1. When you receive an invitation to a party that includes the letters “RSVP” you should always write or call to say if you will or will not be attending.

True. RSVP means “Please Respond” in French. You need to call or write the hostess to respond with a yes or no to the invitation. A host very much appreciates a speedy response so that the appropriate plans for food, etc. can be made.

2. Jill calls on the telephone to invite you to a party. You have other plans and don’t really want to go anyway. Don’t hurt her feelings. Just tell her “maybe” and then afterwards you can make up some excuse.

False. A dishonest excuse is a poor way to decline an invitation. A vague “maybe” leaves a host in a very awkward spot. You don’t need to list all the details of your life. A simple, “I’m sorry but I can’t make it,” is usually best.

3. Your mom says that a neighbor you often baby-sit for has left a message for you to call her. You have too much homework this weekend to do any babysitting, so you don’t need to return her call.

False. Return all telephone calls promptly. Your neighbor may be hoping for your services and might not call someone else until she hears from you, or the call may be about something entirely different. Even receiving a no answer is better than being avoided.

4. Uncle John mailed you a baseball mitt for your birthday. He’s your favorite uncle and will know you appreciate it, so you don’t have to make a big deal about it and write a thank-you note. Besides, you can just tell him thanks when you see him next month.

False. Everyone who sends a gift to you deserves a thank-you note, especially close friends and relatives. A gift received by mail should be acknowledged soon after it arrives so the sender will know that it arrived safely.

5. As you walk down the sidewalk you pass a person in a wheelchair. It is most polite to just look the other way and to pretend you don’t notice the person or his handicap.

False. While it’s rude to gawk or stare at a person’s handicap, it is also inconsiderate to ignore an individual entirely just because of a handicap. Someone in a wheelchair or with any other physical limitation enjoys a friendly smile, nod, or “hello” as much as anyone else.

6. These days no one expects you to give up your seat on the bus or the subway to an older person or a woman carrying a child.

False. Kindness and consideration for others is always good manners on a bus, subway, or anywhere.

7. Before you leave a party you need to seek out the host or hostess to express your appreciation for the party, even if you think the host might be busy with other guests.

True. A thoughtful guest always thanks the host before leaving a gathering. Expressing appreciation at the right times is one of the most important parts of etiquette.

8. Introductions are a bother. You can just let people tell the others in the crowd their own names.

False. It is very uncomfortable to be in a crowd where you don’t know anyone’s name. At church, school, or parties a gracious person will introduce any new members, guests, or visitors to the other people around them. If you are in a situation where no one introduces you, you may freely introduce yourself, however.

9. It is all right to call your parents’ friends by their first names if you’ve known them for a long time.

False. Adult friends will usually tell you if they prefer you to call them by their first names. Courteously wait until they do before you assume a first name basis.

10. It’s usually best for young people to stand when grandparents or other older people enter the room as a sign of respect. Young people should stand up when being introduced to older people.

True. Young people do stand for elderly people as a sign of respect.

11. When someone gives you a compliment on your new clothes, just ignore it or make fun of it. It looks vain to take a compliment too seriously.

False. Acknowledge compliments with a simple “Thank you.” When you ignore a compliment or make fun of it, you put down the person who gave it. It’s not vain to be gracious.

12. Accidents happen to everyone, but a polite person apologizes for bumps, spills and mishaps to friends, family, and even to strangers.

True. Make sincere apologies, without excusing yourself or placing blame elsewhere. Just stop at “I’m sorry.” Don’t add, “I’m sorry I tripped over you but you stuck your big foot in my way.” When there is a spill or mishap, try to show you really are sorry by helping to clean up the mess. Remember, your family deserves courtesy as much as friends and strangers.

13. It’s ok to leave during a lesson as long as it’s only for a bathroom break or a drink.

False. Go to the bathroom and get a drink before or after the lesson. Teachers put time and effort into a lesson and it is rude to leave in the middle.

14. Youth need to address adults as “Brother” or “Sister” so and so unless you know the adult well, then you can use their first name.

False. Out of respect, we should use “brother” and “sister”.

15. It’s alright to talk out loud and visit friends right before sacrament meeting during the prelude music.

False. The prelude music has a specific purpose to help invite the spirit into the meeting. This time should be used to quietly find a seat and prepare ourselves to receive the message of the meeting.

17. You shouldn’t run and be loud in the Church besides the gym, even on activity nights.

True. Church is still the Lord’s house on Tuesday. Basketballs, volleyballs, etc. should stay in the gym, and running around the halls is not appropriate.

18. You should always wear Sunday dress when being interviewed by the Bishop.

True. A sign of respect and acknowledgement of the Bishop’s sacred duties,

it is a good idea to wear Sunday dress at a scheduled appointment.

19. No visits or phone calls should be made on Monday nights.

True. Monday nights are reserved for Family Home Evening. Out of courtesy, it is not appropriate to have meetings, make phone calls or visits on Monday nights.

20. Those who need to enter or leave sacrament meeting should try to wait for a break in the program before doing so.

True. Unless you are taking a crying baby out, or another emergency, it is not appropriate to leave during a speaker or musical number.

21. Address the President of an organization in the church as “President so and so”.

True. Priesthood holders are to be addressed as “president so and so”, even Deacons quorum president!

22. You may not leave sacrament before the closing prayer, unless it’s an emergency.

True. President David O. McKay once said, “It is the height of rudeness, excepting in an emergency, to leave a worshiping assembly before dismissal.”

23. Saying "Thee", and "Thine" in prayers is expected of adults only.

False. The handbook states that “prayers should be brief and simple and should be spoken as directed by the Spirit. Members should use the pronouns Thee, Thy, Thine, and Thou when addressing Heavenly Father. All members should say an audible amen at the end of the prayer.

24. The advisor of your young men and young women class conducts the Sunday class instruction.

False. A member of the quorum or class presidency conducts the Sunday class instruction, which includes introducing the lesson and teacher, if needed, and closing the meeting with a closing prayer.

25. Be sure to wear “Sunday best” to sacrament meeting and to the temple.

True. (Discussion) What is Sunday best? Informal, slouchy clothing in our meetings leads to informal and slouchy conduct.

26. The Bishopric sits on the stand so that they can make sure the members are behaving appropriately.

False. Elder Boyd K Packer said: “The one who presides in a meeting should sit on the stand and sit close to the one conducting. It is a bit difficult to preside over a meeting from the congregation. The one who presides is responsible for the conduct of the meeting and has the right and the responsibility to receive inspiration and may be prompted to adjust or correct something that goes on in the meeting. That is true whether it be an auxiliary meeting presided over by the sisters or any of our meetings. The first counselor always sits on the right of the president; the second counselor on the left. That is a demonstration of doing things “decently and in order”, as Paul told us.”

27. You may ask for a calling if you feel inspired that that’s what you need to do.

False. Elder Boyd K. Packer said: “We do not aspire to calls in the Church, nor do we ask to be released. We are called to positions in the Church by inspiration. Even if the call is presented in a clumsy way, it is not wise for us to refuse the call. We must presuppose that the call comes from the Lord.”

28. There is appropriate attire for passing the sacrament.

True.

29. There is an appropriate way to take the sacrament.

True. Members should take the sacrament with their right hand, then take the tray with their right hand and pass it.

30. Reverence is required between the closing song and the closing prayer.

True. Just because the song is over doesn’t mean that the meeting is over. It is important to be respectful of the Spirit in between the song and the prayer.