Why Bother
With Ward Activities
by
Clark L and Kathryn H. Kidd
In an age where
television and soccer games rule, it seems to be a growing trend
in these days for Church members to ignore the social aspects of
the LDS culture. In every ward there are active Saints who have
no interest in participating in social events, and who view ward
activities as an optional part of living the gospel. Even if they
can be enticed to participate in a ward activity, they resent the
imposition on their time. Some even use the Church to rationalize
their antisocial behavior, arguing that it’s more important
to cocoon themselves away with their families than to waste time
at yet another ward activity.
Unfortunately,
these scoffers may not be just a few miscellaneous nay-sayers. In
some wards, even the bishop isn’t keen on having ward social
functions. In those wards, those poor souls planning activities
have two strikes against them. The bishop sets the tone of the ward.
If the bishop doesn’t support ward activities, most ward members
will follow his example. If you need a little ammunition for converting
the unconverted to the value of ward activities, here are some things
we wish every Church member would consider:
ACTIVITIES
BUILD WARD UNITY
Feelings of
unity can arise from any ward activity – even those just designed
to provide an evening of fun for ward members. You can sit next
to someone in church for years, but you see him in a whole new light
when you wash dishes together. These opportunities help you develop
a new appreciation for someone, as your conversation turns to topics
that are not typically discussed in Sunday meetings. As you participate,
you’ll invariably learn something new and interesting about
everyone who crosses your path.
The people
in Enoch’s day were translated because, “…they
were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and
there was no poor among them (Moses 7:18).” If we are to reach
that goal, it is essential that we develop absolute unity with our
fellow worshippers. We can only forge those bonds if there are opportunities
for ward members to socialize and work together. If there were no
other reason to hold a ward activity other than to strengthen ward
unity, that would be reason enough.
ACTIVITIES
PROVIDE MISSIONARY OPPORTUNITIES
Although many
outsiders would be interested in learning more about our faith,
most of them aren’t ready to get into a doctrinal discussion
with the missionaries. Ward activities provide the perfect setting
for a non-threatening introduction to the Church. The non-member
doesn’t feel threatened because nobody will be pushing a sales
pitch in his face, and the member doesn’t feel threatened
because it’s a lot easier to invite someone to a party than
it is to challenge him to baptism.
If ward activities
are planned and executed correctly, nonmembers will be able to feel
spiritually uplifted as they attend the activity. An investigator
who attends ward activities may realize that the Church could provide
something that is missing in his life. The recognition of this need
will open the door to traditional missionary discussions.
Even if you’re
one of those unbelievers who hate ward activities, your attendance
is worthwhile because you enhance the environment for missionary
work. You may not say a single word to outsiders, but that doesn’t
matter. What does matter is that the nonmembers who attend see the
spirit of love and fellowship that are found among Latter-day Saints.
If you stay home and the party fails, any nonmembers who are brought
to the activity will go home with an unfavorable impression.
ACTIVITIES
BUILD FRIENDSHIPS
Ward activities
can also provide a non-threatening environment to reach members
whose testimony and commitment have faded over time. Activities
can attract these marginal members, and the spirit of fellowship
they feel may bring them back to church again.
Saints who
usually don’t attend church may have talents that could be
shared with other ward members. Such people will often be honored
if asked to participate in an activity where they can help out.
This may open the door to friendships and feelings of belonging
that will lead to increased involvement with the ward.
Even for active
members of the Church, moving into a new ward is difficult. Sometimes
even active Church members get discouraged and fall away after a
move. But involvement in ward activities can help new ward members
get acclimated to their new surroundings and find new friends, saving
people who may otherwise leave the fold.
ACTIVITIES
STRENGTHEN TESTIMONIES
Many activities
are designed to build the spirituality and strengthen the testimonies
of those who attend. Most wards provide regular youth firesides
where teens can meet to hear a variety of speakers. Many wards offer
similar programs to all ward members, where they can meet for an
inspirational program, followed by the traditional refreshments.
Activities
with a spiritual theme tend to be more informal than regular Sunday
church meetings. Participants can receive spiritual food in a setting
that is a little more comfortable for members and investigators
who are not ready to attend church on a regular basis.
ACTIVITIES
PROVIDE A SOCIAL CONNECTION
Maybe you’re
so busy that you don’t have a free night for three months.
But not everyone is so lucky. For other ward members, the ward potluck
dinner that you consider to be so dull will be the social highlight
of the month.
Here’s
another scary thought. Even if you’re the most popular person
in town, your luck may not hold out forever. Take an honest look
at the members of your ward. The stereotypical Mormon family (Mom,
Dad, and a gaggle of kids) may be found in great abundance, but
you will also see a lot of families that don’t fit that mold.
You will find young adults away from home for the first time, newlyweds,
childless couples, older singles, empty-nesters, and many other
combinations of non-traditional families. In some wards, non-traditional
families outnumber the traditional ones. One day, you may find yourself
in their shoes.
The location
of your ward may offer new opportunities – and new needs –
for activities. Although a post-Thanksgiving dinner may never be
popular in Utah, it could be a lifesaver in wards where most members
are living far away from their extended families. In fact, wards
fill the function of families in many cases.
As pathetic
as you might consider your ward activities, ward members who feel
isolated and lonely may anticipate them as one of the few events
on their social calendar. So if a particular activity doesn’t
meet your needs, take consolation from the fact that you might be
doing a great service to others by providing them an evening of
much-needed social interaction.
ACTIVITIES
EDUCATE
Clark once
taught a class at a Relief Society meeting that involved making
stained-glass butterflies. Everyone seemed to enjoy the evening,
and some of the butterflies were almost good enough to sell. The
next time Clark bought supplies at the stained glass store, the
employee who helped him was one of the women who attended the class.
She had enjoyed the evening so much that she took some classes.
This led to a new career. It was a world-class example of how something
learned at an activity could alter the course of a person’s
life.
Although there
will probably be few such life-changing experiences associated with
your activities, ward members can still derive much enjoyment from
learning new things and developing new talents. We have all caught
ourselves saying, “One day I would really like to learn how
to so-and-so.” Ward activities offer an opportunity to fulfill
these wishes on a small scale.
ACTIVITIES
MOTIVATE
Those who plan
ward activities should consider the power they have to motivate
people for good. Our ward set a 90-day goal for members to read
the Book of Mormon. Bookmarks were distributed to remind participants
of weekly reading assignments. The Sunday bulletin reminded readers
of next week’s assignment, and provided interesting facts
about that portion of the scripture. There was a party when the
program ended, as well as a testimony meeting where participants
told how the program had changed their lives. The program was such
a success that it was repeated twice in succession, so others could
get that same feeling of achievement. Many participants said it
was the first time they had read the Book of Mormon all the way
to the end.
ACTIVITIES
TEACH SERVICE
One of the
major themes of the Savior’s ministry was service to others.
Members of the LDS Church are expected to follow that example.
Although many
types of service activities can and should be done on a small scale,
organized service activities provide new Church members with a comfortable
introduction to what service is all about. When Saints are engaged
in a good cause, miracles happen. Not only does service make the
participants feel closer to God, but it also helps them develop
ties to one other because they are rendering service together.
A popular youth
activity is to participate in a “Service Scavenger Hunt,”
where teams of youth knock on the doors of total strangers and ask
if they need any help performing small household tasks. The short-term
goal is to win a prize by being on the team that performs the most
acts of service in one evening, but the more important goal is to
learn the value of service and build good will in the neighborhood.
Your neighbors will be astonished to find a group of youth willing
to help others with no expectation of reward.
ACTIVITIES
PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING
Non-LDS beneficiaries
of our service projects have a much different impression of Latter-day
Saints than they did before we arrived. Service-oriented activities
help dispel false beliefs and open the doors to understanding with
those who are not LDS.
Probably one
of the best examples of this occurred during 1997, when each ward
was asked to perform some type of community service project. Many
wards responded, and hundreds of thousands of hours were donated
throughout the world. This resulted in a flood of favorable publicity,
as government leaders praised the service that was rendered. Many
officials said that members accomplished in one day what would have
taken years to accomplish through normal channels.
There are many
ways that wards can reach out to their communities. We’ll
give you examples in future columns. One ward in our stake recently
started giving free English classes to immigrants. These classes
attract so many people that other wards have been recruited to help
out. Everyone who attends will walk away with a more favorable impression
of the Church.
*****
When you support
ward activities, you educate, motivate, provide social connections,
strengthen testimonies, build friendships and understanding, promote
missionary work, build ward unity, and help others.
Did you catch
it this time – that common theme of service? Here you thought
all along that ward activities were just for your enjoyment, but
the real benefit has been to provide opportunities for you to serve
others in many different ways. Even if we didn’t convince
you that you can have fun at such activities, we hope you can now
see that your participation can be a great blessing to others.
Click
here to sign up for Meridian's FREE email updates.
© 2002Meridian
Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
| 
