Mormon Mentality - Thoughts and Asides by Peculiar People

By Living in Zion

Jun. 25th, 2012 at 10:12 pm

As my grandpa used to drawl whenever something unexpected occurred, “Well, slap me and call me silly, I woulda never guessed that would happen”, my head is spinning and I am here to say in a million years I would have never seen this one coming.

I just got off the phone with a long time friend. She has good news. She just got hired by her State Republican Party to work on organizing efforts for the upcoming fall 2012 presidential elections. She is an energetic 60ish year old woman. She is also a staunch Evangelical Christian who over the years has prayed for me that Jesus would touch my heart and help me see the error of my religious ways since I explained to her that I was a Mormon and wasn’t intending to leave the Mormon faith.

When I had surgery she sent me a get-well card along with a 3 page, single-spaced, double- sided letter imploring me to reconsider my Mormon faith because if I died on the operating table she was sure I was going to hell.

The highest compliment she ever gave me was the time she wanted me to come to her ladies group at church and give a lesson on the effects of stress but couldn’t because I belong to the Mormon cult and they don’t allow that.

She really likes me.

My friend called me to tell me when she was interviewed for her new position she told the interviewer that she was very good friends with a Mormon (me) and even though she personally is a born-again Christian, based on how I live my life, she has changed her mind and has decided that Mormons aren’t a cult and that Mitt Romney would be a fine presidential candidate.

She got the job.

Isn’t that a hoot? Being a Christian who can make peace with a Mormon presidential candidate is a real plus when representing the Republican Party.

I congratulated her on her new job and wished her well. I also told her I was happy that our friendship helped her in her job interview. She laughed and replied that she never expected to be in the position of supporting a Mormon candidate, but here we are.

Slap me and call me silly, this presidential race just gets stranger and stranger.

1. proud daughter of eve

Mon, Jun 25, 2012 @ 11:13pm

What was that about politics and strange bedfellows…? ;) I think it’s awesome. We always hear about how living our faith can influence others for good. It’s nice to see a real life example. :)

2. MCQ

Tue, Jun 26, 2012 @ 7:27pm

Here’s the lesson for me from this post: you didn’t get offended by her backhanded compliments and hamfisted efforts to “save” you from your evil church. It would be so easy to do that, or to make some kind of sarcastic or mean-spirited response that would offend her and destroy the relationship. Instead, you saw the love behind her words and actions and you made a friend and changed her perspective. Well done.

3. annegb

Tue, Jun 26, 2012 @ 9:58pm

I probably know quite a few people who don’t feel good about the church, but they don’t say anything to me. My daughter-in-law says the reason she doesn’t go to church is because I’m a bitch. Which makes me pretty powerful in her life. I’ve wanted to ask her how that works in relation to the active Mormons she does like and who are not bitches.

I’m fairly certain some of my friends who are born again Christians think I’m cool, but misguided and feel they’re the only ray of light in my life.

Kind of funny, all these people with different religious ideas going around stealth influencing each other. I bet God cracks up at us.

I never put down my friends religions and vice versa.

4. Tenerife

Fri, Jun 29, 2012 @ 11:00am

I associate with evangelicals in my business. One good old Baptist minister said all Mormons were going to hell. I asked him, “Drew, do you really think I am going to hell?”. He replied, “No, not you, Teener.”. Shake my head.

5. annegb

Sun, Jul 1, 2012 @ 1:49pm

The thing is, there are a lot of people in this chapel where I’m sitting right now who think I’m going to hell because I’m not who they think I should be as a Mormon. We all presume to speak for God at times. He must think we’re so funny.

6. Bookslinger

Sun, Jul 1, 2012 @ 5:03pm

If you’re currently on the afternoon church schedule at your ward building, and don’t have a calling that requires you to be there early, I suggest leaving your home early some Sunday morning, and dropping in and visiting one of the non-LDS churches you pass on your way to your chapel.

I like the Korean churches best (after LDS of course), since all the Korean congregations I’ve ever visited serve a meal after their services.

Do it a few times. See if you make any friends. See what happens.