I avoided it for 50 years, but finally, at the too-early time of 9 a.m., my family and I headed into the ward chapel building Sacrament-first. It was a grudge-walk for me. Despite rumors that “80 percent of the church does Sacrament-first blocs,” I had never seen it before, and definitely did not want it.
Sacrament meeting for me has always been a refuge; the last meeting! After the closing hymn and prayer we can go home and observe the Sabbath in bliss that includes reading anything from Charles Bukowski to James E. Talmage with later spiritual treats that include “Downton Abbey,” “17 Miracles,’ “The Simpsons,” “Baptists at our Barbecue,” “Silent Sundays” on Turner Classic Movies and “God’s Army.” When the Sacrament meeting occasionally went overtime, I quietly seethed.
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