Mormon Standard Time: Only A North America Phenomenon?

[rongo]

Is the habit of being chronically and very late to everything limited to the United States in general? Only certain regions within the United States? Does it include Canada, too?

[Gohan]

I know it definitely exists in Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Nevada...

[Calm]

If all LDS were like this, then no one would be seated in the chapel when the meetings start, which is not so. Plus there are all those who come consistently early to help set up, etc.

[Scott Lloyd]

I think the problem is the 9 a.m. schedule.

So many in my ward clamor for the earlier schedule (our meetinghouse has three wards, and we rotate), but I notice that when we get it, people find it awfully difficult to get to church on time. Our bishopric has taken to starting the meeting five or 10 minutes late just to have a substantial number there for the opening hymn and prayer.

(As you can tell, I'm not a morning person.)

Edited March 31, 2012 by Scott Lloyd

[Log]

Yep, the 9am block is teh suxx0rs. Unfortunately for my lazy butt, sacrament is served at 9:10 sharp.

[Nominee]

It exists in Oregon in the way that no one ever questions late arrivals. It is a given that family first means punctuality second. However, I don't see flakiness at all. Every late person I know gets an E for effort.

It is different in Sunday meetings though. For the most part, my neck of the woods takes that extra seriously. Sacrament starts at 10am and our chapel is buzzing by 9:30! Mormon standard time is not respected regarding church on Sunday the way it is every other day of the week. You either be seated before the service begins or stay out until after the priesthood has been returned to their families.

add: If you're late Sunday morning we will deliver the sacrament to you in the hallway. For the most part, we're in our seats before the bishop begins or we stop gabbing and run to our seats quickly. Church is the best part of the whole week!

Edited March 31, 2012 by Nominee

[volgadon]

Neither southern Russians, Armenians, Ukrainians or Israelis are noted for punctuality.

[Duncan]

Oh, it exists in Canada as well! I despise being late, but you have to find that balance of when to show up as to be there on time but not get asked to do anything! I have found that some people will be late regardless of what time the meeting starts, don't know why

[mercyngrace]

When I lived in South America, there was no such thing as late. Life moved at a slower pace and people just didn't seem to feel bound to the hands on the clock. It was quite different from our US, 'driven by business hours' lifestyle and took quite a bit of getting used to.

What I find ironic and incongruous is that people will drive breakneck speed across town, putting lives at risk to get through a stale yellow light, and rolling through stop signs, to get to church "in time" so as to avoid the embarrassment of arriving 5 minutes late and disturbing other congregants. Any given Sunday, it's like the Nascar of the minivans... Christians will cut people off in traffic to avoid interrupting the opening hymn.

[Nominee]

I am always sorely disappointed if I miss my opportunity to hug, smile, and shake hands with my much loved brothers and sisters.

That is when people can say "Will you help me?" and I can say, "Yes, I will." Sometimes it's yard work or a computer search later in the week and sometimes it's just a question of where the scripture is that was looked for. I really love my ward family.

[Deborah]

The phenomenon of being late isn't a matter of the early schedule. I've observed that the same people are late regardless of the time and the same people are early.

[cinepro]

I'm certainly not a morning person, and I'm not fan of 9am Church, but there is something to be said for a Sunday afternoon wherein all three Star Wars movies can be watched back to back.

[blackstrap]

My dad used to lead the music in a ward where the bishop was cronically late.At one point dad stopped the music when the bishop arrived and waited patiently until the bishop was seated,then started the hymn again. For some reason the bishop was never late again.

[BCSpace]

I'm certainly not a morning person, and I'm not fan of 9am Church, but there is something to be said for a Sunday afternoon wherein all three Star Wars movies can be watched back to back.

That would not be the 3 o'clock or possibly the one o'clock block. You can add Texas and California to the Mormon Standard Time list.

[Whiskeypete]

The same people who arrive at 9:10 when we have the early block are the same ones who arrive at 1:10 when we have the late block.

That's maybe why there is a morning of the first resurrection, and a final resurrection. So those who are chronically late can sleep in (for 1000 years).

Edited April 1, 2012 by Whiskeypete

[ERayR]

Is the habit of being chronically and very late to everything limited to the United States in general? Only certain regions within the United States? Does it include Canada, too?

Only with some people. I find the majority to be prompt.

Edited April 1, 2012 by ERayR

[ERayR]

I think the problem is the 9 a.m. schedule.

So many in my ward clamor for the earlier schedule (our meetinghouse has three wards, and we rotate), but I notice that when we get it, people find it awfully difficult to get to church on time. Our bishopric has taken to starting the meeting five or 10 minutes late just to have a substantial number there for the opening hymn and prayer.

(As you can tell, I'm not a morning person.)

Sound like very poor policy to let the rude profit from their rudeness.

[ERayR]

Yep, the 9am block is teh suxx0rs. Unfortunately for my lazy butt, sacrament is served at 9:10 sharp.

Thats the way it should be.

[katherine the great]

My dad used to lead the music in a ward where the bishop was cronically late.At one point dad stopped the music when the bishop arrived and waited patiently until the bishop was seated,then started the hymn again. For some reason the bishop was never late again.

Wow. That takes some stones.

[Log]

Thats the way it should be.

That's your opinion.

[Freedom]

It is human standard time. I have attended many different religions services and it is a human condition. I have been told by a few people from England that church among the Britains often starts 20 minutes late. I have never experienced it so it is only anecdotal but I do recall a story in the ensign of an English Relief Society president who, in desperation, started her meeting on time even though she was the only one there. Nobody showed up until she was well into her lesson. If I recall, she had the impression that there was an angel keeping a record of her effort.

[The Nehor]

I had a ward that started late because the bishop wanted more people to be there. The stake president gave the instruction to start on time anyways.

I know I'm chronically late so I mentally decide that I need to be there at least 30 minutes early to magnify my calling. It helps.

[LDSToronto]

Here's an observation based on my own experience - the same people who are always late for church are never late for a movie. I wonder why?

Also, another thing that seems uniquely Mormon, other than being late for meetings, Church events, etc, is an obsession with who is always late and using 'lateness' as a measure of spirituality. I have been in a number of bishopric, ward council, high council, and stake presidency meetings where late arrival to sacrament meeting was discussed as a big problem, and it was usually surmised that those who arrived late were spiritually deficient in some manner. Invariably, members of the whichever meeting I was in would then tell their own tales of how early they'd arrive. It was not uncommon to hear about the RS President who had 8 kids and was always 15 minutes early, and "if her family could make it early, then every family could".

Me, I just say be grateful when people show up.

H.

[mercyngrace]

Here's an observation based on my own experience - the same people who are always late for church are never late for a movie. I wonder why?

Disagree. I've been late for both. However, I will say that if I put my fingernail through my stockings before a movie, I can just pull on jeans. If I do the same before church, and have no other stockings, I have to put together a new outfit with a longer skirt or break out the razor and shaving cream... A lot more goes into my church prep than my movie prep. And heaven forbid the boys start playing ball in the driveway while I'm finishing my makeup. That invariably leads to the last minute scrubbing out of the newly acquired green grass stain on the knee of someone's church pants.

Also, another thing that seems uniquely Mormon, other than being late for meetings, Church events, etc, is an obsession with who is always late and using 'lateness' as a measure of spirituality. I have been in a number of bishopric, ward council, high council, and stake presidency meetings where late arrival to sacrament meeting was discussed as a big problem, and it was usually surmised that those who arrived late were spiritually deficient in some manner. Invariably, members of the whichever meeting I was in would then tell their own tales of how early they'd arrive. It was not uncommon to hear about the RS President who had 8 kids and was always 15 minutes early, and "if her family could make it early, then every family could".

I've experienced this but my present ward rocks. It's pretty much a judgment free zone filled with spiritually mature people. You'd love it here.

Me, I just say be grateful when people show up.

H.

Wholeheartedly agree.

[Garden Girl]

It exists in Oregon in the way that no one ever questions late arrivals.

Also in my neck of the Oregon woods here on the coast... although it seems to be the same few families, and two sit in the first row so when they come in during opening hymn they are walking from the back of the chapel to the front, children in tow. But, they are such wonderful people that we just accept that that is just them...

MnG... your post made me laugh...

GG