Ready to leave Utah (Clinton: renting, day care, to live)

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Not in an LDS worship service they didn't. Sorry, but that simply doesn't not happen. Ever. And I don't want anyone reading this thread to think that it did.

I second this. I'm not an active member any more, but in my 14 years of Church activity, I never witnessed clapping in a church service.

[BuckeyezRule]

Originally Posted by lauramc27

Just curious, why is there never clapping in LDS churches?

Originally Posted by Katzpur

I suppose you could say that it's just a matter of reverence. We don't go to entertain or to be entertained. If someone were to stand up in Fast & Testimony Meeting and make a comment like the one gsilver described, it's conceivable that some people might go up to her after the service and say, "I really liked your remarks," or "Good for you," but I can absolutely guarantee that nobody would clap. And to be perfectly honest, I don't even think such a person would get many pats on the back from people in the congregation.

Just to clarify, though, if we have a social event where people in the congregation perform (sing, dance, etc.), clapping is entire acceptable. It's just not done as part of worship.

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

I second this. I'm not an active member any more, but in my 14 years of Church activity, I never witnessed clapping in a church service.

Now that it was mentioned, I went on a testimonial Sunday, w/ 3 blessings, & many testimonials as it was just after our local ward (maybe everyone, not sure) read a/the (again, not sure) Joseph Smith biography.

I rememeber a long service, I remember many speaking, I remember my daughter soiling her diaper (we didn't have a spare lol) .

I don't remember any clapping. I am Catholic. I've only witnessed clapping at our church during closing announcements (not because it's over, but for achievements, sucesses, etc lol ) .

I'm sorry if anyone feels unwelcome anywhere. Just me. It burned me last week on a local mom's forum. Oy! lol

[gsilver]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

I second this. I'm not an active member any more, but in my 14 years of Church activity, I never witnessed clapping in a church service.

I don't have much experience with LDS wards (beyond the one), but perhaps they're different in young single adult wards in 2011?

I can't believe I'm responding to defend this point, but I'm offended by what Katzpur said.

[dcisive]

I suppose I could just say nothing but I just could not resist. Hopefully Belle won't find this disrespectful, just an observation. I happened to grow up in the Synagogue (Jewish) and have been to many services with friends over the years. This would include Catholic, Presbyterian, 7th Day Adventist, Pentacostal and more. This includes LDS Sunday services in a Ward when my wife was active. I have personally never witnessed more disorder than at the LDS services. Kids from age 2 to perhaps as much as 8 running amuck during the services. Down aisles, playing with toys, talking, whining, crying and the parents NEVER removed them from the room. Sorry, but this isn't what I come from. In a service where there is either a pastor/rabbi or whatever teaching and speaking you are reverent enough to keep things quiet during their talk. Also I must say although I wasn't in agreement with the religion overall, I am respectful enough to at least try to hear a person when giving a testimony as emotional as they would tend to get and all. But alas with crying babies, talking kids wandering everywhere it was hugely distracting and even WITH a microphone one could not hear what was being said over the din. I must say I'm astonished this is permitted to occur regularly. This was NOT a isolated incident. it was at 4 different Wards I've attended on a good number of occasions, so I have to consider this normal. I have NEVER been to another form of churhc or Synagogue where this occured. Children were always well behaved and taught not to act up during the services. Not sure what planet I may be from but this isn't how it's done in MY world I guess. For all the talk about "obedience" I've not seen much in this regard...sorry.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by dcisive

I have personally never witnessed more disorder than at the LDS services. Kids from age 2 to perhaps as much as 8 running amuck during the services. Down aisles, playing with toys, talking, whining, crying and the parents NEVER removed them from the room.

I agree. Fortunately, in most LDS wards, the really noisy kids are removed from the room.

[markg91359]

I agree. Fortunately, in most LDS wards, the really noisy kids are removed from the room.

All churches are a bit different and one of the things that is probably the most unique about the LDS Church when it comes to meetings and services is that small children attend and make noise. I've often felt sorry for the speakers at Sacrament Meeting who have to try and talk above the din and noise level that occurs when perhaps a dozen or more small children are carrying on in some manner. Parents are generally expected to take crying babies outside, but that's really about it.

I suppose the bright side is that church services are a comfortable place for families with small children. Also, the children gradually get something of an education about how to behave in meetings with adults present.

The downside is that if you aren't used to small children the whole experience can be unsettling. I completely understand people who get upset about it. Prior to having small children of my own, I used to find these services difficult to get through for the same reasons.

[stycotl]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Don't you just love how easy it is to spot a liar?

now, to be fair, it is entirely possible that gsilver was just confused and remembering normally-reasonable details wrong. even if not, i would wager it was an exaggeration to support a point made by a rather desperate and lonely person, rather than a malicious lie made by someone with an ax to grind.

either way, it would be nice if gsilver would not ignore the point and would come clarify what he/she meant by it.

***************

in my own experience, being ignored like gsilver is feeling, isn't an attempt to be mean. it is just a group of people that are already set in their comfort zones and are not likely to break out of them in order to be extra inviting to new people. they expect new people to come into their preexisting comfort zones, which means that the new people need to make the effort to do so.

meanwhile, the new person stands around at a loss, not knowing what to do or where to go or who to talk to in order to fit into a preexisting comfort zone somewhere.

in my opinion, both parties are a bit to blame. mormons in particular should be following their church's counsel to be outgoing and to look for those that need inclusion and attention. at the same time though, the new person should realize that they are stepping into a new culture, and that they are going to have to take steps to acclimate in one way or another. social acclimation is just as important for new move-ins as is any other kind of acclimation. it isn't always fun, and sometimes to me has felt like job-hunting or some other tedious process. but in the end, i have always had a happier stay in an area if i have gone out of my way to enter the cliques of the locals, utah or otherwise, mormons or otherwise.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by stycotl

now, to be fair, it is entirely possible that gsilver was just confused and remembering normally-reasonable details wrong. even if not, i would wager it was an exaggeration to support a point made by a rather desperate and lonely person, rather than a malicious lie made by someone with an ax to grind.

either way, it would be nice if gsilver would not ignore the point and would come clarify what he/she meant by it.

Part of me is inclined to apologize for coming on so strong, but part of me keeps saying, "Mormons don't applaud when someone bears a testimony they are impressed by, and that is a fact." So, if gsilver would like to maybe rethink what her "memory" tells her happened, I might be inclined to say, "I'm sorry. I over-reacted."

[BuckeyezRule]

Originally Posted by markg91359

All churches are a bit different and one of the things that is probably the most unique about the LDS Church when it comes to meetings and services is that small children attend and make noise. I've often felt sorry for the speakers at Sacrament Meeting who have to try and talk above the din and noise level that occurs when perhaps a dozen or more small children are carrying on in some manner. Parents are generally expected to take crying babies outside, but that's really about it.

I suppose the bright side is that church services are a comfortable place for families with small children. Also, the children gradually get something of an education about how to behave in meetings with adults present.

The downside is that if you aren't used to small children the whole experience can be unsettling. I completely understand people who get upset about it. Prior to having small children of my own, I used to find these services difficult to get through for the same reasons.

I'm on the fence on this. I do see the keeping things sacred (I admit, many in my church still take unruly children out) , however, I kinda did/do like the feel of letting kids be kids. W/in reason. I am strict w/ my own kids & they are pretty good, mostly, lol. I do, however, have many friends who have special needs children, &, I have witnessed this, 1st hand, so, I am much more sympathetic than I used to be.

I have always went by 'he who is w/o sin shall cast the 1st stone'. You aren't perfect. I am not perfect. Stop judging others.

Having said that, there are alot of spoiled, self righteous, kids who need parental guidance (among other things, that's all I'll say. lol) . I meet many who wouldn't make it in our home, &, I'm really lax. lol

[dcisive]

I guess I'm coming from a completely different place, and am willing to accept that. I would imagine it is rather unrealistic to think that a church that has existed for a couple hundred years would be similar to one that has existed for a couple of thousand Different strokes for different folks. To me (and for me) there simply are places kids shouldn't be for some obvious reasons. There is a level of maturity in MY mind that is essential for proper worship. Children don't have that. This isn't about "teaching" them that by dragging them along and having to be in an environment that isn't compatible for someone that has the attention span of all of 2 minutes. I DO expect that in many restaurants I'll deal with that. I DON"T expect to when in a place of worship. Just the way I grew up, and frankly the way it still IS in some environments. Parents of the 90's and beyond have become familiar and comfortable with children going EVERYWHERE and there virtually not being any place where they are unwelcome. Guess I'm a dinosaur but in my youth there were a good many places that children were NOT found. EVERYONE needs a "time out" to some degree and there SHOULD be places where certain conditions and behaviors are simply NOT acceptable. But indeed we live in a bit of changed world. It's a "Whatever" world now. Not sure I like it. If I had a hand on the time machine I'd be sorely tempted to hit the switch