SLC Airport

[Thoughtful]

Coming out of the airport, toward baggage claim I heard all kinds of screaming.

It's 2018. Screaming in a densely populated public place to my mind means "duck and cover, someone might be shooting."

Tentatively moved closer as no one else appeared concerned-- its sister missionary release day.

This is the day you get the biggest group possible, at least 37 ppl or so, together to go scream loudly in the airport at a young woman coming down the escalator. It's a popularity contest.

One woman only had four people there for her. No screaming. I wasn't sure whether she should feel left out or grateful that her family is normal.

[IT_Veteran]

Coming out of the airport, toward baggage claim I heard all kinds of screaming.

It's 2018. Screaming in a densely populated public place to my mind means "duck and cover, someone might be shooting."

Tentatively moved closer as no one else appeared concerned-- its sister missionary release day.

This is the day you get the biggest group possible, at least 37 ppl or so, together to go scream loudly in the airport at a young woman coming down the escalator. It's a popularity contest.

One woman only had four people there for her. No screaming. I wasn't sure whether she should feel left out or grateful that her family is normal.

Or she came home early and those were the ones willing to endure the shame with her.

[2bizE]

I too have been highly annoyed by this at the airport. only a few years ago, they put up fences to keep the herd back. I used to travel every week and would have to fight through a crowd each week to get to the bus.

[FiveFingerMnemonic]

This is all Packer's fault. They used to let the party happen at Church.

[alas]

No, actually, this was in addition to the big party at church.

It was worse when they allowed the crowd to go all the way to the terminal. This was before 9-11. Or even before that when people were having huge farewell and homecoming parties. The church now discourages big parties, big groups at the airport, and other big shows. The church also seems to limit the number of missionaries on one airplane. But back in the days of big farewells and homecoming parties, say late 70’s, when my brothers came home, it was terrible. There would be a plane coming in from Germany, and 15-20 released missionaries from several European countries all on the same plane out of Frankfurt. Each missionary would have between immediate family of four, to large extended family and friends. It was not unheard of for one missionary to have 50-100 extended family and friends. With big banners saying welcome home elder So and So. Big bunches of balloons, girls with gifts (probably homemade cookies to seduce him into marriage) Everyone would crowd around the terminal exit, trying to be the first to see their missionary. Screaming, pushing, more screaming. There could literally be a crowd of 1,000 to meet one airplane. Now the church discourages going to the airport to see missionaries off, it discourages large parties, it discourages large groups at the airport to pick up the missionaries.

It was interesting right after 9-11, when we went to pick up our son. They did not even tell us his flight number until a few hours before time to get him, and the day of his arrival was kept a big secret until two days before. Then of course, you had to meet in baggage claim, rather than go to the terminal. He was lucky to have his parents there to meet him.

[Thoughtful]

No, actually, this was in addition to the big party at church.

It was worse when they allowed the crowd to go all the way to the terminal. This was before 9-11. Or even before that when people were having huge farewell and homecoming parties. The church now discourages big parties, big groups at the airport, and other big shows. The church also seems to limit the number of missionaries on one airplane. But back in the days of big farewells and homecoming parties, say late 70’s, when my brothers came home, it was terrible. There would be a plane coming in from Germany, and 15-20 released missionaries from several European countries all on the same plane out of Frankfurt. Each missionary would have between immediate family of four, to large extended family and friends. It was not unheard of for one missionary to have 50-100 extended family and friends. With big banners saying welcome home elder So and So. Big bunches of balloons, girls with gifts (probably homemade cookies to seduce him into marriage) Everyone would crowd around the terminal exit, trying to be the first to see their missionary. Screaming, pushing, more screaming. There could literally be a crowd of 1,000 to meet one airplane. Now the church discourages going to the airport to see missionaries off, it discourages large parties, it discourages large groups at the airport to pick up the missionaries.

It was interesting right after 9-11, when we went to pick up our son. They did not even tell us his flight number until a few hours before time to get him, and the day of his arrival was kept a big secret until two days before. Then of course, you had to meet in baggage claim, rather than go to the terminal. He was lucky to have his parents there to meet him.

There weren't 15 missionaries, but maybe 6. However the groups of 30+ people for one kid, balloons, banners, screaming, the whole enchilada.

My infamous inlaws do it when a nephew comes home...I haven't attended because they are far away. Even with my FIL very high in the church, they disregard guidance not to fill up the airport acting like screaming fools.

I'm surprised the airline allows huge groups of randos without tickets to hang around the airport.

[IT_Veteran]

Even with my FIL very high in the church, they disregard guidance not to fill up the airport acting like screaming fools.

“Even with” or ‘Because’ he is very high in the church? People in organizations everywhere often feel once they reach a certain point, the rules are for the followers rather than the leaders.

[Thoughtful]

Even with my FIL very high in the church, they disregard guidance not to fill up the airport acting like screaming fools.

“Even with” or ‘Because’ he is very high in the church? People in organizations everywhere often feel once they reach a certain point, the rules are for the followers rather than the leaders.

They are the type that righteously look down their noses at everyone from their family home rameumptum while protecting sexual predators.

FIL would deny temple recommend for caffeinated sodas... but he kept relative's record clean via back door deals with the DA. So I would say in public they usually at least appear to follow the rules better than anyone else.