The year was 1975. An assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles approached the small but developing graphic design group of the Church to ask them if they could design a “welcome sign for meetinghouse buildings.” The purpose of the new signage was to help passersby know that they were welcome to attend and worship with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The newly formed graphic design group took the opportunity to not only design a “welcome sign” but to go further by also proposing a visual identity, official logo, and brand for the Church.
The graphic design group presented their proposal to the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Salt Lake Temple. With very few questions the new logo and style guide was adopted. [1]
What is intriguing to me about this moment in Church history is that the concept of “Visitors welcome” was adopted as a sort of tag line on Church meetinghouse signage. Since then, the official logo of the Church has been updated to clearly identify Jesus Christ as the object of our devotion, and the phrase “Visitors welcome” continues to be a part of our effort to encourage those not of our faith or even those who have stepped away from our faith to join us in our desire to worship our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ.
This “Visitors welcome” principle, however, predates the Church’s branding efforts 45 years ago. In fact, during the first year of the organization of the Church, in 1831, Joseph Smith received a revelation related to the phrase “Visitors welcome” so common on our meetinghouse buildings today. In Doctrine and Covenants 46 we read:
Nevertheless ye are commanded never to cast any one out from your public meetings, which are held before the world. Ye are also commanded not to cast any one who belongeth to the church out of your sacrament meetings . . . . And again I say unto you, ye shall not cast any out of your sacrament meetings who are earnestly seeking the kingdom—I speak this concerning those who are not of the church. And again I say unto you, concerning your confirmation meetings, that if there be any that are not of the church, that are earnestly seeking after the kingdom, ye shall not cast them out. [2]
The “Visitors welcome” message is clear from these scriptures in 1831.
But, this principle even predates the Restoration as well. During the life of Christ, as early as the first recorded chapter in the book of John, verse 39, we read:
[Jesus] saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where [Jesus] dwelt, and abode with him that day. [3]
As always, Jesus Christ gave us the perfect example to follow. Every member of the Church in every congregation of the world should invite all to “come and see” [4] where we dwell and allow all to abide with us like those who followed Jesus did 2,000 years ago.
Consider this Church video which helps to illustrate this principle.
This video speaks to me personally, because that was my experience in 1996 at the age of 17. Growing up, I had been baptized Catholic and confirmed a Lutheran, but as a teenager a series of life experiences brought me to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While investigating the Church, my life had been filled with joy and frustration, happiness and confusion as I wrestled with very challenging cultural and religious changes in my life which ultimately led to my baptism and confirmation in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My family was confused and concerned, but ultimately respected my decision to join.
I remember my first fast and testimony meeting as a new convert 24 years ago. As a 17-year-old boy in the fall of my senior year of high school, I stood up, approached the pulpit, and stated, “I don’t know if the Church is true, but I don’t think God will fault me for trying to figure it out.” I don’t even remember if I closed “in the name of Jesus Christ ” before returning to my seat. I am sure my bishop and church friends were mortified as they heard me give a very unconventional testimony. Regardless, at the time, I felt safe enough in my new faith community, as an awkward 17-year-old boy no less, to stand and tell all in attendance that my faith was not sure but that I was trying to figure it out.
During my teenage years I had been a welcomed visitor in the Church, and even after baptism and my first authentic testimony, I continued to be a welcomed visitor as I settled in to my new faith and church experience. My ward fully embraced the “Visitors welcome” theme. Had social media existed back then, I am confident I would have tweeted about it with the hashtag #visitorswelcome.
My experience is not unique. All of us at some point in our lives feel like we are in unfamiliar territory, and we long to feel welcomed. That is sometimes challenging when we are as diverse as we are. Our diversity includes the unique attributes each human being possesses. But even with the myriad of distinguishing characteristics, we all have one fundamental thing in common: we are all children of God. And that doctrine has the potential and power to bind us together in meaningful and lasting ways.
In the Saturday morning session of general conference just one week ago, Elder Quentin L. Cook taught that “unity is enhanced when people are treated with dignity and respect, even though they are different in outward characteristics.” [5]
There are those among us, listening today, who may feel, because of their unique characteristics, that they are “visiting”—those who may not feel like they fit in for one reason or another, who consciously or subconsciously are putting our “Visitors welcome” tagline and signage to the test. Are we understanding? Are we comforting? Are we accepting? Are we loving? Are we validating? Are we welcoming? [6]
In the devotional discussion board this week I was impressed with so many responses to my question about when you have felt alone, like a visitor or a foreigner, and someone reached out to you to help you feel welcomed or even loved. Honestly, many of your responses moved me to tears. I only have time to share just two of your responses. Meghan McKee shared that “you don’t have to have the same things as someone else to be friends with them.” And Becky Messer said, “Conditioning ourselves to hear the promptings of the Holy Ghost can be a game-changer in helping someone who may need to know they are not alone. God can work through us to answer those prayers.”
These responses from Meghan and Becky along with so many others on the discussion board reaffirmed my faith in humanity and in the efforts by individuals around the globe to be like Jesus, follow the Spirit, and reach out in love and kindness to those we come in contact with.
Our chapels and Church buildings should be among the safest places for those who feel lonely, anxious, depressed, marginalized, misunderstood, or misrepresented.
It was six years after my first awkward testimony when, at the age of 23, I found myself feeling like a visitor again, in a different ward. But I was patiently embraced by friends, neighbors, home teachers, and ward members who made me feel welcomed, who took me as I was, and helped me through my life’s challenges. They were not afraid to associate with me. They did their best not to judge me. Were there awkward moments? Of course! But I have come to believe that most of the judgements, inconsiderate statements, and misguided advice people make and give are generally not communicated out of spite or malice, but out of a struggle to understand, sympathize with, or even embrace that which might be considered “different.”
As humans, Christians, and as struggling Saints we sometimes make mistakes. And while we strive to hold Latter-day Saints to a “Visitors welcome” ideal, we also need to recognize human fallibility in that process. Let us remember the words of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:
Be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is not in the divinity of the work. [7]
In the scriptures Jesus Christ shows us the way to be welcoming. Christ always seemed to show compassion and draw people to Him, even people who were traditionally ostracized.
In a fantastic Ensign article from February of this year we read: “Throughout His life, Christ was the perfect example of the connecting response. When he witnessed those in need, he drew near to them and connected with them in an intimate, personal way, healing them, serving them, loving them completely.” [8]
Regarding Jesus’s capacity to show compassion for those with whom He came in contact, President Spencer W. Kimball said:
Jesus saw sin as wrong but also was able to see sin as springing from deep and unmet needs on the part of the sinner. This permitted him to condemn the sin without condemning the individual. We can show forth our love for others even when we are called upon to correct them. We need to be able to look deeply enough into the lives of others to see the basic causes for their failures and shortcomings. [9]
When thinking about how we can be welcoming like Jesus was welcoming, we need to remember that the value proposition is greatest among the most prodigal. In the parable of the prodigal son, it is the prodigal who came back home and the father who embraced and accepted him even while he was “yet a great way off.” [10] We love the imagery of a father watching, waiting, and ultimately running to his wayward son who is seen on the horizon walking home. I personally think “a great way off” could also have a spiritual interpretation: that I need to be better about welcoming those who spiritually are struggling “a great way off,” but are earnestly seeking answers to life’s challenges.
In 1992, Apostle Marvin J. Ashton said:
None of us need one more person bashing or pointing out where we have failed or fallen short. Most of us are already well aware of the areas in which we are weak. What each of us does need is family, friends, employers, and brothers and sisters who support us, who have the patience to teach us, who believe in us, and who believe we’re trying to do the best we can, in spite of our weaknesses. [11]
And as we consider how to be more welcoming, sometimes it is tempting to think the 99 would be better off if the one weren’t here. [12] But we need to recognize that sometimes, many times, maybe even most times, those who visit that may look, sound, or act differently than we might be used to are not a wolf in sheep’s clothing. They may, through trials, troubles, and afflictions [13] just be tattered sheep trying to find their way. [14]
In 2015, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:
The Church is not an automobile showroom—a place to put ourselves on display so that others can admire our spirituality, capacity, or prosperity. It is more like a service center, where vehicles in need of repair come for maintenance and rehabilitation.
And are we not, all of us, in need of repair, maintenance, and rehabilitation? We come to church not to hide our problems but to heal them. [15]
Sister Carol F. McConkie, former member of the General Young Women’s Presidency, stated: “In the work of salvation, there is no room for comparison, criticism, or condemnation.” [16]
And, in a Church video, Sister McConkie said:
I know people who come to church every Sunday so that they can be inspired and uplifted and who just simply walk away feeling judged and unloved, unneeded—like there is no place for them at church. We need to do this differently. We need to be deeply aware of what the purpose of coming to church on Sunday is and make sure that everyone who comes feels loved, needed, accepted, and lifted. [17]
Some of us may struggle with appreciating people who are different than what we are used to. We may struggle with knowing where the line is between not condoning, but not condemning either. [18] Sometimes I am afraid I subconsciously put a temple standard on our meetinghouse buildings. I need to remind myself that we don’t need two interviews and a temple recommend to walk into a Church building or chapel. Quite the contrary. To paraphrase Elder Uchtdorf: our chapels are a service center where we go for maintenance and rehabilitation. We don’t condemn. We don’t condone. We just love.
In last week’s devotional address, Brother Roger Adams stated, “In addition to the gift of His Son, Heavenly Father also provided a method for us to help each other during these difficult periods of our lives. That method is through service. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of soothing the suffering of others through service.” [19] I would offer that genuine service is a manifestation of love.
Let’s not forget that second only to loving God is loving our neighbor. Sequence is important, but both commandments matter in this life. [20]
Of all the emotions expressed in the standard works, coming in at number one with 895 individual scripture references is the emotion of love. [21]
President M. Russell Ballard said, “If we are truly disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will reach out with love and understanding to all of our neighbors at all times.” Elder Ballard goes on to state that in the parable of the good Samaritan “His deliberate use of Jews and Samaritans clearly teaches that we are all neighbors and that we should love, esteem, respect, and serve one another despite our deepest differences—including religious, political, and cultural differences.” [22]
I hope and pray that we can always remember the “Visitors welcome” principle displayed on our meetinghouse signs and that it will influence us to be loving and kind to all who enter there, because, as the scriptures say, “[Jesus] inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him.” [23] “Therefore, they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.” [24]
Let’s always remember the principle implied in the “Visitors welcome” tagline and the ultimate person of our devotion, Jesus Christ , and how we best show that devotion by emulating His example in our own lives and by always and lovingly welcoming visitors. And as written in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, may it be truly said of all who may first be a welcomed visitor, but then “therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” [25]
In the name of our perfect welcoming example, Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] See “Branding Mormonism: The Evolution since the 1970s,” Sunstone, Jan. 1, 2012; sunstonemagazine.com/branding-mormonism-the-evolution-since-the-1970s.
[2] Doctrine and Covenants 46:3–6.
[3] John 1:39; see also Mindy Selu, “The Savior’s Example of Making Friends,” Ensign, Dec. 2019.
[4] See the Church’s initiative at comeuntochrist.org.
[5] Quentin L. Cook, “Hearts Knit in Righteousness and Unity,” 190 th Semiannual General Conference, Oct. 2020.
[6] See David B. Ostler, Bridges: Ministering to Those Who Question.
[7] Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lord, I Believe,” Ensign, May 2013; see also Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Come, Join with Us,” Ensign, Nov. 2013, where he addresses leader and member mistakes.
[8] Lee N. Johnson and AnnaLisa Carr, ‘”Fight or Flight’ or Love?,” Ensign, Feb. 2020.
[9] Spencer W. Kimball, “Jesus, The Perfect Leader,” Ensign, Aug. 1979.
[10] See Luke 15:11–32.
[11] Marvin J. Ashton, “The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword ,”Ensign, May 1992.
[12] This sentiment was expressed by President Henry J. Eyring in a Student Life Directors meeting held January 28, 2020, in the BYU-Idaho Kimball Building room 138.
[13] See Alma 36:3, Alma 38:5.
[14] See Luke 15:1–7; see also Matthew 7:15, where we also need to be mindful of those who intentionally hurt or abuse under false pretenses.
[15] Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “On Being Genuine,” Ensign, May 2015.
[16] Carol F. McConkie, “Here to Serve a Righteous Cause,” Ensign, Nov. 2015.
[17] Carol F. McConkie, “Lifting Others”; churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2017/digital/september/lifting-others-4-ways-to-welcome-new-and-returning-members?lang=eng.
[18] See Dallin H. Oaks, “The Paradox of Love and Law,” BYU-Idaho devotional, Oct. 30, 2018.
[19] Roger Adams, “Service Soothes Suffering,” Oct. 6, 2020.
[20] See Lynn G. Robbins, “Which Way Do You Face?,” Ensign, Nov. 2014; see also Kevin W. Pearson, “The Lens of Truth,” BYU-Idaho devotional, Mar. 7, 2017.
[21] See “Jesus Wept: Emotions in The Scriptures”; educationinzion.byu.edu/exhibition/jesus-wept; see also John 13:1.
[22] M. Russell Ballard, “Doctrine of Inclusion,” Ensign, Nov. 2001.
[23] 2 Nephi 26:33.
[24] Alma 1:30.
[25] Ephesians 2:19.