An
elders quorum president once told me the worst part of his calling was
dealing with some people who were moving out of the ward.
Nothing spiritual about it, he said. And the temporal part of it was driving him nuts.
People called him at the last minute saying they were moving the
next day. Could the quorum help, they asked. Often, the "please" was
missing from their request.
He would scramble to gather some people together — most of whom
already had something planned for the day — and they would show up at
the people's house, only to find that they weren't really ready to
move. Nothing was boxed up. And there was old, wormy food storage in
the crawl space under the house. Really.
So, for priesthood holders everywhere and people who feel a move coming on, here are some church moving etiquette tips:
The high priests who show up are probably
not physically capable of moving a piano or refrigerator. Hire a
reputable mover to take care of the heavy and/or bulky items.
If you have asked for help to be there at
8 a.m. on Saturday, be ready for them at 8 a.m. Don't make the helpers
stand around while you do real-time packing.
Box up your belongings before moving day.
Empty and box up items in dresser drawers, closets and kitchen
cupboards. Yes, the undies need to be packed beforehand.
Use a marking pen to write on the box
where it should be put in your new place. This is especially helpful
for people unloading on the other end.
Don't schedule your move for a weekday
morning and expect to have help. It's difficult for most people to get
off work on a Wednesday to help move someone.
Have some snacks and drinks available for the helpers. If the move runs long, provide pizzas or other substantial food.
Remember that you get what you pay for. Don't blame ward members for nicked chairs, broken lamps or scratched tables.
Be grateful — and be sure to say thanks.
Email: rwalsh@desnews.com