Another is: "It's not the same liturgy. I hope every Sunday service is different, alive and engaging." he said.

Bishop Brad Turner of Layton's Park West Ward, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said sleeping in church isn't a problem in his ward.

"No, I really haven't noticed it," he said.

Bishop Turner said the one place he has seen napping in LDS Church meetings is when he's taken visits to rural southern Utah, where a high number of active farmers live.

"Come Sunday, they've slowed their pace," he said, and dozing off in church can happen for these early rising, hard-working farmers.

Turner also said he hasn't noticed over the years that sleeping in a problem for members of wards with what is generally the earliest the "block time" starts — 9 a.m. — either. What he has noticed there is that some members don't get out of bed early enough and sacrament meeting attendance always drops in that time slot.

In the old pre-block time days before 1980, Turner also agreed more members probably fell asleep in LDS meetings, because the meetings were longer, and they were split in two, mornings and very late afternoons. Some wards also have "stand up" or "rest" hymns in the middle of a sacrament meeting. And, 70-minute long sacrament meetings today offer less of a chance for dozing than the former 90-minute-plus versions of 25-plus years ago.

Pastor Aaron Hamilton of Hope Lutheran Church in West Jordan, said his church does have some members who fall asleep in services.

Deprivation of another sort — constant barrage of the senses day to day, the pastor said, adding that if something's not entertaining, it's hard to stay focused. Pastor Hamilton stressed that worship is something different that most aspects of today's society.

"Church is more like a hospital than a circus. . . . a hospital for souls."

Jehovah's Witnesses have addressed the subject in Watchtower articles.

"At times, paying attention at Christian meetings is a challenge. The mind can easily be distracted, perhaps by a crying infant or a latecomer looking for a seat. After a long day's work, we may simply be tired. The one who is speaking from the platform might not be the most captivating speaker, and before we realize it, we are daydreaming — maybe even dozing! In view of the vital information being presented, we would do well to improve our powers of concentration at congregation meetings," the Watchtower states.

Being more prepared for meetings, sitting close to the front, maintaining eye contact with the speaker and even taking notes are all suggested ways to improve concentration at Witness meetings.