Elsewhere in this bulletin is an article about the Christian's behavior in the house of God, the church. I recommend you read it first, as it addresses the broader point of our behavior as God's children at all times and in all places. Here, we wish to make a specific application to how we behave, namely, in our worship assemblies.

Our purpose for coming together as a church is to worship God and be built up in Christ: “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (1 Cor. 14:26) Because we "come together as a church" to worship God "in spirit and truth", the church's place of assembly is not a place that facilitates social, recreational or political activities (1 Cor. 11:18; Jno. 4:24).

Your behavior in the worship assembly reflects your attitude as well as the attention you are giving God. Reverent attention ought always to be given God in worship. Some things detract from reverent worship. Please consider the following:

During worship services is not the time to be whispering, texting or otherwise visiting with your neighbor. There is time for that before and after we worship God. God is honored by giving Him our full attention as we pray, sing, eat the Lord's supper, give and hear His word taught. Worship is a time for us all to show respect for God (see Neh. 8:1-6).

During worship services is not the time to be needlessly getting up and down to go to the restrooms or wandering about. Of course there are good reasons some must leave the assembly hall, like caring for children or an illness. But, repeatedly getting up and down during worship suggests an attention problem. When Ezra read the Scriptures "from morning until midday", the men, women and children "were attentive to the Book of the Law" (Ezra 8:3). I fear we can be far more attentive to a two-hour movie (from which they do not move out of their seat) than to the Lord and His word during a one-hour worship service! If you think you must get up during the invitation song, let me challenge you to wait five more minutes until worship is concluded before diverting your attention elsewhere.

Mormons Admit Smith's Polygamy
Joe R. Price

For the first time the LDS Church has officially acknowledged Joseph Smith, Jr. had multiple wives. “Mormon founder Joseph Smith took his first "plural wife," Fanny Alger, in the mid-1830s. He later married many additional women — including young teens and some who already were wed to other men — and introduced the practice of polygamy to select members in the 1840s” (“New Mormon essay: Joseph Smith married teens, other men’s wives”, Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake Tribune). About 33 wives are attributable to Smith, maybe more (Ibid). The LDS Church admits these “Sealings for time and eternity included commitments and relationships during this life, generally including the possibility of sexual relations” (“Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo”, lds.org). The LDS Church’s admission at this late date does little to dispel their moral and religious entanglement.

The problem of adultery. Taking another wife while the wife to whom one is bound is living is adultery (Rom. 7:2-3). God judges fornicators and adulterers (Heb. 13:4).

The problem of the cover up (lying). In 1831 a Mormon revelation said a man should cleave to his wife and “none else” (D&C 42:22). The Book of Mormon agrees (Jacob 2:27). So does the Bible (Gen. 2:24). Yet, Smith began taking other women by the mid-1830’s. In the 1835 edition of D&C 101 we find this disclaimer: “Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again.” Smith covered up his practice, gradually revealing it to trusted associates in the early 1840's. Richard Bushman, author of “Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling” observed, “Joseph was in an impossible situation. If he revealed what was going on, he would have brought down fury from both Mormons and outsiders. If you want to call that lying, I guess he was lying” (Stack op. cit.).

The problem of a false prophet. The Mormons would later forbid polygamy (1890). God’s revelations do not adapt to men's will (Jer. 13:14). Smith is a false prophet due to his immorality and his false teaching Matt. 7:15-23). 

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Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated.  11/16/2014