Worship services of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

In Mormonism, weekly worship services, including sacrament meetings, are held on Sundays (or Saturday when local custom or law prohibits Sunday worship), in neighborhood based religious units, and twice each year the Church holds a worldwide General Conference.

Worship service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Latter-day Saint chapel in suburban Salt Lake City

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also know as Mormons)congregations for Sunday services are grouped geographically, with larger (~200 to ~400 people) congregations known as wards, and smaller (2 through ~200 people) congregations known as branches. These neighborhood congregations meet in meetinghouses, also referred to as "chapels" or "stake centers", on property most often owned by the Church. In some geographic areas, rental property may be used as a meetinghouse. Although the building may sometimes be referred to as a "chapel", the room used as a chapel for religious services is actually only one component of the standard meetinghouse.

All people, regardless of belief or standing in the Church are allowed to attend. The sacrament (similar to Communion, the Lord's Supper, or the Eucharist in other churches) is offered weekly. Latter-day Saints come together in meetinghouses for various activities throughout the week (except Mondays, which are reserved for family time).

Women usually attend wearing skirts or dresses, while men wear suits or dress shirts (preferably white) and ties. However, this dress code is not required; people in different attire are also welcome.

Weekly services consist of a three-hour block of time divided into three segments.

Sacrament meeting

The primary Sunday service is sacrament meeting, which is slightly more than an hour in length, and attended by the combined congregation. The foremost purpose of sacrament meeting is the blessing and passing of the sacrament — consecrated bread and water in remembrance of the body and blood of Christ — to members of the Church. After the sacrament, the service usually consists of two or three "talks" (lay sermons) prepared and delivered by members of the congregation. Hymns (accompanied by piano or organ) are sung throughout the service, as a form of worship through music. Once a month, usually on the first Sunday, instead of prepared talks, members are invited to bear their testimonies about gospel principles. These testimonies are generally impromptu statements of personal faith.

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Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building on Exhibition Road, London

Sunday school

Sunday School classes are grouped by age, with new members and visitors sometimes attending introductory classes. The most common adult Sunday School class is Gospel Doctrine, which meets each week and consists of a teacher presenting gospel messages drawn from the Scriptures, with participation from class members. A second adult class is the Gospel Essentials class, designed for new members and non-members who are interested in learning more about the Church (often referred to as "investigators"). In congregations with a diverse membership, special language classes might be organized, where classes are taught in a variety of languages; other times wireless headphones are made available and the discussion can be translated into these other languages. Additional adult classes are held at various times, depending on the specific needs of each congregation. These classes include topics such as Family Relations, Family History, Teacher Preparation, and Temple Preparation. Youth Sunday School classes are divided by age (12-13, 14-15, and 16-18). These classes may be combined if class sizes are small. Each class can have a specific manual written specifically for the audience it addresses.

Priesthood meetings

Men and boys age 12 and up attend priesthood classes. Although all men and boys meet together briefly at the beginning of the hour for a prayer, hymn, and announcements, they then separate into classes. The men separate by priesthood office to attend Elder's Quorum or High Priest's Group, the latter usually being older men and/or those who have held leadership positions in the Church. Youth are likewise divided into priesthood quorums: Deacons (ages 12-13), Teachers (ages 14-15), and Priests (ages 16-18). Classes may be combined if class sizes are small.

Relief Societ and Young Women meetings

Women attend Relief Society, and girls ages 12-18 attend Young Women. Although all women and girls meet together briefly at the beginning of the hour for a prayer, hymn, and announcements, they then separate into classes, just as the men do. The Young Women group is divided into Beehive (ages 12-13), Mia Maid (ages 14-15), and Laurel (ages 16-18) classes.

Primäre

Children younger than 12 attend Primary, which spans the two time blocks described above. Primary is divided into two large groups: Senior Primary (ages 8-11) and Junior Primary (ages 4-7); young children from 18 months to 3 years of age attend nursery class. Primary classes generally consist of all the children who were born in the same year. Usually one half of the Primary meets in separate classes while the other half meets together in sharing and singing time, and at the end of the hour, the two are reversed.