April 30 — Recently a former Mormon group I follow asked the question, “How has your praise and worship life changed since leaving the Church and becoming a Christian?”
For me I can say my praise and worship life has radically changed. As a Mormon I looked down on those Christians who raised their hands in praise to God. I thought they were being so disrespectful and making a mockery of God by drawing attention to themselves.
As a Mormon I didn’t understand real worship. Reverence was a very important part of the Sacrament service. Raising your hands as you sing hymns, clapping or even swaying to the music wasn’t permitted. I had to stand there stiff as a board because anything else would be considered not reverent. The only instrument I heard in the Church was a piano or organ; the drums are a guitar is something you’ll never hear in their Sunday Service.
After I left the Church, it took me a while to feel comfortable with worship. I wasn’t encouraged to listen to Christian music; it was frowned on because it could include things that contradicted the doctrines of the Church. I was encouraged to listen only to Mormon artist and hymns.
After becoming a Christian I couldn’t get enough of worship music. I listen to it all the time, in my home as I work in my sewing room and in the car as I’m driving to church or the store. Worshiping and praising Jesus is a regular part of my life now. Raising my hands and swaying to the music in church, in the car or in my home is something I naturally do now without fear of being called irreverent.
I was trying to think of a word to describe the way we sang hymns in the Mormon Church. Joyless, dismal, and dreary are just a few words that come to mind. I don’t think I ever heard them use the word worship when they talked about their church service.
Real worship isn’t something you’ll find in Mormonism. It would involve them knowing and understanding what Jesus did for them, and that will never be taught in their church.
In Christ,
Melissa Grimes
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