Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

When I think of the word ‘worship,’ I think of treating something with god-like reverence. I think we’ve all heard the phrase, “worship the ground” someone walks on. It means that there is a god-like reverence for someone, so much so that even the ground they walk on is worthy of veneration.

I think it would be fair to say that everyone worships something. For the most part, when people speak of worship, they are speaking of Deity, but everyone treats something with a god-like reverence, regardless if they know it or not.

Introduction

Worship was the topic selected during the April general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

In his address, he discussed what worshipping Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ means and entails, highlighting four concepts that came to his mind:

• “The actions that constitute our worship”
• “The attitudes and feelings that figure into our worship”
• “The exclusivity of our worship”
• “The need to emulate the Holy Beings that we worship”

Actions that constitute our worship

Of the four concepts, Elder Christofferson devoted the most time to the first concept. He explained gathering “in a consecrated space to perform acts of devotion” and “what we do when we gather on the Lord’s day.”

Ryan Comer, Standard-Examiner

We go to church to partake of the sacrament and we dress “as best we can according to our means–not extravagantly but modestly in a way to signal our respect and reverence for Deity.” We pray, sing hymns and instruct as well as learn from each other.

“We come together not to entertain or be entertained–as by a band, for instance–but to remember [the Lord] and be ‘instructed more perfectly’ in His gospel,” Elder Christofferson said.

Church is not supposed to be a party. I don’t go to church so that I can have a good time. I do end up having a good time at church, but it’s not because it was made to be that way. It’s because I remembered the Lord and was “‘instructed more perfectly’ in His gospel.”

Elder Christofferson highlighted words shared by Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at the October 2024 general conference where Elder Kearon explained the difference between attending and worshipping, highlighting the need to not go simply to check it off the list.

“But to worship is to intentionally praise and adore our God in a way that transforms us!” Elder Christofferson quoted Elder Kearon as saying.

Speaking of the sabbath day in general, Elder Christofferson spoke of a message delivered by President Russell M. Nelson before he became president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he said his sabbath day activities constitute a sign to God, and when thought of that way, he doesn’t need a list of dos and don’ts.

Emphasizing the importance of partaking of the sacrament, Elder Christofferson said:

“Worship on the Lord’s day is marked by a particular focus on the great atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We appropriately and specially celebrate His Resurrection at Easter but also every week as we partake of the sacramental emblems of His Atonement, including His Resurrection. For the penitent, partaking of the sacrament is the highlight of Sabbath worship.”

One of the more fascinating elements of this part of Elder Christofferson’s talk was a study he highlighted as he discussed the “unique power and benefits” that “worshipping together as ‘the body of Christ” has “as we teach, serve, and sustain one another.”

“Interestingly, one recent study found that those who view their spiritual lives as entirely private are less likely to prioritize spiritual growth, or to say their faith is very important, or to have regular devotional time with God,” Elder Christofferson noted. “As a community of Saints, we strengthen each other in worship and in faith.”

Elder Christofferson might just be speaking of those who feel like they can be spiritual on their own without a need to go to church, but I wonder if his words could also be applied to those who do go to church but who don’t sing hymns along with the congregation, share their testimonies, embrace speaking opportunities or callings or contribute in Sunday School, Elder’s Quorum or Relief Society classes.

It is good to be at church, but it is better to participate in a way that strengthens the faith and testimonies of those around us, which would necessarily strengthen our own faith and testimony.

I know anxiety is a challenge and there are real reasons that people may not feel comfortable being as outspoken and outgoing as others, but I also wonder how many people could do more to build the faith of those around them but who have simply grown comfortable being the way they are, content to simply “attend.” I used to be like that, but I’ve noticed that the more I share and the more I give, the more I get out of going to church.

I think a lot of people are capable of a lot more than they might believe, and I know this because when they do speak up or share their testimonies, the power is clearly felt. I remember hearing a talk in sacrament meeting a few years ago by someone who I had never heard give a talk or share a testimony before and it was so stellar that when the Bishop asked what we thought of sacrament meeting in the ward council after church was over, I specifically highlighted that talk.

I don’t remember anything of what was said, or who the speaker even was, but I certainly remember how I felt during it. It left a permanent impression on me.

Elder Christofferson ended the section by discussing “the daily acts of worship that we engage in individually and at home.”

Attitudes and feelings that are part of worship

Addressing his second concept, Elder Christofferson spoke of “feeling and expressing gratitude to God,” which he said is what gives worship “a sense of joyful renewal” rather than looking at it as simply another duty to perform.

“True worship means loving God and yielding our will to Him–the most precious gift we can offer,” Elder Christofferson said. “When asked which was the great commandment in all the law, Jesus replied, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.’ He also called this the first commandment.”

Jesus exemplified this pattern in his worship of the Father, Elder Christofferson noted.

“His life and His atoning sacrifice were dedicated to the glory of the Father,” Elder Christofferson said. “Poignantly, we remember Jesus’s heartrending plea in the midst of unimaginable suffering and anguish: ‘O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me,’ but then His submissive ‘nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’

Worship, Elder Christofferson said, is trying to follow that example.

“We will not attain perfection in this course overnight, but if each day we ‘offer for a sacrifice unto [Him] a broken heart and a contrite spirit,’ He will again baptize us with His Spirit and fill us with His grace,” Elder Christofferson said.

As I read Elder Christofferson’s words, I thought to myself how true it really is that when I have my focus on loving God and yielding my will to Him, my worship becomes much more personally impactful. If I don’t have that frame of mind as I attend, church can feel like more of an obligation, something I’m doing just because it’s what I do every Sunday.

Exclusivity of worship

In discussing the third concept, the exclusivity of our worship, Elder Christofferson reminded us of the Old Testament story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who refused to worship the image King Nebuchadnezzar set up. The three were to be thrown into a fiery furnace, but they boldly stated that even if God didn’t deliver them, they would not serve the king’s gods or worship the golden image he set up.

Despite the furnace being so hot that those who threw the three into it were killed, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were protected, to which the king said:

“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath … delivered his servants that trusted in him, … and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.”

Elder Christofferson stated:

“Whatever takes precedence over worship of the Father and the Son becomes an idol. Those who reject God as the source of truth, or disavow any accountability to Him, in effect substitute themselves as their god. One who places loyalty to a party or cause ahead of divine direction worships a false god. Even those who purport to worship God but do not keep His commandments are walking in their own way: ‘They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’ The object of our worship is exclusively ‘the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He] hast sent.'”

We won’t likely have to endure a trial of our faith like Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego did, but we each do have our trials that test whether “the object of our worship is exclusively ‘the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He] hast sent.'”

As busy as life is for everyone, there are multiple opportunities to elevate other things over God. But the object of our worship should always be He who created our spirits and He who suffered and died for us so that we could be resurrected and have eternal life.

Emulating the Father and the Son

The final concept was “the need to emulate the Father and the Son.”

Said Elder Christofferson:

“Ultimately, how we live may be the best, most genuine form of worship. Showing our devotion means emulating the Father and the Son–cultivating Their attributes and character in ourselves. If, as the saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then we might say with respect to Deity, emulation is the sincerest form of veneration. This suggests an active, sustained effort on our part to seek holiness. But becoming more Christlike is also the natural outcome of our acts of worship. Elder Kearon’s phrase cited earlier about worshipping ‘in a way that transforms us’ is significant. True worship is transformative.”

We choose to emulate the Father and the Son by getting on and staying on the covenant path, which Elder Christofferson explained.

“President Russell M. Nelson has emphasized that ‘every man and every woman who participates in priesthood ordinances and who makes and keeps covenants with God has direct access to the power of God,'” Elder Christofferson said. “This is not only a power we draw upon to serve and to bless. It is also the divine power that works in us to refine and purify us. As we walk the covenant path, the sanctifying ‘power of godliness is manifest’ in us.”

I’ve noticed that as I truly try and stay on the covenant path, my desire to emulate the Father and the Son grows. I want to cultivate their attributes and character in myself. I’m not satisfied with who I am and want to be more like them.

Conclusion

It’s clear from his talk that Elder Christofferson is inviting us to think more deeply about our worship practices and inviting us to have a higher and holier mindset.

Through his four concepts, he discussed principles that will help each of us – if we’re willing to heed his counsel – to better worship Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ.

Personally, I want to learn how to better worship Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, because by so doing, I know that I will be much more likely to be able to return to their presence, which is my ultimate goal.

Contact Ryan Comer at rcomer@standard.net.