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Random Question - Local Ward

T

Truth_Faith13

Well-Known Member
Do you have to attend your "local" ward? or can you attend any? There isn't a chapel in the town where I live (I've moved since the last time I attended an LDS chapel), there is one in another town about 25mins away which is technically my closest but there is also one in my closest city about 30mins away. I go to the city regularly so it feels more local to me.

I'm not saying I'm returning, I'm still discerning (still thinking about Catholicism too) but thinking about attending etc and taking my time this time!
 
J

Jane.Doe

Active Member
LDS wards are actually geographically determined, and you are supposed to go to the ward you're supposed to go to. These boundaries are carefully and prayerfully decided upon to keep things like socio-economics/politics/etc balanced, as to minimize "rich" vs "poor" wards or "young families" vs "old people's" wards. There are also usually multiple wards in a chapel. You can find your local ward by typing in your address here: https://www.lds.org/maps/meetinghouses It'll also tell you other "specialty" wards in the area like Young Single Adults, Spanish-Speaking, Military, etc.

But to actually answer your title question: you are supposed to go to the ward you're supposed to, but no one is going to force you to, and it's much better to have you in church in different ward than not at all.

FYI: Catholicism also has geographically assigned parishes. But it's quite common for Catholics to totally ignore that fact.
 
Katzpur

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
Truth_Faith13 said:
Do you have to attend your "local" ward? or can you attend any? There isn't a chapel in the town where I live (I've moved since the last time I attended an LDS chapel), there is one in another town about 25mins away which is technically my closest but there is also one in my closest city about 30mins away. I go to the city regularly so it feels more local to me.

I'm not saying I'm returning, I'm still discerning (still thinking about Catholicism too) but thinking about attending etc and taking my time this time!
Click to expand...
Since visitors are welcome at any LDS ward, and you'd be a visitor, I see no reason why you should not feel free to attend wherever you choose. If you were to join the Church again, you'd more or less be expected to attend your "home ward." I have known people who didn't attend their home ward, but attended another ward regularly, but they are the exception rather than the rule. I actually knew one man who not only attended but had a calling in our ward, who lived outside the ward boundaries.

P.S. You're going about making your decision the right way this time. Good for you!
 
T

Truth_Faith13

Well-Known Member
Katzpur said:
Since visitors are welcome at any LDS ward, and you'd be a visitor, I see no reason why you should not feel free to attend wherever you choose. If you were to join the Church again, you'd more or less be expected to attend your "home ward." I have known people who didn't attend their home ward, but attended another ward regularly, but they are the exception rather than the rule. I actually knew one man who not only attended but had a calling in our ward, who lived outside the ward boundaries.

P.S. You're going about making your decision the right way this time. Good for you!
Click to expand...

Thanks Katz. Do you know if any books have been written by LDS converts?
 
T

Truth_Faith13

Well-Known Member
T
Jane.Doe said:
LDS wards are actually geographically determined, and you are supposed to go to the ward you're supposed to go to. These boundaries are carefully and prayerfully decided upon to keep things like socio-economics/politics/etc balanced, as to minimize "rich" vs "poor" wards or "young families" vs "old people's" wards. There are also usually multiple wards in a chapel. You can find your local ward by typing in your address here: https://www.lds.org/maps/meetinghouses It'll also tell you other "specialty" wards in the area like Young Single Adults, Spanish-Speaking, Military, etc.

But to actually answer your title question: you are supposed to go to the ward you're supposed to, but no one is going to force you to, and it's much better to have you in church in different ward than not at all.

FYI: Catholicism also has geographically assigned parishes. But it's quite common for Catholics to totally ignore that fact.
Click to expand...

Thankyou! Yes although Catholicism is slightly different in the sense that the majority of towns have a catholic church if not more than one :)
 
J

Jane.Doe

Active Member
Truth_Faith13 said:
About their conversion.
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Some blogs/videos:
(A really good one) http://mormonhub.com/blog/faith/belief/5-conversion-stories-hear-believe/
http://www.ldsliving.com/topics/conversion-story
From a church leader https://www.lds.org/new-era/1973/06/stories-from-the-general-authorities-my-conversion?lang=eng
http://becomingldsconversionstories.blogspot.com

Books:
https://www.amazon.com/More-than-Ta...573&sr=8-4&keywords=LDS+conversion#nav-subnav
https://www.amazon.com/LDS-Conversi...573&sr=8-1&keywords=LDS+conversion#nav-subnav
https://www.amazon.com/Conversion-P...qid=1474384573&sr=8-3&keywords=LDS+conversion
https://www.amazon.com/Many-Miracle...id=1474384573&sr=8-12&keywords=LDS+conversion

There's lots more out there too.
 
Katzpur

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
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