Tech Forum

Over the years I have noticed a disturbing trend. In almost any building that I have visited to watch the General Priesthood broadcast, then noise level in the chapel has been very inappropriate in the minutes leading up to the start. I expect that this may be the case in the thousands of other buildings. My wife tells me that something similar happens with Relief Society broadcasts.

I know that the church airs a pre-recorded video countdown leading up to broadcasts. The music is great but often not observed. While considering strategies, first will be a conversation with local leaders about the situation. I also wonder if the church might put a text reminder on the video countdown for people to be reverent in chapels. I facilitate several meetings for work and I actually use a on screen countdown timer projected on the presentation screen. One thing I do often is also project a presentation which displays random leadership quotes. Participants often enter the room and quickly find a seat then watch and read the quotes as they change on screen prior to the meeting start. An option for the church would be to do something similar with church leader/prophet quotes.

Like I said the music is great but but maybe a visual reminder for reverence and something for people to watch along with the music may also be helpful.

wrigjef wrote:In almost any building that I have visited to watch the General Priesthood broadcast, then noise level in the chapel has been very inappropriate in the minutes leading up to the start.

I think your suggestion has merit. And it is not just the priesthood meeting.

On Sunday morning of general conference, we close the doors to the chapel at the beginning of the Tabernacle Choir broadcast, and on some occasions we have also placed a note on the doors reminding members that the broadcast has begun, and to please enter quietly and not visit in the chapel.

All this assumes, of course, that the broadcast is not being set up during the ten minutes before the program begins. Over the years I have done more TV swaps and equipment swaps during the silent 30-60 seconds before the meeting begins than I would care to count.