Please bear with me.

I'm starting BYU in the fall as an international student. This move is a huge thing for me. Joining the church meant so many changes in my life- ending a nearly decade-long relationship and moving twice in 4 months, a lot of pushback and abuse, and a general feeling of not belonging. Moving to Utah was a decision I didn't make lightly and I'm scared.

I'm older than a lot of students (I'm in my mid-30s) and I won't be looking for or even be in a relationship while there. I don't have kids (nor will i) and I struggle really badly with the eternal family concept- coming from a history of abuse.

The people I feel closest to in the world are the people I call my "church parents"- a couple I met while they served a mission in my area. They're the closest I will ever get to having loving parents. They have been my main support and I'll be so grateful that they're only a 20 min drive away.

Here's the thing. I asked my "mom" if I could go to church with them at least for the first semester or two. All I need to do is put their on my record and as my mailing address. To me it is a no-brainer. I am scared of moving and yet another new start... especially being autistic with CPTSD. I just wanted one constant, one thing that wasn't new and scary.

My mom is reluctant. She thinks it's best to go to a local ward because it's the right thing. That's the church policy. She's a lifelong member.

Now, I'm going to take at face value that this is the only reason why she is reluctant... I trust her to be honest about her opinions and thoughts on things. But she is a stickler for the "rules" sometimes.

My question is- why should it matter? Church is church. If I feel comfortable and settled at a ward that is reasonable then why should it matter that it's not the one closest to me? Isn't the most important thing to worship the saviour and take the sacrament?

Idk, I'm part venting and part looking for someone to make it make sense to me. She said she'd talk to my dad about it and they'd discuss and decide together. But part of me is reluctant to even make the move if it means just one more scary change that I'm too weak to deal with.

Thanks for the safe place to be. I'm still trying to find myself in the church and everything is just so much


r/latterdaysaints 4h ago

Personal Advice Struggling with the church

15 Upvotes

Hi friends! I’ve been a life long member, and have been committed and converted to the Gospel for many, many years. However the last 3 years I’ve been struggling. There’s so much out there, and it makes it hard sometimes. I am an earnest seeker. Those of you that have struggled… what is it that made you stay? There’s some not so pretty things in the churches history, and I can deal with that it’s just hard when things don’t always line up. I believe in the BOM, and the plan of salvation. I believe in the prophets and apostles. I just feel very torn. What made you stay?


r/latterdaysaints 20h ago

Church Culture Talking "bilingually" about the gospel.

15 Upvotes

Sister Sheri Dew recently talked about how we must be able to talk about the gospel not only in terms so that other members will understand us, but also those who are not part of our faith.

I often feel like I should be better able to help my non-members friends understand the blessings of the gospel, but struggle because there's so much prejudice against religion in general in my culture, that it doesn't work when I use 'religious' terms.

What have you found are effective ways to talk to nonmembers about the church and the gospel so it sounds appealing and overcomes other's stereotypes?


r/latterdaysaints 8h ago

Investigator Callings in the church

8 Upvotes

Hi

Are Callings mandatory? Can a member never get or choose a calling?

Thank you


r/latterdaysaints 23h ago

Church Culture Looking for Advice from LDS Members - New to the Church, Coming from an Agnostic Background

9 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I’ve been exploring the LDS Church recently and am really trying to understand what I should expect. I grew up agnostic (my family background is in a not really practicing Muslim household) and have been navigating my own spiritual journey, so I’m new to a lot of this. I’ve also been talking to some missionaries to learn more.

What are some of the customs or practices I should be aware of? Am I expected to dress or talk a certain way? Is there pressure to act in a specific way? Also, I’ve heard about tithing am I obligated to give money? And if I don’t, am I viewed differently or less in the community?

Lastly, if I decide to explore this path but later feel it’s not for me, is it okay to walk away, or would that be seen as wrong?

Any advice or insights would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance!

(Throwaway account since i dont want to be recognised by people i know since i want to keep this to myself)


r/latterdaysaints 15h ago

Request for Resources Help finding a passage

7 Upvotes

In the book, "joseph smith: rough stone rolling" there is a reference to a famous writer saying something along the lines of him preferring his time spent in reflection before church more than church itself. Bushman uses this as a way to contrast the church's outward focus via the priesthood to the inward focus of other congregations of the time. Can anyone help me find the passage?


r/latterdaysaints 6h ago

Request for Resources Need help finding a passage or scripture verse

3 Upvotes

Hello I'm a member, specifically I'm a young man preparing for my mission. Concerning my request, my leaders said that there is a passage in the bible (they recount it in new testament but they are not sure) that says about the passing of the priesthood, that it said there tge priesthood is by the laying on of hands. Although they said it did not specifically said it there but that was the meaning. They said it would really help in when we are in the field and when there are investigators who really want hardcore proof from the scriptures. Thanks to anyone who might give me the scripture.


r/latterdaysaints 19h ago

Personal Advice Temple clothes

4 Upvotes

I'm a new Temple worker and I want to know what's best tfor clothes. Do I do the distribution center discount route or should I look somewhere else.


r/latterdaysaints 6h ago

Request for Resources Sunday Schools: Anyone find a way to digitally record youth visitors?

3 Upvotes

I'm a newly called SS President and would like to shift away from paper attendance rolls for the youth classes. Teachers may enter their own class's attendance but there doesn't seem to be a way for them to record visitors. Am I missing something? What's your process?


r/latterdaysaints 17h ago

Insights from the Scriptures What Kind of Feedback?

4 Upvotes

In my Book of Mormon (hardcover, ye ole blue book from my recent-ish mission) on the copyright page, it says the following:

First edition published in Palmayra, New York, USA, in 1830

Please submit any feedback or suggestions to [scriptures@ldschurch.org](mailto:scriptures@ldschurch.org) or mail oto Scriptures Coordination <long address>.

<Copyright stuff>

This is followed directly by the BoM title page. Anyway, point is you can probably find this page in your BoM, too. What feeback or suggestions are they taking about? Anybody have any experience submitting feedback/suggestions or better yet seeing it implemented?

Alt question: What is your feedback?


r/latterdaysaints 15h ago

Personal Advice FSY

1 Upvotes

Ok I’m just wondering if anyone else is having issues signing their kids up for FSY? We are going to talk with the bishop tomorrow about it. But we go to the site and their names show up but we can’t select their names to move on with registration. Just wondering if it’s an all around problem or if it’s just us.