Mormon Mentality - Thoughts and Asides by Peculiar People

By ESO

Jul. 24th, 2009 at 12:44 pm

Today is Pioneer Day and while Pioneers are totally awesome, I think more of us modern day Mormons are more affected by the pioneering ideas of our religious practice. I would love to hear what pioneering makes you smile.

I think the idea behind Visiting and Home Teaching is profound. Sure, we all fail it or detest it from time to time, and it can feel downright awkward to have assigned friends, but the idea of having congragants look out for each other in an organized and mostly not haphazard manner is, in my opinion, the heart of our congregations.

What pioneering do you find in our religion?

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1. Devyn S.

Fri, Jul 24, 2009 @ 3:26pm

I find those who are willing to consider novel things and question the status quo are pioneers. One of my favorite pioneers online is Anne – she has a fresh way of thinking about things. I also appreciate others who force me to rethink the way I see the world.

2. ESO

Fri, Jul 24, 2009 @ 3:29pm

Anne is a great pioneer.

3. Paradox

Fri, Jul 24, 2009 @ 3:41pm

Family history–the forgotten frontier :)

4. annegb

Sat, Jul 25, 2009 @ 11:26am

Geez, ESO, do you feel like the Maytag repairman LOL…

You know, pioneering in our religion…I’ve often thought, despite my criticism that Mormonism is unique in giving people opportunities to excel and strengthen themselves. Just the public speaking opportunities are phenomenal. Most active Mormons can pull something out of their hat any time an extemporaneous—crap, what’s a good noun? Well, you know what I mean.

And leadership opportunities, no other religion offers that structure that allows people to lead, I really believe we train and produce leaders.

I’m convinced that Joseph Smith was inspired when he set up the church in such a way that everyone is given an opportunity to grow and serve.

I never thought of myself as a pioneer, but oh well…if I must, I must. :) In that sense, we bloggers are all pioneers; think of Margaret, T & S; Nick’s championing of gay rights issues, Dan’s ardent Democrat convictions; DKL–wow nobody like him, Bookslinger, in his unique position of devotion in an excommunicant; John Dehlin….

I could go on…we rock, guys.

ESO, what do they do in New York for Pioneer Day? It’s a holiday here, of course, but I wonder if other states celebrate.

5. ESO

Sat, Jul 25, 2009 @ 8:33pm

Annegb–good point; I have been to SO MANY poorly run community and even work meetings where I have often thought “if a Mormon (who has been conducting meetings since they were 12 and giving talks since they were 3) were running this meeting, it would be much shorter and less painful.”

IN NY, we do nothing. Sometimes the Sunday before or after has Sacrament talks that are about pioneers and we often sing “Come Come Ye Saints” that same Sunday.

I actually attended a neighboring stakes’ Pioneer Day stake activity today (my sister was doing a puppet show, so we went to support her) but I bet the stake or ward has a pioneer day activity only once every 5 years or so–whenever someone from UT is in charge. The activity I went to was actually in Palmyra, about a city block away from the Smith Farm, so we could actually do a really interesting pioneer LEAVING commemoration, but we just finished up with Pageant and are still sun-burned and wet and tired.

In every ward I have lived in (many many) outside of UT, there is some low-grade tension about Pioneer Day. Just that many people in wards outside UT have no pioneer heritage directly, so it is kind of off their radar. Which I think is fine. But then for those of us who DO have pioneer heritage or (often) older members, feel very strongly that we are abandoning the pioneers and they think that is awful.

6. B Tippetts

Sun, Jul 26, 2009 @ 2:47am

I come from pioneering stock when my ancestors joined the Church in 1832. What is most incredible is new pioneering projects and missionary work developing in Africa. I am working with a LDS inspired goup http://www.sudanhelp.org who are helping potential LDS members concerning their orphan children. Stephen Biel who is in my Stake contacted the LDS Church telling them Africans in South Sudan are starting their own un official wards. East African Mission President Christensen is now working to open up a mission in the region. LDS members of Sudan Help.org are now starting elementary schools for orphans and LDS Charities are now drilling water wells in the region and have donated funds to feed the orphans for an after noon meal. I can not wait to go to Africa and live the legacy of my pioneer ancestors.

7. danithew

Sun, Jul 26, 2009 @ 10:31am

Last week Diane and I were in charge of the New York, NY pioneer day picnic. It was very well attended and we had a great time. One of the things we enjoyed is that Diane went down to the Chinese branch and invited them to come and a whole bunch of them showed up.

This year the stake activities committee leader/person sent an email sort of asking about the Pioneer Day stake activity – unfortunately yesterday was moving day for us – so we told them we were out of the picture this year. I don’t know if it was our fault or not – but shortly thereafter we got an email saying there wouldn’t be a Pioneer Day picnic/activity.

In a way, I think moving from one place to another is about as Pioneer as you can go. But man, I ache today!

8. danithew

Sun, Jul 26, 2009 @ 10:32am

I meant to say “the New York, NY stake pioneer day picnic” … you get the idea.

9. annegb

Sun, Jul 26, 2009 @ 12:21pm

Crap. You live near a chinese branch. Think of the food. I’m so going to stay with you when I go on millionaire.

I ask the Chinese customers who call in for their recipes. No one’s been offended yet.

10. danithew

Sun, Jul 26, 2009 @ 2:54pm

In Salt Lake City, the Chinese branch always had tons of amazing food at their activities – and there were always tons of non-member friends there too. I’m talking 70-80 non-member friends. Needless to say, it was difficult to find the full-time missionaries in any of the other wards around – because they had the most help/success in the Chinese branch.

11. annegb

Sun, Jul 26, 2009 @ 6:46pm

What’s the best chinese food in Salt Lake?? I’m so hungry for good chinese food. One customer who’d been to China said that’s where the best food is. The people who used to have the place here moved to salt lake. They retired having put all their kids through college–one was a dr. One was a lawyer and one worked for NBC–they seemed especially proud of him but maybe he was also the lawyer.

Boy they made the best egg rolls I’ve ever had. No dim sun though. I’ve never had that.

12. JA Benson

Sun, Jul 26, 2009 @ 7:03pm

#6 B Tippetts- Are you a descendant of Alvah Tippetts who died at Winter Quarters?

13. queuno

Mon, Jul 27, 2009 @ 2:10pm

Several years after their conversion, my wife’s parents crossed the plains to Utah with a pinto and a wagon. A Ford pinto and a station wagon.

14. danithew

Mon, Jul 27, 2009 @ 2:37pm

Annegb, if you want good Chinese food in Salt Lake City – go to Little World.

1356 S State St
Salt Lake City, UT 84115-5422
(801) 467-5213

It’s a dive but they make the best and most authentic Chinese food. I routinely asked native Chinese about where they would go (in SLC) and inevitably Little World would come up.

I’ve eaten the food from there myself many, many times and it’s very good.