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It am (hardly) working today at home. The boss lets me work from home every Friday and I usually spend the time goofing off on the Internet.
Anyway, here I am sitting home all alone with not much going on and the door bell rings. I get up and at the door is one of the most wholesome polite young men you would ever see with his white shirt and tie. He must of been maybe 18 years old. He was a missionary from the Mormon Church.
It is my understanding that the young men from the church have to spend a year or so doing missionary work. Knocking on doors spreading the faith must be the toughest job out there. I suspect many people are quite rude and many will even slam the door in their face. But of course they did not ask to be disturbed from their daily activity.
I told him I was on the phone and was a little rude. (I lied) I feel guilty. I had nothing important to do but am afraid that if I invited him in my home or listened to him I would not heard the end of it and would get the hard sell.
How would you respond. I only attend Church on Holidays and go to the Luthern Church but am not a member.
Two Mormon missionaries knocked on my door and I welcomed them in. Over the next few weeks by appointment they came back and taught me the basics of their beliefs. They also left a Book of Mormon with me. It wasn't long before I had read the book, prayed about it's message, and found out that it was true.
That was more than 40 years ago. It has been a wonderful experience being a Mormon, I couldn't imagine my life any other way.
Just so you have an idea what these missionaries must deal with, here is their set of rules, given to them in a small booklet. Some of the rules make perfect sense, some of them are common sense but still good advice, and some of the rules reveal the cult-like nature of mormonism - some of these rules sound like they're right out of Scientology.
The Rules
Learn and obey all missionary rules.
Keep your thoughts, words, and actions in harmony with the gospel message.
Read only books, magazines, and other material authorized by the Church.
Don't debate or argue.
Center your mind on your mission.
Dress conservatively. Elders: white shirts, conservative ties, and business suits. Sisters: conservative colors and skirts that cover your knees. No floor-length skirts or dresses.
Cut your hair regularly.
Keep your hair clean and neatly combed at all times in the approved style.
Be neat and clean.
Bathe frequently
Use deodorant.
Polish your shoes.
Iron your shirt and business suit.
Arise at 6:30 A.M.
Study for 2 hours every morning.
Proselytize for 10 hours between 9:30 A.M. and 9:30 P.M.
Turn off your lights at 10:30 P.M.
Exercise regularly.
Write in your journal regularly.
Follow the "Missionary Gospel Study Program" (31157) for your personal study.
Regularly study the Missionary Guide and the Discussions.
Attend Sunday priesthood or Relief Society meetings, Sunday School, and sacrament meeting
Attend the general session of Stake Conference.
Attend general conference broadcasts if available.
Avoid all other church meetings unless you have a special assignment or are brining an investigator.
Proselytize as much as possible on weekends and holidays because this is when you'll find people home.
End your preparation day at 6:00 P.M. and proselytize from 6:00 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.
Wear your missionary uniform in public on preparation day while not engaged in recreational activities.
Arise at 6:30 on preparation day and study for 2 hours from the approved books.
Take care of your physical preparation for the week on preparation day: wash your clothes, clean your apartment, wash your car, get your haircut, and shop for groceries.
Write to your parents every week on preparation day.
Write less frequently to your siblings, friends, and acquaintances.
Don't communicate with any friends or acquaintances that are within or close to your mission boundaries, except as a part of official mission business.
Plan safe, wholesome, and uplifting activities for preparation day.
Stay with your companion during all activities.
Do not go on road trips.
Do not leave your assigned area without permission ("District leaders must approve travel outside your area within the district; zone leaders must approve travel outside your district within the zone; and the mission president must approve travel outside the zone.")
Do not watch television.
Do not view unauthorized videocassettes.
Do not listen to the radio.
Do not listen to unauthorized audiocassettes or CD’s.
Do not participate in musical groups.
Do not participate in athletic teams.
Do not sponsor athletic teams.
Do not engage in contact sports.
Do not engage in water sports.
Do not engage in winter sports.
Do not engage in motorcycling.
Do not engage in horseback riding.
Do not engage in mountain climbing.
Do not embark on a private boat.
Do not embark in a private airplane.
Do not handle firearms.
Do not handle explosives.
Do not swim.
Do not play full court basketball.
Do not play basketball in leagues.
Do not play basketball in tournaments.
You may play half-court basketball.
Never be alone.
Seek advice from your mission president if your companion is "having difficulties".
Be loyal to your companion.
Ask your mission president for help if your companion doesn’t obey the rules.
Pray with your companion every day.
Study with your companion every day.
Plan your work with your companion every day.
Take time at least once a week for companionship inventory.
Seek to be one in spirit and purpose and help each other succeed.
Always address your companion as Elder or Sister.
Sleep in the same bedroom as your companion.
Do not sleep in the same bed as your companion.
Do not arise before your companion.
Do not retire after your companion. (apparently, being together is more important than getting the correct amount of sleep that your unique body requires.)
Frequently study with your companion the Missionary Guide section on companions.
Never be alone with anyone of the opposite sex.
Never associate inappropriately with anyone of the opposite sex
Do not flirt.
Do not date.
Do not communicate via phone or letter with anyone of the opposite sex living within or near mission boundaries.
Do not visit a single or divorced person of the opposite sex unless accompanied by a couple or another adult member of your sex.
Try to teach single investigators in a member’s home or have missionaries of the same sex teach them.
Always follow the above rules, even if the situation seems harmless.
Use the commitment pattern to get referrals from members.
Keep your dinner visits with member briefs and during the customary dinner hour in the area.
Remember to say thank you to those who feed you.
Visit members and nonmembers only at appropriate times.
Do not counsel or give medical treatment.
Do not stay in the homes of people when they are on vacation.
Only write letters to family members and friends at home.
Do not telephone parents
Do not telephone relatives.
Do not telephone friends.
Do not telephone girlfriends.
Contact your mission president in case of an emergency.
Take problems and questions to your mission president.
Do not write to the President of the Church or to other General Authorities. Letters from missionaries to General Authorities are referred back to the mission president (There are no checks, balances, or appeals when it comes to the authority of the mission president).
Respect the customs, traditions, and property of the people who you are trying to convert
Obey all mission rules.
Obey the laws of the land.
Do not get involved in politics.
Do not get involved in commercial activities.
Do not give any information about the area.
Respect the customs and cultures of those who you are trying to convert to your own customs and culture.
Respect the beliefs, practices, and sites of other religions.
Do not say or write anything bad about the political and cultural circumstances where you serve.
Do not become involved in adoption proceedings.
Do not suggest or encourage emigration.
Be courteous.
Provide community service.
Do not provide community service that isn’t approved by your mission president.
Do not provide more than 4 hours a week of community service.
Do not provide community service during the evening, weekend or holidays—those are peak proselytizing times.
Your mission president must approve your housing.
Keep your housing unit clean.
Do not live with single or divorced people of the opposite sex.
Do not live where the spouse is frequently absent.
Your living unit must have a private bath and entrance.
You may occasionally fast for a special reason, but generally the monthly fast is sufficient.
Do not fast longer than 24 hours at a time.
Do not ask friends, relatives, and members to join in special fasts for investigators.
Maintain your health.
Eat a healthy diet.
Sleep from 10:30 to 6:30.
Follow the approved exercise program.
Keep your body, clothes, dishes, linens, towels and housing unit clean.
Dispose of your garbage properly and promptly.
Follow the safety rules for all of your stuff.
Seek medical care if you are in an accident or become sick.
Be immunized.
Spend your money only on things relating to your mission.
Budget your money carefully.
Keep a record of what you spend.
Do not spend more than your companion.
Do not loan money.
Do not borrow money.
Keep a reserve fund of $50 to $100 at all times for transfers.
Pay your bills before leaving an area.
Pay cash for all resale literature and supplies ordered from the mission office.
Do not waste money on souvenirs.
Do not waste money on unnecessary items.
Be a frugal photographer.
Do not accumulate excess baggage.
Obey custom laws and regulations.
Pay fast offerings each fast Sunday to the bishop or branch president where you serve.
Pay tithing on outside sources of income (i.e. interest) to your home bishop or branch president.
Evaluate your funds a few months before the end of your mission. If you have more than you need, ask that less be sent so that you can return home without excess money.
Do not drive without a license.
Drive only Church-owned vehicles.
Do not drive members’ cars.
Do not drive nonmembers’ cars.
Do not give rides to members or investigators in Church-owned cars. (A few investigators have asked me why the missionaries are reluctant to offer them a ride to church. The answer: giving rides is against the rules).
Use cars only on approved mission business.
Use cars only within the assigned geographical area.
Be conscious of safety at all times.
Drive defensively.
Wear your seat belt.
Pray for the Lord’s protection while driving.
If your companion is driving, assist him or her.
Do not tamper with the vehicle’s odometer.
Know bicycle safety rules.
Use extreme caution on your bicycle.
Do not ride your bicycle after dark.
Do not ride your bicycle in heavy traffic.
Do not ride your bicycle in adverse weather conditions.
Go directly to your new area when transferred.
Find your new companion without delay when transferred.
Have a maximum of two suitcases and a briefcase.
I would rather live my life the way that makes me happy and then try to live my life this way. It sounds like something worse then prison.
No different to the shopping network that "saves" you sooo much money - catch is you have to spend money to save and folk fall for it. Same technique churches use.
Same mass hypnosis and the power of suggestion.
There is nothing like a free lunch. There is ALWAYS a catch.
I was in the business of church for 30+ years and know how it all goes down. When funds are low, you preach a sermon on tithing and make the sheeple feel guilty for "robbing god" or you get another guest speaker in to take the heat so to speak (helps if his sermon gives the folk goosebumps) Of course he leaves with a commission for his/her services rendered.
Of course they mail you a monthly newsletter in which the empty envelope is enclosed.
Tell me what I am saying here is NOT true?
Well that explains it. If you were in a Church that operated as a business then you were involved in the religion of commercial churchianity as opposed to Christianity.
You're being rather myopic and emotional when it comes to your bitterness and hate towards Christianity.
Just so you have an idea what these missionaries must deal with, here is their set of rules, given to them in a small booklet. Some of the rules make perfect sense, some of them are common sense but still good advice, and some of the rules reveal the cult-like nature of mormonism - some of these rules sound like they're right out of Scientology.
The Rules
Do not play full court basketball.
Do not play basketball in leagues.
Do not play basketball in tournaments.
You may play half-court basketball.
You know... I was just about to convert... I was getting ready to do it and then I found these rules buried in that list... I can do a lot of things but not being able to play full court basketball... Forget it... Half-Court is for the Amish...
Well that explains it. If you were in a Church that operated as a business then you were involved in the religion of commercial churchianity as opposed to Christianity.
You're being rather myopic and emotional when it comes to your bitterness and hate towards Christianity.
Nope, I am just putting it out there as it stands. Having served on the board, I know what goes on behind the scenes. This was not just one church/denomination either. They all sing from the same song sheet and they all claim NOT to be like the others but in reality it is just putting lipstick on a pig.
And why should I not be emotional about it? It is a scam
The only ones that get a partial free pass from me are the reformed churches as they are at least sincere but of course they cater to the cafeteria christians not the real christians(tm) of the pentecostal, charismatic, evangelical, baptist variety.
I would rather live my life the way that makes me happy and then try to live my life this way. It sounds like something worse then prison.
Those who lose themselves in the service of others and their Lord feel no chains or prison bars.
Mormons take very seriously the Lord's commandment to feed his sheep and preach the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people.
"He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep." John 21: 16
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people," Revelation 14: 6
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" 1 Corinthians 9: 16
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matthew 24: 14
When I was interested in knowing about gideons I went to my local anglican church and asked a senior. When I wanted to know more about JW, I went to their church and got some free tracks and a watchtower magazine. When I wanted to know about Joseph Smith, I went to bloody wikipedia.
Door to door missionary work is redundant, letting them in isn't just a waste of my time. It's a waste of their time too.
You know... I was just about to convert... I was getting ready to do it and then I found these rules buried in that list... I can do a lot of things but not being able to play full court basketball... Forget it... Half-Court is for the Amish...
I don't know where that list of rules came from but whatever it is certainly not for members of the LDS church who are not young and serving a full-time mission.
Many (not all) young Latter-day Saints (usually 18 - 25 years of age) voluntarily serve two year missions, assigned to most parts of the world at their own expense. They represent the church and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to those willing to listen.
Sure it's a hard discipline but the time actually goes by quite rapidly and most speak fondly even in old age about how their mission shaped their life. It's a good plan and it is in fulfillment of prophecy that the gospel be taken throughout the world in these latter days.
Nope, I am just putting it out there as it stands. Having served on the board, I know what goes on behind the scenes. This was not just one church/denomination either. They all sing from the same song sheet and they all claim NOT to be like the others but in reality it is just putting lipstick on a pig.
So now you're claiming to know what they "all" do.
Yes, I'm sure you've been involved in every church, ever, that was, everywhere.
Quote:
Originally Posted by justme58
And why should I not be emotional about it? It is a scam
I've been scammed in my life also, but I don't get so emotionally bitter about it that it clouds my judgment.
Quote:
Originally Posted by justme58
The only ones that get a partial free pass from me are the reformed churches as they are at least sincere but of course they cater to the cafeteria christians not the real christians(tm) of the pentecostal, charismatic, evangelical, baptist variety.
All just different flavors of KoolAid.
So bottom line is that based on your anecdotal evidence you expect others to believe (via your barrage of mixed metaphors and cliches) that all of Christianity operates the same way and uses mass hypnosis to extract money from people.
I've had crazy bums on the streets of Manhattan give me more plausible theories than that and with better evidence, too.
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