Deseret News | Orson Scott Card: Reverent children

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Orson Scott Card: Reverent children

5 Min | 7:39 a.m. April 2, 2009

There's 5 minutes I'll never get back!

sismaren | 7:59 a.m. April 2, 2009

That was better than a HC talk for boring!

diligentdave | 8:58 a.m. April 2, 2009

Good article. It made me think of the Carr family behind whom we usually sit (they on the 2nd row in the middle, but to the right-us on the row just behind them). Bro Carr is 1st counselor in the bishopric. So he's always sitting on the stand. His wife Brandy, sits patiently while mostly their three youngest girls are in motion. She is always quiet in talking to them, even though they aren't always. The oldest, Hannah, about 12, is always reverent-a 2nd mom. The only son (10?) and next younger daughter (7?) are mostly quiet. The 2nd daughter also often acting as a surogate parent. The 3rd & 2nd to the youngest (maybe 4 and 3 each?) are often all over the place. The 4-year old, especially, is a kick to watch. The family offers tragi-comic relief from whatever is going on in the meeting otherwise. They demonstrate the full innocence of youth. Relativley reverent. Their mother is a human jungle gym who tells me she is only patient with them at church. At home, she says, she is not so unruffled with them. (LOL)!

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 10:15 a.m. April 2, 2009

I don't know which was more mind-numbing, Orson's original article or diligentdave's comment?

Wow, tuff choice!

YAAAWN!

mj | 11:31 a.m. April 2, 2009

to much detail, good point but could of been said with far fewer words.

Why Bother... | 12:20 p.m. April 2, 2009

Reading if it's so boring to you? It was a thoughtful commentary on the state of young families during Sacrament meeting. I've been on both ends, with the noisy kids and the reverent ones, and I gotta say it was on the money. As a young mom, I tried the 'terror' method that I grew up with, and my oldest two are the ones that have the hardest time sitting still and paying attention. With the younger three, and using a more 'christlike' way, they are quieter, by far, then their older siblings were at that same age.

I think half the posters that read and then disparage OSC's LDS themed articles do it just to get a rise out of people. Oops...I guess it worked. ;-)

JanSan | 3:30 p.m. April 2, 2009

I really liked this article and was even thinking of giving it to my Bishop to pass out to some of the families in my ward. I remember how hard it was to keep my kids quite in church and so my hat is off to this wonderful family and their efforts to teach their children how to show respect in their meetings as well as reverance. Thanks Br. Card!

Randy Osburn | 5:55 p.m. April 2, 2009

Hey I love all the "boring" details. Cheeto was one of my roommates at Ricks. I have been wondering what happened to him. Reading this, I felt like my favorite writer had wrote this for me. It is awesome. Cheeto was one of the best roommates I had there and it is great to find out he is doing well.

Finally | 9:15 a.m. April 3, 2009

Sorry, but this article was dead-on. Don't like it? Maybe your kids are the ones running up and down the aisle or screaming, disturbing everyone else. We've raised four kids and taught them to be reverent during the meeting. They weren't always silent, but that's kids. They need to be taught though and that doesn't seem to be happening as much anymore. Card pointed out that this family has TAUGHT these kids, without force. This last generation of parents is too much of the "use your words" and "every one's a winner" mentality. It's creating monster kids that think they can do whatever they want, and not just in church either.

Bill | 9:56 a.m. April 3, 2009

Thoroughly thoughtful and helpful article. I enjoyed it, sent it to both my sisters, and saved it for future use in a talk. I can't help but wonder if the critical commentors include strays from the Evangelical Baptist, so-called "Christian" websites, come to sow seeds of discord at conference time.

Larry | 11:06 a.m. April 3, 2009

So let me ask this. What were the topics of the talks covered that day? You seem more interested in listening and watching another families kids than the talks. To me that isn't being very reverent. The church has a problem with what being reverent is. It is not about sitting there quietly with you arms folded. That's why all the HP get their sleep. I am very disturbed by the fact that members really don't know the true concept of being reverent but boy can we point out when someone isn't.

Anonymous | 1:54 p.m. April 3, 2009

How can so many Latter-day Saints be such self-righteous, arrogant jerks?

Amazing!

Pround Lds Mum | 7:09 p.m. April 24, 2009

I think this is a fantastic read! I am very blessed to have a reverant 4 yr old in church but there are times when even he gets it wrong, so if he isnt content with a hug then we sit in the hall and listen to the meeting over the microphone where my son cant disturb anyone.
Personally you have to be IN a sacrament meeting to know what self righteous, arrogant jerks that we are been called work towards, my money goes on the lds families who are holding tight to their beliefs and working the best they can to raise their family yet still teach reverence which is not only towards the Lord and Heavenly Father, but secondary to those around us.
I often play a puzzle game, colour or browse books with a fellow members child on my lap, that NEVER stops me hearing the talk given! so multitasking is a pretty good thing anyone can do, lds or not!
Criticism is good, but only when all the facts are perceived before opening ones mouth!! ;)
Oh, and my son also quotes some talks too, so he is obviously listening too!!

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