Thank you, Joni. There were Sundays when I could barely sit down before having to walk out again with a crying baby. I cry now that I realize what what being conveyed, but I never saw.
LeahJanuary 30, 2014
Great article, thank you. I did foster care for a couple years and noticed the difference also. *sad* I agree with Melody, the sound of babies and small children at church is the sound of life. My favorite place to sit is in front of a young family in our ward. They have 3 healthy lively little boys and another on the way. The parents work so hard! It warms my heart. And, if the speaker is boring, I am entertained by the cute things the boys say! It feels companionable and cozy... like we're all there together worshiping the Savior. Lets remember the Savior loves and values children. The older I get, the more I get that.
Jan HathawayJanuary 30, 2014
I attended another Sacrament meeting where there were no babies. The silence was almost uncomfortable. Next week we were back in our home ward where there are a dozen 'pre-nursery' children, some crying and it was truly music to my ears. The future is bright. Young families with precious little ones are truly a blessing. I told the Mothers, I loved to 'hear' their little ones.
MelodyJanuary 30, 2014
While not as dramatic as this, some years ago our Sacrament meetings were totally quiet. The reason? no young families could afford to move into our area & the ward was shrinking quickly as older members died. There were no youth/young children left. We ended up combining with another ward. To me the sound of babies at church is the sound of life!
Paulette DeanJanuary 30, 2014
Oh my. Thank you so much for telling us this. I will never forget it. I am an older single adult, and I never have had children. My sister has seven children, and they are one of the Lord's tender mercies to me. I was able to help raise them. Now, they have moved away, and are raising children of their own. The chapel seems so empty. When I look at a crying baby, I am not judging. I am remembering the good times with great joy. Now, though, I will have another reason to be thankful that a baby is crying.
KathyJanuary 30, 2014
Thank you for sharing your perspective on crying babies at church. "Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations." -Alma 33:9
As a baby cries when in need, trusting that a loving parent will rush to help, we can take this as a reminder to trust that our Heavenly Father will hear our cries to Him, and that He will help us.
Steve DoneganJanuary 30, 2014
Perspective...such a wonderful thing. It used to be called, "walking a mile in someone else's shoes," but is now a lost art. Thank you, Sister Hilton.
Albert SchindlerJanuary 30, 2014
That is such a lovely story! I never looked at crying babies that way before, and, although I am quite tolerant of Sacrament meetings with crying infants, this certainly shone a new light on crying babies. Thank you for publishing it!
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LexaGraemeJanuary 31, 2014
Thank you, Joni. There were Sundays when I could barely sit down before having to walk out again with a crying baby. I cry now that I realize what what being conveyed, but I never saw.
LeahJanuary 30, 2014
Great article, thank you. I did foster care for a couple years and noticed the difference also. *sad* I agree with Melody, the sound of babies and small children at church is the sound of life. My favorite place to sit is in front of a young family in our ward. They have 3 healthy lively little boys and another on the way. The parents work so hard! It warms my heart. And, if the speaker is boring, I am entertained by the cute things the boys say! It feels companionable and cozy... like we're all there together worshiping the Savior. Lets remember the Savior loves and values children. The older I get, the more I get that.
Jan HathawayJanuary 30, 2014
I attended another Sacrament meeting where there were no babies. The silence was almost uncomfortable. Next week we were back in our home ward where there are a dozen 'pre-nursery' children, some crying and it was truly music to my ears. The future is bright. Young families with precious little ones are truly a blessing. I told the Mothers, I loved to 'hear' their little ones.
MelodyJanuary 30, 2014
While not as dramatic as this, some years ago our Sacrament meetings were totally quiet. The reason? no young families could afford to move into our area & the ward was shrinking quickly as older members died. There were no youth/young children left. We ended up combining with another ward. To me the sound of babies at church is the sound of life!
Paulette DeanJanuary 30, 2014
Oh my. Thank you so much for telling us this. I will never forget it. I am an older single adult, and I never have had children. My sister has seven children, and they are one of the Lord's tender mercies to me. I was able to help raise them. Now, they have moved away, and are raising children of their own. The chapel seems so empty. When I look at a crying baby, I am not judging. I am remembering the good times with great joy. Now, though, I will have another reason to be thankful that a baby is crying.
KathyJanuary 30, 2014
Thank you for sharing your perspective on crying babies at church. "Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations." -Alma 33:9 As a baby cries when in need, trusting that a loving parent will rush to help, we can take this as a reminder to trust that our Heavenly Father will hear our cries to Him, and that He will help us.
Steve DoneganJanuary 30, 2014
Perspective...such a wonderful thing. It used to be called, "walking a mile in someone else's shoes," but is now a lost art. Thank you, Sister Hilton.
Albert SchindlerJanuary 30, 2014
That is such a lovely story! I never looked at crying babies that way before, and, although I am quite tolerant of Sacrament meetings with crying infants, this certainly shone a new light on crying babies. Thank you for publishing it!
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