DiscussMormonism.com

New design:




Old design:




The main function seems to be to foster the appearance of a full room, even with dwindling attendance.

the Mormon newscast crew recently talked about this (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsG7DUi9G4k) and they speculated that, apart from the attendance issue, it's part of the corporation's attempt to be more mainstream christian.

that is, by putting the sacrament at the center of the ceremony instead of off to the side, it's trying to put the Jesus parts of Mormonism more (ostensibly at least) central to the program. better appeal to outsiders, etc., because most other christian churches have the communion / sacrament stuff central to the room and to the ceremony.

they do note, however, that it remains to be seen whether this is going to be a pattern for all new buildings / remodels, or just a blip. Maybe it's a trial balloon.

(edit: if you want to get to the part where this is discussed, start at around 1:23:26 in the youtube link above)

I’d be interested in seeing what the assumed capacity is for each design. I also note that the amount of seats allocated on the stand seems very excessive - capacity for 36 people to sit on the stand. Given the current trend for the speakers to sit with their families in the congregation until it’s their time to shine. I even see Bishoprics doing that these days.

As an evangelical, it never crossed my mind that the sacrament was not set front and centered when I visited various ward services. It did seem odd, however, that baptism isn’t done during the Sunday service with the congregation present.

The center aisle will allow them to do civil weddings, maybe charging a fee for the privilege (the real-estate holding company masquerading as a church needs to get to the trillion-dollar valuation, and stat, after all).

This could be a trial balloon for changing the strict "no civil marriage before temple marriage" rule that applies in the United States. Maybe they will get a revelation that Jesus is actually OK with friends and family members who are not in the cult being able to attend the weddings of their close friends and family members. Wouldn't that be something?

Equality wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 14, 2026 12:18 pm

The center aisle will allow them to do civil weddings, maybe charging a fee for the privilege (the real-estate holding company masquerading as a church needs to get to the trillion-dollar valuation, and stat, after all).

This could be a trial balloon for changing the strict "no civil marriage before temple marriage" rule that applies in the United States. Maybe they will get a revelation that Jesus is actually OK with friends and family members who are not in the cult being able to attend the weddings of their close friends and family members. Wouldn't that be something?

I would feel incredibly sad for any bride who has to get married in a Mormon meetinghouse

drumdude wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 14, 2026 4:31 pm

Equality wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 14, 2026 12:18 pm

The center aisle will allow them to do civil weddings, maybe charging a fee for the privilege (the real-estate holding company masquerading as a church needs to get to the trillion-dollar valuation, and stat, after all).

This could be a trial balloon for changing the strict "no civil marriage before temple marriage" rule that applies in the United States. Maybe they will get a revelation that Jesus is actually OK with friends and family members who are not in the cult being able to attend the weddings of their close friends and family members. Wouldn't that be something?

I would feel incredibly sad for any bride who has to get married in a Mormon meetinghouse

My ex-wife and I got married in a Mormon chapel. And had the reception in the cultural hall. Classy!

We went to the temple 3 months later to get sealed.