I imagine that to a certain extent, Sunday mornings at most LDS families might be much like they are at ours. My wife and I know exactly what time we need to roll out of bed to get all four of us (daughter seven, son five) to church on time, and I don't think all the powers of heaven could get us to move any earlier. Once we're up, we wake up the kids, and then we all wolf down a breakfast of O.J. and cold cereal. At that point, it's pretty much a free-for-all of people running around looking for clothing, brushing hair, getting shoes on the right feet, locating scriptures and last-minute lesson materials, and then moving everyone out the door. Once we're in the car and driving, there is a collective sigh of relief. Another successful Sunday morning!

Sound familiar?

In another aspect, however, our family might be a little different than many other Mormon families. In our house, the sole bathroom on the main level is the kind that opens both into the hallway and the master bedroom, and on Sunday mornings, it is temporarily converted into Grand Central Station. At any given moment someone is either in the glass-walled shower, using the potty, toweling off from a shower, getting dressed, or shaving. (Ok, I'm the only one who shaves.) But, unlike most families, as these activates are going on, the doors are open and nobody is using this all-important room alone. It's a family event!

Take last Sunday for example. I took a mental snapshot: I had just gotten in the shower and my wife was standing at the sink after her shower putting in her contacts naked but for a towel wrapped around her head. My daughter came into the bathroom and said "Dad, can I get in the shower with you?" This is not an uncommon request - she has recently discovered that showering is a different experience than taking a bath, and she really enjoys it. So I opened the door and let her in, and she soaped up while I shampooed her hair. When we got out mom was dressed and putting on makeup and my son was sitting on the floor in boxers playing with his Star Wars action figures. I reminded him that we were in a hurry, so he scampered off to get dressed.

Here's the most important part: Sunday mornings are a cheerful, fun, energetic experience, and by the time we are in the car driving, there has not been any contention, yelling, backbiting, or arguing. They are a family bonding time that fosters a spirit of togetherness and are a perfect way to begin the Sabbath.

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