Our ward has a problem with the youth bringing their cell phones to church and to Tuesday night activities, as I am sure that many wards do. So we created what we call "The cell phone Basket". Where the kids have to place their cell phones when they enter the room on Sunday and on Tuesdays. We as leaders have agreed to shut our phones off also when we are with the youth. It got a lot of moans and groans at first but the girls are starting to interact more. We have this cute poem that our Young Women President, Terica Bishop wrote and we put it on the basket, I thought I would share with anyone else who might be struggling with the same technology problem:

A tisket a tasket

see our cell phone basket.

It's a very safe place to put your phone,

then pick it up when you go home.

On Tuesday night its a lot more fun

to laugh and tell jokes than text someone.

If you're on the phone from beginning to end,

how will you ever make a new friend?

And, Young Women's on Sunday is a place for the Spirit

if you're talking or texting, how will you hear it?

There is plenty of time and a number of days,

to chat for hours or text away.
So, take no offense...It's with love that we ask it.

Please leave your phone home or in the basket.

It has made an impact on our youth, and they are more mindful of the distractions that phones cause.