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Original poster

Visit from Mormon missionaries - any experiences?

115 replies

BodyUnknown · 27/09/2011 10:34

I have recently been away for a hen weekend with a group of around 15 women, one of whom was Mormon. She fascinated me, and I found myself dying to know more about why she chooses to live her life the way she does. I devoured her stories about her missionary work in Utah, and as soon as I got home from the hen do, with a raging hangover, I went to bed with my laptop and logged on to mormon.org. There is a facility there to chat with a missionary (which this girl recommended that I do if I were curious about the church).

I read the website for a while before plucking up the courage to speak to someone, and when I did, I was there for over an hour asking questions which this missionary patiently answered. I came away from the conversation with a really really good feeling - I can't describe it better than that - and I haven't been able to stop thinking about everything I've read and learned and everything the missionary said. I'd told him I sometimes felt silly praying, like I was doing it wrong, and that I always felt self-conscious and that God would think me a fraud. He said, 'if I tell you how we pray, it might make you feel less silly?' and he did, and last night I prayed for the first time in years.

I lay in bed for hours last night, I couldn't sleep, I felt so excited.

Sorry this is so long...

Anyway, of course I have heard all the stories about the Mormon church, and have always thought of it as some kind of strange cult, with living prophets, miracles, tithing, baptisms for the dead and all kinds of things that I've never understood and never tried to. But the things I've read feel right to me now, I feel inspired to live my life in a better way - I literally cannot take my mind off this.

So, on mormon.org you can request that missionaries visit you and deliver the Bible and Book of Mormon. I decided to do that, and yesterday evening I had an email from missionaries wanting to confirm the visit.

I wrote back to say it was me who made the request and that I would like a visit (I suppose they get a lot of timewasters). And now I'm feeling a bit nervous - and wondering, have any of you any experience of the Mormon church? Have you spoken with missionaries, have you attended a service? Have you read any of their literature?

I'll add that I am a drinking, sometimes smoking, generally non-religious person (went to church years ago then decided God wasn't really there for me) and if you'd asked me a week ago if I'd consider reading the Book of Mormon I would have laughed my head off.

OP posts:
Sariah · 02/10/2011 22:25

Bodyunknown I was rereading a couple of replies when I noticed you were concerned about being the only member of your family and about trying to bring your family along.

I am the only member of my family (as in my parents/siblings/relatives) They have attended many events in my church (wedding/baptisms/blessings) but never once have i given them a book or Mormon or had a conversation with them about joining my faith. I have a much better relationship with my family since becoming a member and they have all noticed a change in me for the better and regularly comment on it and would be very quick to defend the church based on their experiences and the members they have met in my home over the years. There was only one occassion when I felt a little uncomfortable and that was one Christmas when my parents were visiting and a couple of missionaries called by. I felt one of them cornered my mother a bit and was trying to get her to talk about her faith and her beliefs. I just intervened and quickly changed the conversation. I would hate for anyone to feel uncomfortable in my home and even though the Church encourages every member to do missionary work, there is no pressure to do so.

hiddenhome · 02/10/2011 22:27

Aw Allboxedin you daft thing! I've just spent the last half hour searching for archaelogical finds Confused

I could have been spending this time buying rubbish on ebay!

Grrrr.......

Grin
Sariah · 02/10/2011 22:30

The other thing is that it wont take over your life. I work full time as does my dh and we have 5 children. I have a long commute to and from work so I really dont have all that much time outside these committments. Church takes up 3 hours on a Sunday but I see that more as a chance to recharge for the following week than a chore. Most members do receive a calling. At the moment I am an Activities Co-ordinator which means I have to plan one night every two months, so hardly too taxing. Those considering callings tend to be sensitive to the lives of the members and also you only do what you want to do. Its not like you are getting paid so if you dont do something then its not like something will be said to you.

hiddenhome · 02/10/2011 22:45

It won't take over your life?

Isn't a relationship with God supposed to do just that?

Faith isn't supposed to be a part time hobby activity.

nailak · 02/10/2011 22:46

bodyunknown, i think it would be an idea if you sincerely pray to god to guide you to what is best for you, and the way he wishes you to worship Him.

hiddenhome · 02/10/2011 22:54

People's thinking can be clouded whilst in a religious fervour like this. I've seen it before. It feels very good and it takes over your life, but it's a false state of wellbeing and can be deceptive depending upon where it comes from.

The OP needs time out to settle down a bit.

In the meantime

Sariah · 02/10/2011 22:56

I was referring to this post

I've read heaps of things about the church being a cult, the way it takes over your life with callings and teaching, and I was completely about the tithing but the more I think about it, and the more I read, I find myself justifying it all to myself. And that's without any missionaries drumming it into me.

and was just saying the church wont take over your life. I wasnt referring to the ops relationship with God, but in any event I dont think anything that takes over your life is necessarily a healthy thing.

Sariah · 02/10/2011 22:58

I love those posts that give the truth in a page. Believe me I spent over a year trying to get the truth from the internet. The truth lies within and the only way you can know if something is true is through confirmation by the Spirit which lets your heart and mind know if something is right.

hiddenhome · 02/10/2011 23:14

The truth doesn't lie 'within' because people can deceive themselves and believe what they want to believe.

How do you account for your leader being a criminal and a fraud?

Why do you use The Bible when you clearly don't believe in it, but substitute your own 'truths' for those that are written in a book that your church gives away free to those who request it?

lisad123 · 02/10/2011 23:19

I have only met two mormon girls in my life, one who called on me and another the other day, who I called on (Im a JW)
They always seem very nice pleasant and this has been an intresting thread. Im surprised about the comments of belief in the trinaty makes you a christian and if you dont, your not?? Never heard it that way before.

lisad123 · 02/10/2011 23:20

Only thing I would say OP, is it is written in the bible that prayers should be heartfelt and not repeated over and over, only that you should pray though the son, Jesus.

hiddenhome · 02/10/2011 23:24

Here

Mormons do not believe in The Trinity lisad123

Belief in The Trinity is central to Christianity.

Mormons should not pretend to be Christians.

lisad123 · 02/10/2011 23:33

well of course an anti mormon site is going to throw everything in the mix to show why they shouldnt be believed, I could find that sort of site on every religion.
Can you find anything that says you have to believe in the trinty to be classed as christian. Im pretty sure Chritstian is about believe in Jesus, NOT believing that he is 3 beings

NotADudeExactly · 02/10/2011 23:45

You are linking to a website to give "factual" information about Mormonism? A website that claims that the theory of evolution is a religion? I mean, even someone who doesn't accept the evidence for evolution should be able to tell a conjecture apart from a religion, surely?

Please say you're not for real?! Shock

OP, by all means read up on Mormonism and criticism of it - but it seems that you may have to be a little critical of your sources, too.

ilovesprouts · 03/10/2011 10:05

Sariah it was other things as well thats why i left

Katisha · 03/10/2011 10:28

Lisa Christians do not believe that Jesus is 3 beings. God is three persons - God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit.

Anyone who says that Jesus was just a prophet/only human, or redefines hims a "a" son of God rather than "The" Son of God is not adhering to standard Christian belief.

stressedHEmum · 03/10/2011 11:35

Katisha, JWs don't accept the Trinity, either. They believe that it is a doctrine and sign of false religion and, therefore, of the Devil. Anyone who believes in the Trinity (or a whole host of other things) is actually inadvertently worshipping Satan. They believe that Jesus is the firstborn Son of God not God the Son.

hiddenhome · 03/10/2011 21:08

Lisad123

Belief in The Trinity is central to Christian belief. It's basic Hmm

The information on the websites can be found on millions of other websites out there. The information is factual and summarises Mormon belief.

I am confused that people are considering JWs and Mormons to be Christian without any of them actually knowing what Christian belief is Hmm

hiddenhome · 03/10/2011 21:21

basic Christian beliefs

lisad123 · 03/10/2011 21:28

The following are the basic Christian beliefs central to ALMOST all Christian faiths. They are presented here as the core doctrines of Christianity. A small number of faith groups who consider themselves to be within the framework of Christianity, do not accept some of these beliefs. It should also be understood that slight variances, exceptions, and additions to these doctrines can exist within certain faith groups that fall under the broad umbrella of Christianity.

So even the thing you linked, suggests its not all christian beliefs that believe the trinity. however quite a few of those linked are what we believe, however belief that people will go to hell, isnt something we believe.

heather1 · 03/10/2011 21:33

Im sorry but the Mormon religion is a false religion. I have known Mormons and they are lovely people, with the best of intentions and good hearts. However their religion is incorrect.
You are far better off looking into Roman Catholicism.

hiddenhome · 03/10/2011 21:38

If a person doesn't believe in The Trinity, then they're not Christian.

hiddenhome · 03/10/2011 21:40

There is no 'framework' of Christianity. You either believe the NT or you don't. You can't pick and choose Hmm

lisad123 · 03/10/2011 21:46

We dont pick and choose thank you very much, just that when we have looked at the bible, old and NT and spent much time looking into it, but sadly anything written is open to man's interpeation, and clearly we see things differently.
I think Im going to leave this conversation now, as clearly you think your right, and to be honest i find your posts quite rude and somewhat out of order. We all have beliefs, I havent said anything bad about your beliefs but you think its acceptable to be rude about mine.

hiddenhome · 03/10/2011 21:50

I'm just defending my religion. I'm not going to sit by and have people who are not Christian pretending that their religions are Christian. It's insulting tbh and presents a false image to others. You can think what you like about me, I'm not particularly bothered, all I ask is that people who don't know anything about my faith spouting nonsense about it.