What to expect from LDS Missionaries visit?

[WibbleWobbleJellyOnAPlate]

Can't believe I've name changed for this, but given some stalking I receive from certain people in real life I like to keep some things personal!

After a couple of lovely young lds missionaries knocked on my door I will soon be having them to come for a visit. I'm a bit nervous but couldn't help smiling when I opened the door to them, it seemed quite funny in a coincidence way, as many times this year I've suddenly started looking into the religion, googling,even downloaded the Book of Mormon etc. It's been up and down, chatted to some missionaries online, everything felt right, I felt it was somewhere I fit yet was holding back for a specific reason I shan't disclose as I wanted to make sure it was for the right reasons but also wondered whether it was a natural calling aswell.

Anyway, so the missionaries must have been on local rounds and so I told them to come back at a more convenient time.What can I expect to start with?

Just to add, I recently talked to a JW who has been pestering me for the best part of two years,gave her my time and could have ran out of her home as it felt so wrong and the 'teaching' by use of pretty pictures in a book, a short video that had my brain screaming 'run,this is wrong' followed by a realisation of it's power and the JWs bizarre way of trying to show a better life 'it says we'll all live in houses, not flats, houses -we'll have houses' (umm, I already have one but I'm glad you are excited about your potential upgrade..) so I'd quite like to hear what is to come from LDS. I don't want anything like that, maybe it was just wrong for me though?

But I also don't want, as I've noticed on other threads about potential LDS conversion, people telling me to look into other religions and try other churches. I want this specifically to be about LDS. Thanks

[AcrossthePond55]

You'll get a pitch to convert to their religion all done up with pretty words and promises. The same as you'd get with any religious prosthelytizers.

[BackOnlyBriefly]

I'm not a believer in any religion, but I used to know several missionaries a long time ago and I remember them being unfailingly polite and friendly. Some of it may be how they are taught to act I suppose, or maybe they only send the ones who enjoy meeting new people and spreading the word. Anyway worst case you will probably enjoy the visit.

They will be hoping to get you to visit a church or temple or at least accept more visits, but I didn't find them too pushy and not in the least creepy.

They won't drink tea or coffee of course so you might want to have something else handy to offer them. The ones I met were not judgemental, so for example you can drink tea in front of them. They won't be pointing and crying "heathen!".

[velocity1]

You'll get a visit from some polite young men who want to tell you about their faith and how it is the one to follow. My dd is a member, although we're not, and having recently attended her wedding, I have to say the congregation were some of the nicest people I've met.

I find them a lot less 'aggressive' than JW's, to be honest

[AngelinaCongleton]

They'll be totally polite. Very very nice people in my experience. I'm not a lds. Family member belongs to the church.

[thegreenheartofmanyroundabouts]

As other posters have said they will likely be delightful young men who are very polite. They will have lovely teeth!

If it matters to you then the Church of the Latter Day Saints is not a mainstream Christian Church as they are not Trinitarian. If it matters to you women cannot hold leadership positions in this church although that is no different to the conservative protestant denominations or the RC church. My impression is that it is a very structured and boundaried way of doing faith which suits some people very well.

[fairyqueen]

A relative of mine is an LDS member and did a mission. My impression is that you will meet the most well mannered gap year teen you can imagine. I don't know much about the faith but they seem to be an extremely supportive community who always look out for each other. It can be hard for non-believing loved ones of members though.

[alteredimages]

My DB and DSIL are members and SIL was raised in the Church of LDS.
I don't necessarily agree that it is hard for non LDS family members, my relationship with them has not been affected.

I do feel that a lot of emphasis is placed on financial success which can be hard for lower earning members.

They are indeed unfailingly polite and nice, which must be hard for teens to maintain in a foreign country.

Tea and coffee are out, and some won't have coke either because of the caffeine. AFAIK hot chocolate is fine (DSIL is a fan) as is juice etc.

I know that missionaries come to DBs for supper once a week as money is tight. Not sure if they sort this out amongst church members but if it is a mealtime you could offer a sandwich or something if you like.

[Tapirbackrider]

You can expect to hear the sanitised version of the Mormon church - the stuff that the missionaries are told to teach you, and if you show any interest at all, they will expect you to read the book of Mormon and try to push you to be baptised ASAP.

I can only say that if you're going to do online research about the lds, then look at a lot of sources, not just official Mormon ones. After all, you wouldn't want to buy a Ford simply because the salemen said it was the best, would you?

[Adarajames]

They are classed as a cult by groups such as cultwatch.
Must people that hear voices in a drunken stupor get medical help, Jo Smith started a 'religion'
Expect to be chained to the kitchen sink and be subservient to any make if you're female
But yes. They are usually polite.

[ReggieJones]

They are representatives of a large and secretive organization that as Adara says has been classed as a cult. The religion was formed by one man who claimed to have found and a message from God but never showed this message to anyone else. So that foundation of this 'religion' seems very unconvincing, to me at least.

Have a look at this website if you're interested in finding out more about God and religion

www.christianityexplored.org/tough-questions

[AMillionNameChangesLater]

I'm lds. Expect polite young men who will talk to you about basic beliefs. If you want to look at some stuff before they come check out //www.mormon.org.uk (poss wrong address)

I am married to a non member (atheist) and I don't have loads of money. I've never felt the focus being on loads of money earned.

[AMillionNameChangesLater]

Also, I'm not chained to a sink. I work full time and dh is a sahd.

[Tapirbackrider]

Good for you Amillion but you're not a typical representative of Mormon womanhood, are you?

Let's just remember that a human rights lawyer - Kate Kelly, was excommunicated this year by the Mormon church because she was campaigning for rights for women.

[AMillionNameChangesLater]

I wasn't seeking praise thanks, merely explaining my experience. The church teaches you to do what's right for your family, my set up isn't typical for the UK, but does that mean I shouldn't comment?


She was excommunicated because she was campaigning for the church to give women the priesthood, which we are taught it comes from God. So she was campaigning against something we believe comes from God, a basic belief. If a man tried to do the same thing he would, presumably, have church action taken against him. Its one thing to ask questions, its another to campaign about something which comes from God.

[Adarajames]

Or something trhat an alcoholic said comes from god!

[AMillionNameChangesLater]

Whatever you want to say about the prophet, it's what we believe. It's what the person who restored the church, along with subsequent prophets, taught. I'm not here to try and convince anyone what to believe. I was simply answering the OP and the remark about me being atypical.

I'm not going to get drawn into any arguments about this. OP if I can help in anyway, please feel free to PM

[Tapirbackrider]

Somewhat disingenuous there, Amillion?

Your original comment was made to show how you're not what we said we would expect from typical Mormons, ie not chained to the kitchen sink, SAHD...


Kate Kelly sought to let women hold the priesthood in everyday life, rather than just in the temple. It's very discriminatory of the Mormons to say to women - "You can, but only when we tell you that you can".

Instead of discussing what the missionaries will tell the OP, how about what they won't tell her?

I'll start with - Joseph Smith didn't translate the book of mormon directly from golden plates, he put a magic rock in his hat, and stuck his head in it.

[Adarajames]

Bablefish anyone?

[Tapirbackrider]

Exactly Adara.

[Hairylegs47]

Fellow LDS - or Mormon - here.
The Missionaries are on the whole nice lads who are giving up 2 years if their lives to spread the Gospel. They'll ask you what you believe and they'll tell you what they believe too. If you want to discuss further, they'll make another appointment and come back.
They may have nice teeth or not - my own DS is going on his mission in Jan, his teeth are clean, but nice??
The rest of the stuff can found out via Google!
For the main, LDS members welcome sincere questions. Most shy away from loaded or aggressive tones - you will find some that won't, we all have a choice and are free to act on it. But 'frank' debates don't invite the right Spirit.

I am a convert, I joined after having the lessons or 'discussions' 27 years ago. I was a single parent with 3 young children, I had no money or hope of any! But what I did have was a desire to love God and live a life which would give me peace. No one promised me anything, no one made me feel bad about my life and no one told me I 'had' to join. Did my life suddenly become wonderful? No, bad things still happened - and still do - but I feel close to my Heavenly Father, I feel his love and I know He helps me get through it all.