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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think the Mormons aren't that bad?

64 replies

FreddyTeddy · 11/02/2011 21:54

I live in the same area as a Mormon church, a pretty big one and have been avoiding them since I moved here after hearing horror stories of them never leaving you alone.

Well, I ended up being asked if they could come for a chat, I didn't want to be rude so said they could, they came today.

They were here ages, we chatted about all sorts, they were polite and interesting and weren't pushy at all. I explained I have no interest in joining any religion, not just theirs, and that I am an atheist and they seemed fine with this, saying they are just happy to have people listen to them.

I thanked them for telling me about their religion, that I felt I knew more about them now but that there was no need to come again. So the big question is, are they going to come back?

I told my DH and he thinks they will camp out on the doorstep or something!! I thought I was just being polite and they weren't aggressively recruiting or anything. AIBU to think they were just happy to have someone listen or am I just a naive fool??

OP posts:
HecateQueenOfWitches · 11/02/2011 22:02

No. They are very nice. At least, all the mormons I have ever met have been.

Years ago they used to come over every week and we'd discuss their beliefs. And I went to the church a few times.

They were really nice, welcoming people and I enjoyed their company.

However, I enjoyed fags, booze, sex and keeping all my wages much more Wink

Original poster
FreddyTeddy · 11/02/2011 22:08

Hecate I agree they were lovely but 'come over every week and we'd discuss their beliefs' wasn't what I wanted to hear!

That is what DH thinks is going to happen. I'm too nice to turn them away (nice = spineless btw!)

OP posts:
exexpat · 11/02/2011 22:10

I could never become a mormon. Quite apart from having to believe in god, and in some fairly original ideas about religion, you aren't allowed Brew or Wine. Complete non-starter....

onimolap · 11/02/2011 22:10

Anyone else old enough to have had major crushes on any Osmonds? That probably did more to predispose a generation to look positively at their Church than most of their outreach work and ancestor conversion.

HecateQueenOfWitches · 11/02/2011 22:11

Grin sorry.

Truth is, they will want to come again and again and they will want to sit with you.

It's what they do.

But they are truly lovely people.

Every one I've ever met anyway.

And they were quite accepting of me leaving the church and sparking up Grin

HecateQueenOfWitches · 11/02/2011 22:13

Mind you, I am happy to chat to JWs too.

I will never join up and I am straight about that. But they are nice people and they are truly trying to save me. They think.

Original poster
FreddyTeddy · 11/02/2011 22:13

No, it wouldn't be for me, though I don't do Wine or Brew anyway.

They were so nice and I asked about how people treat them and they told me what people say to them when they knock on doors and when they were in the street, it was really sad.

They just didn't gel with what you hear about them at all.

Of course, if I go out tomorrow and find 6 waiting on the pavement for me I might change my mind!

OP posts:
eden263 · 11/02/2011 22:14

My first childminder was a Mormon. Never knew this until a couple of years in as she never preached, or even hinted at it. She was very nice, as were the rest of her family (all Mormons). Though I did wonder why she often had young men in suits visiting her...Thought they were her daughters' boyfriends or something, pmsl.

GetOrfMoiLand · 11/02/2011 22:16

I have got a soft spot for JWs and Mormons - I have always found them very nice one-to-one.

My brother's girlfriend is a mormon as well.

HecateQueenOfWitches · 11/02/2011 22:16

The first mormons who came to me were two young men, one slightly weedy bloke and one great big hulking hunk of sexiness.

I suspect I would have invited him back every week and listened to him if he was trying to persuade me to join a cult that required me to worship a giant mutant space goat

dobiegirl · 11/02/2011 22:18

They tried to recruit my daughter, at the time, believe it or not, I wanted her to go to church with them, my daughter was on the wrong path but she found them boring and didn't want to have to wear a long skirt to go to church Hmm - would not have bothered me though!!

Original poster
FreddyTeddy · 11/02/2011 22:29

Hecate, yes this was two young lads over from Utah though can't say I fancied them.

I got some funny looks from some neighbours as I was waving them off, not sure what they were thinking.

OP posts:
tethersend · 11/02/2011 22:30

Gordon is a mormon.

Hang on.

Original poster
FreddyTeddy · 11/02/2011 22:33

Gordon??

OP posts:
MsKLo · 11/02/2011 22:42

You can't have tea if you are a Mormon?!!!!! Really?!!!!!???

No way?

exexpat · 11/02/2011 22:46

Yep, no hot drinks at all, apparently.

I wonder if it's just so that they can feel sinful just by having a sneaky cuppa, get forgiven and feel virtuous again, without going round being lustful or covetous or whatever...

Original poster
FreddyTeddy · 11/02/2011 22:48

I asked about the drinks, you can still have fizzy pop though.

OP posts:
onimolap · 11/02/2011 22:49

MsKLo: Mormons abstain from tobacco, alcohol and caffeine-containing hot drinks. Some extend that to include colas and chocolate.

twolittlemonkeys · 11/02/2011 23:02

YANBU. I'm a Mormon and definitely don't shove my beliefs down other people's throats. The no hot drinks thing is generally taken to mean tea/ coffee. Lots of us are quite partial to hot chocolate Grin. The caffeine in tea and coffee tend to get you hooked - I have known a few people who get the shakes if they don't have their cup of tea/ coffee because they're so used to drinking x cups a day. I still have it in my house for when friends visit though.

I've got loads of friends, Mormons and non-Mormons and most of the Mormons I know are really lovely. Even when I'd just moved to the area when heavily pregnant with DS2 people I didn't even know from church made and dropped off meals for us for a whole week after he was born so we didn't have to worry about shopping/ cooking. Most of the people I know at church do a lot of good stuff quietly in their communities without even mentioning their beliefs unless asked about them.

You're not being naive about them just being happy to be listened to. There are a lot of misconceptions about Mormons flying around so it's good to straighten them out LOL, but one of our articles of faith (statements summarising basic Mormon beliefs) says 'We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where or what they may'. Whilst Mormon missionaries want to spread the gospel, they aren't out to convert people who don't want to hear it if you know what I mean!

MsKLo · 11/02/2011 23:08

That statement sounds good twolittlemonkies and respectful to differing beliefs Smile

I like my cuppa though - never had the shakes though!

I reckon God likes tea too anyway Grin

LoopyLoopsPoopaScoop · 11/02/2011 23:13

Hot chocolate has coffee in it.

OP, have you read the 19th Wife?

Or seen September Dawn?

All religions have a nasty side to them, this is no different from any other extreme religion.

Tryharder · 11/02/2011 23:19

DS1 current best friend is a Mormon (or rather his parents are, he is by association). DS1 has been invited to a few parties held at their church to which I've accompanied him. I was in awe of their friendliness, camaraderie and how they clearly support one another.

You can see the appeal of organised small religious sects - it;s like being part of a big family. Smile

twolittlemonkeys · 11/02/2011 23:22

LoopyLoops - Not wanting to get into a bunfight but there are a few fundamentalist sects which broke off from the Mormon church/ started by people who were excommunicated which practise polygamy. They aren't in any way affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints though.

Changeisagoodthing · 11/02/2011 23:23

Brandon flowers a Mormon. Do you think they could arrange for him to come round to my house? The one I get is an elderly american

MsKLo · 11/02/2011 23:27

Yeah bit harsh from loopy I thought

I consider myself more spiritual though I have to admit as although I believe in God I don't believe God judges and damns people - no way