A lot is expected of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a topic I’ve addressed before. My belief is that by requiring much, the church actually retains members because they are committed and involved. I also think that deep involvement is beneficial because of the friendships we develop. From a sociological view, requiring much creates commitment. Of course I know that much is required, because we have the gospel of Jesus Christ and need to be good and do good. But then why isn’t it enough to just do good occasionally? Why do we attend so many meetings, serve in church callings, have several prayers each day, read scriptures as a family and individually, hold weekly Family Home Evenings, and pay 10% in tithing plus other donations?

I found the answer in The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. He studied a church that grew rapidly in membership and analyzed its habits. I asked my husband what he thought were the three habits that Rick Warren, the Baptist pastor of the Saddleback Church, implemented. He said, “Pay tithing and attend church.” That’s really close. Here’s what Duhigg found out: “‘If you want to have Christ-like character, then you just develop the habits that Christ had,’ one of Saddleback’s course manuals reads. ‘All of us are simply a bundle of habits…Our goal is to help you replace some bad habits with some good habits that will help you grow in Christ’s likeness.’ Every Saddleback member is asked to sign a ‘maturity covenant card’ promising to adhere to three habits: daily quiet time for reflection and prayer, tithing 10 percent of their income, and membership in a small group. Giving everyone new habits has become a focus of the church’” (pg. 238).

Mormons have something similar to the maturity covenant card. It’s a temple recommend. In the temple, we make covenants or promises between us and the Lord. In order to have a temple recommend, we must be worthy. That worthiness is determined as we meet with a member of the bishopric and then a member of our stake presidency and answer a series of questions. These include questions about our testimony of Jesus Christ, paying tithing, and supporting our church leaders.

Notice that the Saddleback Church manual teaches habits that develop Christ-like character. The answer to why so much is required is so we can become like Christ. And the best way to do that is through habits and routines of Christ-like behavior. It is a sociological principal and a religious principle. I would say it’s a law. A spiritual law and a physical law. A law that followed will bring you closer to your Savior, Jesus Christ, and give you happiness in this life.

I believe in habits. My life is run by them, good and bad. I love routine and a schedule. That's why I'm loving the book, The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. The book discusses that when you put a keystone habit into place, the rest of your life falls into place. Here's one of my favorite sections of the book so far. "When people start habitually exercising, even as infrequently as once a week, they start changing other, unrelated patterns in their lives, often unknowingly. Typically, people who exercise start eating better and becoming more productive at work. They smoke less and show more patience with colleagues and family...It's not completely clear why. But for many people, exercise is a keystone habit that triggers widespread change...Studies have documented that families who habitually eat dinner together seem to raise children with better homework skills, higher grades, greater emotional control, and more confidence. Making your bed every morning is correlated with better productivity, a greater sense of well-being, and stronger skills at sticking with a budget. It's not that a family meal or a tidy bed causes better grades or less frivolous spending. But somehow those initial shifts start chain reactions that help other good habits take hold" (pg. 109).

Of course I read the section about making your bed to my children. They still don't get it. But I do. And so does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The answer to almost every question in a church class is pray, read your scriptures, and have Family Home Evening. Those are the habits we are encouraged to develop. When regular prayer, scripture study, and time together as a family are made part of our routine, the rest of our lives fall into place. I know that my days are better when I begin and end with prayer. I know I am uplifted spiritually when I read my scriptures. I don't make my bed until I've said my morning prayer and read my scriptures. My morning doesn't feel complete without my bed made. And yes, I am good at sticking to a budget. Leaving their beds unmade to remind them to read their scriptures and say their prayers doesn't work for my children, because they don't care about making their beds. Does that mean they will fail at budgeting? I don't know. Are habits and routines necessary for everyone? What do you think? Am I loving this book because I'm naturally drawn to structure and routine? Because that's how my brain and spirit operate? Is it a universal truth? Can others thrive with spontaneity and non-structure?

Whatever your opinion about the necessity of structure, routine, and order, be sure you begin and end your day with prayer. The rest will fall into place.

Being a member of the Mormon church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, requires a lot of time and sacrifice. That's because our leaders do not get paid. As far as the prophet and other apostles and general authorities, I do not know if their living expenses are covered. But for our local leaders and teachers, I know that no money is given in exchange for preaching and teaching. This is a brilliant plan. First, because the money we contribute for tithing can go to build temples and church buildings, to maintain those buildings, and for our activities. Second, because when you have a job, you feel needed. You feel part of a group and your contribution blesses you and others. Because when you serve, you feel the love of God. And because you develop friendships and skills as you serve.

Every member of the church receives a job or calling. This is discussed, prayed about, and issued by the bishopric of the ward.  The ward is the congregation you attend and is determined by geographical boundaries. The bishop is the leader of the ward. He has two counselors and secretaries and clerks that serve with him. There are presidencies for the organizations within the ward. The adult priesthood quorums--high priests and elders--have presidencies. The young men's organization has adult leaders who are in presidencies and then the young men or teenage boys serve in presidencies. This is also true for the young women or teenage girls. They have adult leaders who serve and the teenage girls serve in presidencies. There is the Primary organization that serves the children in the ward, ages 18 months through 11 years. The Sunday School organization consists of a presidency and teachers who teach youth ages 12-18 and adults. The Relief Society serves the adult sisters in the ward. Within those organizations, teachers are called along with musical jobs such as playing the piano and teaching or leading the singing.

Outside of the church, I am currently the conference coordinator for an annual Children's Literature Conference for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) at Boise State University. Check out this year's conference, "Tell Me a Story." I've noticed that the skills I gained in serving in my church job or calling have helped me as the conference coordinator. As a young woman I served in presidencies. That's where I first learned about agendas and meetings and fulfilling assignments. As an adult, I've served as Relief Society President in a student ward, Primary President in a married student ward, visiting teaching coordinator--assigning sisters to visit each other monthly, choir pianist, Compassionate service leader in Relief Society, Primary chorister, Primary counselor, Primary President, as an advisor in Young Women's, a counselor in Young Women's, a Sunbeam teacher--for 3-4 year olds,  the Provident Living Specialist--helping ward members get their food storage, a specialist for Cub Scouts and 11 year-old scouts, a teacher in nursery, a Cub Scout den leader, and now as a counselor in the Stake Primary. A stake consists of about 6-11 wards.

As I've served, I've come to know that my Heavenly Father loves me. He's smart. He knew that as I served teenage girls, it would prepare me for when my own daughters would be that age.  He knew that as I practiced and memorized the primary songs to teach, I would sing them to my own children. He knew that as I served in presidencies I would love the sisters I served with and would feel their love for me. And he knows that as I continue to teach others of Christ, my testimony grows and as I serve, I feel a tiny bit of the love for others that He feels for us.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is true and real. The organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is also true and real and magnificent. The gospel and the church are for us so we can learn and grow and  return to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.