If something is usually late we refer to it as being 'Mormon Time', but is that a good thing? Is it okay to be late? Is it fashionable? Or is it that members do not consider other member's time? I have always been a tickler for time, but I am often frustrated by seeing other members just waltz in after the hour as though they were an hour early. What is your view?
It makes me very upset when somebody is always late. I think it shows a total lack of respect and consideration for others. A person may be late once or twice but when it is a habit it is very wrong, specially if you are a leader and people are waiting for you. Today I went to my Home and Enrichment meeting (I'm the leader). The meeting was supposed to start at 4:00pm I was there 10 minutes before, some sisters were there and we waited and waited and waited. No President or counselors show up until 5:10pm!!!!. I had to start the meeting even though I was not authorized to do it but I have no choice since all the sisters were complaining and I had to give the lesson. It was really dissapointing.
I am always very early for my meetings so if we are running late, it is only for a very specific reason like car trouble, etc. This especially includes things such as Sacrament meeting and the Temple. I don't understand how members can run in late on Sunday, or at the very last minute at the Temple and be feeling the spirit.
I agree, it's rude of people to consistently show up late for everything. Although I do tend to make allowances for families with lots of kids, even they should be able to find the time to prepare for something like church that happens every single Sunday -- it's not like they don't know it's coming up. I'm annoyingly on time or early for *everything*.
I also think some people just feel like since there is a thing called "Mormon Time" that it excuses them, and they have no reason to adjust their timetables.
IMO
Roz
I made it a topic to my sisters that I visited teach, I have seen coming late to Sacrament meeting every single Sunday and I felt as a Visiting Teacher I had the responsibility to let them know about the consequences of it, of course, in a very loving manner, now is up to them to do what they think is right, I did my part although seems I wasn't very good because they came after Sacrament was passed again... I tell you, if I cannot take the Sacrament, why I will want to even go to Church for?
I had never heard of Mormon Time until I read it here. So I asked some BIC members at my Branch, they never heard of it either. We have just two families that are chronically late. We always leave the back rows for them. They no longer have small children, so their being late is a matter of being unprepared.
Our Branch is right on time for everything. From Sabbath meetings to Pot Lucks, and other functions.
Personally I usually get to Church on Sunday 45 minutes early. That is so I can get things out of the Library if members need them and to set up the Primary Room, and so I can visit a bit before the 1st block starts.
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Our Branch is right on time for everything. From Sabbath meetings to Pot Lucks, and other functions. |
God's Timetable
"Elder Neal A. Maxwell linked patience and faith together when he taught: 'Patience is tied very closely to faith in our Heavenly Father. Actually, when we are unduly impatient, we are suggesting that we know what is best--better than does God. Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than His' (
"Patience," Ensign, Oct. 1980, 28).
"We can grow in faith only if we are willing to wait patiently for God's purposes and pattern to unfold in our lives, on His timetable." (
Robert C. Oaks, "The Power of Patience," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 16-17)