In the LDS (or Mormon) Church, we don’t have a paid clergy. Doctrinally, we believe that people shouldn’t get paid for their service in the church. Moreover, it provides an opportunity for the school teacher and business executive alike to prepare talks and speak in church.

Another advantage occurred to me just today. That is, having a variety of individuals speak every week balances out the accuracy of the doctrine that’s taught. For example, today we had an individual speak on a topic and say some things that were blatantly not in line with the church’s official doctrine. If this man were our weekly minister or pastor, and had such a bias, I guarantee there would be individuals who would reconsider their participation in our congregation or potentially even in the church. However, because of the rotating system of lay speakers, the situation can be written off as human error, which happens to everyone and, overall, the doctrine in any single congregation stays clean.