There are many things we have become accustomed to as we practice our religion. Using certain language, the way we worship, the songs we sing, the way we dress, the format of our Sunday services. All of these things have become natural habits for me and it has never really felt unusual, for example, to listen to a beautiful musical performance during our sacrament meeting that is not followed by an applause. Or to patiently sit quietly while the minutes go by and nobody has gone to the pulpit to bear testimony during a Sunday fast and testimony meeting. But I recognize that my perspective has been primarily shaped by my geography, culture and life-long participation in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Within the Church of Jesus Christ there are a variety of backgrounds, political leanings, cultures, habits and general ideas about what it means to be a saint. Though I observe that these differences are not so readily visible during our Sunday meetings. In the early days of the modern church as the missionary work spread and more were drawn to the restored faith there were likewise many diverse backgrounds and experiences the added much value to the work of the Lord, and at some times confusion about what was the ‘proper’ way to act and worship. Much of the culture we experience today as members of the Lord’s church had not been developed yet so it was much more common to see behavior that would be considered strange, even by our standards… “you don’t go shopping on Sunday? How strange.” Just because something might make us uncomfortable, doesn’t necessarily mean it is bad. It is important to have the influence of the Holy Spirit to help us discern between those things that are good and those that are not. A group of rowdy looking people showing up to sacrament meeting may make some feel uncomfortable, as the unexpected and strange often can. But how great is it when anyone comes to church, regardless of their appearance.

…it always has been given to the elders of my church from the beginning, and ever shall be, to conduct all meetings as they are directed and guided by the Holy Spirit.

Nevertheless ye are commanded never to cast any one out from your public meetings, which are held before the world

D&C 46:2-3

Gifts of the Spirit are given to us so we may bless the lives of others. Using the Holy Spirit we can better understand, and help others also understand, the strange and unusual things we might experience.

But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils.

D&C 46:7

Has there been a time in your life when someone did something to help make an uncomfortable situation less so? What did they do? Have you ever been on the opposite side of that situation? And after it happened did you take the time to write it down in a journal? I have found that recording these types of experiences in a journal helps us recognize that they can happen more often than we realize. It helps us remember that God has an interest in our lives and that we can become his instruments for the blessing of others.

I remember one occasion when I was on vacation, visiting the beautiful town of Laie, Hawaii and the BYU-Hawaii campus. While attending church services there I was welcomed by everyone in a big way that is natural to the boisterous island culture, a synchronous chorus of “Welcome!”.

If we allow, the Spirit can prompt us to do and say things that will help others feel welcome, included and valued. It may be as simple as an invitation, a complement, a gesture. What we need to learn to do is act on the prompting.
Through prayer we can access the revelation we need to be guided along the path that will provide the best opportunities for spiritual growth.