Back in March, I went to Houston to attend the Houston Mormon Stories regional conference (= great fun). Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Brent took our two youngest (ages 10 and 13) to a very-long-day dance competition in Fort Worth (which is 3.5 hours away from where we live). Amazingly, we are still married after that weekend’s division of labor, but I digress . . .
The conference ended too late Saturday night for me to feel comfortable driving all the way home, so I stayed the night in Houston. Sunday morning, Erin Hill and another friend decided to go to Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church. I have wanted to attend a service at Osteen’s church for several years, but the stars had never aligned until then. I was a free agent, in Houston, with no kids or schedules to worry about, so we went.
The pictures below show some parts of the experience that I was able to capture on film. But, for me, most of the experience was so mind blowing, the camera was truly a cheap substitute for experiencing it in real life. I should note here that I have spent much of my adult life being tacky about big Christian megachurches and televangelists. I have judged them as insincere and as only being “in it” for the money. But several people that I know (Mormon and otherwise) really like Osteen and his messages. One of my sisters has read at least one of his books and has told me that he is very positive and encouraging. So, this trip was mostly a curiosity to me, but also an opportunity to either confirm or repudiate my snotty stance towards Joel Osteen and Lakewood Church (and others like it?).
This post will serve as the beginning of my penance.
In short (and then more details later), the church service we attended at Lakewood Church that Sunday was awesome. It was fun, it was positive, it was uplifting, it was energizing, it was kinesthetic, it was sensitive to its members’ needs, it was, for me–transformational. From the very beginning of the service to the end, the church service was so distinct from what I have experienced as a Mormon, I felt like I was in an alternate universe. I truly cannot explain my reaction to it.
Here’s how the meeting went, along with some commentary regarding things that surprised me, as a lifelong Mormon:
- I was taken aback when I walked in to the big arena and saw, literally, a concert hall, the ceiling lined with huge lights, a huge screen up front, a big stage, etc.
- Thirty minutes before the actual service started, smoke started coming out of the ceiling (for the record, this never happens in a Mormon church service, ha ha)
- The praise and worship team came onto the stage and everyone stood up and started clapping. The words to the songs they were performing were posted on the screen so we could sing along. I began to sing along as well, but mostly I was struck by the sight of people–at church–who looked genuinely happy to be there. Shoot, “happy” doesn’t even cover it; they looked thrilled to be there, to be singing praises, clapping their hands, smiling, swaying to the music, one guy had his hands in the air and was jumping up and down, he was so excited! Sadly, I think I can safely say–without being hyperbolic–that I have never seen a group of Mormons in sacrament meeting look 1/10 that happy. I’ve just not seen it. And I can’t say I’ve experienced it, either.
- Then Joel and Victoria Osteen came out. They also looked happy. One of the first things Joel Osteen said was something along these lines (I took notes, but this is not a direct quote): “You’ve just dropped off your kids [at this point, my Mormon brain almost exploded; in the Mormon church, there is no dropping-off-of-kids]. We want you to just settle in here. We want you to relax. We want you to be able to just praise and enjoy and honor God.” [Whoa, whoa, whoa: “We want you to relax?” Relax? Umm, yeah, no, Mormons don’t do “relax” at church.]
- Osteen’s sermon was upbeat. It was well-planned and well-delivered. It had a theme: “being good to people.” He told several great stories of people being nice to people and encouraged everyone there: “Set a goal to do one good thing for someone every day. Don’t miss an opportunity to do good. Be on the look out to do good.” (Sometimes we get to hear good sermons in Mormon church services, although we call them “talks.” But lots of times, we hear stuff that rambles on and on or that’s just regurgitated stuff from other talks–usually from Mormon church leaders–and there’s usually not a whole lot of oomph involved.
- After his sermon (which was about 10 minutes long), we all stood up and sang a couple more songs. It felt natural at that point to stand up and move our bodies again. (Mormons don’t usually do this; we might stand up and sing one “congregational hymn” in between the 2nd and 3rd speakers, but not necessarily. And when we do sing, we’re not excited about singing. We usually sing the songs way slower than they should be sung and we are generally not at all enthused to be doing so.)
- Then Victoria Osteen gave a short message. Then their daughter came out and sang a song.
- At some point, they passed around a big bucket. People could fill out a donation slip if they wanted (I saw some people doing this) or just put money in. I put in a couple dollars and passed the bucket. No one said anything to us. There was no pressure.
- They made some announcements about upcoming events. This was the only part that seemed familiar.
After it was over, visitors and guests were invited to an area outside the sanctuary where we could meet Joel and Victoria Osteen. We joked that we would tell them that we were visiting Mormons, but we didn’t actually do it. Lots of people stood in line holding copies of Osteen’s book. He was signing autographs (for the record, this also doesn’t take place in a Mormon church service, ha ha). We waited in line and then just introduced ourselves and shook hands. They seemed nice enough.
And then we left. For the first couple days after going, I honestly didn’t know what to make of the experience. It’s not my objective here to be hypercritical of Mormon church services. My point is just to share my experience and comment on how dramatically different it was from anything else I’ve ever experienced as a Mormon.
And, to leave my snotty attitudes about Osteen and megachurches in the past. Going to that church was fun and uplifting. No doubt about that. Check out the pictures below, if you can stand to read/see anymore about my Lakewood Church experience, that is. ;)
I could not agree with your description more! The feelings for me when I first visited Joel Osteen resonated on an energy level, and the feelings I experienced were so strong, I often teared up in the session and felt overwhelmed and dizzy. Getting hit by this huge wave of love and excitement and happiness and hope was also something I had not experienced in my typical Mormon church services so long ago. I wish that we could have come with you to direct you to a seat, because when you are new to the service, they actually let you sit in the floor section on the first rows. Let me tell you…it is intense! But, I am so glad that the visit impacted you the way it did for me. Just reading your descriptions and seeing the pictures made me remember fondly the times I have gone. I remember also looking up at the purple/blue ceiling and thinking it was so lovely and magical. My parents have also heard interesting stories about many members of the band and the professional singers. Each one has a special unique personal story as to why they are there singing or in the band. Thanks so much for the post. Brings back really fond memories. I wish it was closer so I could attend more often.
Thanks for this report and the photos, Heather. This auditorium is huge! Of course, they are performers and are paid to appear happy, but you noticed a genuine feeling of good will and relaxation among these churchgoers that is sadly lacking in Mormonism’s duty-based culture. You have also captured this easy-going, come-as-you-are, affirmative atmosphere.
I had a similar experience attending Marianne Williamson’s mega church in Warren, Michigan. There were buses in different parts of the parking lot to deliver you to the front door. We dropped our children off in the well-appointed classrooms and had a chance to relax in the coffee-house/bookstore, “The Sacred Grounds.”
Here’s what I love about some of these other congregations — not just the megachurches: the service truly is an opportunity to celebrate. Being physically comfortable — i.e., no dresses or pantyhose — has a lot to do with it. Also, I like the emphasis on doing better, the positive messages as opposed to the guilt-laden, patronizing lectures. What I don’t like is the conflation of material wealth with spiritual wealth.
Yes, mayalynn. I do not like the prosperity gospel. At all.
So I have mixed feelings about it, for sure. But yeah, the members of the church sure seemed to be enjoying being there more than any Mormons I have ever seen. That’s worth something, no?
I’ve never seen or heard anything like or about this; it’s interesting to read about–
Thanks for sharing, Heather. I’m not a fan of prosperity gospel, but I do like the the happiness that some of these churches seem to deliver.
Yeah, Mike. I agree. And I only have a sample of one meeting. We didn’t hear anything about that or even along those lines, but I know Osteen does preach about that.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Heather. Yeah, the part about “relax” is mind-blowing for sure. How many times do I get home from church and feel like it was the most exhausting part of my week? I loved the booklets in your photo re: abusive marriage, infertility, etc. Awesome stuff! And the wall display of “Your First Church Is Your Family” is pretty much never going to be wall stickered (not sure the term) on any Mormon kitchen wall anytime soon (ironic, I know).
Anyway, your experience inspires me. My ward just split, and now we attend at 1pm, so I told my dh I’d like to visit some other services just to rejuvenate my perspective–it’s been a while since I’ve done that, and I’ve always appreciated how it helps me.