By Our Rites of Worship: Latter-day Saint Views on Ritual in Scripture and Practice

While negative meanings are often attached to the words rite and ritual, these terms simply mean ''with correct religious procedure; in the manner required, properly, duly, correctly, rightly, fittingly.'' Thus, the term perfectly describes an array of practices within our church, including baptism, the laying on of hands, and temple ordinances. This book explores the relationship between the performance of priesthood ordinances (or rituals) and the power of godliness that is mentioned in Doctrine and Covenants 84. Just as in biblical and Book of Mormon times, rites are an essential part of God s plan for his children. The mes- sages in this book help us understand ritual and its profound role within the Church so that we are able to recognize the trans- forming power of our rites of worship.