Mormons and Their Basketball

Why Do Mormons Have a Basketball Court in Their Church Building?

If you were to walk into any LDS church building and head for the center you'd find a large full size, hardwood floor, basketball court complete with two hoops. A lot of non-members when they see this comment that our church is the only church they've ever seen this in. Some wonder, as I'm sure some members do, if this is necessary and I'm here to tell you there is a reason to everything our church does.

    Now I can assure you there are many other reasons and purposes for this large basketball court. In fact many refer to it as a cultural hall rather than a gym because it is used for many other social events, meetings, and it serves as an overflow for Sunday worship. But I can also promise you that during the week the balls will be pulled out, the shots will go up, and the basketball will begin.

   I believe there are three main reasons to why the church has both pick up and league style basketball. The first reason being to have fun. 2 Nephi 2:25 says that Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. Now I know that basketball and joy don't necessarily go together for every member of the church but for the majority of the male LDS population playing basketball at the church is a great time to step away from the stresses of life, get some much needed exercise, and have FUN! Growing up in the Young Men's program of the church I participated in Scouts. The majority of the time if we were doing a Scout requirement that wasn't the most fun our leaders would bribe us with basketball if we'd pay attention and pass off our requirements. As an Eagle Scout I am grateful to my leaders who not only taught me valuable life lessons but helped us have some physical fun while doing it.
    Later in my life of Young Men's, and beyond, pick up basketball on a Tuesday or Wednesday night at the church was the thing to do. In Arizona there were four church buildings with courts within five miles of each other. You could show up at any of those buildings and find yourself some basketball with members and non-members alike. This is another reason I believe the church has basketball courts. It's a great missionary tool.
    Basketball as a missionary tool may seem odd to you but there is a lot of truth to it. It really does help people learn more about the church. When you invite someone to church they may be frightened because they've never attended one of our church services let alone even stepped into a building. But when you invite them to come play basketball it is a good ice breaker. It allows them to come into the church to see what it's like and helps them feel more comfortable to the point that they may attend a church service someday. A member once told me that his first learning experience about the church was when he came to play basketball. After being with members and in the building he was comfortable enough to ask to meet with the missionaries and was later baptized. And to think that it all started with a simple game of basketball.
     The final reason I believe church basketball is an important part of who we are is the brotherhood that is built while playing basketball. As a young Deacon of 12 years old I played on my wards organized basketball team. Though the league was intended for young men 14-18 our ward didn't have enough boys in that age group to fill a team. So they called upon and invited us younger boys to participate. I will never forget little 12 year old me guarding a giant of a junior or senior in high school. And though our team struggled on the score board we grew closer and closer together as friends and priesthood holders. This pushed us to be the under dogs that upset the big dogs and soon enough we accomplished our goal by winning a few games towards the end of the season. It was never about the wins or the losses though. Looking back all I can remember is the life long friends I made and the good times we had.

     So why do Mormons have basketball courts in their church? Because it has been instituted by God for our pleasure, to create brotherhood among His priesthood holders, and to potentially bring someone unto Him, His church, and His Gospel. So let us be thankful for that basketball court that sits at the center of our buildings and let's take advantage of what it's intended for.

Life is Full of Strike Outs and Home Runs

The Cubs and baseball
have been a big part of my life
ever since I can remember.

Life is Full of Strike Outs and Home Runs-My whole life I have loved playing sports. Baseball, basketball, football, soccer, you name it, I played it. But of all the sports baseball was at the top of my list. I looked at it as MY sport. Growing up as a little kid and living outside of Chicago, Illinois is where I found my love for America's pastime. Almost every day I would watch a popular Chicago children's television show, Bozo The Clown, on Chicago's own WGN television station. And not too long after Bozo's program would finish Chicago Cubs' baseball would be on in the afternoon. This is where I fell in love with the game of baseball as I watched Ryne Sandberg, Shawon Dunston, and the Cubbies play to the voice of the famous broadcaster Harry Carry. At the young age of three I was mesmerized. This is what started up my own baseball career.
   As a three year old I would run around with my Cubs hat and shirt on along with my ball and glove. I'd throw the ball around and play with whoever would play with me or on my own. As I grew up I played T-ball, machine pitch, and kid pitch baseball for 12 years up through my sophomore year of high school.

   In the game of baseball you have a lot up ups and downs. As a batter each time you step to the plate there is the possibility of striking out or getting a hit. Every time I stepped up to bat it was my main goal not to strike out. I was terrified of striking out. I hated it. Striking out simply was no fun! On the contrary I remember the first time I ever hit a home run.

   My first year of machine pitch, at the ripe old age of nine, I had been having a decent season thus far. It had started out a little rough with quite a few strike outs but I was starting to gain more confidence at the plate. As the pitch came in I swung away at it. PING! went the ball off of the metal bat. As I sprinted towards first base, like I'd been taught, I caught the ball out of the corner of my eye cross over the tallest part of the fence in left center. The cheers from the crowd then followed as I realized I had just hit a home run! What an exciting experience it was to jog around the bases knowing I had just hit my first home run.
   Now over the years I've realized the lessons I learned in baseball are starting to apply to my life. How many times do we "step up to the plate" in our lives looking for the happiness and joy of "hitting a home run"? At times we will find that success, and happiness. But there will be other times when our Heavenly Father is going to throw us some curve balls, or trials, and strike us out, or humble us. Is this because he wants to strike us out and see us go through disappointing times of trials? No, He wants us to go back to the dugout, refocus, practice, or build our faith, and overcome the tough times of trials in our lives so that we can feel more joy of the "home runs" of life. In Alma 36:3 Alma teaches his son Helaman that "whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."  No matter how many times we strike out as we trust in our heavenly coach, Heavenly Father, he will support us and will lift us up in our times of trial. Our disappointing times of striking out will quickly pass and the joy and happiness of blessings of a "home run" will be ours.