I'd expect this in theatres...

[smileyeagle1021]

... but not in church. Seriously what is wrong with people, during Sacrament two people's phones went off... honestly are you that dependent on your phone that you can't turn it off for 1 to 3 hours a day. There were people talking... not only during other members talks which is rude beyond belief but during the passing of Sacrament itself... umm, hello whatever happened to reverence and respect.

The best part, it wasn't any of the regular members of the ward that were causing problems... it was the parents that were visiting that were causing problems (I'm in a ward specifically for young single adults).

eta- and yes it is a sad commentary when I can say I almost expect it in movie theatres.

[Evil Queen]

Why would you leave your phone on in a Church?! Disrespectful "street punks".

[ShinyGreenApple]

It gets worse than that. I have sat down in church and observed an older 'gentleman' in front of me proceed to whip out a pair of nail clippers and start clipping away at his fingers while the pastor is preaching. I mean what the hell? I always thought taking care of nails and such was something you did in private, yet to have a pair of clippers on you means that there was forethought involved

I've also seen parents who seem to have brought the entire kitchen and half the playroom in their strollers and diaper bags, and loudly whisper questions to their toddlers what they wanted to eat or drink next.

Then there are the ones who feel it's ok to have a quiet conversation during the whole service, so long as it's done in a whisper. Seriously, if you came out of feeling obligated and have no intentions of listening and being respectful of everyone else there, you should have just stayed home.

[/rant]

[One-Fang]

Would it be too much to assume to suspect that these are the same people who think going to church on Sunday makes them Christian and show by their actions the rest of the week that they're really not?

Honestly, some people!

[Evil Queen]

And they say Atheists are bad.

[smileyeagle1021]

Why would you leave your phone on in a Church?! Disrespectful "street punks".

the worst offenders weren't the young street punks.... it was the young street punks parents that were visiting because it was father's day... (where I go doesn't have any street punks actually... most of the people who regularly attend are students or recent grads).

[Evil Queen]

I was saying the visiting parents were the street punks. Since the common phrase is "Disrespectful Street Punks" I figured it was appropriate to use it about the parents.

[smileyeagle1021]

I was saying the visiting parents were the street punks. Since the common phrase is "Disrespectful Street Punks" I figured it was appropriate to use it about the parents.

oh, got it.. shoulda caught that (a 3pm service still seems early when you work a grave). Then again I'm never really in it on sundays... it's my only day off per week and damnit I shouldn't have to work or think...

[flybye023]

Smileyeagle...we had a MAJOR blowup when the Young Women's leaders tried to get the girls to stop texting during class. They flat-out told the girls to shut the phones off and put them away. Furthermore, they were not to be brought to church again. The girls went whining and crying (yes, CRYING) to their parents who, in turn, called up the teachers after church to ream them out.

It turned into this huge issue where the Bishop (pastor) and Relief Society (women's group) were involved too. Absolutely ridiculous.

***For the non-LDS readers, Young Women/Young Men is the age group 12-18. This was, I think, the 14 year olds.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Yeah, that's pretty bad. I would like to maybe hope that it was simply that they forgot to turn them off, but still.

Friend of mine had one go off last week in the pew next to me, I wanted to smack him upside the head. I know with him, it was just he screwed up and forgot, and I doubt anyone could have said anything to him that he hadn't already said to himself. Bet he won't forget again. How mortifying.

[smileyeagle1021]

Smileyeagle...we had a MAJOR blowup when the Young Women's leaders tried to get the girls to stop texting during class. They flat-out told the girls to shut the phones off and put them away. Furthermore, they were not to be brought to church again. The girls went whining and crying (yes, CRYING) to their parents who, in turn, called up the teachers after church to ream them out.

It turned into this huge issue where the Bishop (pastor) and Relief Society (women's group) were involved too. Absolutely ridiculous.

***For the non-LDS readers, Young Women/Young Men is the age group 12-18. This was, I think, the 14 year olds.

Please oh please say your Bishop had a spine and supported the Young Women's teacher. I seriously doubt anyone in my bishopric would put up with that... then again they have found an ingenious way to get people to speak... apparently now the first thing they ask you now when you have ANY meeting with a member of the Bishopric (being it Tithing settlement, Temple Recommend, asking for advice, what have you) their first question is, "so when the last time you gave a talk"... is it blackmail, you betcha but it works
(for those not familiar with the LDS church, when your Bishop asks you "when was the last time you gave a talk" what he really means is "you're going to be giving a talk next week or the week after I just haven't decided which yet")
Oh and back on topic of the people talking, what really pisses me off is the more that I play it through my head on when they were talking and what few words I could make out, it sounded like they were busy speculating and judging on why the people who hadn't accepted the Sacrament had not accepted... umm, hello non of your damn business... and commenting on what quotes the speakers chose and I think maybe commenting on how they would have chosen different quotes... once again, not your concern, you aren't the one giving a talk.

Oh, and flybye, did they announce in your ward today also that props were no longer permitted during Sacrament talks
there goes all my plans for the next time the Bishop asks me to talk

[flybye023]

yeah, they read that letter. In my area, I've never seen anyone use props so it was a moment for me.

As to the cell phone situation, basically the teacher offered to resign, the bishop said "don't you dare", and it kinda faded away. Somehow, the way the whole thing started is that the mothers involved took it as a personal slight to their parenting skills, as in "if anyone is going to tell my kid not to use her phone in church it's going to be me." Except they weren't. It was weird because the teachers didn't make it personal. They weren't saying things like "if you were my kid..." or anything.

[smileyeagle1021]

yeah, they read that letter. In my area, I've never seen anyone use props so it was a moment for me.

oh my ward will be hit hard by that, we LOVE props, we've used iPods and laptops and books, and stuffed animals... I was planning on the next time I had gotten chosen to speak playing around with the lights (we have way too much fun at church )

[Anriana]

When I was dragged to church I would bring a book with me. Rude? Yes. Disruptive? No. I can't even imagine bringing an active cell phone with me, sheesh.

[JustADude]

When I was dragged to church I would bring a book with me. Rude? Yes. Disruptive? No. I can't even imagine bringing an active cell phone with me, sheesh.

And that's the key word, DRAGGED.

There are many people, including myself before I put my foot down and said "Hell no, I won't go!", who get forced into it by outside pressure (usually from family). I can quite understand someone like that clipping their nails, reading a book, or otherwise doing something non-disruptive that lets it be known they aren't appreciative of the occasion since... well... they aren't. It may be disrespectful, but they didn't want to be there to begin with so why should they pretend to show respect they don't feel?