Reverence

We are an irreverent people! Have you ever wondered why or how? I think the how is easy enough to figure out but I am not certain about the why.

Why do we go to church and talk and socialize in the Lord's house instead of listening or sitting quietly and pondering the music or works of the Savior. We receive instructions often about reverence along with suggestions of ways to be more reverent. Instead of taking these instructions and suggestions seriously and putting them to work in our lives we often talk with friends in the back and in the aisles and socialize by greeting visitors and friends. Perhaps we are conferring about business or children's play dates or something insignificant but is this the place for conferencing and collaborating?

It often seems that unless there is a concerted effort on the part(s) of leaders we as individuals do not exercise the self control on our own to be reverent. Could it be rationalization -- if everyone else is talking I may as well talk, too???
Do we keep our children quiet by preparing at home with materials of interest to them so that they can endure a long meeting?
And after the meeting, do we exit the worship area quickly so that our children can be more active or do we turn them loose to play with the draperies, chase each other through the pews, come to the podium and try out the sound system, or just play in areas they do not get to frequent.

After a recent meeting the doors were open from the chapel / worship area to the cultural hall. Some little ones were running and squealing to the "tops of their lungs" while they chased one another from one area to another. Fathers were busy putting away and stacking chairs. Moms did not even seem to notice that they needed to take charge of the discipline of their kids.

Sometimes I wonder why I even prepare or bother playing prelude and postlude. I could probably do a lovely pole dance and no one would notice!!