After ending our discussion on the Holy Ghost and having students share past spiritual experiences, my Doctrine and Covenants teacher asked a question which had me and the rest of the class going to a new chapter in the Book of Mormon.

Once the sound of flipping pages died down, my teacher started the discussion by asking the question again. 

A comment was made, the Spirit was guiding the discussion, and then all of a sudden, without warning, “dummmm da da da dummmm dooodly dooodly dooo” — the awful cry of a cell phone shot through the room.

The perpetrator hurriedly sifted through her purse to hush the annoying sound, as the rest of the class waited for the interruption to pass. 

My teacher tried to keep the Spirit in the room by continuing the discussion, but his plans were foiled as the tune began again.

I will admit that it is sometimes hard to stay awake when you are going over things you have learned over and over since Primary; however, the Spirit was in class that day and the discussion was keeping everyone involved. 

Needless to say the cell phone interruption was not welcome.

Later that day in my science class, the guy sitting next to me must have been having a very important conversation because he had to pull out his phone and text every eight seconds. I’m pretty sure he did not get anything out of class that day. 

Then during English class, my teacher was in the middle of expounding part of a short story. Suddenly she went silent.

 My teacher furrowed her eyebrows and directed her attention to a girl at the opposite end of the room. My teacher simply asked, “Are you texting?”

The answer that followed was so profound, it could be compared to the Gettysburg Address: “Ummmm no, I uhhh, well I was… just ………………. sending a message.” My teacher did not try to decipher the reply and instead picked up the discussion where she had left off.  

I could be wrong, but the last time I checked, sending a message is pretty much the same thing as texting. 

I know that I have no room to chastise on proper etiquette when it comes to cell phones. I frequently check messages and text during conversations and dates, which is a big “no no.” 

However, I have found that cell phones irk me to no end when they disrupt my learning. 

Please, turn off your cell phones when you get to class; I don’t want to have to give you the death glare when it starts ringing. 

Be respectful to our wonderful teachers and to the other students in your classes. 

We are here to learn; let’s not be here to endure; let’s not be here to just go to class and text a friend about how boring it is. 

If you are going to be in class, be there. Sometimes you won’t love all of your classes, but I was once told that when you are having a hard time “learn to love what you do.”

 Love class and show respect by turning off your cell phones.