Jumpin' on my soapbox

I sat in the back in church today to see what the draw was for the 2 couples who always get there first and choose to sit in the overflow clear at the back. (They say you can see everything from back there.) And so it begins.
At 9:00 the chapel was 2/3 full and there were maybe 10 of us in the overflow. (The overflow is twice the size of the chapel.)  As the announcements were made, people began trickling in. (The Farnsworth family NEVER would have been tricklers.  The Captain saw to that.  Even today when I try to be late....really try... I am still on time.)  There was quite of bit of ward business, then stake business, and then the Bishop read a letter from the first presidency.  We started the Sacrament at 9:20.  Probably a good thing because now most of the ward had found their seats.  After the Sacrament, the rest of the ward moved in and we were full.  Really?
As the meeting progressed...soapbox time... I started counting the number of times a door would have to be opened for many who came and went for many reasons.  It was no less than 46!!! Mothers with babies, men (by themselves), teenagers, little children, etc.  Really?  The meeting is only 70 minutes long.  I KNOW they are able to sit through the 2 1/2 hour movies at the theater without having to pee or drink.  So, what are we teaching our children?  Children learn by examples and our ward is full of too many bad ones. (Judgement, I know, but I am still on the soapbox so it's allowed.)
Speaking of the children.  How do you keep your children quiet in church? Cheerios?  Quiet Books?  Pencil and paper?  Scripture Readers?  All great things as we wean them from these and teach them to sit quietly and listen to the meeting.   The mother in front of me, who came in the door with 2 children at 9:35, was armed with all of the above as well as Christmas books, wooden dolls, coloring books, and the 72 count crayola box!!!  She readily shared the coloring books and crayons with the investigator family in front of her whose little boy then dropped the box spilling all 72 crayons on the gym floor.  Really?  Maybe the mother of these boys wanted them to try to listen to the incredible talk given by Brother Bird on the Book of Mormon being the foundation of the gospel.  It was riveting!! Wonderfully delivered and spoken in simple language even for the Primary.  Good job, Brother Bird.  You are amazing.
Maybe I am an old geezer now and have lost the patience I need for others struggling with families.  So be it.  I am never sitting in the back again.

P.S.  Just a word about the musical number.  I know he has never read a handbook on music in Sacrament meeting.  He played a Manheim Steamroller version of "I Wonder as I Wander."
Just sayin'.

Stepping off my soapbox now.

This post needed a picture and I like this one.