INTERVIEWS

SINGING HYMNS, PRAYERS AND TESTIMONY MEETINGS

HYMNS-

I have come to appreciate the reverence of the Mexican members of the Church.  They are an inspiration to me...and a reminder to  me to be as reverent as they are.

I don't know why but most chapels have very few hymn books.  At the beginning of Sacrament Meeting there are a few hymnals stacked on the side of the podium for audience members.  However, many members bring their own hymnal or use their smart phones while singing.  Very few congregations have a pianist.  Most meetings the chorister either sings the first line of the hymn by himself/herself or says "1,2,3" for the audience to begin singing.  The members love to sing.  I have not been to a single meeting they conduct where they sang less than all the verses of the hymn!  They really enjoy singing.  It is not half-hearted or dragging whatsoever - they sing because they enjoy it and it brings the Spirit.

In nearly every member's home I have been in here, they have their hymnals out with their scriptures - and they are usually not on a shelf in another room - they are close at hand.  All the missionaries have their small pocket sized hymnals as well.  We sing in the homes of the members we visit with and we all enjoy it!

The members take good care of their hymnals...but because they tote them back and forth to church and use them frequently in their homes - they show the wear of continual use.  They show respect and reverence for their hymnals by making covers for their hymn books.  It is wonderful to see!

PRAYERS-

In one of the first ward's I attended, I was surprised to see what happened at the close of the meeting when the prayer is about to be said.  Without assigning anyone, two people stand up and go to the doors to the room and hold the doors shut while the prayer is being said.  What reverence and respect! What a great thing is being taught - that prayer is a sacred time that we talk with our Heavenly Father!  I have seen this happen over and over again.

TESTIMONY MEETINGS-

My first testimony meeting here in Mexico was filled with the Spirit!  So many sweet church members of all ages bore their testimony.  The thing that surprised me was that immediately after the time was opened to bear testimony, people began coming up and sitting on the front row of the chapel - in order to take their turn to bear their testimony!  People continued to come up and wait their turn all during the meeting!  There was not a moment wasted...so many came to share their testimonies. Men and women, boys and girls - including teen-agers, all came to testify of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  What a rich, rewarding experience to share with my new "family" here in Mexico City.