Is it true that all the kids have to sit through the service with the parents? My oldest sits with us but I can't imagine sitting through a church service with my 23 month old twins. Thank goodness my church has child care.
Is it true that all the kids have to sit through the service with the parents?
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Yes. LDS services are divided into 3 parts about 1 hour each and members are expected to attend all 3. One is “Sacrament Meeting” - the main service where ‘talks’ are given by the mebership rather than a sermon and wonder bread and water is served in place of Communion to symbolize the LDS promising to ‘keep all the commandments’ the next week. In THAT service, all children attend, regardless of age. It can be quite distracting to try to listen with about 6 -12 babies crying and more toddlers and children fussing and talking etc.
For the other 2 parts, children are separate from the Parents. Those are Gospel Doctrine (Sunday School co-ed) and Priesthood/Relief society. The children attend their own versions of these based upon age. One of the harder things for those leaving the LDS and attending Christian churches is getting used to the children not being in Worship service and the quiet (not kidding).