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Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
 
I've been checking out different churches as of late just to expand my experiance and whatnot. This past month I went with some friends to a Unitarian Universalist church and before that I went to a Gnostic ceremony. I'm thinking of checking out a Mormon mass/service... is it ok for a non LDS to just show up and sit in?
 

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Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
 
Did a little research and found these links:
http://www.freep.com/news/religion/qmormon25.htm

http://www.freep.com/news/religion/qmormon9.htm

So the temple is off limits... what about these meeting houses? Are services held there and can I visit?
 

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Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
 
Telp, I'm sure someone will be along who can answer your question.

In the meantime, the Sunday services take three hours but I believe the first hour is the sort of service you would be welcome to visit. I'm not sure if you can just sneak in the back and watch or if you have to be social and talk to people and be polite.
 

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Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
 
I'd like to go with someone if possible.
Any LDS peeps in Detroit area?

Hmmm.. that reminds me that my friend Angela's mom was Mormon. I think she left the church or just doesn't go anymore. But she has that stereotypical Mormon "look", pale skin and red hair. Angie's mom married an Armenian... giving Angie this really cool look. Ok... I'm getting a little OT.
*runs off to bed*
 

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Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
 
You (or anyone, for that matter) can just show up, sit in the back, and leave without talking to anyone if you like. No biggie. But don't be surprised if people try to talk to you, anyway. It's been known to happen.

The meetings are a total of three hours. Generally, we first have sacrament meeting, where we partake of the sacrament (passing bread and water to remind us of the covenants we made when we were baptized), plus listen to 2 or 3 speakers (topics vary wildly), or, if it's a testimony Sunday (usually the first Sunday of the month), then people with bear their testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel.

Following that is Sunday school, and following that, you would go to priesthood. (Women would go to relief society, young women would go to young women's, and children would be in primary.)

Sometimes, the schedule is reversed.

But yeah, anyone can visit and attend anytime they want. It actually even says "Visitors Welcome" on the sign outside the church.

You can look in the phone book under "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" or you can go to http://lds.org/basicbeliefs/meetinghouse/ to locate a meetinghouse where you are.
 

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Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
 
Looks like there is one in Dearborn, about 15 minutes from my house. Mmmmm...

And I don't mind peeps talking to me. That's half the fun.
 

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Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
 
Telpy, guys usually wear a white shirt and tie to church, (if you want to blend in and attempt to remain a lurker) and some sort of slacks that aren't jeans. Girls wear dresses or skirts.

Meetings usually begin at 9 AM but times can vary. Everyone is welcome! It's all about families so there will almost always be lots of kids making various amounts of noise in sacrament meeting, (which I think is wonderful). Their parents usually carry them outside if they start really wailing or something. <laughs> But it's a very kid friendly church, so don't let that throw you.

Good thing you don't mind talking to people! The first time I tried to sneak into my very large (at the time) ward, the relief society president sat in the row in front of me and turned around right after service and said "are you a visitor?". Everyone tends to know everyone else in their ward. Chances are, several people will come up and introduce themselves, before or after service.

There are no paid clergy. The people who give the talks are usually just ordinary members. I hope you enjoy the service.
 

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Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
 
Well, it depends on how small the ward is (the smallest branches of Mormons are called 'wards'), you may or may not be able to successfully blend in . Chances are quite good, however, that you'll be noticed as someone no one recognizes, and set upon by missionaries . Hey, it happened to me. Since you say you don't mind peeps talking to you, I expect you won't have a problem, hehe.
 

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Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
 
Don't they ask who is a visitor in Mormon churches? I don't think I've ever been to a church where they didn't, in some way, acknowledge visitors.

The church we just joined asked visitors to raise their hands. The preacher then makes them stand up and tell everyone who they are and where they're from. I had seen that before at other churches, so I knew not to raise my hand.
 

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Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
 
>>Don't they ask who is a visitor in Mormon churches?

Not during sacrament meeting. They'll offer a general welcome to any visitors, but they won't usually do introductions or things of that sort until the Priesthood/Relief Society hour.
 

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Posted by Randy (Member # 8181) on :
 
In Sacrament Meeting (the general worship service) they might give a generic welcome to visitors, but no one will be singled out.

In the other meetings, however, it's a different story. Mormons are interested in visitors and curious about them, and want them to feel welcome.
 

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Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
 
We visited several churches before finally calling one home and I noticed there's a fine line between welcoming visitors and creeping them out. Maybe it was just me, but there were a few places where I was a little overwhelmed by greetings, handshakes and welcomes. Those places made me nervous.
 

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Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
www.mormon.org

From there, you can find the closest building to you and their worship times, and there is also a page on what to expect. You'll be very welcome.

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Any LDS peeps in Detroit area?

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that stereotypical Mormon "look", pale skin and red hair

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Since there are more Mormons outside the U.S. than inside, you must be talking about pale Brazilians, Mexicans, and Philipinos.

Or maybe you're talking about the Goth ward at Eagle Mountain.
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
I have two Mormon Goth friends! I bet they'd both love to be involved in that kind of thing.
 

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Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
 
There is seriously a "Mormon Goth" ward in Eagle Mountain?

Little Goth kids running around in Primary? The Relief Society making capes for needy people in Armenia?
 

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Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
 
Telp, if you do attend, please email me with your impression of the visit. (Or email me to tell me you posted it on HR so I don't miss it.)
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 

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There is seriously a "Mormon Goth" ward in Eagle Mountain?

Little Goth kids running around in Primary? The Relief Society making capes for needy people in Armenia?

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Originally posted by ketchupqueen:

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There is seriously a "Mormon Goth" ward in Eagle Mountain?

Little Goth kids running around in Primary? The Relief Society making capes for needy people in Armenia?

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This image is priceless...

They do say there's a Goth service organization. They knit scarves for the needy, and have an "Adopt a Bat" program, and also participate in the "Adopt a Highway" program and go out and pick up trash and stuff.

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We've had recent conference talks about leaving the body piercings, tatoos, and skanky porn clothes at home.

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Body Piercings: Some you could. If I had my tongue ring out for more than 30 mins or so it would close up, however.

Tatoos: How do you leave these at home!
 

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Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
We've perfected the skin removal process.

I suppose you could just wear a shirt that covers it, but the skin removal and reattachment process is much more fun.
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
I know someone who wears her cloak to church in the winter. She's not Goth, though-- just into LOTR and a Rennie and stuff.

Hey, it's a nice cloak! It keeps her warm and looks good with a dress, so what's the problem?
 

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Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
 
I've worn a wool cape as a winter coat for the last five years. Including to church, of course.
 

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Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
 

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Originally posted by katharina:
As a used-to-be Mormon, I can see why KarlEd would be interested in Telp's experience.

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Katie, did you leave the church?

(Sorry, sometimes my inner Jon Boy can't resist.)
 

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Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
 
Actually I wish we could get Karl Ed back. It's our great loss that he left the church.
 

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Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
 

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>>Don't they ask who is a visitor in Mormon churches?

Not during sacrament meeting. They'll offer a general welcome to any visitors, but they won't usually do introductions or things of that sort until the Priesthood/Relief Society hour.

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Sri Lanka seems to be the consistent exception. You'll be asked to introduce yourself in Relief Society/Priesthood, and then again in Sunday School, and most certainly yes, again, in Sacrament Meeting. And then you'll be swarmed after the meetings are all over, too.

Our branch in Colombo is about 50-60 active members, so you can bet yer sweet bippy that we all know each other, and anyone who visits sticks out like a sore thumb!
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
We were introduced as visitors in Sac. meeting both in Lompoc and Amarillo. Of course, it might help that we were very-newlyweds, married the day before we went to church in Lompoc in the L.A. Temple, and the bishops in said wards knew that. And announced it.
 

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Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
 
I have visited wards all over the country and have only had to introduce myself in Priesthood meeting and Sunday School.

Try to look like a Mormon, even if you need to swap your tattoo skin for pasty white. Otherwise, the missionaries sitting in the back will get too excited.
 

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Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
Tatiana: Now that's just embrassing. *turns in English degree*
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 

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We've had recent conference talks about leaving the body piercings, tatoos, and skanky porn clothes at home.

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Telpy, guys usually wear a white shirt and tie to church, (if you want to blend in and attempt to remain a lurker) and some sort of slacks that aren't jeans.

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Crap...the only good clothes I have are all black... mmm.. I guess I'll just have to stick out.

 

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Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
I wore all black to church many times, including last week. You'll be fine.
 

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