LDS WHY

YAWN

Yawn. How do yawns make you feel? Look at that picture of a yawn. Yawn. Yawn. Yawn. Think about Yawns. Odds are, you might have yawned just now. That’s because seeing yawning is contagious. A researcher at NYU simply showed videos of yawns to 65 college students, and the yawning video caused the students to yawn 41.5% of the time (see “Contagious Yawning,” November 2003, http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/yawnc.html; accessed 29 January 2010). Most researchers agree that yawning is mentally contagious.

Similarly, if we enter a sacrament meeting (or mutual or seminary, etc) and think it will be boring, it probably will be. Should you go anyways? Yes! And while you’re at it, change you’re attitude…go with the desire to make it a meaningful experience.

We love this quote from President Boyd K. Packer: “It’s important that you know this. The inspiration you may draw from [your church meetings] depends only partly in the effort [the teachers] have expended in the preparation of their sermons. It depends much more considerably on what preparation you have made for their message” (Boyd K. Packer, That All May Be Edified [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 2006], 236).

Here’s another interesting thought:

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said:

Some say “I didn’t learn anything today” or “No one was friendly to me” or “I was offended” or “The Church is not filling my needs.” All those answers are self-centered, and all retard spiritual growth.

In contrast, a wise friend wrote:

“Years ago, I changed my attitude about going to church. No longer do I go to church for my sake, but to think of others. I make a point of saying hello to people who sit alone, to welcome visitors, . . . to volunteer for an assignment. . . .

“In short, I go to church each week with the intent of being active, not passive, and making a positive difference in people’s lives. Consequently, my attendance at Church meetings is so much more enjoyable and fulfilling.”

Should you go to church meetings? Yes! Try having a positive attitude and being excited to learn in the next church meeting you go to — see if you can help someone else have a great time. We promise it will make a. . . . yawn . . . noticeable difference.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 7:16 pm and is filed under Church. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.