Six LDS Writers and A Frog

Sunday, May 09, 2010

Church Mother's Day Traditions



I posted a couple years back about a new tradition the men in my ward started - the women were let out of class 15 minutes early, brought to the gym, and pointed in the direction of the amazing food tables that had been set up with fruit and desserts for us. The first year I remember the women sort of walking around with their mouths hanging open - it had truly been a surprise and it was like no one could imagine that people would do something like this for them. It stopped after the third year for reasons I still don't fully understand, and I miss it. It was such a treat!

But our ward does what's been done in wards most of my life - at the end of Sacrament they ask all women 18 and up to stand and they hand out pretty roses (it's been different flowers in the past - one year it was even a potted plant!).

They also have all the men take over all the women's callings in different organizations (like Primary) so that everyone can go to Relief Society. The RS lesson the past few years has been the same - visiting teaching (which I suppose makes sense seeing as how it's the one time a year we're all in the same place).

This year they added a little something extra - the teachers had us sing this song together, and I was impressed by the cleverness, so I thought I'd share.

This song was written by Shel Eldredge and is posted here over on SugarDoodle.net. It's sung to the song "Bare Necessities" from Disney's "The Jungle Book."

The Bare Necessities of Visiting Teaching

More than the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about percentages, let’s love
More than the bare necessities
Our Heavenly Father’s recipe
To bring our sisters back to Him above.

Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I’ll share His message, inside her home.
I’ll share some scriptures, two or three
I’ll share a little part of me
When you look for guidance in your call
You’ll find you want to give your all,
Then maybe do some more
The extra mile will get you right inside her door.
Inside her door.

More than the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
More than the bare necessities
Our Heavenly Father’s recipe
To help His daughter’s have a happy life

When you call to schedule
Make sure to smile
Then keep your appointment
Stay for a while
Don't talk of neighbors down the street
But keep your lesson short and sweet
Always have a prayer
Keep the spirit there.
Then you know you’ll be aware
Can you see her needs?
The Inspiration that you seek
will come to lead Will come to lead!

More than the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Let’s help our sister’s feel their Savior’s love
More than the bare necessities
Let’s serve our Father willingly
And help us all get back to Him above.
We’ll visit teach, we’ll serve with His pure love
.

Do you have any traditions for Mother's Day in your ward?


5 Comments:

At 5/10/2010 5:46 PM, Blogger Debra Erfert said...

In our ward the young woman and young men create delicious chocolate covered strawberries, three to a packet, and after sacrament meeting, they pass them out to every sister 18 years and older, if there are left-overs, then its first grabs, first devours. ;)

What a cute song. I can hear the original score to sing along with to, but the message is much greater than the simple bear necessities.

Happy (belated) Mother’s Day.

 
At 5/11/2010 1:11 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's a tradition in our ward to have all the graduating seniors speak in Sacrament Meeting on Mothers Day. It's a really special thing to hear them pay tribute to their moms as they prepare to leave home for college etc.

We always get a little potted flower at the end of the 3 hr. block too.

Pat

 
At 5/11/2010 7:07 PM, Blogger UTMomof5 said...

We used to get a potted flower, and mine would always die. Then one year we got a gourmet chocolate bar. Then the last two years for the last 15 minutes of the block we had a "pie social" Sadly, this year I have no idea what they did for Mother's day because I spent the day being home sick with a nasty cold, and my sweet hubby stayed home too to take care of the kids and I.

 
At 5/12/2010 9:10 AM, Blogger Heather Moore said...

This year our ward started a new tradition. The sacrament talks were NOT about Mother's Day, Mothers, Women, or anything remotely close to mothers in any shape or form. One of the "youth speakers" threw in a few things about his mom (his topic was about the Priesthood). I left sacrament meeting feeling a bit neglected and ate the few pieces of wrapped Hershey nuggets right away that they'd handed out to the women. In Relief Society we stuck to the manual. Maybe next year will be better.

 
At 5/15/2010 9:43 PM, Blogger Anna Maria Junus said...

Usually carnations although this year was roses. Sometimes it's chocolate. I prefer the chocolate.

I think the idea of giving all the women a break is better, or a feast.

Or better still, just call the whole day a vacation from all responsibility and you don't even have to get out of bed, get dressed up, and all the children dressed. No guilt and no one calling to ask why the heck you weren't at church.

I know, I'll be excommunicated for that last thought.

 

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