A sobering bishopric experience — 1989
My first call to serve in a bishopric was a humbling yet exciting opportunity. Despite many years of church service, my first experiences conducting Sacrament Meeting were unnerving. I attempted to allay some of my nervousness by being humorous. One Sunday not long after I had been called, I referred to a recent BYU-Utah athletic contest, making some pro-BYU and anti-Utah comments as I conducted. Many members in the congregation chuckled, and I congratulated myself on being so clever and witty. Immediately after the meeting, an older brother in our ward approached me with obvious disgust in his countenance and voice. “Brother Taylor”, he queried, “would you ever intentionally offend me?” I assured him that I would not. He then proceeded to inform me that I was offending him every time I conducted. He told me he came to Sacrament Meeting to worship the Lord, to concentrate on things of the Spirit, and to be fed spiritually. He did NOT come to hear jokes, to be entertained, or to hear clever puns about local athletic contests. He let me know that my behavior at the pulpit was distracting from the purpose and spirit of the meeting. He did not speak in anger nor with a raised voice, but he did speak with conviction and emotion. I mumbled an apology, thanked him for his candor, and hurried to my next commitment.
This episode has caused me many hours of serious reflection. I needed to be scolded, and I was grateful for a forthright brother who gave me the needed scolding. Our Sacrament meetings should indeed be sacred, spiritual, contemplative meetings. Mirth and lightheartedness, while appropriate and enjoyable in most situations, could well be done without in our more sacred meetings. Admittedly, my attempts at humor were primarily meant to decrease my initial nervousness as I conducted Sacrament meeting, but they were inappropriate nonetheless. My future conducting at the pulpit did much to mend this brother’s feeling toward me, and also brought a greater spirit of solemnity to our meetings.
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