Primary Time: Sacrament Meeting Mayhem

by Miriam Caldwell | More from this Blogger

Having our third child has really put us at odds during Sacrament meeting. There just don't seem to be enough hands to go around. We were doing all right when my husband and I could each focus on a child, but now there is always someone getting loose. Generally it is my two year old son. He likes to run. Last week the overflow to the overflow was open with about fifteen feet of empty space to the back wall. He took off running about three times.

Of course last week was actually one of our better weeks. We are not the only ones that have difficulties however, which makes me feel that we are not total failures when it comes to teaching our children reverence. One week my husband took our oldest two to church while I stayed home with the baby. During Sacrament meeting he decided to sit with a friend whose wife was also home with the baby. They have children the same age as ours. Our friends' son took off running down the aisle, and made it to the stand before his father caught up with him. My husband smiled to himself, relieved it wasn't our son until he realized that he was halfway down the aisle, with our daughter trying to catch him. My husband didn't catch up until they were almost to the stand.

It is moments like these that we wonder why we are doing it. Why do we take our kids to church? They don't seem to be getting much out of it. We certainly aren't as we struggle to help them realize what reverence is. However, I know that our efforts now will pay off later on. It is important that my children realize how important attending church is, and the best way I can teach them that is by attending with them every week.

Our children are slowly learning to behave. My daughter now whispers and sits quietly through the Sacrament. My son is starting to learn the difference between a whisper and his normal voice, but he folds his arms and bows his head during the prayers. He understands that we are at church to learn about Jesus. That really is the most important thing of all.

Related Articles:

Adventures in Sacrament Meeting

Primary Time: Five Tips to Encourage Reverence in Sacrament Meeting

Primary Time: Teaching Reverence to Older Children

Learn more about Miriam Caldwell

Miriam is a SAHM mom of three children. She has a daughter who is seven, and two sons, four and two. She loves being a parent and spending time with her children.

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