At what point should noisy children be taken out of Sacrament Meeting?
Question
Gramps,
We have a common issue that happens among many families in the church. During Sacrament or some form of church activity where it needs to be quiet our children often throw tantrums. My husband believes that we should take them out at the slightest peep. But I was counseled by the Bishop to encourage the children to quiet down during the meeting as to teach them that it’s a good place to be. I agree with the Bishop. What do you think?
Amber
Answer
Amber,
I suppose the Bishop could ask that overly noisy children be removed from the chapel, but ultimately I think the parents themselves are capable of that choice on their own.
Sacrament meeting is a congregational meeting, and though the younger children are not baptized, they are members of the congregation. The LDS Church is a family-oriented faith, and that includes the noisy kids chasing cheerios under the pews.
Also essential to consider is what Christ himself said; “Suffer the little ones to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
I feel even the newest infant has something us grown-ups need to be reminded of or taught through their actions, noisy or not.
I love this answer
We had a young couple in Texas who had 3 hellion kids. One winter the kids got really sick with head colds, and so the doctor prescribed something strong that knocked them out for the entire meeting. This poor sister enjoyed sacrament meeting so much that each week thereafter for an entire month she gave each of her kids a maintenance dose before church. LOL!
There is a point that a child reaches that affects the learning of everybody else and themselves. If a parent is just determined to not take them out because they feel like they are quitting, they are probably wrong. A parent definitely shouldn’t take them out as soon as they make a peep though. But if the whole chapel is affected by a child’s actions and the three rows around the child cannot hear; then I think its time to go into the mothers room or foyer where they message can still be heard. The chapel can actually become a place to be, as a reward, for their good actions. I remember going out several times and coming back in to the chapel each time they settled down. Without a doubt, the life of a parent with little ones is challenging and as for myself… I don’t feel like I got the chance to focus on feeling the spirit like i did before before i had children. But now that my kids are grown I am grateful for the way we did things when they were young. Ultimately, parents need to pray about this for themselves with their children, and other people, in mind as they pray. Some people are patient. But almost all people come to church to HEAR and feel a message. I’ve had several people come to me and say that they can’t hear the speaker, even though we have the mic turned all the way up. I would never tell a parent to take their kids out but i would encourage them to pray about it. Because ultimately it is up to the parents to decide what is best for each child. I talked to a mother the other day about this. i mentioned how good the sacrament meeting was. She said that she doesn’t ever get to hear sacrament anymore. She knows that her kids are wild and very loud. My thoughts are that she, and everybody around her, would hear better if her child was in the mothers room until the child calmed down and got to come back in to the chapel. She is an incredible woman. And I know that she is just a person that doesn’t quit in anything. So I believe that she feels like she is giving up on them if she takes them out. I personally don’t see it that way. We have been asked by leaders to eat together as a family at dinner time. But What does a parents do if a child is having a tantrum at the table and screaming and throwing food? Well…my way is not your way. Who is right?…who knows! I just do what I feel is right and others do what they feel is right.
Tolerance and thoughtfulness should be had by all.