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Sam Bee suggested this topic in another thread, so I thought I’d post it — how do you cope with boredom in Church meetings? I think I mentioned this somewhere just recently but my ipod is my best friend. Small, and can hold a variety of activities that stimulate my mind. I can read something that interests me or play a word game. Some people may see it as disrespectful but if someone actually called me on it I would just tell them that my brain needs a little more stimulation in order to focus. I could just fall asleep like most bishoprics do but……. canadiangirl wrote:I think I mentioned this somewhere just recently but my ipod is my best friend.
I had heard the IPod referred to as the high priest’s quiet book but I suppose it’s not gender specific.
I put the finishing touches on my Sunday School Lesson. Sometimes I stare at a drawing of a musical instrument fingerboard so I can learn the notes (a new instrument I’m trying to learn). At other times, I will listen intently to the speakers and find sincerely good things to say about them after they speak. Often, if my kids are sitting quietly, I take them out of the meeting and we go into a classroom and play hangman to break things up again, and then return refreshed to the meeting. It acts as reward for listening. I’m glad this has been brought up. I wonder sometimes if the church realizes that boredom is what drives away many people, and keeps many people away. It was a major factor in my leaving. I’ve had good experiences mostly since I’ve been back, but had one uncomfortable “political” confrontation, and have been at one or two boring talks. I don’t know much about other wards, but certainly from what I’ve seen of smaller wards, the problem’s greater there – less choice of speakers, less cosmopolitan etc.
I have a smart phone I read scripture from, I take notes. Sometimes I draw. Sometimes I entertain the kids around me so long as it doesn’t bother the parents that thier kids aren’t 100% reverent. I enjoy SM generally and DW and I rarely go for more. Sometimes I fall asleep but not regularly. I just don’t let others bug me or tick me off the way some others do. This was talked about on NOM and I swear half of the people over there are going to give themselves a freakin stroke. “IT IS JUST FREAKIN CHURCH PEOPLE!” “LEARN TO SAY NO!” seriously if you can’t handle more than SM just say no and go home. It’s a free country, It’s not work. If you really don’t believe anymore take a nap, the secular humanist non-existant nothing won’t mind or your napping.
Another thought is keep a journal write down litterally what you’re feeling there in that moment. There are so many times where I’ve literally used SM to surf the internet on my Droid. You can frankly use the time to just play with your baby if you have one. I guess it depends on your ward but church is quite a valuable piece of time for me to multi-task when things get boring.
I usually watch the clock and ponder how time really is relative. One hour in SM = 10 hours on my bicycle. Seriously I get bored easily so church has always and I mean always been hard for me. Mostly I just doze off or just grin and bear it. Sometimes I just do not go. I have read on my ipod during church. Wish I could figure out how to get some stealth earphones that no one would see.
***MOD: Merged into this thread to keep active comments focused and together*** In relation to SilentDawning’s post “How do you cope with boredom at church” I was thinking what would I do different to make things better. I am really not sure. If you think about it as far as SM is concerned it is mostly a business meeting. How do you add flair to that? Maybe we could come up with some ideas. I guess I would start with getting some new and more modern songs, and pick up the tempo. Sometimes I feel like we are singing at a funeral all the time.
John Larsen over at MormonExpression did a podcast recently on this topic. I thought it was interesting. I listened to it the other day: Episode 73: Why Mormon Church Meetings are so Dull
http://mormonexpression.com/?p=870 While critical in some regards, I don’t think it was a negative podcast. The guest being interviewed was an active member. She was really interesting, being a convert who joined the church while studying to become a protestant pastor. She had some unique perspectives.
Cadence wrote:***MOD: Merged into this thread to keep active comments focused and together***
In relation to SilentDawning’s post “How do you cope with boredom at church” I was thinking what would I do different to make things better. I am really not sure. If you think about it as far as SM is concerned it is mostly a business meeting. How do you add flair to that? Maybe we could come up with some ideas. I guess I would start with getting some new and more modern songs, and pick up the tempo. Sometimes I feel like we are singing at a funeral all the time.
If you play music, offer to do a musical selection. That becomes the anchor point of your meeting, and after your musical selection, you can feel refreshed and reflective on how you did. Volunteer to be a backup speaker so at least you have some involvement, if you don’t mind speaking. Sing in the choir if you like that.
If you run into a non-member who is a gifted amateur singer or instrumentalist, see if they can sing or play in Church. Offer to pass the sacrament so you have something to do. Say something in Fast and Testimony meeting. Read the Book of Mormon or other scriptures as people don’t often criticize you for doing that.
We do occasionally get solo singers. They’re okay, but not great to be honest. SM is usually alright here. Sometimes I enjoy it more than others.
We’ve had a few join the dots talks, the most boring stuff recently has been some of the stake conference.
I understand the comments about “learn to say no”, but I don’t want to go out of my way to offend people, that’s not why I’m there.* I’m along for the ride, and realize I will have to take some rough with the smooth.
* Although we had a Gospel Principles lesson on honesty the other day, and someone was going on about pirated music. I decided to redress the balance a bit and pointed out that a lot of it happens because the public are ripped off for music (CDs are much too expensive here), and that also many record companies do over their artists. I managed to move it from the stereotypical stuff about individuals thieving into honesty in business, and not overcharging! I think that got people thinking a bit more out of the box. It’s easy to blame petty criminals, but also easy to justify an extortionate profit margin to oneself.
Been thinking more about this, sometimes the church is its own worst enemy. Could I really bring an investigator along to a conference? It’s a long trek for anyone. Boredom, laziness, apathy and so on are as big enemies of the church as any doctrinal issues, but does the church seek to resolve this? Not enough in my view.
Personally I would have a half hour socializing period in between two of the Sunday morning sessions. It would help get the blood flowing again, and make people get to know one another.
SamBee I love the idea of having time to meet new people and socialize a little more. After all it seems just at church you see people but it’s not enough to get to know them really. I am having a hard time with getting bored at church lately. Today I felt like I was in kindergarten. I am not sure why we are using the gospel doctrine manual or whatever for relief society. I really didn’t learn anything from the lesson and found it hard to sit thru. Even when I bring my ipod it’s hard for me to relax or focus on anything outside my home. (I know that sounds stupid though)
One thing I did do during sacrament today was read a childrens bible to my son and he enjoyed that just as I did. I also talked during the lesson in RS meeting which might be bad but was kind of nice. Not a lot but just whispered and made comments and such. Also another thing that for some reason is easier than just reading is having my Ensign and highlighting words and things. I feel like I am doing something.
It’s hard too when there is less than 20 people in RS and most of them are not even close to you in age.
Today I did think about leaving church and going for a walk during Relief Society. I have a hard time getting out of church since my husband makes that hard but maybe I can get out of Relief Society meeting and just walk for a little bit or sit in the grass outside and think.
mormonmom wrote:Today I did think about leaving church and going for a walk during Relief Society. I have a hard time getting out of church since my husband makes that hard but maybe I can get out of Relief Society meeting and just walk for a little bit or sit in the grass outside and think.
Trips to the bathroom for a few minutes help, as well as a calling that keeps you busy doing something helps the time pass as well. If I don’t have anything to do at Church I’m usually bored stiff.
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