Exuberant Flaws

Posted by Carina | February 22, 2010 | 33 Comments

In the middle of Sacrament meeting yesterday, my toddler, frustrated from being poached from bed, rushed through cereal, forced to wear clothes, and walk on his own two feet, yelled as loudly as he could, “I WANT TO GO HOME.” That earned us quite a few suppressed giggles from the surrounding pews.

It brought me right back to when I was a teenager, before I got used to a glacially quiet singles ward, and the entertainment children provided. One kid, Nathan, was a favorite of us all; we couldn’t wait for the Primary program. He would have been four or five when stuffed to the front of the stand, arranged like the other children in a neat line that slowly disintegrating with every passing measure. First, Nathan waved to his family. Then, Nathan called to his mother, “MOM. Hey MOM!” and then, his patience having been stretched to its natural end, Nathan removed his tie and swung it over his head until it launched into the congregation.

Sure, there are the occasionally pious who fuss and brickle over the disruption of their worship. And for them I say, “I’m sorry.”

And then I follow that with a, “Ok, I’m not sorry, that was funny.”

Because I don’t think we’re that kind of solemn, the kind where you can’t giggle when a tiny maroon tie flies over your head. I think we’re the kind of solemn that understands that veneration is entwined with joy. The kind that welcomes all of God’s children, small and large to commune together, with all of our exuberant flaws.

So tell me, God’s child, when was the last time you laughed with joy in our solemn worship?

Category: Daily Special

Comments

33 Responses to “Exuberant Flaws”

Michelle L.
February 22nd, 2010 @ 3:13 pm

yesterday. but it’s a rare Sunday that I don’t laugh out loud.

We have the gospel! We have each other! We should be the happiest people on earth.
Christy
February 22nd, 2010 @ 4:17 pm

My favorite is when the organist charges ahead with the fifth verse to a song that only has four.

Or when a speaker, going too fast, mixes up his or her words in a comical way. Like when my husband, meaning to say “Christy and I fight over the dark [meat of the turkey]” instead said “Christy and I fart.” I caught several audience members’ eyes and grinned to let them know it was okay to giggle.

Let’s make a solemn pact to never take ourselves too seriously, okay?
ashlee
February 22nd, 2010 @ 4:50 pm

I love being in a ward that embraces two and three year olds. Whatever they’re yelling and wherever they’re running… someone picks them right up and entertains them for a minute or two. Personally, I think it’s a win-win…. we all need a little distraction from meetings now and then
Natalie
February 22nd, 2010 @ 5:51 pm

We should be happy! And I totally sit next to kids during sacrament. I’m sorry, but they are entertaining.
courtney
February 22nd, 2010 @ 5:54 pm

I did enjoy in stake conference when my one year old shouted “nigh-night! nigh-night! nigh-night!” until we finally took her out and home for a nap. I’m actually looking forward to her learning more things to shout out in church that will make me laugh.

The last ward I lived in, right before the christmas choir program, the choir director got up and said “if you have any small children, please make them be quiet and not make any noise so they don’t disturb the program.” Hmmm . . . I thought this was a family church? Oh well, I’m glad I know that the high majority welcomes children and their inevitable noise.
Kerri
February 22nd, 2010 @ 6:00 pm

Watching my two year old Ben take the sacrament…the combination is funny (and aggravating) every single week. He tries to grab fistfuls of bread, or he starts his own prayer so the water will come more quickly, or he spills water… It’s a bundle of joy.
Sue
February 22nd, 2010 @ 6:55 pm

We laugh a lot in our meetings because we have a funny Bishop.

And I, too, like to sit near toddlers and infants.

=)
Melissa
February 22nd, 2010 @ 7:29 pm

Yesterday, when, after the sacrament tray had passed us, I realised that my seven-month old daughter had steathily scored herself a handful of bread (I divided it between her and her twin brother — what else could I do?).

When the deacon brought the water tray to our row, he held it unusually high for us.
jenny
February 22nd, 2010 @ 7:58 pm

This is my best Sacrament Meeting Story. I can barely tell it (in person) without howling and weeping with laughter by the end.

Sacrament bread is blessed and passed to the bishop. From our usual position in the back of the overflow with our five, young, unruly children, we notice the bishop looking painfully at the bread, exhaling and gulping his proffered piece with a grimace. “Hmmm?” we think. Then the bread comes to the back. We begin to hear little murmurs of protestation. Then it is our turn: “Uhh! Mom! What is THAT?”
“I don’t want it.”
“Ugghhh! Moooommm,noooo! What is it?”
(And some crying.)
My husband and I are laughing so hard, tears are running down our cheeks.
As the sacrament makes its way back up through the chapel, there are ripples of like horror and children’s crying.

A young Teacher, whose parents were out of town, realized on his way out the door that it was his turn to provide bread. He fished through the freezer, grabbed a loaf and headed to church.

Rye bread.
With seeds.

Best Sacrament EVER.
I’ll never forget it.
Rose
February 22nd, 2010 @ 8:46 pm

Nearly every week my own children crack me up with something new.
One of my favorite times;

My two year old son Lyon, upon hearing the congregation laugh at something comical the speaker had said, starts laughing a loud Ha, Ha, Ha! Then when the speaker made the congregation laugh again my son loudly states as only a two year old can,
“Ha ha ha, this guy funny Mom, he so funny! Ha, ha, ha!!!”

My husband and I had a really hard time keeping our laughing under control after that
Angie f
February 22nd, 2010 @ 9:52 pm

I have five kids (2+ to 11). My husband is the bishop, so I am alone always. If I didn’t laugh every Sunday I would cry. Generally in our ward, people are kind and warm and either help me out or look kindly and joyfully on our “exuberant” worship. Occasionally there are visitors who turn around and repeatedly give me the stink eye. I pray really hard to be charitable and if not able to actually be welcoming to them, to at least not actively pray for them to leave quickly.
m&m
February 23rd, 2010 @ 4:02 am

Sometimes I will have a hard time between the bread and the water because I remember (or one of my children will remind me) of story that has become legendary and is way too simple to bring to mind again and again.

Child #3 is at the barely-talking stage. The bread comes around, she eats a piece. And then in her so-very-cute voice, she inquires,

“‘Bout drinks?”
Kay
February 23rd, 2010 @ 5:05 am

Life is funny sometimes, and you have to laugh. Luckily our Bishopric laugh along with everyone else so noone feels bad when things go wrong.

I used to play a game called ‘watch the Bishopric’ when I was bored by a talk. You can only really play it if you know them all well enough to read their minds. I had to stop doing this when I laughed out loud during a meeting when noone else did. I have to say my husband, as Bishop, is fairly good at hiding his reaction on the stand if something awful is said but he can’t help laughing at the funny stuff.

I don’t mind a little noise either from children, family worship is important and I can’t bear to see children being taken out for the slightest thing.
anonymous
February 23rd, 2010 @ 8:10 am

Last year when my son was 2, my husband was gone with the military and we lived with my folks for a few months. Sacrament meeting is last in their ward, and he had a great habit of standing up (we sit in the front, in the middle, so the speaker gets the hint) and yelling, “DONE! DOOOOOOOOOOOONE!!” about 5 minutes before the end of the meeting.

It’s a family habit now, we say it whenever we feel like we’re ready to to “DOOOOOOONE!!!!!”
al
February 23rd, 2010 @ 10:31 am

Last Sunday in Sacrament meeting when my 20-month old yelled, “AAAMMMEENNNNNN!” after the sacrament prayer. Then a few minutes later when he threw a toy truck 3 rows back. Oh yes, and when he was making spitting/farting noises during the closing prayer.

I was a little embarrassed, but he cracks me up too.
Giggles
February 23rd, 2010 @ 1:03 pm

Your story reminds me of a very special mother’s day when I was in high school.

They had convinced the Elders and High Priests that they needed to sing a song too. So all the men in the ward tromped up to the front and got in lines in the choir seats, everyone trying to not be in front. And they sang one of the Primary songs about mothers.

And what was my dad doing? He was standing in the back of the group with one of the older gentlemen in the ward, waving at their wives like they were little Primary kids waving at their moms. It still makes me smile.
Happy Mom
February 23rd, 2010 @ 1:20 pm

My perception is that those who are mature (and I’m not talking age) enjoy the children the most. Those who are bothered…well, you get the idea.
girlsmama
February 23rd, 2010 @ 2:54 pm

Definitely when our 2.5 year old crawled just out of reach under the pews and started belting out her ABC’s. During the high council guy’s really boring talk. Classic. I’m sure others were amused as I crawled under the pews to extract her amidst my giggles.
Rebecca
February 23rd, 2010 @ 3:47 pm

One Sunday, when I was still in High School, we had to attend church without our father because he had to work. My mother was the ward organist and I had 5 younger siblings to wrestle with until she could come sit down with our family for Sacrament. One of the littlest (then 3 y/o) was being particularly unruly. It did not end when my mother came and sat down with us so just as the passing of the Sacrament ended, my mother gathered my little sister and carried her out of the chapel. In a last desperate attempt not to be punished my sister cried at the top of her lungs “No No! Not again!” The congregation fluttered with stiffed laughter. Now, 15 years later, we still wont let her live it down.
mormonhermitmom
February 23rd, 2010 @ 6:16 pm

My oldest, when she was two, would cry out “WAWA!” as the water was being passed.
Oh go read this, (LOL) | Mormon Bloggers
February 23rd, 2010 @ 6:44 pm

[...] on over to Segullah and read this post about the stuff that goes on with little ones during church. Hilarious. Shared [...]
Lourie
February 23rd, 2010 @ 7:41 pm

I remember once when my son was 2, I brought him cheese for his snack during sacrament. On this one Sunday, after the sacrament had been passed, I began opening the slice of said cheese and he very excitedly called out, “CHEEEEEEEESE!” I am sure there are others but that is the one that sticks out.
Brenda
February 23rd, 2010 @ 8:57 pm

I love the primary programs! The kid who puts the mic way too close to his face and makes it squeak. The kid who sings really loud and completely out of tune. I love it all!
Life As Lou :: Today I Did Something. :: February :: 2010
February 23rd, 2010 @ 10:25 pm

[...] at computer for ten minutes, Reads responses to this Segullah blog post. Laughed really hard. Started a load of laundry. Got Gabe ready for bed. Officially put Jonas [...]
kyles
February 24th, 2010 @ 5:43 am

Last Primary Presentation my son (4) was the first one with a small speaking part… They hadn’t practiced with the microphone in the previous weeks practices, so… when he was supposed to be saying “I know my Heavenly Father loves me”, he only got as far as “I know…. (hears own voice sounding funny in the mike) then got the giggles really bad, then started going errrr ahhh – more giggles – until his teacher hopped up to the stand to get him to sit down… then the next little boy said his part a bit giggly too!

And another year, my friend’s daughter (4 again!) was supposed to say “I love President Hinckley because…….” but instead she looked out at the congregation and said “I’m a tiger!! Rawr!! It was so unexpected and oh so adorable though. We all had to laugh. A lot!!
JM
February 24th, 2010 @ 11:50 am

Each of my three sons has managed to entertain the ward during Sacrament meeting. My oldest was two when, after a particularly lengthy benediction, he voiced the entire ward’s feelings with a loud and alright-already, “Aaaa-men!”
My middle child was also two when he chose to belt out a rendition of “Who Let the Dogs Out” during the passing of the sacrament.
My youngest has given us the most opportunity to blush in Sacrament meeting. He is four and his antics have included stuffing his cheeks with the bread, then reaching over the back of the bench to get another handful from the startled sister holding the tray behind us, followed by a loud “Mmmm”! and, most recently, he was carried out of the chapel by his dad loudly and emphatically declaring that “Jack stole my scriptures!”
When it happens I am mortified, but as I look around at our ward family as they chuckle and grin, I am reminded that when someone else’s kid pops off with something similar I love it. It lifts us, it binds us, and it reminds us that life is meant to be enjoyed.
My own theories are, one, that people who give the stink eye to families with young children are in need of our love and sympathy, and their stink eye should always be ignored and, two, that the length of the prayer is proportional to the number of years it’s been since the prayer-giver has had to keep a toddler quiet during a prayer.
FoxyJ
February 24th, 2010 @ 9:36 pm

When my sister was about three or so she got herself ready for Church. My mom had no idea that she neglected to put on underwear until she decided to climb on the bench in front of us. I still sometimes give her a hard time about that one.

Last year in sharing time the question was asked ‘what special things do dads do?” My daughter immediately raised her hand and said “they have the sperm that gets with the egg to make the baby!” All the teachers were trying so hard not to laugh it was hilarious!
bekah
February 25th, 2010 @ 2:26 pm

We rarely have a Sunday go by without one of my children exclaiming something like “This is taking SO LONG!” in the middle of the sacrament, but one of my favorite moments ever was during our last Primary program. My oldest daughter’s class was supposed to talk about what they do to help in their own family. She very calmly stated; “As the oldest, I have to do the dishes and take care of the baby. I also have to keep my little brothers from hitting each other.” Whereupon she leaned forward to the next row and whacked her brother on the head for making faces at her. Glad everyone knows how we do things at our house.
bth
February 25th, 2010 @ 11:02 pm

I get where this post is coming from, kids say the darndest things. But I need to be 100% honest here and say that I don’t think the flip side of the coin is necessarily “pious.” And here’s why: There was a part-member family in our ward years ago. The non-member spouse, who was raised Catholic, decided not to let her children go to church because of how irreverent sacrament meetings were in her eyes. Hard to blame her, it’s not particularly quiet in our sacrament meetings.

What I’m thinking then is that while there is merit to teaching these bundles of energy reverence during worship services, flying ties DO deserve a chuckle.
La Yen
February 26th, 2010 @ 12:22 pm

We did not take the 4YO to her first primary program this year because she refused to say her part any other way than this:
“I can follow the prophet. BOOBIES!!!!!”
And I…just…couldn’t.
Cat
February 26th, 2010 @ 1:42 pm

I laugh out loud every Sunday thanks to my son, who has been both very verbal and very loud since a very young age. The time I laughed the hardest was one Sunday when my son was about 2. In the middle of the passing of the sacrament, my son asked, very loudly (because really, what other volume is there for a 2-year-old?), “Where is his PENIS?” He was asking about his wolf puppet. I tried to pacify him by whispering to him that the wolf is just a toy so he doesn’t have one, but he wasn’t satisfied. He then repeated over and over again, louder each time, “But he’s a boy! So where is his PENIS?!” He didn’t stop until I showed him (where it would be if toys had penises). Everyone around us was in hysterics, if not a little shocked. My husband I were both bright red, but couldn’t help laughing until we cried.
LizC
February 27th, 2010 @ 11:23 am

One of my younger brothers broke his arm at age 4, and spent weeks in a cast. A few months later, he was acting up in Sacrament Meeting, and Dad went to take him out. Brother hollered, “No, Dad! No! I’ll be good! Please don’t break my arm again! Please don’t break my arm again!” in the most desperate little voice.

I do the CRINGE quite a bit regarding Primary, because my kids share “interesting” things (very much along the lines of “special things Daddies do”).

I think there’s a big difference, though, between little children doing random outrageous things, and children who lack all training in civilized behavior, let alone reverent behavior. There are some families we just can’t sit near, because the extreme naughtiness of their children (due to lack of training and oversight, not youthfulness) is very, very distracting to my children. I don’t think children should be banned from meetings at all, but I do see a good point in taking out my melting-down 2yo out of the chapel. And she’s a GOOD melter. Oh glory, can she raise the rafters.
Morgan
February 28th, 2010 @ 10:51 pm

My family sits in the very front pew (not by my choice with the four kids, but my husband is 6’7″ and his legs only fit in the front.) One Sunday, we were sustaining people for their new callings, and when they asked for any opposed, my almost 4 year old raised his hand high. Just as I was quickly reaching across to push his hand down, the Bishop was kind enough to point out, “Brother Smith, I want you to know that Adam Joyner is opposed to you having this calling.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Let me just say that my children provide endless amusement for others in the ward, (especially the Bishopric,) if not necessarily for me.