I was at work the other week and we had a safety meeting. In this meeting, we discussed safety topics that pertain to our work environment. This led to a discussion of a recent work site incident and the topic of distracted driving came up. The safety reps shared stats associated with distracted driving and we learned some crazy things. Distracted driving accounts for roughly 25% of all motor vehicle fatalities and close to 60% of all accidents. Also, it takes only 3 seconds of diverted attention for an accident to occur.

On the drive home that same day, I was listening to the radio and John Tesh came on talking about ways to improve your ability to remember. He cited studies that recommended going somewhere quiet and closing your eyes. Doing this removes visual and audio stimulation and allows your brain to focus on remembering.

This past Sunday during sacrament meeting, I was enjoying the ward. The kids who were drawing, the babies who were cooing, and the adults who were babbling at the babies, but I spotted several people on their cell phones, then even more people on their cell phones. I was disheartened by the number of people who were distracted during sacrament. I pointed this out to my wife during the intermediate song and she told me something that was taught to her years before. She was taught that until recently, Satan did not have direct access to members during Sacrament meeting. But with the advent of the cell phone, and more specifically the smart phone, he can use this device as a distraction to deter us from learning the gospel or feeling the Spirit.

I’ve contemplated these experiences in my life and have concluded that we are at very real risk of us falling victim to becoming casual Christians and likewise, we need to be proactive in finding effective ways to focus and allow us to feel the Spirit more effectively. “I truly believe there can be no casual Christians, for if we are not watchful and resolute, we will become in the heat of the battle a Christian ‘casualty.'” (Jeffrey R. Holland)

We cannot afford to be distracted at this time. The truths being taught from the pulpit and in each of our classes each week can bouy our spirits in overcoming the world. The devil is doing his best to distract us, to have us check social media, E-mails, texts, sports scores and even a game or two during a talk which might make all the difference in our lives. Even if he can distract us for three seconds, that might be enough to break the hold of the Spirit and some bit of inspiration that might have flowed otherwise. “We must never let the noise of the world overpower and overwhelm that still small voice.” (L. Tom Perry)

I would suggest Six ways we can improve our Gospel Experience and help us avoid becoming casual Christians.

1. Re-examine Why We go to Church

“When we think we didn’t get anything out of a meeting, we need to reflect on why we go to Church. The reality is we don’t go to church to get. The Lord commanded us to go to sacrament meeting so that we could give worship, renew our covenant to keep His commandments and support and love each other.” (Mary Wales)

Years ago, I had a counselor in the Elder’s Quorum. We went to Stake Conference together for some leadership training. Afterward, I thought to myself that it had been a waste of my time and I didn’t learn anything. As we climbed into the truck and prepared for the 90 minute drive home, this counselor talked about how awesome the meeting was. He spoke of the Spirit he felt and the things he was excited to learn going forward. I felt completely humbled that I had not been prepared and open to this meeting as my counselor had. Even if I hadn’t learned anything, I could have contributed to the meeting. Instead I sat silently waiting for the leaders to teach me. If we are not open, we will not learn a thing. We need to look at our church attendance. Do we go to church because that’s what we’ve always done? Do we go because our friends go? Do we attend church so our kids will attend church? Will these reasons sustain us when life gets hard?

Or do we go to church with an open heart, ready to learn and renew or covenants with our Saviour? Do we go ready to worship? If so, we’ve done what we can to prepare our hearts to learn.

If you need any more motivation on going to church, check out this recent talk by Lawrence E. Corbridge.

“Stand For Ever”

2. Remove Distractions

Put your phone on ‘Do Not Disturb,’ install a lockout device that locks you out of your phone for those two small hours, or better yet, leave your phone at home. I’m not at this stage yet. I use the ‘Do Not Disturb’ option. I used to use the Gospel Library app on my iPhone, but I still managed to let the iPhone distract me, it was too easy to check this or that or reply to a quick text. Now, I put my iPhone on ‘Do Not Disturb,’ put it in my pocket and use my Scriptures as often as I can. This isn’t to say I never check my phone, but I try not to. My wife is really good at reminding me.

Much like driving, there are many other things that can distract us in church meetings besides cell phones. How many people doze off, or day dream, or pinch their kids so they can walk the halls. It’s one thing for these things to happen, but another thing entirely if we don’t fight off these urges or worse, invite them. Just as removing audio and visual stimulation will improve our ability to remember, avoiding any and all distractions will allow the Spirit to more freely communicate with us.

“Small acts of disobedience or minor failures to follow righteous practices can draw us down toward an outcome we have been warned to avoid.” (Dallin H. Oaks)

3. Be a Good Example

This can probably be rolled into removing distractions, except for one thing. What if the distraction is you? You don’t want to leave the chapel because you need to be there too. If we want others to pay attention, we have to allow them to pay attention. We need to avoid being the distraction. That means I shouldn’t be making faces at my friend’s children, or playing games with my kids, or whispering to my wife. This is a challenge to myself as much as it is to others, one that I will have to work to get better at, mostly because I am somewhat of a man-child. I’m quite certain that someone I know will call me out on this the next time I am being a distraction.

Interestingly, whether we know it or not, we are being an example to our kids, to our friend’s kids, to investigators, to those we teach and to other members. If we are being a distraction, then this is what people will see as acceptable. We need to be better. For our sake and for the sake of those around us, we cannot afford to be casual Christians. Don’t be the distraction, be better, be a good example.

4. Engage in the Meeting

“The aim of all Gospel learning and teaching is to deepen our conversion and help us become more like Jesus Christ … This means relying on Christ to change our hearts.” (Come, Follow Me manual)

When I was attending BYU-Idaho, a member of my Student Ward used to play a game each meeting, he would count how many times a speaker would say ‘Umm’ and if they got to Five, he would tune them out entirely, deciding that speaker wasn’t prepared and therefore had nothing of value to teach. Now, I was hardly the most open member of the ward, but this level of close mindedness boggled my mind.

We cannot give Christ an opportunity to change our hearts if we are distracted by our phone, or trying to prepare a lesson, or waiting for a speaker to mis-speak so we can tune them out. When we are giving our attention and focus to the lesson/speaker, we are more open to feeling that deep conversion. What I have learned, and I do this whether I am in a sacrament meeting, ward conference, Stake Conference, General Conference, or a simple fireside, I do not write down everything that was ever said. It’s not how I operate. I used to do that in school when it was imperative I learn everything that was said, but when it comes to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, no one can teach me but the Holy Spirit, and he speaks to my soul. When I feel something is important, I write that down, whether it has anything to do with what is being taught or not.

Think about the words of the prayers that are given and the words of the songs that are sung. Contemplate what each speaker is sharing with you and ask yourself, why are they sharing this? There will always be little kernels of truth and wisdom to be gained if we will look for them.

6. Focus on Things that Matter Most

When we are driving, our attention needs to be undivided. We need to treat our devotion to the Lord in the same manner and give Him our undivided attention.

When we wish to learn something important, we give it the attention it deserves, and take the steps necessary to block out unneeded distractions.

“We all know that everything of worth has a price tag. A person must pay the price if he would possess it. In all too many cases, people desire the best but they are unwilling to make the full investment required to obtain it.” (Ruth Hardy Funk)

We must pay the price to know the Saviour. We must read the scriptures, pray with real intent, and serve one another. We must soak up those two small hours of church each Sunday. We need it. We cannot afford to delay, or be distracted. Far too much is at stake. We cannot allow our relationship with Jesus Christ to become casual. When we face Him after this life, no excuse will make up for not knowing Him, especially one that involved our iPhone.

~ Todd Bruce

@elkvalleylatterdaysaint