Ward

Whether you call it a “walkabout,” a “snack and stroll,” a “munch and mingle,” or a “walk and talk,” here’s why it has become my very favorite summer activity.

There may be days or seasons when we feel like we’re not getting much out of church. Here are a few ideas to improve our Sunday worship experiences.

Stakes in the US and Canada previously needed to have 3,000 members, and those outside these two countries needed 1,900. A new Church policy standardizes those requirements.

Making new friends as an adult can seem like a daunting task, but when approached with childlike enthusiasm it can become a rewarding challenge.

“I believe that the diversity of thought and background that comes from a ward family can lead to some incredible, and dare I say life-altering blessings.”

Whether you're new in your ward or just haven't quite found your place, here are five simple ways to create connections on your friend-making journey.

Instead of approaching missionary work by telling others that they need the Church, we can let them know that “the Church needs you.”

When my husband became a bishop over four years ago, it was one of the greatest blessings for our family. And yet while my husband’s calling has been a wonderful thing for us, I’ve also found that I’ve needed support from others going through the same experience.

There is no doubt that the Church is growing, and much of it is happening in unexpected areas of the world.

Young single adults in Tonga will have a congregation of their own where they can meet with other Latter-day Saints in a similar stage of life.

It was a typical California morning.

Many Latter-day Saint families have a parent or spouse who is less-active or not a member of the Church. But that doesn’t mean we can’t find ways to love and include them in our own ward and family activities. Find out how you can better support those part-member families you know.

Being at church has at times been a major struggle for me. My first major panic attack happened during a Sunday School lesson while I was in college, and the months following that experience I struggled with inexplicable intense anxiety in both church and other social settings. After some time and with the help of therapy, medication, and prayer, church became again a place of peace rather than panic for me. Unfortunately, that anxiety returned full force last summer.

The Holy Ghost will give us very specific guidance if we will hear and act upon it. One woman tells of a personal commandment, or prompting, that she felt compelled to obey:

There are so many common words that mean something completely different for Latter-day Saints. If you’re a member of the Church, you probably know these all too well, but if you’re new to the culture, you’ll want to keep this list of words handy so you’re not disappointed when you don’t get a delicious steak at the stake center.

Thanks to Mormon Light for making us aware of this video.

Ward families provide wonderful opportunities to worship, make friends, find support, and strengthen your testimony as ward members work, learn, grow, and live together. But speaking as a former long-term member of a young single adult ward and a current member of an apartment-heavy ward with newlyweds and senior missionary couples coming in and out on a regular basis, I know that feeling support and connection at church can be a little more difficult when your ward family is constantly changing. Here are a few tips I’ve gathered that might help both leaders and members create more unity in an ever-changing ward.

I struggled writing this. First of all, I didn't want to come off as jaded. Second, I didn't want to sound like I was trying to encourage discord within ward families.

As ward activity committee members, it can be difficult to come up with unique ideas for the ward Christmas party year after year. Here are some ideas for making this December's event an enjoyable experience for members of all ages.

Recently, the Church announced that in 2018 "Teaching of the Prophets" manuals will no longer be used in Relief Society or priesthood meetings. Instead, ward leaders will be able to choose general conference talks and gospel topics to prepare lessons tailored to their ward's needs. Among these changes, the Church also announced that once a month a council will be held during Relief Society and priesthood meeting, a change designed to help bring wards closer together and make members more aware of each person's needs.

Though the Church is continuing to grow throughout the world, the rate of growth slowed to its lowest levels in decades last year. And what's even more surprising, while Church growth is slowing in some areas, it is booming in countries that were not previously considered hotbeds of Church activity.

For those who are the ward choir director, getting volunteers to participate in the choir can often be quite the challenge. Many times ward members don't usually see how they can add value to or benefit from the choir.

It was the first Sunday in my new ward, and the inevitable introduction was about to begin.

It’s commonly held that Utah is the “home” of the Church—which is why it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it’s also “home” to one distinctive Stake of Zion where I have had the pleasure of spending the past two years.

This new teaching program, which will replace the Church's current manual and training program Teaching, No Greater Call, is not only meant to be used by teachers in the classroom. It is designed to help parents teach their children better in the home and to help church leaders in ward council and presidency meetings.

"I could sit here and be depressed, but what good can come from that?" said Paul Moore, a 36-year-old father of two who learned he had over 40 tumors just last year. "I'm grateful for all that I've been blessed with. I feel love and support each and every day. Each and every day, I am humbled."

MR says: What a beautiful example of loving others and following the First Presidency's charge to help in any way we can with the refugee crisis. It might surprise you how many refugees live in your cities, your neighborhoods, and even your wards and how much you can make a difference just by reaching out.

MR says: A ward in Salt Lake City is focusing on healing after a member and father of four, Russell Jacobs, was shot by a man in their neighborhood--Jesse Lyle Bruner, someone many members remember as having grown up in their ward. Members of the stake presidency visited the ward this past Sunday to help bring unity and added comfort to its members.

MR says: Want to know how to be miserable and to make your experience at Church the absolute worst? Then read all of these great self-hinder tips!

If you’ve attended a ward council lately, you know that "to the rescue" isn’t just President Thomas S. Monson’s personal mantra. It’s become a motto for many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

During His mortal ministry, Jesus Christ taught that many people—even those who had never met Him—had provided Him with life-sustaining service. In response to the confused queries that followed this teaching, the Savior simply said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:37, 40).

Image from lds.net Do people usually describe you as a leader? What do you enjoy doing? If you could be an animal, what would you be?

Confession: I have been on more dates with guys in my wards than I could ever count. I confess it not to gloat or complain but to prove a point. I’ve dated long-distance style, and I’ve dated across-the-street style. I’ve noticed that for many, dating within the ward means unwanted gossip and ruined chances for later happiness—"peeing in the pool," as they call it. Then again, there are many intra-ward happily ever after stories . . . just not mine.