I Don't Have Time to Not Be Mormon!

My sins never really amounted to much until I was 18 and just couldn't resist anymore.  I tried alcohol the first time at a graduation party.  After High School it was easier to fall into sinful practices, which is what ultimately delayed my mission.

I guess one of the reasons I never got into much trouble before hand was due to the time commitment a Mormon devotes to the church as a teenager.  The other effect this time commitment caused, is it helps prevent a kid from critical thinking, and instead just follow the herd.  I didn't have time to think for myself really.  Day in and day out I was engrossed with church related activities or meetings.  That was the standard for a Mormon youth.

Any given week, my schedule would look something like this:

Sunday: 3 hours of church followed by brief meetings after.  About 4 hours were spent on church services.  Once per month per on Sundays, we'd have to go back to church for a devotional meeting of sorts.  Mormons call these "Firesides".  Personal scripture study, family prayer, and personal prayer before bed.

Monday: Early morning Seminary classes before school.  Family home evening that night, which usually lasted a couple hours.  Personal scripture study, family prayer, and personal prayer before bed.

(Family home evening was a program done at home with your family.  The church officially pushes this to happen dutifully every Monday.  We would pray, sing, have lessons, activities and snacks.  Everything else paused for family home evening.)

Tuesday:  Early morning Seminary classes before school.  In the evening, my dad and I would typically go out home teaching.  Personal scripture study, family prayer, and personal prayer before bed.

(Home teaching is a Mormon program in which the men and young men in the church [priesthood holders] would have a set number of families that belonged to the same ward to visit each month.  We would prepare a short lesson and then pray with them and assist with anything they may need help with at the time.  This was also a way to visit inactive members to encourage them to return.)

Wednesday: Early morning Seminary classes before school (yawwwwwwn).  Later that evening we would have scouts, which the church sponsored.  We were all Mormon scouts.  The female's would also have activities that night exclusive to them.  Personal scripture study, family prayer, and personal prayer before bed.

Thursday: Early morning Seminary classes before school.  We would sometimes have to do some home teaching on this day if any of the families were unable to commit to the Tuesday appointment.  Personal scripture study, family prayer, and personal prayer before bed.

Friday: Early morning Seminary classes before school.  Finally, an evening free to to whatever the H E double hockey stick I wanted (that the church approved of that is).  Personal scripture study, family prayer, and personal prayer before bed.

Saturday:  Church sports.  In the winter we had church basketball games, and in the spring/summer it was softball.  Here and there each month Saturday brought some special youth activities like them groovy dances or game nights.  Personal scripture study, family prayer, and personal prayer before bed.  Prepare for the Sabbath.

(Church sports was a legit thing.  They used to even travel to a city, state, regional championship back in the day.  I'm not sure they do it so heavily anymore though.)

Mind you I was also working part time and I did school sports in the winter and spring.  My life was busy.  Doing just a rough calculation, I easily spent 28 hours each week on church related activities.

My brain was thoroughly washed.